There are almost 60 endemic plant species in the Azores, many a throwback to the laurel-juniper species of theTertiary period. This makes the islands a natural botanic garden of great interest to all plant-lovers.
Local plant species include cedar, scotch heather, heath, sheepberry and“pau branco”, plus wild morello cherry, wildberry, spurge-flax, daphne and“tamujo”.
Other species were introduced from the beginning of settlement in the 15century, either for food and timber or to satisfy the local people’s penchant for colourful flowers.