Plants

There are also at least 379 plant species that have been recorded in the Portland Bight Protected Area, with at least 50 of those found only in Jamaica. There are 17 species of "conservation concern" per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in the Hellshire Hills alone. The vegetation of the PBPA provides tens of millions $ USD annually in carbon sequestration services.

Here is a sampling of some them - click to expand.

There are 4 species of Mangrove in Hellshire, they have a similar habit and habitat but are not closely related - Ted Lee Eubanks

Mangroves are extremely important plants that maintain the integrity of the shoreline in the PBPA during storms. White Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Laguncularia racemosa)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Mangroves are extremely important plants that maintain the integrity of the shoreline in the PBPA during storms. White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Flowers of the Buttonwood Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Conocarpus erectus)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Flowers of the Buttonwood Mangrove (Conocarpus erectus) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Black Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Avicennia germinans)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Black Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Avicennia germinans)</span> seeds can float in water for up to a year and thrive, allowing them to spread to distant shores - Ted Lee Eubanks — Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) seeds can float in water for up to a year and thrive, allowing them to spread to distant shores - Ted Lee Eubanks

Red Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Rhizophora mangle)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Seed pod of the Red Mangrove <span class="un-italicize">(Rhizophora mangle)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Seed pod of the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Scarlet Cordia <span class="un-italicize">(Cordia sebestena)</span> in Hellshire - Tiana F. Rehman, Botanical Research Institute of Texas — Scarlet Cordia (Cordia sebestena) in Hellshire - Tiana F. Rehman, Botanical Research Institute of Texas

Female Prickly Pear Tree <span class="un-italicize">(Opuntia spinosissima)</span>. The only large and healthy population of this plant is in Hellshire - Andreas Oberli — Female Prickly Pear Tree (Opuntia spinosissima). The only large and healthy population of this plant is in Hellshire - Andreas Oberli

Rare Jamaican endemic Grey Birch <span class="un-italicize">(Bursera hollickii)</span> found almost exclusively in the PBPA. Four trees were rediscovered on Long Mountain in 2000; the total estimated number of these trees is 20-30. At 25+ meters, it is one of the tallest trees in the dry tropical forest, together with the equally rare West Indian Mahogany and Silk Cotton Tree - Andreas Oberli — Rare Jamaican endemic Grey Birch (Bursera hollickii) found almost exclusively in the PBPA. Four trees were rediscovered on Long Mountain in 2000; the total estimated number of these trees is 20-30. At 25+ meters, it is one of the tallest trees in the dry tropical forest, together with the equally rare West Indian Mahogany and Silk Cotton Tree - Andreas Oberli

Grey Birch is in the family Burseraceae which includes Frankincense and Myrrh - Amanda Neill

Common endemic Silver Thatch Palm <span class="un-italicize">(Coccothrinax jamaicensis)</span> typically forms stands like this and is most frequently found in Hellshire and Portland Ridge. It is an important food source for birds and provides raw material for local craft manufacture (woven bags, baskets, hats, etc.) - Andreas Oberli — Common endemic Silver Thatch Palm (Coccothrinax jamaicensis) typically forms stands like this and is most frequently found in Hellshire and Portland Ridge. It is an important food source for birds and provides raw material for local craft manufacture (woven bags, baskets, hats, etc.) - Andreas Oberli

Ripening fruits of the rare <span class="un-italicize">Opuntia jamaicensis</span> - Andreas Oberli — Ripening fruits of the rare Opuntia jamaicensis - Andreas Oberli

Attractive flowers of the rare <span class="un-italicize">Opuntia jamaicensis</span> precede fruiting - Andreas Oberli — Attractive flowers of the rare Opuntia jamaicensis precede fruiting - Andreas Oberli

Highly threatened, the <span class="un-italicize">Opuntia jamaicensis</span> is only found on the north side of Hellshire near Salt Island Creek and Salt Island Lagoon and no where else in the world - Andreas Oberli — Highly threatened, the Opuntia jamaicensis is only found on the north side of Hellshire near Salt Island Creek and Salt Island Lagoon and no where else in the world - Andreas Oberli

Mushrooms take advantage of vertical real estate in the forest of the Hellshire Hills - Dawn Fleuchaus

An orchid found only in Jamaica, <span class="un-italicize">Broughtonia sanguinea</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — An orchid found only in Jamaica, Broughtonia sanguinea - Ted Lee Eubanks

The native Noni <span class="un-italicize">(Morinda royoc)</span> is a favorite food of butterflies and the Jamaican Iguana - Ted Lee Eubanks — The native Noni (Morinda royoc) is a favorite food of butterflies and the Jamaican Iguana - Ted Lee Eubanks

The Google-eyed Vine <span class="un-italicize">(Myriopus poliochros)</span> is occasionally found in Portland Ridge - Ted Lee Eubanks — The Google-eyed Vine (Myriopus poliochros) is occasionally found in Portland Ridge - Ted Lee Eubanks

Seaside Mahoe <span class="un-italicize">(Thespesia populnea)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Seaside Mahoe (Thespesia populnea) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Seaside Purslane <span class="un-italicize">(Sesuvium portulacastrum)</span> - Ted Lee Eubanks — Seaside Purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) - Ted Lee Eubanks

Sea Grape <span class="un-italicize">(Coccoloba uvifera)</span> fruits are edible when purple and full of vitamins - Ted Lee Eubanks — Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera) fruits are edible when purple and full of vitamins - Ted Lee Eubanks

Seaside Bean <span class="un-italicize">(Canavalia maritima)</span> is a common beauty in the PBPA - Ted Lee Eubanks — Seaside Bean (Canavalia maritima) is a common beauty in the PBPA - Ted Lee Eubanks

Beach Morning Glory <span class="un-italicize">(Ipomoea pes-caprae)</span>, the subspecies <span class="un-italicize"> brasiliensis</span> is found in the PBPA - Ted Lee Eubanks — Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae), the subspecies brasiliensis is found in the PBPA - Ted Lee Eubanks

<span class="un-italicize">Aloe vera</span> has long been known to the people of Jamaica for its medicinal benefits - Kimberly Stephenson — Aloe vera has long been known to the people of Jamaica for its medicinal benefits - Kimberly Stephenson

<span class="un-italicize">Bauhinia divaricata</span>, a small tree found on the limestone hills of Hellshire. - Ted Lee Eubanks — Bauhinia divaricata, a small tree found on the limestone hills of Hellshire. - Ted Lee Eubanks

<span class="un-italicize">Rhabdadenia biflora</span>, a vine that is frequently found near mangroves. — Rhabdadenia biflora, a vine that is frequently found near mangroves.