The survey of plants will be divided into the main ecological areas, coastal, dry (arid, transitional zones), humid (the rest of the zones, scalasia, brown, miconia, and fern-sedge zones)

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Click here for plant background.

Among the bryophytes over 200 species of mosses and liverworts are found on the Galapagos Islands especially in the higher altitudes. The scalasia trees on Santa Cruz are covered with many kinds of mosses and liverworts.

The ferns are the simplest vascular plants. Over 90 species of ferns are found on the Galapagos Islands.

The gymnosperms include the pines and cedars. Gymnosperms are absent from the Galapagos Islands. The Spanish cedar, an introduced species, is not a cedar but a flowering plant in the mahagony family.

Click here for angiosperm background. The great majority of plants found in the Galapagos are angiosperms. They can be separated into two informal groups the monocots and the dicots.

The monocots include the sedge,...

...and the elephant grass, etc. Elephant grass in an invasive species...

The dicots include most of the plants on the islands. The guava, another invasive species is a good example.

In the Galapagos, approximately 1/3 of the vascular plants are endemic (found only in the Galapagos) amounting to roughly 200 species, subspecies, and varieties. Seven genera are endemic including....

The family Compositae include many familiar plants such as daisies. The "flowers" are actually clusters of many flowers.

In the family Compositae (Asteraceae) are the genera Darwiniothamnus, Lecocarpus, Macraea, and Scalesia (including 20 subgroups).

In the family Cactaceae (cactus)are the genera Brachycereus...

...and Jasminocereus. In the Cucurbitaceae is Sicyocaulis. I have not seen this plant in my visits.

The survey of plants will be divided into the main ecological areas found in the Galapagos.

The coastal area is that area next to the shore. The plants may be partially submerged part of the time and must be able to tolerate salt.

The dry area includes the arid zone and the transition zone. The arid zone is very dry and the transition zone blends into the characteristics of the humid zone.

The humid area includes the rest of the zones, scalasia, brown, miconia, and fern-sedge zones. These zones are described in more detail in the Ecology unit.