Tenerife s Flora And Fauna

M acaronesia is the name          awaiting them on Tenerife.         given to the groups of         Although the south of the island   Islands which scatter          is quite dry and barren the rest   across the centre of the              of Tenerife has a wide variety of  Atlantic. One such group is the       plant life to marvel at.           Canary Islands which boasts the                                          greatest variety of flora.            The unusual Red Tajinaste, which   Throughout the Canaries there is      flowers in late spring and the     a mixture of endemic and              Las Canadas are among the most     cultivated plants, tropical and       spectacular examples. The          sub-tropical.                         flowering Teide wall flower or                                           Codesco spread a fantastic yellow  The largest of the Canary Islands     carpet during the spring,          is Tenerife, which although by        creating a sight to remember and   most standards a small island it      enjoy.                             does carry a rich diversity of                                           plant life. One of the reasons        Tenerife is also well known for    for this diversity is the             the Drago tree, which is one of    climate. Tenerife's climate is        the oldest living members of the   remarkably varied for such a          plant kingdom. 20 million years    small island, apparently caused       ago it was prevalent throughout    by the winds being affected by        the Mediterranean but the coming   the rugged contours of the land.      of the Ice Age meant that they     There are reported to be some 140     remained only in Madeira, the      plant species thriving on the         Canary Islands and the Cape Verde  Island thanks to the climate and      Islands. Today they are only       variety of volcanic soils.            naturally grown in Tenerife and                                          the neighbouring island of La      For anyone interested in wildlife     Palma.                             or flora there is are many treats                                        Tenerife's ancient settlers, the      seen in most towns and villages    Guanches, revered the tree and        in the north of the island. As     performed sacred ceremonies with      well as the Millenium Drago, it    it. What was particularly             is worth seeking out the Drago de  interesting to them was that the      la Ramble, magnificent against     colourless sap turned crimson         the blue ocean, and the Drago in   upon contact with air and light.      the Sitio Litre gardens in Puerto  It became known as dragon's           de la Cruz.                        blood. The trees were looked                                             after and have achieved a great       Endemic species of wild birds      age but it is difficult to be         also have appeal. With its dark    accurate because the bark does        blue feathers and elegant          not create normal annual circles.     appearance, the Blue Chaffinch is  Nevertheless, the most famous         one of the most beautiful and      Drago tree, the Millenium Drago       distinct, and is found in the      at Icod de los Vinos on the           pine forests. They may have        northern coast, is at least 650       originated from the nearby         years old and possibly over 1000      African continent and then         years. It is 17 metres high with      evolved during their isolation on  a girth of 6 metres. They can be      Tenerife.                          About the Author: Take time to enjoy the fantastic flora and fauna of Tenerife. Too often people only see the beaches and nightlife, yet the natural world has so much to offer when walking in Tenerife Published At: www.Isnare.com