Māpē, l’arbre cathédrale

Lors d’une visite sur le site du jardin botanique, qui rouvre ses portes en septembre prochain avec un espace scénographique gauguin rénové absolument exceptionnel, nous sommes allés à la rencontre des māpē de Papeari.

© Texte et photos : Agence Smile - Website : www.tahitimagazines.com/

The māpē (Inocarpus fagifer) is a tree native to Southeast Asia that spread throughout the Pacific with the Austronesian migrations.

In the humid valleys of Polynesia, the māpē can reach heights of over thirty metres. Large māpē stands are among the most remarkable forest landscapes found on the high islands. Its young leaves emerge with a coppery hue before turning their characteristic green. The fruits are either harvested directly from the tree (māpē pa’ari) or gathered from the ground (māpē mani’i).

The māpē kernel is not edible raw and must be cooked before consumption. Boiled or roasted, the Tahitian chestnut has long been a valued food resource throughout the Pacific. Even today, boiled māpē are sold along roadsides and in the valleys of Tahiti and Moorea. A food-producing tree, shade tree and soil stabilizer, the māpē played an important role in traditional agroforestry systems.

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Dossier paru dans le magazine Tama’a #39 - Spécial Alimentation - juin 2026.