Included here is Norfolk Island and its small neighbouring islands (Philip Island and Nepean Island).

Norfolkian Coastal Vegetation

Phornium tenax (New Zealand flax) still dominates some of the exposed coastal slopes as seen by Captain Cook when he first discovered the island in 1774. Other native species found on these slopes include the herb Lobelia anceps and several endemic species such as the liliaceous tree Cordyline objecta (Liliaceae) and the shrub Euphorbia norfolkiana (Euphorbiaceae). On the sandy beachs of the south coast (Hunter’s Point) fleshy, creeping herbs of the family Aizoaceae, such as Tetragonia implexicoma, predominate, together with woody plants like the ground-appressed Lagunaria patersonia. Lord Howe Island also shows this preponderance of beach dwelling Aizoaceae. This is different from the beach vegetation of most tropical Pacific islands, which typically support species of Ipomoea, Scaevola and Tournefortia.

References

Green, P. S. 1979. Observations on the phytogeography of New Hebrides, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. In: Plants and Islands. Ed. D. Bramwell. Academic Press.

Lange, P. J. de., Gardner, R. O., Sykes, W. R., Crowcroft, G. M., Cameron, E. K., Stalker, F., M. L. & Braggins, J. E. 2005. Vascular flora of Norfolk Island: some additions and taxonomic notes. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 43: 563-596.

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

Turner, A. J., Smithers, C. N. & Hoogland, R. D. 1975. The conservation of Norfolk Island. Australian Conservation Foundation, Inc. Victoria. Special Publication No. 1.