No strictly endemic plant species of Malta meet the inclusion rules for this list.
Define “endemic” as a species found only on the Maltese Islands and nowhere else. Apply that strict rule, and the search returns no qualifying species. Expecting an island-level species list creates an empty result because Malta shares most of its flora with the central Mediterranean and has few — if any — taxa confined solely to its tiny land area.
Understand the technical reasons behind this outcome. Malta is small and close to larger landmasses, so plant populations mix across the region. Taxonomy also plays a role: many plants once described as local species become reclassified as subspecies, varieties, or broader Mediterranean species after review. Human movement and habitat change further reduce the chance of strict island endemics. Data sources and conservation lists often report archipelago- or region-level endemics rather than single-island species.
Explore close alternatives that do exist and will interest readers. Look for narrow-range subspecies and varieties — especially in genera such as Limonium (sea lavenders), Romulea (small bulbs), and Linaria — and for plants that are subendemic to the central Mediterranean (shared with nearby Sicily, Tunisia or Sardinia). Also review species with a Maltese connection in their name (often labeled “melitensis”) — these suggest local importance but are not strictly endemic. For practical follow-up, consult regional checklists, MaltaWildPlants.com, GBIF, IUCN and ERA Malta, and local herbaria to build a list of subendemic taxa, rare natives, and conservation priorities instead.
