Trochetia boutoniana

Trochetia boutoniana also known by its native Mauritian name Boucle d'Oreille is a shrub from the Trochetia genus endemic to Mauritius. Traditionally included in the family Sterculiaceae, it is included in the expanded Malvaceae in the APG and most subsequent systematics.

Description

It can reach a height up to 3 m. The leaves are oval shaped and due to its xerophyte adaptions it is leathery on the underparts. Also stipules are present. The petals are between 5 and 6 cm and they are growing asymmetric. They are bell-shaped and the couloring is dark red with a white background. The capsule is globular shaped and containts up to 10 black seeds. The flowering time is from June to October.

This plant is relatively rare because of its weak regeneration and due to introduced monkeys which feed from the blossom buds. The only occurrence are the slopes of Le Morne Brabant, Mauritius. Thanks to the efforts of botanist Joseph Gueho it was successfully germinate and grown in cultivation for the first time in 1973.

Trochetia boutoniana is the national flower of Mauritius since 1992 and it is often illustrated on stamps of Mauritius. It was named after French botanist Louis Bouton.

References

• Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (2003): An Illustrated Guide to the Flora of Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Islands ISBN 99903-958-9-6

External links

• Conservation ecology and evolution of reproductive systems in the island endemic plants of the genus Trochetia (engl.)
• Mauritius Post Ltd. First Day Cover (engl.)
• A Protocol for the Isolation of DNA from Trochetia boutoniana (engl.)