 The "Crown wastes" or coastal zones were formerly covered with native scrub, of which a major component was probably St Helena dwarf ebony ("Trochetiopsis ebenus" and St Helena tree ebony "Trochetiopsis melanoxylon").The destruction of the native vegetation began soon after the discovery of the island by the Portuguese in 1502, with the introduction of goats.As there were no native herbivorous mammals, the flora was unadapted to such threats.