Plants native to Society Is.

We document 199 of the 586 species Kew’s World Checklist records as native to Society Is.. Native means native: introduced, extinct and doubtful records are excluded, so this is where these plants are from, not everywhere they now grow.

Documented 199 Native, per Kew 586 Coverage 34% TDWG SCI

Best documented by photographic coverage

Every documented species 199 native to Society Is.

SpeciesAuthorityFamily Photographs
Abrodictyum caudatum (Brack.) Ebihara & K.Iwats. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae 8
Acrostichum aureum L. Pteridaceae 8
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Pteridaceae 8
Adiantum hispidulum Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Alyxia stellata Roem. & Schult. Apocynaceae 8
Angiopteris evecta (Forst.) Hoffm. Marattiaceae 8
Antrophyum callifolium Blume Pteridaceae 8
Arachniodes aristata (G.Forst.) Tindale Dryopteridaceae 8
Arthropteris palisotii (Desv.) Alston Arthropteridaceae 8
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Becherer Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium australasicum Hook. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium caudatum G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium laserpitiifolium Lam. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium obtusatum G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium polyodon G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Asplenium tenerum G.Forst. Aspleniaceae 8
Austroblechnum patersonii (R.Br.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich Blechnaceae 8
Barringtonia asiatica Kurz Lecythidaceae 8
Bischofia javanica Blume Phyllanthaceae 8
Blechnopsis orientalis (L.) C.Presl Blechnaceae 8
Boerhavia glabrata Blume Nyctaginaceae 8
Calanthe triplicata (P.Willemet) Ames Orchidaceae 8
Canavalia cathartica Thouars Fabaceae 8
Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC. Fabaceae 8
Canavalia sericea A.Gray Fabaceae 8
Capparis spinosa L. Capparaceae 8
Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae 8
Carex uncinata L.f. Cyperaceae 8
Cassytha filiformis L. Lauraceae 8
Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. Poaceae 8
Centipeda minima (L.) A.Braun & Asch. Asteraceae 8
Centotheca lappacea (L.) Desv. Poaceae 8
Cerbera manghas L. Apocynaceae 8
Cerbera odollam Gaertn. Apocynaceae 8
Cheilanthes nudiuscula (R.Br.) T.Moore Pteridaceae 8
Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy Thelypteridaceae 8
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin. Poaceae 8
Colubrina asiatica Brongn. Rhamnaceae 8
Cordia subcordata Lam. Cordiaceae 8
Coriaria ruscifolia L. Coriariaceae 8
Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinw.) Blume Orchidaceae 8
Crepidomanes parvulum (Poir.) Nivart, Senterre & Dubuisson Hymenophyllaceae 8
Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H.Itô Thelypteridaceae 8
Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus javanicus Houtt. Cyperaceae 8
Cyperus mindorensis (Steud.) Huygh Cyperaceae 8
Cyrtosperma merkusii (Hassk.) Schott Araceae 8
Davallia repens (L.f.) Kuhn Davalliaceae 8
Davallia solida (Forst.) Sw. Davalliaceae 8
Decalobanthus peltatus (L.) A.R.Simões & Staples Convolvulaceae 8
Dendrocnide photiniphylla (Kunth) Chew Urticaceae 8
Dennstaedtia scandens (Blume) Moore Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.f.) Underw. Gleicheniaceae 8
Didymoglossum tahitense (Nadeaud) Ebihara & K.Iwats. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Digitaria radicosa (J.Presl) Miq. Poaceae 8
Digitaria setigera Roth Poaceae 8
Diplaziopsis javanica (Blume) C.Chr. Diplaziopsidaceae 8
Diplopterygium glaucum (Thunb. ex Houtt.) Nakai Gleicheniaceae 8
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Sapindaceae 8
Doryopteris concolor (Langsd. & Fisch.) Kuhn & Decken Pteridaceae 8
Ehrharta diplax F.Muell. Poaceae 8
Eleocharis geniculata (L.) Roem. & Schult. Cyperaceae 8
Epipremnum aureum (Linden & André) G.S.Bunting Araceae 8
Erythrina variegata L. Fabaceae 8
Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume) DC. Myrtaceae 8
Euphorbia atoto G.Forst. Euphorbiaceae 8
Fagraea berteroana A.Gray ex Benth. Gentianaceae 8
Ficus tinctoria G.Forst. Moraceae 8
Fimbristylis cymosa R.Br. Cyperaceae 8
Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl Cyperaceae 8
Fimbristylis ferruginea (L.) Vahl Cyperaceae 8
Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudich. Cyperaceae 8
Freycinetia arborea Gaudich. Pandanaceae 8
Gahnia aspera (R.Br.) Spreng. Cyperaceae 8
Geophila herbacea (Jacq.) K.Schum. Rubiaceae 8
Gossypium hirsutum L. Malvaceae 8
Grewia prunifolia A.Gray Malvaceae 8
Guettarda speciosa L. Rubiaceae 8
Guilandina bonduc L. Fabaceae 8
Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. Hernandiaceae 8
Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook.f. Hydrocharitaceae 8
Haplopteris elongata (Sw.) E.H.Crane Pteridaceae 8
Heliotropium anomalum Hook. & Arn. Heliotropiaceae 8
Heliotropium arboreum (Blanco) Mabb. Heliotropiaceae 8
Hernandia nymphaeifolia (C.Presl) Kubitzki Hernandiaceae 8
Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. Poaceae 8
Hibiscus tiliaceus L. Malvaceae 8
Histiopteris incisa (Thunb.) J.Sm. Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Hymenophyllum dilatatum (Forst.) Sw. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Hymenophyllum flabellatum Labill. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Hypolepis tenuifolia (Forst.) Bernh. Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Ilex anomala Hook. & Arn. Aquifoliaceae 8
Inocarpus fagifer (Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn) Fosberg Fabaceae 8
Ipomoea littoralis Blume Convolvulaceae 8
Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl. Convolvulaceae 8
Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R.Br. Convolvulaceae 8
Ipomoea violacea L. Convolvulaceae 8
Jasminum didymum G.Forst. Oleaceae 8
Kleinhovia hospita L. Malvaceae 8
Korthalsella cylindrica (Tiegh.) Engl. Santalaceae 8
Korthalsella taenioides (Juss.) Endl. Santalaceae 8
Leptospron adenanthum (G.Mey.) A.Delgado Fabaceae 8
Lepturus repens (G.Forst.) R.Br. Poaceae 8
Lygodium reticulatum Schkuhr Lygodiaceae 8
Machaerina angustifolia (Gaudich.) T.Koyama Cyperaceae 8
Macrothelypteris torresiana (Gaudich.) Ching Thelypteridaceae 8
Melastoma denticulatum Labill. Melastomataceae 8
Microsorum punctatum Copel. Polypodiaceae 8
Microsorum scolopendria (Burm.f.) Copel. Polypodiaceae 8
Miscanthus floridulus (Labill.) Warb. ex K.Schum. & Lauterb. Poaceae 8
Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae 8
Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott Nephrolepidaceae 8
Nephrolepis brownii (Desv.) Hovenkamp & Miyam. Nephrolepidaceae 8
Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C.Presl Nephrolepidaceae 8
Nertera granadensis (Mutis ex L.f.) Druce Rubiaceae 8
Nervilia concolor (Blume) Schltr. Orchidaceae 8
Odontosoria chinensis (L.) J.Sm. Lindsaeaceae 8
Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso Convolvulaceae 8
Ophioglossum petiolatum Hook. Ophioglossaceae 8
Oplismenus hirtellus (L.) P.Beauv. Poaceae 8
Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Vasc. & Franco Lycopodiaceae 8
Pandanus tectorius Parkinson ex Du Roi Pandanaceae 8
Paspalum orbiculare G.Forst. Poaceae 8
Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Lythraceae 8
Peperomia leptostachya Hook. & Arn. Piperaceae 8
Peperomia tetraphylla (G.Forst.) Hook. & Arn. Piperaceae 8
Phlegmariurus squarrosus (G.Forst.) Á.Löve & D.Löve Lycopodiaceae 8
Phyllanthus virgatus G.Forst. Phyllanthaceae 8
Piper excelsum G.Forst. Piperaceae 8
Piper latifolium L.f. Piperaceae 8
Pipturus argenteus (G.Forst.) Wedd. Urticaceae 8
Pisonia grandis R.Br. Nyctaginaceae 8
Plumbago zeylanica L. Plumbaginaceae 8
Polyphlebium endlicherianum (C.Presl) Ebihara & K.Iwats. Hymenophyllaceae 8
Premna serratifolia L. Lamiaceae 8
Pseudodiphasium volubile (G.Forst.) Holub Lycopodiaceae 8
Psilotum nudum (L.) P.Beauv. Psilotaceae 8
Pteridium esculentum (G.Forst.) Cockayne Dennstaedtiaceae 8
Pteris tripartita Sw. Pteridaceae 8
