Thoughts of the South Pacific conjure images of sweetly fragranced blossoms hanging in thick clusters on succulent green shrubs nurtured by tropical showers. All of which is true... There is, however, another side to the tropical splendor of Fiji. Plants that have for centuries been the suppliers of food, medicine, clothing, colors or dyes, tools, shelter, fuel, drugs, cooking utensils, candy, weapons, beauty products and birth control.

Bua - Frangipani - Plumeria acutifolia

Consider the Fijian tree known as dawa. Science tells us that this 25 - 30 meter straight trunked forest giant is Pometia pinnata of the Sapindaceae family. A Fijian, well versed in the traditional uses would look at the dawa and see a veritable pharmacy. An extract from the leaves can be used to turn a graying head of hair black. The leaves themselves can be steeped to produce a cure for dysentery or mixed with the top of the reed Miscanthus floridulus and the leaves of Centella asiatica to effectively treat diarrhea.

The ripe fruit has a glutinous, honey like taste and the bark is said to have contraceptive properties. A fluid squeezed from the inner bark is used to treat influenza and joint pain. The bark its self, when mixed with the barks of Dendrocnide harveyi and Claoxylon failax is a treatment for arthritis. All this from a single tree....
Vau - Mangrove Hibiscus - hibiscus tiliaceus

Known in Fijian as the vau, Hibiscus tiliaceus or Mangrove Hibiscus is a vital ingredient in the diet of Fiji's endangered crested iguana.

The passage of time and changes in culture cause concern that, one day, knowledge of the traditional uses of Fiji's flora will fade. Hopefully, by maintaining records of the uses, this priceless knowledge will not be lost.

In 1998, Karen Taylor, a Horticultural technician with the Botanical Estate, Taronga Zoo, visited the park to document the flora found within our boundaries.

Her study was a joint project between the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales, Australia, the Zoo Friends of Taronga Zoo, Sydney, the National Trust for Fiji and Kula Eco Park. Over 140 species were recorded and documented.