What plants are endemic to Jamaica?

What plants are endemic to Jamaica?

Seven plant genera are regarded as endemic to Jamaica [Dendrocousinsia (seven species, Euphorbiaceae), Jacmaia (one species, Asteraceae), Odontocline (six species, Asteraceae), Portlandia (six species, Rubiaceae), Salpixantha (two species, Acanthaceae), Tetrasiphon (one species, Celastraceae) and Zemisia (one species.

How many endemic species are there in Jamaica?

Currently, Jamaica is the home of 562 species of land snails, which is considerably higher than the 431 native species known in the United States east of the Mississippi River. 505 are endemic to Jamaica.

How many species of plants are in Jamaica?

Jamaica has about 3000 different species of plants, shrubs and trees, of which about 800 are endemic, that is, species that only occur in Jamaica.

What is Jamaica’s flora?

Jamaica’s flora consists of a diverse mix of tropical and subtropical vegetation. Along the dry South Coast, the landscape resembles a desert, while mangrove wetlands near Black River provide a sharp contrast within relatively close proximity.

Is aloe vera indigenous to Jamaica?

This multipurpose plant is believed to be a native of the northern region of Africa and came to Jamaica via the slaves. Aloe Vera needs no introduction, it has been used in Jamaican for centuries both external and ingested to great satisfaction.

Is Ginger indigenous to Jamaica?

Ginger originated in Asia, but the Spanish transported it to Jamaica in the early 1700s. Since then, Jamaica has become known as the source of the finest ginger in the world, with Christiana, Manchester, being identified as the geographical location where the world’s best ginger is grown.

What are some endangered species in Jamaica?

List of Endangered species in Jamaica

scientific_name taxonid category
Manilkara excisa 33767 EN
Cassipourea brittoniana 33774 EN
Coccoloba proctorii 33778 EN
Chionanthus adamsii 33779 EN

Are there nightingales in Jamaica?

And perched on the edge of the roof is a Jamaican Nightingale, aka Northern Mockingbird, aka Mimus polyglottos. These are such brave and feisty little birds, which I’ve seen taking on hawks to drive them away from their nesting areas.

What is the most common tree in Jamaica?

The Blue Mahoe is the national tree of Jamaica. This is a fairly common tree which is cultivated extensively.

What is the flora and fauna of Jamaica?

There are 28 species of birds, 830 flowering plants, 82 ferns, 27 reptiles, 21 amphibians, and 500 land snails that are only found in Jamaica. There are also a few species of bats and butterflies that are also endemic to Jamaica.

Is leaf of life indigenous to Jamaica?

The plant is native to Madagascar but is grown in most tropical areas including Jamaica where it is widely used as a herbal remedy to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, colds, coughs, shortness of breath and bronchitis.

Which ethnic group brought pineapple to Jamaica?

the Tainos
Although considered endemic to Jamaica the pineapple was brought to Jamaica by the Tainos. Use of the pineapple profile from the 1660s along with Symon Benning’s initials SB on his Jamaican made pewter dishes shows the historic association of the pineapple with Jamaica.

Does Jamaica have monkey?

There are currently no species of monkeys indigenous to Jamaica. However, there once lived a species of monkey known as the Jamaican monkey or Xenothr… See full answer below.

What is the most endangered animal in Jamaica?

Jamaican iguana
The critically endangered Jamaican iguana is the largest animal native to Jamaica. It faces a variety of threats, including invasive species and loss of its habitat. IUCN Red List Status:?

Are Flamingos in Jamaica?

The Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) are still here!! They migrate short distances to ensure that they get enough food or because their current habitat has been disturbed in some way. One habitat disturbance that has been observed to cause flamingos to leave their feeding grounds is elevated water levels.

What is Jamaica’s national bird?

swallow tail humming bird
The doctor bird or swallow tail humming bird (Trochilus Polytmus), is one of the most outstanding of the 320 species of hummingbirds. It lives only in Jamaica. These birds’ beautiful feathers have no counterpart in the entire bird population and they produce iridescent colours characterstic only of that family.

How many species of orchids are there in Jamaica?

There are more than 200 varieties of native orchids in Jamaica; most of which prefer high mountain conditions.

How did Mongoose get to Jamaica?

The mongoose was introduced to Jamaica by the government in 1872 in order to combat the rat population that was playing havoc with the sugar plantations.

Who brought plantain to Jamaica?

The Gros Michel is said to have been introduced to Jamaica by Jean Francois Pouyat, a French botanist and chemist who settled here in 1820. He brought the fruit back from Martinique to his coffee estate in an attempt perhaps to diversify his produce.

Who brought breadfruit to Jamaica?

Captain William Bligh
The botanical name of the fruit – Blighia Sapida – was given in honour of Captain William Bligh of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame, who in 1793 took plants of the fruit from Jamaica to England. Captain Bligh also brought the first breadfruit to Jamaica.

Here is a short list of some of the marvels of the plants in Jamaica. Over three thousand species of plants grow on the island, and 27% of them are found nowhere else on earth! More than 200 species of flowering plants have been classified! Over 230 species of Orchids, 60 of which are endemic!

What kind of birds live in Jamaica?

Warblers, falcons, merlins and kingfishers are among the 120 species that retreat to Jamaica’s tropical forest each year to escape winter. Migratory birds join Jamaica’s 28 endemic birds in the national park and over 100 native species.

What is the national flower of Jamaica?

By the way, The blue lignum vitae is one of the national symbols of Jamaica – It is our national flower! and the Blue Mahoe is Jamaica’s National Tree! Our botanical gardens showcases our beautiful and exotic plants, hearkening back to our rich horticultural heritage.

What kind of fruit trees grow in Jamaica?

Among the indigenous trees are cedar, mahogany, logwood, rosewood, ebony, palmetto palm, coconut palm and pimento (allspice). Introduced varieties, such as the mango , breadfruit, banana and plantain, also flourish here and are widely cultivated. Read more about Jamaican fruits here. Andy bay the way, ferns grow almost everywhere here.