This category contains articles related to the native flora of the Ryukyu Islands. Taxa of the lowest rank are always included. Higher taxa are included only if endemic. Though politically affiliated with Japan, all of the islands in the archipelago (except for the Ōsumi Islands which are included under the flora of Kyushu, Japan), stand on their own within the region of East Asia as defined in accordance with the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, which uses the name "Nansei-shoto".