Plants of Forest
Endemic Plants of Amami
Examples of endemic species
Amami plants number unusually high in both endemic species and northernmost species limits: 40 and 150, respectively.
The majority of plants in these categories live in the mountain ranges of the south-central areas.
Forests of Amami integrate all of the animals and plants that live there to create what may be called a rare ecosystem.
Amami’s deep forests and the mountain streams cascading from a central basin form plant colonies and communities of landing plants seen nowhere else.
Polystichum obai / Small fern that grows in mossy rocky areas along mountain streams and cliffs.
Nertera yamashitae / Grows on rocks that moss along mountain streams. Blooms with white flowers that are large compared to its extremely small leaves. Discovered in 1995.
Shortia rotundifolia f. amamiana / Perennial herb that blooms white blossoms in summer.
Grows on rocks.
Vaccinium amamianum / Adheres to aged trees in wet forests. Flowers in small, light pink blooms in the rainy season.
Scientific name (plant) Download (pdf:939KB)
Photos / ©Futoshi Hamada
Captions / HORIZON Editorial Office