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Yellow Elder (Tecoma stans)
Bignoniaceae
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The national flower of the Bahamas. It is not actually a true native Bahamian plant as it was intorduced to the Bahamas as a hearty landscaping species. However, it is included in this section of native plants because it is reguarded as the nation flower. It is now a common small tree or large bush in the Islands, it is often found as a volunteer on waste ground. It’s abundant yellow flowers make it a garden favorite.
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Lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum)
Zygophyllaceae
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The national tree of the Bahamas. Commonly called ironwood, this wood is one of the hardest woods known, is so dense that it will not float even in seawater. That hardness and a high resin content made lignum a wood much in demand for bearings, pulley wheel and railroad ties. The Arawak Indians used Lignum vitae medicinally to treat syphilis, which was very popular in Europe in the 1500’s. It was logged so extensively in colonial times that it is now considered a threatened species. This plant has also been used to treat constipation, fish poisoning and fatique. Very slow growing, it is hard to find a tree more than 6" in diameter. Lignum vitae trees have been found close to 1000 years old.
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Silver Button wood (Concarpus erectus)
Combretaceae
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One of the four species of mangrove plants in the Bahamas. Low shrub like tree growing to 20m. Drought and salt tolerant. Tea from the bark used to externally treat prickly heat and inflamed eyes. Used internally for syphilis and diabetes. Sometimes known as button mangrove. This and the normal green form are a popular wood for smoking fish and meat.
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Hog Cabbage Palm (Pseudophoenix sargentii)
Palmae
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This palm is found in the coastal areas of the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba and Mexico. In most of its range it is considered quite rare but in the Bahamas it is a very common sighting even on the most remote islands. This palm grows very slowly but this is mostly due to the harsh growing conditions that the plant grows in. It is one of the most salt tolerant of palms and grows well in well drained soil. Center of palm is eaten.
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Wild Allamander (Urechites lutea)
Apocynaceae
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Usually overlooked as a decorative plant, allamanda or “wild unction” as it is known in the Bahamas, is quite common on the dry Islands, especially in the South. All parts, especially the milky sap, are considered poisonous.
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Gum Elemi (Bursera simaruba)
Burseaceae
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This fast-growing tree has many names. In Florida it is called the “tourist tree”, because the bark is almost always red and peeling. A more official name, at least in the Bahamas, is gumbo-limbo. The very soft wood is similar to balsa and is a favorite in the Caicos Islands for carving model boats. The resin, copal, was used extensively by pre-Columbian people for incense and medicines. In modern times it is the basis for a fine, yellow-tinted varnish. It is related to the Middle Eastern trees that produce frankincense and myrrh. The Gum elemi has been used to treat backache and virility in men.
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Bahamas Buttercup (Turnera ulmifolia)
Turneraceae
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This plant is used to treat constipation, gripes, diarrhea, menstrual disorders and fluttering of the heart. The seeds contain up to 1.2% caffeine and the foliage is toxic to mosquito larvae. As well as producing nectar and pollen at the flower, it also seeps nectar from the base of the leaves. This little shrub grows quickly and does well in slightly salty, dry and nutrient poor soils.
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Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani)
Meliaceae
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Mahogany is, of course, that fine-grained, reddish wood so prized by furniture makers. At the beginning of the colonial period, when great tracts of land were cleared for agricultural crops, some planters were able to survive on the money generated from the sale of the wild mahogany and lignum vitae that they cut down. Also called madeira, it is still a favorite with some Island boat-builders. It was the Arawak Indians that first used the wood that they had called, Mahogany. It was the Spanish that first brought it to Europe and with it, the name, Mahogany. Considered to be a threatened species due to its economic importance. The bark has been used to treat lack of appetite, backache and fatique.
