Included here are the Azores a group of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic. The three largest islands, São Miguel, Terceira and Pico represent about 69% of the total area of the archipelago.

Azorean Wetlands

Wetlands including areas of standing water are of great ecological importance in the Azores. Large oligotrophic lakes, mainly caldera lakes, are a major feature of the landscape and some of these are incredibly deep. Lagoa da Caldeira Negra (Flores), for example, has a depth of about 108 m. Small lagoons are also numerous and these often support bottom dwelling and marginal communities characterised by species such as Callitriche stagnalis, Cyperus alternifolius, C. longus, Eleocharis multicaulis, E. palustris, Juncus articulatus, Littorella uniflora and the endemic Isoetes azorica (Isoetaceae). In other wetland areas where permanent saturation occurs other wetland species like Galium palustre, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Juncus effusus, Osmunda regalis, Rumex conglomeratus and the endemic Dryopteris azorica (Dryopteridaceae) and Lysimachia azorica (Myrsinaceae) may be encountered.

References

Carine, M. A. & Schaefer, H. 2010. The Azores diversity enigma: why are there so few Azorean endemic flowering plants and why are they so widespread? Journal of Biogeography, 37: 77-89.

Dias, E., Elias, Rui, B. & Nunes, V. 2004. Vegetation mapping and nature conservation: a case study in Terceira Island (Azores). Biodiversity and Conservation, 13: 1519-1539.

Dias, E., Mendes, C., Melio, C., Pereira, D. & Elias, R. 2005. Azores central Islands vegetation and flora guide. Quercetea, 7: 123-173.

Gabriel, R. & Bates, J. W. 2005. Bryophyte community composition and habitat specificity in the natural forests of Terceira, Azores. Plant Ecology, 177: 125-144.

Godman, F. D. C. 2005. Natural History of the Azores or Western Islands. An ubabridged facsimile of the edition published in 1870 by John van Voorst, London. Elibron Classics series.

Haggar, J. P., Westgarth-Smith, A. R. & Penman, D. 1989. Threatened flora and forest in the Azores. Oryx, 23: 155-160.

Humphries, C. J. 1979. Endemism and Evolution in Macaronesia. In: Plants and Islands. Ed. D, Bramwell. Academic Press.

Rodríguez-Sánchez, F. & Arroyo, J. 2008. Reconstructing the demise of Tethyan plants: climate-driven range dynamics of Laurus since the Pliocene. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 17: 685-695.

Schäfer, H. 2005. Flora of the Azores. A Field Guide. Margraf Publishers.

Sunding, P. 1979. Origins of the Macaronesian Flora. In: Plants and Islands. Ed. D, Bramwell. Academic Press.

Tutin, T. G. 1953. The vegetation of the Azores. Journal of Ecology, 41: 53-61.

Tutin, T. G. & Warburg, E. F. 1932. Contributions from the University Herbarium Cambridge - notes on the flora of the Azores. The Journal of Botany, 70: 38-46.