A new endemic botanical genus from Madeira, named ‘Madeirina’, has been presented at the University of Madeira. The discovery, the culmination of years of international research, underscores the importance of conserving the island's flora.
The species ‘Madeirina macrorhiza’ was placed in this new genus following morphological, floral biology, and genetic studies, which revealed significant differences from the ‘Tolpis’ genus, where it was previously classified. The name ‘Madeirina’ was chosen to honour the island.
Miguel Sequeira, one of the researchers involved, emphasized the crucial role of genetics in modern botany but noted that all scientific disciplines complement each other in understanding plant evolution. ‘Madeirina macrorhiza’ is a rock-dwelling plant found at high altitudes, adapted to grow on rocks. Despite being relatively abundant in places like the path between Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, its growth is very slow, making it vulnerable.
