Brother Edward Shows Us a Glimpse of the Abundant Plant Life on the Compound

Milkwood (Trabernemontana) - Often confused with gardenias, both the flowers and leaves, but they aren't in the same family.

Traveler's Palm: Ravanela. Comes from Madagascar. Traveler's palm is said to grow North/South. But in fact, this is not actually a palm and it doesn't guide anybody, it grows in any direction. It looks like a banana tree but is not in the banana family. The leaves tear easily to protect the integrity of the trunk during a strong storm.

Sour Orange Tree: Cross between a lime and a pomello. These fruits are used often for marinades and in cooking. Note the big sucker (not good for the tree) on the side with thorns.

Close up of the sucker with the starting of a wasp nest.

Antillean Cherry Tree: This is a native of the Carribean.

Banana tree with a bunch of bananas hanging down. The "stem" or "trunk" is made of only leave bases. If you were to cut it, you'd see just tightly packed leaves. The actual trunk is underground, like a potato.

Another view of the banana tree.

Papaya tree with two fruits. The sexes are separate with each tree.

Aki Tree: These fruits are highly poisonous. There is only a very narrow window when the covering of the seed is not dangerous. This tree is native to Africa.

Aki Tree

More Aki

Tiny guavas. Very green and young guava fruit.

Guanabana (Sour Sop): Very delicious for juice, milkshakes, and ice cream.

Genep/mamoncillo: Yummy fruit with a large seed that has pinkish pulp around it.

Ripe Genep: Be careful...these will seriously stain your clothes.

Madam Sara: This bird is an African native brought to Haiti in the 18th century (possibly with the African slaves?). Also known as a "village weaver" because it weaves a nest into a hollow ball and puts the babies inside.

Mango fruit with small flowers on the right-hand side of the picture.

Out of focus pic of Mango Flowers

Breadfruit Tree: Native of Polynesia. The Mutiny of the Bounty

Close up of the breadfruit.

Tamarind: A native of South Asia. You can crack open these pods and eat the soft flesh surrounding the seeds. You can also soak and strain the pulp to make a sour juice that is light brown and absolutely delicious. Clare is obsessed with this juice and is going to make her own soon.

The Inflorescence of the Fishtail Palm. This is a native of Indonesia. This plant dies after it finishes blooming from the top down (about 30-40 years).

Another view of the inflorescence (flower bloom) of the fishtail palm.

Close up of the fruit/seeds of the fishtail palm.

Staghorn Fern: This plant makes its own basket which traps humus (a dark fertile soil) inside, which allows the plant to keep humidity inside. The leaves grow outside from it and allow the plant to reproduce.

The Pandan or screw pine (not really a pine tree): Native of Polynesia. The leaves grow in a spiral shape and are used for leaving mats, baskets, skirts, and all kinds of things. These are prop roots.

Plumaria: Native of the Americas. One of the most common flowering garden trees. The flowers are the ones used to make lays in Hawaii...but they aren't native to Hawaii.

Ixora: Very common tropical shrub that comes in many colors. The tree on top is the Flamboyant tree, which comes from Madascar and is in the bean family and produces long pods.