Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands

Vegetation Classification 

for the Cayman Islands 

by 

Frederic J. Burton

Summary 

This new classification of the Cayman Islands vegetation communities describes seventy-one natural and seminatural 

vegetation associations which are now known to occur in the three islands. Using the International 

Vegetation Classification system, these associations are grouped into fourteen Alliances, in thirty-one 

Formations, spanning six Classes (forest, woodland, shrubland, dwarf-shrubland, herbaceous, and sparsely 

vegetated). 

These associations include the Cayman Islands’ largely undisturbed ancient dry forests and shrublands, which 

support high plant diversity, including a range of endemic species. The forests of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman 

and Cayman Brac are each quite distinct from the others in their species assemblages. They are fully described 

here for the first time. 

Mangrove forests, woodlands and shrublands, in both tide and rain flooded settings, are the Cayman Islands’ 

other major terrestrial ecosystem, notably including Grand Cayman’s extensive Central Mangrove Wetland. 

Coastal vegetation communities, tidal salt flats, pond flora, sedge marshes, and a variety of semi-natural 

plant communities resulting from human activities, make up the balance of the associations described here. 

The classification includes all the plant communities that have been studied sufficiently to be named and/or 

described, and now encompasses all the Cayman Islands major natural vegetation forms. 

• 

This document should be cited as: 

Burton F.J. 2007. Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands. In: Burton, F.J. 2007. Threatened Plants 

of the Cayman Islands. Kew Publishers, London. 

Correspondence to the author: 

fjburton@blueiguana.ky 

Frederic J. Burton 

P.O. Box 10308 

Grand Cayman KY1-1003 

Cayman Islands 

Cover: Dry shrublands and forests of eastern Grand Cayman. Photograph ©2007 John F. Binns. 

Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands

This paper presents a new classification of the natural and semi-natural vegetation communities of the Cayman 

Islands. It combines extensive hitherto unpublished information on the forest, woodland and shrubland 

communities of all three of the Cayman Islands, with the original vegetation classification for the Cayman 

Islands developed by M.A. Brunt (1984) and extended by Brunt and Burton (1994). 

The dry forest, woodland and shrubland data included here was collected by the author during a major 

biodiversity survey in 1998-2000. This was a project funded by the British Government through WWF-UK, 

implemented by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, which generated maps of natural vegetation cover 

for the islands. The project involved analyzing satellite imagery to direct a stratified random placement of 

sample sites. We collected quantitative abundance data for the entire vascular flora at every site. The resulting 

7,630 records of plant species abundance by site were subjected to a multivariate hierarchical classification, 

which generated the vegetation groupings which are presented here. The detailed methodology for this work 

is presented in Appendix B. 

The mangrove communities were already well documented at the time the biodiversity survey was underway, and 

are reported in Brunt (1994) and Brunt & Burton (1994) with accompanying maps (Brunt & Giglioli 1980). 

This material has been incorporated in the present classification, and extended using additional unpublished 

information on Grand Cayman’s eastern and central mangroves, collected by the author in 1986-1989. 

It is important to note that all this fieldwork predates the impacts of hurricane ‘Ivan’ on Grand Cayman, 

in September 2004. This category 4-5 hurricane caused major natural changes especially to the mangrove 

communities. Virtually all the taller mangrove trees on the island were broken or uprooted, so that the mangrove 

forests and woodlands described in this classification ceased to exist, overnight. As these systems regenerate it 

is likely that some undocumented successional vegetation associations will form, and over decades mangrove 

forests will re-form as they always have after such events, if left alone to do so. 

The dry forests of Grand Cayman also suffered extensive tree fall during the 2004 hurricane, but the forest 

structure survived, and the tree canopy is closing over again rapidly. The dry shrublands were defoliated but 

not significantly impacted in the long term. The forests of the Sister Isles were spared, except the mangrove 

basins of Little Cayman which were substantially drowned by the storm surge. 

This classification attempts to cover all the Cayman Islands’ major natural and semi-natural plant communities, 

but undoubtedly still omits many localized vegetation associations. No attempt has been made to cover all the 

sparsely vegetated alliances. Additional information will continue to come to light, and it should be expected 

that the classification will need to be updated and extended periodically. 

 

Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands 

Introduction

Classification System 

Prior to this study all published research on the Cayman Islands flora has used the Beard vegetation classification 

system (Beard 1944, 1949, 1955), as originally laid out for the Cayman Islands by M.A. Brunt (1984). 

In more recent years there has been growing regional acceptance of the International Vegetation Classification 

(IVC) system (Grossman et al. 1988), formerly the International Classification of Ecological Communities 

(ICEC). This standard is being applied throughout the Caribbean and Latin America by the US Nature 

Conservancy and is being increasingly adopted by other agencies in the region. 

The key difference between the IVC and Beard systems is an emphasis on tree canopy closure rather than 

vegetation stature. The Beard system distinguishes forest from woodland based on canopy height and 

stratification, while the IVC system defines them on the degree to which the tree canopy is closed. 

In the interests of international standardization, this new classification for the Cayman Islands is based on the 

IVC system. The IVC categories corresponding to the prior Beard classifications for the Cayman Islands are 

listed in Appendix A. 

The primary reference for this classification standard is Areces-Mallea et al. (1999), which substantially extends 

the IVC system to the Caribbean. To the extent possible the Cayman Islands classification has been harmonized 

with Areces-Mallea et al.’s approach, with additional Caribbean Alliances since documented by NatureServe 

(2003). 

The IVC system is an hierarchical classification, with seven levels: only the sixth and seventh divisions include 

floristic information. 

Class Subclass Group Subgroup Formation Alliance Association 



Class I: FOREST 

Subclass A: Evergreen Forest 

Index to the Cayman Islands 

vegetation associations 

Group : Tropical or subtropical seasonal evergreen forest 

Subgroup N: Natural / Semi-natural 

Formation a: Lowland evergreen forest 

(1) Coccothrinax proctorii – Myrcianthes fragrans Forest Alliance 

(a) Coccothrinax proctorii – Myrcianthes fragrans – Pilosocereus swartzii forest 

Group : Tropical or subtropical broad-leaved sclerophyllous forest 


Formation c: Seasonally flooded evergreen sclerophyllous forest 

(1) Conocarpus erectus Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

(a) Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 

(b) Conocarpus erectus – Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal 

forest 

(c) Conocarpus erectus – Rhizophora mangle seasonal forest 

(2) Laguncularia racemosa Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

(a) Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 

(3) Rhizophora mangle Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

(a) Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 

(b) Rhizophora mangle – Laguncularia racemosa – Conocarpus erectus seasonal 


(c) Rhizophora mangle – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 

(4) Avicennia germinans Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

(a) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa seasonal forest 

Formation e: Tidally flooded mangrove forest 

(1) Avicennia germinans Forest Alliance 

(a) Avicennia germinans tidal forest 

(b) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 

(c) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

(d) Avicennia germinans – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

(2) Rhizophora mangle Forest Alliance 

(a) Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

(3) Laguncularia racemosa Forest Alliance 

(a) Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 


Subclass C: Mixed evergreen–deciduous Forest 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical semi-deciduous forest 


Formation a: Lowland semi-deciduous forest 

(1) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor Forest Alliance 

(a) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor – Chionanthus caymanensis dry forest 

(b) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor – Ficus aurea dry forest 

(c) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor – Tabebuia heterophylla dry forest 

(d) Bursera simaruba –Guapira discolor – Coccothrinax proctorii dry forest 

(2) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens Forest Alliance 

(a) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens – Croton lucidus dry forest 

