Flora

 Canary Islands date palm (Phoenix canariensis)

This plant is endemic of the Canary Islands; you can find it in parks all over the world. Large quantities of birds nest in them as they are a food source for many invertebrates. Frequently hybridised with date palm (Phoenix dactylifera).

 Canary Islands tamarisk (Tamarix canariensis)

This shrub is able to survive on salt water areas because it expels the salt via its leaves. It is the most common shrub on the Nature Reserve and it provides shelter for different kinds of birds. It is used for resting as well as a resting place.

 Balancon (Traganum moquinii)

The succulence of its leaves is a result of its adaptation to salt water areas. They help to form the dunes because they retain the sand swept by the wind. When there is more sand than it can retain the dune formation begins.

 Sea-grape (Zygophillum fontanesi)

This little shrub is usually found on the coast, and has white or even yellow stems. It has single flowers and produces off-white fruit which has a cork-like texture when ripe.

 Halophyte (Limonium tuberculatum)

Grows to 60cms tall, its leaves are small. It has a lot of branches, and the lower branches are covered by tubers. The flowers are in small clusters and each one has a characteristic pink colour. It has been reintroduced on the Nature Reserve.

 Salado (Schizogyne glaberrima)

This shrub is very common along the coast of the south of Gran Canaria. It is almost in bloom the whole year, having a yellow flower. It is a very important source of pollen and nectar for insects.

 Wigeongrass (Ruppia maritima)

This is an aquatic and herbaceous plant, its life is short. Its stem is thin and grows as tall as 40cms. The flowers are hermaphrodite and they are on spikes. They form communities almost only ever found around salt pools.

 Aulaga (Launaea arborescens)

A thorny shrub with small branches and small, yellow flowers which provide food for lizards. Its dried branches are used as fuel and fodder.

 Balo (Plocama pendula)

It is a small tree which is very common on the permanent dunes in the Nature Reserve. The lizards live on its juicy fruit, disperse its seeds and live among the roots. It has characteristically drooping branches.

 Pata camello (Neurada procumbens)

The origin of this plant is North Africa. It was introduced by dromedaries, and is now all over the Nature Reserve, especially on the permanent dunes. The wind and human traffic has dispersed them everywhere.

 Common reed (Phragmites australis)

It is the dominant vegetation in the shallower aquatic areas of the Reserve. They are very important for the environment because they are where some birds hide themselves and nest, such as common moorhen. Its name in Spanish is Carrizo, and this plant has served in naming some villages in Gran Canaria like Carrizal.

 Sharp rush (Juncus acutus)

It is a shrub which can grow up to 2m diameter in the Nature Reserve. It can live with a metre of its stem underwater. The aquatic birds of La Charca use it to hide and breed. This kind of shrub is always close to fresh or salt water.