| National
Flower
The Dagger
Log (Agave Karatto Miller)
National Flag*:
Mr. Reginald
Samuel's last minute entry captured first place in a 1966 flag design
competition. The seven point Golden Sun symbolises the dawn of a new
era. Red: lifeblood of slave forefathers and dynamism of the people.
Blue: hope. Black: soil and African heritage. Gold, Blue and White:
Antigua and Barbuda's tourist attractions- sun, sea and sand.
"V": Victory at last.
The
National Flower*:
The
Dagger Log, (Agave Karatto Miller).
This yellow flower rises from the large rosette formed by the
Agave plant.
Years
ago, fishing rafts were made from the flower's log (or stem) and
fishing bait was made from the white interior pulp of the leaves.
The
National Tree*:
The
Whitewood (Bucida Buceras L).
This wide-spreading ornamental shade tree with nearly horizontal
branches is part of the Combretun family and related to the mangroves
and almond trees. Its timber is heavy and hard and was once used for
making gun carriages. Because of its "black heart", the tree
was once known as "Black Gregory".
*Source:
"National Symbols of Antigua and Barbuda", brought to you by
Bank of Antigua. Information provided by Permanent Mission of Antigua
and Barbuda to the OAS.
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