Different areas support plants from cacti to orchids. The Bahamas is a 5,358 square mile island nation that is situated within the Atlantic Ocean. Sea rosemary is a woody perennial that's adapted to life in coastal environments, particularly sandy beaches. The hibiscus is very common in tropical regions and comes in a large variety of colours and even sizes and petal-shapes. All Rights Reserved. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children. The sticky, sweet, brown fruit of the tamarind tree is used very often in cooking. The tree produces small, sweet, edible beans that can be ground into flour and used to make cakes, bread and other baked goods. The Caribbean Pine, also known as the Yellow Pine Tree, is a fast growing pine tree found only on 4 Bahamian Islands, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros and New Providence. Necessary cookies enable core functionality. Even though wild edible plants are important for food security, they are . (2m). As far as its ornamental value, Lignum vitae blooms with purple-blue flowers. The plant has a high tolerance to salt, drought, poor soil conditions and prefers growing in full sunlight. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For many years, plants and trees were the sole basis for almost all medicines, and they continue to influence the pharmaceutical field. The succulent ground cover grows wild along coastal shorelines of the Bahamas, as well as Cuba and the Eastern United States. It will also add a burst of colour to your garden. They are also an important source of food and habitat for wildlife, including birds, small mammals and desert tortoises. Frangipani (Plumeria) belongs in the family Apocynaceae and is native to the Caribbean and Central America. For the full blog post on Pine Forests, click here. The grape vine is a crawling plant that produces bunches of small grape fruits. Error-corrected OCR . You need JavaScript enabled to view it. fruit, food, plant. Please choose a rating. Orchids Many species of orchids grow in the islands of the Bahamas. It's also called caulerpa lentillifera aka green caviar. Trees and Shrubs - Field Guide to Plants and Animals of The Bahamas Trees and Shrubs BUCCANEER PALM Pseudophoenix sargentii 25ft. Knowing the difference between safe wilderness food and poisonous plants could save your life. The pigeon plum plant (Coccoloba diversifolia) is a handy plant for areas that would challenge pickier specimens. Click to claim. Thyme. Lignum Vitae The lignum vitae is the national tree of the Bahamas. Next time youre in a grassy area, see if you can spot this low laying herbal plant. The Blue Flower is also known as the Jamaican Blue Flower or the Rat Tail. An Endemic species are species that are only found in one specific geographical area (e.g. Variety really is the spice of life. GEIGER TREE (Cordia sebestena) 35 ft. (10.7 m) in height. Hopefully this post was helpful and you learned a few plants. Over the years, many cultivars have been developed, most commonly with the aim of incorporating new colors or making the plant more tolerant to cold. The blue flower can even be used to help heal blisters and boils. It is a low-growing cactus that can reach up to 4 feet tall. You'll want to eat the leaves while the plant is still young, as mature leaves have a bitter taste to them. The plant produces small, edible seeds that can be used to make porridge, bread, and even beer. The Bahama Waltheria is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago (The Bahamas & Turks and Caicos) and is commonly found on Grand Bahama, Abaco, The Berry Islands, New Providence, Eleuthera and Cat Island. Walk with nature in this sanctuary for over 300 species of native plants, Save up to 70% with our image packs The fruit is high in vitamin A and C, and is also a great source of fiber. Castor beans cannot be eaten because they contain a potent poison that's released if the seed is broken. In Volume 2, we'll be learning about 5 Native flowers. It is often called ironwood because it is one of the hardest woods in the world. Moringa contains 3 times the amount of iron found in spinach. Plant it in a container or allow it to spread as a ground cover. The delicious fruits are round-brown in shape and colour. The male cones are long and narrow, while the female cones, which holds the seeds, are wide and shorter and resemble a traditional pine cone. Mango tree can also be used for wood after the trees fruit production is over. The bitter manioc is the common variety in many areas and is poisonous unless cooked. The plant is also known for its medicinal properties, the leaves can be used to treat cuts, burns and other skin conditions. Cholla Cactus is also known for its medicinal properties, the fruit can be used to lower blood sugar levels and the cactus can be used to treat cuts, burns and other skin conditions. Foliage of the plants consists of fan-shaped leaflets that connects to a grey trunk by long green stems. Bonnie Plants. One side is satiny green, but the other side is downy with red-brown hairs. The yellow elder (Tecoma stans) is the Bahamas' national flower, even though it isn't native to the island. 5. sea grape. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experiences on our website. They are on the hunt for edible plants. Flatten the wet pulp into cakes and bake. Try out PictureThis App on your phone and Identify more than 10,000 plant species. 9. If you're east of the Great Plains, search for hickory nuts, considered one of the most calorie-dense wild plant foods. The fruit can be eaten raw or made into jams, jellies and syrups. This pine trees is the only native pine tree in The Bahamas. Husky Red Cherry Tomato Plant. Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; : country, island, region etc.) It is a slow-growing tree or shrub that can reach up to 30 feet tall. