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On the southern fringes of the large sedge and saw grass wetland in the Trust's Salina Reserve, there grows an inconspicuous herb, with pretty pink bell-shaped flowers. Known only by its scientific name, Agalinis kingsii, this plant is unique to Grand Cayman. In the whole world, it is known only from the Salina and parts of the Central Mangrove Wetland. The area where Agalinis grows is vulnerable to fire spreading north from adjacent farm land, and indeed in mid May 1999 a fire spreading out of control from newly cleared land burnt out large areas of dry saw grass in the Salina Reserve. Fire has affected the Salina repeatedly in living memory, and until recent research, it was far from clear whether this is a threat or a help to the Agalinis population: some plants actually benefit from occasional fire. Amanda Diochon, a student from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, came to Cayman in May 1999. As part of her degree course she investigated how fire affects Agalinis thus providing vital information the Trust needs to manage the Salina appropriately. Agalinis kingsii was found to be growing primarily on the perimeter of the 'dry cays' or tree islands found in the centre of the wetland and on the drier ground around the wetland itself. Amanda observed that the saw grass was re-growing rapidly in the burnt zone, charred Buttonwood trees are putting out new leaves in response to the rains, and Agalinis flowered on the edges of saw grass tufts in the unburned centre of the wetland. The project concluded that Agalinis kingsii does not appear to be adversely affected by fire and the population appears to be stable. To ensure the long-term future of this unique plant, the Trust plans to develop formal conservation strategies for this and other venerable native Caymanian plants.
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Agalinis kingsii |
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