List of endemic plants in the Mariana Islands

The Mariana Islands are a beautiful group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean, part of a larger area called Micronesia. This area is known for its rich plant life, with many plants found nowhere else in the world. In fact, Micronesia has ten times more unique plant species than a place like Hawaii!

In 2012, scientists Craig M. Costion and David H. Lorence studied the plants in the Mariana Islands. They found that there were 22 special plants that only grew there. Eleven of these grew only on Guam, the biggest island, while five grew in the northern part of the Marianas.

Since that study, scientists have found even more special plants in the Marianas. With new discoveries and better ways to study plants, we now know there are many more unique plants than we thought before. These special plants help tell us about the history and environment of the Mariana Islands, making them important for scientists and nature lovers alike.

Plants endemic to the Mariana Islands

The following list includes plants that grow only in the Mariana Islands. The Mariana Islands include Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI).

Only plants that are officially recognized are included in this list. Some older names that are still used are listed next to the current name.

This list was made using information from the Plants of the World Online, updated in February 2026. It might not include every plant and may not show recent changes.

Plants are listed starting with those that grow in the smallest areas.

Image	Scientific name	Chamorro name(s)	Order	Native distribution	Conservation status
	Terminalia rostrata Fosberg & Falanruw		Myrtales	Asuncion
	Leptecophylla mariannensis (Kaneh.) C.M.Weiller		Ericales	Alamagan
	Psychotria hombroniana (Baill.) Fosberg Psychotria hombroniana var. mariannensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg Psychotria hombroniana var. ladronica (Hosok.) Fosberg Psychotria hombroniana var. hombroniana	Aplokating-palaoan	Rubiales	Psychotria hombroniana: Marianas, Caroline Islands var. mariannensis: Alamagan var. ladronica (Hosok.) Fosberg: Rota var. hombroniana: Marianas
	Osmoxylon mariannense (Kaneh.) Fosberg & Sachet	No known common name	Apiales	Rota	Critically endangered (IUCN) Endangered (USFWS)
	Nesogenes rotensis Fosberg & D.R.Herbst	No known common name	Lamiales	Rota	Endangered (USFWS)
	Derris mariannensis Hosok.		Fabales	Rota
	Psychotria rotensis Kaneh. Psychotria rotensis var. rotensis		Gentianales	Psychotria rotensis: Marianas, Caroline Islands Psychotria rotensis var. rotensis: Rota	Psychotria rotensis is considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam)
	Croton saipanensis Hosok.		Euphorbiales	Saipan
	Mucuna pacifica Hosok.		Fabales	Saipan
	Phreatia ladronica Tuyama		Asparagales	Saipan
	Hedyotis scabridifolia Kaneh. Hedyotis scabridifolia var. scabridifolia Hedyotis scabridifolia var. stonei Fosberg		Gentianales	Hedyotis scabridifolia:Marianas var. scabridifolia: Saipan var. stonei: Rota, Guam
	Pogostemon guamensis Lorence & W.L.Wagner	No known common name	Lamiales	Guam (northern limestone cliff faces)	Critically endangered (preliminarily)
	Tinospora homosepala Diels	No known common name	Ranunculales	Guam	Endangered (USFWS)
	Hedyotis megalantha Merr.	Paudedo	Gentianales	Guam	Endangered (USFWS)
	Eugenia bryanii Kaneh.	No known common name	Myrtales	Guam	Endangered (USFWS)
	Psychotria malaspinae Merr.	Aplokating-palaoan	Gentianales	Guam	Endangered (USFWS)
	Elatostema divaricatum (Gaudich.) Fosberg		Rosales	Guam
	Elatostema stenophyllum Merr.		Rosales	Guam
	Dianella saffordiana Fosberg & Sachet		Asparagales	Guam
	Potamogeton marianensis Cham. & Schltdl.		Alismatales	Guam
	Psychotria andersonii Fosberg		Gentianales	Guam
