Parr’s Parkia (Parkia parrii)

Parr’s Parkia was described in 1883, it is known only from the type collection that was allegedly made on the enigmatic ‘Parr’s Coffee Plantation’ somewhere along the Rewa River on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji, a locality that now cannot be traced anymore. 

According the the information accompanying the type, however, it was also found on the island of Vanua Levu.

The species was described as being an about 21 m tall tree with a 12 m tall trunk, the finely divided leaves are said to be about 30 cm long with six to eight opposite pairs of 10 to 12,5 cm long pinnae, which again bear about 1,6 to 1,9 cm long opposite leaflets.

The Fijian name was said to be vaivai, which is a generic name given to many legume species with finely divided leaves. [1]

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References:

[1] Helen C. Fortune Hopkins: The Indo-Pacific species of Parkia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae). Kew Bulletin 49(2): 181-234. 1994

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edited: 10.05.2019