Jamaica's National Flower
on George Hamilton (Jamaica), 13/Jun/2010 12:19, 34 days ago
My favourite tree in Jamaica is this large lignum vitae at Chez Maria restaurant. I love this ornamental tree and wanted to share it with you. It meanders over all the 10 well spaced tables in the restaurant’s outdoor area like an all embracing canopy and is lit up at night, not with fairy lights or Christmas lights, but with something more akin to floodlighting so the area below is nicely lit. What with the beautiful tree and the Jamaican warm evenings, this is one of the most romantic spots we’vefound. Every time we’ve been there I’ve always enjoyed dinner, even if I’m just eating a shawarma. It’s a Lebanese restaurant but the pizzas are excellent as well, so you get romance combined with economy.Even though the lignum vitae is a tree, it's actually Jamaica’s national flower. The Blue Mahoe is the national tree. The blooms are apparently very attractive so I can’t wait to see them. We visit frequently so we’ll inevitably witness the blooms even if they only bloom for a few days at a time.Christopher Columbus found the tree which is indigenous to Jamaica and it is believed the name which means“wood of life” was created because it has medicinal qualities. The gum from its resin was used in the 16th Century as a remedy for syphilis and it has also been used for gout. The tree is reputed to be one of the most useful in the world. The wood is very strong and heavy so used for making furniture and propeller shaft bearings on ships during the wooden ship era. Nowadays it is used by the local craftsmen for souvenirs sold in the craft markets. We bought a wooden fish in Port Antonio which we think may be made from lignum vitae.There’s another lignum vitae where George waits for his ride to work every morning which isn’t as big as the one at Chez Maria but one day he witnessed two hummingbirds fly out of it when it was in bloom. The national bird and the national flower all in one shot in one tree!