Island flora

Surrounded by wide, blue ocean, islands are home to a surprising diversity of plants. These unique environments are very fragile and easily disturbed by natural or human activity, and particularly by non-native invasive plants.

Around 80 islands in the world are considered to be biodiversity ‘hotspots’, including Madagascar, Cuba, Hawaii, Fiji, and the whole Caribbean chain of islands.

Look out for:

Sophora toromiro – a small tree extinct in its native Easter Island. It now only exists in botanic gardens. It is hoped that working together such gardens can re-introduce this species.

Did you know?
St Helena Gumwood (Commidendrum robustum) is
St Helena’s national tree. Once threatened by human activity, a Millennium Gumwood Forest of 4000 trees has been recently planted in an area that was once severely degraded.

Weblinks
The Overseas Territories Conservation Forum
Botanic Gardens Conservation International

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