Galapagos Islands plantlife - Miconia flora zone

The southern slopes of San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are the only places where there is a dense shrubby belt of Miconia Robinsoniana. Native trees are absent from this zone and ferns are abundant in the herb layer. There are also many more liveworts than elsewhere.

Above the Scalesia Zone at 1950 - 2300 ft (600-700 m) is the humid zone named for the Miconia shrub that once dominated this region. The Miconia Robinsoniana grows to heights of 10-13 ft (3-4 m). It's leaves easily identify it with their yellow or reddish shading on the edges.

The Miconia is endemic to the Galapagos, but since the arrival of man it has become the most endangered plant in the islands. Introduced cattle have grazed the Miconia into dangerously low levels.