What are ‘indigenous’ and ‘endemic’ plants?

That’s where the terms ‘indigenous’ and ‘endemic’ come in: they help to further define where plant species come from. But what is an ‘indigenous’ plant? And what is an ‘endemic’ plant?

In this article, we explain the difference between indigenous and endemic species, and how that relates to the seeds we collect at the West Gippsland Seedbank.

Indigenous species

An indigenous plant species is one that occurs naturally in the region. It hasn’t been introduced from other places – this is where it chooses to grow in bushland, reserves, and roadsides.

A species may be indigenous to multiple areas. The conditions in one part of the country may be similar to those in another area, so some species thrive naturally in different localities.

A species must be indigenous to somewhere (eg. ‘Indigenous to West Gippsland’).

Endemic species

Not all indigenous species are found naturally in multiple regions: the ones that are only found in a single region are known as endemic species. In other words, an endemic plant species is one which occurs naturally in just one place, and nowhere else.

Again, species are not just ‘endemic’ – they are endemic to somewhere.

What about plants that grow somewhere, but aren’t endemic or indigenous?

There are plenty of native plants that grow in areas where they are neither endemic nor indigenous, and this is because they have been introduced from other places.

Why does it matter?

Firstly, knowing a plant’s natural distribution helps understand how a plant might perform in particular circumstances. When selecting species to grow, those that are indigenous or endemic to your area are, by definition, well suited to conditions in your region. They like the rainfall levels, they tolerate the pH, or they thrive in your temperature. They’re a tried and tested solution.

Secondly, knowing which plants are only found naturally in a region can help us to protect and preserve those species for the future. Awareness of our indigenous and endemic plants is the first step in making sure they stay strong in their natural region for years to come, and maintain the region’s biodiversity.

The seeds we collect at West Gippsland Seedbank

The West Gippsland Seedbank collects seed from more than 60 plant species, all of which are indigenous to West Gippsland (and some of which are endemic to West Gippsland, too).

We make our seed available for private use and major revegetation projects in our region. Click here to find out more about our seed.