Included here is Cocos Island situated in the central eastern Pacific about 523 km southwest of Costa Rica. It is the largest uninhabited island in the World with a surface area of some 46.6 square kms.

Cocos Island Cliff Forest

The endemic tree Cecropia pittieri (Urticaceae) is capable of colonizing almost vertical cliffs and is commonly found on coastal slopes. Beneath the trees on coastal slope there is often a dense layer of shrubs and climbing vines. Among the more common shrubs are Clibadium acuminatum, Clidemia hirta, C. umbonata, Miconia dodecandra and the endemic Eugenia pacifica (Myrtaceae).

Cocos Island Coastal Forest

Coastal zone forests are limited to areas below about 50 m in altitude. The main trees include Annona glabra, Cocos nucifera and Erythrina fusca. The shrub layer is largely dominated by species of Rubiaceae and Solanaceae, whereas herbaceous elements include members of the Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Poaceae.

References

Fosberg, F. R. & Klawe, W. L. 1966. Preliminary list of plants from Cocos Island. In: The Galápagos. Proceedings of the Symposia of the Galápagos International Scientific Project. Ed. R. I. Bowman. University of California Press.

Fournier, L. A. 1966. Botany of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. In: The Galápagos. Proceedings of the Symposia of the Galápagos International Scientific Project. Ed. R. I. Bowman. University of California Press.

Hertlein, L. G. 1963. Contribution to the biogeography of Cocos Island, including a bibliography. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. Fourth Series. G. Dallas Anniversary Volume, 32: 219-289.

Mueller-Dombois, D. & Fosberg, F. R. 1998. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands. Springer.