Flora of the Coral Sea Islands facts for kids
The Coral Sea Islands are a group of small islands and reefs located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Even though they are small, these islands are home to a variety of plants. The study of these plants is called the Flora of the Coral Sea Islands.
Discovering the Plants of the Coral Sea Islands
The plants found on the Coral Sea Islands belong to 16 different plant families. Within these families, there are 24 types of plants, known as genera, and a total of 26 specific plant species. It's like a unique plant community living on these remote islands.
What Kinds of Plants Grow There?
Most of the plants you'll find on these islands are herbfields. These are areas covered mainly by small, soft-stemmed plants like grasses and herbs. Some islands also have shrubs, which are smaller woody plants, and even low forests, which are areas with short trees.
New Plants Arriving
Out of the 26 plant species, five of them are introduced and naturalised. This means they were brought to the islands by people, perhaps by accident. Once they arrived, they started to grow and spread naturally, becoming a part of the island's plant life.
