Plant Formations in the Cape Verdean BioProvince Peter Martin Rhind Cape Verdean Lowland Arid Pastures These arid pastures support various grasses. The most important species are Aristida adscensionis, A. cardosoi, Elionurus royleanus, Schmidtia pappophoroides and the endemic Aristida funiculata (Poaceae). Cape Verdean Upland Arid Pastures These pastures mainly occur at altitudes above 1400 m on well-developed soils. The principal grass species include Hyparrhenia hirta, Melinis minutiflora and Pennisetum polystachyon, but scattered throughout are various shrubs such as the endemic Astericus vogelii (Asteraceae), Campylanthus glaber (Scrophulariaceae), Lavandula rotundifolia (Lamiaceae) and Micromeria forbesii (Lamiaceae). In some of the more rocky areas other endemics such as Echium stenosiphon, E. vulcanorum (Boraginaceae), Erysimum caboverdeanum (Brassicaceae), Globularia amygdalifolia (Globulariaceae) and Sonchus daltonii (Asteraceae) can be found, while the endemic Artemisia gorgonum (Asteraceae) and Euphorbia tuckeyana (Euphorbiaceae) are more characteristic of ancient lava flows and the endemic Helianthemum gorgoneum (Cistaceae) is dominant on pumice. Among the typical annual species are Salvia aegyptiaca, Trichodesma africanum and the endemic Paronychia illecebroides (Caryophyllaceae). Cape Verdean Upland Humid Scrub In the more humid northern areas near to Ribeira Grande there are scrublands characterized by endemic taxa such as Artemisia gorgoneum (Asteraceae), Echium stenosiphon (Boraginaceae), Euphorbia tuckeyana (Euphorbiaceae), Globularia amygdalifolia (Globulariaceae), together with Lantana camara, Lavendula dentata, Wahlenburgia lobelioides, and other endemic species like Phagnalum melanoleucum (family?), Sonchus daltonii (Asteraceae) and Umbilicus schmidtii (Crassulaceae). These shrublands seem to represent a climax community but uncontrolled grazing and uprooting plants have degraded much. Cape Verdean High Altitude and Summit Vegetation Above altitudes of about 700 m the plant formations are largely characterized by the endemic taxa Diplotaxis vogelli (Asteraceae), Forsskaolea procridifolia (Urticaceae), Kickxia elegans subsp. dichondrifolia (Scrophulariaceae), Polycarpaea gayi (Caryophyllaceae), and perennial grasses such as Heteropogon contortus. But these formations include many more endemic plants with nine recorded for the summit of Pico of Fogo (2800-2829 m) alone. These are Centaurium tenuiflorum (Gentianaceae), Conyza feae, C. varia, Diplotaxis hirta, Phagnalon melanoleucum (Asteraceae), Paronychia illecebroides (Caryophyllaceae), Periploca laevigata subsp. chevalieri (Apocynaceae), Satureja forbesii (Lamiaceae) and Verbascum crystolithicum (Scrophulariaceae). Other endemic taxa at or above 2400 m on the Pico and/or on the Caldeira rim on Fogo include Campanula bravensis (Campanulaceae), Echium vulcanorum (Boraginaceae), Erysimum caboverdeanum (Brassicaceae) and Lavendula rotundifolia (Lamiaceae). Further information required. Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind References Brochmann, C., Rustan, O. H., Lobin, W. & Kilian, N. 1997. The endemic vascular plants of the Cape Verde Islands, W Africa. Sommerfeltia, 24: 1-356. Duarte, M. C., Rego, F. & Moreira, I. 2005. Distribution patterns of plant communities on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Journal of Vegetation Science, 16: 283-292. Duarte, M. C., Rego, F., Romeiras, M. M. & Moreira, I. 2008. Plant species richness in the Cape Verde Islands – eco-geographical determinants. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17: 453-466. Gills, H. van. 1988. Mid-altitudinal vegetation of the Macaronesian island Santo Antao (Cabo Verde). Vegetatio, 74: 33-38. Hiemstra, F. 1986. Vegetation and range-land of the Planalto Leste area (Santo Antão, Rep. de Cabo Verde). Courier-Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg, 81: 165-177. 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. Sunding, P. 1973. Endemism in the flora of the Cape Verde Islands, with special emphasis on the macaronesian flora elements. Monogr. Biol. Canar. 4: 112-117. White, F. 1983. The Vegetation of Africa. UNESCO. Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind .