| Though people envision
palm trees when they think of the Bahamas, the Caribbean pine is actually the most common
tree on the island, covering 50% of the land mass. This unique tree (bahamensis
var.) is endemic to only four of The Islands of The Bahamas. It is fire resistant,
containing resins just under its bark that set off small explosions when hit by fire,
there by suffocating the nearby flames. In the past, they were heavily harvested for
lumber. Common in this ecological zone are also the Agave, or Century plant, and Palmetto. |
Decomposing leaf matter
inside the Pine forest creates the Blackland Coppice, which nurtures indigenous fig trees,
Dogwood, Lancewood, and Gumbo-Limbo trees. Also growing here is the Satin Leaf tree, which
produces a dark red edible fruit that migratory North American birds feast on in late
winter. The shade created by all these trees makes a perfect habitat for various ferns,
bromeliads, and orchids. |
The Rocky Coppice is a transitional
zone between the Mangrove Swamp and the Pine Forest and is frequently flooded at high
tide. It is distinguished by limestone outcrops and an
abundance of Ming trees, which the locals call "prickly trees." Their tiered
branches are reminiscent of Asian bonsai trees. Also common in this zone are mahogany and
red cedar trees. |
One the most
fascinating ecological zones in The Bahamas, the Mangrove swamp is an environment where
land and sea systems interweave. The huge, gnarly-rooted Red Mangrove trees grow in
brackish water, secreting salt through their leaves. There are three kinds of mangrove
species in the Bahamas, Red Mangroves, Black Mangroves and White Mangroves. The Red
Mangroves collect sediment, a process that actually extends the land over time. This
zone also has orchids and ferns. |
This zone forms a
transition from the beach areas to the mangroves. It is especially rich in plant
life, due to the fact that it is somewhat protected by the nearby sand dunes. One of its
most predominant trees is the giant poisonwood, which carries exactly the same kind of
allergenic oil as poison ivy.
Here you can also find Akacia
and tall Sabal Palm, as well as Wild Coffee in the shade of the canopy. |
The land's last bastion
before it reaches the sea, the beach/shoreline zone features both sandy strands and
coastal rock formations and is distinguished by plants that tolerate the harsh environment
of salt and wind. Among these plants is the Sea Purslane, the Sandfly Bush, Bay Marigold,
the Bay Lavender and the Bay Cedar. Also growing here are two plants with beautiful
flowers: the white- petal Spider Lily and the purple-petal Cordia. |
