COMMON TREES OF
PUERTO RICO

And the

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Elbert L. Little, Jr.
Frank H. Wadsworth

COMMON TREES OF If/
PUERTO RICO

AND THE

VIRGIN ISLANDS

By

ELBERT L. LITTLE, JR.
Dendrologist, Division of Timber Management Research
Forest Service, Washington, D.C.

and

FRANK H. WADSWORTH

Director, Institute of Tropical Forestry
Forest Service, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK NO. 249

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250 July 1964

Library of Consress Catalos Card Number: Agr 64-50

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfBce
Washington, n.C. 20402 - Price $4.25

11

CONTENTS

Page

List of tree species with descriptions and illustrations iv

Introduction 1

Previous work 2

Preparation of this book 2

Plan 3

Illustrations 3

Tree names 3

Tree descriptions 4

Wood and uses 5

Other uses 5

Propagation, growth, and other notes 5

Distribution 5

Related species 9

Explanation of botanical terms 9

Leaves 9

Flower clusters 9

Flowers 10

Fruits - 10

How to use this book in tree identification 10

Statistical summary 11

Acknowledgments 11

Forests and forestry in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands 12

The virgin forests 12

The forests of today 14

Forest conservation 15

Lit eratiu-e cited 18

Special lists 19

Poisonous trees 19

Appearance and trunk 19

Colored sap or latex 19

Leaves 19

Flowers 19

Fruits 19

Uses 19

Planting lists 20

Key to families 21

Part 1. Leaves alternate, simple 22

Part 2. Leaves alternate, compound 25

Part 3. Leaves opposite, simple 26

Part 4. Leaves opposite, compound 27

Tree species, descriptions and illustrations 28

Index of common and scientific names 529

LIST OF TREE SPECIES WITH DESCRIPTIONS AND

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Tree-fern family (Cyatheaceae) 28

1. Helerho gigante, tree-fern, Cyathe.a arborea (L.) J. E. Smith 28

Yew family (Taxaceae) 30

2. Caobilla, podoearp, Podocarpus coriaceus L. C. Rich 30

Grass family (Gramineae) 32

3. Bambii, common bamboo, Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. * 32

Palm family (Palmae) 34

4. Corozo, prickly-palm, Puerto Rico acrocomia, Acrocomia media O. F. Cook 34

5. Palma de coyor, Aiphanes acanthophylla (Mart.) Burret 36

6. Palma de coco, coconut, Cocos nucijera. L.* 38

7. Palma de sierra, sierra palm, Euterpe globom Gaertn 40

8. Palma de llu via, Gaussia. affenuafa (O. F. Cook) Beccari 42

9. Palma real, royal palm, Puerto Rico royalpalm, Roystonea borinquena O. F. Cook 44

10. Palma de sombrero, Puerto Rico palmetto, Sabal causiarum (O. F. Cook) Beccari 46

Casuarina family (Casuarinaceae*) ' 48

11. Casuarina, Australian beefwood, horsetail casuarina, Casuarina equisetif Ha L. * 48

Pepper family (Piperaceae) 50

12. Higuillo, Piper aduncum. L 50

Chlorantlnis family (Chloranthaceae) 52

13. Azafrdn , Hedyosmum arborescens Sw 52

Willow family (Salicaceae*) 54

14. Sauce, Humboldt willow, Salix humboldtiana Willd. * 54

Elm family (LTlmaceae) 56

15. Palo de cabrilla, West Indies trema, Trema lanwrcHaim (Roem. & Schult.) Blume 56

16. Guacimilla, false jacocalalu, Florida trema, Trema micranfha (L.) Blume 58

Mulberry family (Moraceae) 60

17. Panapen, pana de pepitas, breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg* 60

18. Jaca, jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. * 62

19. Caucho, Central American rubber, castilla rubber, Castilla elastica Cervantes* 64

20. Yagrumo hembra, trumpet-tree, Cecrojna peltata L 66

21 . Palo de goma. India-rubber fig, Ficus elastica Nois. * 68

22. Jagiiey bianco, shortleaf fig, Ficus laevigata Vahl 70

23. Laurel de la India, India-laurel fig, Ficus retusa L.* 72

24. Jagiiey Colorado, Ficus sintenisii Warb 74

Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) 76

25. Uvilla, doveplum, Coccoloba dii^ersifolia Jacq 76

26. Moralon, Coccoloba pnbescens L 78

27. Ortegon, Coccoloba swartzii Meisn 80

28. Uva de playa, seagrape, Coccoloba itvifera (L.) L 82

29. Calambrena, chicory-grape, Coccoloba venosa L 84

30. Triplaris, anttree, Triplaris americana L.* 86

Four-o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae) 88

3 1 . Corcho bobo, Pisonia albidu (Heimerl) Britton 88

32. Corcho bianco, water mampoo, Pisonia subcordata Sw - 90

33. Corcho, black mampoo, Torrubia jragrans (Dum.-Cours.) Standley 92

Magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) 94

34. Jagiiilla, Magnolia portoricensis Belle 94

35. Laurel sabino, Magnolia splendens LTrban 96

Annona family (Annonaceae) 98

36. Guandbana cimarrona, wild soursop, Annona montana Maefadyen 98

* Exotic, or introduced. Species (or families) with scientific names followed by an asterisk are not native in Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands.

iv

Annona family — Continued Page

37. Guaniibana, soursop, Annona mnricata L.* 100

38. Corazon, oustard-apple, Annona reticulata L.* 102

39. Anon, sugar-apple, Annona squamosa L.* 104

40. IlAn-ikn, ylano-ylang, Pananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thoms.* 106

41 . Haya minna, Guatteria hlainii (Griseb.) Urban 108

Laurel family (Lauraceae) _ 110

42. Guajon, Beilschmiedia pendula (Svv.) Benth. & Hook, f 110

43. Canelilla, Licaria saUcifolia (Svv.) Kosterm 112

44. Palo de misanteco, Gulf licaria, Licaria triandra (Sw.) Kosterm 114

45. Laurel avispillo, Jamaica nectandra, Nectandra coriacea (Sw.) Griseb 116

46. Canelon, Ocotea cuneata (Griseb.) Urban 118

47. Laurel espada, Ocotea florihunda (Sw.) Mez 120

48. Laurel geo, Ocotea. leucoxylon (Sw.) Mez 122

49. Nuez moscada, Ocotea moschata (Meisn.) Mez 124

50. Nemocd, Ocotea spathulata Mez 126

51. Aguacate, avocado, Persea americana Mill.* 128

Hernandia family (Hernandiaceae) 130

52. Mago, Hernandia sonora L 130

Caper family (Capparidaceae) 132

53. Burro pricto, Jamaica caper, Capparis cynophallophora L 132

Horseradish-tree family (Moringaceae*) 134

54. Kesedd, horseradish-tree, Aloringa oleijera Lam.* 134

Brunellia family (Brunelliaceae) 136

55. Palo bobo, Brunellia comocladijolia Humb. & Bonpl 136

Cunonia family (Cunoniaceae) 138

56. Oreganillo, Weinmannia pinnata lu 138

Rose family (Rosaceae) __ 140

57. Icaquillo, Hirtella rugosa Pers 140

Legume family (Leguminosae) 142

Mimosa subfamily (MimosoicJeae ; Mimosaceae) 142

58. Aroma, sweet acacia, Acacia Jarnesiana (L.) Willd.* 142

59. Perom'as, jumbie-bead, Adenanthera pavonina L.* 144

60. Acacia amarilla, tibet, lebbek, Albizia lebbek (L.) Benth.* 146

61. Albizia, t&W alhizia, Albizia procera (Ro.xb.) Benth.* 148

62. Guam^, "sweetpea," Inga laurina (vSw.) Willd 150

63. Guama venezolano, Inga qiiaternata Poepp. & Endl.* 152

64. Guaba, Inga vera WiWd 154

65. Zarcilla, tantan, leadtree, Leucaena glauca (L.) Benth 156

66. Cojobana, Piptadenia peregrina (L.) Benth 158

67. Cojoha., Pithecellobium arboreum (L.) L^rban 160

68. Guamd americano, guamuchil, Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.* 162

69. Saman, raintree, Pithecellobium saman (Jacq.) Benth.* 164

70. Bayahonda, mesquite, Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC* 166

Cassia subfamily (Caesalpinioideae ; Caesalpiniaceae) 168

71. Mariposa, butterfly bauhinia, Bauhinia monandra Kurz* 168

72. Canafistula, golden-shower. Cassia fistula L.* 170

73. Casia rosada, pink cassia. Cassia javanica L.* 172

74. Casia de Siam, Siamese cassia. Cassia siamea Lam.* 174

75. Flamboydn, flamboyant-tree, Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf.*_ _ __ 176

76. Algarrotjo, West-Indian-locust , courbaril, Hymenaea courbaril L 178

77. Palo de rayo, Jerusalem-thorn, Parkinsonia aculeata L.* 180

78. Flamboyan amarillo, yellow flamboyant, Peltophorum inerme (Roxb.) Naves* 182

79. Cobana negra, Stahlia monosperma (Tul.) Urban 184

80. Tamarindo, tamarind, Tamarindus indica h.* 186

Pea subfamily (Lotoideae ; Fabaceae) 188

81. Moca, cabbage angelin, Andira inermis (W. Wright) H. B. K 188

82. Bucare enano, machette, Erythrina berteroana Urban* 190

83. Bucare, swamp immortelle, Erythrina glauca Willd.* 192

84. Bucayo gigante, mountain immortelle, Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O. F. Cook*.---- 194

85. Mata-raton, mother-of-cocoa, GliricMia sepium (Jacq.) Steud.* 196

86. Retama, Lonchocarpus latifolius (Willd.) H. B. K 198

87. Palo de matos, Ormosia krugii Urban 200

Pea subfamily — Continued Page

88. Tachuelo, fustic, Pictetia aculeata (Vahl) Urban 202

89. Pterocarpus, India padauk, Pterocarpus indicus Willd.* 204

90. Palo de polio, swamp bloodwood, Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq 206

9 1 . Baculo, agati, Seshan ia grandiflora (L.) Pers. *_ 208

Coca family (Erythroxylaccae) 210

92. Indio, Erythroxylon areolatum L 210

Caltrop family (Zygophyllaceae) . 212

93. Guayacan, common lignumvitae, Guaiacum officinale L 212

94. Guayacan bianco, holywood lignumvitae, Guaiacum sanctum L 214

Rue family (Rut accae) 216

95. Tea, sea amyris, Amyris elemifera L 216

96. Lim6n agrio, lime. Citrus aurantifolia (L.) Swingle* 218

97. Naranja agria, sour orange, ( Strus aurantium L.* 220

98. Limon de cabro, lemon, Citrus lirnon (L.) Burm. f.* 222

99. Toronja, grapefruit, Citrus paradi si Macfadyen* 224

100. China, sweet orange. Citrus sinensis Osbeck* 226

101. Aceitillo, yellow-sanders, yellow-heart, Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl 228

102. Espino rubial, white-prickle, Martinique prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum martinicense (Lam.)

DC - - 230

103. Palo rubio, vellow-prickle, yellow prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum monophyllum (Lam.) P.

Wilson _ . _ 1 1 ' 232

Ailanthus family (Simaroubaceae) 234

104. Guarema, bitterbush, Picramnia pentandra Sw 234

Bursera family (Burseraceae) 236

105. Almacigo, turpentine-tree, gumbo-limbo, Bursera sim.aruba (L.) Sarg 236

106. Tabonuco, Dacryodes excelsea Vahl 238

107. Masa, Tetragastris balsamifera (Sw.) Kuntze 240

Mahogany family (Meliaceae) 242

108. Cedro hembra, Spanish-cedar, Cedrela odorata L 242

109. Guaraguao, American muskwood, Guarea trichilioides h 244

110. Alelaila, chinaberry, Melia azedarach L.* 246

111. Caoba hondurena, Honduras mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla King* 248

112. Caoba dominicana, Dominican mahogany, West Indies mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni

Jacq.* ■_ 250

113. Tinacio, broomstick, Trichilia hirta L 252

1 14. Gaeta, Trichilia pallida Sw 254

Malpighia family (Malpighiaceae) 256

115. Maricao, Byrsonima coriacea (Sw.) DC 256

116. Maricao cimarrdn, Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) H. B. K 258

Milkwort family (Polygalaceae) 260

117. Violeta, violet-tree, Polygala cowellii (Britton) Blake 260

Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) 262

118. Achiotillo, Alchornea latifolia Sw 262

119. Palo de gallina, Alchorneopsis portoricensis Urban 264

120. Sabindn, Croton poecilanthus Urban 266

121 . Varital, Drypetes glauca Vahl 268

122. Rascaso, Euphorbia petiolaris Sims 270

1 23 . Yaiti, oysterwood , Gymnanthes lucida Sw 272

124. Manzanillo, manchineel, Hippomane mancinellah 274

125. Molinillo, sandbox, hura, Hui-a crepitans L 276

126. Cedro macho, Hyeronima clusioides (Tul.) Muell.-Arg 278

127. Grosella, Otaheite gooseberrv-tree, Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels* 280

128. Millo, Phyllanthus nobilis (L. f .) MuelL-Arg 282

129. Tabaiba, Sapium laurocerasus Desf 284

Cashew family (Anacardiaceae) 286

130. Pajuil, cashew, Anacardiiim occidentale L 286

131. Mango, Mangifera indica L.* 288

132. Papayo, Florida poisontree, Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urban 290

133. Jobo de la India, ambarella, Spondias diilcis Parkinson* 292

134. Jobo, hogplum, yellow mombin, Spondias mombin L 294

135. Ciruela del pals, purple mombin, Spondias purpurea L.* 296

vi

Page

Cvrilla family (Cyrillaceae) 298

1 36. Palo Colorado, swamp cyrilla, Cyrilla racemiflora L 298

Bladdernut family (Staphyleaceae) 300

137. !>auco cimarr6n, Turpinia paniculata Vent 300

Soapberry family (Sapindaceae) 302

138. Giiara, Cupania americana L 302

139. Negra lora, Matayba domin(iensis (DC.) Kadlk 304

140. Quenepa, kinep, Spanisli-line, Alelicoccus hijiujatus Jacq.* 306

141. Jaboiicillo, wingleaf soapberry, Sapindiis saponaria L 308

142. Serrasucla, Thouinia portoricensis Radlk 310

143. Ceboruquillo, Thouinia striata Radlk 312

Sabia family (Sabiaceae) 314

144. Aguacatillo, Meliosma herbertii Rolfe 314

Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) _ 316

14.5. Abeyiielo, coffee colubrina, Coluhrina arborescens (Mill.) Sarg 316

146. Mabi, soldierwood, Colubrina reclinata (L'Her.) Brongii 318

147. Bariaco, "ironwood," leadwood, Kruffiodendron jerreum. (Vahl) Urban 320

148. Cascarroya, Sarcomphalus reticulatus (Vahl) Urban 322

Elaeocarpus family (Elaeocarpaceae) 324

149. Motillo, Sloanea berteriana Choisy 324

Mallow family (Malvaceae) 326

150. Emajagua, sea hibiscus. Hibiscus tiliaceus L.* 326

151. Maga, Montezuma speciossima Sesse & Moc 328

152. Emajagiiilla, otaheita, portiatree, Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland.* 330

Bombax family (Bombacaceae) 332

153. Ceiba, silk-cotton-tree, Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn 332

154. Guano, balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (Cav.) Urban 334

155. Garrocho, Quararibxa turbinata (Sw.) Poir 336

Chocolate family (Sterculiaceae) 338

156. Gu^cima, jacocalalu, Guazuma ulmijoliaham 338

157. Anacagiiita, panama-tree, Sterculia apetala (Jacq.) Karst.* 340

158. Cacao, chocolate-tree, Theobroma cacao L.* 342

Dillenia family (Dilleniaceae) 344

159. Dilenia, India dillenia, Dillenia indica L.* 344

Tea family (Theaceae) 346

160. Maricao verde, Laplacea portoricensis (Krug & Urban) Dyer 346

Mangosteen family (Gut tiferae) 348

161 . Maria, santa-maria, Calophyllum brasiliense Camb 348

162. CupelUo, Clusia krugiana Urban 350

163. Cupey, wild-mammee, copey clusia, Clusia rosea Jacq 352

164. Mamey, mammee-apple, Mammea americana L 354

165. Palo de cruz, Bheedia portoricensis Urban 356

Ana t to family (Bixaceae*) 358

166. Achiote, anatto, Bixa orellana L.* 358

Cochlospermum family (Cochlospermaceae*) 7-.--: '^^^

167. Rosa imperial, Brazilian-rose, cochlospermum, Cochlospermum vitifolium (Willd.)

Spreng.* 360

Canella family (Canellaceae) 362

168. Barbasco, canella, Canella winterana (L.) Gaertn 362

Flacourtia family (Flacourtiaceae) 364

169. Rabo rat6n, Casearia arborea (L. C. Rich.) Urban 364

170. Tost ado, wild honey- tree, Casearia decandra Jacq 366

171 . Palo bianco, wild-coffee, Casearia guianensis (Aubl.) Urban 368

172. Cafeillo, Casearia sylvestris Sw 370

173. Caracolillo, Homalium racemosum Jacq 372

Papaya family (Caricaceae *) 374

174. Lechosa, papaya, Carica papaya L.* 374

Cactus family (Cactaceae) 376

175. Sebucan, dildo, Cephalocereus royenii (L.) Britton & Rose 376

176. Tuna de petate, pricklypear, Opuntia rubescens Salm-Dyck 378

Mezereon family (Thymelaeaceae) 38o

177. Majagua brava, Daphnopsis philippiana Krug & Urban 380

vii

Page

Loosestrife family (Lythraceae) 382

178. Reina de las flores, quecn-of-flowers, Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.* 382

Mangrove family (Rhizophoraceae) 384

179. Mangle Colorado, mangrove, Rhizophora mangle h 384

Combretum family (Combret aceae) 386

1 80. Granadillo, Buchenavia capitata (Vahl) Eichl 386

181. tJcar, gregre, oxliorn bucida, Bucida huceras L 388

182. Mangle bot6n, button-mangrove, Conocarpus erectus L 39O

183. Mangle bianco, wliite-mangrove, Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f 392

1 84 . Almendra , Indian-almond , Term inalia catappa L. * 394

Myrtle family (Myrtaceae) 396

185. Limoncillo, Calyptranfhes krugii Kiaersk 396

186. Eucalipto, beakpod eucalyptus. Eucalyptus robusta J. E. Smith* 398

187. Guas^bara, Eugenia aeruginea DC 400

188. Pomarrosa, rose-apple, Eugenia jamhos L.* 402

189. Manzana malaya, Malay-apple, Eugenia malaccensis L.* 404

190. Hoja menuda, spiceberry eugenia, Eugenia rhombea (Berg) Krug & Urban 406

191. Guayabota, Eugenia stahlii (Kiaersk.) Krug & Urban 408

192. Cieneguillo, Myrcia deflexa (Poir.) DC 410

193. Hoja menuda, A/y/n'a sj}/en(/fns (J^w.) DC 412

194. Malagueta, bay-rum-tree, Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J. W. Moore 414

195. Guayaba, common guava, Psidium guajava L. * 416

Melastome family (Melastomataceae) 418

196. Jusillo, Calycogonium squamulosum Cogn 418

197. Camasey peludo, Heterotrichum cymosum (Wendl.) Urban 420

198. Camasey, Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC 422

199. Verdiseco, Tetrazygia elaeagnoides (Sw.) DC 424

Ginseng family (Araliaceae) 426

200. Polio, Dendropanax arboreus (L.) Decne. & Planch 426

201. Yagrumo macho, matchwood, Didymopanax mnrototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch 428

Myrsine family (M\Tsinaceae) 430

202. Mameyuelo, Ardisia obovata Desv 430

203. Mantequero, Rapanea Jerruginea (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez 432

204. B^dula, Guiana rapanea, Rapianea guianensis A\ih\ 434

Sapodilla family (Sapotaceae) 436

205. Lechecillo, Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq 436

206. Caimito, star-apple, Chrysophyllum cainito L 438

207. Caimitilio de perro, satinleaf, Chrysophyllum olivi^orme L 440

208. Sanguinaria, wild mespel, willow bustic, Dipholis salwijolia (L.) A. DC 442

209. Ausubo, balata, Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev 444

210. Nispero, sapodilla, Manilkara zapota (L.) v. Royen* 446

211. Caimitilio , Micropholis chrysophylloides Pierre 448

212. Caimitilio verde , Micropholis garciniaefolia Pierre 450

213. JAcana, Pouteria multiflora (A. DC.)Eyma 452

214. Tortugo amarillo, false-mastic, Sideroxylonfoetidissimum J ncq 454

Sweetleaf family (Symplocaceae) 456

215. Aceituna blanca, candlewood, Symplocos martinicensis Jacq 456

Olive family (Oleaceae) 458

216. Hueso bianco, Linociera domingensis (Lam.) Knobl 458

Dogbane family (Apocynaceae) 460

217. Alell, milktree", Plumeria alba L 460

218. Frangipani, Plumeria rubra L.* 462

219. Palo amargo, bitter-ash, Rauvolfia nitida Jacq 464

Borage family (Bor agin aceae) 466

220. Palo de vaca, pigeon-berry, Bourreria succulenta Jacq 466

221. Capa prieto, capa, Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken 468

222. Muneco, Cordia borinquensis Urban 470

223. Capa Colorado, red manjack, Cordia nitida Vahl 472

224. Moral, white manjack, Cordia sulcata DC 474

Vlll

Page

Verbena family (Verbenaceae) 476

225. Mangle prieto, black-mangrove, Avicennia nitida Jacq 476

226. P^ndula dc sierra, Citharexylum caudatum L... 478

227! Pendula, pasture fiddlewood, Florida fiddlewood, Citharexylum fruticosum L 480

228. Capa bianco, Petitia domingensis Jacq 482

229. Teca , teak, Tectona grandis L. f.*..-- 484

230. Higuerillo, white fiddlewood, Vitex divaricata Sw. __ 486

Nightshade family (Solanaceae) 488

231. Tabac6n, Solanum rugosum Dunal 488

Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae) 490

232. Higiiero, calabash-tree, common calabash-tree, Crescentia cujete L 490

233. Jacaranda, Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don* — 492

234. Tulipan africano, African tuhptree, Spathodea campanulata Beauv.* 494

235. Roble cimarron, Tabebuia haemantha (Bert.) DC 496

236. Roble bianco, "white-cedar," Tabebuia heternphylla (DC.) Britton 498

237. Roble de sierra, Tabebuia rigida Urban 500

238. Roble amarillo, ginger-thomas, Tecoma stans (L.) H. B. K 502

Madder family (Rubiaceae) 504

239. Quina, Antirhea obtusifolia Urban 504

2'iO. CAie, coffee, CoJfeaarabicaL.* . 506

241. Albarillo, Caribbean princewood, Exostema caribaeum (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult 508

242. Cafelllo, false-coffee, Faramea occidentalis (L.) A. Rich 510

243. Jagua, gempA, Genipa americanah 512

244. Palo de cucubano, "greenheart," roughleaf velvetseed, Guettarda scabra (L.) Vent 514

245. Cafeillo, Ixora ferrea (Jacq.) Benth 516

246 . Morinda , painkiller, Morinda citrifoUa L.* 518

247. Tintillo, box-briar, Randia aculeata L.__ 520

248. Juan tomas, Rondeletia portoricensis Krug & Urban 522

249. Aquil6n, Terebraria resinosa (VaM) Sprngue 524

Composite family (Compositae) 526

250. Carruzo, Clibadium erosum (Sw.) DC 526

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INTRODUCTION

About 500 species of trees, from the giants of the
luxuriant rain forests to the slirubby trees of dry
areas and windswept mountain summits, are na-
tive to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, both
United States and British (tig. 1). In addition,
several hundred tree species from otlier tropical
lands around the world have been introduced into
the islands because of sliowy flowers, liandsome
foliage, dense shade, valuable timber, delicious
fruits, or other values.

Naturally, tliere have been many requests for a
reference book on this subject. Information about
most trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
has not previously been assembled in nonteclmical
form, and drawings of some have never been pub-
lislied. Nor are teclmical botanical floras, forestry
publications, and miscellaneous .sclent itic refer-
ences on this subject generally available.

Tliis booli describes in detail 250 of the com-
moner and more important native and exotic tree
species, those most lil^ely to be seen. Identifica-
tion of eacli species is aided by a large drawing
of tlie leaves, flowers, and fruit and a description
that empliasizes the distinguishing characteristics.
For furtlier identification, 130 additional, related
species are mentioned briefly and compared with
those illustrated. Thus, 380 species from forest
giants down to small trees are included.

Tlie primaiy purpose of this book, published
also in Spanish (ii'i), is to answer for the people
of tliese and nearby areas of the West Indies, both
residents and tourists, the question : WHiat tree is
this? Having answered that, it aims to give the
more important and interesting facts about the
tree. It should be helpful to university students,
teachers of liigh schools, and instructors in youtli
programs such as 4-H Clubs, Boy Scouts, and
Girl Scouts. It should be a useful reference in
extension and technical assistance programs, agri-
cultural research, forestry, and for landowners,
landscape architects, ancl gardeners. Foresters
and forestry students in continental United States
\yill find here the descriptions of many common
timber trees of tropical America.

For the rapidly increasing number of tourists
from continental United States, this reference
provides the tree names and answers questions.
Public forests, both natural and managed, are
easily accessible by paved highways. The Virgin
Islands National Park contains large forest areas
in St. John. Teacliers, students, and all interested
in nature can use this field guide in identification.

This reference will l)e useful over somewhat
larger areas in tropical America because most of
the tree species figured are widely distributed. It

will be of value also in the other West Indies
and in countries bordering the Caribbean Sea not
liaving similar publications.

Also this book will be helpful within continental
United States, notably in southern Florida. More
tlian half of the 250 species selected grow also in
southern Florida. More than one-fourth, or 65,
are in Check List of Native and Naturalized Trees
of the United States (19) ; 42 as native, mostly
in the Florida Keys or southern Florida main-
land, and 23 as naturalized. Two more are
shrubs in tlie United States, and the others are
planted in southern Florida, although some in
limited numbers.

Because of their value and interest, 72 species
of exotic or introduced trees mostly common
tlirough tropical America have been included.
While tlie remaining 178 species illustrated are
native in Puerto Rico, only 28 are confined or
endemic thei'e. According to their distribution,
101 of these are found also in the Virgin Islands,
wliicli have fewer tree species because of their
smaller size and lower altitude; 148 are known in
other West Indian islands; and 102 grow wild
somewhere on the continent, such as in southern
Florida, Mexico, Central America, or South
America.

Information presented in addition to that re-
quired for identification assists the readers to know
the tree better and to judge its suitability for tim-
ber, shade, ornament, fruit, or other purposes.
These notes include: (1) the size the tree at-
tains at maturity; (2) whether evergreen or de-
ciduous; (3) tlie normal shape of the crown; (4)
the abundance, color, and fragrance of the flowers;
(5) the kind of fruit and whether edible or
poisonous; (6) the usual period of flowering and
fruiting; (7) a brief description of the wood and
its uses; (8) other uses of the tree and its prod-
ucts; (9) notes on propagation, growth rate, and
site adaptability if available; (10) where the tree
grows within Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;
(11) the geographical distribution, including na-
tive home if introduced; (12) other common
names listed by country and language; and (13)
related native tree species.

It was not possible to include within one vol-
ume an equal number of important though less
common tree species. Several hundred additional
tree species were recorded by Britton and Wilson
(■5) as introduced, mo.stly in small numbers or
experimentally, such as in nurseries, experimental
forests, arboreta, and gardens. A second volume
is planned to describe and illustrate the remaining
native tree species and widely planted exotics.

PREVIOUS WORK

Prepariiitr tliis book has called for full use of
the previous work of botauists and foresters and
also for additional field investifjation. Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands, discovered by Colum-
bus, settled early, and both small and accessible,
were amonp the firet areas of tropical America to
become well explored botanically. Principal pub-
lications on the plants of these islands are listed in
the bibliographies by Britton and Wilson (5)
and Otero, Toro, and" Pagan (32), the latter con-
taining also a historical sunnnary.

The most valuable reference consulted is the de-
scriptive flora of Puerto Rico and the A'irgin Is-
lancls by Britton and AVilson (5), published in
English in 1923-30. Earlier, in 1903-11, Urban
(37) wrote a flora of Puerto Rico in Latin and
German. In 1883-88 there was published in
Puerto Rico an incomplete flora in Spanish by
Stahl (.:J.5), afterwards reprinted in 1936-37. Th'e
Virgin Islands have been the subject of other
floras, the earliest by Hans West in 1793. Another
flora of the Virgin Islands by Eggers {8<i) ap-
peared in 1879. Britton (4) publis^ied a flora of
the United States Virgin Islands in 1918, a year
after their purchase from Demnark.

Nearly a century ago, Jose Maria Fernandez (9,
pp. 181-215) compiled a list of trees of Puerto
Rico in his "Tratado de la Arboricultura Cubana,"
published in Havana in 1867. Entitled "Arbolado
de Puerto-Rico," this annotated list contained
about 175 trees arranged by Spanish common
names with scientific names for about 100. Intro-
duced, as well as native, species and several shrubs
were mentioned. There were notes on size, occur-
rence, wood including specific gravity, and uses
and also lists for special purposes.

Shortly after Puerto Rico became a part of the
United States in 1898, studies of the forests began
with a report by Hill (13) in 1899 which described
16 important timbers. In 1903 the Luquillo Di-
vision of the Caribbean National Forest, now the
Luquillo Experimental Forest, was established
from former Spanish crown lands by proclama-
tion of President Theodore Roosevelt. A prelim-
inary list of trees of the Luquillo region w<as pre-
pared soon afterwards by Gilford (JO). Murphy
(29), of the United States Forest Service, pub-
lished a list of 292 tree species of Puerto Rico be-
longing to 172 genera and 57 families, with notes
on size, distribution, wood, and uses by W. D.
Brush, Louis S. Murphy, and C. D. Mell. Hold-
ridge and Munoz (16) described and illustrated
seven poisonous trees in an article on the poisonous
plants of Puerto Rico. In his manual on propaga-
tion of trees and establishment of forest planta-
tions, Gilormini (11) inserted a list of native and
exotic trees and shrubs of Puerto Rico with both
Spanish and scientific names.

Much information about forest trees of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands is contained in articles

in The Caribbean Forester and other publications
by the Institute of Tropical Forestry. Longwood
(2'2, 23), of the United States Forest Service, made
a special investigation of the woods of Puerto Rico
and the Caribbean region, including about 70 spe-
cies in this book.

The agricultural experiment stations in Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands have made additional
studies of trees. Wolcott (^0) tested the resistance
of woods to attack by dry-wood termites. Winters
and Almeyda (39) reported on the ornamental
trees of Puerto Rico. Kennard and Wintere (18)
described and illustrated the common fruit trees in
their publication on fruits and nuts. Poisonous
plants of the United States Virgin Islands, sev-
eral being trees, were described and figured by
Oakes and Butcher (30).

Other important references are mentioned below
and listed under Literature Cited. Additional
botanical floras and tree publications of various
tropical countries, as well as taxononiic mono-
graphs, have provided useful information for this
book.

PREPARATION OF THIS BOOK

Preparation of an illustrated popular reference
on the trees of Puerto Rico was one of the first
]irojects undertaken when, in 1939, the United
States Forest Service began forest research in
Puerto Rico with the establishment of the Tropical
Forest Experiment Station, now Institute of Trop-
ical Forestry, in Rio Piedras. Leslie R. Hold-
ridge, who was in cha.rge of the project until the
end of 1941, made Ijotanical collections of Puerto
Rican trees and supervised the preparation of a
few hundred drawings. He wrote two prelimi-
nary volumes of "Trees of Puerto Rico" (lli, 15),
published in 1942 in both English and Spanish,
each volume containing drawings and descriptions
of 50 tree species. These small editions were soon
exhausted. It was intended to issue additional
parts covering a total of about 600 native and ex-
otic tree species to be followed by a revision printed
in a single volume. However, further work was
suspended during the war. Identifications of sev-
eral luindred tree specimens collected mostly by
Holdridge and Luis E. Gregory were made by the
New York Botanical Garden. These specimens
were the beginning of the Institute's herbarium.

The present project on the trees of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands was begun by the authors
together in 1950. The junior author had assisted in
the earlier project upon his arrival in Puerto Rico
in 1942, while the senior author did some reference
work in 1941. The ai'ea was expanded to include
the nearby smaller Virgin Islands, both United
States and British, which have fewer tree species
and very few additions.

The senior author as dendrologist made field
trips in Puerto Rico in 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1955.
The botanical descriptions were prepared mostly

by him from trees and living material supple-
mented by herbarium specimens. On field trips
through Puerto Kico and on brief visits to Mona,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola, he
collected about 1,200 numbers of herbarium speci-
mens of trees. As a result, a few additional island
records were obtained and one new tree species was
named. An article on the trees of Mona Island
(20) was based mainly on his two field trips there.
In checking the identifications, he examined the
collections from Puerto Kico and the Virgin
Islands in the National Herbarium of the United
States National Museum, Washington, D.C. Sets
of specimens have been deposited there and in the
herbarium of the Institute of Tropical Forestry
and will be distributed to other herbaria.

The junior author, Director of the Institute of
Tropical Forestry, has conducted forestry investi-
gations in Puerto Rico continuously since 1942 and
has studied many of these tree species in the for-
ests and experimental plots. He has prepared the
chapter "Forests and Forestry in Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands," checked the descriptions, and
contributed notes on wood and uses. Also, he has
compiled the data on propagation, growth rate,
and site adaptability, and distribution by forest
types.

The manuscript was completed in 1955, then
translated into Spanish for the Spanish edition,
ancl has been slightly revised in 1962 before publi-
cation. The notes on Puerto Rican woods have
been expanded to include later investigations at
the Institute of Tropical Forestry. Also, many
common names recorded in recent floras of other
countries have been added.

PLAN

The 250 common tree species of Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands described and illustrated in this
volume are grouped by plant families in the usual
botanical arrangement adopted by Britton and
Wilson (.5) and within each family alphabetically
by scientific names. However, the three large sub-
families of the legume family often accepted as
separate families are kept apart. Sixty-eight
plant families and 185 genera are represented.

Illustrations

Facing their respective descriptions, the line
drawings show foliage and flowers and usually
also the fruits. Most are natural size (or very
slightly reduced), but some have been reduced to
% and a few to 14 natural size as indicated. Near-
ly all were made from fresh specimens in Puerto
Rico.

Tree Names

The heading for the descriptive text of each
species contains on the left the preferred common
names in Spanish and English, on the right the
accepted scientific name, and at top center the

family names. An asterisk (*) after the scientific
name means that the species (or family) is exotic,
or introduced, and not native in Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands. At the end of the text of each
species are listed other common names in use and
botanical synonyms, the other scientific names
used formerly or sometimes now. These names
appear also in the Index of Common and Scientific
Names. English family names are derived from
an impoi'tant example, while scientific or Latin
family names terminate in "aceae" with few excep-
tions.

Preferred Common Thames

Common names of trees often vary from place
to place, some being applied to more than one un-
related species, while other species may sometimes
lack a distinctive local name. The authors have
attempted (1) to record all names commonly ap-
plied within this region to each species: (2) "to se-
lect as a preferred name the one most widely em-
ployed locally if not associated more commonly
with another species; and (3) to suggest for
species with no local common name one extensively
used elsewhere. Since Spanish is the language of
Puerto Rico, and English that of the Virgin
Islands, two names are given for most trees pres-
ent in both areas.

The Spanish common name in the heading is
that preferable for Puerto Rico, based chiefly upon
prevalent usage. The selection has been made
after consultation with local botanists and with
foresters both of the Commonwealth Division of
Forests, Fisheries, and Wildlife and of the Insti-
tute of Tropical Forestry, United States Forest
Service. Personnel of the Division who completed
an island-wide forest inventory provided valuable
information on usage.

English common names in the heading include
those found in the Virgin Islands or in widespread
use elsewhere. These preferred names, many of
which were listed by Britton and Wilson (5),
were checked in the field with rural inhabitants
on different islands. For the 65 species also native
or naturalized in the United States, chiefly south-
ern Florida, there is added the name accepted by
the United States Forest Ser\dce in the Check
List of Native and Naturalized Trees of the
United States (19). For some less known species
without local English names, those adopted else-
where, such as in other West Indian islands, in
Standardized Plant Names (-?7), or in commerce,
have been accepted. Wliere two English common
names are listed, the first is the local name in the
Virgin Islands, and the second is either the Check
List name adopted by the United States Forest
Service and recommended for the United States
or another name also widely employed. If no
English name has been selected, the Spanish com-
mon name may be suitable or the generic name
may serve.

Other Cotntnon 7\iaines

For Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands many
additional common names were obtained from
local residents or taken from references, particu-
larly Urban (37), Britton and Wilson (.5), and
Otero, Toro, and Pagan (33) . Most of these have
been verified, but several, apparently misapplied,
have been omitted. As no Indian tribes have re-
mained on Puerto Rico since the early Spanish
settlement, there are now no separate aboriginal
tree names. However, some Spanish names are of
Carib Indian origin. Though tlie United States
Virgin Islands belonged to Denmark until pur-
chased by the United States in 1917, the tree names
were English, and no Danish tree names are now
recorded.