(b) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens – Haematoxylum campechianum 

dry forest 

Formation c: Seasonally flooded / saturated semi-deciduous forest 

(1) Picrodendron baccatum – Roystonea regia Forest Alliance 

(a) Picrodendron baccatum – Roystonea regia – Bursera simaruba seasonally 

flooded forest 

(2) Metopium toxiferum – Swietenia mahagoni Forest Alliance 

(a) Metopium toxiferum – Swietenia mahagoni – Coccothrinax proctorii saturated 


(3) Thrinax radiata – Bursera simaruba Forest Alliance 

(a) Thrinax radiata – Bursera simaruba saturated forest 

(4) Haematoxylum campechianum Forest Alliance 

(a) Haematoxylum campechianum – Tillandsia utriculata seasonally flooded 


Group : Xeromorphic mixed evergreen-deciduous forest 


Formation b: Xeromorphic semi-deciduous forest 

(1) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii Forest Alliance 

(a) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Exothea paniculata dry forest 

(b) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Agave caymanensis dry forest 


Class II: WOODLAND 

Subclass A: Evergreen woodland 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical broad-leaved woodland 


Formation i: Seasonally flooded / saturated sclerophyllous evergreen woodland 

(1) Avicennia germinans – Rhizophora mangle Woodland Alliance 

(a) Avicennia germinans – Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal 

woodland 

Formation e: tidally flooded evergreen woodland 

(1) Avicennia germinans Woodland Alliance 

(a) Avicennia germinans – Batis maritima tidal woodland 

Group : Needle-leaved evergreen woodland 

Subgroup N: Natural/Semi-natural 

Formation a: Needle-leaved evergreen woodland 

(1) Casuarina equisetifolia Woodland Alliance 

(a) Casuarina equisetifolia woodland 

Subclass B: Deciduous woodland 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical drought-deciduous woodland 


Formation a: Lowland / submontane drought-deciduous woodland 

(1) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor Woodland Alliance 

(a) Bursera simaruba– Guapira discolor – Tecoma stans secondary dry 

woodland 

(b) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor – Swietenia mahagoni secondary dry 

woodland 

Subclass C: Mixed evergreen – deciduous woodland 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical semi-deciduous woodland 


Formation a: Tropical or subtropical semi-deciduous woodland 

(1) Coccothrinax proctorii – Swietenia mahagoni Woodland Alliance 

(a) Coccothrinax proctorii – Swietenia mahagoni – Myrcianthes fragrans dry 

woodland 


Class III: SHRUBLAND 

 

Subclass A: Evergreen shrubland 

Group 1: Tropical and subtropical broad-leaved evergreen shrubland 


Formation a: Tropical or subtropical broad-leaved evergreen shrubland 

(1) Erithalis fruticosa Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Erithalis fruticosa – Coccothrinax proctorii dry shrubland 

Formation b: Hemi-sclerophyllous evergreen shrubland 

(1) Coccoloba uvifera Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Coccoloba uvifera coastal shrubland 

Formation c: Sclerophyllous evergreen shrubland 

(1) Strumpfia maritima Shrubland Alliance 

(a) undefined 

Formation f: Seasonally flooded / saturated evergreen shrubland 

(1) Conocarpus erectus Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Conocarpus erectus seasonal shrubland 

(b) Conocarpus erectus – Jacquinia keyensis – Coccoloba uvifera damp 

shrubland 

(c) Conocarpus erectus – Myrica cerifera – Myrsine acrantha seasonal shrubland 

(d) Conocarpus erectus - Rhizophora mangle seasonal shrubland 

(e) Conocarpus erectus - Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal 

shrubland 

(1) Rhizophora mangle Seasonally Flooded Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal shrubland 

Formation h: Saturated sclerophyllous evergreen shrubland 

(1) Conocarpus erectus Saturated Shrubland Alliance 

(a) undefined 

Formation i: Tidally flooded evergreen shrubland 

(1) Rhizophora mangle Tidal Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Rhizophora mangle tidal shrubland 


10 

Subclass C: Mixed evergreen-deciduous shrubland 

Group 1: Mixed evergreen-drought deciduous shrubland 


Formation a: Mixed evergreen-drought deciduous shrubland with succulents 

(1) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii - Savia erythroxyloides dry 

shrubland 

(b) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii – Phyllanthus angustifolius dry 

shrubland 

(c) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii – Bursera simaruba dry shrubland 

(d) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii – Plumeria obtusa dry shrubland 

(e) Agave caymanensis – Pilosocereus swartzii – Evolvulus squamosus dry 

shrubland 

(2) Myrcianthes fragrans – Croton rosmarinoides Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Myrcianthes fragrans – Croton rosmarinoides – Savia erythroxyloides dry 

shrubland 

(3) Comocladia dentata – Randia aculeata Shrubland Alliance 

(a) Comocladia dentata – Randia aculeata – Coccothrinax proctorii secondary 

dry shrubland 

Class IV: DWARF-SHRUBLAND 

Subclass C: Mixed evergreen - deciduous dwarf-shrubland 

Group 1: Mixed evergreen - deciduous dwarf-shrubland 


Formation a: mixed evergreen – drought-deciduous dwarf-shrubland 

(1) Strumpfia maritima – Conocarpus erectus Dwarf-shrubland Alliance 

(a) Strumpfia maritima-Conocarpus erectus – Erithalis fruticosa coastal dwarfshrubland 

(2) Rhachicallis americana – Conocarpus erectus Dwarf-shrubland Alliance 

(a) Rhachicallis americana-Conocarpus erectus – Borrichia arborescens coastal 

dwarf-shrubland 


Class V: HERBACEOUS 

Subclass A: Perennial graminoid vegetation 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical grassland 


Formation g: seasonally flooded grassland 

(1) Urochloa mutica Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Urochloa mutica wet grassland 

(2) Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense sedge marsh 

(3) Eleocharis cellulosa Seasonally Flooded Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Eleocharis cellulosa sedge marsh 

Formation h: semi-permanently flooded grassland 

(1) Typha domingensis Semi-permanently Flooded Tropical Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Typha domingensis sedge marsh 

Group : Tropical or subtropical grassland with a shrub layer 


Formation c: Medium tall tropical or subtropical grassland with broad-leaved evergreen 

or semi-evergreen shrubs 

(1) Panicum maximum – Comocladia dentata Rough Pasture Alliance 

(a) Panicum maximum – Comocladia dentata – Eugenia axillaris rough 

pasture 

Formation f: Short tropical or subtropical grassland with broad-leaved evergreen or semievergreen 

shrubs 

(2) Bothriochloa pertusa Rough Pasture Alliance 

(a) Bothriochloa pertusa – Eugenia axillaris – Randia aculeata dry pasture 


11

1 

Subclass B: Perennial Forb Vegetation 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical perennial forb vegetation 


Formation b: Low tropical / subtropical perennial forb vegetation 

(1) Ipomoea pes-caprae Vine-shrubland Alliance 

(a) Ipomoea pes-caprae – Canavalia rosea vine-shrubland 

(b) Ipomoea pes-caprae – Scaevola plumieri – Ambrosia hispida vine-shrubland 

Formation d: Saturated tropical or subtropical perennial forb vegetation 

(1) Lippia nodiflora – Spilanthes urens Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Lippia nodiflora – Spilanthes urens saturated pasture 

Formation e: tidally flooded perennial forb vegetation 

(1) Sesuvium portulacastrum Tidal Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Sesuvium portulacastrum – Salicornia virginica salt flat 

Subclass C: Hydromorphic Vegetation 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical hydromorphic vegetation 


Formation a: Aquatic vegetation 

(1) Nymphaea ampla Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Nymphaea ampla pond vegetation 

(2) Nymphoides indica Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Nymphoides indica pond vegetation 

