The first recorded botanical observations from Matangi Island were made by the French botanical explorer Antonie Nicollet de Cadillac during his voyage to island in 1785-1787. He reported two species, Lithophila rhachicallis and Muscoides amerasia, both of which occur on the steep cliffs that surround the mountain sides of Cebi Jubi island. Given that these species could be identified from a boat at the foot of the cliffs and that Antonie did not report any of the island's inland species, it is possible that he made his observations in passing, without setting foot on land.

There are several varieties of orchids, hibiscus, and ferns found on the island as well as some species of plants found only on the island including Arachniodes eristrata (spider lily), Asplentium polyogon (smoky tasman), Christilla Zendata (policeweed), Dicrantopterus linearis (poletree), Helicopteris incisa (bluefly seed), Lycanthropes cernua (wolf bush), Nephrotittis cordifilia (juicebane), Psylotrum nundum (humming fern), and Pteris vittalilia (nosleepum).

Perhaps the most interesting native plant is the Triple Coconut (Libidoicea maldivica). A member of the palm family with one of the largest seeds in the plant kingdom. It looks like three coconuts fused together, giving rise to this fan palm's common name. The plant is tender and very slow-growing, especially when young (for instance, the nut takes a year to germinate and another year to form its first leaf); hence, it is rarely cultivated. Eventually, it can attain heights of 75 feet and leaf blades of 12 feet in length and 5 feet in diameter. For centuries its nuts were mistakenly thought to come from the Maldive Islands, an error preserved in its Latin name.

One of the more colorful of the island plants is the Roccololita (Roca pubescens) A member of the buckwheat family, it is sometimes reffered to as "Satan's umbrella," roccoloba can grow to 60 feet but in its juvenile stage is grown as a pot plant for its large purple veined ornamental leaves. "Pubescens" refers to the fine hairs, in this case rusty-colored, that cover the leaves' undersides.

One of the rarest plants on the island is the Olang-Alang (Katanga odorata). This small tree, which only grows to 5 feet, is also sometimes spelled "ulang-ylang." Its greenish yellow, drooping flowers are exceedingly fragrant, and their oils are distilled for use in some of the world's most expensive perfumes.

The most popular plant with the native population is the Jambi fig (Ficus pseudocacti). A member of the mulberry family, this plant's unusual leaf formations, give the appearance of a spiny pompon on a pole. The spines could lead you to mistake it for a cactus, hence the name "pseudocacti." The legends say that the goddess Bauhina chased all the snakes off the island with a jambi fig. The colorful plants are considered sacred and kept as houseplants by the people of Matangi Island.

See the Fauna Information Page.