Principal common names in use in the New
World have been compiled from many floras and
tree lists of different countries, and a few added
from herbarium labels. These names often differ
from country to country or from one island to an-
other and may be in as many as five languages
(Spanish, English, French, Dutch, and Portu-
guese), besides some of American Indian origin.
Variant spellings, aboriginal names, long, lists of
local names within one country, and Old World
names generally have been omitted. Other com-
mon names have been grouped by language and
countries in the following order: Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands, Spanish, other Spanish-speaking
countries in West Indies, and from Mexico to
South America; United States, English, British
lands, and other English-speaking countries;
French, Haiti, French lands; Dutcli West Indies
and Surinam; and Brazil. Names in international
commerce or lumber trade or so recommended are
indicated. Some preferred names of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands are repeated under other
common names to show usage elsewhere.

In the West Indian islands some tree names are
not in the same language of the governing coun-
try, which may have changed one or more times
since colonization. Persons migrating from one
island to another have brought with them names
from different languages. Some common names
are corruptions from other tongues, such as
French words somewhat modified in British areas.
Various names have become adopted fi'om Span-
ish, English, French, and Dutch into creole dia-
lects. Also, European colonists often gave to trop-
ical American trees the well-known names of simi-
lar though unrelated Old World species.

Scientific 7s[ames

Foresters, botanists, and other scientists use the
scientific names in their technical writings and dis-
cussions. Being in Latin or Latinized, scientific
names are definite and uniform and regulated by
botanists under the International Code of Botani-
cal Nomenclature. Thus, the Latin name of a tree
or other plant species in an international language
is the same throughout the world.

The scientific name of a species consists of two
words : the generic name, which is capitalized, and
the specific epithet. In some species, varieties are
distinguished, being designated by a third word
preceded by the abbreviation "var.'" References
and technical ])ublications cite also the author or
botanist wlio first named and described tlie species,
usually abbreviated if common or long. Where
the name lias been transferred from one genus or
combination to another, the original author's name
is placed in parenthesis and followed by a second
autlior, who made tlie change.

Botanical Synonyms

As some species have borne more than one scien-
tific name, any botanical synonyms common in use,
particularly in the West Indies, are listed. For
example, a species may have been described inde-
])endenfly by different botanists, or two species
may have been united following later study of ad-
ditional s])ecimens. Also, there may be differences
of opinion among specialists whether a variation
merits recognition as a variety or separate species
or needs no additional name. Included under
botanical synonyms are those scientific names ac-
cepted by Britton and Wilson (5) but afterwards
clianged because of differences in codes of botani-
cal nomenclature or in accordance with mono-
graphic studies and conservative usage.

Tree Descriptions

The descrijitive text for each species begins with
a summary of the main distinguishing characters,
wjiich is followed by size and appearance and by
botanical descriptions of leaves, flowers, and fruits,
^leasurements of trees and their parts are given in
the English system of feet and inches. In conver-
sion to the metric system, which is more commonly
used in tropical America, these equivalents may
be noted : 1 foot is 0.3048 meter, 1 inch is 2.54 centi-
meters, and Vs inch is approximately 3 millimeters.

Main Distinguishing Characters

The fii-st paragraph summarizes the outstand-
ing features for easy recognition, particularly
leaves, flowers, and fruits. Mention is made of
other characters useful in identification, such as
distinctive bark or presence of latex or colored
sap. Introduced trees are noted and indicated
by an asterisk after the scientific name.

Size and Appearance

In the second paragraph the approximate size
is given as small (less than 30 feet tall), medium
(from 30 to 70 feet tall), or large (more than 70
feet tall). The average and maximum heights
and trunk diameters represent mature trees in
Puerto Rico, though larger trees may have existed
in the virgin forests within the island or elsewhere.
Trunk measurements are diameters at breast
height (d.b.h.) or 41/2 feet. Trees are classed as

everjrrpcn if in full leaf throujrh the year or de-
ciduous if leafless or nearly so for a brief period,
such as in the dry season of late winter. Hut-
tresses, or eidarged narrow outgrowths at the base
of the t runic of large trees continuous with lateral
roots, are noted if jM-esent. Data on shape of
crown, branching, and twigs are added for many
species. Notes on bark include color of the sur-
face and texture, whether smooth or rough, and if
fissured (with many nai'row thin cracks) or fur-
rowed (with broad deep grooves). As most trees
have thin bark less than 1/2 inch in thickness, men-
tion is made of thick barks. Color and taste (also
odor if present) are given for the inner bark, that
is, the living tissues expcsed by cutting beneath the
surface, since these details often are helpful in
field identihcation.

Leaves, Flowers, and Fruits

Because of their importance for identification,
the leaves, flowers, and fruit are described in de-
fail and with measurements for reference. How-
ever, characters enqihasized in the first paragraph
are not repeated below. Descrijifive terms are de-
lined under the topic "P^xplanation of Botanical
Terms"' (p. 9).

Months or seasons of flowering and fruiting, as
far as ktiown, have been compiled from various
sources. For a few years personnel of the United
States Forest Service made field observations of
time of flowering and fruiting of many Puerto
Ricau tree species, which were summarized in a
card file. Herbarium specimens collected by per-
sonnel of the Forest Service at different times of
the year have contributed additional dates, as have
tlie floras by Urban (37) and Stahl {35). Some
tree species are cited as flowering and fruiting
probably or nearly through the year. This state-
ment means not that a particular tree bears flowers
and fruits almost continually, but that on almost
any date some trees may be found in bearing con-
dition. An individual may have more than one
blossoming period during the year. Generally
flowering of trees is greatest from March to May,
after the start of the spring rains.

Wood and Uses

The wood is described briefly, including notes
on color of sapwood and heart wood, hardness,
weight and specific gravity, and durability. These
notes are chiefly from Puerto Rican specimens sup-
plemented for some species by published descrip-
tions from other rtreas. Detailed data on wood
properties and uses have been condensed from the
recent publications by Longwood {2i2, 23). The
specific gravity values quoted to two decimal places
were based on green volumes and are slightly lower
than other values based on air-dry volumes. Rel-
ative resistance of the wood to attack by ch-y-wood
termites has been compiled from Wolcott (4^)-
Uses of the wood are primarily those of Puerto
Rico, but special and different uses elsewhere are

mentioned. IVfost of the native woods are avail-
able only in limited ([uantities, and none is suffi-
ciently al)undant for export. Nevertheless, as
Longwood i-eported, many of these woods could
be utilized in additional ways.

Other Uses

Other purposes served by Puerto Rican trees
are noted. Many kinds are planted for fruit,
shade, and ornament. Others have bark that
yields tannin, fibers, or dyes or have parts em-
ployed in home medicines. Shade and ornamental
frees of Puerto Rico have been li.sted by Winters
and Almeyda {39) and by Martorell ("^4). The
last has prepared also a list of trees that should not
be planted because of insect pests or diseases, and
these objections are incorporated here. Special
mention has been made of the tree species intro-
duced and hardy in subtropical parts of the United
States, mainly southern Florida and southern Cal-
ifornia, where they are cultivated for fruit, shade,
and ornament. Sturrock and Menninger {36),
Menninger (,^6', '27), Morton and Ledin {28), ancl
Barrett {2) have published further information
about these. Many trees are classed as honey
plants by Ordetx {31) and others, because their
flowers attract bees and secrete nectar in quantities.

Propagation, Gro'wth, and Other Notes

Brief notes on propagation, growth rate, and
site adaptability of many forest and planted trees
have been summarized from records of the United
States Forest Service, and other miscellaneous
notes of interest have been added. Further details
and methods on propagation of trees in Puerto
Rico are contained in the manual on that subject
by Gilormini {11). Additional information on
forest management of many Puerto Rican tree spe-
cies may be found in various articles in The Carib-
bean Forester.

Distribution

For each tree species the natural distribution or
range is stated, both in Puerto Rico and the United
States and British Virgin Islands and also beyond
through the West Indies and continental tropical
America. Introduced trees, often spreading from
cultivation and becoming naturalized, are further
designated by mention of their native home.

Names of individual islands belonging to Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands where each species is
known are recorded, mainly from the published
ranges by Brifton and Wilson (-5) supplemented
by the authors' field records. The first map (fig.
1) shows names and locations of the principal
islands. Largest of those under Puerto Rico are
Mona on the west and Culebra and Vieques on the
east. Other small islands of botanical intere.st
noted by Britton and Wilson are Desecheo at the
west, Caja de ]\Iuertos on the south, and Icacos
near the di-y northeastern corner.

«

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9

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83

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5

IN

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s
o

Occurrence in the Virfjin Islands is cited in the
followin<r order: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolm,
Tortola, \"ir^iii (iorda, and Ane<iada. The first
three are the United States Virgin Ishmds, while
tile last three as well as several smaller compose
the British Virgin Islands.

Witliin Puerto Rico the distribution is recorded
in greater detail by notes on abundance, altitudinal
limits, and habitat or site. For many sjiecies are
mentioned the forest regions or environments, or
ecological regions or provinces. The natural dis-
tribution of most native trees tends to be related
to ecological regions defined by climate and soil.
These eight regions, shown in figure 2, define cli-
max forests of distinct types. They are described
in detail under Forests and Forestry (p. 12) .

Public Forests

The public forests in Puerto Rico under Federal
and Commonwealth administration, shown in fig-
ure o, are widely distributed over the island and
contain examples of most common tree species.
These forests are accessible by highways or roads,
and the personnel in charge can assist in locating
and identifying the common trees.

Occurrence of native tree species in the 15 public
forests is summarized by alphabetical lists which
indicate localities where examples can be found.
Luquillo Experimental Forest, formerly the Car-
ibbean National Forest, is administered by the
United States Forest Service. The following 14
public forests are under the Commonwealth Divi-
sion of Forests, Fisheries, and Wildlife : Aguirre,
Boqueron, Cambalache Experimental Forest,
Carite, Ceiba, (luajataca, Giianica, Guilarte,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, San Juan, Susua, Toro
Negro, and Vega.

Distribution tAaps

One hundred small maps accompanying the
drawings summarize the distribution of as many
native species by municipalities within Puerto
Rico, based upon the unpublished forest inventory
by the Commonwealth in 1947-1952 and minor
additions. Presence is shown by the number on
a white background, in accordance with the num-
bers of municipalities in figure 1 and the accom-
panying legend. This survey covered 59 of the 75
municipalities. The remaining 16 municipalities
shown by diagonal shading were omitted because
of their limited forested areas, as were two other
municipalities on the islands of Culebra and
Vieques. Also excluded were the public forests,
where other surveys have been made, and the man-
grove swamp forests almost wholly within the
former.

These incomplete maps show local distribution
in much greater detail than would mai:)s based only
upon botanical collections, in spite of certain limi-
tations. Some species occur naturally in addi-
tional municipalities containing the same foi-est

environments or regions. Occurrence within a
municipality, often limited by environment or al-
titude, is not indicated. On sample plots the trees
down to a minimum limit of 3.5 inches diameter
at breast height (d.b.li.) or 41/4 feet were meas-
ured and recorded. However, scattered, less com-
mon, and cultivated species were not adequately
note<l, and probably are present in some munici-
palities adjacent to those mapped. Closely related
species of a genus not easily distinguished in the
field survey sometimes were grouped together and
thus could not be mapped separately.

Municipalities where an individual species is
especially common, that is, among the 10 common-
est species in number of trees according to the in-
ventory, are listed by number in the text also.

Distribution Outside Puerto Rico

Ranges outside Puerto Rico are given for the
islands of the West Indies in detail and also for
continental tropical America. These ranges are
based upon recent botanical floras, tree lists, and
monographs supplemented by specimens in the
National Herbarium of the United States National
Museum. Distribution for many species now is
somewhat better known than when summarized by
Britton and Wilson (-I). Some species have a
broad range through the Greater Antilles (Cuba,
Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) and Les-
ser Antilles (Leeward and Windward Islands) to
Grenada or Barbados and are present on nearly
all the islands except the smallest or those lacking
suitable habitats. Thus it has not seemed neces-
sary to list all these islands. Nearly all Puerto
Rican tree species native also in the island of His-
paniola are present in both Haiti and the Domini-
can Republic, which countries are not mentioned
individually. For those species not ranging
througli the Lesser Antilles to Grenada, the south-
ernmost island of distribution is recorded.

Islands near the Venezuelan coast of South
America, including Trinidad and Tobago and
Bonaire, Curasao, and Aruba of the Dutch West
Indies (Windward Islands), have the flora of the
South American mainland rather than the We.st
Indies. Nearly all native Puerto Rican tree spe-
cies also on these islands have a broad distribution
in the Caribbean area, such as from Bahamas and
Cuba to Trinidad and on the continent from
Mexico through Central America to Venezuela or
beyond.

The distribution of those species native or natu-
ralized in the United States is given by States,
generally only southern Florida, though mention
is made of introduced trees planted and hardy in
southern Florida and southern California. South-
ward on the continent the northernmost and
southernmost countries of range limits are stated.
Thus, a species recorded from Mexico to Peru and
Brazil is native through the countries of Central
America and northern South America. Some im-
portant cultivated trees are widely distributed

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nearly throughout the tropics, inchiding the Old
World.

Related Species

All other native tree species of each genus are
mentioned, usually under the first species of the
genus or sometimes under a similar one, to aid in
further identification. Preferred Spanish and
English names are given where known, though
some species probably bear the same names or onlj'
those of the genus. Distinguishing characters for
comparing related species with those figured have
been compiled largely from Britten and Wilson
(5). Distribution is given by islands. In the two
largest tree genera, Evgenia with 2.5 native species
and Miconia with 16, the other species have merely
been listed. Keys for identification in these as
well as the other genera were published by Britten
and Wilson also.

Where no related species are mentioned, all na-
tive tree species of the genus, usually only one or
two, are illustrated. However, introduced tree
species, shrubs, and herbs have not been cited. Of
course, some entire genera and 20 families, mostly
with few species of small, less important trees,
have been omitted.

EXPLANATION OF BOTANICAL
TERMS

Botanical descriptions for the classification and
identification on trees are based principally on dif-
ferences of leaves, flowers, and fniits, and their
parts, such as pre.sence or absence, number, ar-
rangement, shape, size, and union or separation.
To record these details, systematic botanists, or
plant taxonomists, have a special terminology of
technical words derived from Latin and Greek,
defined and illustrated in botany textbooks and
floras. In this book, nontechnical terms have been
used wherever possible, though some technical
terms have been inserted in parenthesis or adopted
where there was no clearer equivalent. Principal
terms used in this book are explained here, while
manj^ are illustrated by the drawings. Thus, it
has seemed unnecessary in include a glossary.

Leaves

These flat, green organs serving for food manu-
facture are very useful in the identification of trees,
usually present in quantities and of large size.
The point on a twig where 1 or more leavefi are at-
(aclied is the node. In arrangement on the twig,
leaves attached singly or 1 at a node are aJternnte^
leaves borne in pairs or 2 at a node are opposite,
and leaves inserted 3 or more at a node are whorled.
Parts of a leaf are the leafstalk or petiole and the
flat expanded part or bhide. In some species there
are 2 (or 1) scales at the base of a leaf called
ifipiilefi, usually shedding early but sometimes
forming distinctive buds at the end of a twig.

In number of blades a leaf with 1 blade is simple.,

while a compound leaf has usually several blades
(rarely only 2) called leaflets, which may or may
not have stalks. A leaflet is distinguished from a
simple leaf by the absence of a bud at the base and
by the shedding of the axis. Also, leaflets are in
2 rows along the axi.s, while simple leaves may be
similar but more often not in 2 rows on the twig.
Compound leaves are pinnate or pinnately com-
pound when the leaflets ai-e inserted along a com-
mon axis and fl'/t/Zfr/Yf (or palmate) when attached
together at the end of the petiole. If the axis has
liranches a leaf may be twice pinnate or hipinnate
or if branched again the leaf is three times pinnate
or triplnnrife. Pinnate leaves may be even pinnate
when the leaflets are paired and end in a pair, and
odd pinnate wlien ending in a single leaflet.

Several terms describe the shape of leaf blades.
A linear leaf has a narrow grasslike blade with
edges parallel, and an ohlong leaf is broader but
with edges also nearly parallel. A lance-shaped or
lanceolate leaf has the form of a lance, several
times longer than broad, pointed at apex or tip
end, and broadest near base, while the reverse
shape is oblanceolate. An ovate leaf has an oval
shape broadest toward the base, more or less as in
an egg, while an ohovate leaf is the reverse,
broadest toward apex. An elliptic leaf has an oval
shape but broadest in the center. A circular leaf
has the blade more or less in form of a circle, while
a spafulate leaf is spoon-shaped.

As to margin or edge a leaf blade may be
toothed, lobed, without teeth, or rolled under. The
a])ex and base of a leaf blade may be long-pointed,
short-pointed, or rounded, or the base heart-
siiaped, if with two rounded lobes.

In venation or arrangement of the veins a leaf
blade may be parallel-veined, if the veins are
closely placed side by side or parallel; pinnate-
reined, with a single main vein or midrib and lat-
eral veins on both sides somewhat as in a feather;
or palmate-veined, when several main veins arise
at the base and spread like fingers in a hand.

Flower Clusters

The grouping of flowers and fruits in clusters
(inflorescences) and their location and arrange-
ment often provide characters useful in identifica-
tion of trees. A flower cluster is terminal when it
is at the apex or end of a twig and lateral when
borne at the base of a leaf or on the side of a twig.
The flowers may be produced singly, one by one.
A spike is a flower cluster with elongated axis
bearing stalkless flowers, while a raceme has an
elongated axis with stalked flowers, and a panicle
is a compound raceme with branched axis. An
umbel has flowers on spreading stalks of equal
length attached together at the apex of a larger
stalk somewhat like an umbrella. A head bears
stalkless flowers on the broad disklike apex of the
axis. In a cyme the flower clu.ster is definite, with
the main axis ending in the first flower and with
other flowers borne on branches below.

Flowers

For classification and identification of trees and
other flowering plants, the flowers and fruits, or
reproductive organs, are the most important parts.
They show the relationships better than the leaves
and other vegetative organs, which are less con-
stant and often vary greatly under difi'erent en-
vironments. Tlie commoner plant families can be
recognized by their characteristic flowers. It has
seemed desirable, therefore, to describe the flower
structure of each tree species in simple terms with
measurements.

The flower is a modified stem bearing four or
fewer groups or circles of specialized leaves known
as calyx, corolla, .stamens, and pistil (or pistils).
The calyx, or outermost group, is composed of re-
duced leaves generally green and called sepals,
while the corolla consists of larger and usually col-
ored parts known as petals. The corolla may be
regular with equal petals or irregular with petals
of unequal size and may be tuhiilar with the petals
united into a tube. The stamens or male organs
of the flower have a filament or stalk and an anther
or enlarged, usually yellow, part which bears the
pollen, or male elements. Sometimes, the stamens
may be replaced by staminodes, which are nonfunc-
tional or sterile stamens, usually small.

In the center of the flower there is usually a
single pistil or female organ (sometimes few to
many) developed from one or moi-e specialized
leaves. The pistil consists of three parts: the
ovary or enlarged part at the base, the style or
stalk above the ovary, and the stigma, the usually
enlarged and often sticky end, which receives the
pollen. The ovary contains 1 to many ovules,
I'ounded whitish female elements. The mature
ovary is the fruit, while the ovules become the
seeds.

In position with respect to the other flower parts,
the ovary may be superior or infeHor. The su-
perior ovary, the common type, is free or separate
in the center of the flower and inserted inward
from or above the other parts. The inferior ovary
is located below the calyx, corolla, and the stamens,
which appear to be inserted above. The structure
of the ovary, including the number of cavities or
cells from 1 to several and number and position of
the ovules within, is important in classification of
plant families.

The receptacle is the enlarged base of the flower
where the flower parts are inserted. Above the
receptacle and inward from the corolla there is
sometimes a dish or small part like a circle or ring,
often glandular. The receptacle may form a basal
tube or cup called the hypanthium. which may
enclose the inferior ovary or sometimes surround
the superior ovary and bear the other parts
located above.

Though usually possessing stamens and pistil
and thus with both sexes or bi-^e.rual. flowers may
be of one sex only or unisexual. A ?7iale flower has
stamens but no pistil, and a female flower has a

pistil but no stamens. A species with male and
female flowers on the same plant is said to be mo-
noecious, while one with male and female flowers
on different plants, which are also male or female,
is dioecious. In polygamous species flowers of one
sex and bisexual flowers are borne on the same
individual.

Fruits

Developing fi-om mature ovary, the fruit con-
tains the seeds and sometimes other flower parts
still attached. Present often for longer periods
than flowers or also remaining under the trees
after falling, the fnaits may be especially helpful
in identification. Commonly the fruit originates
from a single pistil and is simple. A fruit from
several pistils in one flower is aggregate (for ex-
ample, corazon or custard-apple), while one from
several united flowers often partly from an en-
larged fleshy stalk is multiple (for example, higo
or fig) .

Simple fruits are classed as dry or fleshy (juicy
or succulent) . Some dry fruits do not open to re-
lease the seeds (indehiscent), while others open
(dehiscent) . The akene is a dry fruit not openmg
and containing a single seed separate from the
fruit wall. The nut is also 1-seeded with a thick
hard shell. The pod or legume is a dry 1-celled
fruit which splits open usually along 2 lines (for
example, the legume family). The capsule is a
dry fruit of 2 or more cells which opens on as
many lines as cells. Fleshy fruits, which do not
open, include the herry. which usually has several
seeds, and the drupe, which has a central stone or
hard part containing 1 or more seeds.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK IN TREE
IDENTIFICATION

Many trees can be identified by reference to the
drawings, descriptions, and distribution notes.
However, the illustrations alone may not empha-
size differences among closely related species not
figured. It is helpful to have for comparison the
flowers and fruits in addition to foliage because
many kinds of trees have leaves of similar shape.
Often one tree can be found in blossom out of sea-
son, perhaps at the edge of a fore.st, and old fruits
may be located on dead branches or on the ground.
A ruler and a hand lens are useful in examining
the specimen and comparing it with the descrip-
tion.

If the local common name of a tree in Puerto
Rico or the Virgin Islands is obtained, such as by
asking residents, then the description, illustration,
and scientific name can be found by consulting the
page listed in the Index of Common and Scientific
Names. Since common names in other countries
and as many as five languages are included, the
Index will be helpful in determining the same spe-
cies elsewhere.

To avoid errors, identification from a common
name should always be verified by inspecting the

10

drawinjif and compariiifj the specimen with the
main distinpuisliing cliaracters or, if needed, with
tlie detailed description of leaves, flowers, and
fruits. Otherwise, the use of the same common
name for unrelated tree species in different places
or misapplication of a name may lead to confusion.

The List of Tree Species with Descriptions and
Illustrations will also aid identification because it
lists the species in the usual botanical arrange-
ment with related trees together, alphabetically by
scientific names under each plant family. If the
family is recojjnized, names of the examples with
pap:e numbers will be found in the List. Likewise,
an unknown tree resemblinfi a known one should
be sought in the same family.

The Key to Families serves to place an iniknown
tree in its plant family. This key includes the 68
families of this book and 20 additional small fami-
lies represented by only a few native tree species.
Each family with two or more species illustrated
contains a key to these species for further identifi-
cation.

The Special Lists may be helpful also in identi-
fying trees with unusual characters or special uses.

For trees not included, reference may be made
to Britton and Wilson's (5) flora of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands, which contains both keys
to species and botanical descriptions. Also bo-
tanical specimens of dried pressed twigs with
leaves, flower.s, and fruits, and with field notes (lo-
cality, altitude, date, common name, collector,
whether wild or planted, size, abundance, etc.)
may be forwarded to large herbaria or universi-
ties for identification by specialists.

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

The 250 species of common trees of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands described and illus-
trated here are classified into 185 genera and 68
plant families. Of these, 72 species, 38 genera,
and 6 families are exotic, or introduced. These
genera and families are not represented also by
native species of trees or smaller plants. For fur-
ther identification the 130 additional, related tree
species (including 10 introduced) of the same gen-
era are mentioned briefly and compared with
those illustrated. Thus, 380 tree species are in-
cluded for identification. To account for all native
tree s]iecies recorded by Britton and Wilson (5) in
these genera, 22 additional species of Eugenia ancl
15 of Mironin are listed. A second volume is
planned to describe and illustrate the remaining
native tree species and widely grown exotics in
these and other genera and in 20 other families.

Numbers of tree species accepted for an area will
depend upon the definition of a tree or minimum
size considered. Trees may be defined as woody
plants having one erect perennial stem or trunk
at least 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) in diameter at
breast height (d.b.h. or at 41/2 feet or l.-l meters),
a more or less definitely formed crown of foliage,
and a height of at le;ist 12 to 15 feet (4 meters).

Accordingly, some small trees often shrubby and
not reaching sawlog size have been included.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

^ Credit is due various persons of the United
States Forest Sei-vice, past and present, for their
assistaiice in preparing this book and particularly
to Leslie R. Holdridge, who initiated the project,
made extensive botanical collections, supervised
drawing of numerous illustrations (also making
a few), and wrote the two preliminary volumes.
In those volumes acknowledgment was made to
assistance in the preparation of the material by
personnel of Work Projects Administration Offi-
cial Project No. 165-2-36-20.

Most of the black and white drawings were pre-
pared some years ago by several artists employed
by the United States Forest Service and Work
Projects Administration. Francisco Roena Santi-
ago made more than 50 of these. In 1954 to com-
plete this volume about 50 drawings were made by
Edwin C. Rivera S. and 10 by Felix Rosado. Five
others were prepared for a similar book on the
common trees of Venezuela by the senior author.
They are f'eiha- pentandm. TermirmUa cafappa,
and Tecoma stems by Ruby Rice Little and Cono-
carpus ererfiis and Aricennia nitida by Ellen de
Jiirgenson. The drawing of Necfandra cormcea
was made by Jane W. Roller.

Assistance of the New York Botanical Garden
in making determinations of the earlier botanical
collections is appreciated. Acknowledgment is
due the United States National Museum for the
privilege of examining the large Puerto Rican
and Virgin Islands collections in the National
Herbarium.

Foresters, rangers, and others of both the
United States Forest Service and Commonwealth
Division of Forests, Fisheries, and Wildlife have
assisted the authors in field work and in checking
the common names. The authors are deeply in-
debted to Jose Marrero, of the Institute of Tropi-
cal Forestry and coauthor of the Spanish edition
(21), for his review of the manuscript and for his
Spanish translation. Credit is due Franklin R.
Longwood of the United States Forest Service,
for the detailed data on about 60 Puerto Rican
woods taken from his publications which appeared
while this manuscript was awaiting publication.

Distribution data by municipalities were com-
piled from the forest inventory of Puerto Rico,
which was conducted by the Commonwealth Divi-
sion of Forests, Fisheries, and Wildlife under the
direction of Benjamin R. Seda. From these rec-
ords the distribution maps were made by Raul
Ybarra C, of the Institute of Tropical Forestry.

Alfonse Nelthropp, of Charlotte Amalie, St.
Thomas, has contributed many common names
used in the Virgin Islands. Roy O. Woodbury,
of the University of Puerto Rico Agricultural
Experiment Station, has checked and added to the
list of species growing also in southern Florida.

11

FORESTS AND FORESTRY IN PUERTO RICO AND
THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

The trees native to Puerto Kico and the Virgin
Islands, some 500 species, were found at the time
of discovery in extoisive and luxuriant forests.
Whereas such forests have subsequently all but dis-
appeared, there is every reason to believe that at
the time of Columbus' arrival the dominant vege-
tation throughout the islands, with the possible
exception of a few small marshes, was forest. The
reports of early voyageurs (7, 8, 25) all describe
the islands as forest covered. Furthermore, in
other regions of similar climate and soil the vege-
tation is forest wherever it has not been modified
by man. The natural vegetation of Puerto Rico,
including forests and plant successions, has been
described by Gleason and Cook {12, 6) .

THE VIRGIN FORESTS

Description of the virgin forests of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands can now be only very ap-
proximate, since few relics remain in Puerto Rico
and none in the Virgin Islands. Wlierever partial
cutting or complete deforestation has once talcen
place, even where forests are subsequently allowed
to redevelop, the relative abundance of the differ-
ent species suffers a marked change. The brief
description here presented is based upon a study
of a few remaining virgin forests in Puerto Rico
(38) and upon published descriptions of similar
forests in nearby islands, particularly those by
Beard (3).

The eight climax forest types or forest regions
shown in figure 2 are described below with lists
of the common trees. Reference is made primarily
to Puerto Rico, and some species mentioned are
not in the Virgin Islands. However, the general
character of the vegetation there was apparently
as here described.

The more important differences in the natural
vegetation of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
reflect variations in topography, climate, and soil.
The vegetation of the coastal plains was unlike
that of the steeper upper slopes, and a still differ-
ent type of forest clothed the uppermost peaks.
Differences in tlie total amount and seasonal dis-
tribution of precipitation produced extreme differ-
ences between the forests of the eastern mountains
of Puerto Rico and those of the southwest coast.
Reduced moisture availability due to shallow soils,
particularly in the limestone regions, is manifest
in the gi'owth of trees on such areas. The contrasts
among the various vegetative types are striking
because of the extreme range of conditions with-

in short distances. Elevations range from sea
level to 4,398 feet, precipitation from 30 to 180
inches annually, and soils from deep to very shal-
low, and from fine clays to coarse sands.

Along the wind-swept .seacoasts was a low scrub-
by littoral woodland so narrow and so small in
area that it is not shown in figure 2. Most of the
trees in this woodland were small and of poor form
due to extreme exposure to salt winds. On dry
rocky slopes facing the southern or southwestern
coasts, on Ai^gada, on Mona, and on other small
outlyin<T islands the littoral woodland assumed the
form of cactus scrub. In the more pi'otected loca-
tions, particularly on tlie north coast of Puerto
Rico, grew trees of good timber species such as
maria {Calophylhnn bt-mlUense), ausubo (Manil-
latra bidentata), roble (Tabebuia heterophyUa),
and toi'tugo amarillo {SideroxyJon foetidissi-
mum). One of the most prominent species near
the shore was uva de playa {Coccoloba uvifera).

Along the shores of protected bays, lagoons, and
estuaries in an area too restricted to show in figure
2 were dense stands of mangrove, tlie trees of only
four species growing to a height of 60 feet or more.
Five public forests bordering the coast, mapped in
figure 3, still contain mangroves. In the water it-
self was mangle Colorado {Rhizophora nmngJe).
On the adjacent area normally subject to tidal
flooding were mangle bianco (LaguncuJaria race-
mom) and mangle negro {Avicenma nhlda). On
the landward side was mangle boton {Coimcarpiis
erect us). The strong durable timbers of mangle
Colorado and mangle boton were much used for
construction.

On the coastal plain and lower slopes, up to an
elevation of 500 feet or more in Puerto Rico, and
to the tops of most mountains of the Virgin Islands
grew a di-y forest which was largely evergreen but
with some deciduous species, particularly in the
drier coastal areas. At its best development, on
the northern coastal plain of Puerto Rico, this
forest attained 80 feet or more in height. Else-
where, in the moist limestone region and on the
south coast of Puerto Rico, and in the Virgin
Islands, it was apparently shorter, from 40 to 60
feet tall. This forest consisted of two tree stories,
each composed of distinct species. The lower story
constituted a forest within a forest and depended
upon the upper canopy for its existence. The veg-
etation varied in composition from place to place
but it was everywhere a mixture of species. At
least 200 tree sjjecies were present somewhere with-
in the natural distribution of this forest.

12

Within the area described are four distinct forest
regions or ecological provinces, each giving rise
to a distinct type of forest. These regions or prov-
inces, designated as moist coast, moist limestone,
dry coast, and dry limestone, are shown in figiire 2.

The more common or characteristic species of
the moist coastal forest included the following:

more hardy rejilace these. The trees of the dry
limestone forest include :

Acrocomia media
Nectandra coriacea
Hemandia sonora
Hymenaea courbanl
Andira inermis
Pterocarpus officinalis
Zanthoxylum

mnrtinicense
CaJophyllum

hrasiJien.te
Mammea americana

Psidium guajava
Manilkara Mdentata
Sideroxylon

foetidissimuin
C itharexylum

fr%iMcosum
Petitia domingensis
Tahehxda heterophylla
Genipa americana
Guettarda srahra
Randia aculeata

The moist limestone forest was similar to that
along the coast and had many of the same species.
The chief differences appear to be due to the drier
soils on the well-drained limestone hills and the
greater humidity in the protected areas between
the hills, especially in the southern part of this
area which is close to the central mountains. The
tree species of the moist limestone forest include :

Montezuma

speciosissima
Ochroma pyramidale
Chisia rosea
Bueida bucera.s
Tetrazygia eleagnoides
Dipholis salicifolia
Sideroxylon

foetidissimurn
Guettarda scahra
Tereiraria resinosa
Randia aculeata

Aiphanes

acanthophyUa
Gauss ia aftenuata
CoccoJoha diversifolia
Coccoloia pubescens
Licaria salicifolia
Zanthoxylum,

fnarfinicense
Bursera simaniba
Cedrela odorata
Hyeronima clusioides
Sapiu7)i lauroce-rasus
Thouinia striata

On the southern, di-y side of Puerto Rico the
more adverse moisture conditions excluded many
of the tree species common on the north side. In
their places grew a few other species especially
adapted to such conditions. The tree species of
the dry coastal forest include :

Coccoloha venosa Polygala cowelUi

Capparis cynophallo- Ceibo, pentandra

phora Guasuma ulmifolia

Stahlia monosperma Canella lointeranxi

Lonxihocarpus domin- Bueida huceras

gensis Rauvolfia nitida

Pictetia aculeata Cordia nitida

Erythroxylon areola- Citharexylum

turn finiticosmn
Guaiocum officinale

In the limestone region of the south coast, as on
the north coast, excessive soil drainage accentuates
the dryness of the environment to a point that some
species of trees cannot subsist. Others which are

Pixonia alhida
Capparis cynophallo-

phora
Pictetia acxdeata
Guaiocum, officinale
Guaiacum sanctum
A my ins elemifera
Bursera simaruha
Gymnanthes htcida

Thouinia portoricensis
Coluhrina ar-borescens
Satcomphalus reticula-

fus
Crphalocereus royenii
Opuntia rubescens
Bueida buceras
Dipholis salicifolia
Pliimeria alba

The coastal forests of Puerto Rico and the Vir-
gin Islands, unlike those of the other Greater
Antilles, contained no mahogany (Svnetenia ma-
hagoni). Widespread use of the wood and early
introduction of the tiee to these islands has led to
a general impression that this species is native.
However, whereas the young trees develop abun-
dantly in Puerto Rico beneath or near planted
trees of this species, they are never encountered in
native forest at any distance from .such trees. Had
the s]3ecies been native, there would still be young
trees throughout the coastal forests of the island
without relation to the location of planted trees.
It is extremely unlikely that it could ever have
been exterminated, since aceitillo (Zanthoxylum
flctvnm) , a tree in greater demand and with much
weaker reproductive capacity than mahogany, is
still to be found in remote forests.

Typical mountain forests are confined to Puerto
Rico, although a small i)atch of similar but unique
forest is found on the top of Sage Mountain. Tor-
tola. Between about 500 to 2,000 feet elevation in
the eastern moiuitains, known as Luquillo Moun-
tains, and to 3,000 feet in the central mountains or
Central Cordillera, slightly higher on the south
slope than on the north, was probably the most
magnificent forest of Puerto Rico. Much of the
original vegetation of this area is described as
tropical moist forest ; in the wettest areas it is trop-
ical rain forest. At its maximum development this
forest reached 110 feet in height, with trees to 8
feet in diameter. Three forests of distinct size and
composition grew together here, each forming a
separate story of vegetation. Throughout the
range of this type of forest there were probably
about 170 tree species.

Within the mountain area are two forest regions
or ecological provinces and corresponding distinct
forest types. These provinces are designated as
lower dordillera and lower Luquillo. It is seen
in figure 2 that the lower Cordillera province in-
clucles both the north and south lower slopes of
the central mountains of Puerto Rico and the
Sierra de Cayey and also the upper slopes of the
disconnected "Sierra de Atalaya in the northwest.
The Luquillo Mountains are separate both geo-
graphically and ecologically from the Central
Cordillera.