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Pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia)
Polygonaceaeaceae
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Pigeon plum is ery common throughout the Bahamas, Florida, Jamaica, Cuba down to the Virgin islands. It is quite salt resistant, drought resistant and has been used to grow in areas where soil is poor or in polluted areas. Both its roots and fruits have been used to treat diarrhoea. |
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Satin leaf (Chrysophyllum oliviforme)
Sapotaceae
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This plant has a very attractive leaf, with one side being shiny green and the other side is covered in soft red-brown hairs. It is quite common in the Northern Bahamas and is also found in SOuth Florida, Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
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Frangipani (Plumeria obtusa)
Apocynaceae
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This sweet-smelling flower tree is common as a decorative planting throughout the Islands and seems to prefer very rocky soil. It’s milky white sap is poisonous. This plant is deciduous, as it looses all of its leaves during the dry months.
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Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)
Polygonaceae
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This salt and drought tolerant plant is found throughout the Islands, from sandy seashores to rocky, windswept hill tops. The dark purple fruits are a favorite with birds, iguanas and small Children. The roots have been used to treat diarrhoea.
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Night blooming Cereus (Hylocereus undatus)
Cactaceae
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This plant is a climbing cactus. The name Night blooming Cereus is often used for several different species but the species shown here is native to the Bahamas and the rest of the West Indies. During the spring time it produces extraordinarily large white, fragrant flowers particularly in the evenings.
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Snake Bark (Colubrina arborescens)
Rhamnaceae
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Also referred to as the Soap tree or Wild coffee, this is a small tree or large shrub. It is found throughout the Bahama islands in broad leaved forests as well as Florida, Jamiaca, Cuba through to the Virgin islands. This plant is easily recognised by its bright green leaves with well defined main veins and the tips of stems are covered in soft brown hairs. It produces small green flowers in late summer and fall and these produce small brown fruits in the winter which eventually open to reveal shiny black seeds. Birds love the fruit and the flowers attract many pollenators. People have made teas from the leaves and wood to help treat rheumatism. Extracts from the plant have also been used to make antiseptic baths. The wood is relatively restistant to decay and has therefore been used to make fence posts and marine pilings. The shiny beads are often used to make necklaces in Jamaica.
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Dog Wood (Piscidia piscipula)
Leguminoceae
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This plant is found throughout the Bahamas but apparently not on the island of Inagua. But it is also found in the rest of the West Indies, Florida and tropical America. The wood has been used to make boats, the pulp has been used to make fish poison and the leaves are used to treat rheumatism.
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Brasiletto (Caesalpinia vesicaria)
Leguminosae
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There are various species of Brasiletto found in the Bahamas. The one named here is found throughout the rest of the West Indies and also Mexico. When the leaves are crushed they produce a strong aroma. The Brasiletto was once prized the world over for its value as a dye. It is also used to increase iron in the blood and is therefore used to treat low blood pressure.
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Cascarilla (Croton eluteria)
Euphorbiaceae
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Also known as Sweet wood. This plant is found in the Coppice forests of the Central and Southern Bahamas, as well as Western Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. The crushed leaves and flowers have been used to soothe the skin as well as sinus and nasal problems. Leaves and twigs have been used to increase appetite and treat for chills. The leaves alone are used to treat diarrhoea, indigestion, stomach pains and prevent vomiting. The bark is aramatic and has been used to make incense and liqueurs such as Campari. In the mid-1800's the bark of Cascarilla was heavily harvested to be sold to Italy and contributed to the income of many Southern Bahamian islands particularly Crooked and Aklins. Unfortunately, as a result it is quite rare today. |
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Spanish Stopper (Eugenia foetida)
Myrtaceae
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This drought tolerant plant can grow nearly anywhere and is even slightly frost resistant. It grows throughout the whole of the Bahamian islands but is also found in Southern Florida, Central America and the rest of the Caribbean. The name "stopper" refers to its historical use as a treatment for diarrhoea. It is often used as a hedge plant due to its branching nature. In its natural habitat it is often a pioneer species (establishing itself before many other plant). |
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Willow Bustic (Sideroxylon salicifolia)
Sapotaceae
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This plant is native to Southern Florida, the Bahamas and the rest of the West Indies. The Willow Bustic produces some small but very sweet smelling flowers during the spring that attract pollinators from afar. In the summer, it produces some small black berries that are a favorite of many birds. This plant has been used as a landscaping plant to attract insects and birds to a garden. The Willow Bustic has a very hard wood and can withstand heavy storms and even many hurricanes.
