PlantFiles: Bois Boeuf, Bois d'Eponge
Gastonia mauritiana

This plant used to exist on the coastal forest long time ago; now only a few survived on Ile Aux Aigrette. Can be found in nurseries sometimes.Very decorative when young seedling, long and thin juvenile leaves with redish margins; And the leaves turn completely different when matures to roundish and thick . Often have 2 types of leaves when maturing on the same plant. Also known to have remarkable tonic properties like Ginseng.Though sold in nurseries, it is still rare. Found only in some parks and most them are young specimens which has been recently re-introduced. Highly decorative indoor and pot plants when juveniles and also a fast grower.( And Mauritiana because endemics to Mauritius island have nothing to do with Mauritania or Morocco or north africa)