ABSTRACT
From the time I arrived in Florida in 1970 and began working at Fairchild Tropical Garden, I heard about the “strongback” of the Bahamas. Nothing was ever overtly said about it, but the innuendo spoke loud and clear-the name had sexual overtones. Somewhere along the line I learned, probably from a student, that it allowed one to make love longer, with a good, strong back. Yet, nothing of that has appeared in the books, at least the floras of Florida or the Bahamas. Helen Correll, coauthor of the most recent flora of the Bahamas, would not allow Don to include common names that were vulgar. Having known Don’s earthy sense of humor, I cannot help wondering what he left out.