The trees of the lower Cordillera forest include
the following:

13

Cyathea arboreci
Cecropia pelfafa
Ocotea Icuco.ryJon
Ocotea mo'^chata
IllrteJJa nigosa
In (I a laiinna
Pit h.eceU6bium

arborenm
Andira inermis
Ortnosia krugii
Dacryodes excelsa
CedreJa odorafa
Gvarea triclilVi olden
Byrsonhna corlacea
Drypetes glauca

Oit,pania americana
Meliosma herbertii
Casearia arhorea
IJomnlhim racemosum
B urhcrurvia capitata
Myrcia defeoca
D end 1^0 pan ax arioreufi
Didymopanax
morototoni
Linociera doming en.s is
C'ordin nlliodora
Cordla horinquensis
Cordia sulcata
Vitex divaricata
Tahebuia heterophylla

The forest of the lower slopes of the Luqiiillo
Mountains is similar in general appearance to that
in the Cordillera, hvit because of greater precipi-
tation and higher humidity it is somewhat more
luxuriant, and several tree species are much more
common here than elsewhere. The trees of the
lower Luquillo province include the following:

Cyathea arhorea Alchorneopsis portori-
Cecropia peltata censis

Beilschmiedia pendula Dry petes glauca

Ocotea leucoxylon Sapium laurocerasus

Ocotea moschata Cupania americana

Hirtellarugosa Meliosma herbertii

Inga laurina Sloanea berteriana

Andira inermis Ochroma pyramidale

Ormosia kr-ugii Casearia arhorea

Dacryodes excelsa Buche?iavia capitata

Tefragastris bahami- Myrcia deflexa

fera Manilkara hidentata

Guarea trichilioides Linociera domingensis

Trichilia pallida Cordia- horinquensis

Byrsonima coriacea Tabebuia heterophylJa

The similar forest on the top of Sage Mountain,
Tortola, does not exceed 60 feet in height, ap-
parently because of a somewhat drier climate. It
contains many species associated with this forest
in Puerto Rico and is dominated almost exclu-
sively by bulletwood {Manilkara hidentata).

Farther up the slopes in Puerto Rico, extending
to near the tops of the peaks, was a subtropical
rain forest. Here the temperature is lower, and
rainfall, ranging from 100 to possibly 200 inches
annually, is so abundant as to produce swampy
conditions and highly leached soils. The result
was a comparatively poor forest about 60 feet tall
and containing about 60 tree species.

This upper mountain forest is distinct in the
Cordillera and the Luquillo Mountains primarily
because of more moist conditions in the latter.
The common or characteristic tree species of the
upper Cordillera forest include :

Cyathea arborea Matayba. domingensis

Euterpe glo-hosa Clusia hrmgiana

Magnolia portoricensis Ccdycogonium -^

Guatteria hlainii sqimmulosum
Ocotea spathulata

Bnmellia Heterotrichum

comocladi folia cymosum.

Alchornea lati folia Micropholis

Turpinia paniculata chrysophylloides

In the upper Luquillo Mountains the forest is
similar to that of the Cordillera, but there are in
addition a number of species found only on the
Luquillo Mountains. The common tree species of
the upper Luquillo Forest include the following :

Cyathea arhorea Eugenia horinquensis

Euterpe glohosa Calycogonium

Magnolia, splendens squamulosum

Oetotea spathulata Heterotrichum

Alchornea lati folia, cymosum

Croton poecilanthus Micropholis

Cyrilla racemi-flora chrysophylloides

Matayba domingeTisis Micropholis

Clusia krugiana garciniae folia

Calyptranthes krugii Tahebuia rigida

One of the most prominent species in these
upper mountain forests is the sierra palm {Eu-
terpe glohosa) which forms extensive, nearly pure
stands on unstable soils. In the western part of
the Cordillera and near El Yunque peak in the
Luquillo Mountains grows Puerto Rico's only
arborescent gymnosperm, caobilla {Podocarpus
coriaceus) .

On Puerto Rico's mountain peaks, above 2,500
feet elevation, the forest is dwarfed to 20 feet or
less in height. Little or no valuable timber is pres-
ent in this forest, but tree species of interest in-
clude Weinmannia pinnata and Brunellia como-
cladifolia.

THE FORESTS OF TODAY

Within the total area of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands, approximately 2,335,000 acres,
there are now about 560,000 acres covei'ed by trees.'
Of this about 280,000 acres are covered by forests
or brush. Included here are an estimated 235,000
acres in Puerto Rico and 45,000 acres in the Virgin
Islands. Only about 8,000 acres, slightly more
than 1 percent of the forests, are still in virgin
condition.

An estimated 198,000 acres, virtually all in
Puerto Rico, are covered by coffee shade. Of this
some 125,000 acres bear also coffee trees, the rest
being shaded by trees but abandoned as planta-
tions. Another 70,000 acres are woodland pas-
tures, where the trees are more widely spaced but
form a light shade. Of this area, 45,000 acres are
in Puerto Rico and 25,000 acres in the Virgin
Islands. Some 10,000 acres are in orchards, chiefly
coconut groves.

' The estimated areas in this chapter are based upon
reports of the fuerto Rico Department of Agriculture and
Commerce, the Puerto Rico Planning Board, the United
States Census, and recent ofiicial reports on agriculture
in the United States Virgin Islands. Data on the British
Virgin Islands are rough approximations, based upon
personal observations in the area.

14

It is thus seen that more than three-fourths of
the hind surface of Puerto Rico and tlie Virsjin
Islands is bare of trees. Far more than this has
been deforested at one time or another.

The cuttinfr of the forests, done partly to harvest
their timber but more generally to clear land for
farming, took place primarily in the 19th century.
It eliminated tree growth from the more fertile
and accessible lands. Tlie remaining trees are lo-
cated chiefly on steep slopes, rocky mountain sum-
mits, or where excessive shallowness, drj'ness, or
wetness of the soil precludes economic farming.
Thus the best developed forests have disappeared.
Most of the forests remaining are those which re-
appeared after farming was abandoned on these
poor lands.

The remaining forests are nearly all vei-y differ-
ent from tliose found by the early voyageurs. The
most valuable trees, both as to species and as to
size, have been removed. Few trees exceed 12
inches in diameter. Most of these are of species
unused for purposes other than fuel, and thus of
negligible value. These larger trees of inferior
quality tend to suppress the deYelopment of any
younger trees of more valuable species which may
be growing beneath them.

A number of the introduced exotic tree species
have become naturalized in the forests of the
islands, now appearing as though native. Com-
mon naturalized species in the humid forests of
Puerto Rico include pomarrosa {Eiigenw jamhos),
emajagua {IHbiftciwi tiJiacevs), almendra (Ter-
minalia catappa), bucayo gigante {Eryfhrina
poeppigiana), and tulipan africano {Spafhodea
caTTipanidnta) . On the dry southwestern coast of
Puerto Rico bayahonda {Prosopis jullfora) has
become naturalized in pastures. In the TTnited
States Virgin Islands an outstanding naturalized
tree in the forests (particularly in St. Croix) is
Dominican mahogany {Sioiefenia mahagoni) and
in pastures, tibet {Alhlzia leiiek).

FOREST CONSERVATION

The trees and forests of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands are a valuable asset. The orna-
mental value of trees around homes along the
roadsides and in parks is apparent to all. Tree
fruits provide valuable foods and important items
of commerce. Forested areas in the mountains
or along beaches offer peaceful shady environment
for outdoor recreation and on each of the islands
constitute important tourist attractions

Not so apparent any more is the value of the
forests for the timber they supply. The best
trees have been cut long since, so this contribution
from the forest is no longer what it was. The use
of wood in construction and charcoal for cooking
is declining in the face of substitute materials.
However, the forests do continue to supply numer-
ous products, such as posts, which are of utility
in farming regions.

The least obvious of the values of our forests
is as important as any other, their capacity to con-
serve soil and water resources. This protective
benefit from forest is unexcelled by any other
crop. The forest litter reduces surface runoff and
erosion. The porous soil beneath forests retains
its maximum capacity to absorb rain water — water
which may then appear gradually through clear
springs rather than in the form of muddy torrents.

Tlie importance of the trees and forests of
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is not so much
a matter of their present contribution as it is a
question of what they might contribute. Past cut-
ting of trees and land clearing have reduced these
resources to a fraction of their potential. In
recognition of the possibility of enhancing local
foi'est resources, several conservation measures
have been taken. A brief history of this activity,
confined largely to Puerto Rico, is presented here.

There is little recoixl of actual accomplishments
in forest conservation in Puerto Rico ])rior to
1900. Sixteenth century Spanish laws, reflecting
the scarcity of forests in Spain, were generally
unrealistic for the completely forested island of
Puerto Rico. Clearing of forests for farming was
then needed, rather than preservation of the
forests.

Possibly the first indication of official interest
in forest conservation within Pvierto Rico was a
government circular of 1824 recommending that
strips of trees be left along and at the source
of streams {-U). The first appropriation of pub-
lic funds for forestry in Puerto Rico is recorded
for 1860 (33). Public forest reserves were estab-
lished in 1876 (7), and a forest department existed
in the colonial government during the rest of that
centuiy. The extent and condition of the island's
forest resources, as described at the end of the cen-
tury, testify that conservation efforts to that time
were not very effective.

The first step toward forest conservation in
Puerto Rico during the present century was the
proclamation of the Luquillo Forest Reserve in
1903. This area was surveyed in 1916 and proved
to contain about 12,400 acres. The United States
Forest Service appointed a supervisor to admin-
ister this forest in 1917. In the same year the
Puerto Rico Forest Service was established and by
1920 was responsible for the protection of more
than 26,000 acres of unalienated forest lands in the
mangroves, at Guanica and Maricao, and on Mona
Island.

Forestry activities were materially expanded
with the advent of the Civilian Conservation
Corps in 1935. Since that time the area of Fed-
eral forest lands has increased to about 28,000
acres, and the Commonwealth now administers
about another 50,000 acres.

The public forests of Puerto Rico have been
placed under protection, improved, and put to use.
Boundaries have been identified and monumented,
and roads and ranger stations have been built

15

•a

■i

8

I

S3

I

16

within these forests. About 2,500,000 cubic feet
of timber liave been removed from the forests in
order to harvest mature trees and to eliminate in-
ferior trees. About 7,500 acres of forest liave been
impi'oved in tliis way. An additional 22,000 acres
of deforested lands have been planted with trees.
Seven recreation areas within these forests have
been built for the use of the jKiblic. These im-
provements represent a total investment of not less
than $15,000,000.

The Federal and Puerto Rican governments
have cooperated in encouraging forestry on pri-
vate lands as well. The Agricultural Extension
Service of the University of Puerto Rico and the
Federal Soil Conservation Service advise farmers
on forestry techniques. Tlie Commonwealth Di-
vision of Forests, Fisheries, and Wildlife (the suc-
cessor to the Puerto Rico Forest Service) and the
United States Forest Service cooperate in the pro-
duction of forest tree nui-sery stock for distribu-
tion to farmers. Tlie United States Forest Service
has since 1939 conducted research in forest man-
agement and utilization in Puerto Rico, and since
1955 its primai-y function lias been forest research,
carried out at the Institute of Tropical Forestry
in Rio Piedras.

The task of conserving and making productive
Puerto Rico's forest lands (fig. 4) is far from
completed. More than 500,000 acres within the
island are not well suited to other than fore.st
crops. Present public forest lands under protec-
tion and management constitute only about 16 per-
cent of this area. Almost none of tlie private
lands are under forest management, and more
than half of them are completely deforested.
More serious still is that substantial areas of such
land are subject to shifting cultivation, with at-
tendant erosion and sedimentation of reservoirs
downstream. The placing of Puerto Rico's forest
lands under good management is a task requiring
more research, extension, and, in some areas, pub-
lic acquisition of lands.

In the Virgin Islands a few old laws exist re-
garding the protection of trees along streams, but
in the course of time these islands, both the British
and United States, became almost completely de-
forested to the tops of the mountains. However,
in the United States islands extensive secondary
forests have developed with tlie decline in popula-
tion and agriculture which took place in the past
50 years.

Possibly the outstanding early development
which is of significance to forestry was the intro-
duction of Dominican mahogany (Swiefenia ma-
hagoni) into St. Thomas and St. Croix. This
introduction, judging by the size of some of the
older trees on St. Croix, must have been made at
least 200 years ago. A planting in the hills south-
west of Christ iansted, St. Croix, has given rise to
natural regeneration of mahogany covering some
200 adjacent acres, suggesting that this valuable
species might be introduced into secondary forests
elsewhere in the islands.

A limited government program of tree plant-
ing was carried out in St. Thomas in the early
1930's, administered from Puerto Rico. Un-
doubtedly some of the younger mahoganies on
that island are a result. Nevertheless, this species
is relatively unknown in St. John and Tortola.

A new forest rv program is now underway in the
Ignited States Virgin Islands, sponsored by the
Federal Government through the Virgin Islands
Corporation. Trees are being propagated for co-
operative planting on private lands, a sawmill has
been set up to utilize mature trees, and new species
are being tested as to their adaptability to local
growing conditions. Estate Thomas Experimental
Forest was establislied on St. Croix in 1963.

In the British Virgin Islands the Protection of
Trees and Conservation of Soil and Water Ordi-
nance of 1954 laid the basis for the protection of
areas requiring tree growth as a protection for soil
and water resources. That government contem-
plates initial concentration on the protection of
intermittent stream beds by tree planting.

17

LITERATURE CITED

(1) Abbad y Lasierra, Inigo.

1860. Histoiia geograflca. civil y natural de la isla de
San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico. Imprenta y
Liberia de Acosta Sau Juan. 508 pp.

(2) Barrett. Mar.v F.

1056. Common exotic trees of Soutli Florida (Dicoty-
ledons). 414 pp., illus. Gainesville.

(3) Beard, J. S.

194f». The natural vegetation of the Windward and
Leeward Islands. Oxford Forestry Mem. No. 21, 192
pp., illus.
(4» Britton, N. L.

1018. The fl<ira of the American Virgin Islands. Brook-
lyn Bot. Gard. Mem. 1 : 19-118.

(5) and Wilson, Percy.

1923-30. Descriptive flora — Spermatophyta. Botany of
Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. N.Y. Acad. Scl.,
Sci. Surv. Porto Rico Virgin Islands, v. 5, 6.

(6) Cook, Melville T., and Gleasou, Henry Allan.

1928. Ecological survey of the flora of Porto Rico.
Porto Kieo Dept. Agr. Jour. 12:1-139, illus.

(7) Cuba.

1907. Disposiciones vigentes relativas al servicio del
Ramo de Montes en la Isla de Cuba. Havana.

(8) Durland, William D.

1929. Forest regeneration in Puerto Rico. Econ. Geog.
5 : 3t!9-381.

(8a) Eggers, H. F. A.
1879. The flora of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands.
I'.S. Xatl. Mus. Bui. 13, 133 pp.

(9) Fernandez y Jimenez. Jo.sS Maria.

1867. Tratado de la arboricultura cubana y Ueva
agregada de la Isla de Pinos y Puerto-Rico. 225 pp.
Habana.

(10) Gifford, John C,

1905. The Luquillo Forest Reserve, Porto Rico. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Bur. Forestry Bui. 54, 52 pp., illus.

(11) Gilormini, Josf A.

1047. Manual para la propagacion de Arboles y el
establecimiento de plantaciones forestales en Puerto
Rico. Ed. 2, 109 pp., illus. Puerto Rico Dept. Agr.
Com. Servicio Forestal.

(12) Gleason, H. A., and Cook, Mel. T.

1927. Plant ecology of Porto Rico. N.Y. Acad. Sci., Sci.
Surv. Porto Rico Virgin Islands 7 : 1-173, illus.

(13) Hill, Robert T.

1899. Notes on the forest conditions of Porto Rico.
U.S. Dept. Agr. Div. Forestry Bui. 25, 48 pp., illus.

(14) Holdridge. L. R.

1042-43. Arboles de Puerto Rico. U.S. Dept. Agr. Forest
Serv. Trop. Forest Expt. Sta. Pub. 1, 2, illus.

(15)

1942. Trees of Puerto Rico. U.S. Dept. Agr. Forest
Serv., Trop. Forest Expt. Sta. Pub. 1, 2. illus.

(16) and Munoz MacCormick, Carlos.

1939. Plantas venenosas ,v de pelos punzantes de Puerto
Rico. Revista Agr. Puerto Rico 31 : 516-.522. illus.

(17) Kel.sey. Harlan P., and Dayton, William A.

1942. Standardized plant names. Ed. 2, 675 pp. Harris-
burg, Pa.

(18) Kennard, William C, and Winters. Harold F.
1960. Some fruits and nuts for the tropics. U.S. Dept.

Agr. Misc. Pub. 801, 135 pp., illus.
(18a) Koenig, Nathan.
19.53. A comprehensive agricultural program for Puerto
Rico. U.S. Dept. Agr. 299 pp., illus.

(19) Little, Elbert L., Jr.

1953. Check list of native and naturalized trees of the
United States (including Alaska). U.S. Dept. Agr.,
Agr. Handb. 41, 472 pp.

(20)

1955. Trees of Mona Island. Caribb. Forester 16 : 36-53,
illus.

(21) Little, Elbert L., Jr., Wadsworth, Frank H., and
Marrero, .Jo.se.

1064. Arboles comunes de Puerto Rico e Islas Vir-
genes. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras,
Puerto Rico.

(22) Longwood, Franklin R.

lOfil. I'uerto Rican woods; their machining, seasoning
and related characteristics. U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr.
Handb. 205, 98 pp„ Illus.

rsA)

1962. Present and potential commercial timbers of the
Caril)liean with special reference to the West Indies,
the Gui.inas, and British Honduras. U.S. Dept. Agr.,
Agr. Handb. 207, 1()7 pp., illus.

(24) Martorell, Luis F.

19.53 (1954). ;,Que arbol sembrarg? Caribb. Forester
14 : 152-160.

(25) Melgare.jo. Juan.

1014. Memoria y descrlpcion de la isla de San Juan de
Pueito Rico en el ano 1582. Bol. Hist, de Puerto Rico
1 : 75-91.

(26) Menninger, Edwin A.

19.58. What flowering tree is that? A handbook for
the tropics. 1958 Ed. 176 pp., illus. Stuart, Fla,

(27)

1962. Flowering trees of the world for tropics and warm
climates. 336 pp., illus. New York.

(28) Morton, Julia F., and Ledin, R. Bruce.

1952. 400 plants of south Florida. 134 pp., illus.
Coral Gables, Fla.
(20) Murphy, Louis S.
1016. Forests of Porto Rico, past, present and future,
and their physical and economic development. U.S.
Dept. Agr. Bui. 3.54, 09 pp., illus.

(30) Oakes, A. J., and Butcher, James O.

1962. Poisonous and injurious plants of the U.S. Virgin
Islands. U.S. Dept. Agr. Misc. Pub. 882, 97 pp., illus.

(31) Ordetx Ro.s, Golzalo S.

1952. Flora apicola de la America tropical. 334 pp.,
illus. La Habana, Cuba.

(32) Otero, Josg I., Toro, Rafael A., and Pagan de Otero,
Lydia.

1945. Catdlogo de los nombres vulgares y cientificos de
algunas plantas puertoriqueiias. Ed. 2. Puerto Rico
Univ. Estacidn Expt. Agr. Bui. 37, 281 pp.

(.33) Puerto Rico.
1860-79. Presupuestos generales de ingresos y gastos
coiresondientes a los anos econ6micos 18(30-1868 y
1874-1879. San Juan.

(34) Ramos, Francisco.

1868. Prontuario de disposiciones oficiales del gnbierno
superior de la isla de Puerto Rico. San Juan. 531
pp.

(35) Stahl, Agustin.

1936-37. Estudios sobre la flora de Puerto Rico, fi pts.
1883-88. Ed. 2, 3 v., portr. San Juan de Puerto Rico.

(36) Sturrock. David, and Menninger, Edwin A.

1946. Shade and ornamental trees for south Florida and
Cuba. 172 pp., illus. Stuart, Fla.

(37) Urban, Ignatius.

190.3-11. Flora portoricensis. Symbolae Antillanae v.
4, 771 pp.. portr.

(38) Wadsworth. Frank H.

1950. Notes on the climax forests of Puerto Rico and
their destruction and con.servation prior to 1900.
Caribb. Forester 11 : 38-47.

(39) Winters, H. F., and Almeyda, N.

1953 (1954). Ornamental trees in Puerto Rico.
Caribb. Forester 14: 97-105.

(40) Wolcott, George N.

1950. An index to the termite-resistance of woods.
Puerto Rico Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 85, 26 pp.

18

SPECIAL LISTS

Common tree species of Puerto Eico and the
Virgin Islands with some distinctive character,
special feature, or use in common have been
grouped together in various lists. These lists may
be helpful in identification, in locating trees with
useful products, and in selecting species for plant-
ing. Only those trees outstanding for a particular
character or use are included. To save space the
tree species are cited by their numbers, and com-
mon and scientific names may be found under
"List of Tree Species with Descriptions and Illus-
trations" (pp. iv-ix). The additional species men-
tioned briefly but not illustrated have been omitted.

POISONOUS TREES

Poisonous trees with toxic fruits, seeds, or
LEAVES.— 65, 66, 74, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 110, 124, 125,
130, 141, 157, 168, 232.

Poisonous trees with irritating sap. — 122, 123,
124, 125, 129, 130, 132, 218.

APPEARANCE AND TRUNK

Giant trees (reaching 100 feet in height, 4 feet
in trunk diameter).— 35, 69, 76, 84, 89, 90, 106, 108,
109, 111, 112, 125, 136, 149, 153, 180, 209.

Large buttresses.— 21, 31, 49, 84, 89, 90, 109,
111, 134, 149, 153, 209.

Prop roots (stilt roots).— 20, 21, 22, 162, 163,
179.

Unbranched stem. — 1, 3, 4-10 (palm family),
174.

Palms.— 4-10.

Horizontal branching. — 3, 50, 69, 70, 73, 75,
147, 153, 155, 156, 157, 163, 180, 181, 184, 209, 210,
221, 222, 223, 224, 243.

Spiny trunk or branches. — 4, 5, 58, 68, 70, 73,
77, 83, 84, 88, 96, 102, 103, 125, 134, 153, 175, 176,
181,247.

Peeling, smooth, mottled bark. — 25, 28, 30, 42,
93, 94, 105, 132, 194, 195.

Mangroves (on silt shores).— 179, 182, 183, 225.

COLORED SAP OR LATEX

White or milky sap or latex. — 17, 18, 19, 21,
22, 23, 24, 105, 106, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 129, 130,
161, 174, 205-214 (sapodilla family), 217, 218, 219.

Yellow or orange sap or latex. — 162-165
(mangosteen family), 166.

Keddish sap or latex.— 28, 89, 90, 91, 229.

Blackish sap. — 132.

LEAVES

Very large leaves (more than 1 foot long, in-
cluding compound leaves) .^1, 4-10 (palms), 17,
19, 20, 26, 54, 59, 60, 61, 72, 75, 81, 87, 107, 108, 109,
110, ;41, 149, 154, 157, 159, 167, 174, 201, 229, 233.

Spiny leaves.— 4, 5, 77, 88, 102, 103.

Leaves reduced to scales or none. — 11, 175, 176.

Fragrant or aromatic lea\-es (with odor when
crushed).— 13, 42-51 (laurel family), 95, 96-103
(rue family), 105, 106, 107, 108, 110, 174, 185, 186,
194, 221.

FLOWERS

White showy flowers. — 34, 35, 54, 60, 62, 63,
64, 76, 91, 96-100 (citrus), 153, 154, 159, 160, 164,
18S,«17, 218, 221, 240, 247.

Yellow showy flowers. — 72, 74, 77, 78, 80, 88,
89, 115, 150, 152, 167, 218, 238.

Or.\nge showy flowers. — 75, 83, 84, 150, 234.

Pink showy flowers.— 68, 69, 71, 73, 81, 82, 85,
153, 166, 178, 236.

Red showy FLO^vERS. — 30 (fruits), 75, 82, 84, 91,
151, 189, 218, 234, 235, 237.

Blui: or purple showy flowers. — 81, 86, 93,
110, 117, 152, 166, 178, 189, 230, 233.

Very fragrant floavers. — 34, 35, 40, 54, 58, 60,
70, 73, 96-100 (citrus), 161, 164, 217, 218, 240.

FRUITS

Very large fruits (more than 6 inches long and
4 inches broad or more than 1 foot long) . — 6, 17,
18, 37, 75, 91, 164, 232.

Fruit a beanlike pod. — 54, 58-91 (legume fam-
ily) , 217, 218, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238.

USES

Timber trees.- 11, 20, 26, 34, 35, 42, 48, 49, 50,
52, 60, 62, 64, 69, 70, 76, 79, 81, 87, 93, 101, 102, 105,
106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 115, 118, 126, 131, 134,
139, 144, 149, 151, 153, 154, 161, 164, 173, 179, 180,
181, 184, 186, 191, 196, 201, 209, 211, 212, 213, 214,
221, 228, 229, 230, 236, 243.

Medicinal trees (U.S. Pharmacopoeia or Dis-
pensatory).—72, 80, 93, 94, 97, 98, 100, 158, 168,
194.

Edible wild fruits.— 28, 29, 62, 64, 68, 69. 76,
115, 116, 130, 134, 164, 175, 176, 188 (escaped) , 195,
209, 213, 243.

Edible other parts (stems, leaves, flowers,
young fruits, seeds) . — 4, 7, 9, 17, 54, 91, 184.

19

PLANTING LISTS

TlSEES GROWN IN FOREST PLANTATIONS. 11, 52,

111, 112, 126, 161, 186, 209, 221, 228, 229, 230, 236.

Trees for windbreaks.— 3, 11, 14, 28, 74, 112,
131, 152, 161, 164, 188, 189, 234,236.

Trees for shores (salt resistant ) . — 6, 11, 28, 150,
152, 161, 163, 164, 181, 184, 214, 218.

Trees for dry areas and poor sites. — 11, 54, 60,
65, 70, 76, 77, 80, 93, 94, 112, 157, 161, 181, 194.

Trees for wet areas.— 3, 11, 14, 17, 20, 111, 152,
184, 186, 209.

Trees for li\ ing fenceposts. — 14, 22, 54, 82, 83,
85, 105, 125, 134, 135, 150, 152, 167.^

Cultivated fruit trees. — 6, 17, 18, 37, 38, 39,
51, 80, 96-100 (citrus), 127, 130, 131, 133, 135, 140,
158, 164, 174, 188, 189, 195, 206, 210, 243.

Shade trees for coffee and cacao. — 62, 63, 64,
81, 84, 200.

Ornamental trees. — 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30, 39, 40, 52, 54, 57, 60, 62,
63, 64, 07, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81,
82, 83, 85, 89, 91, 93, 94, 10.5, 110, 111, 112, 115, 117,
131, 151, 152, 159, 161, 163, 164, 166, 167, 178, 181,
184, 188, 189, 194, 199, 206, 209, 210, 218, 223, 227,
229, 232, 233, 234, 236, 238, 246, 247.

Ornamental trees also producing effective
shade.— 17, 19, 21, 23, 60, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 73, 74,
75, 76, 78, 80, 83, 84, 89, 105, 111, 131, 163, 164, 181,
184, 188, 206, 209, 234.

Ornamental trees also producing edible
fruits.— 6, 17, 28, 39, 80, 131, 164, 166, 184, 188,
206, 210.

Ornamental trees also producing valuable
timber.— 52, 60, 69, 81, 93, 94, 111, 112, 131, 161,
164, 1 84, 189, 206, 209, 229, 236.

20

KEY TO FAMILIES

A\1ien the plant family of a tree is not known,
this key to the families of the trees of Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands aids identification.
Eighty-eight plant families are included, all 75
with native trees and also 13 others with common
introduced trees. Of these, 68 families are repre-
sented in this volume, 33 by a single species illus-
trated, however. Additional keys to the remain-
ing 218 of the 250 tree species ai-e in.serted in the
text under all 35 families with 2 or more species
illustrated. However, the related species com-
pai-ed briefly and various genera of less common
trees not mentioned in the text are not keyed.

Some genera have been included in the key to
families also. If a plant family has only 1 or 2
genera of native trees, these generic names are
cited after the family name. Also, several genera
differing slightly from the main characters of
their families have been inserted separately.
However, this artificial key may not provide for
a few odd genera and extreme variations. Intro-
duced or exotic genera and families are indicated
by an asterisk ( * ) .

Keys are outlines or shortcuts for identifying
trees or specimens by the process of elimination.
Thus, trees are divided into two groups according
to one or more pairs of contrasting characters.
Each group is divided successively into two
smaller groups until the name is reached. The
name of a particular specimen is found through
selection, one by one, of the group which fits and
by elimination of the others.
* In these indented keys, paired groups are desig-
nated by the same letter, single and double, be-
ginning" with "A" and "AA" at the left of the
page and are equally indented by steps. The page
number refers to the descriptive text, the be-
ginning of the family or genus listed. The 20
small families without page numbers are not men-
tioned further or represented among the common
trees described in this volume.

An unpublished card key to families of West
Indian trees by the senior author has served as the
basis for this one. Nontechnical charactei-s and
those readily observed have been emphasized.
The descriptive terms are defined under the topic
"Explanation of Botanical Tenns" (p. 9).

One character used in the key, presence or ab-
sence of stipules (one or two scales at the base
of a leaf), may be difficult to determine because
the stipules sometimes are minute or shed early.
Stipules can be examined best in the bud and im-
mature leaves near the stem tip. Upon shedding,
the stipules leave a scar, which also may be minute.

Vegetative characters, especially those of leaves,
are placed first in the key. Some plant families of
trees can be recognized or identified by certahi
combinations of vegetative character alone. How-
ever, many kinds of tropical trees have foliage of
similar appearance.

For positive identification of many families, the
reproductive characters of flowers, fruits, and
seeds are needed. Even when these are lacking,
old fruits may be located on dead branches or on
the ground, and one tree may be found flowering
out of season. Some sterile specimens, those lack-
ing flowei-s or fruits, can be identified to family
by the vegetative characters beginning the key.
If not, the key will eliminate many families. Then
identification can be continued by consulting the
text and drawings for the remaining families.

The key to families is divided into four parts ac-
cording to the arrangement or position of the
leaves and the number of blades. Parts 1 and 2
are for trees w-th alternate leaves, that is, attached
smgly or 1 at a point on a twig (node). Parts
3 and 4 are for trees with opposite leaves, that is,
paired or 2 at a node, and also those with whorled
leaves, 3 or more at a node. Parts 1 and 3 are for
trees with simple leaves, with 1 blade, and Parts

2 and 4, trees with compound leaves, divided into

3 or more blades ( rarely only 2) .

The first step in using this key to families is to
place the unknown tree or speciment in one of the
four groups listed below. Then continue the key
under the part or group on the page cited.

Part 1. Leaves alternate, simple (p. 22).
Part 2. Leaves alternate, compound (p. 25).
Part 3. Leaves opposite, simple (p. 26).
Part 4. Leaves opposite, compound (p. 27).

I

21

PART 1. LEAVES ALTERNATE, SIMPLE

A, Leaves reduced to scales or none.

B. Stems succulent, spiny — Cactus Family (Cactaceae), page 376.
BB. Stems with slender twigs bearing minute scale leaves 1 at a node — Tamarisk Family (Tamaricaceae;* Tamarix*).
AA. Leaves larger, with flat green blade.

C. Leaves parallel-veined, stems unbranched (very slender branches in bamboo) .

D. Leaves grasslike, divided into sheath and blade — Grass Family (Gramineae; Bamhusa*), page 32.
DD. Leaves palmlike, fan-shaped, very large, with long petiole — Palm Family (Palmae), page 34.
CO. Leaves with veins forming network or inconspicuous; stems becoming branched.
E. Sap or latex colored.
F. Sap whitish or milky.

G. Stipules present (sometimes minute or shedding early, leaving scar) ; flowers unisexual.

H. Female flowers with 2 or 1 style; nodes usually with rings — Mulberry Family (Moraceae), page 60.
HH. Female flowers with 3 styles; nodes without rings — Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), page 260.
GG. Stipules absent.

L Leaves palmately lobed; flowers mostly unisexual — Papaya Family (Caricaceae;* Carica*), page 374.
II. Leaves not lobed; flowers bisexual.

J. Corolla of 3-5 separate petals — Cashew Family (Anacardiaceae), page 28.
JJ. Corolla tubular, of united petals.

K. Stamens opposite corolla lobes; fruit a berry, borne singly — Sapodilla Family (Sapotaceae), page 436.
KK. Stamens alternate with corolla lobes; fruits (drupes or follicles) usually paired, 2 from a flower —
Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae), page 460.
FF. Sap not whitish.

L. Sap orange — Anatto Family (Bixaceae;* Bixa*), page 358.
LL. Sap reddish — Coccoloba uvifera, page 82.
EE. Sap watery.

M. Nodes with rings.
N. Stipules present.

O. Stipules forming sheath around twig — Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae), page 76.
00. Stipules enclosing bud, soon shedding.

P. Leaves pinnately veined, elliptic — Magnolia Family (Magnoliaceae; Magnolia), page 94.
PP. Leaves palmately veined, with 7-11 main veins from base, nearly round.

Q. Leaves heart-shaped, not lobed — Mallow Family (Malvaceae; Hibiscus), page 326.
QQ. Leaves very large, umbrellalike, with 7-11 rounded lobes — Cecropia, page 66.
NN. Stipules absent — Piperaceae {Piper), page 50.
MM. Nodes without rings.

R. Leaves in 2 rows along twig.

S. Leaves with swelling where petiole joins blade — Elaeocarpus Family (Elaeocarpaeeae; Sloanea), page 324.
SS. Leaves without swelling on petiole.

T. Stipules absent; flowers with many pistils often uniting to form 1 large many-seeded fruit — Annona
Family (Annonaceae), page 100.
TT. Stipules present (sometimes minute or shedding early, leaving scar) ; flowers with 1 pistil.
U. Flowers unisexual or mostly so, petals none.

V. Leaves asymmetrical; styles 2; fruit 1-seeded — Elm Family (Ulmaceae; Celtis, Trenia), page 56.
VV. Leaves symmetrical ; styles 3 ; fruit a few-seeded capsule — Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae) , page 260.
UU. Flowers bisexual; petals usually present.

W. Petals 5, hood-shaped (sometimes none); stamens 5, opposite petals and often within; fruit
with 1-4 seeds — Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae), page 316.
WW. Petals 3-7, broad (sometimes none); stamens 5 to many; fruit with few to many seeds.
X. Style 1, ovary 1-celled — Flacourtia Family (Flacourtiaceae), page 364.
XX. Styles 5, ovary 5-celled — Chocolate Family (Sterculiaceae), page 338.
RR. Leaves in more than 2 rows along twig.
y. Leaves with minute gland dots.
Z. Leaves not aromatic.

a. Gland dots both large and small — Myoporum Family (Myoporaceae; Bontia).
aa. Gland dots uniformly small — Myrsine Family (Myrsinaceae), page 430.

ZZ. Leaves aromatic, with distinctive odor and taste when crushed.

b. Flowers with numerous stamens but no corolla; odor and taste of eucalyptus — Eucalyptus,* page 398.
bb. Flowers with few stamens or if many, with petals.

e. Stamens with anthers opening by' pores with lids; leaves mostly elliptic with side veins long and
curved; odor and taste of spices — Laurel Family (Lauraceae), page 110.
cc. Stamens with anthers splitting open lengthwise.

d. Leaves with odor and taste of citrus; stamens large, separate — Rue Family (Rutaceae), page 218.
dd. Leaves with peppery, stinging taste; stamens minute, united into a tube — Canella Family
(Canellaceae; Canella), page 362.
YY. Leaves without minute gland dots.

e. Stipules present (sometimes minute or shedding early, leaving scar).

f. Stipule a pointed scale above petiole, persistent— Coca Family (Erythroxylaceae; Erythroxylori) ,
page 210.

22

ff. Stipules outside petiole,
g. Leaves lobed.

h. Leaves with 2 rounded lobes at apex and 13 or 11 veins from heart-shaped base — Bauhinia,
page 168.
hh. Leaves deeply palmately lobed with mostly 5 long-pointed, finely toothed lobes — Cochlospermum
Family (Cochlospermaceae;* Cochlospermum*) , page 360.
gg. Loaves not lobed.

i. Leaves long, very narrow, finely toothed — Willow Family (Salicaceae;* Salix*), page 54.
ii. Leaves broad, mostly not toothed,
j. Flowers minute,
k. Flowers unisexual.

1. Leaves with stinging hairs — Nettle Family (Urticaceae; Urera).
11. Leaves without stinging hairs.

m. Female flowers usually without petals, with 3 or 2 styles; fruit a drupe or capsule —
Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), page 260.
mm. Female flowers with usually 4 petals, 4 stigmas; fruit a berry with 4 nutlets — Holly
Family (Aquifoliaceae; Ilex).
kk. Flowers bisexual.

n. Ovary inferior — Ginseng Family (Araliaceae; Dendropanax), page 426.
nn. Ovary superior — Bittersweet Family (Celastraceae).
ij. Flowers larger, often showy.

o. Fruits 2-5 from a flower, berrylike, black, borne on an enlarged red disk ; flowers yellow —
Ochna Family (Ochnaceae; Ouratea).
00. Fruit 1 from a flower.

p. Leaves pinnately veined; flowers with cuplike base bearing sepals, 5 petals, and mostly
manv separate stamens — Rose Family (Rosaceae), page 140.
pp. Leaves" palmately veined (pinnately veined in Quararibaea, page 336), flowers with parts
inserted at base, stamens many, united into a column around pistil,
q. Flowers with unbranched style — Bombax Family (Bombacaceae), page 382.
qq. Flowers with style having mostly 5 branches — Mallow Family (Malvaceae), page 326.
ee. Stipules absent.

r. Seed exposed on 2-lobed, red fleshy base; flowers and fruits not produced; leaves lance-shaped, very

narrow, thick, without lateral veins — Yew Family (Taxaceae; Podocarpus), page 30.
rr. Seeds enclosed in fruits maturing from flowers; leaves various.
s. Ovarv inferior.

t. Leaves palmately veined, petiole joining blade usually above base — Hernandia Family (Her-

nandiaceae; Hernandia), page 130.
tt. Leaves pinnately veined.

u. Petals none or minute — Combretum Family (Combretaceae), page 386.
uu. Petals present.

