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Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia)
Casuarinaceae
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Also known as the Australian pine, this plant is actually a flowering plant and not a true pine at all. It is native to Australia and some islands in the Pacific. It was first introduced to the Americas in the 1800's and quickly became established on even the most remote islands. This plant is very fast growing and produces many thousands of seeds per square foot of plant each year. It grows well in poor soil and drought. The tree drops many tiny needle-like leaves on the floor which soon become a thick mat covering the floor. It is also thought that these leaves produce a type of natural herbicide that inhibits other plants from sprouting. All of these properties is what makes this plant a ruthless invader. Ardastra removes the Australian pine from its gardens and so there are no examples in the gardens to see. However, endless examples may be seen along any shore-line in the Bahamas.
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Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)
Anacardiaceae
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The Brazilian pepper is easily identified by having dark, shiny green leaves (sometimes with serrated edges or sometimes smoothe) and reddish stems. When you crush the leaves they smell spicy. This plant is from Brasil and was imported to Florida in the 1840's as an ornamental. Today it is found on many of the islands of the Bahamas, particularly on New Providence and Andros. Birds love the seeds which makes it a quick spreader across these islands. This plant is considered to be the second most invasive plant species in the Bahamas behind the Casuarina.
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Royal poinciana (Delonix regia)
Leguminosae
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The Royal Poinciana has become quite the symbol of the Bahamian landscape. However, it is not native to the Bahamas but originates from the West Malagasy forests of Madagascar. In original habitat it is considered an endangered species but it has been planted in nearly every tropical region in the world, including the Bahamas, because of its striking beauty.
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Pineapple (Pseudophoenix sargentii)
Bromeliaceae
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The pineapple is the first bromeliad to enter recorded history as far back as 1493 when Christopher Columbus made his second journey into the West Indies. He came across an abandoned Carib indian village that had been cultivating this interesting looking fruit. The pineapple, originally from Brasil, had found its way throughout much of the tropical Americas, including the Caribbean, with the help of the native indians long before Christopher Columbaus arrived. The Indians had even cultivated different varieties for different purposes. Some varieties were used for medicinal purposes, some were sweeter to eat and some had very fibrous leaves good for making ropes and fabrics. Even though the pineapple has been in the Bahamas for quite some time, it was still introduced to these islands by people, whether it be the native indians or the Europeans.
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Tamarind (Tamarindus indicus)
Caesalpiniaceae
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The Tamarind is native to tropical Africa but has been cutivated extensively throughout the tropical areas of the world and was brought to the Caribbean region in the early 19th centry. The tamarind has been grown in India for so long that many believe that it is native there. The fruit is used a lot in cooking, particularly Indian dishes but also in some well known sauces such as Worcestershire sauce and HP sauce. The fruit, leaves and bark have also been used in many cultures for their medicinal properties. In the Bahamas the fruit has been used to treat constipation, the leaves have been used to treat diabetes and eye ailments.
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Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
Arecaceae
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When Christopher Columbus first came to the Bahamas there were no coconut trees. In fact they were not even in the Caribbean at that time. They originate from the Pacific and were first brought over to the Caribbean and Brasil in the mid 1500's by the Spanish and the Portugese. The coconut plant is one of the most useful plants to mankind, it has been used for food, oil, fuel, building material and rope. In the Bahamas the milk and jelly have also been used to soothe a sore throat.
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Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Asphodelaceae
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Aloe vera is also known as the Common aloe or Bardados aloe but it is actually a native of the deserts of Africa. It is a succulent plant with gell-filled leaves which are lined with spiny margins. It produces a stem of yellow bell-shaped flowers throughout the year that are loved by many nectar feeding birds. The medicinal uses of this plant have been extensive for centries. It is used to treat several skin conditions including small wounds, burns and irritations. The gell inside the leaves is ingested to releive cold and flu symptoms, stomach and intestinal problems and also simply for the abundant minerals, vitamines and essential amino acids that it contains.
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Mango (Mangifera indica)
Anacardiaceae
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The mango is a native of Southeast Asia. It has been cultivated by man for at least 4,000 years and found its way to nearly every tropical region of the world. It is an important fruit economically, second only to the banana. The fruit is eaten as is, made into jams, or cooked in many Asian dishes to add a tangy yet sweet flavor. The mango is a relative of the Poison Ivy and can cause skin reactions in sensitive people but people often have become allergic to mango after having been exposed to Poison ivy. Also the leaves of the mango are toxic to cattle.
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Banana (Musa acuminata)
Musaceae
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The banana plant is a giant herb native to Southeast Asia but is cultivated in every tropical region of the world. Economically, it is the most important fruit world wide and ranks 4th after rice, wheat and maize in human consumption. In the poorer regions of the world it is the major food crop. There are many varieties of banana some being more starchy than sweet but it is suggested that the cultivation of banana goes as far back as 5,000 BC. Throughout Bahamian history the Banana has been used to treat blisters, burns, diarrhoea and fever.
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Cerasee (Momordica charantia)
Cucurbitaceae
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Also known as Bitter melon or Balsam pear, Cerasee is a member of the cucumber family. It originates from the tropical old world but has been introduced to many different parts of the tropical world where it can be found in any area that is recently cleared or disturbed. It was probably first brought to the caribbean by the slaves. It has been used as a bush medicine in many different cultures for many years. If taken incorrectly it is poisonous, however, it is currently going through studies for its treatment in diabetes, as an antiviral and certain cancers.
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Cork Tree (Thespesia populnea)
Malvaceae
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This plant belongs to the same family as the hibiscus, is very salt tolerant and is found throughout the Bahamas, mainly in low swampy and coastal areas. It is actually native to the old world and was introduced to the Americas in the 1920's where it has now become naturalized in much of the caribbean. Like most members of this family, the flowers, fruits and leaves are all edible. It has very hard wood which is termite resistant. The bark has been used to make fiber and a red dye. The flowers have been used to make a yellow dye. |
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Bread fruit (Artocarpus altilis)
Moraceae
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A native of the East Indian Ocean and West Pacific islands it has been transported to the majority of the tropical areas of the world. It was first brought to the West Indies in 1792 by Captain William Bligh to help feed the African slaves. This was Cptn. Bligh's second attempt as the first attempt in 1789 failed when his crew cast him adrift a small boat partially because he reduced his crew's water rations to keep the trees alive on board the ship. Cptn. Bligh obviously servived his ordeal and finally succeeded only to be disappointed in the fact that the slaves seemed to prefer bananas, yucca and other food stuffs. This plant grows into a large tree and bears a large fruit that can be eaten in much the same way as a potato though it must be peeled first. The plant has aslo been used for the treatment of high blood pressure and headaches.
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Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Malvaceae
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Also known as the China rose, the ever popular hibiscus is native to East Asia and also the national flower of Malaysia. It has been planted in every tropical region of the world due to its continuous production of beautiful flowers. Today, hundreds of varieties have been cultivated with flowers of different colors, sizes and petal shapes. The flowers are edible and are comsumed in many cultures and the nectar that is provided is also a treat for many animals.
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