Photo by: Catarina Fagundes

This species is endemic to Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands and it is easy to identify by its large and bright yellow flowers. Its flowers are present from March to June and can reach 5 cm in diameter forming large corymbs inflorescences. Ranunculus or Buttercup as it is popularly called is an herbaceous plant that may grow up to 1 meter in height. The leaves of these Macaronesia species are orbicular-heart shaped with lobes and denticulate, up to 30 cm. This coriaceous plant grows in altitudes between 700 and 1500 meters.

Photo by: Catarina Fagundes

Bird's Foot Trefoil, also known as Lotus, is an indigenous plant from Madeira and Canary archipelagos. The species Lotus glaucus paivae is an herb that grows mainly in coastal areas, up to 100 meters of altitude. This plant from the Fabaceae family can grow up to 30 centimeters and its beautiful yellow flowers can be seen from March to June.

In coastal areas one may find a true ornament with pink/violet flower petals, greyish green narrow leaves, densely covered with white hair and with an enchanting sweet scent.

This biennial herbaceous plant grows on rock crevices, mainly on loose soils where other plants keep away to avoid erosion. Though, as Madeira Seat Stock flowers from February to October and only once every two years, it can tolerate erosion easier than long living plants.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

This purple funnel-shaped shrub has two different species in Madeira. One is Echium nervosum that can be find from the sea level to 150 meters and the other is Echium candicans that grows on higher altitudes, between 800 and 1400 meters.

Echium candicans
Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Though these shrubs are both from the Boraginaceae family and both native to Madeira, they have adapted to different habitats and so they become different species. The Echium nervosum flowers from January to March and can reach a height of 1 meter while the Echium candicans flowers from May to September and its height can get to 1,5 meters.

Isoplexis sceptrum (L. fil.) Loud is an endemic bush from Madeira Island that occupies the wet and shadowed areas of the Laurel Forest. It is in a great state of conservation and its yellow inflorescence bloom from June to August.