V. Fruit a drupe less than K inch long, 1-seeded— Sweetleaf Family (Symplocaceae; Syjn-
piocos), page 456.
vv. Fruit larger, various, usually many-seeded — Lecythis Family (Lecythidaceae*) .
ss. Ovary superior.

w. Corolla of separate petals or absent.
X. Flowers unisexual.

y. Calyx a cylindrical tube with 4 lobes; corolla absent — Mezereon Family (Thymeleaceae;
Daphnopsis) , page 380.
yy. Calyx of mostlv separate sepals.

z. Pistils 3, each forming a drupe with 1 curved seed — Moonseed Family (Menispermaceae;
Hyperhaena).

A. Styles 3 or 2; fruit a capsule or drupe — Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), page 262.
AA. Style 1, 3-forked; fruit of 3 winged keys — Thoxiinia portoricensis, page 310.
XX. Flowers bisexual.
B. Flowers minute.

C. Flowers regular. .

D. Flowers in long narrow racemes, white; fruit a minute capsule — Cyrilla li'amily
(Cyrillaceae, Cyrilla), page 298. ^ ., ,., . ,, •

DD. Flowers in panicles or single; fruit a drupe— Icacina Family (Icacinaceae; Mappia,

OttOSchulzia) . ^ , ,„ , ■ nr ,■ n m ^

CC. Flowers irregular, with 5 unequal petals— Sabia Family (Sabiaceae, Mehosma), page 314 .
BB. Flowers larger.

E. Flowers regular. . . „

F. Pistils many, each with 1 style— Dillenia Family (DiUeniaceae, Dillenia*), page 344.

FF. Pistil 1. " . ^., „ , „ , .., , .

G. Flowers with 4 petals, 4 to many long stamens; pistil usually stalked, with short
style or none — Caper Family (Capparidaceae; Capparis, Morisonia), page 132.
GG. Flowers with 5 overlapping sepals, 5 petals, many stamens, and pistil with 2-5
styles— Tea Family (Theaceae), page 346.
EE. Flowers irregular, with usually 3 petals and 8 stamens united into a tube— .Milkwort
Family (Polygalaceae; Poiygala, Badiera), page 260.
WW. Corolla of united petals.

H. Stamens separate and distinct.

L Fruit a drupe — Olax Family (Olacaceae; Schoepfia, Ximenia).
IL Fruit a capsule— Heath Family (Ericaceae; Lyonia).

23

687-921 0—64 3 ■'

HH. Stamens inserted on corolla.

J. Stamens 2-3 times as many as corolla lobes.

K. Flowers unisexual (dioecious), styles 2-6; fruit fleshy, few-seeded — Ebony Family
(Ebenaceae; Diospyros).
KK. Flowers bisexual, style 1; fruit dry, 1-seeded — Snowbell Family (Styracaceae; Slyrax).
JJ. Stamens as many as corolla lobes or fewer.
L. Flowers regular.

M. Style 1; fruit a berry — Nightshade Family (Solanaceae), page 488.
MM. Styles 2 or divided into 4 forks; fruit a drupe or 1-4 nutlets — Borage Family (Bora-
ginaceae), page 466.
LL. Flowers irregular, large, with long corolla tube — Bignonia Family (Bignoniaceae; Enal-
lagma).

24

PART 2. LEAVES ALTERNATE, COMPOUND

A. Leaves pinnate, including bipinnate and tripinnate.
B. Leaves bipinnate or tripinnate.

C. Leaves fernlike, coiled at tip when growing, bearing spores in brown dots beneath; stems unbranched — Tree-
fern Family (Cyatheaceae; Cyathea, Hemilelia), page 28.
CC. Leaves not fernlike; stems becoming branched.

D. Leaflets long-pointed, edges toothed — Melia* page 246.
DD. Leaflets rounded or short-pointed at apex, edges not toothed.

E. Fruit a pod (legume) with beanlike seeds — Legume Family (Leguminosae), page 142.
EE. Fruit a long 3-angled capsule with winged seeds — Horseradish-tree Family (Moringaceae;* Moringa*),
page 134.
BB. Leaves once pinnate.

F. Leaflets parallel- veined, leave.? palmlike, very large, with long petiole; stems unbranched — Palm Family (Pal-
mae), page 34.
FF. Leaflets with veins forming network or inconspicuous; stems becoming branched.

G. Leaflets deeply divided into narrow segments, white hairy beneath; leaves fernlike, almost bipinnate —
Protea Family (Proteaceae;* GrevUha*) .
GG. Leaflets not deeply divided or lobed.

H. Stipules usually present; fruit a pod (legume) with beanlike seeds — Legume Family (Leguminosae), page 142.
HH. Stipules absent; fruits and seeds various.
L Sap whitish or of other color, resinous.

J. Flowers with 1 very short style, stamens twice as many as petals — Bursera Family (Burseraceae) , page 258.
JJ. Flowers w-ith 3-5 stigmas or styles, stamens as many or twice as many as petals — Cashew Family
(Anacardiaceae), page 286.
IL Sap watery.

K. Leaflets with minute gland dots, with citruslike odor when crushed — Rue Family (Rutaceae), page 220.
KK. Leaflets without gland dots.

L. Leaves with 13-19 lanceolate asymmetrical leaflets, sharply toothed, long-pointed; fruit a walnut- —
Walnut Family (Juglandaceae, Juglans).
LL. Leaves and fruit otherwise.

M. Flowers with 2-5 pistils or 1 lobed pistil and with 2-5 styles or stigmas; bark and sap bitter —
Ailanthus Family (Simaroubaceae), page 236.
MM. Flowers with 1 pistil and 1 style.

N. Flowers mostly unisexual, stamens 5-10, separate — -Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae), page 302.
NN. Flowers bisexual, with mostly 8-10 stamens united into a tube (separate in Cedrela) — Ma-
hogany Family (Meliaceae), page 244.
A.\. Leaves digitate (palmate) or with 3 leaflets (trifoliolate).

O. Leaflets with minute gland dots, with citruslike odor w^hen crushed — Rue Family (Rutaceae; Ainyris, Pilocarpus),
page 220.
00. Leaflets without gland dots.
P. Leaflets 3.

Q. Stipules usually present; fruit a pod (legume) with beanlike seeds — Erythrina, page 190.
QQ. Stipules absent; fruit a drupe or winged key — Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae), page 302.
PP. Leaflets 5 or more.

R. Flowers minute; fruit a small, slightly fleshy berry, 2-seeded — Ginseng Family (Araliaceae; Didymopanax) ,

RR. Flowers large, with 5 whitish petals; fruit a large oblong capsule with hairy seeds — Bombax Family (Bomba-
caceae; Ceiba), page 332.

25

PART 3. LEAVES OPPOSITE, SIMPLE

A. Leaves reduced to scales or needles, opposite or whorled.

B. Leaves consisting of minute scales 6-8 or more in a whorl on wiry green jointed twigs — ^Casuarina Family (Casu-
arinaceae;* Casuarina*) , page 48.
BB. Leaves of minute scales 2-3 at a node or long needles 2-5 in a bundle, resinous — Pine Family (Pinaceae;* Cupres-
sus,* Pinus*) .
AA. Leaves larger, with flat green blade, opposite or sometimes whorled.
C. Sap or latex colored.
D. Sap whitish or milk.v.

E. Leaves 3-8 at a node, with petiole longer than the small, nearly round blade — Euphorhin, page 270.

EE. Leaves 2-4 at a node, with short petiole and long- or short-pointed blade — Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae),
page 460.
DD. Sap not whitish.

F. Sap yellow or orange (whitish in Calophi/llum) — Mangosteen Family (Guttiferae), page 348.
FF. Sap of young leaves reddish — Tectona,* page 484.

CC. Sap watery.

G. Stipules present (sometimes minute or shedding early, leaving scar).
H. Nodes with rings.

I. Stipules forming sheath arounj:! twig or paired and persistent.

J. Leaves toothed — Chloranthus Family (Chloranthaceae; Hedyosmum), page 52
JJ. Leaves not toothed — Madder Family (Rubiaceae), page 504.

II. Stipules not forming sheath, single, shedding early — Mangrove Family (Rhizophoraceae; Cassipourea

Rkizophora), page 384.
HH. Nodes without rings.

K. Flowers small, inconspicuous.

L. Petals 4 or 5, spreading; stamens alternate with petals — Bittersweet Family (Celastraceae).
LL. Petals 5 (sometimes none;, hood-shaped; stamens opposite petals and often within — Buckthorn Family
(Rhamnaceae), page 316.
KK. Flowers larger, often showy; petals fringed, with narrow stalk.

M. Petals 5; fruit a drupe — Malpighia Family (Malpighiaceae), page 256.
MM. Petals mostly 6, sometimes 4 or 5; fruit a capsule — Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae; Ginoria, Lager-
siroemia*), page 382.
GG. Stipules absent.

N. Leaves with 3-9 main veins from base, mostly eUiptic, side veins curved, many smaller veins straight and,
parallel — Melastome Family (Melastomataceae), page 418.
NN. Leaves with 1 main vein (midrib).

O. Leaves coarsely toothed; flowers in a head — Composite Family (Gompositae; Clibadium, Eupatorium) ,
page 526.
GO. Leaves not toothed or finely toothed; flowers not in heads.
P. Petioles with 2 glands near blade — Laguncularia, page 392.
PP. Petioles without glands.
Q. Ovary inferior.

R. Stamens 10, petals 5 — Mouriri (Melastomataceae).
RR. Stamens numerous.

S. Petals 4-5, rounded, mostly white; leaves with minute gland dots — Mvrtle Family (Myrtaceae),
page 396.
SS. Petals 5-7, large, rounded, wrinkled, stalked, scarlet or white — Pomegranate Family (Punicaceae;*
Punica*).
QQ. Ovary superior, stamens 10 or fewer,

T. Corolla absent or of separate petals; flowers mostly unisexual.
U. Stamens 2-10, separate or united.

V. Ovary exposed, 2-celled; corolla when present of 4 narrow white petals — Olive Family (Olea-
ceae), page 458.
VV. Ovary enclosed in calyx tube, 1-celled; corolla absent — Four-o'Clock Family (Nyctaginaceae),
page 88.
UU. Stamens 8, in 2 sets of 4, inserted in calyx tube — Mezereon Familv (Thvmeleaceae; Daphnopsis),
page 380.
TT. Corolla of united petals; flowers bisexual.

W. Leaves with minute gland dots, aromatic, with citruslike odor when crushed — Ravenia (Rutaceae) .
WW. Leaves without gland dots, not aromatic.

X. Flowers regular, with 5-lobed spreading, waxy, orange or white corolla; fruit a berry — Theo-
phrasta Family (Theophrastaceae; Jaquinia).
XX. Flowers irregular.

Y. Corolla tube short; fruit a drupe or 1-4 nutlets — Verbena Family (Verbenaceae), page 476.
YY. Corolla tube long; fruit a capsule with winged seeds or a berry — Bignonia Family (Big-
noniaceae), page 490.

26

PART 4. LEAVES OPPOSITE, COMPOUND

A. Leaves pinnate (bipinnate in Jacaranda, page 492).
B. Nodes with rings.

C. Leaflets all paired (even pinnate), 4-10, ol)lique or asymmetrical, not toothed — Caltrop Family (Zygophyllaceae;
Guaiacum), page 212.
CC. Leaflets of odd number (odd pinnate), symmetrical or nearly so, toothed.

D. Leaf axis winged; leaflets rounded at apex — Cunonia Family (Cunoniaceae; Weinmannia), page 138.
DD. Leaf axis not winged; leaflets pointed at apex.

E. Leaflets 3-7, those at base deeply toothed and often divided into 3 lobes or leaflets — Honeysuckle Family
(Caprifoliaceae; Sambucus).
EE. Leaflets finely toothed, not lobed.

F. Leaflets 5-11, elliptic or ovate, hairless or nearly so — Bladdernut Family (Staphyleaceae; Turpinia),
page 300.
FF. Leaflets 11-15, lance-shaped, densely hairy — Brunellia Family (Brunelliaceae; Brunellia), page 136.
BB. Nodes without rings.

G. Leaflets all paired (even pinnate), 2-8 — Matayba, page 304.
GG. Leaflets of odd number (odd pinnate,).

H. Leaves with minute gland dots, aromatic, with citruslike odor when crushed — Amyris, page 216.
HH. Leaves without gland dots, not aromatic — Bignonia Family (Bignoniaceae), page 490.
AA. Leaves digitate (palmate) or with 3 leaflets (trifoliolate).

L Leaflets with minute gland dots, aromatic, with citruslike odor when crushed — Amyris, page 216.
n. Leaflets without gland dots, not aromatic.

J. Flowers with short corolla tube; fruit a drupe — Vitex, page 486.
JJ. Flowers with long corolla tube; fruit a long narrow capsule with many winged seeds — Tabebuia, page 496.

27

TREE SPECIES, DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

TREE-FERN FAMILY (CYATHEACEAE)
1. Helecho gigante, tree-fern Cyathea arborea (L.) J. E. Smith

Tree-ferns, among the most beautiful plants of
tropical mountains, are common in Puerto Rico.
Tiiey are readily recognized as ferns by their lace-
like fern leaves unrolling from a coil at the apex
and by the absence of tlowers, fruits, and seeds,
while their slender unbranched trunks, leafy only
at the summit, qualify them as trees.

This species, the commonest of 5 or 6 kinds of
trunked ferns reaching tree size in Puerto Rico,
is characterized by: (1) slender unbranched
brown trunk, scaly but spineless, usually with
large oval leaf scars in the upper part and bearing
at apex a crown of about 10-18 large spreading
leaves; (2) feathery (.3-pinnate) leaves mostly
6-10 feet long, the thin blade clivided 3 times,
ending in a long pointed tip curved downward;
and (3) small brown ball-like masses less than
i/ie inch in diameter, borne on the underside of
some leaves and producing numerous powdery
spores.

A vei-y handsome small evergreen tree to 30 feet
or more in height, with trunk 3-5 inches in diame-
ter and stately crown of graceful leaves, ovate in
general outline. This species is spineless through-
out, though certain kinds have spiny trunks and
leaf axes. There is no conspicuous bud, but usu-
ally 1-4 young unrolling leaves, actually alternate
though crowded.

A mature leaf has a light brown axis scaly at
base and many yellow-green secondary axes as
much as 2 feet long, each bearing feathery taper-
ing branches less than 6 inches long. The" numer-
ous regularly arranged leaf segments are narrowly
oblong, % inch or less in length, rounded at apex,
and with the minutely wavy-toothed edges turned
under. The thin segments are yellow green on
both sides. A dead leaf soon falls, leaving a large
oval scar.

Some older leaves bear minute brown balls or
beads (sori) in 2 rows on under surface of seg-
ments, composed of numerous spore cases (spor-
angia) which shed powdery masses of microscopic
spores. Under favorable conditions spores, like
seeds, develop into new plants.

Trunks of giant ferns differ from those of most
trees in several ways. The smoothish surface is
brown and scaly, often covered below with masses
of smaller plants, such as mosses, liverworts, and
ferns, and with many small black roots projecting
from the enlarged base. Not divided into bark

and wood, the trunk does not grow in diameter.
There is a hard black outer layer Vs i"ch or more
in thickness and a central white soft pith contain-
ing a ring of brown bundles which serve for con-
duction and strength.

Though not solid wood, the hard trunks are dur-
able and resistant to decay and termites. Else-
where, trunks of tree-ferns have served as posts,
frameworks of houses, supports for vanilla plants
and other orchids, and as water bars for drainage
along mountain trails. The Carib Indians used
the stems to preserve and carry fire, which can be
maintained for hours without smoke or flames.

These luxuriant ferns seem to thrive following
opening of the areas and construction of mountam
roads, often growing abundantly along the cut
roadside banks. One of the most easily accessible
areas for viewing these odd plants is along the
highway crossing the Luquillo Mountains.
Though very ornamental in their native moun-
tains, tree-ferns seldom are cultivated in Puerto
Rico. It is reported that small plants can be. trans-
planted successfully and garden-grown in moist
regions, even at sea level.

In lower and upper mountain forests of Puerto
Rico growing as a small understory tree and es-
pecially common in open areas such as ravines,
lianks, and roadsides. Also recorded from St.
Thomas and Tortola, now probably rare on the
latter and not observed there in 1954.

PuiiLTC FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Greater Antilles, St. Thomas, Tortola,
and Lesser Antilles in Saba, St. Kitts, Nevis,
Guadeloupe, Dominica, Montserrat, Martinique,
St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada. Also in Trin-
idad. Recorded as rare in lowlands of eastern
Mexico.

Other common names. — helecho arboreo, hel-
echo, palmilla, camaron, camaroncillo (Puerto
Rico) ; camaron, helecho arlx)l, palmera sin espinas
(Cuba) ; tree-fern (English).

Several species of trunked fenis of this and re-
lated genera (HemifeUa and Alf<ophila) are native
in mountain forests of Puerto Rico though uncom-
mon to rare and usually not reaching tree size. A
related large tree-feni with small spines on the
trunk is Cyathea hritfoniana Maxon. Another
large tree-fern with leaves only twice pinnate (2-
pinnate) and with spines is C. pubescens Mett.

28

MS

^t

1. Helecho gigante, tree-fern

Cyathea arborea (L.) J. E. Smith

Lower leaf surface (above) and upper leaf surface (below), natural size.

29

YEW FAMILY (TAXACEAE)

2. Caobilla, podocarp

The only native conifer of Puerto Rico is this
medium-sized tree of mountain forests. It is dis-
tinguished by the crowded, very narrow, lance-
shaped leaves 2i/^-6 inches long and less than 1,0
inch wide, long-pointed, leathery, stifi', and with-
out visible lateral veins. There are no true flowers
or fruits, but the brown seeds %6 iii^h long are
borne singly and exposed on an enlarged 2-lobed
red juicy base. Pollen is produced on other or
male trees (dioecious) in narrow yellow-green
cones 1-11/4 inches long and 1/4 ii''<^li i" diameter.

An evergreen tree becoming 30 feet high and 1
foot or more in trunk diameter, with narrow to
spi'eading crown. Bark is smoothish and scaly,
becoming rough, fissured, shagg^', and peeling off
in brown or gray strips about Vi inch thick. Inner
bark is pink, tasteless or slightly bitter. Twigs are
green and angled when young, becoming brown
and round.

The alternate leaves are narrowed and nearly
stalkless at base, sometimes slightly curved or
sickle-shaped, with edges straight and slightly
turned under, the upper surface dark green and
slightly shiny, and lower surface green to yellow
gi"een.

Male or pollen-bearing cones are single at base
of leaves, stalkless and cylindrical, yellow green,
turning brown after pollen is shed. Seeds are also
single at leaf bases, naked, small and gray at time
of pollination, brown, elliptic, and pointed at ma-
turity. Each seed is attached to a base (recep-
tacle) % inch long and broad, which is bright red
but becoming dark red and which has a stalk
1/4-% inch long. Pollen and seeds are produced
nearly through the year.

Podocarpus coriaceus L. C. Rich.

The sapwood is whitish or pinkish, and the
heartwoocl yellowish or brown. The wood is soft,
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.7), and easily
worked. It is suitable for fine cabinetwork and
furniture. However, in Puerto Rico the trees are
usually small and of poor form and therefore yield
little usable wood.

In upper mountain forests of western Puerto
Rico, almost confined to the Maricao Forest but
also at Cerro Gordo near San German. Also rare
and local as a shrub -4 feet high in the dwarf forest
east of El Yunque summit in the Luquillo Moun-
tains, eastern Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Luquillo, Maricao.

Range. — Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles on St.
Kitts, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Mar-
tinique, and St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Other common names. — caoba del pais (Puerto
Rico) ; podocarp, podocarpus (English, com-
merce) ; weedee (Nevis) ; wild pitch pine (Mont-
serrat) ; raisinier montagne (Dominica) ; wild
pine (Trinidad); laurier-rose (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonym. — Nageia coriacea (L. C.
Rich.) Kuntze.

This coniferous or cone-bearing tree is classed
with the gymnosperms, seed plants without true
flowers or fruits but with exposed or naked seeds.
Conifers, or softwoods, include some of the world's
most valual)le timber trees, such as pines, Douglas-
fir, spruces, firs, and cedars. Puerto Rico has three
other native species of gymnosperms, dwarf
shrubby cycads with enlarged underground stems
and known as maranguey (genus Zamia).

30

2. Caobilla, podocarp

Natural size.

Podocarpus coriaceus L. C. Rich.

31

GRASS FAMILY (GRAMINEAE)

3. Bambu, common bamboo

Bamboos, giant introduced evergreen grasses
with clustered, jointed hollow stems and feathery
foliage, are so dift'erent that they are not likely to
be confused with any other trees. Perhaps they
are not trees at all, because they grow in clumps of
several stems, like many shrubs, and do not have
a single trunk from the base. Their large treelike
size and usefulness justify their inclusion here.

The first and l)y far the commonest of about 30
exotic species of bamboo, this species was intro-
duced into Puerto Rico more than a century ago
and thus is sometimes incorrectly called native
bamboo. It is diflicult to distinguish between
some of the different species, as the flowers needed
for positive identification are rarely produced.
However, as a group bamboos are easily recog-
nized by: (1) clusters of several to many slender,
tapering, slightly curved stems 2—1 inches in diam-
eter, dark green to orange, with swollen rings or
joints 8-18 inches apart; (2) several verj^ slender
branches spreading horizontally and regularly at
the joints; and (3) grass leaves in 2 rows, consist-
ing of basal sheath around the slender twig and
long-pointed blade with many lateral veins paral-
lel with midrib.

In this species stems (culms) attain 30-.50 feet
in height and toward the top diverge from the
center. The smooth surface, green to dark green,
becomes orange or yellow in age. From a distance
the plant appears like a clump of giant ferns.
The slender lateral branches, about 14 inch in di-
ameter, are nearly horizontal and bear wirelike
yellow-green twigs. Spines are absent in this
species. A horticultural variety has variegated
stems with yellow and green vertical stripes.

The light green leaf sheaths are li/^-2i4 inches
long, closely fitting the twig. Blades are 6-10
inches long and %-l% inches wide, or as short as
2 inches at base of twig, with rough edges, long-
pointed at apex and short -pointed where narrowed
and jointed into sheath. The upper surface of the
flat thin blade is green and slightly shiny, the
lower surface pale blue green.

The large bamboos bloom only once. Generally,
after a long period of many years of growth, many
plants growing together flower simultaneously,
produce seeds, and then die. Like most other
grasses, bamboos have inconspicuous flowers
usually light brown or straw colored. The flower
cluster (panicle) of this species is composed of
slender branches bearing bracted clusters of 3-15
or more stalkless spikelets i/^-% inch long, oblong
and pointed, each with several to many flowers
(florets) about % inch long. The flower has
2 narrow scales, 6 stamens with purple protruding
anthers, and pistil, producing an oblong grain.

Not divided into bark and wood, the stem is hol-
low except at the nodes, lightweight, hard, and

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.*

strong. It completes its height growth from the
clustered roots at base in about 3 months, elongat-
ing very rapidly as much as 8 inches daily. Nor
does it expand in diameter after it is first formed.

A new growing shoot at the outside of a clump
is readily distinguished by the absence of branches
and by the presence at each node or joint of a large
leaf, with triangular spreading blade. These
clasping leaves along the main axis have a very
large gray-green sheath 6-12 inches long, extend-
ing nearly to the next node and bearing many
brown needlelike hairs that stick in the flesh when
touched, and a short triangular pointed yellow-
green blade 2-3 inches long and broad, also with a
few brown hairs. Toward the apex of the elongat-
ing stem the leaves are closer together and over-
lapping.

Bamboos of this and other species have many
uses besides ornament and pasture shade. Their
masses of intertwining roots and accumulations of
leaf litter check erosion on roadside banks and
slopes. Poles of various kinds for construction,
fences, fenceposts, ladders, tool handles, flagpoles,
and stakes are easily made from bamboo. The
stems will serve as temporary water pipes after
opening them on one side at each node and remov-
ing the partitions. Short pieces are used as pots
for seedlings to be transplanted later. Bamboo
boai'ds can be prepared by slitting, splitting, and
spreading ojien the stems, and the split pieces
woven into baskets. Bamboo stems have been uti-
lized in the manufacture of various articles, in-
cluding furniture, lattices, fishing rods, picture
frames, lampshades, mats, and flower vases. This
is not the best bamboo because the stems are not
resistant to damage by the bamboo powder-post
beetle [Dhodermminutiis (F.) ) as are those of
certain more recently introduced species. Also
very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.

With outer scales removed, the tender growing
tips of bamboo shoots can be eaten by boiling
about one-half hour and changing the water once
or twice to remove any bitter taste. There is no
distinct flavor except "for a slight suggestion of
young corn. Bamboo shoots are prepared in meat
stews, salads, and other ways.

This species is commonly planted throughout
Puerto Rico in moist soil, .such as along streams and
roadsides and for ornament because of the attrac-
tive feathery foliage. Also in St. Croix, St.
Thomas, and St. John. Spreading from cultiva-
tion but not naturalized as it does not grow ordi-
narily from seeds. However, in the Lesser Antilles
natural vegetative propagation by breaking and
rooting of the fragile short branches occurs.

♦Exotic, or introduced. Species ( or families ) with scien-
tific names followed by an asterisk are not native in Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands.

32

fe*^

;£i>«u

3. Bambu, common bamboo

Leafy twig (right), natural size.

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.

33

Range. — Native of tropical Asia but widely
planted throughout the tropics. West Indies from
Cuba to Trinidad, and from Mexico to South
America. Also grown in southern Florida.

Other common names. — bambua, caiia India
(Puerto Rico) ; bambii (Spanish) ; cana brava,

cafiambu, pito (Cuba); cafiaza (Panama); com-
mon bamboo, feathery bamboo, bamboo (United
States, English) ; bambou (French) ; bamboe
(Dutch).

Another generic name formerly employed is
Bamhos.

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

Key to the 7 species illustrated (Nos. 4-10)
A. Leaves pinnate.

B. Spines on trunk and leaf axes.

C. Leaf segments long-pointed ; trunk stout — 4. Acrocomia media.

CO. Leaf segments ending in a broad jagged edge as if torn ; trunk .slender — 5. Aiphanes acanthophylla.
BB. Spines absent.

D. Leaf sheaths splitting open.

E. Leaves many, 12-20 feet long ; fruit the familiar, large, edible coconut — 6. Cocos nucifera*.
EE. Leaves several, .5-7 feet long ; fruits about i/^ inch in diameter.

P. Leaf segments spreading flat along axis and not overlapping — 7. Euterpe gloiosa.
FF. Leaf segments erect and spreading in 2 row.s on each side of axis — 8. Gaussia attenuata.
DD. Leaf sheaths forming long column at apex of trunk — 9. Roystonea horinquena.
AA. Leaves fan-shaped — 10. Sabal caiisiarum.

4. Corozo, prickly palm, Puerto Rico acrocomia

Corozo, a robust palm and 1 of the 2 Puerto
Rican spiny species, is characterized by: (1) the
stout straiglit trunk 8-12 inches in diameter at
base but slightly enlarged and bulging above, bear-
ing rings of long slender black spines; (2) long
pinnate leaves 10-13 feet long with spiny axis and
numerous tilted narrow long-pointed leaflets or
segments as much as 2 feet long and only i/4-%
inch wide; (3) flower clusters 3-5 feet long, with
spiny stalk and branches bearing small pale yel-
low stalkless flowers, many crowded male flowei's
%e inch long, and in lower part of branches a few
female flowers % inch long; and (4) yellow
rounded dr\' fruits about 1% inches in diameter,
containing 1 large edible seed.

Easily distinguished from the other native
robust species, palma real {Roystonea hor'mquena
O. F. Cook), by the spiny trmik, the much
rounder, denser, and more compact crown com-
posed of many more leaves, the absence of the
long columnar green leaf sheaths, and the absence
of the unopened vertical leaf in the top.

A medium-sized robust palm becoming 40 feet
tall. The stout unbranched trunk is cylindrical
or slightly enlarged above the base to as much as
20 inches in diameter, tapering above and below.
The gray trunk has a smooth surface with faint
horizontal rings of leaf scars about 2-3 inches
apart but is very spiny, especially in the upper
part, often shedding some spines below. These
black spines are 2-3 inches long, sometimes as
much as 4-6 inches. At the apex the evergreen
crown is composed of as many as 40 alternate
leaves, erect, spreading, and drooping.

The leaf segments are not crowded and arise
from the axis tilted or at an angle, rather than flat,
and curve downward. They are leathery, parallel-
veined, and shiny above and dull blue green be-
neath. Dead leaves hang down and fall oflp
smoothly.

The large drooping flower clusters (panicles)

Acrocomia media O. F. Cook

are subtended by 2 hairy, spiny sheaths (spathes),
the outer 4-5 feet long, long-pointed, curved, and
shading the axis of flowers, and the inner up to 2
feet long. Male and female flowers are produced
on the same branch (monoecious). Branches 4—8
inches long bear crowded male flowers, which have
3 small ovate sepals, a 3-lobed corolla, 6 stamens
at top of corolla tube, and rudimentary pistil.
Female flowers are scattered, 2-5 on lower part of
a branch, rounded, with 3 small scalelike sepals,
3 overlapping petals, and pistil with 3-celled
ovary and 3 styles.

The rounded fruit, which changes in color from
green to yellow at maturity, has a minute point
at apex, a firmly fibrous husk, and a bony inner
layer with 3 pores near middle. The single seed
1 inch long has whitish oily contents and is edible.
Probably flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The very hard wood from the outer part of the
trunk has attractive black markings and has been
used for flooring or cut into walking sticks. The
hard-shelled seeds are edible, with flavor suggest-
ing coconuts, and yield an oil. They are some-
times carved into rings. The seed oil of a related
species is extracted commercially. Tliough this
palm has been suggested as an ornamental, the
many spines are objectionable.

Found in fields and woodlands in the coastal
forest regions and in the moist limestone region.
Also in St. Thomas. Introduced in St. Croix.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Luquillo,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia.

Range. — Restricted to Puerto Rico and St.
Thomas. Introduced in St. Croix.

Other common names. — palma de corozo
(Puerto Rico) ; Puerto Rico acrocomia (English).

Formerly included in Acrocomia aculeata
(Jacq.) Lodd., a related species of the Lesser
Antilles from Dominica and Martinque to
Grenada.

34

4. Corozo, prickly palm, Puerto Rico acrocomia

Fruits (lower left) and male flowers (lower right), natural size.

Acrocomia media O. F. Coolt

35

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

5. Palma de coyor

This slender palm, 1 of the 2 native spiny species,
is recognized by: (1) numerous slender flattened
black spines or prickles 1/2-21/2 inches long on the
slender trunk, the leaf bases and axis and infre-
quently the under side of blades, and on the axes
of flower clusters ; (2) about 10-12 erect to spread-
ing pinnate leaves 10-12 feet long and 3 feet across,
the leaflets or segments ending in a jagged edge as
if torn ; (3) many small stalkless pale light yellow
flowers, male and female, crowded on slender
drooping branches of a very spiny curved axis
3^1/2 feet long; and (4) very numerous bright red,
cherrylike, fleshy fruits 1/2-% inch in diameter.

A small to medium-sized palm to 40 feet high,
evergreen, with slender, straight, erect, un-
branched trunk 4-8 inches in diameter, not taper-
ing. Only slightly enlarged at the base, which
bears a mass of spiny prop roots. The light brown
trunk has indistinct rings of old leaf scars 3 inches
or less apart and bears rings of many flattened
black spines 1-2 inches long, pointed downward a
little. Spines on old trunks often are fewer or
nearly absent. Inside the hard smooth surface
of the trunk is a very thin brown layer; next, a
thin layer of whitisli fibers, then a vei-y hard black
woody ring 1/4 inch or more in width, and in the
center the soft whitish pith with scattered woody
fibers.

Several alternate very large coarse leaves are at-
tached 3 inches or less apart in a terminal cluster
at apex of trunk. The stout spiny petiole about
4 feet long, gray to green, is grooved above and
enlarged at base, being attaclied more than half-
way around the tnnik, but has no encircling sheath.
The blade, about 7-8 feet long, is composed of
many narrow leaflets or segments 2-21^ feet long
and 21/^-31/2 inches wide, narrowest at base and
widest at end. These alternate segments spread
nearly horizontally on both sides of the keeled
green axis. Toward apex the segments become
shorter and in about the last 1 foot of blade are in
1 piece not split apart. They ai-e leathery, paral-
lel-veined, green and slightly shiny on upper sur-
face and dull light green beneath. Slender flat-

Aiphanes acanthophylla (Mart.) Burret

tened black spines about 1 inch long are scattered
along lower part of leaf axis, and a few are borne
on under side of segments. Old dead leaves hang
down vertically until they separate smoothly from
the ti-mik.

Curved drooping flower clusters (panicles) are
3-41/2 feet long, borne singly inside base of old
leaves. The densely spiny axis has 2 brownish
spiny sheaths (spathes), the short outer one less
than 1 foot long and 2-pointed, and the inner one
long and narrow and very spiny, about as long as
the axis and 21/4 inches wide. Many vei"y slender
drooping branches about 9 inches long, light yel-
low ancl spineless, bear very numerous stalkless
light yellow or whitish male and female flowers
(monoecious) ; the female flowers scattered along
lower part of branch, 1 below 2 male flowers.
Male flowers V^ inch across consist of 3 minute
pointed sepals, 3 widely spreading pointed light
yellow petals more than i/g inch long, fi widely
.spreading light yellow stamens nearly as long as
l^etals, and rudimentary pistil. Female flowers
have 3 minute sepals, corolla with 3 pointed light
yellow lobes Vs inch long, and whitish pistil less
"than i/s inch long with 3-celled ovary and pointed
style.

Fruits are produced m great quantities, several
on the lower part of each branch of the axis. They
are slightly broader than long, whitish green when
immature, turning to shiny bright red. The thin
orange flesh is mealy and tasteless. The single
brown seed is rounded, about Vie inch in diameter,
its surface much pitted. Inside the hard shell is a
white edible oily nutmeat, suggesting coconut in
taste thouffh much smaller. Flowering and fruit-
ing probably through the year.

Found in the moist limestone forests of Puerto
Rico.

PuuLic FORESTS. — Cambalaclie, Rio Abajo.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common names.^ — coyore, coyure, coyora
(Puerto Rico) ; coyure ruffle-palm (English).

Botanical synonym. — Bactris acanthophylla
Mart.

36

5. PaLina de coyor

Aiphanes acanthophyUa (Mart.) Burret

Flowers (lower left) and fruits (lower right), natural size.

37

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

6. Palma de coco, coconut

Coconut, the graceful palm lining tropical
shores and widely planted for fruit and ornament,
is so well known that it has become a symbol of the
tropics. Descriptive features are: (1) the slender
often leaning trunk, enlarged at base, ringed above
and 8-12 inches in diameter; (2) many pinnate
leaves 12-20 feet long with basal sheath of coarse
brown fibers, long petiole, and numerous very nar-
row sliiny yellow-green segments spreading regu-
larly in 1 plane on both sides of axis; (3) numer-
ous whitish or pale yellow male and female flowers
in bi'anched flower clusters at leaf bases; and
(4) fiiiit the familiar coconut, egg-shaped or
elliptic, consisting of a light brown fibrous husk
8-12 inches long, a hard shell, and 1 vei-y large
hollow seed with whitish, oily, edible flesh.

Medium-sized palm, usually 30-60 feet high,
sometimes taller. The slender trunk is enlarged
to 16-20 inches in diameter at base, often slightly
inclined there, and may be leaning as a result of
the constant coastal breeze or after partial uproot-
ing by a hurricane. The gray or brown trmik is
slightly cracked. At apex is the relatively broad
evergreen crown of alternate, erect, spreading, ajid
drooping leaves.

The basal sheath is nearly 2 feet high on sides of
petiole, surrounds the axis, and breaks as the
younger leaves expand. The stout yellowish
slightly concave petiole is 3-5 feet long, and the
blade 9-15 feet long and 3-5 feet wide. The lin-
ear leaflets or segments are 2-3i/o feet long and 2
inches wide, shorter toward apex, long-pointed,
leathery, parallel-veined, shiny yellow green
above, and dull light green beneath. The lowest,
dead leaves hang down against the tnmk, eventu-
ally shedding and forming a smooth ring scar.