Ptisana salicina (Sm.) Murdock Marattiaceae 8
Pyrrosia confluens (R.Br.) Ching Polypodiaceae 8
Pyrrosia longifolia (Burm.f.) Morton Polypodiaceae 8
Pyrrosia serpens (G.Forst.) Ching Polypodiaceae 8
Rhizophora stylosa Griff. Rhizophoraceae 8
Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton Cyperaceae 8
Sapindus saponaria L. Sapindaceae 8
Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. Goodeniaceae 8
Schizaea dichotoma (L.) Sm. Schizaeaceae 8
Senna gaudichaudii (Hook. & Arn.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Fabaceae 8
Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L. Aizoaceae 8
Sida fallax Walp. Malvaceae 8
Sophora tomentosa L. Fabaceae 8
Sphaeropteris medullaris (G.Forst.) Bernh. Cyatheaceae 8
Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers Menispermaceae 8
Stictocardia tiliifolia (Desr.) Hallier f. Convolvulaceae 8
Suriana maritima L. Surianaceae 8
Tacca leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze Dioscoreaceae 8
Tectaria decurrens (C.Presl) Copel. Tectariaceae 8
Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. Fabaceae 8
Thespesia populnea Sol. ex Corrêa Malvaceae 8
Thuarea involuta (G.Forst.) R.Br. ex Sm. Poaceae 8
Tmesipteris tannensis (Spreng.) Bernh. Psilotaceae 8
Torenia crustacea (L.) Cham. & Schltdl. Linderniaceae 8
Typha domingensis Pers. Typhaceae 8
Urochloa reptans (L.) Stapf Poaceae 8
Vigna marina (Burm.) Merr. Fabaceae 8
Viscum articulatum Burm.f. Santalaceae 8
Vitex rotundifolia L.f. Lamiaceae 8
Vitex trifolia L. Lamiaceae 8
Ximenia americana L. Olacaceae 8
Boerhavia acutifolia (Choisy) J.W.Moore Nyctaginaceae 7
Ficus prolixa G.Forst. Moraceae 7
Geniostoma rupestre J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Loganiaceae 7
Asplenium gibberosum (Forst.) Mett. Aspleniaceae 6
Crateva religiosa G.Forst. Capparaceae 6
Neonauclea forsteri (Seem. ex Havil.) Merr. Rubiaceae 6
Ochrosia oppositifolia K.Schum. Apocynaceae 6
Zehneria mucronata Miq. Cucurbitaceae 6
Cyclophyllum barbatum (G.Forst.) N.Hallé & J.Florence Rubiaceae 5
Davallia pectinata Sm. Davalliaceae 5
Crepidomanes bipunctatum (Poir.Lam.) Copel. Hymenophyllaceae 4
Dianella adenanthera (G.Forst.) R.J.F.Hend. Asphodelaceae 4
Hymenophyllum pallidum (Blume) Ebihara & K.Iwats. Hymenophyllaceae 4
Laportea ruderalis (G.Forst.) Chew Urticaceae 4
Rhynchospora sclerioides Hook. & Arn. Cyperaceae 4
Selaginella arbuscula (Kaulf.) Spring Selaginellaceae 4
Teratophyllum wilkesianum (Brack.) Holttum Dryopteridaceae 4
Triumfetta procumbens G.Forst. Malvaceae 4
Antrophyum plantagineum Kaulf. Pteridaceae 3
Boehmeria virgata (G.Forst.) Guill. Urticaceae 3
Calymmodon cucullatus (Nees & Blume) C.Presl Polypodiaceae 3
Cypholophus macrocephalus (Blume) Wedd. Urticaceae 3
Homalanthus nutans Guill. Euphorbiaceae 3
Lastreopsis decomposita (R.Br.) Tindale Dryopteridaceae 3
Lindsaea cultrata (Willd.) Sw. Lindsaeaceae 3
Lycopodium venustulum Gaudich. Lycopodiaceae 3

What this page does not tell you

Kew records 387 more species as native to Society Is. that we do not document. They are real, accepted plants. They have no page here because we could not find three photographs of them licensed for commercial use, and this site publishes no species it cannot show you. That gap is the honest measure of what we are missing, and it is why we print both numbers rather than the flattering one.

This is a checklist of what is native, not a guide to what will grow in your garden, and it carries no care advice and no toxicity claim, because we do not have those from a source we can cite.

Sourcesevery claim on this page

  1. Kew, World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP v16). Native distribution by TDWG level-3 botanical country (SCI). Introduced, extinct and doubtful records excluded. CC BY 3.0. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  2. World Flora Online Plant List. Accepted names, authorities, classification. CC0. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  3. iNaturalist. Photographs, restricted to CC0 / CC BY / CC BY-SA. Retrieved 2026-06-27.