Flora of Cape Verde

In the process of development, many lands in the islands were converted to agricultural fields and several hundred varieties of herbaceous plant and tree species were introduced, resulting in depletion of the original vegetation.

[3] Historically, Cape Verde was probably not rich with greenery, although the evidence of the situation in earlier times is severely lacking.

[4] When Cape Verde was first discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century, the wildlife consisted mainly of dry forests and scrub habitat, which underwent a sea change under the influence of the inhabitants of this then isolated and uninhabited group of islands.

The endemic flora and fauna of the islands were disturbed and have now remained confined mostly in the mountain peaks, steep slopes and other inaccessible areas.

[6] Over 80 vascular plant taxa are reported to be endemic to Cape Verde; these include Tornabenea, Aeonium gorgoneum, Campanula bravensis (bellflower), Asteriscus smithii (Nauplius smithii), Artemisia gorgonum (sagebrush), Sideroxylon marginatum, Lotus jacobaeus, Lavandula rotundifolia, Cynanchum daltonii, Euphorbia tuckeyana, Polycarpaea gayi and Erysimum caboverdeanum (wallflower).

Losna ( Artemisia gorgonum ), an endemic plant of Fogo Island
Prosopis juliflora tree
Cynanchum daltonii , an endemic plant found in the islands except Sal and Maio
Echium vulcanorum found only in Fogo's uppermost parts
Capeverdean sagebrush ( Artemisia gorgonum )
Echium hypertropicum near Ribeira Principal in Santiago
Cape Verde date palm ( Phoenix atlantica )
Lavandula rotundifolia
Asteriscus smithii ( Nauplius smithii ), an endemic plant
Tamarisk ( Tamarix senegalensis ), a tree plant grown mainly in sandy areas, places like Tarrafal on Santiago, Tarrafal de São Nicolau and Santo Antão's Tarrafal de Monte Trigo are named after the areas where the plant are found