Formation b: Seagrass bed 

(1) Thalassia testudinum Herbaceous Vegetation 

(a) Thalassia testudinum seagrass bed 

(2) Thalassia testudinum – Syringodium (Cymodocea) filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation 

(a) Thalassia testudinum – Syringodium filiformis seagrass bed 

(3) Syringodium (Cymodocea) filiformis Herbaceous Vegetation 

(a) Syringodium filiformis seagrass bed 

Subclass D: Annual Graminoid or Forb Vegetation 

Group 1: Tropical or subtropical annual grasslands or forb vegetation 


Formation d: Tidal tropical or subtropical annual forb vegetation 

(1) Salicornia bigelovii Tidal Herbaceous Alliance 

(a) Salicornia bigelovii salt flat 


Class VII: SPARSELY VEGETATED 

Subclass A: Consolidated rock sparsely vegetated 

Group 1: Sparsely vegetated cliffs 


Formation a: Cliff with sparse vascular vegetation 

(1) Verbesina caymanensis Sparsely Vegetated Alliance 

(a) Verbesina caymanensis shaded cliff association 

Group : Sparsely vegetated pavement 


Formation a: Pavement with sparse vascular vegetation 

(1) Rhachicallis americana Sparsely Vegetated Alliance 

(a) Rhachicallis americana sparsely vegetated 


1

1 

The Vegetation Associations: 

definitions and floristic tables 

In the following pages, floristic tables for the vegetation Associations all follow the same format conventions. 

Each table is headed by the Association’s classification code, and its name. Dominant species in each structural 

group of plants are printed in bold, and underlined. Common species are printed bold, and infrequent species 

are printed in normal weight. The species within each structural group are also listed in declining order of 

abundance. 

Many of the coastal and mangrove Alliances found in the Cayman Islands have distributions through the 

Caribbean or even wider, but these distributions have not been fully documented and fall outside the scope of 

this paper. Distribution data for Alliances are given here for within the Cayman Islands only. 



1

CLASS 1: FORESTS 

Subclass A: EVERGREEN FORESTS 

The majority of the Cayman Islands’ evergreen forests are seasonally flooded and tidal mangrove forests, 

classifying as tropical/sub-tropical broad-leaved sclerophyllous forests. The Cayman Islands’ mangrove forests 

occur as mosaics of various structures and species groupings, controlled partly by flooding and salinity regimes, 

and partly by the consequences of hurricanes. 

Events such as hurricane “Ivan” in 2004 break and uproot the canopy trees in mangrove forests, leaving 

any understory species and/or seedlings that are present to gradually develop a new canopy in their place. 

Wherever human land-use demands leaves them alone to do so, new mangrove forests will regenerate where 

their predecessors fell, as has undoubtedly occurred through many such cycles in the past. 

Tidal surges from hurricanes may also drown landlocked mangrove communities, such as the Tarpon Lake 

mangrove forests on Little Cayman, which have suffered progressive die-back from hurricane over-wash 

flooding in both 1988 and 2004. This process appears to be less reversible, and often leads to the development 

or enlargement of saline coastal ponds. 

The descriptions below predate the 2004 hurricane, which temporarily removed most of these mangrove forest 

associations from the Cayman Islands’ landscapes. 

One evergreen dry forest community does occur on Cayman Brac, but the overwhelming majority of dry 

forests in the Cayman Islands are semi-deciduous (Subclass C). 

1 


Formation I.A. .N.a. Lowland evergreen forest 

FORESTS 

I.A.3.N.a: Lowland Evergreen Forests 

In Grand Cayman, evergreen forest is a very rare variant of the island’s characteristic semi-deciduous forest, 

distinguished only by a local reduction in dominance by Bursera simaruba such that less than 25% of the tree 

cover is comprised of deciduous species. In three recorded sites classifying as evergreen, Guapira discolor, Ficus 

aurea and Chionanthus caymanensis respectively replaced Bursera as the dominant tree. There are no other 

consistent floristic or structural characteristics distinguishing these sites from more the typical semi-deciduous 

formation, so no evergreen forest Alliances or Associations are defined for Grand Cayman here. 

In Cayman Brac the remnant forests of the north and south coastal platforms, between the coastal roads and 

the cliffs of the Bluff, have a much lower proportion of deciduous trees than the xeromorphic semi-deciduous 

forests characteristic of the Bluff plateau. These are classified as evergreen forests. 

I.A. .N.a. (1) Coccothrinax proctorii – Myrcianthes fragrans Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Evergreen forests dominated or co-dominated by Coccothrinax proctorii and Myrcianthes fragrans, 

growing on fragmented limestone pavement in dry but low elevation coastal settings close to the water table. 

Canopy height ranges from 5-7m, with emergents to 10m. 

DISTRIBUTION: Cayman Brac 

SYNONYMY: Dry evergreen woodland 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1994 

I.A. .N.a. (1.a) Coccothrinax proctorii – Myrcianthes fragrans – Pilosocereus swartzii evergreen 


This association is defined here from three sites on Cayman Brac, two on the north coastal platform, one 

on the south coastal platform, all approximately mid way along the length of the island. The limestone 

surface is close to the water table, which, with the proximity to the sea, results in a combination of species 

from the xeromorphic semi-deciduous forest on the Bluff above, with coastal and wetland transition 

species such as Coccoloba uvifera, Thespesia populnea and Hippomane mancinella. Cayman Brac’s coastal 

platform forest is now severely fragmented by roads, housing and related land use changes. 


1

FORESTS 

I.A.3.N.a: Lowland Evergreen Forests 

1 

CANOPY TREES: 

Coccothrinax proctorii 

Myrcianthes fragrans 

Calyptranthes pallens 

Bursera simaruba 

Capparis cynophallophora 

Cordia sebestena 

Guapira discolor 

Canella winterana 

Ficus aurea 

Plumeria obtusa 

Citharexylum fruticosum 

Croton nitens 

Hypelate trifoliata 

Sideroxylon salicifolium 

Tabebuia heterophylla 

Coccoloba uvifera 

Hippomane mancinella 

Petitia domingensis 

Thespesia populnea 

Trichilia glabra 

SHRUBS: 

Phyllanthus angustifolius 

Clerodendron aculeatum 

Tournefortia astrotricha 

Phyllanthus nutans 

Agave caymanensis 

Zamia integrifolia 

I.C.3.N.a. (1.a.) 

Coccothrinax proctorii – Myrcianthes fragrans – Pilosocereus swartzii forest 

UNDERSTORY TREES: 

Savia erythroxyloides 

Pilosocereus swartzii 

Jacquinia keyensis 

Randia aculeata 

Sideroxylon horridum 

Gymnanthes lucida 

Schaefferia frutescens 

Maytenus buxifolia 

Erythroxylum rotundifolium 

Bauhinia divaricata 

Guettarda elliptica 

Amyris elemifera 

Gyminda latifolia 

Polygala propinqua 

Schoepfia chrysophylloides 

HERBS & GRASSES: 

Rivina humilis 

Scleria lithosperma 

Lasiacis divaricata 

VINES, LIANAS & SCRAMBLERS: 

Capparis flexuosa 

Chiococca alba 

Jacquemontia havanensis 

Ernodea littoralis 

EPIPHYTES & PARASITES: 

Tillandsia utriculata 

Myrmecophila thomsoniana 

Tillandsia balbisiana 


Formation I.A. .N.c. Seasonally flooded evergreen sclerophyllous forest 

These are forests of mangroves and mangrove associates, mostly growing on deep autochthonous peat with the 

surface 0-50cm above mean high spring tide, and located far enough inland to be free of tidal inundation under 

all conditions (this has been verified by long-term water level recordings). Surface flooding develops towards 

the end of the wet season, and recedes as evapo-transpiration exceeds rainfall through the dry season. Summer 

rainfall stratifies freshwater flooding over the more saline groundwater, with Conocarpus erects, Avicennia 

germinans and Rhabdadenia biflora all producing opportunistic rootlets to exploit the transient fresh water 

layer. The water table usually drops well below the surface from February to May. Ground water is typically 

brackish, with salinity elevated by accumulation of aerial salt spray (directly and in surface runoff from higher 

land) in a water table which is almost totally isolated from the underlying bedrock groundwater. 

