The Flora and vegetation of Belize are most similar to the forests of the Peten (Guatemala) and the Yucatan (Mexico). ^[1]

Vegetation zones

The vegetation of Belize was first systematically surveyed in the 1930s. ^[2] Recent mapping projects have employed the following principal terrestrial and coastal categories of native vegetation ^[3]:

massif above 500m. Typical species include Podocarpus guatemalensis, Swietenia macrophylla, Terminalia amazonia, Virola brachycarpa, and the palm Astrocaryum mexicanum. species 105 species (Farjon 1998); see list Podocarpus is a genus of conifers, the most numerous and widely distributed of the podocarp family Podocarpaceae. ... Species See text. ... In Roman mythology, Terminus was the god of boundaries. ... Species many species, including: Virola calophylla Virola colophylloidea Virola theiodora Virola, also known as Epená, is a genus of medium-sized tree native to the South American rainforest and closely related to other Myristicaceae, such as nutmeg. ... Species See text. ...

• mangrove and littoral forest. Ecologically important vegetation type of the coastal cayes. Several species of mangrove are involved including: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa). In addition the buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) although not a true mangrove is often associated with mangroves in littoral forest.
• seagrass beds. Sandy bays often have extensive mats of seagrass. There are several different types in Belize: turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum in the Hydrocharitaceae), manatee seagrass (Syringodium filiforme in the Cymodoceaceae), duckweed seagrasses (Halodule spp in the Cymodoceaceae).
• riparian shrubland. This is a mixed vegetation type, of shrubs and small trees with grasses and sedges, found along watercourses. Typical species include Schizolobium parahybum and Ceiba pentandra. Loss of this habitat was one of the particular environmental concerns of building the Chalillo Dam on the Macal river.

Binomial name L. A free-standing red mangrove tree growing in shallow water in the backcountry of the Cape Sable area of Everglades National Park. ... Binomial name Rhizophora mangle L. Rhizophora mangle, known as the red mangrove, is distributed in estuarine ecosystems throughout the tropics. ... Binomial name L. A free-standing black mangrove tree growing in shallow water in the backcountry of the Cape Sable area of Everglades National Park. ... Binomial name Avicennia germinans L. , the black mangrove does not grow on prop roots, rather it possesses pneumatophores that allow its root to breathe even though it grows in standing water. ... White mangrove may refer to either of two species of mangrove tree: Avicennia marina - occurring around the Indian Ocean and into the western Pacific Ocean as far as New Zealand Laguncularia racemosa - occurring on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and along the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean Category... Binomial name (L.) C.F. Gaertn. ... Binomial name Platanus occidentalis The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), also known as American plane and Buttonwood, is one of the species of Platanus native to North America, where it is rather confusingly very often just called Sycamore, which can refer to other types of tree. ... Binomial name Conocarpus erectus L. Conocarpus erectus, one of two species in the genus Conocarpus, is a mangrove shrub and tree in the family Combretaceae growing on shorelines in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including Florida, Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central and South America from Mexico to... Seagrass from the coast of Florida Sea grass (or sea-grass in British English) are flowering plants from four plant families (Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Cymodoceaceae) that grow in the marine saline environment. ... Genera See text. ... genera see text Cymodoceaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants. ... genera see text Cymodoceaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants. ... Binomial name Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. ... The Macal River is a river running through Cayo district in western Belize. ...

Plant conservation and forest reserves

Although deforestation continues to be a serious threat in Belize, much of the native forest remains making possible a rapidly developing ecotourism sector. National Parks System Act of 1981 declared numerous protected areas, and the Belizean Government has been working with a prominent non-governmental organization (NGO), the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) to promote nature conservation within the country. Founded in 1969, the BAS assists the Forest Department of the Government of Belize to manage several important forest areas including: Ecotourism means ecological tourism, where ecological has both environmental and social connotations. ...

• Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary - established in 1990 as a result of the studies of the biology of the jaguar by Alan Rabinovitz. Although initially established for jaguar conservation it is very important for plant conservation.
• Guanacaste National park - approximately fifty acres of tropical forest reserve in the Cayo District of Belize. The signature tree of the reserve is the Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) of which several giant specimens may be found.
• Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve - a forest reserve of 6,750 acres (27 km²), in the Maya Mountains with rugged (karst) relief and relatively undisturbed subtropical moist forest.

In addition to the above there are numerous other important forest reserves such as: For other uses, see Jaguar (disambiguation). ... Guanacaste is the name of several things: A tree common in Central America. ... Binomial name One of two species known as Elephant Ear or Monkey Pod tree, due to the semblance in shape and design of its fruit pods. ... Maya Mountains during foggy conditions. ... Karst topography occurs when a landscape is marked by underground drainage patterns. ...

