Foliage trees  

Calophyllum inophyllum or takamaka is a common tree of the coastal vegetation from  Silhouette. Providing shade on its beaches as well as being good timber. It is a nice evergreen tree growing mainly on deep coastal sands, usually with a short, thick bole and spreading branches. It is resistant to salt water and for that reason used to prevent beach erosion. Takamaka trees are since 1994 victim of wilt desease, caused by a fungus and killing hundreds of trees on all Seychelles islands. Due to this loss of trees erosion has free hand on the beaches of Silhouette. Fortunately some trees seem to recover, and the worst should be over now.

Albizia falcataria (syn. falcata) is introduced from Mauritius but originates from tropical Asia. It has a smooth pale-grey bark and widespreading branches with thiny leaves. It’s a very fast growing tree reaching more than 30 meters in only a few years time dominating the hillsides and it can be found till high on the mountain tops of Silhouette. It is a very agressive tree and a real danger for the native forrest.

Artocarpus altilis or breadfruit tree is spread all over the village La Passe. A broad tree up to 20 m high with leaves 30-50 cm long that are thick, leathery and lobed. The greenish seedless fruits are round, mealy and about 20-25 cm in diameter. They are cooked or baked and used in the same way as potatoes. Abundant on Silhouette but rarely used as food at the present.

Artocarpus heterophyllus or jackfruit, originating from India, introduced for its big fruits which reach more than 40 kilos but no longer eaten in the Seychelles. It is the biggest tree-borne fruit in the world.Very common in the forest, and a delicacy for the endemic land snails (right).

Barringtonia asiatica or fish poison tree. This tree  can be found next to Gran Case. Before the flowers of this tree were collected and used to catch fish. The flowers contain saponin, a drug rendering fish inconspicious, when dropped in a  rock pool, and make them easy to catch.

Mango or Mangifera indica introduced for its fruits from South-East Asia. There is a tree in the garden of the manager’s house.

Psidium guayava or guava is a small tree about 10 meters high from tropical American origin. Its fruit has the size and shape from a big lemon. There are a few of these trees next to the hen house beside the guest house, and a little higher than the small banana plantation on the way to Jardin Marron.

Musa spec. or banana tree, both bananas as a fruit as well as bananas to cook or bake grow on Silhouette. You can see them on the way to Jardin Marron or near the mausoleum.

Carica papaya in creol pawpaw. The papaya was first described by the Spanish chronicler Oviedo in 1526 from the Caribbean coast of Panama and Colombia.This herbevorious plant is abundant on Silhouette.A real forest of papaya trees grows on the dump behind the old chicken farm on the way to Anse Cipaille.

Ker-de-bef in Creole, cherimoya or Annona cherimola is a South American tropical fruit with the shape of a hart. Ker-de-bef comes from the French “coeur de boeuf” or “cow hart”. It is a sweet creamy fruit. There is a small tree in front of the coconut oven.

The kapok tree or Ceiba pentandra is a fast growing tree reaching 40 meters. The woody fruits contain a cotton like fiber simply called kapok fiber. There stand two trees just after the split at the hospital to Jamaica on the right side of the road.

Frangipani or Plumeria rubra is the red variety from the  white Plumeria obtusa. It is a small tree with fragrant flowers, the position of the petals make the flowers look like a propeller. Used to decorate long drinks and cocktails. Originating from the West-Indies. Can be found near the hotel area, and all over the village.

Casuarina equistifolia or pine tree. There is still discussion if this tree is introduced. Probably not, seen this tree was already recorded in 1759. It is a fast growing tree used on Mahé on the land winning areas. There are only a few on Silhouette, like on the path to Anse Cimetiere, near the graveyard.