I.A. .N.c. (1) Conocarpus erectus Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Seasonally rain flooded forests of Conocarpus erectus, usually in association with wetland transition 

or mangrove species. The substrate may be deep autochthonous peat, or shallow peat overlying permanently 

saturated oxisols 

DISTRIBUTION: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman. Present only as small fragments on Cayman Brac. 

SYNONYMY: Seasonal Conocarpus (Buttonwood) swamp thicket 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1994, Brunt & Burton 1994 

I.A. .N.c. (1.a) Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 

Forest with a near-monospecific Conocarpus tree canopy, well developed as a band around the margins 

of inland Conocarpus shrublands (III.A.1.N.f). This association transitions to co-dominance with 

various mangrove species in more brackish settings, and to the seasonally flooded semi-deciduous 

forests (I.C.1.N.c) in less saline settings. 

CANOPY TREES: 

Conocarpus erectus 

Swietenia mahagoni 


[Haematoxylum campechianum] 


Laguncularia racemosa 

Avicennia germinans 

SHRUBS: 

Acrostichum aureum 


Nephrolepis biserrata 

I.A.5.N.c. (1.a) 

Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 

FORESTS 

I.A.5.N.c: Seasonally Flooded Evergreen 

Sclerophyllous Forests 


Cladium jamaicense 

Eleocharis cellulosa 

Distichlis spicata 

Fimbristylis ferruginea 


Rhabdadenia biflora 

Selenicereus grandiflorus 





Encyclia boothiana 


1

FORESTS 



0 

I.A. .N.c. (1.b) Conocarpus erectus – Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal 


In this association Conocarpus is dominant, but with abundant Laguncularia, Avicennia, or both. 

Other tree species are rare or absent. The association transitions to various mangrove-dominated 

communities. 

CANOPY TREES: 




Myrsine acrantha 

Ficus aurea 

SHRUBS: 



Myrica cerifera 


I.A.5.N.c. (1.b) 

Conocarpus erectus – Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 


Cladium jamaicense 

Distichlis spicata 

Fimbristylis ferruginea 








I.A. .N.c. (1.c) Conocarpus erectus – Rhizophora mangle seasonal forest 

Conocarpus and Rhizophora are co-dominant in the main forest canopy, with Ficus aurea a common 

emergent. Deep Rhizophora leaf litter carpets the peat substrate. This is a counterpart to the Rhizophoradominated 

forest I.A.5.N.c. (3.a). 

CANOPY TREES: 


Rhizophora mangle 

Ficus aurea 

Thrinax radiata 

SHRUBS: 




Clusia flava 

I.A.5.N.c. (1.c) 

Conocarpus erectus – Rhizophora mangle seasonal forest 



Sarcostemma clausum 

Smilax havanensis 






I.A. .N.c. ( ) Laguncularia racemosa Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Forests dominated by Laguncularia racemosa, growing on autochthonous peat 100-160cm deep, 

usually in association with Avicennia germinans and/or Conocarpus erectus. 

DISTRIBUTION: Grand Cayman 

SYNONYMY: Seasonal Laguncularia-Conocarpus swamp woodland and thicket 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1994, Brunt & Burton 1994 

I.A. .N.c. ( .a) Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 

Mainly found near the southern margins of Grand Cayman’s Central Mangrove Wetland, this 

association intermingles with Avicennia germinans forest. Hurricanes occasionally break down these 

forests, with almost all mature trees snapping or uprooting. Re-growth from seedlings and stumps 

progresses rapidly afterwards. 

CANOPY TREES: 




SHRUBS: 



I.A.5.N.c. (2.a) 

Laguncularia racemosa – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 

FORESTS 



HERBS & GRASSES 

Blutaparon vermiculare 







I.A. .N.c ( ) Rhizophora mangle Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: A series of intergrading associations dominated by Rhizophora mangle, with other mangrove 

and mangrove associates present in varying proportions depending on peat depth which controls the seasonal 

maximum soil salinity. 


SYNONYMY: Rhizophora mangrove swamp woodland and thicket; Seasonal Rhizophora-Conocarpus thicket; 

Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonally flooded forest alliance (see corresponding association 

below) 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1994, Brunt & Burton 1994; NatureServe 2003 


1

FORESTS 



I.A. .N.c. ( .a) Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 

With the tree canopy dominated by Rhizophora, this is a counterpart to the Conocarpus – Rhizophora 

forest I.A.5.N.c. (1.c). Peat depths under this association are typically in excess of 150cm. This 

association is synonymous with NatureServe 2003’s Rhizophora-Conocarpus Alliance. 

CANOPY TREES: 





Ficus aurea 


SHRUBS: 




Clusia flava 

I.A.5.N.c. (3.a) 

Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 









I.A. .N.c. ( .b) Rhizophora mangle – Laguncularia racemosa – Conocarpus erectus seasonal 


The counterpart to I.A.5.N.c. (3.c) where peat depths are in the range 80-150cm, and dry season soil 

salinities are more extreme than in I.A.5.N.c. (3.a). 

CANOPY TREES: 





SHRUBS: 



I.A.5.N.c. (3.b) 

Rhizophora mangle – Laguncularia racemosa – Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 









I.A. .N.c. ( .c) Rhizophora mangle – Avicennia germinans seasonal forest 

This association is mainly restricted to areas with peat depths less than ca. 80cm, where dry season soil 

salinity may exceed tolerance limits for Laguncularia and Conocarpus. 


CANOPY TREES: 





SHRUBS: 



I.A.5.N.c. (3.c) 

Rhizophora mangle – Conocarpus erectus seasonal forest 








I.A. .N.c. ( ) Avicennia germinans Seasonally Flooded Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Forests dominated by Avicennia germinans, growing on autochthonous peat deposits typically less 

than 100cm deep. The water table in the peat may drop to the bedrock level at the height of the dry season, 

resulting in very high soil salinities with the result that Avicennia is totally monospecific in some areas. 

DISTRIBUTION: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac 

SYNONYMY: Avicennia mangrove swamp woodland, Avicennia mangrove swamp thicket; Black-mangrove 

Forest 

REFERENCES: Brunt & Burton 1994; Dansereau 1966 

I.A. .N.c. ( .a) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa seasonal forest 

This association ranges from one with abundant Laguncularia and a flora similar to the Laguncularia- 

Avicennia forest I.A.3.N.f (2.a), to one where seasonally extreme soil salinity excludes all flora except 

Avicennia, which often forms extensive monospecific stands. At this extreme the association is almost 

indistinguishable from tidally flooded Avicennia forest (I.A.5.N.f), but in this seasonally flooded forest, 

tidal flooding is not observed even in hurricane conditions. The Avicennia pneumatophore horizon 

suggests surface flow to the sea only occurs when rainfall brings the swamp water table 30-35cm above 

mean high water springs elevation. Temporary rootlets from the pneumatophores exploit the fresh 

rainwater which stratifies over the more saline swamp water. 

