On the Quest for the Rare and Exotic Orchids of Silhouette Island

ICS staff Jean-Pierre Barrallon, PhD student Wendy Buquet from the University of La Réunion, Professor Thierry Pailler and Botanist Dr. Bruno Senterre.

A young Seychellois scientist is helping to shine new light on one of the Indian Ocean’s most remarkable botanical treasures.
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Wendy Buquet, born to Seychellois parents and raised in France, has dedicated her postgraduate scientific career to uncovering the hidden diversity of orchids across the Indian Ocean. After completing a Bachelor of Science and two Master’s degrees, she moved to La Réunion to pursue a PhD at the Université de la Réunion. Her research focuses on collecting and analysing rare and exotic orchids using molecular tools that may confirm, or even reveal, species previously unknown to science.
Working under the supervision of botanist Professor Thierry Pailler, Buquet has already collected specimens from La Réunion and Madagascar. Her early results have been impressive, with analyses leading to the discovery of five new orchid species from La Réunion.  

The Seychelles orchids
Seychelles is home to several species of orchids – most of which have been introduced for their vibrant and ornamental values. There are at least 10 endemic and native orchids spread out across the archipelago, with Silhouette being one of the hotspots for these rare and fragile species. With the support of several partners, including the Islands Development Company (IDC) and the Island Conservation Society (ICS), Buquet recently visited the Seychelles, and her itinerary included a visit to Silhouette to find more orchids. On this three-day expedition, which included visits to areas of known high endemism, such as Anse Mondon and Mont Dauban, she was guided by Dr. Bruno Senterre, a Botanist and Lecturer at the University of Seychelles, and Jean-Pierre Barrallon, the Assistant Conservation Officer with ICS.

On the quest for orchids
On the first day of the expedition, the team set off from La Passe into the dense forests of Jardin Marron, where they encountered their first orchid: ‘Orkid lerb koko’ (Agrostophyllum occidentale), an indigenous species with distinct, flattened, grass-like leaves.
The following morning, the group prepared for a strenuous ascent toward Mont Dauban, carrying camping gear for a night on steep, rocky ground. The trail, long closed and reclaimed by vegetation, offered little mercy. Slippery slopes, thick vines, and constant scrambling made for a gruelling climb in which falling was almost routine.

“The fieldwork on Silhouette was both demanding and incredibly enriching. The terrain was steep, muddy, slippery, and clearly plotting against us, but it brought us constant laughter and memorable moments,” says Buquet.
Reaching Mont Plaisir, the lookout before Mont Dauban, the team recorded their second specimen: ‘Orkid kolibri’ (Phaius tetragonus), a tall ground orchid with brownish flowers, believed to be native to the Comoros and the Mascarenes. 
Pressing onward, the team finally entered the upper montane forest, one of Seychelles’ last largely untouched habitats. Endemic trees of ‘Bwa rouz’ (Dillenia ferruginea) dominated the misty heights, draped in mosses, pitcher plants, and orchids perched high on their branches. The forest occasionally opened to reveal sweeping views of Grande Barbe far below.

As evening settled over the ridge and after nearly ten hours of climbing, the exhausted group pitched camp beneath the dense canopy. The forest of Mont Dauban soon came alive with the calls of hundreds of sooglossid frogs, the chirping of crickets, and the soft rustle of branches overhead — an otherworldly soundtrack as the temperature dropped sharply despite the tropical setting. By 5:30 a.m., the first light filtering through the trees signalled the continuation of the search for orchids.
Upon reaching the slopes and rocky outcrops of Anse Mondon Valley, the group was welcomed by dense clusters of orchids in full bloom. These included the Seychelles national flower, ‘Orkid payanke’ (Angraecum eburneum), the vibrantly purple ‘Orkid fler de kouler’ (Polystachya rosea), and the delicate endemic ‘Orkid leo’ (Goodyera sechellarum). By the end of the expedition, the team had gathered a total of eleven orchid specimens.
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Growing up, Barallon remembers that introduced orchids were common in local gardens, but that the expedition to look for the rare and wild ones was “completely different and an eye-opening experience”.
“Orchids that are endemic to Seychelles are rarely seen, and encountering them in their natural habitat left me genuinely amazed,” he said. Adding that “their elegance and subtle beauty are remarkable- true hidden gems of our islands.”

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Orkid Payanke Tropicbird Orchid (Photo Credit: Sharon Meriton-Jean)

Wendy Buquet photographing tiny orchids on SIlhouette Island.

The search goes on
To the young scientist Buquet, this visit to Silhouette ‘was deeply meaningful.’ 
​“It allowed me to realize just how rare and threatened orchids are in the Seychelles,” says Buquet, adding that “seeing their vulnerability in the wild has only strengthened my determination to continue this work with even greater commitment.” She adds that “protecting these remarkable species now feels more urgent and motivating than ever.”

Although orchids were the main focus of the expedition, the group could not ignore several rare plants of Seychelles, which were enthusiastically pointed out by Dr. Bruno Senterre. These included the near-threatened endemic Bwadnat (Mimusops sechellarum) and Bouskiya (Trilepisium madagascariense), an indigenous species found only on Silhouette. They also documented, for the first time on Silhouette, the semi-parasitic Bwa manrmay (Viscum triflorum), a species associated with traditional medicine and believed to “vanish” after being spotted.
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The search for orchids continues for Buquet, with future expeditions planned on other islands of Seychelles, as well as a visit to the Comoros. Her research not only promises valuable scientific discoveries but also offers inspiration for future generations of Seychellois scientists to pursue careers in botany - a field that often receives far less attention than it deserves.