The vegetation of the Maldives is unique due to the archipelago's coral-based soil, high salinity, and proximity to the sea. The flora is not diverse in number of species but is highly specialized. Most trees and shrubs found on the inhabited islands serve either functional purposes (construction, medicine) or ornamental ones.
' vegetation is defined by its extreme resilience to salt spray shallow nutrient-poor soils intense tropical heat trees and shrubs of the maldives hot
This tree produces gorgeous orange flowers that contrast against dark green leaves. The leaves are covered in tiny, rough hairs (pubescence) that trap a thin layer of air, insulating the leaf tissue from extreme heat and reducing evaporative stress. In the hot Maldives, this "fuzzy leaf" strategy is a masterstroke of survival. The vegetation of the Maldives is unique due