The Madeira Orchid Dactylorhiza foliosa (Verm.) Sóo, is an endemic species of Madeira, this means that it can not be found elsewhere in the world. This plant habitat is the humid areas of the Laurel Forest, specially between the altitudes of 600 and 1000 meters, being common along Levadas that cross this native forest in the north of the island.

Locally called Orquídea da Serra, the Madeira Orchid leaves are long and bright green while the flowers are small, pink or purple clustered in a panicle.

Madeira Orchid blooms from end of May to July/August.

Dragon tree Dracaena draco is an endemic tree to Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde and Canary Islands. It is a special tree, one of the few coastal trees in Madeira, with a trunk resembling a palm tree that can reach 15 meters high and with its thick branches growing all from the same spot. Until its 10th year this species has no branches, it is just a thick stem with its long, narrow and blade shaped leaves. After it flowers for the first time it then starts to grow branches that continue to grow with every flowering period which is from August to October. Its panicle flowers are numerous, small and white-greenish colored.

Drangon trees were very common in Madeira and Porto Santo Island but it become extinct in Porto Santo and in Madeira the only wild specimens are the ones on the photo, in Ribeira Brava cliffs. But there are several planted Dragon trees in Gardens, especially in Funchal.

Its fruits are 1 cm diameter globed berries, yellow-orange, with a sweet taste, edible for birds and humans. The lifespan of Dracaena draco is not well define with some saying more than 1000 years but wit others objecting it. But one thing is certain, it lives more than 400 years. These trees were used for dyeing and for varnishing violins with its red, rubber-like resin.

Madeira's Wild Rose Rosa mandonii is a rare endemic species from Rosaceae from Madeira Island. This bush usually has several branches with green leaves which resembles a normal rose leaf. Its flowers are large, white and are together in groups of 3 flowers. Rosa mandonii fruits have an oval shape and get a shining red color when riped.

The habitat of this Madeira plant is on high and humid areas around Madeira Island only.

Madeira Calendula, Calendula maderensis, is a rare herbaceous plant endemic to Madeira Archipelago. Its bright yellow flowers look like a chrysanthemum though each of its petals have like two small cuts on its tip. Its fruits, inside the flower, seem like smaller star shaped flowers. This Madeira flora species which belong to the sunflowers family (Asteraceae) blooms from December to June and it can grow up to 80 centimeters high.

In Madeira, Laurel Forest is also known as the water forest due to its capacity to absorb much water, specially from fog condensation. Around 80% of the water absorbed by Laurel trees and heathers is originated from the fog condensation on these species leaves and this makes this forest the main water resource of Madeira.

Being Madeira such a touristy destination, mainly due to its fantastic nature and landscapes, protecting the Forest and saving water are two fundamental actions to preserve the environment. And this is something that must be done globally, not only in Madeira!

Small steps like recycling paper, plastic. glass and batteries; turning off tap water while brushing the teeth; taking shower instead of taking bath, not using wood chopsticks when going to Chinese restaurants; reusing plastic bags or containers... We all know these small steps, we just need to act and start walking towards Earth Conservation!