'Manual of Dendrology in Jamaica' by Dr. Tracey Parker. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
HOW MANY times have you passed by a
particular tree, admired its beauty, grateful for its leafy shade, and thought, "I must find out the name of this tree."
Well now, there is a book that can probably help you!
Last year, the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agricluture launched its landmark publication Manual of Dendrology Jamaica.
Dendrology is forestry jargon for the study of trees and their identifying characteristics.
The culmination of over two years of field work and research, the 494-page book describes 150 species of trees indigenous to, or naturalised in Jamaica. Each tree description is accompanied by a full page of superb colour photographs which will greatly aid tree identification in the field. Special sections containing a key for identification of trees described; illustrated terminology; and a comprehensive glossary enhance the book's usefulness.
The Manual of Dendrology Jamaica was developed by Dr. Tracey Parker with assistance from the Forestry Department, and was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through the Trees for Tomorrow Project.
BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE
Dr. Parker has a Ph.D. in forestry, wildlife, and range management from the University of Idaho. She started to hone her tree identification and photographic skills by teaching tropical and temperate dendrology at the Universidad de Valle de Guatemala for four years before coming to Jamaica. She is, in fact, currently working on a manuscript about the trees of Guatemala, and living in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where her husband is a member of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Dr. G. R. Proctor, consultant botanist at the Institute of Jamaica, in his review of the manual, said "This exciting new contribution to botanical knowledge in Jamaica with regards to trees, is embellished with beautifully reproduced photographs of the 150 trees covered in the text. Dr. Parker has been very diligent in seeking out representative examples of the selected tree species and has succeeded in capturing vivid images of foliage, flowers, fruits, bark and other features of the included species."
The Manual of Dendrology Jamaica can be purchased at the Forestry Department, 173 Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, at a cost of $1,800 with a 10 per cent discount for students with valid identification. Sample pages can be viewed on the Forestry Department's website: www.forestry.gov.jm
