05 Common Plants That You Can See in Maldives - Savour a slice of nature in the tropical island paradise

The common coconut palm is the national tree of the Maldives and, without a doubt, the most-seen plant in the whole of the island nation. No list of common plants in the Maldives would be complete without the common coconut palm. The towering, swaying palms line the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean islands, inviting you to relax and unwind in the shade, whilst taking in the charming seaside ambience. While coconut palms make for relaxing beach basking for tourists, it is a tree full of purpose for locals, which also has given the tree the moniker, "Tree of Life".

Noni fruit that Noni trees bear can be widely seen throughout the island nation of Maldives, but they are hardly eaten by locals. These trees grow up to a height of 5 to 10 feet and have bright green leaves. Despite its strong odour and strange relish that make people steer clear of noni fruits, it is believed that they have many anti-cancer properties, making the fruit one of the healthiest foods one can try on their getaway to the Maldives.

Screwpine — or Kashikeyo, as they are known locally — is the second most common plant in the Maldives after coconut palms. They can be seen on almost all the islands of the archipelagic nation and could be immediately recognised from their distinctive prop roots and long narrow leaves. The leaves are spirally arranged in clusters, which has given the plant its appealing moniker, screwpine. While they are undoubtedly a widely seen plant throughout the tropical islands, they can be mostly seen during the Maldives' monsoon.

Found mostly in homesteads and gardens, the java apple is one of the most delicious fruits that one could try in the Maldives. Despite having the word "apple" in its name, java apples are nothing like regular apples. They can be found in a variety of pink hues and have a bell-like shape, inside of which is the sweet, cotton-candy-like flesh, which is rather similar to that of a watermelon, but pure white. Be sure to throw out the seed or two in the middle of the fruit, because unlike the fruit itself, its seeds are utterly bitter.

Yellow-hued, elongated, edible fruit; the banana hardly needs an introduction in all parts of the world and is widely popular in tropical countries. And without any exception, you could find a plethora of banana trees throughout the Indian Ocean islands of Maldives. Restaurants, resorts, and all-inclusive hotels in Maldives, including the likes of Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, is sure to serve scores of delicious dishes incorporating banana.