Lawai - National Tropical Botanical Garden (McBryde and Allerton Gardens)

Developed about 20 years ago, the Botanical Garden is combined with a research station for tropical plants. It is the only garden of its type in the U.S. and is recognized, according to a charter of the U.S. Congress, as a public institution. However, it is funded privately. The Botanical Garden can only be visited as part of a tour, part of which is undertaken by vehicle. As a result, no more than 15 people can join the tour at any one time. It is imperative to book a day ahead of a planned visit.

The long, narrow garden, which covers just under 1/2sq.mile/1sq.km, stretches to the Pacific. The Lawai, a small river, bisects the garden. As both endangered and useful tropical plants are grown here, there are a considerable number of plant varieties on view. Only part of the extensive selection can be mentioned here - about 800 types of palm; about 60 different banana plants; coconut trees, a large number of ginger bushes with different colored flowers; herbs such as cardamom from Southern India; cloves from the Spice Islands; Jamaican pepper and other spices; native bread fruit trees; Java plums; the similarly native taro and countless tropical flowers with anthuria.