Vegetation and floristics of the Tongatapu outliers

Abstract

On the 21 small islands located within the northern bays and reef systems of Tongatapu, Tonga, species of terrestrial flora present were identified, and vegetation units and gemorphological features surveyed on 12 that were previously unmapped. A species/ area plot of the data shows that rock islands are consistently more diverse than sand islands. Size of flora is also a function of frequency of human use of islands, which increases with area, and proximity to the mainland. Floristic composition varies from east to west across the group, with increasing shelter provided by the mainland from prevailing winds.