	Digitaria gaudichaudii (Kunth) Henrard		Poales	Guam
	Schleinitzia fosbergii Nevling & Niezgoda		Fabales	Guam
	Allophylus holophyllus Radlk.	Nget	Ericales	Guam
	Rhaphidophora guamensis P.C.Boyce		Araceae	Guam
	Timonius nitidus (Bartl. ex DC.) Fern.-Vill.	Maholoc layu	Gentianales	Guam
	Syzygium guamense Byng		Myrtales	Guam
	Bulbophyllum raulersoniae Deloso, Paulino & Cootes		Asparagales	Guam	Proposed by Deloso et al. to be listed as endangered
	Peperomia mariannensis f. saipana (C.DC.) Fosberg		Piperales	Tinian, Saipan (forma saipana) (the species Peperomia mariannensis is endemic to the Marianas and Palau)
	Crepidium alamaganense (S.Kobay.) T.Yukawa (synonym: Malaxis alamaganensis)		Asparagales	Northern Marianas
	Dendrobium oblongimentum Hosok. & Fukuy.		Asparagales	Guam (northern), Rota
	Serianthes nelsonii Merr.	Håyun lågu (Guam) Trongkon guåfi (Rota)	Fabales	Guam, Rota	Endangered (USFWS)
	Bulbophyllum guamense Ames	Siboyas hålom tåno	Asparagales	Guam, Rota	Threatened (USFWS)
	Thelypteris gretheri (W.H.Wagner) B.C.Stone (synonym: Cyclosorus gretheri)		Polypodiales	Guam, Rota
	Thelypteris guamensis (Holttum) Fosberg & Sachet (synonym: Cyclosorus guamensis)		Polypodiales	Guam, Rota
	Tabernaemontana rotensis (Kaneh.) B.C.Stone (considered by POWO to be a synonym of the more widespread Tabernaemontana pandacaqui although it was determined by USFWS, using genetic analysis, to be a distinct species.	No known common name	Gentianales	Guam, Rota	Threatened (USFWS) (Tabernaemontana rotensis)
	Syzygium thompsonii	Atoto	Myrtales	Guam, Rota, Saipan
	Dischidia puberula Decne.		Gentianales	Guam, Rota, Saipan
	Solanum guamense Merr.	Berenghenas halomtano	Solanales	Marianas	Endangered (USFWS)
	Phyllanthus saffordii Merr.	No known common name	Malpighiales	Marianas	Endangered (USFWS)
	Hedyotis laciniata Kaneh.		Gentianales	Marianas	Considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam)
	Claoxylon marianum Müll.Arg.	Katot	Malpighiales	Marianas	Considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam)
	Nervilia jacksoniae Rinehart & Fosberg	No known common name	Asparagales	Marianas	Threatened (USFWS)
	Maesa walkeri Fosberg & Sachet	No known common name	Ericales	Marianas	Threatened (USFWS)
	Dendrobium guamense Ames	No known common name	Asparagales	Marianas	Threatened (USFWS)
	Trachoma guamense (Ames) Garay (synonym: Tuberolabium guamense)	No known common name	Asparagales	Marianas	Threatened (USFWS)
	Canavalia megalantha Merr.		Fabales	Marianas
	Jasminum marianum DC.	Banago	Lamiales	Marianas
	Eugenia palumbis Merr.	Agatelang	Myrtales	Marianas
	Drypetes dolichocarpa Kaneh.(synonym: Drypetes rotensis)	Mwelel	Malpighiales	Marianas
	Macaranga thompsonii Merr.	Pengua	Malpighiales	Marianas
	Ochrosia mariannensis A.DC. Ochrosia mariannensis var. mariannensis Ochrosia mariannensis var. crassicarpa Fosberg & Falanruw	Langiti	Gentianales	Marianas var. mariannensis (Marianas) var. crassicarpa (Saipan)
	Discocalyx megacarpa Merr.	Otot	Ericales	Marianas
	Discocalyx ladronica Mez		Ericales	Marianas
	Piper guahamense C.DC.	Pupúlu aniti	Piperales	Marianas
	Piper salicinum Opiz		Piperales	Marianas
	Ischaemum longisetum Merr.		Poales	Marianas
	Cyrtandra agrihanensis Ohba		Lamiales	Marianas
	Premna mariannarum Schauer		Lamiales	Marianas
	Premna paulobarbata H.J.Lam		Lamiales	Marianas
	Corchorus tiniannensis Hosok.		Malvales	Marianas
	Grammatophyllum schmidtianum Schltr.		Asparagales	Marianas
	Bikkia longicarpa Valeton		Gentianales	Marianas
	Allophylus laetus Radlk.		Sapindales	Marianas
	Tarenna sambucina var. glabra (Merr.) Fosberg & Sachet	Smagdara	Gentianales	Marianas
	Callicarpa lamii Hosok.		Lamiales	Marianas (Guam, Rota, Aguiguan, Tinian, Saipan, Alamagan, Pagan, Agrihan)
	Callicarpa candicans var. paucinervia (Merr.) Fosberg	Hamlag	Lamiales	Marianas

