Botanical journey

Botanical journey

A voyage of discovery of rare plant species

Botanist explorers, James Cook, Jean-François de La Pérouse, La Boussole and l'Astrolabe, his ships..., so many names that make us dream and project our imaginations into the land of the most wanted tropical plants, the world's most beautiful exotic flowers, unknown and rare species.... (Continued at bottom of page)

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    A voyage of discovery of rare plant species

    Botanist explorers, James Cook, Jean-François de La Pérouse, La Boussole and l'Astrolabe, his ships..., so many names that make us dream and project our imaginations into the land of the most wanted tropical plants, the world's most beautiful exotic flowers, unknown and rare species....

    What is a rare exotic plant?

    There are two types of rarity.

    The first reason for a plant's rarity is that there are very few examples of it in the world. It may, for example, need very specific growing conditions (particular pollinator, very particular light, soil, hygrometry...), which means that it cannot spread to other territories and remains naturally confined to its endemic environment. The short germination period of seeds can also hinder plant reproduction and contribute to their rarity: for example, the seeds of the Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys), one of the most beautiful flowers in the world with its turquoise color, have a germination period of just a few days!

    The second reason for a tropical plant's scarcity is that it is rarely marketed. It may be unknown to the public, or not fashionable, and therefore not sold. It may be difficult to reproduce (low germination rate of seeds, need for very fresh seeds, melting of seedlings, very random cuttings...), and dictatorial economic interests impose easier and more profitable plants. It can be difficult to keep indoors or in the garden, so sellers prefer not to use it to avoid dissatisfaction.

    Rarity is ultimately a relative concept: a plant can be rare in one part of the world and very common in another. Gardenia tahitensis is a good example. Omnipresent in Polynesia, it is virtually impossible to find in Europe. A variety may be rare because few people know about it and own it, even though it is readily available. It can also be rare because it's considered unprofitable and therefore not widely marketed. Here, Jackfruit tree is a good example.

    Rare tropical plants from Rayon de Serre

    At Rayon de Serre, we've set out to explore as much tropical biodiversity as possible and thought it a shame to confine ourselves to the easiest and best-known plants. Even if the path is often strewn with pitfalls, we dare rarity, and work hard to be able to take you on a trip to faraway lands and offer you all sorts of original, hard-to-find, amusing, exotic and surprising plants... We're always looking for something new, we're always trying to surprise you. Sometimes, we only manage to grow a few specimens of a variety, which we offer in our Cabinet of curiosities; but we offer them regularly, so don't hesitate to come and explore!

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