About
Bois dentelle is a critically endangered flowering tree found only on the island of Mauritius, where fewer than a handful of mature trees remain in the wild. Its survival is threatened by habitat loss, invasive plant species, and the degradation of Mauritius’ remaining native forests. Because its population is extremely small, the species is also vulnerable to environmental changes and the loss of genetic diversity.
The Bois dentelle produces delicate, fringed white flowers that provide resources for insects and other organisms. This trees presence also contributes to the structure and diversity of native forest communities.
Protecting Bois dentelle is important not only to prevent the loss of Mauritius’s rarest trees, but also to preserve the remaining native forests and the many species that depend on these habitats.