Plants endemic to the Pacific islands, including the Mariana Islands

This list includes plants that grow naturally in the Mariana Islands and also in other parts of Micronesia or the Pacific islands. Plants that grow in Asia are not included here.

Only plants that are officially recognized by the Plants of the World Online database are on this list. Some older names are also mentioned if people still use them. The list may not be complete and might not include the newest plant names.

The plants are listed starting with those that grow in the smallest areas.

Image	Scientific name	Chamorro name(s)	Order	Native Distribution	Conservation status
	Phreatia thompsonii Ames		Asparagales	Guam, Pohnape
	Meryta senfftiana Volkens		Apiales	Saipan to Caroline Islands
	Phyllanthus marianus Müll.Arg.	Gaogao uchan	Malpighiales	Marianas to Caroline Islands (Ulithi)
	Psychotria mariana Bartl. ex DC.	Aplokating	Gentianales	Marianas to Caroline Islands (Fais)
	Ixora triantha Volkens	Guaguat	Gentianales	Marianas, Caroline Islands (Yap)
	Elaeocarpus joga Merr.	Yoga	Oxalidales	Marianas, Caroline Islands (Palau)
	Zeuxine fritzii Schltr.		Asparagales	Marianas, Caroline Islands (Palau)
	Zeuxine ovata (Gaudich.) Garay & W.Kittr.		Asparagales	Marianas, Caroline Islands (Palau)
	Artocarpus mariannensis Trécul	Dugdug	Rosales	Marianas to Caroline Islands (Palau)
	Heritiera longipetiolata Kaneh.	Ufa hålom tåno'	Malvales	Marianas to Caroline Islands (Pohnpei)	Endangered (USFWS)
	Glochidion marianum Müll.Arg. (synonym: Phyllanthus mariannensis)	Chosgu	Malpighiales	Guam and Caroline Islands
	Taeniophyllum marianense Schltr.		Asparagales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Hedyotis fruticulosa (Volkens) Merr.		Gentianales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Ficus microcarpa var. saffordii (Merr.) Corner	Nunu (same common name as Ficus prolixa)	Rosales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Tephrosia mariana DC.		Fabales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Sporobolus farinosus Hosok.		Poales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Coelogyne guamensis Ames		Asparagales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Thelypteris maemonensis (W.H.Wagner & Grether) B.C.Stone (synonym: Cyclosorus maemonensis)		Polypodiales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Elatostema calcareum Merr.	Tupun ayuyu	Rosales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Xylosma nelsonii Merr.		Malpighialies	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Gymnosporia thompsonii Merr. (synonym: Maytenus thompsonii)	Luluhot	Celastrales	Marianas to Caroline Islands
	Aglaia mariannensis Merr.	Mapuñao	Sapindales	Marianas to Caroline Islands
	Melastoma malabathricum var. mariannum (Naudin) Fosberg & Sachet	Gafao	Myrtales	Marianas, Caroline Islands
	Sphaeropteris aramaganensis (Kaneh.) R.M.Tryon		Cyatheales	South Kazan-retto to Marianas
	Digitaria mezii Kaneh.		Poales	Marianas, New Guinea
	Cycas micronesica K.D.Hill	Fadang	Cycadales	Marianas, Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands)	Endangered (IUCN); Threatened (USFWS)
	Melochia villosissima (C.Presl) Merr.	Sayåfii	Malvales	Kazan-retto (Minami-Iōtō) to northwestern Pacific (Caroline Is., Marianas)
	Myoporum boninense Koidz.		Lamiales	Ogasawara-shoto, Marianas, New South Wales
	Ixora casei Hance		Gentianales	Northwest Pacific to Gilbert Islands (Caroline Is., Gilbert Is., Marianas, Marshall Is.)
	Dendrocnide latifolia (Gaudich.) Chew	Kahtat	Rosales	Solomon Islands to W. Pacific (Caroline Is., Marianas, New Caledonia, Solomon Is., Vanuatu)
	Freycinetia reineckei Warb.	Fianiti	Pandanales	Western Pacific (Caroline Is., Marianas, Samoa, Vanuatu)
	Myrtella bennigseniana (Volkens) Diels		Myrtales	Marianas, Caroline Is., New Guinea
	Hernandia labyrinthica Tuyama		Laurales	Marianas, New Guinea, Solomon Is.
