Wild Flowers Of The Canary Islands

Author : DRMW
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781652768371
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (683 download)

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Download or read book Wildflowers of the Canary Islands written by DRMW and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-29 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Canary Islands are a major tourist holiday destination. Exploring the flora of these islands adds another dimension to such holidays. This book will aid the reader in the identification of the various plant life to be found on these islands.The Canary Islands are a member of the group of four archipelagos known as Macaronesia, in the north Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Europe and Africa. These are the Azores and Madeira (Portuguese), the Canary Islands (Spain) and The Azores (now independent). They all experience in essence a Mediterranean climate.At their nearest point they are 100 kilometres west of Morocco. In order of size, largest to smallest they are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. They are all volcanic in origin with Lanzarote still showing obvious volcanic activity. El Hierro was the last to experience an eruption in 2011. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the most populated. There are ferry links between most of these islands. As a popular tourist destination La Gomera is the quietest island for exploring by car and on foot. Lanzarote is the closest island to the mainland in the east and El Hierro the most westerly island. The oldest islands are those to the east. They are favourite destinations of tourists from the UK and Europe being available throughout the year with sun and warmth.The Caldera de Taburiente National Park in La Palma, Garajonay National Park in La Gomera and Teide National Park and the botanic garden in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife are all excellent for plant life. However, all the islands have a botanical interest. Many plant habitats exist. These are conveniently divided up for discussion into five Vegetation Zones, that occur at different heights above sea level.0-700 metres a dry Xerophytic zone of succulents and Halophytes (salt loving).200-600 metres Thermophile Forest zone with for example Junipers and Olives.400-1500 metres Laurisilva Evergreen Forest500-900 metres Pine Forests. Above 1900 metres a high mountain zone.Many exotic plant species found on the Canary Islands originated from many tropical and subtropical places in the world, carried by travelers many years ago. The Canary Islands were a stopping place for ships travelling between South America and Spain. Examples are: Australia, the Grevilleas (Grevillea robusta).Madagascar and Australia, the Fire Tree (Brachchiton acerifolium).South America, the Jacaranda (Jacarandia mimosifolia).Gabon, the Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata).The Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) originated in Brazil.Botanic explorations of the Canary Islands date from the 18th century when plant collectors from Kew in the UK first visited. One such collector was the Scottish botanist Francis Masson. Many other botanists since that time have explored the flora of the Canary Islands.The flora is most interesting and diverse and there are many endemic plants. The book is illustrated with colour photographs. On La Gomera in particular, but also on other islands to varying extents, Laurisilva Forest is found. At the end of the book is a section illustrating the trees that can be found in particular in this habitat.