Summary
Included here are the Azores a group of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic. In geological terms these are the youngest of the Macaronesian Islands. The highest, Pico, reaches an altitude of about 2300m (the highest mountain in Portugues territory) and the three largest islands, São Miguel, Terceira and Pico represent about 69% of the total area of the archipelago.
Of the endemic plants so far recorded for this zone there are 71 endemic species in 61 genera and 37 families. There is one endemic genus (marked red) but no endemic families. A further 5 species are endemic to Macaronesia (marked green).
References
Dias, E., Mendes, C., Melio, C., Pereira, D. & Elias, R. 2005. Azores central Islands vegetation and flora guide. Quercetea, 7: 123-173.
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.
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. & Warburg, E. F. 1932. Contributions from the University Herbarium Cambridge - notes on the flora of the Azores. The Journal of Botany, 70: 38-46.