On the Costa Maya you are always surrounded by lush and flourishing vegetation. There are hundreds of species of trees, bushes, plants and flowers all of which could be growing on your own beachfront lot. Here are a few select trees to keep your eyes open for.
Banana Tree – Originally from Africa and brought to the new world, there are over 70 different species of banana tree and over 300 forms of edible bananas. The trees themselves are used for food, roofs, cattle feed, clothing, medicine, dye, alcohol, wine, vinegar, packing material, and many other things. When the plant reaches flowering age, and the huge reddish bud emerges from its center, it extends downward, gradually opening to expose tiered rows of tiny flowers. The upper ones become bananas, the middle ones drop off, and the lower ones furnish pollen. Only one bunch of bananas is produced on each stalk. Once the plant has fruited it dies, but a new plant will spring up around its base. This process takes about 18 months.
Ceiba Tree (Sp. Kapok) – One of the largest trees in Tropical America and the National Tree of Guatemala, the Ceiba was held sacred by the Ancient Mayans. History is said to have its beginning with the Sacred Ceiba Tree, from which, according to Mexican Maya legend, “the first man was born”. The huge, thick trees can grow to hundreds of feet tall and 12 feet in diameter at the base. The Ceiba has its long branches sticking out at right angles and is often planted in market squares for its majestic shade. The leaves have 5 to 9 fingers and creamy white, 1” flowers appear just before the leaves. Two months after the leaves fall, black oblong seeds 3 to 6 inches form. These capsules contain white, cotton-like floss called kapok that was used to stuff mattresses, pillows and life preservers. Use of Kapok has declined due to the development of synthetic fibers and the fact that Kapok gets hard after getting wet a few times. You can spot a young Ceiba Tree by the thick thorns on its trunk; as it grows the thorns move to the top of the tree. It is notsure how long Ceibas can live, but some have been dated to hundreds of years old.
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Chicle Tree (Sp. Zapote) – This handsome tree stands about 60 feet high and is noted particularly as a source of chicle for chewing gum. The fruit is a favorite in Tropical America, besides being delicious raw, it can be made into preserves and syrup. The flesh is sweet tasting inside the roundish brown 3 inch rough skinned fruit. Gum is obtained by tapping the trees every two or three years and yields about 60 quarts of latex.
Flamboyant (Flame of the Forest) Sp. Flamboyan Described as one of the most strikingly beautiful trees ever, it is known by the same name throughout most of the world and is the national flower of Puerto Rico. Like a huge scarlet umbrella, the tree bursts into dense clusters of scarlet or orange blossoms early in the spring that last until late summer. One petal of the five petals of each bloom is white. Soon the lovely fern like foliage appears followed by long brown pods whose seeds can be used in necklaces.
Mango Tree – Originating in India the Mango Tree is now planted throughout the tropics and is known as the ‘king of fruits’. It is widely planted as a shade and fruit tree, growing to about 65 feet. The tree flowers usually in winter to spring, where tiny pinkish hairy flowers form at the branch tips. The maturing fruits hang prolifically from the tree March to October. Their orange pulp is deliciously sweet tasting, juicy, and is one of the most popular fruits of the tropics. It is said that mangos have been cultivated by man for 4000 years. Besides being eaten raw mangos can be stewed, frozen, and made into very fine chutneys. They are thought to taste like a peach, apricot, cantaloupe or even a pineapple. The leaves smell like turpentine when crushed and have been used in Mexico to clean teeth and gums.
Almond Tree (Sp. Almendro) – As this 30 foot tree withstands salt spray it is seen extensively throughout thetropics, Southern Florida, the Caribbean, South and Central America and Mexico. It can be recognized by its horizontal branches which grow in wide spreading circles at different levels on the trunk, its large leathery leaves which turn red before they fall, and by its flat almond shaped edible fruits.
Andrew Synyshyn
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