Included here are the Azores a group of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic. The three largest islands, São Miguel, Terceira and Pico represent about 69% of the total area of the archipelago.

Azorean Dunes and Shingle Vegetation

Extensive dune systems, such as in the bay at Praia da Vitória (Terceira Island) are rare in the Azores. Most are just small sandy beaches with scattered stands of Salsola kali. However, the scattered shingle beaches support several endemics including Euphorbia azorica (Euphorbiaceae) and Spergularia azorica (Caryophyllaceae).

References

Carine, M. A. & Schaefer, H. 2010. The Azores diversity enigma: why are there so few Azorean endemic flowering plants and why are they so widespread? Journal of Biogeography, 37: 77-89.

Dias, E., Elias, Rui, B. & Nunes, V. 2004. Vegetation mapping and nature conservation: a case study in Terceira Island (Azores). Biodiversity and Conservation, 13: 1519-1539.

Dias, E., Mendes, C., Melio, C., Pereira, D. & Elias, R. 2005. Azores central Islands vegetation and flora guide. Quercetea, 7: 123-173.

Godman, F. D. C. 2005. Natural History of the Azores or Western Islands. An ubabridged facsimile of the edition published in 1870 by John van Voorst, London. Elibron Classics series.

Humphries, C. J. 1979. Endemism and Evolution in Macaronesia. In: Plants and Islands. Ed. D, Bramwell. Academic Press.

Rodríguez-Sánchez, F. & Arroyo, J. 2008. Reconstructing the demise of Tethyan plants: climate-driven range dynamics of Laurus since the Pliocene. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 17: 685-695.

Schäfer, H. 2005. Flora of the Azores. A Field Guide. Margraf Publishers.

Sjogren, E. 1993. Dry coastal ecosystems of Madeira and the Azores. In: Ecosystems of the World 2B  Dry Coastal Ecosystems  Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. Ed. Eddy van der Marel. Elsevier.

Sunding, P. 1979. Origins of the Macaronesian Flora. In: Plants and Islands. Ed. D, Bramwell. Academic Press.

Tutin, T. G. 1953. The vegetation of the Azores. Journal of Ecology, 41: 53-61.

Tutin, T. G. & Warburg, E. F. 1932. Contributions from the University Herbarium Cambridge - notes on the flora of the Azores. The Journal of Botany, 70: 38-46.