	Medinilla medinillana (Gaudich.) Fosberg & Sachet		Myrtales	Sulawesi, Maluku New Guinea, and Marianas
	Leptopetalum foetidum (G.Forst.) Neupane & N.Wikstr.		Gentianales	Cook Is., Fiji, Marianas, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu
	Vitex cofassus Reinw. ex Blume		Lamiaceae	Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Maluku, Marianas, New Guinea, Solomon Is., Sulawesi
	Ficus prolixa G.Forst.	Nunu (same common name as Ficus microcarpa var. microcarpa)	Moraceae	Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Line Is., Marianas, Marquesas, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Society Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.
	Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume) DC.	A'abang	Myrtales	Jawa (Kangean Island) to Pacific (Borneo, Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Hawaii, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, New Guinea, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Queensland, Samoa, Society Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Western Australia)
	Merrilliodendron megacarpum (Hemsl.) Sleumer	Faniok	Icacinales	Philippines to W. Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Marianas, New Guinea, Philippines, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Vanuatu)
	Capparis spinosa subsp. cordifolia (Lam.) Fici (synonym: Capparis mariana)	Atkåpares	Brassicales	Central Malesia to western and southern Pacific (Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Lesser Sunda Is., Marianas, Marshall Is., Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Society Is., Solomon Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)
	Grewia prunifolia A.Gray	Agilau	Malvales	Cook Is., Fiji, Marianas, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Society Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.
	Gynochthodes myrtifolia (synonym: Morinda umbellata var. glandulosa (Merr.) Fosberg)		Gentianales	G. myrtifolia: western and southern Pacific (Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Marianas, Marquesas, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Society Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)	Considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam) (listed as Morinda umbellata)
	Heliotropium anomalum Hook. & Arn.		Boraginales	Caroline Is., Cook Is., Hawaii, Line Is., Marianas, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Society Is., Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Wake I.
	Geniostoma rupestre var. glaberrimum (Benth.) B.J.Conn	Måhlok håyu Anasser	Gentianales	Solomon Islands to western and southern Pacific (Caroline Is., Fiji, Marianas, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Society Is., Tonga, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)
	Solanum repandum G.Forst. (synonym: Solanum mariannense)		Solanales	Bismarck Archipelago, Cook Is., Fiji, Marianas, Marquesas, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Society Is., Vanuatu (Solanum mariannense previously reported to be endemic to Rota)
	Sphaeropteris lunulata (G.Forst.) R.M.Tryon (often listed as its synonym, Cyathea lunulata (G.Forst.) Copel.	Chacha	Cyatheales	Bismarck Archipelago to western Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Fiji, Marianas, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)	Cyathea lunulata (synonymous name) is considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam)
	Cocos nucifera L.	Niyok (coconut)	Arecales	Central Malesia to SW. Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Maluku, New Guinea, Philippines, Queensland, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Tonga, Vanuatu)
	Bikkia tetrandra (L.f.) A.Rich.	Gausali	Gentianales	New Guinea to western Pacific (Caroline Is., Fiji, Marianas, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Solomon Is., Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)
