Flowers found only in the Turks And Caicos
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Encompassing a total land area of less than 200 square miles, the Turks and Caicos Islands are resplendent with a rich natural environment and provide the quiet backdrop for at least 500 different species of plants. In contrast to the lush towering forests and giant stands of swaying palm trees found on the larger Caribbean islands, the physical world exists on a different scale here. Ancient 500 year-old trees may reach heights of a mere 10ft. Delicate butterflies and slithery reptiles comprise the grazing herbs and beasts of the land. Life is in proportion to the islands themselves. Each turn of a leaf or stone will reveal a treasure trove of tiny delights for those willing to scale-down worldly eyes to the island size.
At first glimpse, the dense, short canopy of island vegetation is deceptive. The predominant low-lying deciduous thorn scrub vegetation appears to be nearly monochromatic, but closer examination of the individual plants will yield surprising and delightful results. Lurking within the boundaries of these diminutive forests is an impressive and diverse array of orchids, herbs, palms, hardwoods and flowering vines. Among these groups are a surprising high proportion of threatened, endangered or otherwise rare species, many of which can only be found right here in the Turks and Caicos...