Lignum Vitae….Tree of Life

The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The other day I noticed a Lignum Vitae just loaded with bright yellow-orange fruits. The fruits are capsule shaped and they split open in September and October to expose black seeds that are enclosed in a fleshy red pulp.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Commonly called ironwood, the wood is so dense that it will not float even in seawater. Lignum Vitae is the heaviest and densest wood in the world and will rapidly sink to the bottom when placed in water. It resists rot caused by insects and moisture that lignum vitae wood used as posts for dwellings by Taino Indians have been found. Loyalist settlers also harvested valuable hardwoods from the Caicos bush and exported them to Europe.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

The resin has been used for many years, in the treatment of arthritis and other ailments. At one stage it was thought to work both a contraceptive and a treatment for syphilis. Teas have been prepared from various parts of the tree and have been used to treat boils, swollen glands, fevers, aches and pains.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

What an amazing tree…………even the insects and nectar drinking birds love the nectar of the Lignum Vitae.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Jamaican Caper Tree

A beautiful Jamaican Caper Tree with a mass of exotic looking blooms

A beautiful Jamaican Caper Tree with a mass of exotic looking blooms that turn from white to pink

I was up at a friends house and happened to notice a beautiful Caper Tree that was in full bloom. This particular tree seems to stand out when you look in the bush because it has very dense and full looking foliage with green leaves the undersides of which are a reddish brown.

The white flowers look like fireworks because of the long filaments coming from the centre of the flower

The white flowers look like fireworks because of the long filaments coming from the centre of the flower

 Jamaica Caper flowers have very showy, two-inch-long, purple stamens and white anthers and white petals. When the flower first opens usually at night it is white and they turn purple when the morning light hits them.

The pinkish purple flowers have numerous long deep purple stamens that burst out of the centre like fireworks

The pinkish purple flowers have numerous long deep purple stamens that burst out of the centre like fireworks

This cluster of flowers looked like pinwheel fireworks

This cluster of flowers looked like pinwheel fireworks

The Caper flower has long two inch stamens that are a purple colour and the flower itself has four petals

The Caper flower has long two inch stamens that are a purple colour and the flower itself has four petals

The Caper Tree has very fragrant flowers that are loved by nectar loving birds and butterflies

The Caper Tree has very fragrant flowers that are loved by nectar loving birds and butterflies

Caper Trees are found growing throughout Provo and keeps all its foliage even when we have drought conditions.

Caper Trees are found growing throughout Provo and keeps all its foliage even when we have drought conditions.

Take a look as you are driving around and see if you can spot these trees. With all the flowers, they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com