Contribution to the Knowledge of Martiniques Flora (Lesser Antilles)

In tropical island systems, the mesological factors have led to great environmental diversification. These specificities have resulted in a high ecosystemic and specific diversity. In Martinique, as in the other islands of the Lesser Antilles, the rainfall gradients defined the bioclimates. Each bioclimate corresponds to a vegetation floor composed of groups or populations of preponderant species. The phytocenoses observable today in Martinique are called secondary and belong to different dynamic stages. This vegetation is the result of the various human activities which succeeded one another from the colonial period to the present day. The primary vegetation has been strongly modified in favour of intensive monocultures on which the plantation economy was based. Todays secondary vegetation is subject to many pressures linked to demography and multiple human activities. As a result, much of Martiniques plant formations are in little advanced stages. Irrespective of the bioclimate, they are composed of individuals in morphogenetic development accompanied by some mature specimens belonging to a previous dynamic stage. The purpose of this article is to show the organization of plant species communities within the different bioclimatic stages.