The Ashmore and Cartier Islands have 16 families, 23 genera and 27 species of plants. Four of these species are introduced and naturalised. In addition, two species have been introduced but not naturalised. The vegetation is dominated by shrubs, grasses and creepers. The vast majority of species have seeds that are very easily transported by the wind, birds or the sea.
Flora of Ashmore Reef The following plant taxa occur on the islands of Ashmore Reef: Taxon Common name Remarks Amaranthus interruptus Heliotropium foertherianum Boerhavia albiflora Boerhavia burbidgeana Boerhavia glabrata Boerhavia repens Cassytha filiformis Cenchrus brownii Naturalised Cenchrus ciliaris Naturalised Cleome gynandra Cordia subcordata Tou Digitaria mariannensis Eragrostis elongata Guettarda speciosa Ipomoea macrantha Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis Lepturus repens Portulaca oleracea Common Purslane Naturalised Portulaca tuberosa Scaevola taccada Sesbania cannabina var. cannabina Naturalised Sida pusilla Spinifex littoreus Sporobulus virginicus Suriana maritima Thalassia hemprichii Tribulus cistoides
In addition to these, Zea mays (Maize) and Cocos nucifera (Coconut) have been introduced by visiting Indonesian fishermen as food sources, but these are not naturalised.
Flora of Cartier Island Cartier Island is unvegetated. The only recorded plant is the seagrass Thallassia hemprichii, which forms meadows in pockets of sand among the reef.
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