The vegetation and flora of Deal Island, Kent Group

Abstract

There are eight formations mapped for Deal Island comprising forests and woodlands, scrub, sedgeland,grassland and a coastal complex. Tussock grassland, which results from burning and clearing of Allocasuarina forest, occurs on the limestone soils, while the soils formed directly over granite are clothed with Eucalypt-dominated scrub and woodland with a healthy or shrubby understorey. A total of 176 plant taxa are recorded, of which only two are Tasmanian endemics. About one-quarter of the flora comprise exotic species. A distinct Bassian floristic element is present, which includes some Eremean flora.