Its grandiose landscapes, its wild nature and the magnificent hiking trails that criss-cross it have made the reputation of this beautiful land of France emerged in the middle of the Indian Ocean. We are "in the perfumed land that the sun caresses", as Baudelaire wrote in his poem "À une dame créole". An island with exceptional endemic flora.

Along with Mauritius, Rodrigues and a number of Mauritian islets, Réunion forms the Mascareignes archipelago, named after the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas who explored them. For a long time a simple stopover on the route to India, Réunion became French in 1764. Formerly Île Bourbon, its current name was changed in 1793, in reference to the "reunion", during the Paris Convention, of the Marseillais and several battalions of the National Guard during the assault on the Tuileries Palace. Île Bonaparte in 1806, Isle of Bourbon from the time of the British occupation in 1810, then Île Bourbon from 1815, it definitively regained its name in 1848.

Reunion Island. Tufts of green brandy. Erica reunionensis.
Reunion Island. Clumps of green brandy (Erica reunionensis).

Also known as the "Intense Island", Réunion has an exceptional volcanic and mountainous terrain. Here, nature has left an extraordinary wealth of landscapes over an area of 2,500 km², the equivalent of a small French département. The face of the island changes at every level of its rugged terrain. From the top of the peaks to the pounding of the waves, everything here is dominated by an indomitable and fiery nature.

A life-size botanical garden

Reunion Island. Ambaville bush (Hubertia tomentosa) in front of the Piton de la Fournaise.
Reunion Island. Ambaville bushes (Hubertia tomentosa) and green brandies in front of the Piton de la Fournaise.

With major differences in temperature and rainfall depending on the relief and geographical location, the island offers highly contrasting landscapes and therefore different ecosystems: volcanic mineral desert at La Fournaise, a 27km lagoon on the west coast, superb basalt cliffs in the east, expanses of sugar cane in the plains, jagged landscapes in the Hauts... they are all striking and powerful.

Reunion Island. Formica Leo crater. Piton de la Fournaise.
Reunion Island. Formica Leo crater. Piton de la Fournaise.

This mosaic of natural environments makes Réunion a hotbed of endemism and a site of global value in terms of biodiversity. Although some species, such as the dodo, which has become the emblem of the local beer, and the giant Bourbon tortoise, did not survive the arrival of man in the 17th century, many others have become endemic and have helped to forge the identity of this island region.

Reunion Island. View of the Roche Ecrite in the centre and the Cimendef on the left from the volcano road. These 2 peaks are part of the Piton des Neiges massif.
Reunion Island. View of the Roche Ecrite in the centre and the Cimendef on the left from the volcano road. These 2 peaks are part of the Piton des Neiges massif.

The mascarin floral world

More than 30 % of the plant species that grow on Réunion are endemic. In other words, they only exist here. These include the two Bourbon coffees, the Salazie begonia, the bois de pintade, the Hauts tamarind, the bois de couleurs, remarkable for the colourful hues of their trunks... or the magnificent orchids that colonise the trees of the primary forest and which can be found in Salazie or when visiting the Conservatoire botanique de Mascarin or the Maison Folio in Hell-Bourg.

Reunion Island. Wood sorrel (Begonia obliqua).
Reunion Island. Wood sorrel (Begonia obliqua). Endemic origin.
Reunion Island. Tamarind plain. Tamarind trees (Tamarindus indica) produce fruit with a tangy pulp and have laxative properties.
Reunion Island. Tamarind plain. Tamarind trees (Tamarindus indica) produce fruit with a tangy pulp which is used as a laxative.
Réunion Island Tamarind trunks. Its wood is sought after for making furniture or as construction timber. Its bark is used to treat asthma.
Reunion Island. Tamarind trunks. Its wood is sought after for making furniture or as building timber. Its bark is used to treat asthma.

The first species to colonise the island came from neighbouring lands: Mauritius, Madagascar and the African continent. Others came from Asia or the Pacific, brought by sea currents, migratory birds and trade winds or monsoon flows. Others were brought by Portuguese sailors.

Many of these plants have vernacular names, such as Ti clover (Oxalis corniculata), Petit Pimpin (Pandanus sylvestris) or Tabac-boeuf (Miconia crenata). A magnificent Creole language, so expressive and lilting, which has baptised plants, animals and people with colourful adjectives. Like the nickname Zoreils given to the French in mainland France, which is said to have originated from the fact that, having a poor understanding of Creole, they would constantly repeat themselves and thus come across as hard of hearing.

