Editing Pritchardia mitiaroana (section)

===A Visitors Experience:===
by '''Jim Driese''' from '''Seattle'''

I visited Mitiaro in October 2003. When I planned my trip, I had
the choice of several islands but the fact that Mitiaro is home to
the only endemic palm tree in the Cook Islands and I was unable to
find photographs of this plant anywhere on the 'net were factors in
my choosing this island. Unfortunately, I was only there for two nights;
three to six nights would have been better. It wasn't difficult finding the trees
-- I proceeded south from the main settlement on the circle island road and
there was a large sign marking the trailhead leading to the Iniao
(pronounced "een yow" the maori name for this palm tree). It was about a
20 minute walk across razor sharp makatea (fossilized coral) to a small grove
of about 5 mature trees and one juvenile specimen approximately 7 feet tall.

Mature specimens are about 20 - 30 feet tall with smooth trunks about 2 feet in diameter;
having seen many specimens of genus pritchardia in various Hawaii botanic gardens,
they looked much as I expected them to but I was surprised at how large they were.
Surrounding these groves was an inpenetrable thicket of Pandanu atop maketea while
the groves themselves were free of the jagged coral. The trail continued for about
a 100 yards to a second and larger grove of about a dozen mature specimens and
some immature ones. I took a circle island tour with a private guide and he pointed
out a single isolated specimen in the distance remarking that there used to be a trail
to it but it was overgrown.

Rumor has it that many visitors from Rarotonga have tried to grow this tree from
seed back home without success. It's entirely possible that the three aforementioned
groves represent the entire population but it is also possible that there are some
isolated inaccessible groves nearby. None of the locals knew of any so all indications
are that this is an extremely rare palm tree.

The palms are in good condition and Mitiaro has relatively few of the invasive plants
and birds that plague the other islands in the southern Cooks. It was nice not seeing
any Myna birds and the Mitiaro airport does more thorough checks for invasive species
than any of the other islands I visited including the international airport in Rarotonga.