The Flora of Cape Verde includes the flowers and plants of Cape Verde, mostly native to the islands. There are about 240 species of plants.
In the process of development, many lands in the islands were converted to agricultural fields and several hundred varieties of herbaceous plant and tree species were introduced, resulting in depletion of the original vegetation. However, efforts are now underway at reforestation to improve the wildlife of Cape Verde, with reported planting of three million new trees every year (about 7000 per day), with pine, oak, sweet chestnut and acacia as the prominent varieties being planted. [1] [2] Cape Verde is also one of the world's top ten coral reef Biodiversity hotspots. [3]
Historically, Cape Verde was probably not rich with greenery, although the evidence of the situation in earlier times is severely lacking. [4] When Cape Verde was first discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century, the wildlife consisted mainly of dry forests and scrub habitat, which underwent a sea change under the influence of the inhabitants of this then isolated and uninhabited group of islands. The endemic flora and fauna of the islands were disturbed and have now remained confined mostly in the mountain peaks, steep slopes and other inaccessible areas. [4] Vegetation in the islands is basically of the savannah or steppe type. There are trees typical of both temperate and tropical climates, depending on elevation. The flatter parts of the islands sustain semi-desert plants while the higher lands have arid shrubland. [4] The leeward slopes tend to contain desert, with a very sparse shrub cover, mostly thorny or toxic. [5] A number of xerophilous plants grow in the brackish subsoil of Maio, Sal, and Boa Vista. [5]
There are 664 listed plant species, which include two threatened species. [6] Over 80 vascular plant taxa are reported to be endemic to Cape Verde; these include Tornabenea , Aeonium gorgoneum , Campanula bravensis (bellflower), Asteriscus smithii (Nauplius smithii), Artemisia gorgonum (sagebrush), Sideroxylon marginatum , Lotus jacobaeus , Lavandula rotundifolia , Cynanchum daltonii , Euphorbia tuckeyana , Polycarpaea gayi and Erysimum caboverdeanum (wallflower). [3] Several trees are indigenous such as the blue-green flat-topped dragon tree Dracaena draco , Tamarix senegalensis , Phoenix atlantica (tamateira), in the lagoons and deserts of Boavista, the ironwood tree and a species of fig tree and Prosopis juliflora which locally is simply called "acácia" [4] ). As a result of extensive tree planting since 1975, there are pine trees, oaks and sweet chestnuts on the cool peaks of Santo Antao, eucalyptus on the heights of Fogo, multiple neem trees in São Vicente and forests of acacia on Maio. [5]
Here is a list of endangered flora in Cape Verde, of which 97 are ranked species and 19 are ranked subspecies. They belong to 62 genera and 28 families. Of which 50 of them are in the island of Santo Antão, 45 in São Nicolau, 38 in Santiago and 37 in Fogo. 80% of them are in the highlands. [7]
| Species | Family |
|---|---|
| Stachytarpheta fallax | Verbenaceae |
| Habenaria petromedusa | Orchidaceae |
Cape Verde is a group of arid Atlantic islands which are home to distinct communities of plants, birds, and reptiles. The islands constitute the unique Cape Verde Islands dry forests ecoregion, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde, its most important agricultural centre and home to half the nation's population. Part of the Sotavento Islands, it lies between the islands of Maio and Fogo. It was the first of the islands to be settled: the town of Ribeira Grande was founded in 1462. Santiago is home to the nation's capital city of Praia.
The Cape Verde Islands dry forests is a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion in the Cape Verde Islands, which constitute the country of Cabo Verde. The islands lie off the western coast of Africa.
The wildlife of Cape Verde is found across its archipelago of ten islands and three islets, albeit in smaller numbers of species than mainland Africa. Each volcanic island within the archipelago is unique, and each of them have parks under their jurisdiction, by decree promulgated by the Cape Verde government. Located just off the west coast of Africa, the total land area of the island nation is 4,564 square kilometres (1,762 sq mi).
With the exception of bats, there are no truly endemic species of mammal on Cabo Verde; historically, the archipelago was only accessible to creatures with the ability to fly or swim, or to be brought by humans. The islands were first explored in 1456, but not actually settled until 1462; humans brought their livestock with them, including donkeys, pigs, cattle and goats—many of the latter are now so wild, they resemble mainland ibex, and are considered endemic “by default”.
In the centuries since settlement began, more mainland species would make their way with waves of settlers. There are no snakes present on the archipelago, which has allowed for the proliferation of many other species of other herpetiles, such as geckos, frogs and lizards. The main predators of these reptiles and amphibians would be the various birds of prey and raptors present, including the Egyptian vulture, Eurasian buzzard, kestrel, osprey, peregrine falcon, and the rare Cape Verde kite. This kite species is currently threatened by extinction but may yet be observed on Boa Vista and Maio.
Health in Cape Verde is limited due to limited health care in Cape Verde. Gains since 2000 have led to improvements.
The flora of Australia comprises a vast assemblage of plant species estimated to over 21,000 vascular and 14,000 non-vascular plants, 250,000 species of fungi and over 3,000 lichens. The flora has strong affinities with the flora of Gondwana, and below the family level has a highly endemic angiosperm flora whose diversity was shaped by the effects of continental drift and climate change since the Cretaceous. Prominent features of the Australian flora are adaptations to aridity and fire which include scleromorphy and serotiny. These adaptations are common in species from the large and well-known families Proteaceae (Banksia), Myrtaceae, and Fabaceae.
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an archipelago and island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi). These islands lie between 600 and 850 kilometres west of Cap-Vert, the westernmost point of continental Africa. The Cape Verde islands form part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Savage Isles.
Globularia amygdalifolia is a flowering plant of the family Plantaginaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN.
Umbilicus schmidtii is a flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Echium stenosiphon is a plant species of the family Boraginaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. Its local name is língua-de-vaca, a name that may also refer to the related species Echium vulcanorum and Echium hypertropicum. The plant is used in traditional medicinal for a cough syrup.
Micromeria forbesii is a species of flowering plants of the genus Micromeria. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. It was first described by George Bentham in 1834. Its local name is erva-cidreira, or cidreirinha. In traditional medicine, it is used as an infusion for the treatment of indigestion, diarrhea, cough and to stimulate labour.
Sonchus daltonii is a species of flowering plants of the family Asteraceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN. The genus was named by Philip Barker Webb in 1849. Its local name is coroa-de-rei.
Conyza varia is a species of flowering plants of the family Asteraceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. It is listed as an endangered plant by the IUCN. First described as Erigeron varius by Philip Barker Webb, it was placed in the genus Conyza by Hiram Wild in 1969. Its local name is marcelinha or tabua, tabuinha. The plant plays a role in traditional medicine: crushed and heated leaves are used to treat external inflammations.
Lavandula rotundifolia is a species of flowering plants of the family Lamiaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde. The species was named by George Bentham in 1833. Its local name is aipo.
Theridion cuspulatum is a species of tangle-web spiders of the family Theridiidae. It is endemic in Cape Verde.
Carex antoniensis is a species of grassy plants that belong to the family Cyperaceae. The species is endemic to Cape Verde, where it only occurs on the island of Santo Antão. It is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The specific name refers to the island of Santo Antão.
Periploca laevigata is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to the Canary Islands, the Savage Islands and Cape Verde.
The 2012 Cape Verdean Cup season was the 5th competition of the regional football cup in Cape Verde. The season started on 11 August and finished with the cup final on 24 August. The cup competition was organized by the Cape Verdean Football Federation. Maio's Onze Unidos won their only title.