Our Environment

WHAT scientists call the Hymenaea courbaril tree Guyanese have been renamed the ‘Stinking Toe’ tree. This West Indian Locust tree produces a fruit with a bad smell but a delicious taste.

The Long John tree shares survival interests with vicious antsTHE Long John tree is scientifically known as the Triplaris Surinamensis. Native to South America, this tree is also known as the Antwood tree or the Mulatto tree.

The Mexican FlameITS botanical name is Senecio confusus, but this plant is popularly known as the Mexican Flame Vine, or the Senecio vine, and it has acquired the reputation of being the nectar bar for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Enjoyable! Cut or uncutTHE heart of the Acai Palm tree, whose botanical name is Euterpe oleracea (EO), is a highly prized dish, often called a “millionaire’s salad” because of its price, especially in European countries.

The African Tulip: Peacock of the tropical forestTHE African Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) is known variously as the Puri tree, the Fountain tree, Flame-of-the-Forest, Rudra Palash, Pichkari or Nandi Flame.

Petrea volubilis: The Sandpaper VineTHE “Sandpaper Vine”, whose botanical name is Petrea volubilis, is a twining vine with rough green leaves and spectacular clusters of purple flowers borne on short stalks (raceme) reaching over one foot long.

Duranta repens: A magnet for bees, butterflies and birdsDURANTA repens, also known as Geisha Girl, Sky Flower, Golden Dew-drop, Sheena’s Gold, or Sweet Memories, to name a few, is a member of the Duranta family of shrubs, and hails from areas ranging from Southern Florida to Mexico, and from Brazil to the Caribbean.

The Sea GrapeIT IS a picturesque shade tree which has the added value of being a source of delicious fruits. The Seagrape, also called the “Caribbean Seagrape”, is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including southern Florida, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda and Guyana.

The attractive Pygmy Palm— ideal for landscapingTHE Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) is related to the edible date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), which, as you might guess from its common name, closely resembles in miniature.

The irresistible BasilWERE you to talk about Ocimum basilicum, you would most likely be ignored; but if you were to mention BASIL, or “married-man-pork”, you would instantly engage the interest and attention of cooks, many of whom know of the power of this culinary herb to magically transform ordinary cooking into something unforgettable, making its