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Five plant species you should try to find during a hike in Seychelles

Victoria, Seychelles | February 15, 2018, Thursday @ 11:13 in Entertainment » SEYCHELLES BUZZ | By: Daniel Laurence Edited by: Betymie Bonnelame | Views: 4753
Five plant species you should try to find during a hike in Seychelles

(Nature Trail Seychelles)

Photo license  

(Seychelles News Agency) - The islands of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean are popular for their tropical beauty. While many visitors prefer to enjoy the sun and white sandy beaches, the more adventurous enjoy discovering the environment and wilder side of the islands – the nature trails.

There are approximately 15 trails spread across the island nation. One of the most notable is the Morne Blanc Nature trail on the western side of Mahe. This trail is a continuous uphill climb, going through mist forests up to the mountain of Morne Blanc, giving a great view of Mahe’s western coast.

For flora enthusiast willing to go trekking up the mountain, SNA provides five plant species to look out for on the trail.

 

Tea plantation

The initial part of the trail passes through a tea plantation which started in 1966 and continues to be of great importance. The plantation is where Seychelles’ tea factory is located and is producing the local brand tea -- Sey Te.

(Priyanga Tennege) Photo License: CC-BY

Endemic palms

On the trail, climbers can view a variety of endemic palms growing naturally and most of these plants are encountered higher up the trail.

(Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Sandragon tree

At around 620m of altitude, there is a massive and very old sandragon tree (Pterocarpus indicus) growing across the ground and covered with a luxuriant growth of epiphytes. The tree was used in the past as boundary markers, but its number has dwindled over the years.

(Cerlin Ng) Photo License: CC BY 2.0

Jambrosa

Found at the higher regions of the trail, this plant has elongated dark green leaves. The seedlings remain small until a taller tree falls and allows in more light. Jambrosa has cream colored flowers with many stamens and sweet, delicately scented fruits. The species has been introduced and has naturalized.

(mauroguanandi/flickr) Photo License: CC BY 2.0

Pitcher plant

A rebel of the botanical world that does things in its own way, the pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant that traps and feeds on insects. The insects are attracted to the fragrant odour of the plant. Walking along the trail, the plant can be found clustered in small colonies in particular areas.  

(Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC BY

 

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