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Cover images, from left to right, top to bottomCanarina canariensis (Canary Bellflower); Garajonay, La GomeraEl Teide, TenerifeCeropegia dichotoma ssp. dichotoma; Teno, TenerifeCaralluma burchardii; Betancuria, FuerteventuraIsoplexis canariensis; Anaga, TenerifeEuphorbia handiensis; Jandía, FuerteventuraEuphorbia atropurpurea; Degollada de Cherfe, Tenerife2
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF THE BRITISH ISLESA VOYAGE OF DISCOVERYin theCANARY ISLANDS17 February – 2 March 2012Leaders: Teresa Farino & John MuddemanIntroductionThe Canary archipelago comprises seven principal volcanic islands – Lanzarote, Fuerteventura,Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro – plus a number of lesser islets, adriftin the Atlantic Ocean, around 100 km from the coast of north-west Africa and more than 1,100 kmfrom mainland Spain, by which it was annexed in the fifteenth century. Along with Madeira and theAzores, the Canaries are part of the biogeographic region of Macaronesia, renowned for itsincredible plant and animal diversity. The largest island is Tenerife, covering just 2,035 squarekilometres and rising 3,715 m above sea level to culminate in Spain’s highest peak, El Teide.Although in the past it has been suggested that the easternmost Canary Islands – Fuerteventura andLanzarote – were once attached to the African mainland, today most authorities agree that all theislands in the Canary archipelago are truly oceanic and have never been linked to a continental landmass at any time. They were formed as a result of eruptive phenomena taking place in zones ofweakness in the Earth’s crust, more than 2,000 m below the surface of the ocean, and in effectrepresent the tips of a series of volcanoes, some of which are still active today.Geological evidence exists to demonstrate that the seven islands of the Canary archipelago appearedat different times. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which perch atop the same block of parentmaterial, are the oldest islands, thought to have reached the surface around 20 million years ago,while the westernmost islands of La Palma and El Hierro are the youngest, considered to be just1.5–3 million years old. Sporadic volcanic activity has persisted into historic times on all theislands except for La Gomera, the smallest of the archipelago, which has been inactive for morethan four million years. Although the most recent eruption occurred in the south of La Palma, in1971, the best-preserved volcanic landscape on the archipelago lies within the Timanfaya NationalPark, on Lanzarote.Ever since the islands broke free of the ocean they have been subject to the erosive forces of sea,wind and rain; over millennia these sterile mounds of lava and volcanic ash have undergone aprocess of weathering to produce small pockets of soil, in which the first plants – arriving as windorwater-borne seeds – were able to gain a tenuous foothold. Today more than 2,000 species ofvascular plants occur in the Canary Islands, although only about 1650 are thought to have arrivedunder without the aid of man, but of these more than 40% are found nowhere else in the world.Similarly, the first animals to colonize the Canaries had to arrive under their own steam, crossingmany kilometres of open water in which to do so. Isolated from continental influences, thesespecies were then at liberty to follow their own evolutionary paths, generating a fauna exceptionallyrich in endemic taxa. This is perhaps most evident among the reptiles – fourteen unique species oflizards, skinks and geckos are scattered across the archipelago – and the invertebrates, new taxa ofwhich are being discovered every year.3
Page 1: BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF THE BRITISH IS
Page 5 and 6: Such hot, dry habitats also find fa
Page 7 and 8: Canary Pine ForestsAbove the sea of
Page 9 and 10: Important coastal sand-dune systems
Page 11 and 12: INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTSDATESFr
Page 13 and 14: Tenerife (5 nights):For this part o
Page 15 and 16: MAPS AND INFORMATIONYou will be sen
Page 17 and 18: Thurs 23 FebruaryFirst thing after
Page 19 and 20: MAKING A BOOKINGIf you wish to conf

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