Flora y vegetación de un sector costero de Buenavista del Norte (Tenerife, Islas Canarias)

Abstract

The flora and vegetation of a coastal area of the municipality of Buenavista del Norte, located on the northwest of Tenerife (Canary Islands), are studied. In addition, the main uses of the territory along history are mentioned as well as other features of physical environment (soil, geology and geomorphology, climate and bioclimate,). The studied area locates within upper-arid upper-Inframediterranean bioclimatic belt. The potential natural vegetation corresponds to Periploco-Euphorbietum canariensis subass. euphorbietosum balsamiferae, a xeric-subdesertic North-Tenerife coastal Euphorbia shrubland characterized for the abundance of Euphorbia balsamifera (the sweet-spurge). We have identified 91 taxa, being 27 of them endemic. One plant, Limonium fruticans, is included in the Canary and Spanish catalogs of threatened species. Also, we have recognized 11 associations, both potential and substitutional by using the phytosociological method and we have produced a map of real vegetation. Nowadays, despite high degradation of the environment, some recovery of the plant landscape is observed.