NATIVE FLOWERS, SHRUBS & TREES ON SALT CAY



JAMES AND TY



It is always exciting to have a visit from scientists and experts that have an in depth knowledge of their paricular field of study and so it was this month with a visit from James and Ty with their astounding ability to pinpoint and name a large variety of interesting and intriguing bush names and uses hidden within a sea of green.

SESUVIUM

Trekking accross the winding trails beginning at East creek we saw one of my favorite ground cover so to speak 'sesuvium' commonly known as sea purslane.The colours are brilliant hues of brown and red in the morning light.



Following in the wake of the wild donkey's and cows it was enlightening to discover the broad spectrum of species that can live in what often appears to be a harsh environment.

Over time, of course like most things there are sometimes subtle or drastic changes in the landscape. For example, historically the cutting down of trees during the Bemudan era to accomodate the Salt industry had a radical impact on the natural landscape.

Trees were felled because it was believed they attracted more rain which of course was detrimental to the salt industry.  Hyper saline ponds were altered by the salt workers and changed into productive salt ponds or salinas by building stone walls and the import of donkeys, cows and other livestock like pigs and chickens contributed to a gradual change in the ecological landscape. 

And so it was that James, Ty and myself found ourselves on a mission to discover the plant and tree life as it exists on Salt Cay  in the 21st century.

As we bounced over the sand dunes with the persistant trade winds and ocean spray we took photo's and logged the names of the herbacious creepers and grasses like the Borreria bahamensis and Suriana maritima commonly called bay cedar which are a robust salt tolerant specie.



SURIANA MARITIMA



Moving round  the rocky areas of the coastline where there are many more birds foraging in the tidal pools we see an abundance of Strumpfia maritima and conocarpus erectus that over many years have settled in to their life in harmony with the ragged rock formations. 

As we ploughed along the back dunes in our bone jarring golfcart we saw a variety of woody shrubs primarily the Ambrosia hispida and the Lantana involucrata...All very fascinating  especially another of my favorite bush teas 'Jamaica Trash.

Jamaica Trash

Continuing our journey we drove upland and away  from the harsh effects of wind and seaspray we found or should I say James and Ty found a  greater abundance of the Coccoloba uvifera.......what we locals refer to as 'seagrape'.

It was by now close to noon and we were driving in the high coppice area when James leapt out of the golfcart to study the  Plumeria obtusa.....evergreen frangipani. So little time and so many plants.

We passed a  beauty, peacefully reclining by itself, often called the 'railroad vine or goats foot vine or if you want to attempt the latin name ipomoea pes-caprae.




RAILROAD VINE

 

And as we soldiered on accross the island we spied yet another of my favorites the flowers of which are so colourful with a rich  breathtaking fusia...yet  another medicinal plant the 'morning glory'




MORNING GLORY

 



 One of the highlights of the trip was passing Ann's garden when I heard the cry "a .........  I do declare!" There in the front garden was a small tree bearing a small sweet perfumed flower - the roots of which are used to produce henna for colouring hair.....Was this native or an exotic?

It must  be remembered that settlers also introduced foreign plants for cultivation.  It is probably a fact, that the past commissioner's brought in exotic trees and vegetables to plant in the Government house gardens to explore the possibility of growing "new" species. 

 As a last thought we should be thinking and asking the question when looking at natural landscaping designs...When is an indiginous plant considered an indiginous plant?