The flag of French Polynesia is the civil and state flag of the French overseas country French Polynesia. It was adopted in 1984. According to the articles of adoption, the flag of French Polynesia must be displayed with the French tricolor, and may be displayed with the flags of the component archipelagos. The French Polynesian flag must be displayed to the left of the French flag, and the flag of the archipelago must be displayed to its right.
The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tupua'i islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rūrutu, Tupua'i Island proper and Ra'ivāvae, and in the southeast the Bass Islands composed of the main island of Rapa Iti and the small Marotiri. Inhabitants of the islands are known for their pandanus fiber weaving skills. The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines. Austral Islands' population is 6,965 on almost 150 km2 (58 sq mi). The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is Tupua'i.
Austral is an endangered Polynesian language or a dialect continuum that is spoken by approximately 8,000 people (1987). It is spoken only on the Austral Islands and the Society Islands of French Polynesia. The language is also referred to as Tubuai-Rurutu, Tubuai, Rurutu-Tupuai, or Tupuai. In structure, it is similarly compared to Tahitian.
Serianthes rurutensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a tree endemic to the islands of Rurutu and Raivavae in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.
Acalypha raivavensis is a species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is endemic to the islands of Raivavae and Tubuai in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.
Glochidion grantii, also known by the synonym Phyllanthus grantii, is a species of tree or shrub in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the islands of Tahaa and Raiatea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, where it is restricted to montane plateaus and ridge forests at elevations of 435–730 meters.
Glochidion longfieldiae, or kaema in the Rapa language, is a species of tree or shrub in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the island of Rapa in the Austral Islands in French Polynesia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that it is extremely closely related to the tree Glochidion rapaense, which is also endemic to Rapa.
Glochidion papenooense, also known by its synonym Phyllanthus papenooense, is a species of tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tahiti in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, where it is restricted to wetland habitats. Because of its rarity, it is protected by law in French Polynesia.
Glochidion rapaense, also known by its synonym Phyllanthus rapaense, is a species of tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the island of Rapa in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicates that it is extremely closely related to Glochidion longfieldiae, which is also endemic to Rapa.
Glochidion taitense, also known by the synonym Phyllanthus taitensis or as mahame in Tahitian, is a species of tree or shrub in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the Windward Society Islands of French Polynesia. It is common on the island of Tahiti, where it grows in a wide variety of habitats, but has only been collected once on the nearby island of Moorea, only 17 kilometers distant. It is easily distinguishable from other species of Glochidion on Tahiti and Moorea due to the pubescence on its leaves, young branches, and flowers.
Glochidion temehaniense, also known by the synonym Phyllanthus temehaniensis, is a species of tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the Society Islands of French Polynesia, where it is native to the islands of Tahaa, Raiatea, and Huahine. Like all other species of Glochidion, it is pollinated by leafflower moths in the genus Epicephala.
Glochidion tooviianum is a species of tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is endemic to the Toovii Plateau on the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Wagner and Lorence (2011) consider this species to be the same as Phyllanthus marchionicus, as both species are indistinguishable except for the presence of pubescence on G. tooviianum and the absence of pubescence on P. marchionicus/G. marchionicum.
Ixora raivavaensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to Raivavae in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia, hence its name.
Macaranga raivavaeensis is a species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is endemic the islands of Raivavae and Rimatara in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.
Meryta brachypoda is a species of plant in the family Araliaceae. It is native to the islands of Raivavae and Rapa Iti in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia, and to Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Islands.
Pittosporum raivavaeense is a species of plant in the Pittosporaceae family. It is a tree endemic to the island of Raivavae, in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.
Psychotria raivavaensis is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a shrub endemic to the island of Raivavae in the Tubuai Islands of French Polynesia.
Trema discolor is a species of plant in the family Cannabaceae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. It is native to the Society Islands and to Raivavae in the Tubuai Islands.
The Tubuai tropical moist forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion in French Polynesia. It covers the Austral Islands.
