What type of tree is depicted on the flag of Belize?

The type of tree depicted on the flag of Belize is the mahogany tree.

The mahogany tree appears inside Belize’s national coat of arms, which occupies the white disk at the center of the flag. Mahogany is a hardwood tree native to the region and became central to Belize’s colonial economy, when the territory was known as British Honduras. Logging was one of the main industries that encouraged British settlement and shaped the country’s early development.

The coat of arms also shows two woodcutters, tools, and a shield beneath a mahogany tree. Its motto, “Sub Umbra Floreo,” means “Under the Shade I Flourish,” linking the tree with protection, prosperity, and national identity. Belize adopted its flag on September 21, 1981, the day it became independent.

A common mix-up is to identify the tree as cedar or palm because both are associated with tropical landscapes. On Belize’s flag, however, the tree is specifically mahogany, commemorating the country’s historic timber industry.