The vegetation of Madeira: II - woody caulirosetted communities of evergreen fo...

• Author(s): Capelo, J. ; Costa, José C. ; Jardim, Roberto ; Sequeira, Miguel ; Aguiar, Carlos ; Lousã, Mário
• Date: 2003
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/5366
• Origin: Biblioteca Digital do IPB
• Subject(s): Vegetationof Portugal; Madeira
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The endemic caulirosetted microphanerophytes [with a rosette of leaves on top of a long woody few-branched naked stem] – e.g. Euphorbia mellifera, Isoplexis sceptrum, Melanoselinum decipens, Musschia wollastonii and Sonchus fruticosus – are among the most striking plants of Madeira Island. They are often found in the "levadas" artificial system of channels that runs through the Ocotea foetens forest [Clethro arboreae-Ocoteetum foetentis]. These plants organize themselves in a particular phytocoenosis – Isoplexido sceptri-Euphorbietum melliferae ass. nova. – that reflects a worldwide recurrent phenomenon in forest ecosystems: the presence of plants adapted to cuts in the continuous crown layer of dense forest, such as dry ravines, forest clearings produced by tempests, landslides and other natural disturbances. "Levadas" are artificial simulations of these natural habitats.