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VICTORIA MAHE - SEYCHELLES NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

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Coco-de-mer planted by Prince Philip
Coco-de-mer planted by Prince Philip
Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Mahé is The Seychelles' largest island and administrative center. Victoria, the capital city, has a famous tree in its Seychelles National Botanical Gardens.

In 1956, Prince Philip planted a coco-de-mer palm here. A fine specimen today, it towered over us like a giant green feather duster stood on end.

Meghan Markle's veil

We also discovered a more recent connection to British Royalty in the botanical gardens. Dillenia suffruticosa is an evergreen shrub with large yellow flowers that produce pink fruit on the same plant.

Flower embroidered on Meghan Markle's wedding veil
Flower embroidered on Meghan Markle's wedding veil
Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

The national flower of Brunei, it was embroidered into Meghan Markle's wedding veil as one of the flowers representing the 53 Commonwealth countries.

Chanel No. 5 perfume scent

Among the other interesting plants was a broad-leafed Alocasia sprouting from a pond of water lilies. Jensy, our guide, explained that its stem can irritate the skin and cause throat pain if it's eaten.

She also pointed out guava, breadfruit, nutmeg, clove and cocoa trees. After gazing at a rare endemic tree planted by Beatle George Harrison, we picked up a fallen ylang-ylang blossom. Oil extracted from the flowers provides the scent for Chanel No. 5 perfume.

Seychelles mother and son
Seychelles mother and son
Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Seychelles population

At a National Parks Day exhibit, we viewed coco-de-mer seeds, catkins, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, starfruit and other local plants. The display gave us an unexpected opportunity to talk to the affable local schoolchildren examining the items.

Communication wasn't an issue because The Seychelles has three official languages — English, French and Creole, a French-based regional dialect.

Seychelles residents, whether we met them in hotels, restaurants, attractions or on inter-island ferries, were invariably friendly.

The nation's population of 94,000 is a melting pot of ethnic diversity, comprising Africans, Indians, Chinese and Europeans. Nearly 90% of them live on Mahé.

Male and female palm spiders
Male and female palm spiders
Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll

Cannibal spiders

We didn't expect to see wildlife in the botanical gardens, but a sinister creature caught our attention — a female palm spider. Copper and ebony, the size of a cupped hand, she rested on a web the diameter of a small trampoline.

"Do you see the two tiny males? If one of them mates with her, she'll eat him," explained Jensy. "When she has babies, she must build a separate web for them, so that the remaining males don't make them lunch."

We also were surprised to see some giant tortoises from Aldabra here. Some were more than 150 years old.


TRAVEL INFORMATION

Seychelles Tourism Board

More things to see and do in the Seychelles:

La Digue Seychelles Beach - Anse Source d'Argent

Curieuse Seychelles - Giant Tortoises and National Park Boardwalk Trail