• Chiquibul Forest Reserve (CFR)

Chamaedorea oblongata, understorey palm

There are numerous conservation challenges in Belize. One is the extensive recent illegal cutting of the understorey palms, xate (Chamaedorea spp). This has a severe effect on the health and reproduction of these characteristic understorey components ^[4]. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (480 × 640 pixel, file size: 77 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Name Chamaedorea oblongata Family Palmae Image no. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (480 × 640 pixel, file size: 77 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Name Chamaedorea oblongata Family Palmae Image no. ... Chamadorea is a genus in the family Arecaceae. ...

Trees

As well as logwood (Haematoxylon campechianum) and mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) two other important Belizean timber trees of note are the Santa Maria (Calophyllum antillanum) and cedar (Cedrela mexicana). Other economically important trees include cotton tree or kapok (Ceiba pentandra), and cacao (Theobroma cacao). Both were sacred to the Maya people. Chicle (Manilkara chicle) is the original chewing gum (made from its gummy sap). Species See text. ... Species Calophyllum amoenum Calophyllum angulare Calophyllum angustifolium Calophyllum antillanum Calophyllum australianum Calophyllum austroindicum Calophyllum bicolor Calophyllum biflorum Calophyllum blancoi Calophyllum bracteatum Calophyllum brasiliense Calophyllum cholobtaches Calophyllum calaba Calophyllum caledonicum Calophyllum candidissimum Calophyllum canum Calophyllum carrii Calophyllum cerasiferum Calophyllum collinum Calophyllum cordato-oblongum Calophyllum coriaceum Calophyllum costatum Calophyllum curtisii Calophyllum dasypodum... Species See text. ... Binomial name Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. ... Binomial name Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. ... Binomial name L. Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a small (4–8 m tall (15-26 ft)) evergreen tree in the family Sterculiaceae (alternatively Malvaceae), native to the deep tropical region of the Latin Americas. ... Binomial name Theobroma cacao L. Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a small (4-8 m tall) evergreen tree in the family Sterculiaceae, native to tropical South America, but now cultivated throughout the tropics. ... The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its spectacular art, monumental architecture, and sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems. ... Binomial name Manilkara chicle (Pittier) Gilly Chicle is the gum from Manilkara chicle, a species of sapodilla tree. ...

Orchids

Belize has a rich array (some 300 species) of native orchids including Encyclia cochleata var. cochleata, the so called "black orchid" ^[5]. This is the national flower of Belize ^[6]. Species Encyclia alata Encyclia gravida Encyclia pterocarpum Encyclia stellata etc. ...

Palms

Belizean vegetation is characterized by numerous species of palms including the palmettos of the savanna, silver palmetto (Schippia concolor), palmetto (Acoelorrhaphe wrightii) and the common coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) found in coastal areas. Other important palms include the cohune palms, cohune (Orbigyna cohune) and warree cohune (Astrocaryum mexicanum), as well as the give and take palm (Chrysophila argentea), xate palms (Chamaedorea elegans and Chamaedorea oblongata), pokenoboy (Bactris major), basket tie-tie (Desmoncus schippii) and royal palm (Roystonea oleracea). Genera Many; see list of Arecaceae genera Arecaceae (sometimes known by the names Palmae or Palmaceae, although the latter name is taxonomically invalid. ... Binomial name Burret Schippia concolor, the Mountain Pimento or Silver Pimeto, is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. ... Palmetto may refer to the following: Two closely related genera of palms: the genus Sabal, containing species such the Dwarf Palmetto and the Sabal palmetto the Saw Palmetto Amtraks Palmetto passenger train. ... Binomial name (Griseb. ... Binomial name L. For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ... Chamadorea is a genus in the family Arecaceae. ... Chamadorea is a genus in the family Arecaceae. ... Bactris is a genus of the palm family Arecaceae. ... Species Desmoncus anomalus Desmoncus chinantlensis Desmoncus cirrhiferus Desmoncus costaricensis Desmoncus giganteus Desmoncus isthmius Desmoncus mitis Desmoncus orthacanthos Desmoncus phoenicocarpus Desmoncus polyacanthos Desmoncus schippii Desmoncus stans Desmoncus is a genus of spiny palms native to the Neotropics. ... Species See text Roystonea (Royal Palm) is a genus of 10-12 species of palms, native to tropical regions of Florida, the Caribbean, and the adjacent coasts of Central and South America. ... Species See text Royal Palm may also refer to the Royal Palm (Passenger Train) of the Southern Railway (US). ...

See also

• List of endemic species of Belize. Incomplete list of plant endemics

List of some endemic species of Belize. ...

External links

• Ethnobotany and floristics of Belize
• Biodiversity & Environmental Resource Data System of Belize (BERDS)

Footnotes and references

Further reading