» » » Orchids of the Black River Gorges National Park

Orchids of the Black River Gorges National Park

Bamboo orchid in Mauritius
Bamboo orchid (Arundina graminifolia) ~ exotic species

With our lunch packed and camera charged, me and Gabby were ready for a special hike in the Black River Gorges, one of the main national parks of Mauritius.

Gabby is an amazing conservation photographer friend from America with whom I am rediscovering the beauty of the fauna and flora of Mauritius.

As passionate nature photographers, no wonder that even after several hours we were still not far from the starting point taking pictures of these gorgeous bamboo orchids (Arundina graminifolia). The rain didn’t discouraged us as this was a great opportunity to see the orchids in bloom. So we waited on the main path, exposed to the wind and rain.

We also came across several species of tiny orchids. Their shapes made us thought of funny names such as “the dancer” or “the little man”. Some of them are native species.

Dry yellow orchid in Mauritius
This orchid inspired us the name of “the dancer” ~ native species of Mauritius Jumellea recta
White orchid in Mauritius
This orchid inspired us the name of “the little man” ~ Cynorkis fastigiata

When we reached the canopy, we were amazed by how small little flowers brought light in the forest. They are called White Star of Bethlehem (Laurentia longiflora).

White Star of Bethlehem in Mauritius
The bud of a White Star of Bethlehem flower (Laurentia longiflora) ~ invasive species
White Star of Bethlehem
The White Star of Bethlehem flower (Laurentia longiflora) ~ invasive species in Mauritius
Lantana camara flowers
Called “vieille fille” in Mauritius, the lantana camara flowers are colourful and have a strong fragrance ~ invasive species in Mauritius
West Indian raspberry flower
West Indian raspberry flower (Rubus rosifolius) ~ invasive species in Mauritius

CLICK HERE TO VISIT GABBY'S WEBSITE

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *