Overview Persea indica

the family lauraceae part of gondwanaland flora. there spread on of continent. genus persea died out in increasingly xerophytic africa, starting freezing of antarctica 20 million years ago , formation of benguela current. genus extinct in africa, save p. indica, survives in fog shrouded mountains of canary islands, madagascar, constitute africa s laurel forest plant refugia.

fossil evidence indicates genus originated in west africa during paleocene, , spread asia, south america, , europe , thence north america. thought gradual drying of africa, west asia, , mediterranean oligocene pleistocene, , glaciation of europe during pleistocene, caused extinction of genus across these regions, resulting in present distribution.

p. indica species exclusive laurisilva, since habitat threatened encroaching agriculture, laurel forest animal or vegetal species had become rare in many of former habitats , threatened habitat loss.