The Laurel forest, a unique subtropical humid forest, dates back to the Tertiary Period, when it occupied vast areas of southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Advancing glaciers were the main causes for its almost total extinction, and the only places it persisted was on the so called Fortunate Islands, more specifically, in the archipelagos of Madeira, Azores and the Canary Islands.

The Laurel forest is usually characterized by the predominance of trees belonging to the Laurel family, such as the Bay Laurel (Larus novocanariensis), the Fetid Laurel (Ocotea foetens), the Madeira Mahogany (Persea indica) and the Canary Laurel (Apollonias barbujana). Besides these, there are others such as: the Picconia (Picconia excelsea), the Lily-of-the-valley Tree (Clethra arborea), the rare Madeira Cheesewood (Pittosporum coriaceum) or the Madeira Holly (Ilex perado). There is also a huge variety of trees, bushes, ferns, mosses, lichens and liverworts. This unique group of flora represent, respectively, about 15 and 9% of the endemic species in Madeira and Macaronesia.

In addition it contains a large biodiversity of fauna, thus presenting a large number of endemisms. Here it is common to find a large range of arthropods, butterflies, acarus, terrestrial molluscs (snails and slugs), reptiles and mammals, some of which are endemic to the Laurel forest like the Walf Spider (Lycosa blackwalli), the Madeira Wall-lizard (Teria dugesii) and the bat (Pipistrellus maderensis).

Madeira has the most extensive and well conserved Laurel forest of the world, it occupies around 15 000 hectares of the island, and is totally included in the Madeira Natural Park as an Integral and Partial Nature Reserve.

Due to its scientific importance, and as an attempt to value the region, the Laurel forest has been distinguished as a Special Protection Area by the Wild Birds Directive and as Site of Community Interest of the Habitats Directive.

Its worldwide recognition results from these well-known epithets: the Biogenetic Reserve recognised by the European Council in 1992, and the World Natural Heritage decreed by UNESCO in 1999.

Going through the island, from the coast to the raised peaks, is like travel in time, in a way that when we contemplate the indigenous forest we try to imagine the primitive landscapes of habitats.

ZAMBUJAL
This is an arboreal climatic community dominated by the Wild Olive Tree (Olea maderensis) an endemic specie of Madeira that inhabits the declivous ravines of the coast, associate to another endemic shrub (Chamaemeles coriacea) of our archipelago whose conservation status is determined as in immediate danger.

In the herbaceous-shrub stratus we find other endemics as White Everlasting (Helichrysum melaleucum), that has aromatic and medicinal properties and the Golden Musschia (Musschia aurea) whose yellow-golden flowers, with a bell shape, cheer the landscapes of Madeira and Desertas Islands, as well as some species with a high scientific interest, due to their threat of extinction, as the Andryala (Andryala crithmifolia), the White Madeira Jasmine (Jasminum azoricum) and the Stonecrop (Aichryson dumosum).

LAURISSILVA DO BARBUSANO
This forest is a Madeira endemic community dominated by two laurels: the Canary Laurel (Apollonias barbujana) and the Laurel Tree (Laurus novocanariensis), even so is associated with other species as the Iron Wood (Sidenoxylon marmulano var. marmulano) and the Canary Holly (Ilex canariensis var. canariensis); not so frequent Macaronesia endemic species.
This forest has one raised wealth of endemic woody liana and climbing plants from Macaronesia and others from Madeira of which we emphasize the Sarsa parilla (Smilax aspera), Canary Bindweed (Smilax canariensis), the Edible Bryony (Tamus edulis) and the rare Madeira Bindweed (Convolvulus massonii) that is in immediate danger.

LAURISSILVA DO VINHÁTICO
Riparian forest is associated to water courses and dominated by Madeira Mahogany (Persea indicates), (Salix canariensis) and Laurel Tree (Laurus novocanariensis). In the shrub stratus predominates the Madeira Elder (Sambucus lanceolata), the Bastard Hare's Ear (Phyllis nobla) and the Large-Leaved Saint John's Wort (Hypericum grandifolium).
At the herbaceous level the prominence goes for the ferns, as the Chain Fern (Woodwaria radicans), the (Diplazium caudatum) and the (Pteris incompleta), and still for some Madeira's endemic spermatophytes as the (Festuca donax), (Parafestuca albida) and the Madeira Moneywort (Sibthorpia peregrina).
Two of the most beautiful plants that we can find in this community are the Madeira Orchid (Dactylorhiza foliosa) and the Madeira Squill (Scilla maderensis var. maderensis).

LAURISSILVA DO TIL
On the North coast and interior of the Island there is a great diversity of endemic trees that are part of an arboreal climatic community, dominated by Fetid Laurel (Ocotea foetens), Laurel Tree (Laurus novocanariensis) and Lily-of-the-Vally tree (Clethra arborea). Here it is also possible to find the Beefwood (Heberdenia excelsa), the Madeira Holly (Ilex perado ssp. perado) and still the rare Madeira Cheese Wood (Pittosporum coriaceum) that is in immediate danger. In the shrub level we point out the presence of the endemics like the Besom Heath (Erica platycodon ssp. maderincola), the Madeira Blueberry (Vaccinium padifolium), the Yellow Fox Glove (Isoplexis sceptrum) and the Shrubby Sow Thistle (Sonchus fruticosos).
In the herbaceous plants group the prominence goes for the Madeira Stork's Bill (Geranium maderense), a plant with pink flowers, extremely rare in the natural state, that inhabits the high zones of the Laurel Forest and wet places of the central mountainous massif of Madeira Island.