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! It has many uses, including dune erosion control and ornamental plantings. Fleshy leaves with yellow, green, red stems. document.getElementById('cloak23333').innerHTML = ''; The plant produces small, edible peas that have a sweet and nutty flavor. This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Hibiscus The hibiscus is very common in tropical regions and comes in a large variety of colours and even sizes and petal-shapes. The yellow elder (Tecoma stans) is the Bahamas' national flower, even though it isn't native to the island. The fronds have a silvery-luster, from which the palm's name is derived. About Plants For A Future PFAF charitable company information on edible and otherwise useful plants suitable for growing outdoors temperate climate plant database 7000 species of plants. This plant is endemic to the Lucayan Archipelago, which includes the islands of The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands. All Rights Reserved. Useful Tips All-Natural Tips for Guarding Against Slugs and Snails Slugs and snails can quickly wreak havoc on your garden and flowerbed, eating their way through the foliage, fruits, and vegetables. document.getElementById('cloak47648').innerHTML += '' + addy47648+'<\/a>'; This tradition, called "bush medicine" was brought to the Bahamas by African slaves and gained importance in the out islands where doctors were rarely available. A freelancer for more than 20 years, Johnson has had the opportunity to cover topics ranging from construction to music to celebrity interviews. It produces a white flower. Tropical evergreen and flowering flora grows in abundance throughout the Bahamas. The sap is also a good source of sugars and other nutrients. The plant is also known for its ornamental value, the flowers are large and showy and bloom in the spring and summer. document.getElementById('cloak23333').innerHTML += '' + addy23333+'<\/a>'; The Desert Olive is a small tree or shrub that is native to the deserts of the American Southwest. Zinc, fibre, great for smoothies and salad deliciousness. Yellow elder is a good butterfly garden plant, attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds. The Bahama Passion Flower produces a fruit that is bright red and edible when mature (Fun fact: passionfruit is a berry). Brazilian peppertree is widely cultivated as a houseplant in regions without frost. This tropical tree grows in full sunlight and requires well-drained soil. The garden croton is a showy tropical display that does well indoors or in warm climates. Sea Purslane (Sesuvium portalacastrum) belongs in the family Alzoaceae. This plant can be steeped into a hot bath or made into a tea. The fruits, which really amounts to a thin skin coating on the seeds, are edible raw. The stems are woody and produce clusters of fruits that can vary in colour depending Jujubes or "ju ju" as they are locally known are fruiting plants that produce clusters of plums. Emily Crawford and her brother Gio were among the youngest foragers at Wild . For the wild edible plant enthusiast, this means a variety of sustaining forages are to be had, however, found in one place, most are not. Seagrape plants are one of the most popular edible fruit trees in the Bahamas. Sea rosemary flowers year-round. It grows in pine forests, with flower heads producing yellow flowers that attract a wide variety of nectar-loving birds like hummingbirds and thrushes. The fruit is rich in antioxidants and is a good source of dietary fiber. The White Sage produces a cluster of small white flowers that have a yellow center as well as purple berry clusters. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , Frangipani garland image by mauritiusview from, butterply on purple flower image by Flashon Studio from, Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center: Bahamas Plant Information, Bahamas 4 Kids: Flowers & Trees in the Bahamas. Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) is a flowering plant native to South America that is related to the cashew. It is the national flower of the Bahamas. The flame of the woods is also popular as a standalone patio plant because of its hardiness and distinctive appearance. The plants have a dense foliage that consists of obviate leaves that can measure up to 12 inches long. addy23333 = addy23333 + 'southbeachnursery' + '.' + 'com'; In times of famine and scarcity, these sources of nutrients and health-promoting compounds have received high importance mainly in rural and suburban areas. They begin green and turn red and then finally Neem is a highly medicinal, and anti-fungal plant. Use a guide to determine which types grow near you. When the royal poinciana blooms during the summer months it is vividly orange and strikingly beautiful! The trees are also salt tolerant. Top 10 Waterwise Gardening Tips for Growing Edible Plants in a Drought. The governors plum is a attractive small tree that bears edible fruit. The plant prefers acid, neutral, and basic soils. Well be learning about 4 Native plants in Volume 1 . This is a useful quality for construction, which made the tree endangered. It is a fast-growing herb that can reach up to 6 feet tall. Coconut trees are commonly found all over the Bahamas. Used in bush medicine to treat pain and skin conditions. Prickly Pear Cacti. 34 reviews Imagine what you could do with eighteen delicious new greens in your dining arsenal including purslane, chickweed, curly dock, wild spinach, sorrel, and wild mustard. Found in pine forests, shrubland and coasts. This is a fine shrub or small tree for instant curb appeal. It's also rather healthy, being a "cure-all" in herbal medicine. Page text in BHL originates from one of the following sources: Uncorrected OCR Machine-generated text. Seaweeds are also harvested or cultivated for the extraction of polysaccharides such as alginate, agar and carrageenan, gelatinous substances . Considered a shrub or small tree, yellow elder grows up to 25 feet in height and produces an abundance of bright yellow, trumpet-like flowers year-round. 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On your phone and Identify more than 10,000 plant species or cultivated for the extraction of polysaccharides such as,. ( Coccoloba diversifolia ) is a handy plant for areas that would challenge pickier specimens the island within the Ocean. Can reach up to 12 inches long Turks & Caicos islands Hardiness and distinctive appearance near...., attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds youre in a drought trees and Shrubs BUCCANEER Pseudophoenix... Common variety in many areas and is native to the Lucayan Archipelago which. Are relevant to your interests Crawford and her brother Gio were among youngest. Royal poinciana blooms during the summer months it is a showy tropical display that does well indoors in... Sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children,...