Flower clusters (panicles) 3-4 feet long rise
from 2 long, narrow, long-pointed sheaths
(spathes), the inner about 4 feet long, and bear
many slightly fragrant stalkless flowers. A
branch about 1 foot long has numerous small male
flowers and near the base 1 much larger female
flower, which opens later (monoecious). Male
flowers %-iA inch long and broad have 3 small,
pointed, whitish sepals % inch long, 3 oblong
petals nearly i/^ inch long, 6 widely spreading sta-
mens, and sterile pistil with 3 styles. Female
flowers about I14 inch long and broad, rounded or
3-angled, have 2 broad scales at base, 3 broad
round sepals %-l inch long, 3 rounded whitish or
light yellow rounded petals 1-11/4 inches long, and
light green pistil II/4 inches long with 3-celled
ovary and 3 minute stigmas.

The coconut has a bluntly 3-angled husk %-li/^
inches thick, which does not split open. The ellip-
tic or nearly round inner brown fruit with 3 round
spots near one end is essentially a seed covered
with the hairy hard outer shell. Inside is a

Cocos nucifera L.*

slightly sweet oily layer of stored food % inch
tliick and a large central cavity containing a
watery or milky liquid. This is one of the largest
seeds known, surpassed only by the 1-seeded
2-lobed fruit weighing up to 50 pounds of the
double-coconut {Lodoicea rnaMivIca), a tall fan
palm of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Flower-
ing and fruiting continuously through the year.

Ranking among the 10 most useful tree species
to mankind in the world, coconut is the most im-
portant of cultivated palms. The fruits are eaten
raw, prejjared into candies, or shredded with pas-
tries. When immature, the soft jellylike flesh can
be eaten with a spoon. The watery liquid of green
fruits and the milky juice of mature ones are pure,
nutritious, cool, and refreshing drinks. Known
as cocos de agua, these green fruits are sold on
city streets. Under tlie name copra the dried
wliite oily ]>art of ripe fruits is marketed in large
quantities for the manufacture of soaps and coco-
nut oil, tlie latter for preparing margarine and
other foods and for cooking. Classed also as a
honey plant. The sugary sap collected from cut
unopened flower clusters is a fresh beverage
Imown as toddy and a source of alcohol.

The trunks serve for posts. Walking sticks
have been made from the outer layer or ring of
the trunk. The inner part is a very soft, light
brown pith with scattered reddish-brown bundles.

The leaves furnish thatch for roofs and shelters
and liave been made into lattice screens and fences.
Various articles, such as novelties, souvenirs, cups,
and flower pots, are made from the husks and
.shells. The shells have also been used for kitchen
implements and for high-grade charcoal. In
other regions of the world different parts of the
plant serve many purposes. Coconut fiber, or
coir, is made into mats, ropes, brooms, and
brushes.

Certainly coconuts are among the most impor-
tant trees of Puerto Rico, with plantations or
orcliards totaling nearly 10,000 acres, mostly along
the sandy shores of the island and especially on
the northern coast. The trees thrive also in the
interior where soil moisture is ample and are
hardy in dry climates if irrigated. In plantings
for ornament the falling coconuts may be danger-
ous.

Commonly growing wild along sandy shores
and planted as a fruit, ornamental, and shade tree
near houses and along streets. Also in Mona, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native land unknown but thought to
be in Malayan or Indo-Facific region. Now thor-
oughly naturalized on tropical shores of the world.
Naturalized in southern Florida including Florida
Keys, through West Indies, and from Mexico to
South America.

38

6. Palma de coco, coconut

68T-921 0—64 4

Male flowers and one fennale flower (lower left), two-thirds natural size.

Cocos nucifera L.

39

This palm has been cultivated so long, so widely
disseminated l)y mankind, and so well naturalized
on tropical shores that its origin is lost in an-
tiquity. One belief, now discredited, was that its
home was American. Columbus did not find it,
and most early Spanish writers in the New World
did not mention it. Nevertheless, within a cen-
tury after Columbus this valuable palm an-ived in
Puerto Rico. Joseph de Acosta (1539-1600), a
Jesuit missionary in Peru from 1571 to 1587, in
his book "Natural History of the Indies," pub-
lished in 1590 after his return to Sjiain, stated that
he saw a coconut growing in Puerto Eico. An-
other Spanish traveler in Puerto Rico in 1599

mentioned the milk of coconut as "cosmetic for the
ladies." In some of the Antilles, however, the
coconut apparently was not known until the fol-
lowing century. As early as 1526, Oviedo men-
tioned large stands, apparently native, on the
Pacific coast at Burica Point, Costa Rica and
Panama.

Other common names. — coco, cocotero (Puerto
Rico) ; palma de coco, palmera de coco, coco,
cocotero, coco de agua (Spanish) ; coconut, coco-
nut-palm (United States, English) ; coco, noix de
coco, cocotier (French) ; coco, cocos, cocospalm,
klapperboom (^ Dutch West Indies) ; coco da
Bahia, coqueiro de Bahia, coco da India (Brazil).

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

7. Palma de sierra, sierra palm

Palma de sierra, as its name indicates, is the
pretty palm which forms the palm forests along
upland streams on steep slopes and ridges of the
higher peaks of Puerto Rico. It is characterized
by: (1) the cylindrical slender erect trunk 4—8
inches in diameter; (2) several pinnate leaves with
sheaths about 114 feet long at base and blades
about 6 feet long and 3-5 feet across with long
narrow segments inserted horizontally on both
sides of axis and not overlapping; (3) numerous
small white male and female flowers in a once-
branched, drooping, white stalked cluster 3 feet or
less in leng-th. attached below the leaves; and (4)
round shiny black fruits t^ inch in diameter and
slightly fleshy. Prop roots covered with tubercles
often are present at base.

Small to medium-sized palm to 50 feet tall with
slender tnmk of uniform diameter and thin nar-
row evergreen crown of several alternate spread-
ing leaves. The smooth gray or light brown trunk
has horizontal rings.

The green leaf sheaths clasp the trunk at base.
The blade has numerous narrow linear leaflets or
segments 20-36 inches long and 11/4-2 inches wide,
long-pointed, leathery, parallel-veined, green to
light green on both sides, spreading horizontally
and at equal distances on both sides of axis. At
apex the segments are shortened. A few dead
leaves may hang down for a time before shedding
and forming a smooth ring scar around the trunk.
One to 4 new leaves are produced per year.

The narrow flower cluster (panicle) about 3 feet
long is borne Ijelow the leaves. By the time fruits
mature the oldest leaves above have sJied, and the
attachment of fruit cluster is 6 inches or more
below base of lowest leaf sheath. There are 2
spindle-sliaped long-pointed sheaths (spathes),
the outer short and the inner long. The white
branches of the axis are mostly less than 1 foot
long, spreading out at right angles and afterwards
nearly parallel with axis. The small white stalk-
less flowers are male and female together (mono-

Euterpe globosa Gaertn.

ecious). Male flowers have 3 overlapping broad
sepals, 3 oblong white petals about Yia "ich long
meeting at edges in bud, 6 stamens with yellowish
antliers, and a rudimentary pistil. Female flowers
have 3 overlapping blunt sepals, 3 overlapping
rounded white petals about ^ie inch long, and an
oblong ovary.

The fruit has a thin flesh and 1 brown rounded
seed %f, inch long. Sepals and petals remain at-
tached after fruits fall. In flower and fruit nearly
all the year.

In the higlier mountains, where this is the only
native palm, tlie leaves or the leaf sheaths, called
yaguas, are used for thatch. The outer stemwood
is sometimes hewn into nari-ow boards for sheath-
ing of rural buildings. A portion of the bud of
this palm, known as palmillo, can be eaten as a
salad. However, removal of the bud kills the tree.
The edible part consists of the young inner leaf
sheaths which form a white cylinder 2-3 feet long
and 3— t inches in diameter. These white leaf
bases, though tender, are almost tasteless as a salad
unless seasoned. Except as a novelty for tourists,
the palm bud is doubtfully preferable to cabbage.
The fruits are an important food for the Puerto
Rican pan-ot.

In general these palms of the steep mountain
slopes are beneficial in maintaining protective
cover for the watershed and in preventing soil
erosion. This species is now so little utilized, and
its growth rate so slow (less than 12 inches in
height per year), that it is being gradually re-
placed by other more useful species in the public
forests. It may be suitable for ornamental
planting.

Common to abundant and forming pure forests
in the upper mountain forest region of Puerto
Rico, descending in ravines into the lower moun-
tain forests to about 1,500 feet.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

40

7. Palma de sierra, sierra palm

Fruits (lower right), natural size.

Euterpe globosa Gaertn.

41

MuNICIPALinES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. —

1, 5, 10, 13, 17, 19, 22, 27, 35, 36, 45, 52, 53, 54, 55,
62, 64, 70, 73.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Lesser
Antilles from Saba to Grenada, and Tobago.

Other common names. — manacla, palma de

manacla (Dominican Republic) ; palma boba,
palma justa (Cuba) ; palmiste a chapelet, macou-
touca (Haiti) ; palmiste-montagne (Guadeloupe,
Dominica) ; palmiste franc, chou-palmiste, palm-
iste lilaiic (Guadeloupe) ; mountain-palm (Lesser
Antilles).

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

8. Palma de lluvia

A graceful tall palm of rugged summits of lime-
stone hills, distinguished by: (1) the slender,
slightly tapering, smooth brown trunk with many
prop roots at base; (2) 5-7 erect to spreading pin-
nate leaves 4-6 feet long, with green sheatli 8-12
inches long around trunk, and blade 2-21,2 feet
across the many narrow long-pointed leaflets,
which depart from the keeled axis at a small angle,
apparently in 2 rows on each side, erect and
sjjreading; (3) small stalkless orange and green
male and female flowers scattered along slender
branches of a curved axis about 3 feet long; and
(4) numerous bright red or orange-red fleshy
fruits almost % inch long, nearly round or sliglitly
l^ear-shaped.

A slender palm to 40 feet in lieight, sometimes
taller, with tapering unbranched trunk often
slightly leaning, 6-8 inches in diameter at base and
only 3 inches in diameter at apex, evergreen. At
the base of the trunk u]") to a height of 2 feet are
light brown pro]) roots about li^ inches in diame-
ter, bearing numerous short s]iinelike jirojections.
The smooth brown trunk is ringed, with faint leaf
scars 3 inches or less apart. It is relatively soft,
composed of a very thin brown outer layer, a thin
fibrous whitisli layer which is slightly bitter, an
orange-brown woody ring aliout lA inch wide, and
soft whitish jiith with scattered woody strands.

The rather few large coarse leaves are alternate,
their bases overlapping at intervals of 3 inches or
less in a narrow terminal cluster at stem apex. At
base of leaf are the green sheath opened on 1 side
and a curved stout grooved petiole IV2 feet or less
in length. The crowded, overlapping, narrow
leaflets or segments are about 12-20 inches long
and l-l^/i inches wide, becoming shorter toward
apex, leathei-y, parallel-veined, green, and slightly

Gaussia attenuata (O. F. Cook) Beccari

shiny on both sides, attached obliquely to the green
axis. After turning brown and sliedding the leaf-
lets, the axis with leaf base falls, making a smooth
scar.

Many small flowers are borne stalkless and scat-
tered along slender drooping green branches about
6 inches long of the curved and drooping branclied
cluster (panicle) arising inside sheath of older
leaves. Female flowers about %6 inch across have
3 minute broad sepals, 3 fleshy orange spreading
petals more than Vm inch long, 6 minute whitish
sterile stamens (staminodes), and pistil composed
of green 3-angled 3-celled ovary more than \\^
incli long and broad, witli 3 stigmas at apex. Male
flowers maturing earlier in the same flower clus-
ter (monoecious) are slightly larger, with 3 sepals,
3 petals less than 2 mm. long, 6 stamens nearly 2
nun. long, and rudimentary pistil.

Fruits change color from green to yellow,
orange, and red at maturity. The single rounded
brown seed is Vm inch or less in length. Flowering
and fruiting jM-obably through the year, at least
in l)oth Jiuie and December.

Perhaps of value as an ornamental.

This species is common on the rocky summits
and clitl's of the moist limestone region and in the
hills between San German and Lajas. As these
palms are taller than other trees of the jagged hill-
tops, clusters of palm leaves often rise above the
forest canopy, conspicuous against the sky. From
a distance the leaves appear suspended in midair,
since the slender trunk is scarcely visible.

Public forest. — Cambalache.

Range. — Endemic to Puerto Rico.

Other cojimon name. — Puerto Rico Hume-
palm (English).

42

8. Palma de lliivia

Gaussia attenuata (O. F. Cook) Beccari

Female flowers (left) and fruits (right), two-thirds natural size.

43

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

9. Palma real, royalpalm, Puerto Rico royalpalm

Roystonea borinquena O. F. Cook

Puerto Rico royalpalm or palma real is one of
Puerto Rico's most characteristic trees, being a
conspicuous feature of the countrysides and land-
scapes and equally at home along city streets.
Known to all, it is characterized by: (1) the stout
erect trunk 1-2 feet in diameter, sliglitly enlarged
and bulging at some distance above the base; (2)
a light green narrow column of leaf sheaths about
4 feet high at apex of trunk; (3) large pinnate
leaves witli short petiole above sheatli and blade
8-12 feet long composed of many narrow paired
segments, and the unfolded youngest leaf project-
ing as a narrow spire above the others; (4) small
whitish flowers, male and female, borne in a spread-
ing to drooping twice-branclied cluster 3-5 feet
long below the leaves; and (5) light brown, ellip-
tic, slightly fleshy fruits about I/2 i'lch long.

This large robust palm becomes 30-60 feet tall.
The gray smoothish trunk usually has a broad
base, then is sliglitly narrowed aJid swollen for
some distance above, and in tall specimens nar-
rowed again toward the apex. There are faint
rings of leaf scars at nodes. The evergreen crown
is composed of 15 or fewer long, gracefully curved,
spreading alternate leaves. The unfolded young-
est leaf usually leans slightly toward the east, the
direction of the prevailing wind, and thus serves
to indicate the directions.

The leaf blade has numerous leaflets or segments
20-36 inches long and only %-l% inches wide,
long-pointed, leathery, parallel-veined, green, in-
serted on both sides of axis obliquely by 2's and in
2 rows on each side, and usually curving downward
rather than flat. Upon dying, the oldest leaf falls
oft' promptly, separating smoothly from the trunk
at base of .sheath.

The flower cluster (panicle) arises below the leaf
sheaths from a very large narrow bud formed by
a dark brown boat-shaped sheath (spathe) 3-5
feet long. Lateral branches 6-12 inches long from
main branches 3 feet or more in length bear many
stalkless flowers, male flowers opening and falling
first, and toward base the female flower buds, gen-
erally 1 between 2 male flowers (monoecious).
Male flowers more than i/i inch high and nearly I/2
inch across consist of 3 minute rounded whitish
sepals less than \\q inch long, 3 blunt-pointed
whitish petals 1,4 inch long, 6-9 spreading stamens
with purple anthers, and rudimentary pistil. The
smaller female flowers Vs inch long and broad
have 3 broad whitish sepals less than i/jg inch long;

tubular corolla % inch long with 3 pointed lobes
and bearing 6 short sterile stamens (staminodes)
inside; and pistil of yellow-green rounded ovary
witli 3 short styles and stigmas on 1 side.

The numerous fruits contain 1 light brown ellip-
tic seed -yifi inch long, hard but oily. Flowering
and fi'uiting perliaps through the year.

Palma real is a stately ornamental widely
planted to beautify streets, parks, and gardens
throughout Puerto Rico. Boards hewn from the
harder outer part of the trunks are widely used
for siding and flooring in rural construction.
However, they are very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites. The leaves are also used fre-
(luently in construction, less now than formerly.
Fresh leaves are widely displayed locally f<n- re-
ligious services on Palm Sunday. The dry blades
serve as thatch for roofs of barns and houses, and
the broad sheaths, known as yaguas, are spread
out flat to make sides of buildings. The twisted
young leaf segments are woven into chair seats
and backs. An important honey plant, the flowers
attract numerous bees. The fruits are a good food
for hogs.

Palma I'eal is connnon in forests, pastures, and
river banks almost throughout the island from the
wet north flank of El Yunque to the coa.stal man-
groves and the dry valleys near Guanica. It is
found in all but the upper mountains and the dry
limestone regions. These palms probably have
become more common following settlement,
spreading in clearings, pastures, old fields, and
fence rows. Also in \'ieques and St. Croix.

PiniJc FOi{?:sTs. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
(ruajataca, (luanica, Luqnillo, Maricao, San Juan,
Susua, Vega.

Range. — Restricted to Puerto Rico, Vieques,
and St. Croix. Introduced at Mona.

Other cojimon n.ames. — palma de yaguas,
palma de costa (Puerto Rico) ; mountain-cabbage
(St. Croix) ; Puerto Rico royalpalm, royalpalm
(English).

The generic name honors General Roy Stone
(1835-1905), United States Army Engineer, who
rendered outstanding service to Puerto Rico at
the time of the Spanish- American War. Cuban
royalpalm (Roi/sfonea regia (H. B. K.) O. F.
Cook*), a related species from Cuba with tall
trunk not swollen, has been planted also in Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands and may have es-
caped locally.

U

n. Palma real, royalpalm, Puerto Rico royalpahu Roystonea borinquena O. F. Cook

Fruits (lower left) and male and female flowers (lower right), two-thirds natural size.

45

PALM FAMILY (PALMAE)

10. Palma de sombrero, Puerto Rico palmetto

Palma de sombrero is the only wild Puerto
Rican palm with both fan-shaped leaves nnd a
stout trunk. Its main distin,<ruishinsi: characters
are: (1) the stout trunk 1-2 feet in diameter, with
the split bases of old j)etioles hanging down against
it; (2) large fan-shaped leaves witii very long
petioles 3-8 feet long and pleated fan-shaped blue-
green blades 3-6 feet in diameter, with a definite
midrib curved downward slightly, deeply split
from margin to middle into narrow segments al-
ternating with threadlike fibers in notches; (3)
many small whitish flowers %6 i'^fh long in slen-
der, much branched, spreading clusters at leaf
bases longer than petioles or sometimes exceeding
the blades; and (4) rounded brown fruits %-V2
inch in diameter and slightly fleshy.

Small to medium-sized tree to 30 feet tall with
stout unbranched smoothish trunk 11/2-21/2 feet
thick at base and 1-2 feet in diameter, columnar or
slightly tapering upward, and broad evergreen
crown of many alternate spreading leaves. The
trunk is light gray, smoothish or narrowly cracked,
with rings and often with a few holes.

The stout blue-green petiole, as long as the blade
or longer, has a coarse brown basal sheath encir-
cling the a.xis and later splitting apart. Concave
above and decreasing in width above base from G
to 2 inches, the petiole is prolonged as an axis or
midrib (rachis) nearly half the length of the fan-
shaped or palmately lobed blade. Segments of the
blade are 1 14-214 inches wide and as much as 4
feet long, stifi' and leathery, parallel-veined, dull
blue green on both sides, each split into 2 long
pointed strips, with a slender fiber or thread aris-
ing from each notch.

The flower clusters (panicles) are up to 8-10
feet long. There are numerous brown sheaths

Sabal causiarum (O. F. Cook) Beccari

(spathes) 11,4-21/4 inches long,each bearing a small
lateral cluster (panicle) 8 inches or less in length.
The fi-agrant white stalkless flowers have a white
3-toothed tul)ular calyx \x6 inch long, 3 naiTOW
white petals more than % inch long, 6 spreading
white stamens less than ^/^g inch long, united at
base, and a narrow whitish pistil moi-e than i/g
inch long with short 3-celled ovary and stout .style.

The nmnerous smooth fruits (drupes) have thin
flesh and 1 rounded lirown .seed % inch or less in
diameter. Flowering and fruiting perhaps irregu-
larly during the year.

As the common names suggest, Puerto Rican
st-aw hats are made from the young leaves of this
]jalni, after curing, bleaching, and di-ying. The
leaf fillers are employed also for baskets, mats,
and luunmocks. The older leaves serve as thatch.
Occasionally planted near homes for the leaves
and for ornament.

Found on coastal plains of northern, western,
and southwestern Puerto Rico. Formerly grow-
ing in groves on the plateau near Punta Borin-
(juen in the extreme northwest.

Raxok. — Apparently native only of Puerto
Rico.

Othkr comjion names. — palma de abanico,
palma de cogollo, yarey (Puerto Rico) ; Puerto
Rico hat-palm (English).

Bermuda palmetto or bulltyre (Sahal bermu-
ilana Bailey;* formerly referred to *S'. blackburni-
anum Glazebrook), native of Bermuda, has been
introduced on St. Croix and St. Thomas. It is dis-
tinguished by the leaves, which are green rather
than blue green, and by slightly larger blackish
fruits about % inch in diameter. The leaves are
used for the same purposes.

46

10. Palma de sombrero. Puerto Rico palmetto

i<nl)aj rau^iarum (O. F. Cook) Beccari

Flowers (lower left) and fruits (lower right), natural size.

47

CASUARINA FAMILY (CASUARINACEAE*)
11. Casuarina, Australian beefwood, horsetail casuarina Casuarina equisetifoUa L.*

A tiill sk^mler introduced tree witli a tliin crown,
characterized by: (1) wiry, droopinjj;, dark (jreen,
needle) ike twiji's about 1/32 i"*"!^ i'l diameter, jointed
and grooved, with rings of minute grayish scale
leaves about 1/4-% i"ch apart ; (-2) numerous small
male and female flowers crowded in inconspicuous
light brown clusters on the same tree (monoeci-
ous), the male flowers in narrow cylindrical ter-
minal clusters %-% inch long and as much as
1/8 inch across the stamens, and female flowers in
short-stalked lateral ball-like clusters less than i/g
inch in diameter or Yie "i^'h across the spreading
dark red styles; and (3) fruit a light brown
warty conelike ball \'2 A i^i^li i» diameter.

A rapidly growing medium-sized evergreen
tree to 100 feet tall and l-iy2 feet in trunk diam-
eter. The bark is light gray brown, smoothish on
small trunks, becoming rough, furrowed and
shaggy, and splitting into thin stri]is and flakes
exposing a reddish-brown layer. Inner bark is
reddish and bitter or astringent. The wiry droojv
ing twigs !)-liS inches long are dark gi'een, becom-
ing paler, and the older twigs gray brown and
scaly.

Leaves are less than V3., inch long, 6-8 in a
ring (whorled) at a joint or node. The twigs
remain green and function like leaves in food
making and are shed gradually like leaves.

Minute male flowers, crowded in rings among
the grayish scales, consist of a protruding brown-
ish stamen less than % inch long with 2 minute
brown sepal scales at base. Female flowers lack
sepals but have a pistil about ?i6 inch long with
small ovary and threadlike dark red style.

The nndtiple fruit, gray green when immature,
is composed of points less than Vg inch long and
broad, each developing from a flower. An indi-
vidual fruit has 2 pointed scales that s]Dlit apart
at maturity and release 1 winged light brown seed
(akene) about I/4 inch long (300,000 per pound).
Flowering and fruiting through the year.

The sapwood is pinkish to light brown, the
heartwood dark brown. The fine-textured wood is
very hard, heav_y (specific gravity 0.81), and very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. It is
strong, tough, difficult to saw, but cracks and S]5lits,
and is not durable in the ground. Rate of air-
seasoning is moderate, and amount of degrade is
considerable. Machining characteristics are as
follows: planing and turning ai-e fair; and shap-
ing, boring, mortising, sanding, and resistance to

screw splitting are good. The wood is used in
the round. Uses include fenceposts and poles,
beams but not underground, oxcart tongues, char-
coal and fuel.

Elsewhere the bark has been employed in tan-
ning, in medicine, and in the extraction of a red
or blue-black dye. In southern Florida the fruits
have been made into novelties and Christmas
decorations.

Often propagated by cuttings for street, park,
ornamental, and windbi'eak plantings, it can also
be trimmed into hedges. It is used for reforesta-
tion because of its adaptability to degraded sites
and lapid giowth. Natural regeneration is rare
in Puerto Rico because ants consume nearly all
the seeds, but in some tropical areas the plants
spread rapidly. On protected sandy seacoasts,
where this tree is best adapted in this region, di-
ameter growth rates of 1 inch per year are not
micommon. Because some trees have been de-
stroyed by disease in Puerto Rico within recent
years, plauting for shade or ornament may not te
desirable.

Planted in Puerto Rico, especially along the
coa-sts and less commonly in the lower mountain
regions. Also in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
and St. John.

R.\NGE. — Xative of tropical Asia and Austra-
lasia but planted and naturalized in various tropi-
cal and subtropical regions. Southern Florida
including Florida Keys, Bermuda, through West
Indies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad, and
from Mexico to South America.

Other common names. — pino australiano, pino
de Australia, pino (Puerto Rico) ; weeping willow
(Virgin Islands) ; pino, pino de Australia (Span-
ish) ; cipres (Cuba, Mexico) ; sauce (Nicaragua) ;
horsetail casuarina, beefwood, horsetail beefwood,
horsetail-tree, Australian-pine (United States) :
beefwood (Bahamas) ; casuarina, whistling-pine
(Trinidad and Tobago) ; Christmas-tree (British
Guiana); pin d"Au.stralie (Haiti); filao (French
West Indies) ; casuarine (Dutch West Indies) :
cazuarina (Brazil).

Casuarina is not related to the true pines, which
are not native in Puerto Rico. The common name
pino, of course, is descriptive of the wiry green
twigs, which resemble the needle leaves of pines.
A few related species introduced from Australia
are being tested experimentally in forest planta-
tions.

48

Vn

\ ^ \ \ \ \/ / /
. X \ \ \ V\./ /

w

k

'/ \

w \\\ \\\ vV'\\V\V\\\ \\
\V'>i \\\\ \\\\\\\N \

V\\ - ^^'\^' \\'A\ ''<^' '

\

\

\

11. Casuarina, Australian beefwood, horsetail casuarina

Two-thirds natural size.

Casuarina eguisetifoUa L.

49

PEPPER FAMILY (PIPERACEAE)

12. Higuillo

This almiulant small tree or shrub is easily rec-
ognized by : (1) the yellow-green, slightly zigzag,
finely hairy twigs with enlarged, ringed joints
(nodes) ; (2) the narrowly elliptic, long-pointed,
yellow-green leaves, unequal at base, slightly
rough above, with long, slightly curved lateral
veins, and aromatic or spicy when crushed: (3)
the tiny flowers and fruits crowded in cordlike,
curved, lateral axes 3-4 inches long and about Vs
inch in diameter; and (4) the jieppery taste and
odor of leaves, fruits, and seeds.

An evergreen tree to '20 feet in height and 4
inches in trunk diameter, often branching at or
near base and with a spreading crown. The bark
is smooth and gray. Inner bark is whitish and
peppery or slightly bitter.

The leaves are alternate, sometimes in 2 rows,
with short ]ietioles Vs-Vt inch long. Leaf blades
are 5-7 inches long and 1V2^3 inches bi'oad, the
base rounded and about Vs inch longer on 1 side,
the edges not toothed, thin, the lower surface pale
and soft hairy. Under a lens, minute lighter dots
are visible in the leaves when held against the
light.

The cordlike, curved flower clusters (spikes)
are borne singly opposite a leaf, yellowish but
turning to gray green in fruit. The very numer-
ous flowei-s, each less than I/32 inch long, consist of
4 stamens, pistil with 1-celled ovary and 3 stigmas,
and 1 scale (bract). The fruits (drupes) are pale
green, somewhat more than I/32 inch long, slightly

Piper aduncum L.

juicy, and contain 1 brown or black seed y^^ inch
long. Flowering and fruiting throughout the

The sapwood is wdiitish and hard and is little
used, although larger trunks sometimes have been
placed in the framework of country homes. Else-
where the leaves, fiowei's, and roots have been em-
])li)yed in home medicines and the peppery fruits
in seasoning food.

In forest openings, roadsides, pastures and aban-
doned fields, often forming pure thickets in the
uu)ist coast, moist limestone, and lower and upper
motmtain regions of Puerto Kico. Also in Vieques.

Public fokests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo,
Susiia, Toro Negi-o.

Raxoe. — Greater Antilles, St. Vincent, Gre-
nada, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also
from central Mexico to Peru and Brazil.

Other common names. — higuillo hoja menuchi
(Puerto Rico) ; cordoncillo (Spanish) ; anisillo,
guayuyo, guayuyo bianco (Dominican Republic) ;
platinillo de Cuba, canilla de muerte (Cuba) ; cor-
doncillo bianco, biritac (Guatemala) ; cordoncillo
bianco (Nicaragua) ; Spanish elder, Spanish ella,
elder, ells, cows-foot (British Honduras) : sureau
(Haiti) ; aperta ruao, matico falso (Brazil).

Besides this species of small tree size, 8 shrubby
species of this large tropical genus are recorded
from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

50

12. Higuillo

Natural size.

Piper adtDicum 1j.

51

CHLORANTHUS FAMILY (CHLORANTHACEAE)

13. Azafran

This distinctive small tree or shrub of the east-
ern mountains of Puerto Rico is readily identified
l)y the following characters: (1) the leaves, twigs,
and other parts are pleasantly fragrant when
crushed; (-2) the opposite, elliptic, slightly fleshy,
dark green leaves have finely saw-toothed edges,
and the petioles of a pair are united at base into
an enlarged sheath %-V2 i"ch long around twig;
(3) stalkless small green flowers less than Vs '"ch
long, male and female on ditierent trees (dioe-
cious), the male flowers crowded in narrow clus-
ters and the female flowers in groups of 2 or 3 sur-
rounded by 3 scales along an axis; and (4) whitish
watery fruits about % inch in diameter, with 3
fleshy scales on outside.

An evergreen tree to 20 feet high and 4 inches in
trunk diameter or shrubby. The bark is brown,
smoothish and thin, often covered with mosses and
liverworts. Inner bark is light brown or pinkish,
and with sjncy or bitter taste. The dark green
fleshy twigs have enlarged ringed nodes and large
pith and are brittle.

Petioles are i/4-% inch long, the leaf blades
13/4-5 inches long and %-2 inches broad, short-
pointed at both ends, with the edges slightly
turned under.

Hedyosmum arborescens Sw.

I'lower clusters are terminal and lateral. Male
flowers are in a stalked cylindrical cluster (spike)
34-1% inches long and Vie iuch or more in diame-
ter, each flower consisting merely of 1 stamen less
than i/g inch long and without calyx. The axis
(spike) of female flowers is 1-2 inches long, the
flowers composed of 3-angled inferior ovary less
than i/g inch long covered by gre«n tubular base
( hypanthium ) and bearing minute 3-toothed calyx
at apex.

Tlie fruits are composed mainly of the enlarged
fleshy scales, enclosing 2 or 3 individual 3-angled
fruits (drupelike) about Vg inch long, each from
a separate flower and containing 1 brown seed.
Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The light brown sapwood is hard and is not
used.

In openings in the forests in the upjier Luquillo
and eastern upper Cordillera regions of Puerto
Rico, ascending to near the summits of the peaks.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo.

Range. — Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Lesser
Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent.

Otjier common names. — bois fragile, bois de
I'eau, bois senti (Guadeloupe).

52

13. AzafrSn

'Si

1

^'

/

/_yL.

\~\\

\ \

^v^

ncdynsnuiin arhorcxcrns Sw.

Two-thirds natural size.

53

WILLOW FAMILY (SALICACEAE*)

14. Sauce, Humboldt willow

An exotic oniamental tree easily recoornized bj- :
( 1 ) the very narrow columnar crown witli straight
axis; (2) nearly erect branches; (3) slender yel-
low-green twigs; and (4) the very narrow (lin-
ear) , long-pointed, finely saw-toothed leaves. Ap-
parently this species does not flower in Puerto
Rico.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree attain-
ing 20-60 feet in height and 8 inches in trunk
diameter. The gray bark is rough and furrowed.
Inner bark is pinkish and slightly liitter. The
twigs are sometimes pinkish tinged.

The alternate leaves have short slender green-
ish or pinkish petioles about i-g inch long. At base
there is a pair of broad, short-pointed, toothed,
green scales (stipules) %-% inch long, clasping
the twig. Leaf blades are 2-5 inches long and
%6~% i'lch broad, short-pointed at base, with
lateral veins inconspicuous, papery thin, and dull
green on both sides. The foliage has a slight but
distinctive odor.

Wiere present, the flowers are male and female
on different trees (dioecious) , crowded with woolly
scales in narrow clusters (catkins) 11/4-21/4 inches
long, terminal on short twigs. Male flowers con-
sist of 4—7 stamens above a woolly scale, and fe-
male fiowei-s with woolly scale at base have a pistil
composed of 1-celled ovai-y and 2 stigmas. Seed
capsules nearly %g inch long contain many small
seeds with tufts of cottony haire.

Salix humboldtiana Willd.'

The sap wood is whitish, and the heart wood dull
gray and reddish. The wood is soft, lightweight
(specific gravit}' 0.4), and easy to work. It is not
durable and is very susceptible to attack by dry-
wood termites. The wood is used only for posts
and fuel in Puerto Rico. Elsewhere it has been
employed for boxes and in cabinetmaking, and
the bark has served in medicine. Baskets and
wicker furniture are made from the slender flexi-
ble branches.

The colunuiar form is grown as an ornamental,
particularly in cemeteries and also in parks and
gardens and in living fences. Also in St. Croix.
The species is propagated from cuttings.

Range. — Native from central Mexico south to
Chile and Argentina. Planted also in southern
Florida, Greater Antilles, and in Guadeloupe,
Martinique, St. Vincent, and perhaps other Lesser
Antilles.

Other common n.\mes. — mimbre (Puerto
Rico) ; sauce (Spanish) ; sauce Colorado, mimbre
(Colombia); pajarobobo (Peru); sauce amargo,
sauce chileno (Chile) ; sauce crioUo, sauce Colorado
(Argentina) ; sauce criollo, sauce bianco (Uru-
guay) ; Humboldt willow, willow (United States,
Engish) : saule ( French) ; saule, peuplier (Guade-
loupe) ; salgueiro, salso, chorao (Brazil).

BoT.ANic.\L SYNONYM. — Salix chUejt^w auth., not
S. chUensis Molina, a name of uncertain applica-
tion.

54

14. Sauce. Humboldt willow
687-921 0—64 5

Natural size.

f^alix humholdtiana Willfl.

55

ELM FAMILY (ULMACEAE)

Key to the 2 si>ecies illustratecl (Nos. 15 and 16)

A. Leaves less than 2 inches long, short-pointed, rough hairy on both surfaces — 15. Trema lamarckiana.
AA. Leaves 3i/i-6 inches long, long-pointed, rough hairy above, soft hairy on veins beneath — 16. Trema micrantha.

15. Palo de cabrilla, West Indies trema

This shrub or small tree of openings in dry areas
is characterized by: (1) a thin, very spreading
crown of horizontal or slightly drooping branches;
(2) small, lance-shaped leaves usually less than 2
inches long, rough and hairy on both sides, thick
and with the finely saw-toothed edges tm-ned
under, with 3 main veins at base, and with network
of veins sunken on upper surface and raised on
lower surface ; (3) the leaves in a flat ari-angement
in 2 rows; and (4) many small greenish flowers
and pink fruits Vs '"cl^ i'l diameter clustered at
bases of leaves.

An evergreen shrub or ti'ee to 20 feet in height
and 10 inches in trunk diameter. The smoothish
light brown bark has many tiny warty dots (lenti-
cels) and thin fissures. Inner bark is light brown
or pinkish, fibrous, and slightly bitter. The slen-
der twigs, green wlien young and becoming brown,
are covered with minute, stiff, whitish hairs.

The alternate leaves have short hairy petioles

l/c

14 iiich long. Leaf blades are mostly %-li/^

inches in length and ^4-^2 ^''^ch ni width, some-
times to 31/2 inches long and l^/t inches broad, usu-
ally short-pointed at apex, rounded or slightly
oblique at base, green above and light gi-een
beneath.

Trema lamarckiana (Roem. & Schult.) Blume

The hairy flower clusters (cymes) about % inch
across bear several short-stalked hairy flowers less
than Vs inch across, mostly male and female to-
gether (monoecious). Male flowers have 5 sepals,
5 stamens, and rudimentary pistil; female flowers
have 5 sepals and pistil composed of ovai-y with 2
stigmas. The fleshy fruits (drupes) contain 1
brown seed Vjg inch long. Flowering and fi'uiting
probably through most of the year.

The liglit brown soft wood is seldom used in
Puerto Rico.

In open areas along the edges of forests and
along roadsides in the southwestern part of the
lower Conlillera region of Puerto Rico.

PuiiMc FORESTS. — Maricao, Susi'ia.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bermuda, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and
Lesser Antilles from Saba to St. Vincent.

Other common names. — cabrilla (Puerto
Rico) ; jiiemizo de majagua, memizo cimarron,
majagua, memiso (Dominican Republic) ; capuli
cimarron, guasimilla (Cuba) ; West Indies trema
(United States) ; Lamarck trema, pain-in-back
(Bahamas) ; mahaut piment (Haiti) ; orme petites
feuilles (French West Indies).

56

?!?;¥

SVT~

?;,' .'^PfeTSt

:i^-fv

^'A:&m

"^mi&Mi

$

^t^

fimw^m^^'m

15. Palo de cabrilla, West Indies trema

Natural size.

