Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Madagascar's eastern rainforests once covered the entire eastern seaboard and still support
the island's highest biodiversity, most of which is found nowhere else on earth. Giant forest
trees are festooned with vines, orchids and bird's-nest ferns (home to tree frogs and geck-
os).
There are 1000 species of orchid in Madagascar, more than in all of Africa, and more
than60speciesofpitcherplantsarefoundinswampypartsofrainforests.Insectsareattrac-
ted to the nectar of these carnivorous plants, but are trapped by downward-pointing spines
along the inside of the 'pitcher' and are eventually dissolved and absorbed by the plant.
