These essays examine the diverse plant environments of Polynesia, the relationship of plants to Polynesian voyaging, plant introductions, origins of Polynesian cultivars, plant names, agricultural practices, and use of specific plants by Polynesians.

The dream of becoming a beachcomber on some distant tropical shore has always held a particular fascination for Westerners. To be able to spend one's day relaxing under a tropical sun and walking a palm-covered beach bordering a blue lagoon has seemed like the ideal escape from the everyday pressures of the hurried lifestyle of our Western world. Ever since its European discovery, Polynesia has captivated the imagination of adventurers looking for an island paradise. Now, with the age of jet travel, a visit to the islands is no longer an impossible dream. Every year thousands of people fly to the South Pacific to spend their vacation in the tropical sun. One of the most remarkable features of Polynesia is the vast array of exotic flowers to be found growing everywhere in profusion. For those who are interested in nature, the easiest way to identify these exotic species is by using an illustrated book on tropical flowers. There are already a number of such books available, but most of these deal only with cultivated ornamental plants such as hibiscus, frangipani, and jasmine. These are well-suited to those who do not go beyond the confines of their hotel or local tourist attractions. But it is for those who seek out nature, away from the hotels, aways from the tourist attractions, or even away from civilization, that this book is intended.

This book is about the useful plants of the Pacific islanders, with special emphasis on plants used by Polynesians. A total of ninety-six plants are included, listed in alphabetical order by scientific name, followed by a paragraph that includes Polynesian names and their origins and the English name if any. Range, habitat, uses of the plant, and a botanical description of the species are also included for each entry.

Written by the leading authorities on the plant diversity and ecology of the Pacific islands, this book is a magisterial synthesis of the vegetation and landscapes of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is organized by island group, and includes information on geography, geology, phytogeographic relationships, and human influences on vegetation. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands features over 400 color photographs, plus dozens of maps and climate diagrams. The authors’ efforts in assembling the existing information into an integrated, comprehensive book will be welcomed by biogeographers, plant ecologists, conservation biologists, and all scientists with an interest in island biology.

"The aim of this book is to present a picture of past and present Polynesian medicinal plants. Although several books have been published on herbal medicine in Polynesia, these are either limited in geographic scope (mostly to Hawai'i) or are unscientific in basis. Restricting the study of herbal medicine to a single Polynesian island or archipelago is a disadvantage because the early accounts of medicinal practices are so sketchy. A more comprehensive approach is rewarding because so much can be learned from the similarities among the various Polynesian cultures. A scientific approach is necessary because of the nature of the subject--medicine and plants. "To establish a comprehensive and scientific basis for this book, three types of research were conducted: (1) an extensive review of the literature on Polynesia; (2) interviews with scores of Polynesian healers in Hawai'i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti. the Cook Islands, and Tokelau; and (3) botanical collecting work in Polynesia over a twenty-year period, involving over forty research trips to the South Pacific." --from the Preface

"Wayside Plants of the Islands has been designed as a guide book to the identification of the most common plant species encountered in the lowlands of the Pacific Islands. It is based upon the author's 25 years of botanical excursions in Hawai'i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Guam, Belau (Palau), and the other Pacific Islands. The lowlands here have been highly disturbed and are now entirely dominated by "alien" weedy species. This guide book includes color photos of 170 of the most common of these lowland species, with descriptions and other pertinent information. Most of the plants covered are widespread species that may be found in any part of the tropics, so this book is useful throughout the tropical Pacific and beyond."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

"This book is for the person who lives in the tropics or subtropics and is interested in native plants, who wants to know about plants that are useful, who loves to watch plants grow, and who is willing to work with them. Such a person might ask questions like, Where will they grow? How do I grow them? Are they good to eat? How are they used? What are their names? These questions and more are answered here."--Préface