Trema lamarckiana (Roem. & Sc-hult.) Blume

57

ELM FAMILY (ULMACEAE)

16. Guacimilla, false jacocalalu, Florida trema

This sinnll tree of open forests is recognized by :
(1) open spreading crown with hoi'izontal and
slightly drooping branches; (2) the lance-shaped
leaves 3i/^-6 inches long, long-pointed at apex, the
base with 3 main veins and slightly heart-shaped
and oblifjue, with finely saw-toothed edges, rough
hairy on upper surface and soft hairy on veins be-
neath; (3) the leaves arranged flattened in -2 rows
on green hairy twigs; and (-l) numerous small
greenish flowers and round orange fruits Vg inch
in diameter borne in lateral clusters at leaf bases.

An evergreen tree to 40 feet high and 1 foot in
trunk diameter. The light brown bark is smooth-
ish with rows of warty dots (lenticels) or becom-
ing slightly fissured. Inner bark is brownish or
pinkish, almost tasteless or slightly bitter.

The leaves are alternate on short petioles 14~%
inch long with blades I-214 inches broad, slightly
thickened, the upper surface green and the lower
surface light green.

Flower clusters (cymes) are lateral and
branched, 1/^-% inch across, hairy, with numerous
short-stalked small greenish flowers less than i/g
incli long, mostly male and female together (mono-
ecious). Male flowers about i/g inch across have 5
pointed whitish-green sepals. 5 whitish stamens,
and a sterile pistil. Female flowers are composed
of 5 pointed whitish-green sepals and a pistil with
green ovary and 2 whitish stigmas. The round
fleshy fruits (drupes) contain 1 black seed more
than i/ie inch long. Probably in flower and fruit
nearly through the year.

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume

The wood is light brown, soft, lightweight (spe-
cific gravity O.-i), and weak. Used only for posts
and fuel in Puerto Rico. The strong fiber in the
bark has been employed for cordage.

In openings, clearings, woodlands and along
roadsiiles in the lower Luquillo and moist coastal
regions of eastern Puerto Rico. Also in St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

I'liiLic FORESTS. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Central and southern Florida and
Florida Keys and throughout West Indies from
Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from central
Mexico to Argentina and Brazil.

Other common names. — palo de cabra, cabra
(Puerto Rico) ; memizo cimarron, memiso de pa-
loma, memiso (Dominican Republic) ; guacimilla,
gvuicimilla cimarrona, guacimilla boba, capuli cim-
arron (Cuba) ; jaco de cuero, equipal (ilexico) :
capulin (Central America) ; capulin negro (Hon-
duras) ; capulin macho, capulin montes, capulin-
cillo, churrusco (El Salvador) ; capulin bianco,
juco, vara blanca (Costa Rica) ; capulin macho
(Panama) ; berraco, raspador, majagua colorada,
venaco (Colombia) ; masaquilla (Venezuela) ;
tortolero, muchichilau (Ecuador) ; aisegerina, ata-
dijo, yana-caspi (Peru) ; palo-polvora, afta colo-
rada (Argentina) ; Florida trema (United
States) ; Jamaican Jiettle-ti'ee (Jamaica) ; white
capulin, wild bay-cedar (British Honduras) ; bois
de sole (Haiti) ; ceriiiva (Brazil).

58

16. GuaclnuUa, false jacocalalu. norida trema

Trona nilcrnntlifi (L.) Blume

Natural size.

59

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

Key to the S species illustrated (Nos. 18-24)

A. Leaves deeply lobed, very large.

B. Leaves umbrellalike, rciuuded with 7-11 rounded lobes: jietiole very long — 20. Cecropia peltata.
BB. Leaves elliptic, with 7-11 long-pointed lobes ; petiole short — 17. Artocarpus altilis.*

AA. Leaves not lobed.

C. Leaves hairy, oblong, edges with tufts of hairs appearing like minute teeth — 19. Castilla elastica.*
CC. Leaves hairless or nearly so, edges not toothed.

D. Leaves elliptic or obovate, rounded at apex ; fruit very large, elliptic or rounded — 18. Artocarpus
heterophylUis*
DD. Leaves various, short- or long-pointed at apex ; fruit small, figlike.

E. Leaves with 3 main veins from base, elliptic to diamond-shaped — 23. Ficus retusa*
EE. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib.

F. Leaves with 6-10 lateral veins on each side of midrib — 22. Ficus laevigata.
FF. Leaves with many straight, parallel, lateral veins.

O. Leaves abruptly short-i)ointed at aitex. rounded at base, 4-12 inches long — 21. Ficus elastica.*
GG. Leaves short-pointed at both ends, 1V4-3 inches long — 24. Ficus sintenisii.

17. Panapen, pana de pepitas, breadfruit

Breadfruit is a handsome tree planted for its
edible fruits and attractive foliage. It is easily
recocfnized by: (1) the very large, deeply 7-11-
lobed, .shiny dark green leaves about li/o (l--^)
feet long; (2) the milky juice that exudes from
the bark when cut; and (3) the yellowish-green
rounded or elliptic fruits 4-8 inches long. Two
varieties are distinguished: panapen being the
common seedless variety, and pana de pepitas the
variety with seeds.

A medium-sized spreading evergreen tree to 60
feet high and 2 feet or more in trunk diameter,
with relatively few stout branches. The brown
bark is smooth, with warty dots (lenticels) . Inner
bark is whitish and almost tasteless, with white,
slightly bitter latex. The very stout twigs i^^-l
incli in diameter are green and minutely hairy,
with rings at nodes, and end in a large, pointed,
finely hairy l)ud 5 inches or less in length, formed
by a big scale (stipule) around the developing leaf.

Ijeaves are alternate on very stout green petioles
1-2 inches long. The leaf blades are elliptic in
outline, 9-20 inches across, the pinnate lobes long-
pointed, short-pointed at base, slightly thickened,
the upper surface nearly hairless except along
veins, and the lower surface lighter green and
finely hairy at least on veins. The 2 varieties differ
slightly in leaf shape and hairiness. Ivcaves of the
seeded variation are less deeply lobed, have usually
9 or 11 lobes instead of the 7 common in the seed-
less variety, and are more hairy, bristly hairy on
veins above and finely and roughly hairy on lower
surface.

Flowers are very numerous and minute, the
male and female on the same tree (monoecious) in
separate thick, fleshy clusters single at leaf bases
on stalks about 2 inches long. The male cluster is
a cylindrical or club-shaped soft mass about 5-12
inches long and 1 inch in diameter, yellowish and
turning brown. Male flowers Vj^, inch long, con-
sisting of 2-lobed calyx and 1 stamen, are crowded
on the outside. The female flower cluster is ellip-
tic or rounded, about 21/0 inches long and li/o
inches in diametei- oi- larger, light green. In tlie

Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg*

variety with seeds the female flowers are % inch
long and Wq inch acros.s, composed of a tubular,
conelike and pointed, hairy calyx projecting 14
inch and pistil with a sunken 1-celled 1-ovuled
ovary and 2-lol5ed style. The seedless variety has
sterile female flowers projecting only about %2
inch.

The multiple fruits are covered with individual
fruits and contain a whitish starchy pulp formed
from the enlarged stalk (receptacle). In the
.seeded variety the fruit surface is composed of
greenish conical .spinelike projections, each from
a single flower, and there are several large brown
edible seeds. The seedless variety has a smoothish
surface honeycombed with individual fruits about
%Q inch across. Flowers and fruits are borne
throughout the year.

The sapwood is light yellow to yellowish brown,
and the heartwood golden colored, sometimes
flecked with orange. The wood is very soft, light-
weight (.specific gravity 0.27), yet quite firm and
strong for its weight. It is very susceptible to
attack by dry- wood termites. There are numer-
ous large pores but no growth rings. Rate of air-
seasoning and amount of degrade are moderate.
Machining characteristics are as follows: planing
is fair; shaping, turning, boring, and mortising
are very poor; sanding is poor; and resistance to
screw splitting is excellent.

The wood is little used in Puerto Rico except
occasionally for interior partitions. Nevertheless,
it is suitable for boxes, crates, light construction,
and toys. Surf boards were made from the light
wood in Hawaii.

The trees are also attractive for ornament and
shade. In periods of prolonged drought the
leaves have been cut to provide forage for cattle.
The sticky sap has been used in some places to
catch birds.

Fruits are gathered before maturity and roasted
or boiled as a starchy vegetable, those of the seed-
less variety lieing preferred. Or the young fruits
can be sliced and fried. Also, the seeds are boiled
or roasted. A dessert and preserves are sometimes

60

17. Panap^n, pana de pepitas, breadfruit

One-third natural size.

Artocarpus aUilis (Parkinson) Fosberg

61

made from the male flower clusters. Elsewhere
the fruits have served for fattening hogs.

This tree was introduced into the West Indies
in 1793 from Tahiti of the South Sea Islands to
provide cheap food for slaves. It was claimed
that three or four mature trees could provide
starchy food to su])port a man throughout the
year. Captain "William Bligh in tlie ship Provi-
dence chartered by the British (Tove.rnment
brought plants to St. Vincent and Jamaica. This
special expedition was undertai<en to transport
potted plants of the seedless vai'iety tlie gi-eat dis-
tance. An earlier attempt with a cargo of plants
on board the ship Bounty failed owing to the
famous mutiny against Captain Bligh in 1789.
About the same time the French brought a few
breadfruits to other islands of the "West Indies.

Propagation is by root cuttings or layering and
in the seeded variety l)v seeds, (irowth is rapid.
"Widely cultivated around homes almost through-
out Puerto Rico and occasionally escaping. Least
common in tlie upper mountain and dry limestone
regions. Also in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
Jolm, and Tortola.

Ranxse. — Native in islands of the South Pacific

Ocean. Grown throughout the tropics, the seeded
variety sometimes escaping from cultivation.
Planted tliroughout the West Indies and in con-
tinental tropical America. Rare in southern
I'lorida and fruiting only at Key West.

Other toMMON names. — arbol de pan, palo de
pan, pan, pana (Puerto Rico, Spanish) ; lavapen,
mapen, bombilla, pichones (Puerto Rico) ; pana
foiastera (seedless variety, Puerto Rico) ; castaua
(seeded variety, Puerto Rico) ; buen pan, albopan,
l^an de fruta (Dominican Republic) ; castaho del
Mala])ar (seeded variety, Cuba) ; mazapan. fruta
de i)an, pan de fruta, castaiia (Guatemala) ; maza-
pan (Honduras) ; breadfruit (United States, Eng-
lish) ; breadnut (seeded variety, English); cha-
taigne (seeded variety, Trinidad) ; mazapan
(British Honduras); arbre a pain, fruit a pain
(French); arbre veritable (Haiti); cliataignier,
chataignier du pays (seeded variety, French West
Indies); jialu di frufi ]>an, broodboom (Dutch
West Indies) ; broodboom (Surinam) ; fructa pao
(Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — ^4 rfoearpus communi-^
J. R. & G. Forst., A. ineims (Tliunb.) L. f.

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

18. Jaca, jackfruit

This cultivated relative of breadfruit is charac-
terized by: (1) giant, elliptic, rounded or irregu-
lar-shaped yellow-green fruits 1-2 feet long and
i/o-l foot in diameter, covered with sharp conical
points; (2) milkv juice in the bark; and (3) leaves
conunonly elliptic or obovate, 4—6 inches long and
2-3 inches broad, dark green and sliglitly shiny,
thick and leathery.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 40
feet in height and 1 foot in trunk diameter. The
gray bark is smoothish, becoming rough, fur-
rowed, and thick (1,4 inch). Inner bark is light
In-own. gritty and almost tasteless, yielding taste-
less latex. The twigs are gray, with raised
rounded leaf scars, ending in a dark green, nar-
row, pointed, minutely hairy scale (stipule) 14
inch or more in length forming the bud.

The leaves are alternate, witli stout petioles
V2~% ii^ch long. Leaf blades vary in shape, some-
times oblong or narrow and on young plants and
shoots occasionally 2- or 3-lobed.

Male and female flowers are in diil'erent flower
clusters, enlarged and fleshy, on the same tree
(monoecious). The male cluster on a stalk 2
inches long is stoutly club-shaped, 2—4 inches long,
yellowish green, and with odor like muskmelon,
bearing very many crowded male flowers less than
YiQ inch long, each consisting of a 2-lobed calyx
and 1 stamen. Female flowers, very numerous in
the elliptic or rounded female flower clusters, are
more than %(; inch long, composed of tubular
hairy calyx and pistil with 1-celled 1-ovuled ovary,
slender style, and broader yellow stigma.

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.*

The multiple fi'uits, weighing 20-40 pounds,
have a hard outer covering of the enlarged female
flowers, each with a sharp conical point % inch
long and about i^ inch across at base. Within is a
whitish fibrous pulp containing many seeds (80 to
a pound), which are irregularly bean-shaped,
whitish or light brown, li/i-lV2 inches long. In
fruit nearly tiirough the year.

The wood is yellowish, darkening to brown
upon exposure, fairly hard and resistant, taking a
good polish. Little used in Puerto Rico; else-
where used in cabinetwork and carpentry.

Occasionally planted in gardens, chiefly in the
cities and towns of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
for ornament, shade, or the large edible fruits,
though much less common than breadfruit. The
fruits, which are eaten cooked as a starchy vege-
table, have a peculiar flavor and are less palatable
than breadfruits.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia from India to
Malaya and East Indies. Widely planted in tropi-
cal regions, including southern Florida, West
Indies, and continental tropical America.

Other common names. — pana cimarrona
(Puerto Rico); jaca (Spanish); ]>an de fruta,
buen ]5an, albo])an (Dominican Republic) ; rima
(Cuba) ; castano (Nicaragua) ; jaqueira, arbol de
pan (Colombia) ; jackfruit, jack (United States,
English) ; cartahar (British Guiana) ; jaquier
(French) ; jaca (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — ArtocarpuJi integrifo-
]his autli., not L. f., .4. integer auth., not (Tliuub.)
Merr.

62

18. Jaea, jackfruit

Natural size.

Artocarpus heterophyUus Lam.

63

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

19. Caucho, Central American rubber, castilla rubber

Castilla elastica Cervantes*

Caucho, including this and 2 related species
planted sparingly in Puerto Rico, is easily recog-
nized by: (1) the long, slightly drooping, stout,
hairy twigs with 2 rows of large hairy oblong
leaves 10-18 incjies long and 4— S inches broad, also
drooping; and (2) abundant milky juice in the
bark and twigs. The other species are separated
mostly by flower and fruit characters.

A large spreading evergreen tree becoming 70
feet or more in height and 1-3 feet in trunk diam-
eter, with buttresses forming at base of large
trunks. Tiie ligiit brown bark is smoothish, with
fine fissures, and thick, often having scars where
cut with machetes by curious persons to see the
latex drip. Inner bark is whitish and bitter with
latex also bitter. The unbranched twigs are green
when young but become brown, and have a long,
narrow, green, hairy terminal bud 2-21^ inches
long, formed by a many-ridged scale (stipule) that
sheds, leaving a diagonal ring scar at each node.

The alternate leaves are spreading from short
stout hairy petioles 1,4 inch long. Leaf blades are
oblong but broadest beyond the middle, short-
pointed at apex and heart-shaped at base, the edges
with tufts of hairs simulating minute teeth, thin,
green and rough on upper surface, and light green
and soft hairy beneath.

Flowers are male and female on the same tree
(monoecious) but in separate flattened headlike
clusters bordered by rows of overlapping scales
and borne along the twigs mostly back of the
leaves. Male clusters are commonly 4 together,
3.4-I inch across on stalks al)out 1 inch long, com-
posed of male flowers with numerous crowded
stamens less than % inch long and no calyx. Fe-
male clusters are single, stalkless or nearly so,
forming a greenish-yellow disk % inch across, and
bordered by many broad, short-pointed, green,
finely hairy, overlapping scales. The crowded
female flowers are about 1/4 inch long, with fleshy,
minutely hairy, greenish-yellow, tubular, angled
calyx surroiniding and adhering to the white
ovary, which has a yellow-green style and 2- or
3-forked protruding stigma.

The multiple fruit is a disk IV2-2 inclies in di-
ameter and %-l inch thick, bordered by many
green overlapping scales from the flower cluster
and composed of many crowded individual fruits

grown together. Each individual fruit is 14-%
inch long and i/4-% inch across, blunt-pointed and
half within tlie disk, composed of the fleshy, finely
hairy calyx, changing color from yellow to green,
orange, and red, very juicy, almost tasteless but
slightly sour, soon fermenting and molding, and
containing 1 white oblong seed %-i/4 inch long.
Seeds 800 to a pound. Flowering chiefly in spring,
and maturing fruits in summer.

The wood is yellow brown, moderately soft,
lightweight, and not durable. Used in Puerto
Rico chiefly for fuel.

With species distributed on the continent from
Mexico to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil,
CattfUJa. was formerly an important source of rub-
ber, both from wild trees and plantations. Some
rubber is still obtained from wild trees by cutting
or tapping the bark and collecting the latex, which
coagulates upon exposure. Cultivation in Trini-
dad and Toliago was not commercially successful.
Most rublier now comes from plantations of the
unrelated Para rubber tree {flevea) native in
Brazil. The Indians made mats for blankets and
clothing by beating out the bark.

Planted occasionally in Puerto Rico, sometimes
as a roadside tree for shade and ornament. Found
along the Arecibo-Utuado, Ciales-Villalba, and
Maricao-Mayagiiez highways. Also grown at St.
Thomas. It is a tree of openings in moist forests,
probably light-requiring, and grows rapidly.

R.AXGE. — S'ative of Mexico and Central America
south to Colombia and Ecuador. In the AVest
Indies introducetl into Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and St. Thomas, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Rarely planted in southern Florida.

Other co]\rMON names. — palo de goma, goma,
cauchera (Puerto Rico) ; caucho (Spanish) ; tira-
jala (Dominican Republic) ; arbol del hule
(Mexico) ; hule, ule (Guatemala, Honduras) ; ule-
ule, hule, mastate bianco (Panama) ; caucho negro
(Colombia) ; castilla rubber, castilloa rubber, Cen-
tral American rubber (English) ; rubber, ule
(British Honduras).

Botanical synonyms. — Cast'dJa lactifua O. F.
Cook, C . pann?nen-ii.i O. F. Cook.

The generic name, sometimes spelled Oa.sfilloa.
honors Juan del Castillo (1744-93), Spanish
pharmaci.st and economic explorer, who came to
Mexico in 1787.

64

19. Caucho, Central American rubber, castilla rubber

Two-thirds natural size.

Cnntilla rlri>itira Cervantes

65

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

20. Yagrumbo hembra, trumpet-tree

One of the. most abundant trees in Pnerto Kico,
this species is easil}' recognized by : (1) a very thin
spreading crown of a few stont brandies arising
high on the trnnk and curving upward; (2) the
few very large thick unibrellalike (peltate) leaves
with l)lades 1-21/2 feet across, composed of 7-11
large lobes spreading at the end of a stont petiole
almost as long; (.'5) the whitish or silvery under-
surface of leaves readily seen when nptunied by
a breeze; and (4) the newer branches liollow ex-
cept for partitions at the nodes.

A medium-sized evergreen tree to 70 feet high
and 2 feet in trunk diameter, deciduous in areas
witli a pronounced dry season. Sometimes de-
veloping prop roots around the base. The gray
bark is smootli and tliin, witli narrow rings and
large leaf .scars at the nodes or joints 2— i inches
apart. Inner bark is pinkish and slightly bitter,
with watery latex. The smallest branches are ll^
inches in diameter, green and slightly liairy at
apex, becoming gray, with rings at nodes. There
is a giant bud covered by a large, pointed, reddish,
hairy scale (stipule) 5-10 inches long.

Leaves are alternate but clustered at ends of
branches, each on a stout round green petiole 12-20
inches long, enlarged at base. The leaf blades,
rounded in outline, have 7-11 lobes and veins ra-
diating from the end of the petiole (palmate), the
lobes and sinuses rounded. Upper surface is
green, slightly rougli. and hairless, and lower sui--
face with a dense coat of wiiitish hairs.

Male and female flowers are on diffei-ent trees
(dioecious) in paired fingerlike clusters at leaf
bases. Male flower clusters have a stalk 2-3 inches
long bearing aliout 15 narrowly cylindrical pale
yellow branches (spikes) 2-3 Vo inches long and
%6 inch in diameter, each on a stalk V^-Vo inch
long. The very numerous, tiny, crowded male
flowers are Vie inch long and narrow and have a
tubular calyx and 2 stamens.

Female flower clustere on stalks 2-3 inches long
consist of 2-5 stalkless, thicker, cylindrical, gray
branches (spikes). The minute female flowers
more than Vjg inch long, sunken in the axis, are
composed of a tubidar calyx enclosing ovary and
style and an exposed finely branched stigma. At
maturity the branches (multiple fruits) are 2i/4-i
inches long and %-V2 inch in diameter, gray and
slightly fleshy, dotted with many l-seedecl minute
fruits (about" 2,200,000 to the pou'nd). The numer-
ous l)rown seeds are more than t'lg inch long. In
flower and fniit probably through the year.

The wood is whitish, liglit weight (specific grav-
ity 0.29), soft, weak, and lirittle, tjut tough for its
weight. It is not durable and is very susceptible
to attack by dry-wood tennites. Unlike the hollow
branches, the main trunk is solid. The rate of air-
seasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade is con-

Cecropia peltata L.

siderable. Machining characteristics are as fol-
lows: planing and sanding are good; shaping and
turning are fair; boring is very poor; mortising is
poor; and resistance to screw splitting is excellent.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used for manufac-
ture of excelsior. Combined with cement, it is
made into a type of insulation board for light in-
terior construction and partitions. The wood
should be a suitable substitute for balsa in manu-
facture of toys, models, and other pi-oducts made
from moderately heavy grades of balsa. Else-
where the wood has been used for matchsticks,
boxes and crates, interior boarding, and paper
pulp.

The liollow stems liave been used to make floats
for fishnets and life ])reservers and, when split in
two, have served as water troughs and guttei-s.
Substitutes for cork stoppers have been whittled
from the soft wood. In some countries the leaves,
bark, aiul latex have been employed in local medi-
cine. The fibrous bark of I'elated species was used
by Indians for cordage and mats. It is reported
that the wood ignites easily from friction and
serves as tinder.

Hollow branches of this and related species else-
where are inhabited by small stinging ants which
bore holes to reach the interior. Early naturalists
obsei-ving this constant association imagined that
(lie ants, as payment for the residence furnished,
weie aggressive in diiving away insects or other
natural enemies threatening the tree. However,
in Puerto Rico ants are not associated with this
species, and the trees thrive.

Abundant in open areas and in forests both vir-
gin and cutover. throughout Puerto Rico with the
exce])tion of parts of the dry coastal and dry lime-
stone regions. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Tliomas, St. John, and Tortola.

The trees propagate naturally and at first grow
very ra]iidly (2-3 inches in diameter per year) but
require nearly full sunlight. The seeds appar-
ently germinate slowly. In Trinidad it was ob-
ser\ed that bats eat quantities of the succulent
fruits and are the chief agents of seed dispei-sal.
Birds also (li.stribute the seeds. This weed tree
commonly covers quickly all openings resulting
from cutting of trees in the forest. Its open shade
provides a good environment for the development
of a new forest.

PiTRLic FORESTS. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo,
Susi^ia, Toro Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. — 1,
5, 10, 14, 17, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 31, 34, 35, 36, 40, 43,
45, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 58, 59, 60, 62, 64, 70, 73, 74.

Range. — Throughout West Indies from Cuba
and .Tamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also fi-om
Yucatan, Mexico, to Costa Rica and recorded in

66

20. Yagrrumbo henilira. tninipet-tree Ceeropia peJtata L.

Leafy twig with male flower clusters (above), about one-third natural size; fruit clusters (lower right), two-thirds natural size.

67

ColonibiM, Venezuela, and Guianas. Planted as an
ornamental in southern Florida.

Other common names. — yagrumo, llagrumo,
grayumo henibra (Puerto Rico) ; tnnnpet-wood
(Virgin Islands) ; yaorumo, yagrumo hembra
(Dominican Republic) ; yagruma, yagruma hem-
bra (Cul)a) ; guarumo (Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Colombia) ; igarata (Guatemala) ; trumpet -tree,
trumpet-wood, pumpwood, snakewood (United
States, English) ; sliield-shaped trumpet-ti-ee
(United States) ; pop-a-gun (Barbados) ; bois
canon (Trinidad) ; wanasoro, congo-pump (Brit-

isli Guiana) ; bois trompette (Haiti, Guadeloupe) ;
bois canon (Guadeloupe, Martinique) ;wildpapaw
(Dutcli West Indies) ; bospapaja (Surinam).

Botanical synonym. — Cecropla asperritna
Pittier.

English and French common names refer to the
use of tlie hollow branches for tnnnpets or other
musical instruments. Also, children sometimes
make flutes from the hollow petioles.

An unrehited tree of generally similar appear-
ance is yagrumo macho {Didymopanax nioro-
totoni (Aubl.) Decne. &P1.).

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

21. Palo de goma, India-rubber fig

Occasionally planted in Puerto Rico for orna-
ment and shade, this handsome spreading tree is
characterized by: (1) an extensive superficial root
system and numerous aerial roots about the trunk;
(2) abundant milky juice or white latex; (?>)
large, leathery, oblong or elliptic, sliiny green
leaves 4-1:2 inches long and 2-1^ inches broad, tliick
and stifl", abruptly short-pointed at apex, rounded
at base, and with sides bent upward at midrib; (4)
numerous straiglit, parallel, lateral veins very
close together on each side of the midrib and near-
ly at right angles to it; and (5) oblong greenish-
yellow figlike fruits about V^ inch long, paired and
stalkless at base of leaves.

A medium-sized to large evergreen tree to 60
feet in height and 3 feet in trunk diameter. In
India, its native home, it becomes 100 feet tall with
a giant fluted trunk, often buttressed at base and
with long surface roots. The bark is light gray,
smoothish with small horizontal ridges, and thick.
Inner bark is reddish and bitter. The crown of
long branches provides dense shade. The stout
twigs have faint rings at the nodes. A large,
showy, long-pointed, reddish sheath or scale
(stipule) 1-2 inches or more in length forms the
outside of the bud and covers each new leaf.

The alternate leaves have stout petioles %-lV^
inches long. Leaf blades are lighter colored be-
neath and much larger on young shoots than on
others, not toothed on edges. There is a variation
with yellow variegated leaves.

The elliptic multiple fruits (syconia) are
covered with a sheath when young that sheds, leav-
ing a basal cup. There is a ring and slight pointed
opening at apex. Many tiny male and female
flowers (monoecious) and seeds are boi-ne inside
the slightly fleshy fruits, which are eaten by birds

Ficus elastica Nois.*

and sometimes by children. Fruiting probably
througli the year.

The sap wood is whitish and moderately hard.
The wood is little used in Puerto Rico. In native
forests and extensive plantations of India this
species was the original commercial source of rub-
ber. However, India rubber has been replaced by
Para rubber (Ilevea) from Brazil, which pro-
duces higher yields and at an earlier age in planta-
tions.

Propagated by cuttings or layers and adapted to
moist regions, where it grows rapidly. However,
tlie many liorizontal roots on top of the ground
may be objectionable in street planting. It is re-
ported that the large heavy limbs are easily broken
by wind. "Where native, the plants usually start as
air plants (epiphytes) from seeds germinating on
other trees, sending down aerial roots to the
ground and afterwards strangling and killing the
supporting trees.

Planted for ornament and shade along streets
and in parks and gardens in Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia from India to
Malaya. Widely cultivated in tropical regions,
sometimes escaping, and as a potted ornamental
in temperate regions. Planted in southern Flor-
ida, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, Guadeloupe, and Dutch West Indies.
Also from Mexico to South America.

Other common names. — caucho, higuera (Do-
minican Republic) ; goma elastica, caucho (Cuba) ;
amate, hule (El Salvador); caucho de la India
(Colombia) ; India-rubber fig, India rubber-plant,
India rubber-tree, rubber-plant (United States,
English) ; caoutchouc (Haiti).

68

21. Palo de goma, India-rubber fig

Natural size.

Ficus elastica Nois.

69

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

22. Jagiiey bianco, shortleaf fig

Like the other wild and planted tree species of
the same genus (Firus), the commonest of the
jagiieyes or wild figs of Puerto Rico is recognized
by: (i) milky juice, or white latex, which exudes
copiously from cut or broken parts; (2) aerial
roots often extending from branches to the
ground; (3) prominent long-pointed buds at end
of each twig, formed by a scale (stipule) which
makes a ring scar; and (4) small fleshy figlike
fi'uits paired or single at leaf bases, with minute
flowers hidden inside. Jagiiey bianco is further
distinguished by: (1) wliitish bark; and (2)
leaves with relatively long slender ]ietioles •^4-2
inches long and short-pointed elliptic to oblong
blades IVo-fi inches long and %-'iYi inches broad,
the 6-10 lateral veins on each side about 1/4 inch
apart and nearly at right angles to midrib.

A small to medium-sized spreading evergreen
tree to 60 feet high and 21/2 feet in trunk diameter.
The bark is smoothish, becoming slightly fissured.
The inner bark is light brown, fibrous, and almost
tasteless, the white latex also nearly tasteless.
Twigs are greenish, turning to gray, have faint
rings at nodes, and terminate in a long pointed
green scale (stipule) %-% i'lc^i long-

Blades of the alternate leaves vary greatly in
size and shape and are alnniptly short-pointed at
apex and rounded, short-pointed, or slightly heart-
shaped at base, often a little thickened, hairless,
and not toothed at edges. The upper surface is
green to dark green, slightly shiny, with many tiny
dots (raised on a dried leaf), and the lower sur-
face is paler.

As the flowers in this genus are not visible, it
appears that the trees have fruits but no flowers.
The figlike multiple fruit (syconium), actually a
compound fruit, corresponds to an enlarged over-
grown flower stalk bearing on the inner walls
numerous tiny male and feuude flowers (monoe-
cious) and the small seeds, each technically a fruit
from a single flower. In this species the slightly
fleshy rounded fruits about % '"''li i» diameter
are borne on slender stalks %-% inch long. They
are greenish, often brown dotted, turning reddish
and brownish at maturity, and edible though taste-
less. There are 2 scales Vie inch long joinecl at base
and a small pore at apex. Fruits are borne
through the year.

The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood light
brown. The wood is fairly lightweight (specific
gravity 0.40), soft and tough, and strong for its
weight. Nevertheless, it is not durable and is very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. The
rate of air-seasoning is slow, and amount of de-
grade is minor. Machining characteristics are as
follows: planing and sanding are good; shaping,
turning, boring, and mortising are poor; and re-
sistance to screw splitting is excellent. The wood
is u.secl for making guitars and for fuel. It is

Ficus laevigata Vahl

suitable for boxes, crates, interior construction,
and light carpentry.

The plants make excellent live fenceposts be-
cause they i-oot so readily from cuttings. Grown
as an ornamental and .shade tree in Puerto Rico
and southern Florida.

Young plants of this and some related species
commonly .start as air plants (epiphytes) high on
a fork of ancjther tree where birds have dispersed
the seeds. After sending slender aerial roots to the
ground, the vinelike plant grows rapidly. Its
roots usually unite to form a trunk, sometimes
strangling and killing the older tree.

In forests, thickets, fence rows, and roadsides
tliroughout Puerto Rico with the exception of the
upper mountain regions. Also in ]\Iona, Icacos,
Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
and Tortola.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
(iuajataca, (iuanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao,
Ri'o Abajo, San Juan, Susua, Toro Negro, Vega.

Raxge. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and througli West Indies from Bahamas and
Cuba to Grenada and Barbados.

Other cojemon x.vmes. — jagiiey, jagiiey macho,
jagiieillo, jigiierillo (Puerto Rico) ; white fig (Vir-
gin Islands); higuillo (Dominican Republic);
jagiiey, jagiieicillo (Cuba) ; shortleaf fig, wild fig,
wild banyan (United States) ; shortleaf wild fig
(Bahamas) ; figuier (St. Lucia) ; figuier maudit,
tiguier blanc. figuier banian (Guadeloupe) ; figuier
maudit (Martinique).

BoTANic.\L SYNOXYMS. — Ficus Jenfigino-sn Vahl,
F. laevigata var. lenfiginosa (Vahl) Urban, F.
populnea Willd., F. brevifolia Nutt., F. pop^ilnea
var. hreinfoUn (Nutt.) Warb., F. laevigata var.
brevifolia (Nutt.) Warb.

This is a variable species of wide geographical
range, composed of races within Puerto Rico and
outside dirt'ering in size of leaves and fruits and
in length of fruit stalks. Some taxonomists have
distinguished 2 or 3 species and additional vari-
eties. Recently, however, this species has been con-
sidered a synonym of F. citnfolia Mill., inter-
jireted as a species of broad geographic distribu-
tion in tropical America from Florida south to
Paraguay.

Besides the 2 native and 2 introduced species of
this genus of figs described and illustrated here,
several others have been planted for shade and
ornament. Another species of jagiiey or wild fig
{FiruH trigonata L. ; synonyms F. crassinervia
Desf., F. sialilii Warb.) native in Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands is characterized by stout, hairy-
twigs, petioles y<>-\^y2 inches long, oblong or ovate
leaf blades 3-6 Vo inches long and lV2-i inches
broad, usually rounded at both ends, and rounded
figlike fruits %— Ys inch in diameter, single or
paired on stalks of Vg-^ inch.

70

22. Jagiiey bianco, shortleaf fig

Two-thirds natural size.

Fictis laevigata Vahl

687-921 O — 64 6

71

On St. Croix still another species of jagliey or
fig {Ficu,s ohtuHifoUa H. B. K.; synonym F. vr-
baniana Warb.) is native and also jjlanted. It has
larfje leaves with stout petioles IV^-?) inches long,
ovate or elliptic blades 5-9 inches long, usually

rounded at both ends, and rounded figlike fruits
about % inch in diameter, finely hairy, usually
paired, and almost stalkless M'ith scales % inch long
at base.

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

2.3. Laurel de la India, India-laurel fig

This large ornamental tree, planted in plazas in
Puerto Rico, is distinguished by: (1) a short
trunk and veiy dense globular crown; (2) small,
dark green, sliglitly shiny, thick, leatliery, elliptic
leaves iV2-'^ mriies long and %-!% inches broad,
with 3 main veins from the base; (3) numerous
aerial roots about the trunk or hanging hairlike
from the lower branches; (4) milky juice or white
latex which exudes from the bark or leaves when
the tree is injured; and (5) small rounded figlike
fruits about ^le inch in diameter, paired and stalk-
less at leaf bases.

An evergreen tree to 65 feet high and 3 feet in
trunk diameter, the crown often broader than tall.
Bark is smooth and gray. The inner bark is whit-
ish and tasteless, but contains slightly bitter latex.
Each gray twig ends in a long-pointed green scale
(stipule) % inch or less in length, wliich forms
the bud.

The leaves are alternate on petioles 14-% inch
long. Leaf blades are short-pointed at both ends,
and often nearly diamond-shaped (rhomboidal),
paler beneath. Tlie 2 lateral veins from the base
continue near the toothless margin.

The fleshy multiple fruits (syconia), with an in-
conspicuous pointed opening at apex, are green,
turning yellow or reddish at maturity. There are
3 pointed, finely hairy scales (bracts) Vie i'^ch
long at base. Inside the fruit are borne many tiny
male and female flowers (monoecious) and seeds
Fruiting probably through the year.

Ficus retusa L.*

The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood is
light brown. The wood is medium-weight, hard
(specific gravity 0.5), has growtli rings, and is
very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.

Planted in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
for ornament and shade. Large specimens are to
be found in and around San Juan and in the
plazas of various towns, particularly in the south-
eastern part of the island. The dense crowns are
frequently trimmed into roimded shapes. Diffi-
culties of propagation have prevented this rapidly
growing tree from being planted more connnonly.
Rooting of cuttings is uncertain but sometimes
successful. Better results liave been obtained by
air layering, or marcottage, in which a fairly large
branch can be used. In some places this tree is
considered objectionable because of its size, the
litter of the numerous fruits, or because of a thrips
insect which deforms the foliage and may irritate
the eyes of persons beneath the tree.

Range. — Native of India and Malaya but widely
planted in tropica] i-egions. Southern Florida,
Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands,
Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Curagao. Also
from Mexico to Chile and Brazil.

Other common names. — jagiiey (Puerto Rico) ;
fig (Virgin Islands) ; laurel de la India (Span-
ish) ; laurel, alamo exti'anjero (Mexico) ; pivijay
(Colombia); India-laurel fig, Indian-laurel
(United States, English).

Botanical synonym. — Ficus nitida Thunb.,
not Blume.

72

23. Laurel de la India, India-laurel fig

Fieus retusa L.

Natural size.

