• Samoan youth in traditional clothing.

    National Park of American Samoa

    American Samoa

Checklist of the Higher Plants and Ferns

Native orchids are commonplace in the park's montane forest.
Native orchids are commonplace in the park's montane forest.
NPS | TAVITA TOGIA

Click here to use the Checklist of the park's Higher Plants and Ferns. This is the current list of park plants, and has some illustrations.

The species lists are kept at the Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (PI CESU), University of Hawaii. The National Park Service is an active member of the PI CESU.

At the species lists checklists there is a link to return to the park website at the bottom left footnote.

Did You Know?

Underwater close up of a green sea turtle swimming

In Samoan folklore, sea turtles were believed to have the power to save fishermen lost at sea by bringing them safely to shore. The Samoan word for sea turtle, “I'a sa,” translates literally to “sacred fish,” presumably because of this ability.  Sadly, sea turtles here are now endangered.