Flora of the Canary Islands. Vegetation zones. Orocanarian zone. Flora and vegetation of the Canary Islands

Orocanarian zone

The Orocanario zone is found only on the island of Tenerife, at altitudes above 3,100 metres and up to the summit of Mount Teide, which rises to 3,718 metres above sea level, making it the highest point in the Canary Islands and in Spain.
In this area, the soil is very poor and rocky, and the climate is relatively cold, with predominantly dry south-westerly winds and annual rainfall of less than 400 mm, generally in the form of snow. This results in very dry summers and long, harsh winters, with average temperatures of around 10°C in summer, and around 6°C below zero in winter, although temperatures as low as 20°C below zero can be recorded during this period.

Viola cheiranthifolia

These extreme soil and climatic conditions mean that, from an altitude of approximately 3,000 metres onwards, the shrubs typical of the vegetation in the lower zone begin to disappear, including species that are highly resistant to extreme weather such as the broom (Spartocytisus supranubius).
From this point onwards, only a few small herbaceous species can thrive on the rocks and scree of the volcanic cone, such as the small and pretty Teide violet (Viola cheiranthifolia), which also thrives amongst certain rocks in lower areas of Mount Teide, the silver thistle (Stemmacantha cynaroides), the Teide campion (Silene nocteolens), or the Teide laphangium (Laphangium teydeum).