The Madeira Archipelago is located on the Atlantic Ocean, on the SE of mainland Portugal.The Madeira Island, is the largest among the group of 4 Islands (two of which are uninhabitated - “ Desertas” and Selvagens) and has a total area of 737 square kilometers.
This volcanic Island, rises up to its hightest point, at Pico Ruivo, 1862 meters high and Pico do Areeiro, at 1810m.
It has an unique and peculiar landscape with deep valleys, high cliffs, narrow ravines and green mountains.
The climate is mild, but influenced by trade winds from N and NE, and by its orography.
The air temperature is fairly constant thronghout the year with an average temperature of 18º C, dropping aproximatly 1ºC every 150 meter. On the South coast, the annual rainfall is 400 – 1000 mm, while on the North coast it can reach between 1000 and 2000 mm. The relative atmospheric humidity can reach between 75 and 90%.
The fog normally appears between 400 and 1200 meters high, where the amount of precipitation is higher, giving the Laurissilva Forest the perfect conditions to grow an develop.
Laurissilva Forest
In 1999, UNESCO declared the Madeira Indigenous Forest, as ” World Nature Heritage” giving the Island another reason of pride.
The trees and shrubs, with persistent, flat leaves and numerous epiphutes and climbs, grow in high rainfall and relative humidity (normally abone 85%).
It occupies an area of approximately 15.000 hectares and is considered a relic of the Tertiary Period, for it´s species which existed in the primitive flora of Southern Europe and North Africa, and became extinct due to climatic alterations (glaciations in Europe and the beginning of desertification in the Sahara).
Flora and vegetation
The trees and shrubs, with persistent, flat leaves and numerous epiphutes and climbs, grow in high rainfall and relative humidity (normally abone 85%).
It occupies an area of approximately 15.000 hectares and is considered a relic of the Tertiary Period, for it´s species which existed in the primitive flora of Southern Europe and North Africa, and became extinct due to climatic alterations (glaciations in Europe and the beginning of desertification in the Sahara).
Flora and vegetation
The vascular flora (pteridophytes and spermatophytes) of Madeira Island and Selvagens, is exuberant and diverse, comprising 1226 species (Press & Short, 1994), including indigenous and naturalized plants, where 123 (10%) are endemic to this arquipelago, meaning they grow exclusively in this Island, not occurring spontaneously in any other part of the World.
Rose Mandonni
It is included on the list of vascular plants endemic to Madeira.
A rare plant which inhabitats in ravines of the Laurissilva and in others higher altitudes between 600 and 1600 m.
Perennial, deciduous, creeping shrub. Numerous, arcuate branches, reaching 4 m or more in length, without princkles or with some slightly arcuate prickles, up to 7 mm. Compound leaves, with 5-7 elliptic to orbicular, serrate and glabrous leaflets, 6.5-37 x 5-23 mm. Small prickles and glands on glabrous main petioles and veins. Flowers borne in groups of 3, forming terminal corymbs of 9-12 flowers. White petals, 1.3-3.3 x 1.2-2.5 cm. Slightly ovoid to subspherical fruits, 1.3-2.5 x 0.8-1.8 cm, maturing to red.
Blossoming period: Abril, May, June, July and August
Rose Mandonni
It is included on the list of vascular plants endemic to Madeira.
A rare plant which inhabitats in ravines of the Laurissilva and in others higher altitudes between 600 and 1600 m.
Perennial, deciduous, creeping shrub. Numerous, arcuate branches, reaching 4 m or more in length, without princkles or with some slightly arcuate prickles, up to 7 mm. Compound leaves, with 5-7 elliptic to orbicular, serrate and glabrous leaflets, 6.5-37 x 5-23 mm. Small prickles and glands on glabrous main petioles and veins. Flowers borne in groups of 3, forming terminal corymbs of 9-12 flowers. White petals, 1.3-3.3 x 1.2-2.5 cm. Slightly ovoid to subspherical fruits, 1.3-2.5 x 0.8-1.8 cm, maturing to red.
Blossoming period: Abril, May, June, July and August
