Despite the fact that the original vegetation of the island has been heavily modified since its colonisation, several ecological zones are still recognisable. The first of these is semi-desert that extends around much of the coastal fringe. Originally it was dominated by a sparse community of endemics such as babies’ toes Hydrodea crypthantha, St Helena boneseed Osteospermum sanctaehelenae, and other natives such as purslane Portulaca oleracea, but the current endemic populations are now even more scattered.