T. Heilbron 2012.Botanical relics of the plantations - osodresie

Lastly, in trying to determine age, historical sources such as plantation maps, pictures and
manuscripts containing detailed information on a particular plantation can be useful as well,
although maps that depict individual plants on (part of) a plantation are scarce.
Once sufficient knowledge on botanical relics is accumulated, the human influences in
seemingly natural forest in overgrown plantations can be found and understood.
4.4 Tracking plants
In the literature some of the encountered species can be tracked and some information on their
connection to the plantations can be found. For example, Rolander (2008) notes seeing a date
palm in his diary (probably Phoenix reclinata (Van Andel et al., 2012), although he is unaware
of the African origin of the palm. More than 200 years later, records of Phoenix reclinata by
Ostendorf (1962) and Wessels Boer (1965) are made, and the African origin of the palm is noted.
Currently, another 50 years later, the palm has managed to become a part of natural vegetation,
as shown in this research. Some other examples are the use of Trichanthera gigantica as a
windbreaker for juvenile cacao trees and a Pandanaceae species (Pandanus tectorius Parkinson
ex Du Roi) brought from Java in the 1910s Ostendorf (1962). However, for other species and
their connection to the plantations much is unknown. For example Triphasia trifolia, still used
as a hedge plant in Suriname (e.g. at the presidential palace in Paramaribo), was unknown as a
relic of the plantations and questions on its connection to the plantations in Suriname remain.
4.5 Prospects of botanical relics
Surinamese citizens are generally interested in plantation history, both in urbanized environments
as well as rural communities. People of all ethnic groups in Suriname possess knowledge
on a variety of plants and their uses. Still, botanical heritage is viewed somewhat different, as
people are mostly unaware of the historical connections between certain plants, the plantations
and the country’s history. The physical botanical heritage is not always seen as valuable, as the
cutting of the ancient tamarind lane on plantation Alliance demonstrates. Also, the government
appears to be doing little to protect this part of the country’s heritage. Private initiatives and
non governmental organizations prove that interest exists to integrate protection of the heritage
into the country’s policy. Apart from raising historical and environmental awareness among
Surinamers, the protection of the botanical heritage of the plantations could provide economic
opportunities for (eco)tourism.
4.6 Follow-up research
In a brief fieldwork period part the botanical heritage of the plantations in Suriname was revealed
and documented, but surely there is much more to be found. Some potential relics mentioned
in the literature, such as Sesamum indicum and Elaeis guineensis (Ostendorf, 1962), Indigofera
tinctoria, Cleome gynandra (Van Andel et al., 2012) and Oryza glaberrima (Van Andel, 2010)
were not found during this study, but are known to occur and be used elsewhere in Suriname
(Van Andel & Ruysschaert, 2011). Other leads remain to be investigated, for example the ‘loweman
bakba’ encountered wild in the forest by early contract workers, and the apparent cultivation
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