CANOPY TREES: 




SHRUBS: 

Batis maritima 


I.A.5.N.c. (4.a) 

Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa seasonal forest 

FORESTS 








Tillandsia utriculata


Formation I.A. .N.e. Tidally flooded mangrove forests 

I.A. .N.e. (1) Avicennia germinans Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Tide and rain flooded evergreen forests, dominated by Avicennia germinans, growing on 

autochthonous peat less than 1.5m deep, usually located in a band inland from Rhizophora-dominated forests 

and shrublands closer to the sea. Surface water has an extreme salinity range, from hypersaline to almost fresh 

depending on the temporal patterns of tidal flooding and rainfall. Canopy height ranges from 7 to 13m. This 

alliance is highly susceptible to tree fall during hurricanes, and recovers stature and canopy closure gradually 

over decades after major storms. 

DISTRIBUTION: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman 

SYNONYMY: Avicennia mangrove swamp woodland & thicket; Black-mangrove forest 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1984, Brunt & Burton 1994; Dansereau 1966 

 

I.A. .N.e. (1.a) Avicennia germinans tidal forest 

Avicennia germinans is almost or entirely mono-specific in this association’s tree canopy. The peat 

surface may or may not be carpeted with Batis maritima, and the Avicennia pneumatophores form 

a horizon slightly above the highest sustained flood level. Towards the landward margin some 

Laguncularia racemosa is present, with a small suite of epiphytes and vines, grading towards the 

Avicennia – Laguncularia forest association. 

CANOPY TREES: 



SHRUBS: 



I.A.5.N.e. (1.a) 

Avicennia germinans tidal forest 






I.A. .N.e. (1.b) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 

FORESTS 

I.A.5.N.e: Tidally Flooded 

Mangrove Forests 

Characterized by increasing co-dominance of Laguncularia in proximity to dry land, where surface 

runoff reduces substrate salinity, this association is the least frequently flooded by tides of all associations 

in this alliance.

FORESTS 



CANOPY TREES: 



SHRUBS 


I.A.5.N.e. (1.b) 

Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 








I.A. .N.e. (1.c) Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

The three mangrove species of this association may be almost equally co-dominant, and vary in height 

and abundance in a complex spatial patterns. This is at least partially a consequence of rare but severe 

hurricane impacts on taller tree stands, leading to a patch mosaic of successional re-growth, and 

alternating canopy dominance. 

CANOPY TREES: 




SHRUBS: 


I.A.5.N.e. (1.c) 

Avicennia germinans – Laguncularia racemosa – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 





I.A. .N.e. (1.d) Avicennia germinans – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

A low-diversity variant of the Avicennia-Laguncularia-Rhizophora forest above, characterized by absence 

of Laguncularia, probably due to salinity stress. 

CANOPY TREES: 



I.A.5.N.e. (1.d) 

Avicennia germinans – Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 




I.A. .N.e. ( ) Rhizophora mangle Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Tide and rain flooded evergreen forests, dominated by Rhizophora mangle, usually growing close 

to the sea. Surface water has a more stable salinity than the Avicennia forests, due to frequent tidal flooding. 

Canopy height ranges from 10 to 21m. 


SYNONYMY: Rhizophora mangrove swamp woodland and thicket; Red-mangrove forest 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1984, Brunt & Burton 1994; Dansereau 1966 

 

I.A. .N.e. ( .a) Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 

This association occurs near the seaward margin of mangrove wetlands on Grand Cayman, but also 

in wetlands which appear to have been cut off from the sea by relatively recent beach ridge formation. 

In the latter cases tidal flooding still reaches the wetland by percolation through the sand and coral 

boulder ‘dam’. The association is growing in 1-5m depth of autochthonous peat. Rhizophora mangle is 

heavily dominant and may be monospecific. The peat surface is covered with Rhizophora leaf litter. 

CANOPY TREES: 




SHRUBS: 





I.A.5.N.e. (2.a) 

Rhizophora mangle tidal forest 





FORESTS 



I.A. .N.e. ( ) Laguncularia Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Tide and rain flooded evergreen forests, dominated by Laguncularia racemosa, usually growing close 

to the sea. This is the tidally flooded counterpart to the seasonally flooded Laguncularia forest 1.A.3.N.f.(2). 

Canopy height ranges from 6 to 15m. 


SYNONYMY: Laguncularia mangrove swamp woodland and thicket 

REFERENCES: Brunt 1984, Brunt & Burton 1994

FORESTS 



I.A. .N.e. ( .a) Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 

This may be an early successional association, developing in place of mixed species mangrove forests 

close to the sea, after these are leveled by hurricanes or drowned by trapped flood waters. Large numbers 

of the mobile floating Laguncularia propagules may be washed into such areas by storm surges. 

CANOPY TREES: 



SHRUBS: 


I.A.5.N.e. (3.a) 

Laguncularia racemosa tidal forest 


Blutaparon vermiculare 







FORESTS 

I.C: Mixed Evergreen-Deciduous Forests 

Subclass C: MIXED EVERGREEN-DECIDUOUS FOREST 

Cayman’s dry forests are, with few exceptions, semi-deciduous. They do not meet criteria for evergreen cover, 

in as much that well in excess of 25% of the “diagnostic vegetation” (i.e. the tree canopy and understory) looses 

its leaves during the dry season. The usually dominant tree Bursera simaruba is strongly drought-deciduous, 

along with a suite of other canopy trees including Plumeria obtusa, Tabebuia heterophylla, Cedrela odorata, and 

Swietenia mahagoni. The deciduous habit in these species is facultative: leaf fall may be deferred or reduced to 

a rapid leaf replacement, in damp areas or when sufficient rain falls during the dry season. 

The height of the closed tree canopy varies considerably from area to area, generally increasing with higher land 

elevations where the forest grows directly on the dolostone karst of the Cayman Formation. Dry forest canopy 

heights vary from 4.5 to 16m, below which a shift to shrubland vegetation occurs. 

A subset of canopy tree species also grows as emergents above the main canopy, rising in some sites to a height 

of 17m. These larger trees were the targets of selective logging which was widespread throughout the Cayman 

Islands from the 18 th Century until about 50 years ago, and so are probably still under-represented in many 

sites. 

Another suite of tree and shrub species often form one or more uneven and discontinuous understory layers 

beneath the main canopy, though the extent to which these develop varies considerably from site to site. The 

understory layers are composed mainly of evergreen species (Guettarda elliptica is the only common deciduous 

species in this group). 

Dry forests at higher elevations throughout the Cayman Islands are the most biologically diverse of all the 

plant communities. They are substantially undisturbed, structurally the most complex of Cayman’s plant 

communities, and apparently extremely old - they are growing on land which remained above the sea during 

the Sangamon high stand, and judging by the ages of geological strata (Jones et al.1994) in relation to the onset 

of Pliocene glaciations, these areas may well have been continuously above water for the last 2.5 million years. 

The dry forests include the island’s most significant assemblies of rare and endemic plants. 

0 


Formation I.C.1.N.a: Lowland semi-deciduous forests 

FORESTS 

I.C.1.N.a: Lowland 

Semi-deciduous Forests 

I.C.1.N.a. (1) Bursera simaruba – Guapira discolor Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Diverse dry forests co-dominated by Bursera simaruba and Guapira discolor, growing on exposed 

dolostone karst more than 2m above the water table. 


SYNONYMY: Dry evergreen woodland & thicket 


I.C.1.N.a. (1.a.) Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Chionanthus caymanensis dry forest 

This is the dominant dry forest association of Grand Cayman’s east-central interior. It is described here 

based on 21 sites all located away from the coast, in locations ranging from the Mastic to the East End 

interior. 

These forests support the highest vascular plant diversity of all Grand Cayman’s vegetation zones. Rare 

tree species found only (for the Cayman Islands) within this Association include Dendropanax arboreus, 

Daphnopsis americana, Licaria triandra, Faramea occidentalis and Rauvolfia nitida. The abundance and 

diversity of epiphytes is variable from site to site, being strongly enhanced by the upwind proximity of 

wetland or open water. 

