User:Guettarda/Flora of Trinidad and Tobago

The flora of Trinidad and Tobago consists of about 2500 species in 175 plant families. There are 59 endemic plant species. The flora has strong associations with the South American mainland, reflecting the fact that Trinidad was connected to the mainland until about 1500 BP and Tobago around 13000 BP.

Origins
The flora of Trinidad and Tobago reflects its connections to the South American mainland. Both islands lie on the continental shelf, and were connected to the mainland during the last ice age. Rising sea levels split Tobago off from the mainland around 13000 BP, but Trinidad remained connected to the mainland until about 1500 BP.

Plant species
The flora consists of about 2500 species, including 300 introduced species. The most important groups are the ferns, grasses, legumes and the orchids.