It takes a certain kind of plant to thrive by the sea. Beach living is tough if you have roots – the sands are constantly shifting, gusts of breeze send salt spray flying, and the sun is unrelenting. That is why the native plants that populate our beaches are so special and so important. They are a stabilising influence on active coastlines, helping to reduce erosion and retain nutrients while providing food and shelter for local wildlife.
Here in the Cayman Islands, several of our native coastal plants are also culturally significant, having been used by past generations for food, medicine and even fun! Here are five drought and salt tolerant plants to keep an eye out for on your next beach walk, or to consider including in your coastal landscaping.
1. Jennifer | Suriana maritima
Known locally as Jennifer or Juniper, this yellow-flowered shrub grows frequently along Cayman coastlines. In olden times, Jennifer was used as a strengthening tea and a poultice made from the bark was used to treat toothaches. Jennifer is one of several local plants that seem to be nyctinastic – meaning they experience circadian rhythms just like we do, folding up their leaves at night.
2. Inkberry | Scaevola plumieri
Unlike the invasive Scaevola taccada bushes, this native species of Scaevola has black berries instead of white, and its leaves are generally much darker in colour and smaller in size. It’s also much rarer in the Cayman Islands than its introduced counterpart.
3. Sea Lavender | Tournefortia gnaphalodes
This silver-leafed shrub was used by past generations of Caymanians to make “bush tea” for treating stomach problems and nerves. Its fragrant, white flowers make it popular with local pollinators as well, including butterflies.
4. Bay Vine | Ipomoea pes-caprae
With its lush, green leaves and showy, purple flowers, this beach-growing vine is becoming more popular for use in landscaping as a salt and drought-tolerant groundcover. In olden days, the young, sticky leaves from the Bay Vine were placed between sore toes and the vines themselves were used for skipping ropes and to haul buckets of water up from wells and cisterns.
5. Sea Grape | Cocoloba uvifera
Found along local coastlines, this graceful tree earned both its common name and species name from its fruits which grow in grape-like clusters. Starting out hard and green, they turn into a sweet, purple treat for people and parrots alike! Historically, Sea Grape trees were one of several local trees used in catboat building.
Around the world, invasive species and unsustainable development practices are impacting native coastal plants and undermining the important ecosystem services they provide to humans and beachside communities. In the Cayman Islands, Casuarina equisetifolia trees and Scaevola taccada bushes are considered invasive. If you have coastal property, focus on planting native or endemic coastal species instead, and consider removing these invasive species where possible.
Originally published in Real Life Magazine: https://www.reallifecaribbean.com/salty-life-fauna-cayman
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