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Sea Purslane (Sesuvium portalacastrum)
Aizoaceae
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This is a ground covering, fleshy plant that is found along the shorelines of the Eastern United States, down to the Bahamas and Cuba. It is highly salt tolerant, drought resistant and loves full sun. The fleshy leaves of Sea Purslane has been used in salads to add a salty taste and has traditionally been eaten with eggs.
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Ram's Horn (Pithecellobium keyense)
Fabaceae
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Also known as black bead. This plant is salt and drought tolerant. It is a shrubby plant that is found in a number of different habitats throughout the Bahamas, Florida keys, West Indies and Central America. In the fall and spring it produces pink bushy flowers which grow into a long seedpod by the summer and winter months. Once the seed pods dry and harden they will twist and split, reveling shiny black beads in a bright red flesh. The beads have been used to make necklaces, hence the name.
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Swamp Redwood (Erythroxylum areolatum)
Erythroxylaceae
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Also called Pigeon berry or False cocaine. The Swamp Redwood is native to the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Cayman islands and Central America. The flowers are small and inconspicous, produced in spring or early summer. The fruit are oblong and bright red in color, attracting many birds. |
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Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides)
Myrsinaceae
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This plant is common in the North and Central Bahamas but is also native to Florida and much of the Caribbean region. It flowers in Fall with small, white, fragrant flowers. The berries are numerous, black and shiny, usually in winter. These berries are sour to the taste and are a favorite of many birds.
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Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
Myrtaceae
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This plant is found throughout the Tropical Americas. Allspice is a single spice that has a very complex aroma, resembling cinnamon, cloves and pepper all together. Christopher Columbus had been looking for pepper and thought he had found it when he discovered Allspice in the Caribbean. He took it to Spain calling it "pimienta", the Spanish word for pepper. Before World war II, Allspice was much more widely used than it is today. During the war the Allspice tree was heavily cut down and the production never really recovered. The greatest producer of Allspice is Jamiaca as its allspice is considered a higher quality due to its higher oil content.
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Porter Weed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
Verbenaceae
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This is a small perenial shrub that is native to the Tropical Americas. There are many different species of porterweeds and come in a range of colors. This particular species is common in much of the Caribbean and the Bahamas and has purple flowers. Ardastra also has a variety that has red flowers (S. mutabilis). The porterweeds are a favorite to butterflies and hummingbirds. The leaves have been eaten raw in salads but this plant also has a long history for medicinal properties. |
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Milk Berry (Bumelia americana)
Sapotaceae
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This salt and drought tolerant plant is common throughout the Bahamas in mixed broad leaved forests. It flowers on and off throughout the year but mainly during the winter and spring. After which, it produces black, edible fruits.
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Horse Bush (Peltophorum adnatum)
Polygonaceae
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Also known as Sarah's toe in the Bahamas, this attractive tree is found on South Andros, Exuma and Long island as well as on the island of Cuba.
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Snake root (Picramnia pentandra)
Simaroubaceae
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This plant is common in broad leaved forests throughout the Bahamas but apparently not found on the island of Inagua. It is also found throught the Caribbean from Cuba down to Trinidad as well as in Florida. This species has a seperate male and female plant but sometimes the flowers from both sexes are found on the same plant. It flowers in summer which attracts small insects for the small nectar that it produces. It then produces red fruits that are enjoyed by a number of birds and other animals. This plant has been used to treat a loss of appitite, cancer and to induce vomiting.
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