Unlike several other large islands with rich assemblages of palms such as Madagascar, New Caledonia and Cuba, the palm flora of Taiwan is conspicuous by its paucity of genera and species. Just five genera and seven species occur there, with only threegenera and five species on the main island. Two other genera and two species, Livistona chinensis and Pinanga tashiroi, occur on the smaller offshore islands of Guishan and Lanyu respectively. Two additional species, Areca catechu and Cocos nucifera, are cultivated, sometimes commonly so, and have naturalized in many areas, especially in the southeast. Despite their paucity, Taiwan's indigenous palms are interesting, and two, Arenga engleri and Livistona chinensis, are hardy, durable, dependable and widely cultivated ornamentals.
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