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10 
Forest plantations 
While walking along the trails at the Cabrits one will observe 
areas where the vegetation appears to be different from that growing 
on the rest of the peninsula. In these areas the trees appear to 
be growing in straight lines, are about uniform in height and size, 
and may even have red bands painted on their trunks. 
These areas are small forest plantations which were established in 
the 1S60’s and early 1970’s by the Forestry Division on an experi¬ 
mental basis. 
The trees bearing the red paint markings near Fort Shirley are Teak 
(Tektona grandis) trees. Note the large rough leaves, especially 
on stumps which have resprouted. Teak grows in the natural forests 
of Burma, and loses its leaves during the dry season. The wood 
makes high quality furniture. 
The flat area on the way 
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OF BLUE MA HOE 
to North Gorge and the Douglas Bay Battery, 
also refered to as the Parade Square, is 
planted up in Teak and another large- 
leafed tree, the Blue Mahoe ( Hibiscus 
elatus). Blue Mahoe grows naturally in 
the forests of Jamaica, and produces 
thick red or yellow flowers on the same 
tree. The trees are evergreen. 
Another noticeable species in the plan¬ 
tations is the Mahogany ( Swietenia. 
mahogani) . The leaves turn a reddish 
brown before being shed during the dry 
season, and the trees remain leafless 
for only a brief period. The wood makes 
excellent high grade furniture, and the 
’shell’ or woody outer part of the fruit 
pod, after splitting open longitudinally 
into several parts, is used by craftsmen 
to make curtains and other craft items. 
The light brown seeds of the Mahogany are 
easily transported by the wind, and as a 
result one can now find many healthy 
Mahogany seedlings scattered in the un¬ 
dergrowth, competing for survival in the 
dry forest at the Cabrits. 
Other forest plantation species which 
have been planted at the Cabrits are Red 
Cedar or Akajou ( Cedrella odorata ), 
Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea j and Pink 
Poui (Tabebuia rosea !. 
