| s/y Nine of Cups Flowers of French Polynesia 2009 |
| Flowers are profuse and exotic throughout the South Pacific, but especially so in French Polynesia. Some are endemic, some are introduced. We do not have a good book aboard to identify them, but we're hoping to find some locals who will help us. Whether we do or not, we're taking time to smell the roses! |
| The delicate, fragrant tiare (gardenia tahitiensis) is the national flower of Polynesia. Traditionally, women wear a tiare or hibiscus behind their left ear if they're "taken" and behind the right if they're "available". |
Hibiscus...abundant and so many colors!
| Morning glory |
These guys grew thick as ground cover along all
the roads and even in the shade of the forests.
the roads and even in the shade of the forests.
A pretty creeper which is threatening to
strangle many trees and plants.
strangle many trees and plants.
| Flowers of the Gambiers |
| Cat Tails - Polynesian style |
| Luxuriant Iris |
| Ginger |
| Flowers of the Society Islands |
Many of the flowers we saw in the Gambier
were also present in the Society Islands. Here
are ones that we had not photographed
previously.
were also present in the Society Islands. Here
are ones that we had not photographed
previously.
As we continued traveling through
French Polynesia in the Leeward
Islands, we found a few more to add.
My single resource for identifying them
is a book of US wildflowers. Amazing
how many are identifiable.
French Polynesia in the Leeward
Islands, we found a few more to add.
My single resource for identifying them
is a book of US wildflowers. Amazing
how many are identifiable.
| Waterlilies in Huahine |
Huahine- these reminded me of yellow
lady slippers.
lady slippers.
| Red flamboyant along Lake Fauna Nui |
| Found on Bora Bora |
| Showy partridge pea |
| Nightshade (poisonous) |
| Butterfly pea |
| Grass pink orchid |