Reunion Island. Rampart wood (Agarista buxifolia). Don't be fooled by these beautiful little bells, this ericaceous plant is as beautiful as it is poisonous.
Reunion Island. Rampart wood (Agarista buxifolia). Don't be fooled by these beautiful little bells, this ericaceous plant is as beautiful as it is poisonous.
The meeting. Tibouchine (Tibouchina urvilleana). This shrub can grow up to 6 m high. Its wide, velvety petals surround large, curved stamens that are articulated like little legs, hence its local name of spider flower.
Reunion Island. Tibouchine (Tibouchina urvilleana). This shrub can grow up to 6 m high. Its wide, velvety petals surround large, curved stamens that are articulated like little legs, hence its local name of spider flower.
Reunion Island. Tree fern or Alsophile de Bourbon. Known locally as Fanjan, this magnificent plant is common in damp mountain forests.
Reunion Island. Tree Fern or Bourbon Fern (Cyathea borbonica). Locally known as Fanjan, this magnificent plant is common in humid mountain forests.
Reunion Island. Fanjan bark (Cyathea borbonica).
Reunion Island. Fanjan bark (Cyathea borbonica).

Today, human pressure (clearing, deforestation, overharvesting, competition from colonising and invasive plant species), tourism and natural hazards (volcanoes, cyclones) threaten the survival of these rare species. Here more than anywhere else, Réunion's landscapes are constantly changing under the combined action of the natural elements and the hand of man. This threatens already fragile ecosystems. Longoses, galabert, guava... a hundred or so plants in all are so invasive that they are the subject of ambitious control programmes. So don't take any plants, or you risk spreading seeds.

Reunion Island. Longose flower (Hedychium flavescens) or horse ginger. This Zingiberaceae is a vigorous and invasive herb.
Reunion Island. Longose flower (Hedychium flavescens) or horse ginger. This Zingiberaceae is a vigorous and invasive herb.
Reunion Island. Flambeau d'amour or Piment Z'anneau (Fuschia boliviana). This shrub can grow up to 2 metres high and produces edible hanging fruit.
Reunion Island. Flambeau d'amour or Piment Z'anneau (Fuschia boliviana). This shrub can grow up to 2 metres high and produces fruit which also hangs down and is edible.
Reunion Island. Canne Marronne (Cordyline mauritiana).  This species is endemic to Réunion and Mauritius. This lily can be found on the ground or perched in a tree.
Reunion Island. Canne Marronne (Cordyline mauritiana). This species is endemic to Réunion and Mauritius. This lily can be found on the ground or perched in a tree.

Native and exotic species

Some plants have been introduced, intentionally or otherwise, by man. Over time, the island has become covered in a variety of vegetation, overflowing with botanical treasures. There are many indigenous species. These include Mahots (Dombeya, Hibiscus), Nettle Wood, Joli-coeur Wood and Calliandra calothyrsus (Fabaceae), native to Central America and Mexico, where it grows from sea level to an altitude of 1,900 metres. The species has been introduced into many tropical regions where it is used in agroforestry systems, as a shade plantation, as an intercropping hedge to protect soils from erosive rain and, more recently, as fodder for livestock..

Reunion Island. Calliandra calothyrsus. Introduced to the island in the 1990s and used as animal fodder.
Reunion Island. Calliandra calothyrsus. Introduced to the island in the 1990s and used as animal fodder.
Reunion Island. Brède mafane (Acmella oleracea) is a plant native to Brazil and Peru, although it now grows wild in the tropics throughout the southern hemisphere and in the hottest regions of Asia. It is used as a condiment and its leaves are eaten in salads.
Reunion Island. Brède mafane (Acmella oleracea) is a plant native to Brazil and Peru, although it now grows wild in the tropics throughout the southern hemisphere and in the hottest regions of Asia. It is used as a condiment and its leaves are eaten in salads.
Reunion Island. African Costus (Costus afer). Spiral ginger is a medicinal and ornamental plant with edible leaves.
Reunion Island. African Costus (Costus afer). Spiral ginger is a medicinal and ornamental plant with edible leaves.
Reunion Island. Seaside velvet plant or silver heliotrope. It is planted to embellish the back of beaches.
Reunion Island. Seaside velvet plant or silver heliotrope. It is planted to embellish the back of beaches.
Reunion Island. Usnea (Usnea complanata). This filamentous lichen is very common in high altitude rainforests. It has the ability to absorb pollutants and radioactivity.
Reunion Island. Usnea (Usnea complanata). This filamentous lichen is very common in high altitude rainforests. It has the ability to absorb pollutants and radioactivity.

For more information
Office de tourisme de La Réunion : https://www.reunion.fr/

Text Brigitte Postel
Photos Florian Ferry and Brigitte Postel