73

MULBERRY FAMILY (MORACEAE)

24. Jagiiey Colorado

This jagiiey or wildfig is distinguished by: (1)
small elliptic leaves only l%,-3 inches long and
%-l^/4 inches broad, short-pointed at both ends,
dull reddish when young; (2) many straight, par-
allel, lateral veins less than Vi,; inch apAVt on each
side of midrib and nearly at right angles to it ; (3)
rounded figlike fruits less than l^ inch in diameter
and on stal!<s about the same length, mostly paired
or single at base of a leaf; and (4) milky juice or
white latex.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 50
feet high (recorded also to 65 feet) and 1 foot in
trunk diameter, with spreading crown. Bark is
light gray and smoothisli. The whitisii inner bark
is almost tasteless and contains white latex. Slen-
der brown twigs end in a long-jwinted green scale
(stipule) 1/4-% inch long, which forms the bud.

The alternate leaves have petioles V^^-Vo i'^''^
long. Leaf blades are thick and leathery, without
teeth, dark green and slightly shiny on upper sur-
face, and yellow green beneath.

The figlike nuiltiple fruits (syconia) are pale
green when immature, becoming pink tinged or
reddish and have a slight ])ointed opening at ajjex
and 2 rounded scales (bracts) Yiq inch long at
base. Numerous minute male and female flowers

Ficus sintenisii Warb.

(monoecious) and seeds are formed inside the
slightly fleshy fruit. Probably fruiting through
the year.

The sapwood is whitish and soft. The wood is
soft, fairly lightweight (specific gi-avity 0.4),
weak, and not durable. Used for fuel and posts.
The broad, generally symmetrical dense crown
makes this tre« potentially an ornamental.

Commonest in the upper mountain and moist
limestone regions of Puerto Hico, often growing
near the summits of limestone hills. Less common
in the lower mountain regions.

PiniLic F0RE>sTs. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio
Aba jo, Susua, Toro Negro.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — jagiiey prieto, jagiiey,
higuillo prieto (Puerto Rico).

The specific name honors P. Sintenis, botanical
explorer who made extensive plant collections on
three field trips to Puerto Rico in 1885-87. This
species recently has been united as a synonym of
F. perforata L., interpreted as a species of broader
range in Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and from
Guatemala to Colombia.

74

24. Jagiiey Colorado

Natural size.

Ficiis sintenisil Warb.

75

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

Key to the 6 species illustrated ( Xos. 25-30)
A. Leaves rounded or short-pointed at apex, without faint lines ; fruits fleshy, without wings.
B. Leaves round or nearly so.

C. Leaves very large, 1-1% feet in diameter, appearing wrinkled with lateral veins deeply sunken — 26.
Coccoloba pubescens.
CC. Leaves smaller, 2Vn-G inches long, flat.

D. Leaves longer than broad; veins green, forming prominent network upon drying — 27. Coccoloba
swartzii.
DD. Leaves broader than long; midrib, larger veins, and young and old leaves often reddish — 28.
Coccoloba nrifera.
BB. Leaves elliptic, about twice as long as broad.

E. Leaves leathery, broadest below middle, mostly rounded at both ends, with edges turned under — 25.
Coccoloba diversifolia.
EE. Leaves thin, usually broadest above middle, short- to long-pointed at apex and short-pointed to heart-
shaped at base — 29. Coccoloba renosa.
AA. Leaves long-pointed, oblong, with 2-5 faint lines on each side of and parallel with midrib; fruits dry, with 3
showy pink wings — 30. Triplaris americana*

25. Uvilla, doveplum

Trees of this genus are recofrnized by the twigs
ringed at the nodes with a membranous sheath
(ocrea) at tlie base of the leaves. This species of
limestone forests is characterized by : ( 1 ) the dis-
tinctive smoothish mottled gray and brown bai'k,
gray at first but peeling off in sliort thin flakes ex-
posing brown beneath; (2) twigs ringed at nodes,
with gray or brown membranous sheath (ocrea)
14 incTi long at base of leaves; (3) elliptic to ovate
leathery leaves 11/2-5 inches long and ^g-SVo inches
wide, usually rounded at both ends and turned
under at edges; (4) slender flower clusters with
many short -.stalked spreading 5-paited whitish-
green flowers 3/jg inch across; and (5) rounded
or egg-shaped dark red or purplish fruits %-V2
inch long, slightly fleshy and edible.

An evergreen, usually small tree to 30 feet tall
and 10 inches in trunk diameter, often with sev-
eral slender trunks and crooked branches. Large
trunks may be buttressed, fluted, or angled. The
inner bark is light brown and astringent or bitter.
Twigs are green when young, Ijecoming gray or
sometimes brown, and bear alternate leaves.

Petioles are ^4-% i'K'b long, light green. Blades
are sometimes blunt-pointed at apex. The upper
surface is dark green to gi-een and dull or often
shiny, and lower surface is slightly paler dull
green.

Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal and 1%-
(i inches long. Flowers are male and female on
different trees (dioecious) and have short stalks
Vs inch or less in length. Male flowers have a
short basal tube (hypanthium) less than \\^ inch
long; 5 spreading rounded whitish-green calyx
lobes more than i-ig inch long; S white spreading
stamens attached to tube ; and rudimentary whitish
pistil with ovary and 3 short styles. Female
flowers have basal tube, 5 calyx lol^es, minute non-
functional stamens, and pistil with 1-celled ovary
i/kj inch long and 3 spreading styles.

The fruits consist of basal tube (hypanthium)
with calyx lobes at the pointed apex, enclosing 1

Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq.

large brown seed (akene) i/4-% inch long. The
sour and somewiiat astringent thin flesh is eaten
by birds and children and prepared into jelly.
With flowers or developing fruits nearly through
the year.

The whitish or light brown sapwood is hard.
The wood is described as dark reddish brown,
heavy (specific gravity 0.8), strong, and brittle.
Employed in Puerto Rico mostly for posts and
j)oles. Elsewhere reportedly used in cabinet-
making.

Popular for general planting and landscape
work in southern Florida. Also a honey plant.

In both the moist and dry limestone forest re-
gions of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Vieques, and
St. Croix.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca,
Guanica, Susua, Vega.

MUNICIP.\LITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMOX. —

7, 9, 11, 14, 24, 26, 28, 38, 44, 54, 55, 68, 75.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, St. Croix, and
lesser Antilles.

Other common names. — uverillo (Puerto
Rico) ; uvilla, guayabon, uvilla de sierra, uva
cimarrona (Dominican Republic) ; uvilla, guaya-
canejo, uverillo, uva de paloma, fruta de paloma
(Cuba) ; doveplum, pigeon-plum, pigeon seagrape
(United States) ; pigeon-plum (Bahamas) ; raisin
marron (Haiti).

Formerly referred to Coccoloba Jau.ri folia Jacq.,
a species described from Venezuela.

Besides the 5 species of this genus illustrated
here, 6 others of mostly small trees are native in
forests of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and
are mentioned under related species. The 2 below
are distinguished from that above by the more
numerous female flowers 50 or more in along an
axis instead of 10-20. Uvero de monte {Cocco-
loba sintenkii Urban), known only from Puerto
Rico, has oblong leathery leaves 5-8 inches long

76

25. Uvilla, doveplum

Natural size.

Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq.
77

and 31/^-5 inches wide, short-pointed at apex and
heart-shaped at base, red flower chisters, and red
flowers with stalks %6 inch or more in length.

Coccoloha co.sfafa C. Wright (('. nipicola Ur-
ban), rare in Puerto Kico but known also from

Cuba and Hispaniola, has broadly ovate to elliptic
or rounded leathery leaves mostly 2-7 inches long
and 2-41/^ inches wide, blunt or rounded at apex,
green flower clusters, and green flowers with stalks
less than V^^ inch long.

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

26. Moralon

A distinctive medium-sized tree of moist moun-
tain forests in centi'al and western Puerto Rico,
easily recognized by: (1) very large nearly round
leaves I-IV2 feet in diameter (often nearly 3 feet
on rapidly growing sprouts), broader than long,
heart-shaped and almost stalkless, thick, stitf, and
leathery, appearing wrinkled with lateral veins
dee]3ly sunken, and finely hairy beneatii; (2) stout
twigs ringed and enlarged at nodes, bearing at
base of leaf a sheath (ocrea), split into brown
finely hairy rounded lobes about 1/4-^2 i"ch long
and ai^pearing double; (3) numerous snioll light
green flowers on short stalks along a stout terminal
axis; and (4) rounded fruits Yie-V^ inch in
diameter.

An evergreen tree to 70 feet in height, the trinik
becoming 2 feet or more in diameter and slightly
buttressed when large, with si^reading crown com-
posed of few branches and few leaves. Young
trees and sprouts are erect and unbranched. The
gray bark is smoothish and slightly fissured, the
inner bark light brown and slightly bitter. The
stout gray twigs have raised dots (lenticels) and
are green and minutely hairy when young. Ter-
minal buds are short, rounded, brown, and finely
hairy.

The alternate leaves have stout green petioles
about % inch long, so short that the bases appear
to be clas])ing. Blades are rounded at apex, not
toothed at edges, above green and shiny and be-
neath yellow green with the network of veins
raised and i^rominent. Leaves of mature trees
found in Hispaniola are reported to be much
smaller, as short as 3-4 inches in length.

The narrow flower cluster (raceme) 5-8 inches
long consists of a slightly curved light green axis
Vs^-I^ inch in diameter, minutely hairy, bearing
flowers about s/^e inch across, usually 2 or 3 to-
gether on slender light green stalks about % inch
long. Flowers are male and female on ditl'erent
trees (dioecious). The male flower consists of a
light green cuplike liasal tube (hypanthium) i/m
inch long and broad with 5 nearly round whitish-
green calyx lobes Yiq long; 8 slender white stamens

Coccoloba pubescens L.

Vjg inch long united into a basal tube nearly as
long; and rudimentary pistil composed of light
green ovary i/jg inch long and 3 small whitish
styles. Female flowers have basal tube, 5 calyx
lobes, minute nonfunctional stamens, and pistil
with ovary 14 g inch long and 3 styles.

When fruiting, the axis curves downward from
the weight of the many fruits which are green and
pinkish tinged when immature, consisting of the
enlarged basal tube (hypanthium) enclosing 1
shiny brown 3-angled seed (akene) %,-, inch long.

The sapwood is whitish, and the lieartwood red-
dish brown with pores marked by dark gum. The
very hard, heavy wood (s]^ecific gravity more than
1.0) is durable and emjiloyed for construction and
furniture. It is resistant to attack by dry-wood
termites.

As a slow-growing ornamental for sj^ecial plant-
ings, this distinctive tree has been introduced spar-
ingly in southern Florida and Cuba.

In the moist limestone forest region and less
commonly in the western half of the lower Cordil-
lera region of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Maricao, Rio
Abajo.

Raxge. — Hispaniola. Puerto Rico, Barbuda,
Antigua, Montserrat, Xevis. Guadeloupe, Domini-
ca, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Barbados. Planted
in southern Florida and Cuba.

Other common names. — hojaucha (Dominican
Republic) ; grandleaf seagrape (United States) ;
leather-coat-tree (Barbados) ; raisinier grandes-
feuilles, bois rouge, moralon (French West
Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Coccoloha grandifolia
Jacq.

A related rare species called ortegon {Coccoloha
rugosa Desf.) is now known only from the south
slope of the Luquillo Mountains but formerly was
present also near San Juan. This small tree has
the trunk unbranched or with very few branches,
similar very large nearly round leaves 1-lV^ feet
in diameter but hairless, and reddish flower clus-
ters and fruits.

78

26. Moralon

Two-thirds natural size.

Coccoloia pubescena L.
79

27. Ortegon

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

Coccoloba swartzii Meisn.

Distinguisliing characters for this species usu-
ally of mountain forests, include: (1) shiny green
elliptic to broadly ovate to rounded leaf' blades
generally thick and leathery, 2i/^-6 inches long and
2-4 inches broad, on short stout green petioles;

(2) twigs ringed at nodes with a green sheath
(ocrea) %-% inch high at base of young leaves;

(3) the terminal erect green flowering axis gener-
ally stout and Vs-^e i'lcli in diameter, bearing
many stalkless greenish 5-parted flowers singly
and not crowded; and (4) slightly fleshy green to
blackish egg-shaped fruit (akene) 5/^g inch long
with calyx lobes at top.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree com-
monly to 40 feet high and S inches in trunk diam-
eter, but recorded to 50 feet in height and 3 feet
in trunk diameter, with narrow or rounded crown.
The bark is gray, smooth to slightly fissured, the
brown or pinkish inner bark slightly bitter and
gritty. The stout gray twigs are slightly crooked
and bent at the ringed nodes.

leaves are alternate on petioles %-% inch long.
Blades are blunt-pointed or rounded at apex and
rounded or sliglitly heart-shaped at Ixise, the edges
not toothed, shiny green al)Ove and a little lighter
green beneatli. ITpon drying the minute network
of small veins becomes slightly raised and promi-
nent on botli surfaces.

The flower cluster (spike) is 4-12 inches long.
Flowers are male and female on difl'erent trees
(dioecious). The male flower 3/jy inch across has
a cuplike scale at base and consists of basal tube
( hypanthium) Vjg inch long with 5 widely spread-
ing calyx lobes more than Wq inch long, 8 spread-
ing stamens, and rudimentary pistil. In the fe-
male flower tlie stamens are small, and the larger
pistil has a 3-angled 1-celled ovary and 3 styles.

The fruit is composed of tiie basal tube (hypan-
thium) 1,4 incji long bearing at apex the 5 calyx
lobes more than W^ inch long and enclosing a shiny
dark brown seed %6 inch long. Recorded in flower
and fruit from June to September.

The sapwood is whitish and hard. The heavy
wood (specific gravity 0.7) is used in Puerto Rico
chiefly for posts.

In the lower and upper mountain forest regions
of Puerto Rico, ascending to dwarf forests of the
summits. Also in moist lowlands of Puerto Rico,
Vieques, St. Croix, St. John, and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. — ^Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Bahamas, Greater Antilles, St. Croix,
St. John, Virgin Gorda, and Lesser Antilles from
Saba to St. Lucia and Barbados.

Other common names. — uvilla (Puerto Rico) ;
uvillon (Cuba); tie-tongue (Bahamas).

The common form known only from mountains
of Puerto Rico and characterized by thick leaves
and stout flowering axis has been distinguished
also as a species {Coccoloba harm que naif! Britton;
C. swartzii f. urhanii (Lindau) Howard).

Three related species may be mentioned here.
One called uvera (Coccoloba pyri folia Desf.),
known only from Puerto Rico, has narrowly ovate
leaves 2—1-1/2 inches long and 1-21/4 inches wide,
short-pointed or blunt at apex, veins inconspicuous
on Ijoth sides, and round fruits only %e inch in
diameter.

Uverillo {Coccoloba mix:-rosta-chya Willd. ; syn-
onym C. obf lis! folia auth.. not Willd.) is a shrub
or small tree widely distributed in the drier areas
of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and also in
Hispaniola. It has small, mostly oblong or ovate
leaves 11/2-21/0 inches long and %-li/4 inches wide,
the apex short-pointed, rounded, or notched, the
base rounded, veins prominent and forming dense
network on lioth sides, and black fruit
not angled.

Coccoloba l-rugii Lindau, another shrub or small
tree of drier areas of Puerto Rico, Anegada, and
elsewhere in the West Indies, has ovate leaves 1-2
inches long and %-li/4 inches wide, rounded at
apex and heart-shaped at base, veins inconspicuous
on ujjj^er surface, and 3-angled fruit ^^g inch long.

14 inch long

80

27. Ortegon

Coccoloia swartzii Meisn.

Two-thirds natural size.

81

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

28. Uva de playa, seagrape

Usually limited to sandy and rocky seashores
and coastal thickets, this familiar small tree or
shrub is easily identified by: (1) the rounded or
kidney-shaped thick and leathery leaves slightly
broader than long, 3-6 inches long and 4-8 inches
broad, heart-shaped at base, with short petiole and
a reddish-brown membranous sheath (ocrea)
%-% inch high around stem; (2) midrib, lai-ger
veins, and young and very old leaves often red-
dish; (3) the numerous small whitish or greenish-
white flowers 3jg inch across in narrow terminal
and lateral clusters 4—9 inches long; and (4) the
drooping grapelike clusters of crowded purple
fruits about % inch long, elliptic or egg-shaped,
and edible.

Varying greatly in size from a low prostrate
shrub on wind-swept beaches to a small, straggly
or wide spreading tree to 30 feet in height and 1
foot in trunk diameter (rarely to 2V2 feet), ever-
green, with rounded crown of few coarse branches
and often branching near base. Sometimes a
larger tree in protected or favorable sites. The
smoothish thin bark is gi'ay, on large trunks peel-
ing oif in small flakes and becoming mottled whit-
ish, liglit gray, and light brown. Inner bark is
light brown ancl bi( ter. The stout S]n-eading twigs
are green and minutely hairy when young, becom-
ing gray, with leaf sheaths and ring scars at nodes.

The leaves are alternate on petioles 1/4-1/^ inch
long. Tlie blades, often turned on edge vertically,
have margins slightly curved under and are hair-
less or nearly so. the up]3er surface green or blue
green and the lower surface paler.

Erect flower clusters (narrow racemes) 4-9
inches long have numerous fragrant flowers on
short stalks Vje-^/s inch long, male and female on
different trees (dioecious). The male flower has
n greenish-white basal tube (hypanthium) i/^g
inch long and broad bearing 5 spreading rounded
white calyx lobes more than i/jg inch long: 8
stamens united at base; and rudimentary pistil.
In the female flower the stamens ai-e small, and
the larger pistil has a 1-celled ovary and 3 styles.

The fruit has a thin fleshy covering (hypan-
thium) with calyx at apex, sour or sweetish, and
enclosing 1 elliptic seed (akene) % inch long.
Flowering and fruiting through theVear.

The sapwood is light bi-own, and the heartwood
is reddish brown. The wood is hard, moderately
heavy (specific gravity 0.7), and very susceptible
to attack by dry-wood termites. It' takes a fine
polish but is little used in Puerto Rico except for
posts and fuel. Straight pieces sliould be suited
for wood turning. Elsewhere, uses for furniture
and cabinetwork have been reported.

Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.

The bark contains tannin, and the astringent
roots and liark have been used in medicines else-
where. West Indian or Jamaican kino, an astrin-
gent red sap exuding or extracted from cut bark,
formerly was in commerce for tanning and dyeing.

Jelly and a winelike beverage can be prepared
from the fruits, which also are eaten raw.
Bunches of fruits in conelike packets formed by
rolling the leaves have been sold on the streets.
Early Spanish colonists sometimes used the fresh
thick leaves as a substitute for paper, scratching
messages with a pin or other sharp point.

This is one of the first woody species to become
established on sandy shores, being more hard}' in
the.se exposed places and more tolerant of salt
than most trees. For these reasons it is often
planted as an ornamental or windbreak along the
coast. Since jiropagation is from cuttings, female
plants should be selected for fruits. Also fre-
quently grown in southern Florida in landscaping
and as a hedge trimmed to shape. A good honey
plant.

Very probably seagrape was the first land plant
of America seen by Christopher Columbus, ac-
cording to Nathaniel L. Britton. That authority,
who visited San Salvador (AVatling) Island in
1907, reported this to be the most conspicuous
jdant nearest the ocean. However, that island ap-
l)arently was not the first discovered.

On nearly all sandy and rocky seashores and
coastal thickets in Puerto Rico, Mona, Desecheo,
Icacos, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

R.\.NGE. — Widely distributed on tropical Ameri-
can shores. From central and southern Florida,
including Florida Keys, and Bermuda throughout
West Indies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad
and Tobago, and Curacao and Aruba. On At-
lantic coast of the continent from noi-thern Mexico
to Colombia, Venezuela, and Guianas.

Other combion names. — uva de mar, uvero
(Puerto Rico) ; grape (Virgin Islands) ; uva de
playa, uva, uvero (Spanish) ; uva de mar, uva
caleta (Dominican Republic) ; uva caleta
(Cuba): papaturro (Honduras, Costa Rica);
papaturro extranjero (Nicaragua) ; seagrape
(United States, English) ; seaside-grape
(Jamaica, Trinidad, British Guiana) ; grape
(British Honduras) ; raisin la mer (Haiti) ; raisin
l)ord-de-mer, raisinier bord-de-mer (Guadeloupe,
French Guiana) ; zeedreifi, dreifi, dreifi di laman,
seagrape (Dutch West Indies) ; druif, zeedruif
(Surinam).

82

28. L'ya de playa, sea-ape

Two-thirds natural size.

Coccolo'ba uvifera (L.) L.

83

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

29. Calambiena. chicoiy-sriape

A small troo with odihlc fi'uii.s I'liaractorized by :
(1) a veiT spioailiiiiT crown with noarly horizontal
branches and leaves ih-oopinfj in "2 rows; (2) sliort-
stallced leaves witii thin elliptic to obovate blade,
usnally broadest above middle, the nnich sunken
lateral veins nearly parallel but curved and joininu:
near edjies and with membranous lonir-pointed
sheath (ocrea) -"j^-^^ inch lona' surroumlinir twi^:
but soon sheddiuii; (15) very slender erwt terminal
and lateral flower clusters ;>-" inches lonir, with
numerous short-stalked 5-parted frreenish-yellow
flowei's more than iji inch across, the male and fe-
male flowers on ditl'erent trees (dioecious) ; and
(4) numerous showy fleshy white to pinkish fi-uits
3,jg-i^ inch lonir, eii'<x-sha]nHl, consist ini;: of eilible
lobed calyx, antl inside a shiny blackish seed
(akene).

A deciduous tree or shrub to ;U) feet hisxh and S
inches in diameter. The brown bark is smoothish
with raised dots (lenticels). the inner bark pink
brown and sliirhtly bitter. Twijrs are ereen when
younji, becomiuir li^iht brown with raised dots
(lenticels). with remains of sheath or rinir :»t
nodes, and lx>arini: alternate leaves.

Petioles are i.i-ij inch lonir. brownish <rreen.
After the basal slieath sheds, the base remains at-
tached. Blades are SV'o-f* inches long and l^/o— I
inches wide, or larsrer on rajiidly srrowine shoots.
short- to long-pointed at apex and siradually nar-
rowed to the short-pointed or sliirhtly heart-sha]ied
base, the edjjes not toothed, the upper surface jxi-een
and slisihtly shiny, and lower surface dull ixi-een
with raised veins.

Coccoloba venosa L.

Mowers are bori\e along the axis (spikelike
raceme), 1 to few above a scale on stalks about i/jg
inch lonjr. Each flower has a "i-lobed membranous
scale about Vio inch long at base. The male flower
consists of a minute greenish-yellow basal tube
( hypanthiimi) with i\ spreading calyx lobes about
'iti '"I'll long, S stamens less than 'm inch long,
and rudimentary pistil. The female flower has
basal tube (hypanthinm) with 5 calyx lobes, sterile
.stamens, and pistil with ;>-angled 1-celled ovary
and ;5 styles.

The fruit is broadly egg-shaped with fleshy calyx
lobes, sweet and edible, surrounding the seed
(akene) ij^ inch long. Recorded in flower from
May to September and in fruit in October.

The wood is whitish, hard, and little used.

Ii\ the ilry coastal region of Puerto Kico. .Vlso
in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. .lohn.
and Tortola.

Public forests. — (luanica, Susiia.

K.ANGE. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, Lesser Antilles from St. Martin south to
(iivnada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Reported
from -lamaica nearly '200 years ago, perhaps in
error. Also in Venezuela and introduced experi-
mentally in Cuba.

Otiikk co.mmox xamks. — false-grape, cherry-
grape, trible-gra])e (Virgin Islands): guarapo
(Dominican Republic): checker-grape (Grena-
dines) : hoe-stick- wood (Barbados) : white-grape,
small - leaf - grape (Trinidad) : sugary - grajje
(Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Coccoloba nivea Jacq.

84

20. Calambrefia, chicory-grape

Coccoloha venosa L.

Two-thirds natural size.

85

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)

30. Triplaris, anttree

Tliis handsome exotic is easily recognized by:
(1) its straight tall trunk and narrow columnar
crown; (2) smooth mottled Ijrown and light gray
bark peeling off in thin pieces or strips: (3) hollow
twigs ringed at nodes and ending in a long, nar-
row, pointed, pale greenish or j'ellowish bud 2-4
inches long; (4) large oblong long-pointed leaves
with many parallel nearly straight lateral veins
and with 2-5 faint lines on each side of and paral-
lel with midrib; (5) small greenish very hairy
flowers, crowded in erect clusters, the male and
female on diiTerent trees (dioecious) ; and (6)
showy masses of large odd reddish fruits at the top
of the crown, about 1% inch long, consisting of an
elliptic base and 3 oblong pink wings like a small
shuttlecock.

A medium-sized to large evergreen tree becom-
ing TO feet tall and 11,2 feet in trunk diameter, the
trunk slightly angled or fluted. The bark, where
peeled otf, exposes a light gray layer beneath.
Imier bark is pinkish and astringent. The green
to bi-own stout twigs are often slightly zigzag.
The scale (stipule) covering the bud makes a ring
scar around the twig upon falling.

The leaves are alternate on stout, shoi-t, flattened
petioles i/4-% inch long. Blades are mostly 9-14
inches long and 2V'2-5 inches wide, sometimes only
half as large, short-pointed at base, not toothed at
edges. The faint lines parallel with midrib result
from pressure in the bud when the blade is folded
under. The upper surface is dull to shiny green
and hairless or nearly so, and the lower surface
slightly paler dull green and with scattered brown
hairs on midrib.

Flower clusters (spikes and racemes) are lateral
at base of leaves, 2-8 inches long, densely light
brown hairy, with flowers stalkless or short-
stalked. Male flowers about %fi inch long have a
funnel-shaped, tubular, 6-lobed, hairy calyx and

Triplaris americana L.*

9 spreading stamens. Female flowers have a tubu-
lar 3-lobed calyx, 3 petals, and pistil with 3-angled
ovary and 3 slender stjdes.

The fruit consists of a basal elliptic swollen
hairy calyx tulse % inch or more in length with 3
reddish or pink-red. membranous, prominently
veined wings U^-l^o inches long, formed fi'om
calyx lobes. Inside are the 3 narrow petals and
1 3-angled pointed shiny brown seed (akene). At
maturity the fruit falls slowly like a parachute,
si)iiniing rapidly. Flowering in spring from Feb-
ruary to May and in fruit in May and June.

The whitish sapwood is soft. The wood of this
or related species is reportedly used for construc-
tion where native. When cut for fuel, the trunks
are replaced by sprouts.

In the natural environment the hollow twigs are
inhabited by ants, usually vicious or ferocious
stinging ones.

An ornamental in some cities of Puerto Rico,
having been introduced about 1924 and distribu-
ted a few years later. Also tested at St. Croix.

Raxge. — NortheiTL South America, originally
described from eastern Venezuela. Planted in
southern Florida, Puerto Rico, and other tropical
areas.

Other coMsrox xa:\ie. — long-john anttree
(English).

There is some doubt about the specific name of
the Puerto Rican trees. According to Britton and
Wilson 3 species were introduced : Triphirix nmerl-
enna L. from Central America though originally
described from Venezuela, T. caracasana Cham,
from Venezuela, and T. cumingiana Fisch. & Mey.
from Panama. The Puerto Rican trees appear to
be the same as those planted in the Canal Zone and
Cul)a under the last named species, which origin-
allv was described from Colombia.

86

30. Triplaris, anttree

687-921 0—64 7

One-half natural size.

Triplaris americana L.
87

FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY (NYCTAGINACEAE)

Key to the 3 species illustrated (Xos. 31-33)

A. Leaves thin or slightly thickened, rounded or short-pointed at both ends, hairy at least when young; fruits dry,
narrow, with 5 x-ows of rtotlike glands.
B. Leaves about half as broad as long, the lower surface densely Hne hairy — 31. Pisonia albida.
BB. Leaves nearly as broad as long, rusty bro^vn hairy when young but becoming hairless or nearly so — 32,
Pisonia subcordata.
AA. Leaves slightly thickened and succulent, short-pointed at both ends, hairless: fruits fleshy — 33. Torrubia fragrans.

31. Corcho bobo

This tree of dry areas is characterized by: (1)
brittle twio;s; (2) opposite elliptic leaves 2-6
inches lon<; and 1-3 inches broad, rounded or
short-pointed at both ends, the tipper surface
slightly shiny green and hairless, and the lower
surface paler and densely fine hairy; (3) many
flagrant small greenish flowers in terminal
branched clusters when leaves are shed or form-
ing; and (-i) numerous dark brown dry fruits %
inch long and I'le inch in diameter, the upper half
with 5 rows of raised glands and slightly sticky.

A deciduous, usually small tree to 30 feet in
height and fi-1'2 inches in trunk diameter with
spreading crown, or shrubbj'. Base of trunk and
roots are often enlarged, suggesting an elephant's
foot with toes. The bark is whitish gray and
smooth. Inner bark is yellow or light brown,
gritty, and tasteless. Twigs are light green and
finely hairy, Ijecoming light gray.

The leaves have finely hairy, pale yellow peti-
oles i/l~l^/4 inches long. The blades are thin or a
little thickened and not toothed on edges.

Flowers are male and female on different trees
(dioecious) in terminal branched clusters (cymes)
on a stalk about 1 inch long. Male flowers are
short -stalked, consisting of greenish, finely hairy,
5-toothed bell -shaped calyx % inch long and usu-
ally 8 stamens about 1/4 inch long. Female flowers

Pisonia albida (Heimerl) Britton

in widelj' forking branched clusters have slender
stalks 1/^-1/4 inch or more in length; the greenish,
finely hairy, 5-toothed tubular calyx i ^ inch long,
and pistil with 1-celled, 1-ovuled ovary, style, and
stigma.

Fruits (akenes) are numerous in a spreading
cluster of widely forking branches 2-3i/^ inches
long and broad, the whole cluster breaking off to-
gether. The tubular calyx remains outside of the
very narrow dark brown 1-seeded fruit. Flower-
ing when leafless or with new leaves, from Febru-
ary to May, and maturing fruits in late spring.

The sapwood is yellowish or whitish. The heart-
wood is yellowish, coarse-textured, with silvery
gum in the pores, and moderately soft. T'sed only
as fuel wood in Puerto Eico.

It is reported that the sticky fruit clusters fallen
on the ground can cause death of young chickens
that get tangled in them.

In forests and thickets in the diy coast and lime-
stone regions of southern and western Puerto Rico.
Also common in Mona and in Caja de Muertos.

PtTBLic FORESTS. — Guajataca, Guanica, Susiia.

Range. — Hispauiola, Puerto Rico, Mona, and
Caja de Muertos.

On IKK COMMON NAMES. — corclio blaiico, corcho
(Puerto Rico).

88

31. Corcho bobo

Natural size.

Pinonia alhida (Heimerl) Britton

89

FOUR'O'CLOCK FAMILY (NYCTAGINACEAE)

32. Corcho bianco, water mampoo

A medium-sized to large tree recognized by : ( 1 )
opposite, usually large, elliptio or nearly round
leaves 2V2-8 (sometimes 10) inches long and nearly
as broad, mostly rounded at apex and rounded or
often a little heart-shaped at base; (2) gray
smooth trunk and branches; (3) numerous green-
ish flowers crowded in stalked ball-like clustei-s
I-I14 inches in diameter, male and female on dif-
ferent trees (dioecious) ; and (4) narrow dry fruits
%-i/2 inch long and more than "],; inch in diameter,
iO-angled, with 5 rows of dot I ike glands near
apex.

This deciduous tree l^ecomes 40-50 feet in height,
with short, often thick trunk to 2-3 feet iii di-
ameter, stout branches, and rounded crown. The
twigs are green and finely rusty-brown hairy when
young, becoming gray and stout.

The leaves have stout round ]>etioles I-I14 inches
long. Blades are without teeth on edges, rusty-
brown hairy when young liut becoming hairless or
nearly so, shiny yellow green above and beneath
dull light green with pinkish main veins.

Flowei-s appearing with new leaves generally in
early spring but sometimes in summer. The ter-
minal and lateral clusters of fragrant finely hairy-
flowers have stalks 1-2 inches long. Male flowers

Pisonia subcordata Sw.

have bell-shaped, S-toothed calyx 1/4 inch long and
8-10 longer stamens. Female flowers, less
crowded, consist of tubular a-toothed calyx about
Yg inch long and pistil with ovai-y, slender style,
and much branched stigma. The 1-seeded fruits
(akenes) are enclosed by the club-shaped or cy-
lindrical calyx, gray green, maturing generally in
spring.

Wood is soft, whitish, lightweight (.specific
gravity about 0.5), porous, and not durable. Used
for net floats for fishing and as fuel wood in Puerto
Rico and for boxes in Guadeloupe.

In forests in the limestone and lower Cordillera
regions of Puerto Rico. A race with very large
thin leaves is found on limestone. Also in Icacos,
('ulel)rita, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, Tortola, and Anegada.

PiHLK' KoHESTS.— Guajataca, Maricao, Rio
Aba jo.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and
Lesser Antilles from Anguilla and St. Martin
south to Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Other common names. — corcho, palo bobo
(Puerto Rico) ; mampoo, loblolly (Virgin Is-
lands) ; mapou (St. Barthelemy) ; mapou gris
(Guadeloupe) ; mappoo (Dutch West Indies).

90

32. Corcho bianco, water mampoo

Natural size.

Pisonia sithcordata Sw.

91

FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY (NYCT AGIN ACE AE)
33. Corcho, black mampoo Torrubia fragrans (Dum.-Cours.) Standley

A small to medium-sized tree characterized by :
(1) op])osite, obovate or elliptic leaves, usually
broadest above middle, 2-6 inches lonp; and 1-21/2
inches broad, short-pointed at the apex and gradu-
ally narrowed at base to a short petiole; and (2)
clustered, cylindrical, fleshy, 1-seeded fruits V^-Vo
inch long and %6 inch in diameter, red, turning
black, covered by the calyx with 5 teeth at apex.

An evergreen tree 20-40 feet high and to 20
inches in trunk diameter, with rounded crown.
Tlie bark is smootliish, gray or brown. Inner bark
is light brown, slightly bitter. Twigs yellow gi-een
when yovmg, becoming gray.

The leaves have yellow-gi-een petioles i/fe-%
inch long and slightly thickened and succulent
blades, the edges not toothed, hairless, green or
yellow green and slightly shiny above and paler
beneath.

Flowers are male and female on different trees
(diiiecious), numerous in stalked, erect, mostly ter-
minal, branched clustei-s (panicles) 3-4 inches
long and li/j-'^ inches broad, short-stalked or
stalkless, greenish, minutely hairy, slightly fra-
grant. Male flowers have funnel-shaped a-toothed
calyx ^jg inch long and 0-10 longer stamens.
Female flowers consist of narrow tubular 5-toothed
calyx l/g inch long and ])istil with ovary, slender
style, and nmch branclied stigma. Flowers and
fruits appear from early spring to summer.

The sapwood is whitish and soft. The wood is
little used in Puerto Rico and elsewliere has even
been considered unsuitable for fuel.

In forests of the moist coast, moist limestone,
and lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also
Mona, Icacos, Culebra, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.

PtTBLic FORESTS. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, Rio Abajo, Vega.

Rang?:. — Almost throughout West Indies (ex-
cept Bahamas) from Cuba and Jamaica to Gre-
nada, Barbados, and Tobago, and in Bonaire,
Curagao, and Ainiba. Also in northern South
America from Colombia to Venezuela and
Guianas.

Other common names. — palo de corcho, maja-
gua de mona, majagua, emajagua (Puerto Rico) ;
perico, palo de perico (Dominican Republic);
barrehorno (Cuba); estribo (Colombia); mapoo
(St. Lucia, Grenadines) ; beefwood (Barbados) ;
mapoo (St. Barthelemy).

Botanical synonybi. — Fison'ia fragrans Dum.-
Cours.

A second sjiecies of this genus, known as ba-
rrehorno {Tornihm discolor (Spreng.) Britton),
is distinguished by the oblong or elliptic leaves
rounded at apex and usually smaller, 1-21/2 inches
long and 1/2-IV2 inches broad. This shrub or small
tree is recorded from Puerto Rico and Desecheo.

92

33. Corcho, black mampoo

Torrubia fragrant (Dum.-Cours. ) Standley

Natural size.

93

MAGNOLIA FAMILY (MAGNOLIACEAE)

Key to the 2 native species, both illustrated (Nos. 34-35)

A. Leaves broadly elliptic to nearly round, abruptly short-pointed, hairless — 34. Magnolia portoricensis.
AA. Leaves ovate or elliptic, short- or long-pointed, the lower surface silky gray green with fine hairs — 35. MagnoHa
splendens.

34. Jagiiilla

This handsome tree of the central and western
mountains of Puerto Rico is easily recognized by:

( 1 ) showy, very fragrant, white flowers 2-5 inches
across the 7 or 8 petals, borne singly and terminal :

(2) leathery, liroadly elliptic to nearly round
leaves 3-8 inches long and '2-6 inches l)road.
abruptly short-pointed, bent upward on both sides
of midrib, slightly shiny, dark green or green on
upper surface and paler beneath giving the foliage
a grayish cast; (3) hairless twigs ringed at the
nodes; (4) foliage and bark with a spicy odor
when crushed, as well as a spicy taste; and (5)
long narrow terminal buds.