In addition to the native flora listed below, limited invasion by exotic species was observed, primarily 

in areas with soil which have been severely disturbed for agriculture in historical times. Mangifera 

indica and Manilkara zapota have persisted at low abundance from cultivation, and have naturalized, 

as has Adenanthera pavonina which apparently was introduced to certain areas as an ornamental tree. 

Of these, only Adenanthera is locally invasive. The grass Oplismenus hirsutus and the herb Desmodium 

incanum are transported as seeds along forest trails, the latter also persisting in areas of historic 

agriculture in association with Abrus precatorius. The orchid Oeceoclades maculata has recently extended 

its range throughout the Cayman Islands, and is now scattered throughout the dry forests. Nephrolepis 

multiflora was observed at a single site. Another single site showed aggressive spread of Tradescantia 

spathacea presumably originating from a domestic garden, though how it reached this remote and 

otherwise undisturbed dry forest remains a mystery. 

Generally this forest association appears to be resistant to invasion by exotic species, except in the few 

areas where there is a significant amount of soil and a history of severe disturbance, and the single but 

notable case of Tradescantia. Fifteen of the 21 sites sampled consisted exclusively of native species. 


1

FORESTS 



I.C.1.N.a. (1.a.) 

Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Chionanthus caymanensis dry forest 

CANOPY TREES: 



Chionanthus caymanensis 


Ficus aurea 

Sideroxylon foetidissimum 



Terminalia eriostachya 




Cordia gerascanthus 

Elaeodendron (Cassine) xylocarpum 

Erythroxylum areolatum 


Exostema caribaeum 



Cedrela odorata 

Zanthoxylum coriaceum 

Celtis trinervia 

Dendropanax arboreus 


Croton nitens 

Cordia laevigata 


Daphnopsis americana 

Exothea paniculata 


Clusia rosea 

Ficus citrifolia 

Picrodendron baccatum 

Rauvolfia nitida 


Zanthoxylum flavum 


Ocotea coriacea 



Tabernaemontana laurifolia 


Antirhea lucida 




Allophylus cominia var. caymanensis 


Capparis ferruginea 

Malvaviscus arboreus 

Adelia ricinella 



Chascotheca neopeltandra 

Comocladia dentata 


Bunchosia media 

Jatropha divaricata 


Licaria triandra 

Xylosma bahamensis 

Zuelania guidonia 

Faramea occidentalis 


Malpighia cubensis 





Eugenia axillaris 

Jacquinia sp. nov. 

Astrocasia tremula 

Colubrina elliptica 

Casearia hirsuta 

Casearia odorata 

Colubrina cubensis 

Croton lucidus 

Forestieria segregata 

Hamelia cuprea 


Continued... 


SHRUBS: 

Clusia flava 

Psychotrea nervosa 

Solanum havanense 

Crossopetalum caymanense 


Argythamnia proctorii 

Bromelia pinguin 

Cordia brownei 


Solanum bahamensis 



Prescottia oligantha 

Peperomia obtusifolia 

Polypodium polypodioides 

Polypodium dispersum 


Peperomia pseudopereskiifolia 

Commelina elegans 





Cissus microcarpa 

Cionosicyos pomiformis 


Passiflora cuprea 

Cissus verticellata 

Morinda royoc 

Echites umbellata 

Ipomoea passifloroides 

Passiflora suberosa 

Caesalpinia intermedia 

Celtis iguanaea 

Cissampelos pareira 

Cissus trifoliata 

Melothria pendula 

Metastelma picardae 

Tournefortia volubilis 




Myrmecophila thompsoniana 

Tillandsia setacea 

Phoradendron quadrangulare 

Polypodium phyllitidis 

Pilostyles globosa 


Pleurothallis caymanensis 



Prosthechea cochleata 

Prosthechea boothiana 

Tillandsia flexuosa 

I.C.1.N.a. (1.b.) Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Ficus aurea dry forest 

This association is characterized here from five sites, four in the Pedro & Beach Bay area, and one near 

the north-east coast on the boundary of the Salina Reserve. It is a reduced diversity, exposed coastal 

forest affected by salt spray during storms. 

The tree canopy ranges from 7 - 9m, with emergents 11-12m. Tree fall gaps with dense growth of 

Clusia flava are more frequent than in inland sites. The forest grows on dolostone karst, with very little 

or no soil. 

A scarcity of shrubs (other than Clusia flava), herbs and seedlings is characteristic. Selenicereus 

boeckmannii, Tillandsia setacea and the high abundance of other epiphytes reflect high atmospheric 

humidity. 

No exotic plants were recorded in these sites. 

FORESTS 


Semi-deciduous Forests

FORESTS 



CANOPY TREES: 



Ficus aurea 






































Colubrina arborea 



I.C.1.N.a. (1.b.) 

Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Ficus aurea dry forest 

SHRUBS: 

Clusia flava 



Piper amalago 

VINES, LIANAS & SCRAMBERS: 



Selenicereus boeckmannii 


Ipomoea indica 



Cionosicyos pomiformis 

Echites umbellate 


Morinda royoc 



Tillandsia Utriculata 







I.C.1.N.a. (1.c.) Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Tabebuia heterophylla dry foresThis 

association was only sampled in three forest fragments, two in the Spotts area, and the third in southern 

George Town. However it also occurs in low-lying forests (approx. 2m above sea level) in east-central 

Grand Cayman, as for example in areas within the QE II Botanic Park. 

The main canopy ranges from 5.0 – 6.5m, with emergents to 8 – 9m. This is at the low end of the range 

for Bursera-Guapira forest Alliance, close to the transition to mixed evergreen – drought deciduous 

shrubland. The forest grows on dolostone karst with little or no soil present. Where soil is more 

abundant the Association transitions to Bursera -Guapira-Coccothrinax Forest (see below). 

Selenicereus boeckmannii, Philodendron hederaceum, Dendrophylax fawcettii and Tillandsia setacea are all 

indicative of very high atmospheric humidity: all sites were in close proximity to wetlands. 

I.C.1.N.a. (1.c.) 

Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Tabebuia heterophylla dry forest 

CANOPY TREES: 





Croton nitens 



Ficus aurea 














SHRUBS: 

Clusia flava 


Catesbaea parviflora 










Croton linearis 






Allophylus cominia 

Alvaradoa amorphoides 



Bernardia dichotoma 

Bourreria venosa 




Piscidia piscipula 

Pisonia margaretae 







FORESTS 



Continued...

FORESTS 



I.C.1.N.a. (1.c.) 

Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Tabebuia heterophylla dry forest 






Caesalpinia bonduc 


Morinda royoc 

Philodendron hederaceum 



I.C.1.N.a. (1.d.) Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Coccothrinax proctorii dry forest 

This association is recorded here from a single site, near Conocarpus wetlands north of Half Moon Bay 

(eastern Grand Cayman). Agricultural activity and widespread invasion of Haematoxylum campechianum 

into this environment in otherwise similar sites, has made it difficult to locate examples in apparently 

undisturbed settings. 

The ground surface consists of loose limestone fragments with about 40% oxisol cover, over karstic 

dolostone bedrock. The forest is near to transition to shrubland, with a 4.5 to 5.0m canopy, and 

emergents to 8.5m. An indistinct shrub canopy is present at 2m. The ground elevation is low, estimated 

to be within 2-3m of the groundwater table. 

The native species list below should be considered incomplete, since it is based on a single site. 

CANOPY TREES: 
















Hohenbergia caymanensis 


Dendrophylax fawcettii 




I.C.1.N.a. (1.d) 

Bursera simaruba - Guapira discolor - Coccothrinax proctorii dry forest 







Ficus aurea Hippomane mancinella 



Continued... 





