Minamidaito Island East Coast Plant Community

Coastal Plants on the Reef Rocks of Kaigunbo

The Minamidaito Island East Coast Plant Community (南大東島東海岸植物群落, Minamidaitojima Higashi Kaigan Shokubutsu Gunraku) is a community of coastal plants on the east coast of Minamidaito Island in Minamidaito Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, which in 1975 was designated a Natural Monument.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists it under the criteria for representative coastal and sand plant communities and for habitats of rare or endangered plants.

The designation text places it on the reef-rock coast popularly called Kaigunbo, the Navy Post, on ground of coral limestone.

The Plants

According to the designation text, the community is dominated by mizuganpi, mixed with osonaremugura, borojinonishikiso, atsubakuko and white-flowered sea lavender.

Borojinonishikiso is otherwise known only from places such as the Mariana Islands and Australia, and in Japan grows only on this island. The designation text stresses this as the reason the community is scientifically valuable.

Minamidaito Village's own introduction for the National Association of Towns and Villages likewise describes borojinonishikiso as found beyond the Daito Islands only in limited parts of the Marianas and Australia.

Why It Matters

The Agency designated the Minamidaito Island East Coast Plant Community as a representative coastal plant community and as the home of plants with a very limited range. Its value lies in a community including borojinonishikiso surviving intact on the harsh ground of coral limestone reef.

Visiting the Plant Community

The Minamidaito Island East Coast Plant Community lies on the reef-rock coast called Kaigunbo on the island's east side. No official information on visiting conditions could be found.

As a Natural Monument, the plants must not be picked or trampled. The coral limestone is sharp and slippery, so wear sturdy shoes and watch your footing. Enquiries go to the Minamidaito Village office.