Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

　　Introduction  　　Established in 1796 on Pamplemousses Island, this botanical garden spans an area of 2 to 3 square kilometers and serves as a nursery for tropical plants. The garden is home to many rare and precious tropical plant species, featuring majestic towering ancient trees, banyan trees with aerial roots, and a variety of exotic flowers and plants. Particularly famous are the large ponds of ancient water lilies—known as Victoria amazonica or giant water lilies— which have leaves as big as plates. These are the largest water lilies in the world, with leaf diameters typically around 2 meters and capable of supporting the weight of a baby. There are also rows of upright palm trees, one of which blooms only once every hundred years; the tree dies after flowering, and its flower can reach up to 3 meters in height, making it the largest flower in the world.

　　 Port Louis, Mauritius