Madagascar , locate in the Indian Ocean off the southeast glide of Africa , is the earth ’s fourthly large island , and has one of the most diverse collections of industrial plant life on ground . Many of Madagascar ’s plant have no relatives elsewhere in the worldly concern . According to Wild Madagascar , a site commit to parent sentience of Madagascar ’s singularity , there are 10 families and 260 genus of plants that are unique to Madagascar . Only Australia , with 13 endemic flora families , has more .
Orchids
There are 1,000 different species of orchid on the island , and 85 percent of those are unique to Madagascar . The comet orchid ( Angraecum sesquipedale ) , originally discovered by Charles Darwin , has a white blossom whose scent attracts the long - tongue mortarboard moth , the only insect capable of pollinating the flora ’s understructure - long nectar tube . The black orchid ( Cymbidiella falcigera ) blooms from December to January with green and dim flower . Destructive solidus and combust agriculture method , as well as the orchidaceous plant ’s popularity with collectors , have caused it to become endangered , according to Bushhouse-Madagascar.com
Palms
Of Madagascar ’s 170 palms , 165 are found only in Madagascar . The ravinala medal ( Ravenala madagascariensis ) , a home symbol of Madagascar , is sometimes called the traveler ’s tree diagram , since its arm hold urine which a passerby - by may habituate to quench his thirst . This palm also provides a traveller with inst predilection , since its leaf ontogeny espouse the path of the sun from east to west . Ravinala decoration is in cracking need as a expression material , since its turgid fronds are commonly used to establish the walls and roofs of Malagasy homes .
Baobab Tree
The long - hold up , fertile - trunked baobab tree diagram is sometimes call the bottle tree or " upside - down tree " for its fantastic arm structure . Six of the eight metal money of baobab on the island are endemic . Although it is one of Madagascar ’s most iconic trees , it is threaten because of separatrix and cut land , over - grazing , and fire .
Didiereaceae
An entire industrial plant family , didiereaceae , is find nowhere else in the cosmos but in Madagascar ’s arid southwesterly region . Although the plants in this family resemble the cacti of the American southwest , they are not concern . Didiereaceae grow in an ecosystem called a spiny forest or spiny desert , which is being threatened because of its destruction for employment as fusain and building material , according to the internet site Wildmadagascar.org .
Madagascar Rosy Periwinkle
The Madagascar rosy winkle ( Catharanthus roseus ) , an evergreen herb with wan pink flowers , has long been used by locals to make an herbal practice of medicine . late , the plant was get word to be the reservoir of a potent Crab fighter , a chemical compound call vincristine or Velban .
