Dolphin Head is a small limestone mountain located towards the western end of Jamaica, mostly in the Parish of Hanover. Although its highest point is only 1,785ft (544m) above sea level, it looms precipitously above its surroundings and dominates a densely wooded jumble of fields and sinkholes, now being regarded as a rich area of biodiversity.

This area has a higher density of local endemic plant species and rare or threatened plants per unit area than anywhere else in Jamaica. In an area of 1300 hectares, we so far identified over 600 species of vascular plants of which 162 are endemic to Jamaica and more than 20 have never been found anywhere else in Jamaica. As the rugged terrain is far from being fully explored for plants, we can expect many more species to be discovered.

With regards to its relatively small area, the Dolphin Hills may well be the richest floristic locality in the entire West Indies. The wet limestone forest ecosystem of the Dolphin Head Area has regional and global significance with respect to species biodiversity and is a clearly defined center of endemism having over 32% plant endemism in a 3,000 acre area.

To view our gallery of endemic species photos, click here.  A full Plant Taxonomy list is available for download by registered guests.

ENDEMIC SPECIES

• Begonia purdieana (Begoniaceae) herb
• Blakea urbaniana (Melastomataceae) woody climber
• Bursera sp. nov. ined. (Burseraceae) small tree
• Calyptranthes acutissima (Myrtaceae) shrub
• C. discolor (Myrtaceae) tall shrub
• Carex polystachya var. dolphinensis var. nov. ined. (Cyperaceae) herb
• Cassipourea subsessilis (Rhizophoraceae) shrub
• Comocladia parvifoliola (Anacardiaceae) shrub
• Ctenitis dolphinensis (Polypodiaceae s.l.) fern
• Dendropanax cordifolius (Araliaceae) small tree
• Epidendrum parvilobum (Orchidaceae) herb
• Eugenia polypora (Myrtaceae) shrub?
• Eugenia sp. nov. ined. (Myrtaceae) shrub
• Eupatorium dolphini (Asteraceae) shrub
• Hohenburgia distans (Bromeliaceae) rosulate herb
• H. rohan-estyi sp. nov. ined. (Bromeliaceae) rosulate herb
• Lisianthius umbellatus (Gentianaceae) shrub
• Ormosia jamaicansis (Leguminosae – Faboideae) tree
• O. sp. nov. ined. (Leguminosae – Faboideae) tree
• Psychotria hanoverensis (Rubiaceae) shrub
• Rondeletia cincta (Rubiaceae) shrub
• R. dolphinensis (Rubiaceae) shrub
• Sideroxylon dolphinensis, sp. nov. ined. (Sapotaceae) tree
• Tabernaemontana ochroleuca (Apocynaceae) shrub
• T. ovalifolia (Apocynaceae) shrub