New endemic plants at my primary school!
Remember Ebony Forest? They gifted my primary school some endemic plants for its endemic garden! We're helping to make it a Green Flag awardee of the Eco-Schools international programme.
My friends and I are helping there (painting, making posters, we'll probably have to talk to the students next year as well) and so we had the occasion to attend the event :D
Some talk about the plants under the cut ~
I'll use the French names of the plants since I don't know their English ones.
I wanted to include pictures for each one but they did not turn out well because of the strong wind ^^;; There's a cyclone forming in the Indian Ocean and we'll most probably get a wet Christmas and New Year >.<
(And for privacy reasons, I can't include the pics with the children. But if my teacher posts them on the eco-schools website, I'll link it in the comments!)
I'll list the plants the lady, Miss Christabelle, brought with her and comment on some of them:
1) Palmiste blanc
It is known as a "pioneer" since its presence in the forest paved the way to the spreading of the other species. (I forgot how ^^;;;)
2) Bois de Chandelle
We all thought it was named as such because its form is reminiscent of the chandelier. However, it was because the plant produces a waxy substance which is combustible.
It's the Dracaena concinna one by the way, since it seems there are different species.
3) Reine-des-Bois
It has purple flowers ^^ It's the "queen" of the forest because it grows to a significant height (If I remember rightly)
4) Bois-de-Judas
It was named after Judas not because it feeds on other plants but because our ancestors used it to deceive the foreigners. We had famous wood used for building because of their strength, longevity and other properties. However, it was running out. So when the foreigners came to the island in search of it, the inhabitants told them that what they were looking for was the Bois-de-Judas instead. So it became a symbol of betrayal!
5) Bois tambour
Otherwise known as "Potsam zako" in Mauritian creole. It owes this name to its fruit which looks like a "chamber pot" - what the inhabitants used to use. But who would use such a toilet in the middle of the forest!? The monkeys, of course! So, you get it, "zako" means "monkey"! This story was so funny XD
6) Ebony tree
Of course, we can't miss this one! I remember that we also had another one planted near the Grade 6 classes when I was still there. I need to check if it's still alive XD
More about this tree here!
We again talked about how the presence of lichen is indicative of the purity of the air. It is also mostly found on endemic plants I think. Plants which shed their barks do not have lichens growing on them.
These little stories are just so interesting!
-----------------
We then proceeded to planting after the brief introduction. Each endemic plant needed a minimum of 1m of distance between itself and the others since they have a tendency to spread their roots. Other species tend to have roots digging deeper.
The children had so much fun!
We also didn't know that the school had a Trochetia plant =O It's our national flower.
We also found the Vacoas plant whose leaves are used to make traditional baskets and bags. The location Vacoas was named after the plant due to its vast population there in the past.
-------------------
Bonus:
Highlight of the event
This little guy who was sleeping through the presentation and who woke up when I tried to get take a better picture. I wanted to caress it but it ran away T^T
How dare you disturb the Lord of the Jungle's sleep!!
I wanted to kidnap it
My friends and I are helping there (painting, making posters, we'll probably have to talk to the students next year as well) and so we had the occasion to attend the event :D
Some talk about the plants under the cut ~
I'll use the French names of the plants since I don't know their English ones.
I wanted to include pictures for each one but they did not turn out well because of the strong wind ^^;; There's a cyclone forming in the Indian Ocean and we'll most probably get a wet Christmas and New Year >.<
(And for privacy reasons, I can't include the pics with the children. But if my teacher posts them on the eco-schools website, I'll link it in the comments!)
I'll list the plants the lady, Miss Christabelle, brought with her and comment on some of them:
1) Palmiste blanc
It is known as a "pioneer" since its presence in the forest paved the way to the spreading of the other species. (I forgot how ^^;;;)
2) Bois de Chandelle
We all thought it was named as such because its form is reminiscent of the chandelier. However, it was because the plant produces a waxy substance which is combustible.
It's the Dracaena concinna one by the way, since it seems there are different species.
3) Reine-des-Bois
It has purple flowers ^^ It's the "queen" of the forest because it grows to a significant height (If I remember rightly)
4) Bois-de-Judas
It was named after Judas not because it feeds on other plants but because our ancestors used it to deceive the foreigners. We had famous wood used for building because of their strength, longevity and other properties. However, it was running out. So when the foreigners came to the island in search of it, the inhabitants told them that what they were looking for was the Bois-de-Judas instead. So it became a symbol of betrayal!
5) Bois tambour
Otherwise known as "Potsam zako" in Mauritian creole. It owes this name to its fruit which looks like a "chamber pot" - what the inhabitants used to use. But who would use such a toilet in the middle of the forest!? The monkeys, of course! So, you get it, "zako" means "monkey"! This story was so funny XD
6) Ebony tree
Of course, we can't miss this one! I remember that we also had another one planted near the Grade 6 classes when I was still there. I need to check if it's still alive XD
More about this tree here!
We again talked about how the presence of lichen is indicative of the purity of the air. It is also mostly found on endemic plants I think. Plants which shed their barks do not have lichens growing on them.
These little stories are just so interesting!
-----------------
We then proceeded to planting after the brief introduction. Each endemic plant needed a minimum of 1m of distance between itself and the others since they have a tendency to spread their roots. Other species tend to have roots digging deeper.
The children had so much fun!
We also didn't know that the school had a Trochetia plant =O It's our national flower.
We also found the Vacoas plant whose leaves are used to make traditional baskets and bags. The location Vacoas was named after the plant due to its vast population there in the past.
-------------------
Bonus:
Highlight of the event
This little guy who was sleeping through the presentation and who woke up when I tried to get take a better picture. I wanted to caress it but it ran away T^T
How dare you disturb the Lord of the Jungle's sleep!!
I wanted to kidnap it