![Joanna Boxall image](jpg/joanna_boxall4384.jpg)
![Cayman flag](jpg/cayman-flag97a8.jpg)
All children in Cayman's schools are taught about the national symbols of the Cayman Islands. Read on to learn more about our national bird: the Grand Cayman Parrot, our national flower: the Wild Banana Orchid, our national tree: the Silver Thatch Palm, our national song: Beloved Isle Cayman and our National Motto: "He hath founded it upon the seas".
![DOT flag](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1084&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1200 1200w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2168&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400 2400w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=896&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=992 992w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1792&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984 1984w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=693&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1387&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1536 1536w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2081&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=2304 2304w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=520&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=576 576w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1040&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=1152 1152w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DOT_flag.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1561&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=1728 1728w)
Flag
Navy blue with the UK flag in the upper left hand corner and the Caymanian coat of arms in the centre of the other half of the flag.
![Katie P1165766 copy JPG](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Katie-P1165766-copy.JPG.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.487&fp-y=0.2686&h=1024&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/Katie-P1165766-copy.JPG.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.487&fp-y=0.2686&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=576 576w)
Bird: Grand Cayman Parrot
The Grand Cayman parrot is iridescent green with a white eye ring, red cheeks, black ear patches and brilliant blue wing feathers.
![BANANAORCHID](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=808&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200 1200w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=668&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=992 992w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1336&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984 1984w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=517&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1034&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1536 1536w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=388&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=576 576w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=776&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1152 1152w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/BANANAORCHID.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1164&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=1728 1728w)
Flower: Wild Banana Orchid
The wild banana orchid is the best known of Cayman’s 26 species of orchids.
![Silver thatch](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1744&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=1200 1200w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1442&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=992 992w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2884&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984 1984w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1116&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2233&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1536 1536w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=837&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=576 576w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1674&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1152 1152w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/silver-thatch.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2512&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=1728 1728w)
Tree: Silver Thatch Palm
The tall, slender silver thatch palm was an important natural resource for early settlers who used the leaves to make rope, brooms and roofs.
![Leila Ross Shier ieyenews](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/leila-Ross-Shier-ieyenews.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4221&fp-y=0.2311&h=1186&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/leila-Ross-Shier-ieyenews.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4221&fp-y=0.2311&h=889&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&usm=20&w=576 576w)
Song
“Beloved Isle Cayman” was written by the late Mrs. Leila Ross Shier in 1930.
![DBI fishing](https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=801&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1200 1200w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1602&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=2400 2400w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=662&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=992 992w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1324&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1984 1984w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=768 768w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1025&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&usm=20&w=1536 1536w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1538&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=2304 2304w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=384&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=576 576w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=769&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=1152 1152w, https://explore-cayman.imgix.net/images/DBI-fishing.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=explore-cayman.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1153&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&usm=20&w=1728 1728w)
Motto
“He hath founded it upon the seas” is taken from Psalm 24 and reminds us not only of Cayman’s strong Christian heritage but also the seafaring history of the men folk of the Islands.