Editing Malta (section)

===Flora===
{{main|Flora of Malta}}
[[File:Палеоцентаурея мальтийская.png|thumb|National plant: [[Cheirolophus crassifolius|Maltese centaury]] ({{lang|mt|Widnet il&#x2011;Baħar}}, since 1971)]]
Malta contains only 4.6 square kilometres of naturally regenerating forest, characterised by mature trees with a height of 2 to 5 meters. The overall area occupied by trees is estimated to be 320 square kilometres, which constitutes approximately 1.44% of the total land area of the archipelago. The most common indigenous tree species are the willow ([[Salix alba]]), poplar ([[Populus alba]]), olive (''[[Olive|Olea europaea]]''), carob (''[[Ceratonia siliqua]]''), oak (''[[Quercus ilex|Quericus ilex]] &'' [[Quercus rotundifolia]]), Aleppo pine (''[[Pinus halepensis]]''), laurel ([[Laurus nobilis]]) and fig (''[[Common fig|Ficus carica]]''), while the most common non-native trees are [[eucalyptus]], [[acacia]], [[date palm]] and [[Opuntia ficus-indica|opuntia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 |page=22 |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/33a5491a-bdfd-48a5-a6aa-b79599458add/content |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728180427/https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/33a5491a-bdfd-48a5-a6aa-b79599458add/content |archive-date=28 July 2024 |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=openknowledge.fao.org |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifsud |first=Stephen |date=23 August 2002 |title=Wild Plants of Malta - Plant Family Index |url=https://maltawildplants.com/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=maltawildplants.com |language=en-us}}</ref> The Maltese islands are also home to a wide diversity of indigenous, sub-endemic and endemic plants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=State of the Environment Report 2005 - Sub-report 9: Biodiversity |url=https://era.org.mt/en/Documents/SOER%2005%20Sub%20Report%209%20-%20Biodiversity.pdf.pdf |date=January 2006 |website=[[Environment and Resources Authority]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107021301/https://era.org.mt/en/Documents/SOER%2005%20Sub%20Report%209%20-%20Biodiversity.pdf.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. Endemic plants include the national flower {{lang|mt|widnet il-baħar}} (''[[Cheirolophus crassifolius]]''), {{lang|mt|sempreviva ta' Malta}} ([[Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. melitense|''Helichrysum panormitanum'' subsp. ''melitense'']]), {{lang|mt|żigland t' Għawdex}} (''[[Hyoseris frutescens]]'') and {{lang|mt|ġiżi ta' Malta}} ([[Matthiola incana|''Matthiola incana'' subsp. ''melitensis'']]) while sub-endemics include {{lang|mt|kromb il-baħar}} ([[Jacobaea maritima|''Jacobaea maritima'' subsp. ''sicula'']]) and {{lang|mt|xkattapietra}} (''[[Micromeria microphylla]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifsud |first=Stephen |title=Wild Plants of Malta and Gozo – Main Page |url=http://www.maltawildplants.com/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201065313/http://www.maltawildplants.com/ |archive-date=1 February 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=Maltawildplants.com |language=en}}</ref> The biodiversity of Malta is severely endangered by habitat loss, invasive species and human intervention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maltese Biodiversity under threat |date=13 February 2011 |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2011-02-13/news/maltese-biodiversity-under-threat-287673/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203324/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2011-02-13/news/maltese-biodiversity-under-threat-287673/ |archive-date=24 January 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=The Malta Independent}}</ref>