URZAL DE ALTITUDE
The higher altitudes of Madeira are in the central mountainous massif. In these places we can find an endemic community dominated by Tree Heath (Erica arborea) and Besom Heath (Erica platycodon ssp. maderincola) species whose ecological niche is to captive water from mist clouds by precipitation of water.
In this community some endemic species such as the Madeira Blueberry (Vaccinium padifolium), the Madeira Mountain Ash (Sorbus maderensis) and the Madeira Grey Heather (Erica maderensis) are frequent.
The great treasure of this habitat is the set of herbaceous plants that bewitches all the ones that contemplate these precious. From this group we distinguish the rare Madeira Thrift (Armeria maderensis), the Madeira Violet (Viola paradoxa) that is a rarity with shining yellow flowers that lives "hidden" in inaccessible rocky cliffs, the Madeira Kidney (Anthyllis lemanniana) and the Rock Orchid (Orchis scopolorum) that inhabits the high rocky cliffs.

The vegetation of Porto Santo is marked by xerophytic features, as can be seen in some of the adaptations, namely fleshy stems and leaves, thorns, deep stomata, as well as small, rolled, pubescent leaves.

On the NE coast of Porto Santo, there is a peak whose name is related to the white cudbears that cover its rocky slopes. Pico Branco (White Peak) is a unique place, where we can find species that survived to desertification of the island and resulted in the extinction of native species such as the Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco), which is endemic to Madeira and Canaries.

This site is part of the Natura 2000 Network and attracts tourists and environmentalists alike, due to the variety of habitats and patches of well-preserved indigenous flora that take refuge on its nearly inaccessible slopes.

Among the trees, endemic species of the Wild Olive Tree (Olea maderensis), the Juniper (Juniperus phoenicea ssp. turbinata) and the Ironwood (Sideroxylon marmulano var. marmulano) predominate. Shrubs include, among others, the Smooth Spear-Leaved Spurge (Euphorbia piscatoria) and the Besom Heath (Erica platycodon ssp. maderincola), as well as some endemic species of Porto Santo, such as the Pride of Porto Santo (Echium portossanctensis), the Porto Santo Wall Flower (Erysimum arbuscula) and the Madeira Ironwort (Siderites candicans var. multiflora).

Specially important among the shrubs is the (Cheirolophus massonianus), an endangered species which can only be found in Madeira and Porto Santo.

Special mention is made of the herbaceous plants, Wall Fumitory (Fumaria muralis ssp. muralis var. laeta) and Vetch (Vicia ferreirensis), endemic to Porto Santo and considered very rare.

The vegetation on the Selvagens is of great scientific importance, as there are about 10 species exclusive to this sub-archipelago. These islands have the highest ratio of endemisms per unit of surface area in all Macaronesia.

SELVAGEM GRANDE
Over the years, the indigenous flora of this island underwent several modifications, due to the introduction of animal species (rabbits, goats and rats) and to the cultivation of Ice Plants (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) and Egyptian Fig-Marigold (M. nodiflorum) for industrial purposes, to extract soda for the manufacture of soap. Thus, the indigenous vegetation adapted itself to the rocky cliffs, where we find an endemism exclusive to this island, the Stone Crop (Monanthes lowei).
Macaronesian endemisms such as Sea-Heath (Frankenia laevis), the Shrubby Sea-Blite (Suaeda vera) and the Thick-Leaved Groundsel (Senecio incrassatus) are more abundant.

SELVAGEM PEQUENA
The flora of this island is of inestimable worth, because it has never suffered from any outside influence. It still retains its original characteristics, which is rare in the Atlantic islands.
In the sandy formations of this island we find several endemisms that are exclusive to this sub-archipelago. Examples include the Sea-Lavender (Limonium papillatum var. callibotryum) and the (Lobularia canariensis ssp. Succulenta). In this habitat we can also find a gramineous species (Elytigia juncliforme), which may grow to a height of 80 cm.
On the slopes of the highest point of Selvagem Pequena, Pico do Veado (49 m), there are two rare endemic shrubs that have adapted to the dry and arid conditions, the Chrysanthemum (Argyranthemum thalassophilum) and the Sharp-Leaved Asparagus (Asparagus nesiotes ssp. nesiotes).
Also characteristic is a variety (melliodora) of the Madeira Squill (Scilla maderensis), which has developed some features that distinguish it from its congener in Madeira.

ILHÉU DE FORA
Despite its small size, the Ilhéu de Fora has an exclusive endemism (Euphorbia obtusifolia var. desfoliata), a species of Spurge that has thick and fleshy stems. This has its own endemic beetle, which lives exclusively on this plant.