	Polyscias macgillivrayi (Benth.) Harms Synonym: Polyscias grandifolia	Pepega	Apiales	New Guinea to western Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Gilbert Is., Marianas, New Guinea, Queensland, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is.)
	Meiogyne cylindrocarpa (Burck) Heusden	Paipai	Magnoliales	Malesia to Marianas and N. Australia (Borneo, Jawa, Marianas, New Guinea, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Vanuatu, Western Australia)
	Paratrophis pendulina (Endl.) E.M.Gardner (synonym: Streblus pendulinus)		Rosales	E. New Guinea to E. Australia and Pacific (Caroline Is., Fiji, Hawaii, Marianas, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, Norfolk Is., Queensland, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu)
	Psydrax odoratus subsp. odoratus		Gentianales	Caroline Is., Fiji, Hawaii, Marianas, Marquesas, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Pitcairn Is., Society Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu
	Schoenus maschalinus Roem. & Schult.		Cyperaceae	Chatham Is., Marianas, New Guinea, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Philippines, Queensland, South Australia, Sumatera, Tasmania, Victoria
	Tristiropsis acutangula (synonym, Tristiropsis obtusangula)	Fai'a	Sapindales	Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Caroline Is., Christmas I., Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Marianas, New Guinea, Philippines, Queensland, Solomon Is., Sulawesi
	Trichomanes atrovirens (C.Presl) Kunze		Hymenophyllaceae	Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Maluku, Nansei-shoto, New Guinea, New South Wales, Norfolk Is., Philippines, Queensland, Santa Cruz Is., Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Vanuatu
	Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth.		Gentianales	Papuasia to Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Marianas, Marquesas, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Queensland, Samoa, Society Is., Solomon Is., Tonga, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)
	Asplenium laserpitiifolium Lam.		Polypodiales	Nansei-shoto to Malesia and Pacific (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Fiji, Kazan-retto, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Nansei-shoto, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Ogasawara-shoto, Philippines, Queensland, Samoa, Society Is., Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Tonga, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)	Considered a rare plant on Guam by GPEPP (University of Guam)
	Alyxia stellata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Roem. & Schult.	Lodosong lahe Nanago	Gentianales	Northeast Queensland to Pacific (Caroline Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Hawaii, Marianas, Marquesas, New Caledonia, Niue, Pitcairn Is., Queensland, Samoa, Society Is., Solomon Is., Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Wallis-Futuna Is.)
	Pandanus tectorius Parkinson	Kafo Aggag	Pandanales	Philippines to Pacific and eastern Australia (Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Hawaii, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, Niue, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Queensland, Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Society Is., Solomon Is., Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wake I., Wallis-Futuna Is.)

Plants formerly considered or currently proposed to be endemic to the Mariana Islands

Some plants were once thought to only grow in the Mariana Islands, but they are no longer considered special to the area according to a big plant database. This list includes those plants. There are also some plants that scientists think might be new or different types, but they haven’t been officially recognized yet.