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Abstract

abstract

Twenty-three species of alien vascular plants had been recorded growing wild on Gough Island until November 1984. Eight species, which have all been present for at least 30 years, are naturalised and wide-spread. Five adventive species have been found only at sites of human habitation on the coasts. These 13 species are all forbs (7) or grasses (6) having C4, photosynthetic carbon pathways, and they include no woody or large tussock-forming plants. A further 10 casual species have been found only once on the island: Five of these were discovered in October 1984 growing near a recently erected hut, and including two soft-woody shrubs recognised as weeds in South Africa, whence they came.