Jacquinia proctorii 




















I.C.1.N.a. ( ) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Very low elevation forests dominated or co-dominated by Bursera simaruba and Calyptranthes 

pallens, growing on limestone pavement or dolostone karts with varying depths of sandy soil or oxisols. Between 

25% and 60% of the tree canopy is drought-deciduous, usually leafless between February and April. Forest 

canopy height ranges from 4.5 to 10m, usually with emergents and an under-story or shrub layer. 

DISTRIBUTION: Little Cayman, Grand Cayman 

SYNONYMY: Dry evergreen woodland and thicket 


I.C.1.N.a. ( .a.) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens – Croton lucidus dry forest 

This is the dominant dry forest association of Little Cayman, restricted to areas with emergent oolitic 

limestone pavement. Soils are typically shallow oxisols, with coastal sands in some areas. Many sites 

show evidence of over-wash by hurricane storm surges, with large coral fragments stranded far inland. 

Sideroxylon salicifolium may once have been a dominant component of this association, at least in some 

areas, judging by the local abundance of large S. salicifolium remains aligned where they must have 

been felled by hurricane winds. 

The endemic parasite Dendropemon caymanensis (Loranthaceae) has only ever been recorded from 

this Association. Other notable species include the Sister Isles endemic Encyclia kingsii, and the trees 

Zanthoxylum coriaceum and Buxus bahamensis (both rare in the Cayman Islands). This is the only 

setting known in the Cayman Islands where Erythroxylum rotundifolium grows to the stature of a 

canopy tree. 


SHRUBS: 







Solanum bahamensis 


Morinda royoc 



Canavalia nitida 








FORESTS 



FORESTS 



Exotic species are rare: the pantropical invasive orchid Oeceoclades maculata, the shrub Lantana camera 

and the cultivated fruit tree Manilkara zapota were each found at separate, single sites. 

The Association is described from 12 sites, all on Little Cayman. 

CANOPY TREES: 



Croton nitens 


















Metopium toxiferum 







[Manilkara zapota] 









Buxus bahamensis 



I.C.1.N.a. (2.a.) 

Bursera simaruba - Calyptranthes pallens – Croton lucidus dry forest 






Bourreria venosa 



Calliandra cubensis 



SHRUBS: 





Lepidaploa divaricata 


Crossopetalum rhacoma 



Daphnopsis occidentalis 



[Lantana camera] 

Cordia brownei 

Phyllanthus caymanensis 

Catesbaea parviflora 

Erithalis fruticosa 

Lantana involucrata 

Melochia tomentosa 





Paspalum blodgettii 

[Oeceoclades maculata] 

Turnera ulmifolia 

Continued... 




Chiococca parvifolia 


Jacquemontia havanensis 



Pisonia aculeata 

Caesalpinia bonduc 

Cardiospermum corindum 








Tillandsia recurvata 



Tillandsia paucifolia 

Phoradendron sp. 

Tillandsia fasciculata 

Encyclia kingsii 



FORESTS 



FORESTS 



0 

I.C.1.N.a. ( .b.) Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens – Haematoxylum campechianum dry 


This forest association occurs in low lying areas close to the water table, usually with very shallow oxisols, 

but free from seasonal flooding. At lower elevations it transitions into seasonally flooded Haematoxylum 

campechianum semi-deciduous forest. It is a semi-natural association, probably formed by invasion 

by the exotic tree Haematoxylum campechianum after selective logging of Swietenia mahagoni over a 

century ago. Tradescantia spathacea is also invasive in the site recorded. 

The main tree canopy is at 5m, with emergent Bursera simaruba, Coccothrinax proctorii, Swietenia 

mahagoni and Picrodendron baccatum to 9m. The forest grows on a partial blanket of oxisol over 

dolostone bedrock with sinkholes. 

The association is incompletely described here, from a single site in eastern Grand Cayman. 

I.C.1.N.a. (2.b.) 

Bursera simaruba – Calyptranthes pallens – Haematoxylum campechianum dry forest 

CANOPY TREES: 


Haematoxylum campechianum 





















Xylosma bahamense 








SHRUBS: 

Clusia flava 






[ Tradescantia spathacea ] 



Callisia repens 







Morinda royoc 

Metastelma picardae 

[ Teramnus labialis ] 

[ Abrus precatorius ] 











1

FORESTS 

I.C.1.N.c: Seasonally Flooded / Saturated 

Semi-deciduous Forest 

Formation I.C.1.N.c. Seasonally flooded / saturated semi-deciduous forest 

In Grand Cayman this formation lies at the intergrades between lowland semi-deciduous forest, and seasonally 

flooded mangrove or Conocarpus wetlands. One Alliance is described, with a single Association. 

I.C.1.N.c. (1) Picrodendron baccatum – Roystonea regia Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Forests of flood-tolerant trees including Picrodendron baccatum, with emergent Roystonea regia 

palms growing to 18m or more, in shallow peat over saturated oxisol soil. Bursera simaruba is locally dominant 

on emergent areas of dolostone bedrock. The lower substrate is seasonally flooded by rainfall and runoff, and 

remains damp throughout the year. The canopy is partially drought-deciduous. 




I.C.1.N.c. (1.a.) Picrodendron baccatum - Roystonea regia - Bursera simaruba seasonally flooded 


This Association is found in eastern and central Grand Cayman, usually in narrow bands rimming 

Conocarpus and Acrostichum brackish wetland communities. The combination of seasonal flooding, 

and perennially damp peat soils is favourable to Roystonea regia, Swietenia mahagoni, Picrodendron 

baccatum and Myrsine acrantha. Approximately 50% of the tree canopy is potentially droughtdeciduous, 

though the extent to which Swietenia and Picrodendron loose their leaves during the dry 

season varies from year to year. 

The endangered, endemic orchid Dendrophylax fawcettii occurs rarely in this Association, as does 

the only known occurrence in the Cayman Islands of the genus Drypetes (species undetermined). 

Dead Roystonea trunks are favoured nesting trees for the Grand Cayman Parrot, Amazona leucocephala 

caymanensis. 

Tamarindus indica has become invasive on the drier margins of this Association, but does not penetrate 

far within it. Other exotic species recorded were rare incidences of Oeceoclades maculata, Oplismenus 

hirsutus, Abrus precatorius, Triumfetta semitrilobata and Mangifera indica. 


I.C.1.N.c. (1.a.) 

Picrodendron baccatum – Roystonea regia - Bursera simaruba seasonally flooded forest 

CANOPY TREES: 



Roystonea regia 





Ficus aurea 









Exostema 









Erythroxylum confusum 







Drypetes sp. indet. 







Casearia odorata 

Colubrina arborescens 



FORESTS 





SHRUBS: 

Acrostichum danaeifolium 


Clusia flava 

Crossopetalum caymanensis 














Morinda royoc 








Dendrophylax fawcettii 

Philodendron hederaceum 



Tillandsia balbisiana

FORESTS 



I.C.1.N.c. ( ) Metopium toxiferum – Swietenia mahagoni Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Transiently flooded forests dominated by Metopium toxiferum, with Swietenia mahagoni, growing 

in seasonally rain-saturated oxisols over limestone pavement. Canopy height from the single site recorded, is 

6m. The extent of canopy leaf loss during the dry season is likely to be very variable depending on annual 

rainfall patterns. A single provisional association is listed here based on one site only. 

DISTRIBUTION: Little Cayman 

SYNONYMY: Dry evergreen woodland and thicket 


I.C.1.N.c. ( .a.) Metopium toxiferum – Swietenia mahagoni – Coccothrinax proctorii saturated 


This association is described here from a single fragmented site on Little Cayman. It appears to occur in 

transitional areas between Bursera-Calyptranthes-Croton forests and mangrove wetlands. No Metopiumdominated 

communities are known from Grand Cayman or Cayman Brac. The following species list 

should be regarded as significantly incomplete. 

