Piton de Bouillante by Mamelle de Petit-Bourg

A member of the Musaceae family, Heliconia caribaea is a large grass that is typical of the Lesser Antilles tropical rainforest, growing up to 5 metres tall. It flowers all year round, especially between April and June. Its inflorescence resembles a red ear or red ear with yellow trim, or sometimes completely yellow.

A member of the Podocarpaceae family, Podocarpus coriaceus is also known as the Yucca Plum Pine. Similar to conifers, the Yucca Plum Pine is an average-sized tree that can grow between 10-16 metres tall. It has leathery leaves that are similar to an oleander's. They are dark green on top, with a span of 6-15cm and virtually no petiole. Its flowers are discreet, but its brownish seeds in its red buds are certainly eye-catching. It has a thin layer of bark. This species is found throughout the West Indies and flowers mainly in December and January.

View of Bouillante and les Ilets Pigeon, classified as the central area of the National Park since 2009 on account of the rich biodiversity found there.

The Acomat boucan (Sloanea caribaea) belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family. It is an extremely large tree that can reach up to 40 metres in height. It is the most spectacular tree in the Sloanea genus. It has an exposed trunk and magnificent buttresses. Its bark is reddish-brown and tends to flake off in thin strips when the tree ages. Formerly, visitors to the forest would make use of its enormous buttresses to shelter their fires and to smoke meat. It has since been established that lighting fires among the roots is not conducive to the well-being of trees.

Richeria grandis belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family. It is a large variety, distinctive for its tough leaves and reddish-brown bark that so often falls victim to rogue extraction. Also known as bwa bandé in Créole, it is renowned for its aphrodisiac qualities. Its wood is used as timber or in carpentry. It has very distinctive, green, grape-like fruits which form small pods and form copiously on its branches.

A large opening allows for impressive views of Malendure (Bouillante) to the west and the bay of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin to the north.

View of the Grand and Petit Cul-de-Sacs Marins and, below, of the Bras David river to the northeast.

A member of the Bromeliaceae family, Glomeropitcairnia penduliflora, or "Zanana mawon" in Créole, is a tropical, epiphyte (living on other trees' branches) or terrestrial plant. It has straight, tough and thick leaves which, arranged in the format of rosettes, take in substantial levels of water and are even home to some frogs. It features a floral scarp in the middle.

Senecio lucidus belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is endemic to the Lesser Antilles. Its flowers are yellow-orange in colour. This plant is used in traditional Creole medicine because of its antiviral and pain-relieving qualities.

Clusia mangle belongs to the Clusiaceae family. It thrives at 800 metres above sea level, where strong winds abound and there is constant humidity. It is a shrub with leathery, fleshy and shiny leaves. Its fruits, measuring between 1-2 centimetres, are similar to large yellow/green olives.

Piton de Bouillante stands at 1,088 metres above sea level. Its summit offers spectacular, panoramic views on a clear day.