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| Wattapama flower |
Many of the native trees are
accustomed to seasonal drought, and have shed their leaves. Others are just
drooping. Like us, they reduced their activity levels, waiting for more
propitious times.
In good years, heavy spring
rains lift our spirits by bringing out a burst of colorful flowers on the
trees, up in the hills and along the roadsides.
Wattapama flowers (Poitea florida) are local favorites.
Wattapamas are thin, wispy trees that are practically invisible for most of the
year, especially after they drop their small leaves. But after a soaking
rainstorm breaks a dry spell they seem to magically emerge, their wand-like
branches covered all over with delicate lavender flowers.
Unfortunately, this spring
the rain has been sparse, and so have the Wattapama blossoms. We have had a few
nighttime showers, though, which brought some of these trees to life – a very
welcome sight. The lovely blossoms don’t last long though. After a few days,
the petals drop to the ground, creating small drifts like purple snow.
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| Wattapama branches |
Another wispy tree, the
Caribbean Dogwood (Piscidia
carthagenensis) has clusters of tiny pink flowers. They can be seen high up
on the tree’s thin branches after the leaves fall off in the dry season.
Despite its frailness, this
tree has a dangerous reputation, which is reflected in its common name ‘fish
poison’. The Caribs reportedly threw the bark of the roots and powdered leaves
into the water to help them catch fish. It apparently stunned the fish so they
floated to the surface, though it didn’t actually kill them. More recently, extracts
from this and related trees in have been used in herbal remedies as
antidepressants and pain relievers.
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| Caribbean Dogwood |
Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale) is a slow-growing
evergreen tree that doesn’t seem to mind the dryness or the heat. And it too
has medicinal properties. It was called ‘Tree of Life’ in the early 1500s by
Europeans desperate for potential remedies after the emergence of syphilis as a
major epidemic. Columbus is thought to have learned about the medicinal qualities
of this resinous wood in the Caribbean and brought some back with him. It was a
more valuable prize than gold for those seeking relief from the suffering and
decline brought on by the disease. However, some Europeans also blamed Columbus
and his men for introducing the syphilis in the first place.
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| Lignum Vitae |
Flamboyant Trees (Delonix regia) really live up to their
flashy name at this time of year. They are also called Flame Trees or Royal
Poinciana, and are originally from Madagascar. They have been planted
throughout the Caribbean, mainly because of their brilliant orange flowers,
though they do also have anti-bacterial uses. The Flamboyants have been bare of
leaves for a while, but when their crowns are in full flower, they can light up
whole neighborhoods.
These brightly flowering
trees have helped to raise my mood during the long, dry days of waiting for
things to open up again, even without sampling their bark or leaves.
They are also models of
patience and resilience in the ways they adjust to varying circumstances –
reminding us that we must adapt too, in order to survive and thrive through
diseases and dry periods, withdrawal and revival.
