Although not exclusive
to Madagascar
certainly
among
the most interesting!
The Baobab Trees.
Known as renala
(Mother of the Forest)
Some of these trees
are over 2,500
years old.
Of particular interest
is a stand known as
Avenue of The Baobab Trees
Where the trees
once a large rain-forest
now towering remnants
standing guard over scrub
line the road.
https://youtu.be/bOPNopC7Y9c
Baobabs can store
up to 32,000
gallons of water
in their trunks.
The Beginnings of a Baobab Tree
About 83% of
the plant life
on Madagascar
is seen
nowhere else in the
world.
A great many are orchids
including
Darwin's Orchid
Andy's Orchid
and my personal favorite
The Vanilla Orchid
Whose green pods turn leathery brown
and are then
Madagascar Vanilla Beans
The pods can then be split and scraped for
the vanilla seeds
black specks added to
ice creams, custards, dishes and desserts.
This known as Vanilla Caviar.
Or the whole pod added during the cooking process
as in stirred custards
and fished out before
serving.
Vanilla Extract is easily made by soaking
whole vanilla beans in
vodka or other drinking alcohols.
Bourbon seems to be
a favorite!
They can be bought here
https://www.amazon.com/Madagascar-Vanilla-Everything-FITNCLEAN-VANILLA/dp/B07PQV9WHG/ref=asc_df_B07PQV9WHG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=366338336599&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16662389831036672115&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016589&hvtargid=pla-788937308538&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76502786576&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366338336599&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16662389831036672115&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016589&hvtargid=pla-788937308538
In forested areas
some of the carnivorous
plants like this
Pitcher Plant
are found
Some growing from the forest floor
and some hanging vine-like
from above
like a string of (hungry) balloons.
Not to fear
these are not
the
Feed Me, Seymour
Audrey
type
But live on a diet
of insects, reptiles, frogs
and the occasional small bird.
Some of the fabulous Palms
found on Madagascar
Ravinala
More on the flora of Madagascar
https://youtu.be/fqA30K32VMo
I hope you have
enjoyed
this brief look at the flora of
Madagascar
And I think I must buy
some Vanilla Beans!
More Anon...