Native to South America, the West Indian Islands and particularly, Jamaica, Pimento dioica grows to 30 feet tall and thrives on limestone hills close to the ocean, according to Botanical.com. Called Jamaican pepper or allspice, this plant tastes like a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, pepper and juniper berries, once the fruit is dried. Fruit grows on three-year-old trees and flowers in the summer. Allspice is primarily used as a spice, but also has medicinal properties. The fruit is used for flatulent indigestion, rheumatic pains and hysterical paroxysms.
Native to Central America, the West Indies and Florida, the Jamaican dogwood is potentially toxic. Used as a fish poison throughout Central and South America, it acts as an insecticide that controls fleas, lice and larvae, but is non-toxic to pets. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Jamaican dogwood root bark is used in medicines, but should not be used without doctor supervision. Jamaican dogwood is used as a pain reliever, sleep aid, muscle relaxant, cough suppressant and fever and inflammation reducer. The roots can be boiled to create a tea; however, human studies are almost nonexistent, so you should not drink the tea without a doctor's approval.
Indigenous to Jamaica, according to Jamaica Travel and Culture.com, the Lignum vitae is Jamaica’s national flower. Also known as the “tree of life,” the Lignum vitae was discovered by Christopher Columbus, and also is known as ironwood. Lignum vitae boasts blue and purple flowers, which bloom twice a year. The tree is used as a wood source and as a source for medication. Lignum vitae is used to treat arthritis, gout and syphilis. The wood is hard and has diagonal fibers, preventing splitting and chipping. Because of this, it often is used in cricket balls, butchers blocks, clocks, truncheons, ship shaft bearings and mortars. The Lignum vitae grows on coastal areas of Jamaica, and is a protected tree; however, excessive harvest has significantly reduced its population.
