National
Flower
Lignum Vitae
(Guiacum officinale) "Wood of Life"
The National
Flag*:
The
Jamaican National Flag which came into use on August 6, 1962,
Jamaica's Independence Day, was designed by a partisan committee on
the Jamaica House of Representatives.
The
Flag has a diagonal cross or saltire with four triangles in
juxtaposition. The diagonal cross in gold and one-sixth of
the length of the fly of the flag; the top and bottom triangles are
in green; and the hoist and fly triangles are in black.
The exact shade of green used in the flag is Emerald T8 17, British
Admiralty Bunting Pattern. The
flag follows the Admiralty Pattern and the proportion is 2x1. "Hardships
there are but the land is green and the sun shineth" is the
symbolism of the Flag. Black stands for hardships overcome and to be
faced; Gold- natural wealth and beauty of sunlight; and Green- hope
and agricultural resources.
Coat of Arms*:
The original
Coat of Arms granted to Jamaica in 1961, was design by the then
Archbishop of Canterbury, William Sandcroft. Apart from a partial
revision in 1957, it remains virtually the same as was originally
designed. The
Coat of Arms shows a male and female Arawak, standing on either side
of the shield which bears a red cross with five golden pineapples
superimposed on it. The Crest is a Jamaican crocodile surmounting
the Royal Helmet and Mantlings. The original Latin motto,
"Indus Uterque Serviet Uni", has been changed to one in
English: "Out of Many, One People".
The
National Flower*:
Lignum
Vitae (Guiacum officinale) is indigenous to Jamaica and was found
here by Christopher Columbus. It is thought that the name "Wood
of Life" was then adopted because of its medical qualities. The
tree grows best in the dry woodlands along both the North and South
Coasts of the island. In addition to shedding an attractive blue
flower, the plant itself is extremely ornamental.
The
wood is used for propeller shaft bearings in nearly all the ships
sailing the Seven Seas, and because of this, in shipyards, etc. the
Lignum Vitae and Jamaica are closely associated. The wood is also
used in the manufacture of curios, sought after by visitors and
nationals alike. There is also a thriving export trade.
The National
Tree*:
The
Blue Mahoe, Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus). This has been regarded as
one of our primary economic timbers. It is currently much used for
re-afforestation and is a valuable source of cabinet timber. Of an
attractive blue-green colour with variegated yellow intrusions, it
is capable of taking a high polish showing to advantage the variety
of grain and colour tones. The trade, local and foreign, consumes
annually many thousands of feet of this beautiful timber.
The National
Fruit*:
The
Ackee (Blighia sapida). Whilst not indigenous to Jamaica this
fruit has remarkable historic associations. It was originally
imported from West Africa, probably brought here in slave ship, and
now grows luxuriously producing each year large quantities of edible
fruit.
The
tree was unknown to science until plants were taken from Jamaica to
England in 1793 by none other Captain William Bligh of "Mutiny
on the Bounty" fame, hence the botanical name "Blighia
sapida" in honour of the notorious Sea-Captain. One of the
earliest local propagators of the tree was Dr. Thomas Clarke who
introduced it to the eastern parishes in 1778. Jamaica
is the only place where the fruit is generally recognised as an
edible crop, although the plant has been introduced into most of the
other Caribbean islands- Trinidad, Grenada, Antigua, Barbados,
Central America and even Florida where it is known by different
names and does not thrive in economic quantities.
The National
Bird*:
Doctor
Bird (Trochilus polytmus). The "Doctor Bird" or
Shallowtail Humming Bird lives only in Jamaica and is one of the
most outstanding of the 320 species of Humming Birds.
It
is well to note that the beautiful feathers of these birds have no
counterpart in the entire bird population and produce iridescent
colours characteristic only of that family. The Doctor Bird has been
immortalised for many decades in Jamaican folklore and song. *
Source: Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the OAS.
|
