Preliminary checklist of the naturalised and pest plants of Timor-Leste

Abstract

Timor-Leste is one of the world’s newest nations, but the island of Timor has a long history of human habitation and land use which has played a significant role in shaping the 15 current vegetation and flora. Movement of people, plants and materials has seen the introduction of hundreds of plants to Timor from foreign lands, many of which have established naturalised populations, with some exerting detrimental impacts on Timorese agriculture, the environment and livelihoods. Plant health surveys conducted by Timorese and Australian biosecurity agencies have enabled compilation of an inventory of more than 20 500 naturalised and pest plant species based largely on recent field collections (now lodged in herbaria) supplemented by observational and literature records. The composition of the naturalised flora in terms of plant family and life form is described and the origin status of introduced plant species is referenced and summarised by continental region and likely mode of introduction.