I saw many of these plants along the coast. This picture was taken just off the road near the salt pans. I don't know much about plants, can someone help me identify them?

Ivan, that's a mangrove seedling

Thanks Jon, I was hoping someone would know....

Mare

Thanks! The thought never even crossed my mind. They look different from varieties of mangrove I am familiar with. Do you know what kind they are, here's a closer shot:

Ivan - don't know what it is yet but I'm pretty sure it's not mangrove...

Ivan, looks like a Black Mangrove based on the leaf clusters. Look at Timmmy's pics and you can see the Red Mangrove on the left, which produces leaf growth in a more linear fashion. And then, the image on the far right is a Black Mangrove. Notice the similarity to the second image you sent, and how the leaves grow in clusters. For that matter, look at the plant on the left in your first image and compare to the line drawing from Timmmmy's. Notice the "tassel" on top in both.

Jon - the left image is the white mangrove and the seed pods and right image are red mangrove....the black mangrove does not start with a cigar shaped seed pod but with a small 1' x 2" floating seed... the leaves just don't look like mangrove...Ivans plant has a red flower...mangrove flowers are white....


black mangrove leave

the red mangrove "tassel" falls off before the seed takes root in the mud and starts to sprout leaves...

Ivan - how far from the waters edge are those plants growing?

Maybe 10-15ft from the waters edge? The leaves don't look like mangroves. Mangroves have single leaves, where these leaves have multiple lobes.

Ivan - yes that was my point also...plus they are much more transparent... they are to far away from the waters edge to be mangrove starts!

Ivan - looks very much like it's in the schefflera family....

Ivan,
We have a Dutch botanist, Johan van Blark, on BT. Maybe he will shed light on your plant question.
Bud

Well Bud, after being in the lurking-zone for over 2 years, you've finally got me to join.
Ivan, I think your plant in question is a Jatropha gossypifolia. If you click on this link http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Corridor/1290/ar910302.html you will find a picture of it on a stamp (aruba 1991). It's a member of the euphorbiaceae family. It is used as a curative plant (the stem sap stops bleeding and itching of cuts and scratches, morton 1981), but be careful, all parts of the plant are (very) poisonous!

PS: Bud, the big smile on my face of seeing that Wahoo out in the blue is still there :-) but I have to find another one for a picture!

And this is how it looks when growing in fertile soil, along the coast on bonaire it grows more like a bonsai.

Wow, interesting..welcome Johan! I wish I had gills too!