The Canarian Flora Garden

Gardens at the IPNA in La Laguna (Tenerife) have undergone profound remodelling since 2005, most of the surface area being now devoted to recovering the potential vegetation that would have occupied the site in the past: Laurel forest (laurisilva).

This relict formation occupied the edges of the Tethys Sea, now the Mediterranean basin, during the Tertiary era, some 20-30 million years ago. It is now only found in the Macaronesian archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands, with only a few species in Cape Verde. 

Practically all the tree species present in the Canaries (e.g. laurel, viñatigo, til, tree-heath, wax-myrtle, etc.) have been planted here.

The most emblematic trees and bushes of the thermophilous woodland: dragon tree, canary palm, mastic tree, lentiscus, wild olive, etc.) have also been included.

This latter habitat has suffered drastic regression in the Macaronesian Islands. Some other elements of the other three habitats present in the Canaries (coastal scrubland, canary pine woodland and high mountain scrubland) are also displayed to show some other significant species of the native and endemic flora of the Canaries.

Sign-posts provide basic information on the common and scientific names, family, biogeographical range, distribution in the Canaries and habitats where they are found in nature.

The IPNA has traditionally been active in the extraction of natural products from Canary plants and several research lines continue working in this scientific field.

Many of these plants constitute their essential raw material. Since 2004, a new team has also been formed to work on ecological and evolutionary trends of the animals and plants in the Canaries, who have also actively participated in this change together with the other scientists of the centre.

For many years, the IPNA has organized guided visits for students to see the chemistry laboratories (natural products, synthesis or chemical ecology) and the scientific activity carried out there.

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Palmera Canaria (Phoenix canariensis). Familia Arecaceae. Bosque termófilo. Endemismo Macaronésico.

So now, the IPNA gardens will permit these visits to be culminated with a conservationist message about the biogeographical importance of the Canary flora and the need for its protection. Since the IPNA is next to the faculties of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy (University of La Laguna), it will easily permit these students to visit the gardens.

Due to this rearrangement, the IPNA gardens are currently in harmony with scientific activity performed there.

We would also like to publicly thank the support received from the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, the institution that gave us some of the plants, as well as the company Tagoro Medioambiente that freely provided a great deal of advice and logistic support.

Many individuals, Concepcion Nieves, José Nogales (Tagoro MA), Luis Delgado (Cabildo Insular de Tenerife), Ángel Fernández, Ángel Bañares, Eduardo Carqué and Manuel Suárez (National Parks), Benito Darias (University of La Laguna), and Octavio Rodríguez and Antonio García (Department of Plant Biology of ULL), gave decisive help at different stages of the project.

Finally, it must be pointed out that two of the most pernicious factors that affect island ecosystems are the destruction of their habitats and the introduction of invasive species.

The refurbishment of the gardens of a public body such as the IPNA is intended to be another of our modest contributions to the conservation of the islands and their biota.

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Jardin de flora canaria Ipna
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    Peralillo (Maytenus canariensis). Familia Celastraceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Canario.

    Peralillo

    Maytenus canariensis

    Order/Family: Family Celastraceae. Laurisilva Forest. Canarian endemism.
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    Laurel (Laurus novocanariensis). Familia Lauraceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico

    Laurel

    Laurus novocanariensis

    Order/Family: Family Lauraceae. Laurisilva Forest. Macaronesian Endemism.
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    Acebiño (Ilex canariensis) Familia Aquifoliaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Acebiño

    Ilex canariensis

    Order/Family: Family Aquifoliaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Palo Blanco (Picconia excelsa). Familia Oleaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Palo Blanco

    Picconia excelsa

    Order/Family: Family Oleaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Til (Ocolea foetens). Familia Lauraceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Til

    Ocolea foetens

    Order/Family: Family Lauraceae. Laurisilva forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Pino canario

    Pino canario

    Pinus canariensis

    Order/Family: Pinaceae family. Canary Island pine forest. Canarian endemism.
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    Drago (Dracaena draco) Familia Dracaenaceae. Bosque termófilo. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Drago

    Dracaena draco

    Order/Family: Family Dracaenaceae. Thermophilic forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Saúco (Sambucus palmensis). Familia Sambucaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Canario.

    Elderberry

    Sambucus palmensis

    Order/Family: Family Sambucaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Canarian endemism.
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    Tejo (Erica platycodon). Familia Ericaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Yew

    Erica platycodon

    Order/Family: Family Ericaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Hija (Prunus lusitanica). Familia Rosaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Autóctono.

    Hija

    Prunus lusitanica

    Order/Family: Family Rosaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Native tree.
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    Sauce (Salix canariensis). Familia Aquifoliaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Willow

    Salix canariensis

    Order/Family: Aquifoliaceae family. Laurisilva Forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Follao (Viburnum rigidum). Familia Sambucaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Canario.

    Follao

    Viburnum rigidum

    Order/Family: Family Sambucaceae. Laurisilva forest. Canarian endemism.
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    Naranjero Salvaje (Ilex perado). Familia Aquifoliaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Autóctono.

    Wild orange tree

    Ilex perado

    Order/Family: Aquifoliaceae family. Laurisilva Forest. Native tree.
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    Madroño (Arbutus canariensis). Familia Ericaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Canario.

    Madroño

    Arbutus canariensis

    Order/Family: Family Ericaceae. Laurisilva Forest. Canarian endemism.
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    Sanguino (Rhamnus glandulosa). Familia Rhamnaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Sanguino

    Rhamnus glandulosa

    Order/Family: Family Rhamnaceae. Laurisilva forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Viñátigo (Persea indica). Familia Lauraceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Viñatigo

    Persea indica

    Order/Family: Family Lauraceae. Laurisilva forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Palmera Canaria (Phoenix canariensis). Familia Arecaceae. Bosque termófilo. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Palmera Canaria

    Phoenix canariensis

    Order/Family: Arecaceae family. Thermophilic forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Marmolán

    Marmolán

    Sideroxylon marmulano

    Order/Family: Family Sapotaceae. Thermophilic forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Barbuzano (Apollonias barbujana). Familia Lauraceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Barbuzano

    Apollonias barbujana

    Order/Family: Family Lauraceae. Laurisilva forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Faya (Myrica faya). Familia Myricaceae. Bosque de Laurisilva. Endemismo Macaronésico.

    Faya

    Myrica faya

    Order/Family: Family Myricaceae. Laurisilva forest. Macaronesian endemism.
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    Bejeque Puntero de Tenerife (Aeonium urbicum). Familia Crassulaceae. Bosque termófilo. Endemismo canario.

    Bejeque Puntero de Tenerife

    Aeonium urbicum

    Order/Family: Family Crassulaceae. Thermophilic forest. Canarian endemism.

Educational Material

Repository of educational material for the consultation of different contents developed by the IPNA research groups.

Do you want to make a didactic itinerary through the Flora Canaria Garden?

Contact us!

info [at] ipna.csic.es (Contact us!)