I.C.1.N.c. (2.a.) 

Metopium toxiferum - Swietenia mahagoni – Coccothrinax proctorii saturated forest 

CANOPY TREES: 

Metopium toxiferum 











Croton nitens 














Schaefferia fruticosa 


SHRUBS: 







Erithalis fruticosa 













Tillandsia fasciculata 

Lepidaploa divaricata 


I.C.1.N.c. ( ) Thrinax radiata – Bursera simaruba Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Transiently flooded forests heavily dominated by Thrinax radiata, with Bursera simaruba, growing 

in seasonally rain-saturated oxisols over limestone pavement. 

DISTRIBUTION: Little Cayman, Grand Cayman 

SYNONYMY: Dry evergreen thicket 


 

I.C.1.N.c. ( ) Thrinax radiata – Bursera simaruba saturated forest 

Canopy height from a single site observed on Little Cayman, is 10m. The association appears to be 

very localized in rain flooded depressions. A similar association is present in one very small area of the 

Q.E. II Botanic Park on Grand Cayman, and on several dry cays in the margins of Grand Cayman’s 

Central Mangrove Wetland, but these have all been modified too heavily to be used to develop the 

alliance and association definitions. 

CANOPY TREES: 













I.C.1.N.c. (3.a.) 

Thrinax radiata – Bursera simaruba saturated forest 

FORESTS 



SHRUBS: 










I.C.1.N.c. ( ) Haematoxylum campechianum Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: dense stands of invasive Haematoxylum forming a low stature closed canopy forest on abandoned 

cleared land close to the water table. Older examples support a dense native epiphyte community. 


SYNONYMY: Dry Evergreen Logwood Thicket 


I.C.1.N.c. ( .a) Haematoxylum campechianum seasonally flooded forest 

A rather variable association, merging extensively into lower elevation dry forests on soil. In its most 

narrowly defined form Haematoxylum may be the sole tree species, but more typically a variety of 

native dry forest species are present at low density, depending on the frequency of flooding and the 

presence of soil. Habitat association suggests that Erythroxylum confusum may have formerly been 

a dominant tree in at least some of these Haematoxylum-dominated areas, but no such unmodified 

community has yet been found, other than as individual trees in small sinkholes.

FORESTS 



CANOPY TREES: 

[Haematoxylum campechianum] 

Erythroxylum confusum 


Elaeodendron xylocarpum 








SHRUBS: 


[Bromelia pinguin] 

I.C.1.N.c. (4.a.) 

Haematoxylum campechianum seasonally flooded forest 



Solanum bahamense 

Callisia repens 










Tillandsia recurvata 




FORESTS 

I.C.4.N.b: Xeromorphic Mixed 

Evergreen-deciduous Forest 

Formation I.C. .N.b. Xeromorphic semi-deciduous forest. 

This is the characteristic dry forest formation of Cayman Brac’s tilted, elevated plateau, the “Bluff.” These 

diverse forests are characterized as a single vegetation Alliance, with two weakly distinguishable Associations. 

I.C. .N.b. (1) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii Forest Alliance 

CONCEPT: Forests dominated or co-dominated by Bursera simaruba and Pilosocereus swartzii, growing on 

dolostone karst, with localized pockets of oxisol. Between 25% and 60% of the tree canopy is droughtdeciduous, 

usually leafless between February and April. Forest canopy height correlates with rainfall, ranging 

from 4.5 to 16m, often with emergents and/or a predominantly evergreen understory canopy. 

DISTRIBUTION: Cayman Brac 



I.C. .N.b. (1.a.) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Exothea paniculata dry forest 

This association dominates throughout Cayman Brac’s central and eastern Bluff at elevations between 

approximately 15 and 35m. At lower elevations to the west, and in a narrow band close to the northern 

and southern margins of the Bluff, it transitions to a closely related Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus 

swartzii – Agave caymanensis Forest Association, which is characterized by a reduced abundance of 

Exothea paniculata, Amyris elemifera and Pisonia aculeata, and a notable increase in Agave caymanensis 

and (in the western lower elevations) epiphytes of the genus Tillandsia. 

The Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Exothea paniculata Association is described here based 

on 11 sites. These are Cayman Brac’s tallest and most diverse forests, apparently growing in the area 

of the islands’ highest rainfall. The tree canopy mainly ranges from 7 to 12m, with emergents to 12m 

over the lower canopy sites. The trees Maclura tinctoria, Celtis trinervia and Zanthoxylum flavum, all 

of which are extremely rare in the Cayman Islands, occur at low density throughout. An understory 

tree with affinities to the genus Ilex, was found in a single site: it is clearly a new species record for the 

Cayman Islands but remains unidentified for lack of reproducing material. 

The only exotic species recorded in these sites were the orchid Oeceoclades maculata and the shrub 

Tecoma stans, the latter of which is highly invasive in rough pastures on Cayman Brac. Tecoma seeds 

blow from the rough pastures into adjacent dry forest, where isolated seedlings and saplings may 

survive for a short period. The species is not at all well adapted to the rocky, closed canopy forest, and 

only becomes invasive in this Association after very severe disturbance. 

I.C.4.N.b. (1.a.) 

Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Exothea paniculata dry forest 


CANOPY TREES: 






Clusia rosea 



Ficus aurea 


Croton nitens 










Maclura tinctoria 








Zanthoxylum flavum 

SHRUBS: 


Clusia flava 




Lantana involucrate 






Pisonia aculeata 


Solandra longiflora 























Casearia hirsuta 











Cestrum diurnum 

Casearia guianensis 





Peperomia pseudopereskiifolia 










Nephrolepis exultata 

FORESTS 


Evergreen-deciduous Forest

FORESTS 



0 

I.C. .N.b. (1.b.) Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Agave caymanensis dry forest 

This association dominates throughout Cayman Brac’s western Bluff at elevations below 15m, and also 

occurs as a narrow band along the cliff-top margins of the Bluff at higher elevations. 

The Bursera – Pilosocereus – Agave forest is described here based primarily on 8 inland sites, all on the 

Bluff to the west of the Stake Bay Bluff road, with five additional species recorded from 4 much lower 

diversity sites close to the margins of the Bluff. 

This appears to be a more xeric variant of the Bursera– Pilosocereus– Exothea forest I.C.4.N.b.(1a), with 

a slightly lower canopy range of 4.5 to 11m, and emergents to 11m over the lower canopy sites. The 

plant species diversity is also slightly lower. In even drier sites such at the far east end of the Bluff, a 

related Bursera– Pilosocereus– Agave Shrubland Association occurs. 

Epiphytes, particularly Tillandsia utriculata, are notably abundant, suggesting a higher atmospheric 

humidity despite lower average rainfall at these western, lower elevation sites. The cactus Harrisia 

gracilis was found in a single site: in the Cayman Islands this species is otherwise only recorded from the 

shrubland form of this association. The endemic shrub Banara caymanensis was recorded in Bursera– 

Pilosocereus– Agave forest at two widely spaced southern Bluff margin sites: otherwise this species is 

only known from Little Cayman. 

No exotic species were found in this Association. 

I.C.4.N.b. (1.b.) 

Bursera simaruba – Pilosocereus swartzii – Agave caymanensis dry forest 


CANOPY TREES: 













Ficus aurea 




Clusia rosea 

Croton nitens 






SHRUBS: 



Clusia flava 





Banara caymanensis 
































Harrisia gracilis 








Solandra longiflora 



Cardiospermum corindum 









FORESTS 




1

Vegetation Classification for the Cayman Islands

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