Plants of Bergendal

Hello! Sorry for not updating in a while, but I did not have stable enough internet connections at Bergendal to write anything. I will also be returning there on Wednesday, so I don't know when the next update will be. But here is one now for you to see :) (It's really long, so you might have to click "see more" below to get the full post)

The  rain forest is home to hundreds of thousands of different plant species, resulting in a lush beauty that is hard to describe. Luckily, I took some pictures to help me show you!

This is breadfruit imported from Asia. 

It is really spikey and slimey when you peel it!

                                                   Me on the rain forest trail

We had to wear bandanas or hats whenever we went into the forest to prevent bot flies from choosing our scalps as hosts! Our guides told us all about the plants and trees we saw. The informal name of the flower above is quite inappropriate to write on here, but if you'd like to know, you can ask me when you see me ;)

The people who live in the forest have a vast knowledge of the uses of the local flora. The flower below is called "Hot Lips", and when boiled and sat on, is used to treat hemorrhoids.

 

 Below: This leaf is used to thatch the roofs of huts in the villages of Maroons located in the interior of the country.

I'm not sure what species this tree is, but Sandro chopped us a piece of bark to examine and it smelled really gassy!

 The rain forest is so beautiful! Here is a picture of the sun coming through the trees.

Remember the prickly bread fruit from before? Here is what it looks like peeled! We boiled it and added salt - makes for a delicious snack!

 Michael is a masters student doing his thesis on the Tamrin monkey, which can be found in the forest around Bergendal. We spent a couple days helping him and his supervisor, Marelyn, clear some trails. The men were busy with machetes while I was busy marking the trails every 25 meters. We were really lucky to see not one, but two groups of Tamrins While we were clearing the trail! I think his study is going to be a success!

Pryce was thoughtful enough to give me this Helliconia flower while we were on the trail. Sweet of him, right? However, these flowers are notorious for having maggots on them because of the standing water in the cups. Thanks Pryce!

 This was a break spot during trail clearing. Sylva, Michael and Stefan are pictured.

Here I am with my lovely flower, just chillin' on a huge leaf during our break. Don't mind the dorky sock look: this method is the best tick-prevention!

Many plants in the forest have some sort of spike or thorn. You really have to be careful when walking around out there because you don't want to get stuck with one of these!