Editing Caryota ophiopellis (section)

===Distribution & Habitat:===
Lowland rainforest of Vanuatu's southern Islands; Tanna, and Aneityum.
Tanna is well populated, and here the palm is quite rare,
although occasionally seen by the roadside, and in creek beds.
It is a very long day walk to a small population of 3 palms,
and at least a 2-day walk (i.e. 2 days there, 2 days back)
to any larger populations. The natives grow the palm here,
because of its attractiveness. Aneityum is far less populated,
and consequently is a much wilder and more remote island,
and here the palms are found in much greater numbers.
It is found from sea level up to about 400m, but mainly at sea level,
and often very close to the ocean, where it is subject to salt-spray
and high winds. The soils tend to be rather poor, old volcanic soils.
The climate is cool tropical, with 500 - 600 mm of rain per year,
mostly falling in summer, the winters being rather dry. It is found in
close proximity to 2 other species of palm,
''Veitchia spiralis''
(by far the most common/dominant palm), and
''Carpoxylon macrospermum''.