Canary Island laurisilvas

Description (English)

Lauriphyllous forests of the Canary Islands, with Laurus azorica, Picconia excelsa, Persea indica, Ocotea foetens, Apollonias barbujana, Visnea mocanera, Pleiomeris canariensis (Myrsine canariensis), Ardisia bahamensis, Prunus lusitanica, Sambucus palmensis, Euphorbia mellifera, Ixanthus viscosus, Rubus bollei, Convolvulus canariensis, Geranium canariensis, Hedera canariensis, Smilax aspera, Smilax canariensis, Canarina canariensis, Semele androgyna, Sideritis macrostachys, Sideritis canariensis, Cryptotaenia elegans, Rubia peregrina, Carex canariensis, Asparagus fallax and many ferns. They are the habitat of the threatened endemic laurel pigeons Columba junoniae and Columba bollii, now limited to La Gomera, Tenerife and La Palma. The laurel forests of each island harbour a distinctive set of endemic plants and animals, as exemplified by the species of the composite genus Pericallis, the well-marked races of the chaffinch Fringilla coelebs or the carabid faunas. They are thus best listed separately. The total remnant surface of laurel forest for the four islands, La Gomera, Tenerife, La Palma and Hierro, does not exceed 5000 ha.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification