Included here is Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides) which forms a Y shaped archipelago in the South Pacific of more than 80 islands, the largest of which is Espiritu Santo.

Vanuatu Montane Cloud Forest

These forests range from about 500-1000 m in altitude and so confined to the highest mountains in Vanuatu such as the southeast slopes of Pico Santo (1704 m) and the eastern side of Tabwemasana (1879 m). On smaller islands such as Anatom they develop at about 300 m. They are all characterized by stunted, gnarled trees covered in bryophytes and filmy ferns. The main tree genera are Ascarina, Geissois, Metrosideros, Quintinia, Syzygium and Weinmannia. Also tree ferns of Cyathea and Dicksonia are locally common together with various other large ferns. The endemic palm Clinostigma harlandii (Arecaceae) may also be present but appears to be confined to the islands of Ambrym, Anatom and Erromango. Many of the tree crowns are covered with epiphytic orchids, particularly species of Dendrobium, and ferns. Astelia (Liliaceae) is another conspicuous epiphyte. Lianas, on the other hand, are less numerous but include the pandanaceous climber Freycinetia. Scattered among the trees are various herbaceous patches with plants such as large leaved Gunnera, the grass Isachne and the sedge Machaerina. Shrubs such as Eurya, Gaultheria, Pipturus and Vaccinium can also be found in these treeless, herbaceous zones.

References

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Chew, W. L. 1975. The phanerogamic flora of the New Hebrides and its relationships. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, B272: 315-328.

Dowe, J. L. & Cabalion, P. 1996. A Taxonomic Account of the Arecaceae in Vanuatu with descriptions of three new species. Australian Systematic Botany, 9: 1-60.

Guillaumin, A. 1931. Contribution to the flora of the New Hebrides. Plants collected by S. F. Kajewski in 1928 and 1929. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 12: 221-264.

Guillaumin, A. 1932. Contribution to the flora of the New Hebrides. Plants collected by S. F. Kajewski in 1928 and 1929. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 13: 1-29.

Guillaumin, A. 1932. Contribution to the flora of the New Hebrides. Plants collected by S. F. Kajewski in 1928 and 1929. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 13: 81-126.

Guillaumin, A. 1933. Contribution to the flora of the New Hebrides. Plants collected by S. F. Kajewski in 1928 and 1929. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 14: 53-61.

Guillaumin, A. 1938. A florula of the island of Espiritu Santo, one of the New Hebrides. Journal of the Linnean Society, London, 51: 547-566.

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.

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

Schmid, E. 1975. La flore at la végétation de la partie méridionale de l’Archipel des Nouvelles Hébrides. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, B272: 329-342.

Schmid, M. 1978. The Melanesian forest ecosystems (New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji Islands and Solomon Islands. In: Tropical forest ecosystems. Natural Resources Research Vol. XIV. UNESCO