Fifty mahogany leaves form the wreath surrounding the emblem on Belize’s national flag.
The wreath encircles the coat of arms displayed inside the flag’s central white disk. Its 50 leaves commemorate 1950, the year Belizeans began an organized political struggle for independence while the country was still known as British Honduras. Belize achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981.
The flag’s central imagery reflects the country’s historical reliance on mahogany and timber. A mahogany tree rises above the shield, while the shield displays forestry tools and a sailing ship. Two supporters represent Belize’s people and working history, and the Latin motto “Sub umbra floreo” means “Under the shade I flourish.” The wreath is sometimes overlooked because it appears as part of the detailed coat of arms, and it is easy to confuse the 50 leaves with the tree itself.