A meditnn-sized to large evergreen tree attain-
ing 70 feet in height and 3 feet in trunk diameter,
with narrow crown. The gray bark is smoothish
or slightly fissured, becoming rough on large
trunks. Inner l)ark is light brown. The stout
green twigs have terminal buds 2-3 inches long,
green but becoming yellowish and tinged with
brown, composed of a pair of scales (stipules) en-
closing the new leaf and forming a ring scar when
shed.

The alternate leaves have green petioles V2~lVi
inches long. Leaf blades have edges without
teeth, are rounded at base, stifi', and hairless.

The beautiful, large, spreading flowers have 3
whitish-green sepals and 7 or 8 white petals, all
about 1%-2V2 inches long, broad and rounded at
apex, and slightly thickened. There are numer-

Magnolia portoricensis Bello

ous short-stalked stamens Vo inch long. Many
pale yellow pistils I/4-V2 "''ch long, each with 1-
celled ovary and curved style, are spirally ar-
ranged on a central axis -Vt inch high.

Fruits are elliptic, conelike, IV2-- inches long
and 1 inch thick but slightly irregular in shape.
Each ovary becomes a pod (follicle) and splits
open to release 1 or 2 red triangular seeds, which
remain attached by fine threads before falling.
Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light brown. The heartwood
when freshly cut is olive brown or yellowish green,
later becoming brown. The wood is hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.7), fine-textured, and spicy
fragrant, and is susceptible to attack by dry-wood
termites. Under the name laurel sabino, the wood
is employed for furniture, cabinetwork, and simi-
lar purposes.

In forests of upper Cordillera region of Puerto
Rico. Most of the larger trees have been cut, ex-
cept in the most inaccessible areas.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Maricao,
Toro Negro.

Mt'NICIPALITi- WHERE ESPECIAI,I,T COMMON. 19.

Ranoe.- -Known only from mountains of Puerto
Rico.

Other common names. — burro mauricio, alciba,
anonillo, ortegon (Puerto Rico) ; laurel sabino
( wood, Puerto Rico) .

94

34. Ja^illa

Natural size.

Magnolia portoriceiiKis Bello

95

MAGNOLIA FAMILY (MAGNOLIACEAE)

35. Laurel sabino

Native only in tlie Luqiiillo Mountains of east-
ern Puerto Rico, tliis large tree is characterized
by : (1) yoiuig twigs and commonly the lower sur-
faces of the leathery, o\ate or elliptic leaves silky
or satiny gray green witli a dense coat of fine hairs
giving a gray cast to the crown of the tree; (2)
twigs ringed at the nodes: (3) prominent narrow
long-pointed terminal buds; and (4) large, showy,
fragrant, white flowers 3 inches across the 6 or
more petals, single or 2 or 3 together at ends of
twigs.

An evergreen tree becoming 75 feet tall and to
4 feet or more in trunk diameter, with narrow
crown of dark green, spicy foliage. The trunk
typically produces numbers of new shoots or suck-
ers. Bark is gray, smoothish, slightly fissured or
rough in age, the inner bark light brown, gritty,
and slightly bitter. Twigs become green and
nearly hairless, then brown. Terminal buds 2-31^
inches long are covered by a pair of united scales
( stipules) , silky and gray green, enclosing the new
leaf and forming a ring scar upon falling.

The leaves are alternate on silky gray -green
petioles %-l inch long. Leaf blades are 4—7 inches
long and 2-3 inches broad, short- or long-pointed
at apex and rounded or short-pointed at base, not
toothed on edges, thick, and with the upper sur-
face dark green and shiny.

The flowers have 3 whitish-green sepals IV4
inches long and 6 or more white spreading petals
about 11/^ inches long, broad and rounded at apex.
Stamens are numerous, about 1/4 inch long, short-
stalked. The many pistils are % inch or less in
length, with 1 -celled ovary and curved style,
spirally arranged in a conelike center % inch long.

The elliptic conelike fruits are about l^A inches
long and % i^i'^b thick, greenish, with many pods
( follicles) , each splitting open and containing usu-
ally 2 triangular, red, fleshy seeds more than I/4
inch long, attached by threads. Flowering mainly
from April to September and maturing fruit from
spring to winter.

The heartwood is very attractive olive green

Magnolia splendens Urban

when freshly cut, later becoiuing brown, the sap-
wood whitish. Growth rings and dark streaks
add to the figure. The wood is moderately heavy
(specific gravity 0.59), hard, moderately strong,
with a characteristic spicy pungent odor. It is
easy to work but susceptible to attack by dry-wood
termites. Rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and
amount of degrade is minor. Machining charac-
teristics are as follows: planing and sanding are
fair; and shaping, turning, boring, mortising, and
resistance to screw splitting all are good.

The wood is used almost entirely for furniture
and cabinetwork. Local demand is greater than
the limited supply. Other suitable uses are for
veneer, plywood, millwork, turning, boat plank-
ing, construction, and carpentry.

The spicy leaves have served as a condiment.
Possibly this species would be suitable as an
ornamental.

Laurel sabino is native to an area where tree
growth is so slow that production of the timber
is not economical. The average trunk diameter
growth rate of 46 trees in the natural forest dur-
ing a 5-year period was only 0.06 inch per year.
The larger trees of the forest are undoubtedly
many centuries old. This, plus the fact that propa-
gation for planting elsewhere is difficult because
most seeds apparently are sterile, greatly limits
the future of this tree. The species will always
be preserved within a formally established natu-
ral area within the Luquillo Forest, and young
trees are being encouraged wherever they appear
naturally. Nevertheless, in most areas the old
overmature trees are being salvaged more rapidly
than they are being replaced by nature.

Restricted to the upper Luquillo Mountains of
Puerto Rico, mostly within the Luquillo Forest.

Public forest. — Luquillo.

Range. — Known only from eastern Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — Sabino, bella (Puerto
Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Talauma splendens (Ur-
ban) McLaughlin.

96

35. Laurel sabino

Two-thirds natural size.

Magnolia splendens Urban

97

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

Key to the 6 species illustrated (Xos. 36-41)

A. Frnlf 1 from a flower, from many pistils united.

B. Leaves with tiny pockets on lower leaf surface where side veins join midrib :
spines.

C. Leaves broadest at middle; fruit with short, straight spines, inedible — 36.
CC. Leaves broadest beyond middle ; fruit with long, curved spines, edible — 37.

BB. Leaves without iiocl-cets ; fruits smooth, edilile.

D. Fruit with networlv of lines on surface — 38. Annoiia rrticulata*
DD. Fruit composed of many rounded tubercles — 39. Aiinona sqKamosa*

AA. Fruits many from a flower, separate, inedible.

E. Leaves ovate to oblong, long-pointed, thin: fruits with long stalks — tO. Cananga odorata.*
EE. Leaves oblong, short-pointed or rounded at apex, leathery; fruits nearly stalkless — 11. Guattcria tlainii.

fruits bearing many fleshy

Annona montana.
Annona muricata.*

36. Guanabana cimarrona, wild soursop

(Tu:tiial):ui;i cimarroiiu, a wild species with in-
edible fruit, is characterized by : ( 1 ) short-stalked
oblong or elliptic leaves ;]-7 inches long and 11/2-3
inches wide, abruptly long-pointed at apex and
rounded or short -pointed at base, alternate and in
•2 rows; (2) tiny hairy pockets or pits on the lower
leaf surfaces where the lateral veins join the mid-
rib; (3) greenish broad flowers single or paired
on older twigs, about 1-1% inches long, composed
of 3 heart-shaped, broacl, short-pointed, thick
fleshy outer petals; and (4) nearly round or egg-
shaped green to yellowish fruit 'IV^--^ inches in di-
ameter, with many short straight fleshy spines and
yellowish inedil)le pulp.

A small deciduous tree to -20 feet in height, with
an irregular spreading crown. The gray or brown
bark is smoothish, with raised dots (lenticels), be-
coming slightly fissured and slightly rough. Inner
bark is brown and tasteless. The twigs are brown.

The petioles are i/i-% inch long. Blades are
slightly thickened and leathery, the edges without
teeth, shiny dark green above, and paler light
green beneath.

The stout flower stalks about % inch long are
borne on older twigs. There are 3 broad, pointed,
finely hairy sepals about %,5 inch long; 6 concave,
fleshy, minutely hairy, greenish petals, the 3 outer
petals about 1-1% inches long, meeting by their
edges to form the bud, and the 3 inner petals
rounded and stalked, about 1 inch long, less thick
and overlapping; very numerous narrow stamens
%6 inf*h long, crowded in a rounded mass ^'o ii^ch
in diameter on the conical floral axis; and many
narrow separate pistils %6 "ich long, crowded in
a central mass.

The aggregate fruit is composed of the numer-
ous united pistils and is covered with many soft
greenish spines about Vs inch long, each represent-

Annona montana Macfadyen

ing a style. There are many shiny brown oblong
seeds about % inch long. Probably flowering and
fruiting most of the year.

The sapwood is light brown and soft. The wood
is used only for fuel. Elsewhere, such as in south-
ern Florida, the tree has been grown as a stock
for budding other species.

In forests of the dry coast and southern slopes
of the Cordillera of Puerto Eico. Also in Vieques
and St. Croix.

Public forest. — Susua.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and St. Croix, Saba, St. Eustatius, Antigua,
Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Trinidad. Also
from Venezuela and (luianas to Brazil and Peru.
Planted in southern Florida.

Other common names.- -guanabana cimarrona,
guanabana de perro (Dominican Re])ublic) ;
guanabana cimarrona, guanabana de loma (Cuba) ;
guanabana, turagua (Venezuela) ; guanabana
(Peru) ; momitain soursop, wild soursop (United
States, English) ; corossol zombi (Haiti) ; bos-
zuurzak (Surinam) ; araticum ape (Brazil).

A related native species is coyur or pond-apple
(Annona glabra L.), called also corazon cimarron,
a small tree of coastal swamps of Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands and of wide distribution north
to soutliern Florida. It is distinguished by the
smooth, yellowish, egg-shaped fruits. The pale
yellow pulp is almost tasteless but can be eaten.
The wood, which is vei-y lightweight, has been
used for floats of fishing nets and for bottle
.stoppers.

In addition to the 3 following species of culti-
vated fruit trees, a few other species of this genus
have been introduced experimentally as fruit trees.
The generic name has been spelled Anona also.

98

36. Guandbana cimarrona. wild .si>ursf)i>

Natural size.

Annona montana Macfadyen

99

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

37. Guanabana, soursop

Guanabana or soursop, a cultivated aud wild
fruit tree, is best knowu by its edil)le si'eeii fleshy
fruits 6-8 inches long and about 4 inclies broad,
elliptic or e<rji; -shaped, with many curved fleshy
spines. Other distin<ruisliing characters are : (1)
the oblong or obovate leaves broadest beyond
middle, short-pointed at both ends, slightly thick-
ened and curved up on botli sides of midrib, shiny
green above and paler beneath, with a strong scent
when cruslied and alternate in -2 rows; (2) minute
round pockets on the lower leaf surface where the
side veins join the midrib; and (3) the large,
fleshy, pale yellow or sulfur-colored flowers nearly
1% inches long and broad, 3-angled from the 3
heart-shaped concave outer petals, borne singly.

A small evergreen tree attaining 20 feet in
lieight and fi inches in trunk diameter. The bark
is brown and smoothish, the pinkish imier bark
tasteless. Twigs ai'e brown or gray, bearing mi-
nute raised clots (lenticels). The short petioles
are V8-% inch long, and leaf blades 2iA-(i inches
long and 1-3 inches broad, the edges without
teeth, and hairless or nearly so.

Flowers are terminal or lateral, on stout green
stalks 1/4-3/4 inch long, and have a strong pungent
odor. There are 3 minute and inconspicuous
broad green sepals % inch long; 3 pale yellow
outer petals heart-shaped, pointed, concave, nearly
•2 inches long and i/s i'^ch thick, fitting together at
edges in bud and rough on outside, 3 smaller, pale
yellow, rounded, concave, inner petals nearly 11^
inches long aud less thick; ami a hemispherical
axis bearing very many crowded stamens 3/i6 inch
long and numerous compacted narrow white pistils
■^\r^ incli long with sticky stigmas.

The large, aromatic, fleshy fruits (aggregate
fruits) weighing as much as 2-5 pounds are com-
posed of the numerous united pistils each ending
in a fleshy spine or short base of a spine i/ig inch

Annona muricata L.*

or more in length, which grows from the style.
The juicy, slightly sour, creamy white, edible pulp
contains many shiny black or brown oblong seeds
1/2"% i'lch long, each developing from a pistil.
Flowering commonly from June to October, the
fruit ripening mainly in the fall.

The sai)wood is whitish, and the heartwood is
brown. The wood is soft, lightweight (specific
gravity 0.4), and not durable. The wood, little
used in Puerto Rico, has served elsewhere for ox
yokes.

Valuable for the fruits, which are eaten fresh
and used in making drinks, ice cream, and pre-
serves. Immature fruits have been cooked as vege-
tables. Leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds have been
employed elsewhere in medicines. An insecticide
for lice has been made from the leaves. Easily
])ro])agated from seeds and rapidly growing.

Planted for the fruits and wikl or naturalized
in thickets, pastures, and along roads throughout
Puerto Rico but commonest on the coast and the
lower southern slopes of the Cordillera. Also in
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola,
and Virgin Gorda.

Range. — Widely planted and naturalized in
tropical regions of America and in western Africa.
The native region perhaps is West Indies though
not definitely known. Throughout West Indies
except Bahamas and from Mexico to Brazil. Com-
mon at Key West but infrequent on mainland of
southern Florida.

Otiiek COMMON NAMES. — guauabaua (Spanish) ;
guanaba (Guatemala, El Salvador) ; catoche,
catuche (Venezuela) ; soursop (English) ; corossol
(Haiti, French West Indies) ; corossolier (French
Guiana) ; sorsaka, zuurzak soursap (Dutch AVest
Indies) ; zuurzak, (Surinam) ; graviola, guana-
bano, coraQao de rainha (Brazil).

100

37. Guandbana, soursop

Two-thirds natural size.

Annona muricata L.
101

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

38. Corazon, custard-apple

Corazon or custard-apple is a cultivated and es-
caped fruit tree distiii<rnished by: (1) short-peti-
oled lance-shaped to oblonjj leaves SiA-S inches
lonfj and 1-2 inches wide, lone-pointed at apex
and sliort-pointed at base, alternate and in 2 rows;
(2) lifjht green narrow Howers %-l inch long, with
3 narrowly oblong fleshy petals not opening
widely, usually a few together in a drooping lat-
eral cluster; and (3) rounded or heart-shaped
smooth reddisli-brown fruit 3-5 inches in diam-
eter, with a network of lines on surface, and with
sweet, pale yellow, tallowlike, edible pulp.

A small deciduous tre-e to 25 feet tall and to 1
foot in trunk diameter, with a very spreading
crown. Tlie gray or brown bark is smoothish,
becoming shallowly furrowed. Inner bark is light
brown, fibrous, and almost tasteless. Twigs are
green and finely hairy when young, becoming
brown or gray.

Petioles are 1/4-% i"<*b long. The blades, not
toothed at edges, are tliin, dull green above and
slightly paler or gray green beneath, finely hairy
when young.

Flower chisters arise from a very short lateral
twig but not at base of a leaf, the slender flower
stalks about 1 inch long. Flowers have a strong
fragrance. There are 3 broad, pointed, brownish
liairy sepals less than i/s inch long; 3 narrow fleshy
])etals 34-I inch long, less than 1/4 inch wide, and
Vf< inch thick, minutely hairy, light green, the
inside keeled and pale yellow with purplish or red-
dish spot at base, turning brown and falling, and
3 inner petals as minute ]>ointed scales less than
Vs inch long; vei'v many tiny narrow whitish sta-
mens less thaii y\c, inch long crowded together;
and numerous tiny separate pistils Yiq inch long
with liniry greenish ovai-ies and pale yellow
slightly sticky stigmas in a conical central mass.

The base of the fruit is sunken next to the stout
stalk. The aggregate fruit, formed from many
pistils, has a coarse network of rhomboidal or hex-
agonal markings which show the individual ova-
ries. The soft sweetish edible pulp adheres closely
to the seeds. There are many oblong shiny dark
brown seeds about 1/2 inch long. Recorded in

Annona reticulata L*

flower from June to September and in fruit from
September to April.

Sapwood is light brown. The lightweight weak
wood is little used in Puerto Rico. Elsewhere ox
yokes have been made from it.

Though this species is widely cultivated as a
fruit tree, other minor uses have been recorded.
The i>ulp is used in home remedies. The powdered
seeds serve as an insecticide to kill lice. A strong
fiber can be obtained from the bark. The leaves
and branches reportedly yield a blue or black dye
and have been ejnployed in tanning.

Extensively planted aroimd houses and spread-
ing in roadsides, pastures, and forests, commonest
ill the coastal regions of Puerto Rico. Also in
\'ieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola. It is not known whether this species is
native here.

Puiujc FORESTS. — Aguirre, Boqueron, Camba-
lache, Guajataca, Guanica, Luquillo, Rio Abajo,
San Juan, Snsiia.

Municipalities where especially common. —
11,38.

Range. — Native of tropical America, apparently
in West Indies and Central America, the botani-
cal type specimen from Jamaica. Now widely cul-
tivated as a fruit tree north to southern Florida
and spreading or naturalized over tropical Amer-
ica tlirough AVest Indies and from Mexico to Peru
and Brazil. Introduced in the Old World tropics
and becoming naturalized there.

Other common names. — corazon (Spanish) ;
mamon (Dominican Republic) ; mamon (Cuba) ;
anoiia (Central America) ; anonillo, anona colo-
rada (Guatemala) ; anona colorada (El Salva-
dor) : anona de redecilla (Honduras, Nicaragua) ;
anon, anonillo (Costa Rica) ; anon (Panama) ;
anon pelon (Colombia) ; chirimoya (Venezuela) ;
tustard-apple, bullock-heart (United States, Eng-
lish) ; coeur de boeuf (Jamaica) ; cachiman coeur
boeuf (Haiti) ; cachiman coeur-de-boenf (Guade-
loupe) ; kasjoema, custard-apple (Dutch West In-
dies) ; coracao de boi (Brazil).

Connnon names in different languages describe
the heart-shaped fruit.

102

38. Coraz6n, custard-apple
687-921 O— 64 8

Natural size.

Annona reticulata L.
103

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

39. Anon, sugar-apple

Anon or sufjar-apple, well known for its sweet-
ish edible fruits, is a cultivated tree which also
gi-ows spontaneously. Its distinj;;uishing charac-
ters are: (1) twi<;s slijihtly zi<;zag, preen and
densely hairy when young; (2) short-stalked
hmce-shaped to oblonp leaves 2-51^ inches long
and %-2 inches broad, alternate in 2 rows; (3)
yellow-gi-een narrow flowers %-l inch long with
3 narrowly oblong petals, usually a few in a lateral
cluster; and (4) nearly round or heart-shaped yel-
lowisli-green fruit 21/4— i inches in diameter, cov-
ered with a whitish bloom but soon turning black-
ish where rubbed and bruised, composed of numer-
ous rounded tubercles or raised segments, with
wliitish, sweet, juicy, custardlike or creamy pulp.

A small deciduous tree attaining 10-20 feet in
height, with broad open crown of irregularly
spreading branches. The bark is brown, smooth-
ish to sliglitly fissured into ]ilates. Inner bark is
light yellow and slightly bitter. The twigs be-
come brown with light brown dots (lenticels).

The green hairy petioles are V^-Vo inch long.
Blades are short- or long-pointed at apex and
short-pointed or rounded at base, the sides some-
times slightly unequal, the edges without teeth,
inconspicuously hairy at least when young, mi-
nutely dotted when examined with a lens, thin, dull
green to dark green above, and beneath pale blue
green and covered with a bloom.

There are 1— i fragrant flowers on slender hairy
stalks in short lateral clusters but not at base of
a leaf. The 3 pointed green hairy sepals or calyx
lobes are about y^^ inch long; the 3 thick and
fleshy outer petals %-l inch long and 14 "^^h wide,
yellow green, slightly hairy, tlie inside light yellow
and keeled with a purplish or reddish spot at the
tliin enlarged base, and 3 minute pointed scales as
inner petals; very numerous crowded white sta-
mens less than i/m incli long in a central mass; and
many separate pistils Yiq inch long, with light
green ovary and white styles, crowded on the raised
axis.

Annona squamosa L.*

The aggregate fruit is formed from the numer-
ous pistils of a flower, which are loosely united,
soft, and more distinct than in other species of the
genus. Each pistil forms a tubercle, mostly i/4-%
inch long and 14-!/^ inch wide and a separate thin
edible pulp, in which is imbedded 1 oblong shiny
blackish or dark brown seed 1/4-% inch long. In
flower and fruit nearly through the year.

Tlie sapwood is light yellow. The heartwood is
brownish. The wood is soft, lightweight, and
weak.

Tlie fruit pulp is eaten raw and may be used to
prepare drinks or sherbet. The green fruits, seeds,
and leaves have insecticidal properties. Else-
where, the leaves, shoots, and roots have been used
in local remedies.

Planted in Puerto Rico for the edible fruits,
spreading from cultivation in roadsides and val-
leys and also in forests where possibly native.
Commonest on the dry coast of Puerto Rico. Also
in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. Grown moi-e in the
Virgin Islands than in Puerto Rico.

Range. — Native of tropical America, but the
original home uncertain. Named botanically from
Jamaica. Now widely cultivated as a fruit tree
and spontaneous or naturalized through the tropics
of the world. Planted or naturalized in southern
Florida, including Florida Keys, throughout West
Indies, from Mexico to Brazil, and in the Old
World.

Other common names. — anon (Spanish) ; sara-
muya, chirmoya (Guatemala) ; anona de Guate-
mala (Nicaragua) ; anon domestico, anon de aziicar
(Colombia) ; chirimoya (Ecuador) ; sugar-apple,
sweetsop (United States, English) ; apple-bush
(Grenadines) ; cachiman cannelle (Haiti) ; pomnie
cannelle (Guadeloupe, French Guiana) ; scopappel
(Dutch West Indies); kaneelappel (Surinam);
at a, fruta de conde, pinha (Brazil) .

104

39. Anon, sugar-apple

Natural size.

Annona squamosa L.

105

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

40. Ilan-ilan, ylang-ylang

This East Indian ornamental tree is identified
by: (1) branches and twigs droopin<j and bearing
leaves characteristieally in ;2 rows; (2) thin ovate
to oblong leaves long-pointed at apex and rounded
at base; (3) odd, strongly fragrant, large though
inconspicuous, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers
with very narrow and long-pointed drooping
petals 3-5 inches long and only i/4-% inch broad,
1-3 at base of a leaf; and (-1) distinctive fruit
<'onsisting of 8-15 spreading, elliptic, fleshy, green
to black berries mostly %-l inch long, resembling
olives, spreading on stalks in a cluster 3-4 inclies
across, all formed from 1 flower.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree attain-
ing 40 feet in height and 1 foot in trunk diameter,
with a spreading crown. Reported to become a
large tree in its native home. The bark is light
to dark brown and smoothish, becoming fissured
and rougli. Inner bark is light brown, fibrous, and
slightly bitter. Twigs are liglit green when young,
becoming brown, with slight spicy taste.

The light green ]:)etioles of the alternate leaves
are V^-^s incli long. The thin blades are 3-8
inches long and IVo-S inches wide, the edges with-
out teeth, slightly shiny green above and dull light
green beneath.

Flowers are borne in profusion on long slender
light green stalks 1-2 inches long scattered along
the twigs at leaf bases. The calyx has 3 broad
pointed yellow-green lobes i/i mch long, spreading
and slightly turned back; the 6 slightly thickened
straplike petals are green wheii young, turning to
greenish yellow and yellow, the inner 3 reddish
tinged at base inside; very numerous stamens less
tlian 1/8 inch long, crowded into a triangtilar mass,
pointed and becoming reddish tinged at apex; and
8-15 separate green ])istils crowded in center, less

Cananga odorata (Lam,) Hook. f. & Thorns.*

than 14 inch long, the stigmas in a sticky mass.

Several fruits developing from a flower have al-
most tasteless flesh and usually 4 or 5 rounded flat
light brown seeds i/4 ii^^h or more in diameter
((),40() to a pound). In flower and fruit through
most of the year.

The sapwood is whitish. The soft wood is not
durable. Wiere the trees are native, small canoes
and drums have been made from the trunks.

A valuable volatile oil, known as oil of ilang-
ilang anil employed in perfumes, is the principal
product of this tree. It is distilled from the flowers
in the Phili])pines, East Indies, and India. The
iiihaliitants of the East Indies anoint their heads
and bodies with the oil or decorate themselves
with garlands of the flowers.

Occasionally planted as an ornamental and for
its fragrance along the coast of Puerto Rico and
the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and perhaps
others).

Range. — Xative of the Malayan region, includ-
ing southern India, Java, Philippines, Malay
Archipelago, and tropical Pacific islands. Spar-
ingly introduced in other tropical regions and
spread from cultivation. Planted in Cuba, His-
paniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Guade-
lope (recorded as naturalized), and perhaps others
of "West Indies. Also in southern Florida, a rela-
tively recent inti'oduction in Central America, and
in South America.

Other foMMON names. — ilang-ilang (Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands) ; ilan-ilan, ilang-ilang
(Spanish) ; cadmia, cananga (Colombia) ; ylang-
ylang (United States, English) ; ylang-ylang
(Guadeloupe).

BoTAxicAL SYNONYM. — Canangkvm odoratum
(Lam.) Baill.

106

40. Ilan-llan, ylang-ylang

Natural size.

Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thorns.

107

ANNONA FAMILY (ANNONACEAE)

41. Haya minga

A tree of the higher mountains, haya minga is
distinguished by: (1) small, leathery, dark green,
oblong, fragrant leaves in 2 rows on slightly zigzag
blackish twigs which frecjuently are almost hori-
zontal; (2) the greenish-yellow flowers about 11/2
inches across the 5 spreading fleshy petals and
borne singly on long stalks at base of leaves; and
(3) clusters of many elliptic berries about V2 ii^ch
long and 14 iiit'b thick from 1 flower.

A medium-sized evergreen tree becoming 20-40
feet in height and 1-11/2 feet in trunk diameter,
rarely larger. Sometimes the trunk is buttressed
at base and often it is irregular in cross section,
much thicker on 1 side. The bark is brown and
rough, becoming dark and purplish black. Inner
bark is pink with spicy taste. The twigs are mi-
nutely hairy when young.

Petioles of the alternate leaves are only Vg-l/i
inch long. Blades ai'e li/^-3 inches long and %-
lig inches wide, stiff, short-pointed or rounded at
apex and short-pointed at base, slightly turned
under at margins, and beneath yellow green with
veins raised.

The flowers have a slight fragrance. Flower
stalks are %-li/o inches long. The calyx has 3 tri-
angular lobes 3/je inch long turned backwards; the
6 greenish-yellow, elliptic, finely hairy petals are
^/^~% "icli long; there are numerous crowded
small stamens less than y^g inch long in a circular

Guatteria blainii (Griseb.) Urban

mass 14 inch across; and a central group of many
small pistils less than i/g inch long, each with a
1-celled 1-ovuled ovary.

The fruit is composed of a cluster of many near-
ly stalkless, spreading, short-pointed berries, each
containing 1 large shiny brown elliptic seed.
Flowering and fruiting more than once during the
year.

The sapwood is light brown or whitish. The
wood is hard and heavy (specific gravity 0.8).
Formerly it was used for construction but now
chiefly for posts, since few large trees remain.

In forests of the upper Luquillo and Cordillera
regions of Puerto Rico.

PtBLic rouESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Susiia, Toro Negro.

R.\XGE. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Other common n.\mes. — negra lora, haya
(Puerto Rico); yaya (Dominican Republic);
purio fangar, purio prieto, ceda (Cuba) ; laois noir
(Haiti).

Botanical synonym. — C a nan g a blainii
(Griseb.) Britton.

Haya blanca {Guatterkt earnhaea Urban; syno-
nym Can-anga caribaea (Urban) Britton), a re-
lated forest tree of the Luquillo region of Puerto
Rico, has larger long-pointed leaves 3-81^ inches
long and 11/4-234 inches wide.

108

41. Haya minga

Natural size.

Guatteria hlainii (Griseb.) Urban

109

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

Key to the 10 species illustrated (Nos. 42-51)

A. Fniit without a cup at base.

R. Fruit elliptic, lilack. 1-1% inches long, inedible — 42. BeHschtnieitia pcndula.
BB. Fruit pear-.shapeil or nearly round, yellow green, 4-5 inches long, edible (avocado) — 51. Persca americana*
AA. Fruit with cup at base.

C. I^eaves very narrow, lance-shaped — 43. Licaria salicifolia.
CC. Leaves broader, mostly elliptic.

D. Leaves broadest below or near middle, mostly long-pointed.

E. Fruits many, round, about 'ii; inch in diameter, the <-up covered with warts; leaves often with
scattered raised dots (galls) — IS. Orated Unroriilon.
EE. Fruits few or several. V. inch or more in diameter : leaves without raised dots.
F. Fruit cup aliout as long as broad.

G. Fruit cup about % inch long and broad — 14. Licaria friandra.
GG. Fruit cup about i'jr, inch long and broad — 1^>. Xrctanrlra coriacea.
FF. Fruit cup very short, flat. Iiearing calyx lobe.^ turned back — 17. Ocotea floriiunda.
DD. Leaves broadest beyond middle, short-pointed or rounded at apex.

H. Leaves <-lnstere(l at nr n''ar ends of twigs. IVo-SVo inches long— .")0. Ocotea spathnlata.
HH. Leaves borne singly. 3-7 inches long.

I. Leaves with lower surface densely hairy, reddish brown when young but becoming gray — 46.
Ocotea cuncata.
II. Leaves shiny on both sides, hairless or nearly so, veins mostly reddish tinged near base — 49.
Ocotea moschata.

42. Guajon

Distinsjuislied by: (1) spicy foliage, twigs, and
bark ; (2) bark on large trunks peeling off and ex-
posing rusty reddish-brown inner layers; (3) el-
liptic, slightly leathery leaves often broadest be-
yond middle, short-pointed at both ends, much
perforated liy insects on many trees: (-i) greenish-
yellow flowers about y^ inch long and broad, sev-
eral in a loose, long-stalked, Ijranched, lateral
cluster 3-5 inches long; and (5) the long elliptic
black fruits l-lVi> inches long and i/> inch in di-
ameter, witliout a cup at base, fleshy and 1-seeded,
borne singly.

A medium-sized evergreen tree attaining 75 feet
in height and 214 feet in trunk diameter. The
dark brown bark is smoothish and slightly fis-
sured, about 1/4 "ich thick, the inner bark light
brown. The twigs are green and minutely hairy
when young.

The alternate leaves have petioles %-% inch
long. Leaf blades are 314-61/2 inches long and
2-314 inches broad, hairless or nearly so at ma-
turity, the edges not toothed, green on upper sur-
face, and paler or covered with a bloom beneath.

The flower clusters (panicles) have finely hairy
branches bearing several sliort-stalked flowers.
The greenish-yellow calyx is finely hairy and has
(i lobes less than Y^q inch long; there are 9 stamens
and additional sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and
pistil of 1-celled, 1-ovuled ovary with short style.

Beilschmiedia pendula (Sw.) Benth. & Hook. f.

Fruits (bei'ries) are green, turning black at ma-
turity, fleshy, with 1 large seed. As some common
names suggest, they resemble small avocados and
olives slightly. Flowering and fruiting from
spring to fall.

The sapwood is pale brown, and the heartwood
is pinkish brown. The wood is moderately hard,
strong, and heavy (specific gravity 0.54). It is
very susceptible to damage by dry-wood termites.
Rate of air-seasoning is slow, and amount of de-
grade is minor. Machining characteri.stics are as
follows: planing, shaping, sanding, and resistance
to screw splitting are good ; turning and mortising
are fair; and boring is poor. The wood is used for
shipbuilding, general construction, flooring, furni-
ture, cabinetmaking, and carpentry.

It is reported that the fruits are eaten by hogs
and other animals in Cuba.

In lower Luquillo and Cordillera regions of
Puerto Rico. Also in St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo.

R.vNGE. — Greater Antilles, St. Thomas, and
Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent.

Other commox n.\mes. — agiuicatillo, aguacate
cimarr6n,cedro macho (Puerto Rico) ; aguacatillo,
cigua amarilla (Dominican Republic) ; aceitu-
nillo, aguacatillo, curavara, mulato (Cuba) ; slog-
wood, slug-wood (Jamaica) ; laurier madame
(Dominica).

Botanical synonym. — Hufelandia pendul-a
(Sw.) Nees.

110

42. Guajon

Natural size.

Beilschmiedia pendula (Sw. ) Benth. & Hook. f.

Ill

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

43. Canelilla

This species is readily distinguished from other
trees of the hxurel family by the narrow leaves.
Other characters for identification include: (1)
spicy foliage, twigs, and bark; (2) narrow acute
pointed crown on most trees; (3) lance-shaped
leathery leaves, dark green or shiny green on upper
surface, and graj' green and finely hairy beneath;

(4) densely reddish-brown hairy young twigs;

(5) small, whitish-gre«n hairy flowers more than
Vig inch long and broad, several in short lateral
clusters; and (6) blackish elliptic flesliy fruit %
inch long and Yi inch broad, in a spreading gray
cup almost i/4 J^c^^ long find broad, with double
rim.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 50
feet liigh with a straight trunk to 1 foot in di-
ameter. The dark gray or reddish-brown smooth-
ish bark has many small warts ( lenticels) and peels
oif in large irregular flakes 1-6 inches long. Inner
bark is light brown, spicy and bitter. Older twigs
are slender, bi-own, and hairless.

The alternate leaves have short reddish-brown
hairy petioles V8-% inch long. Blades are l^/^-Ayo
inches long and Vj-1 inch broad, long-pointed at
apex and short -pointed at base, not toothed on
edges, the upper surface becoming hairless, and the

Licaria salicifolia (Sw.) Kosterm-

lower surface remaining finely hairy with a net-
work of many raised small veins.

The small flower clusters (panicles) nt leaf bases
liave several flowers on densely hairy branches.
Calyx lias 6 hairy lobes less than i/ig inch long;
there are 3 stamens with additional sterile stamens
(staminodes) ; and pistil of 1-celled ovary and
slender style. The elongate fleshy fruits (berries)
have a single large seecl. Flowering and fruiting
from latter part of February to September.

The sapwood is light brown. The heavy wood
(specific gravity 0.8) is used only for poles, posts,
and fuel in Puerto Rico.

In the moist limestone, dry coast, and lower
Cordillera regions, chiefly in western Puerto Rico.
Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolin,
and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Gu-
anica, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua.

Rance. — Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and
Lesser Antilles from Antigua to Martinique.

Other common names. — canela, canela del pais,
canelillo (Puerto Rico) ; bois chique, bois fourmi
(Guadeloupe).

BoT.\NiCAL synonym. — Acrodiclidtum salicifo-
1 ill in (Sw.) Griseb.

U2

43. Canelilla

Natural size.

Licaria salicifolia (Sw.) Kosterm.

113

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

44. Palo de misanteco, Gulf licaria

Found lociilly in northern parts of Puerto Rico,
this species is characterized by: (1) spicy foliage,
twifis, and bark; (2) twigs reddish when youno;;
(3) narrowly elliptic leaves, slightly thickened,
many with a long tajjering point and short-pointed
at base; (4) the small wliitish flowers more than
^16 inch long and broad, many in branclied clus-
ters 11/2"'^ inches long; and (5) the elli])tic green
or dark blue fruits % incli or more in lengtli, in a
large thick red cup about Yo inch long and broad
with double rim or margin.

A small evergreen tree to -SO feet high and 8
inches in diameter with broad rounded crown.
Tlie bark is dark brown and flaky or scaly. The
slender twigs are finely hairy and with raised clots
(lenticels).

The leaves are alternate on petioles i/4-i/^ inch
long. Blades are .'5-.5 inches long and 1-1% inches
broad, the edges not toothed, shiny dark green
above, paler beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and lat-
eral, and have groups of small flowers on short,
slender, haii-y stalks. The tubular calyx has 6
lobes; the .I stamens are united into a fleshy hairy
tube or column ; and the i^istil has a l-cellecl ovary,
slender style, and protruding flattened stigma.

Licaria triandra (Sw.) Kosterm.

The fleshy fruits (berries) are few in a cluster
and 1-seeded. The cup has a second rim about i/8
inch below the edge and is warty. Recorded in
flower in May and in fruit in ]\Iay and July.

The wood is described as ash colored or greenish
yellow, strong, and heavy (s]3ecific gi-avity 0.9).
Used for posts in Puerto Rico. Re])orted as suit-
able for interior construction and used for matches
and matchboxes in Dominican Republic.

This s]3ecies has been suggested as a shade tree
for southern Florida and Cuba.

In forests of the moist limestone region of
Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques.

Public forest. — Guajataca.

Range. — Greater Antilles and Martinique.
Also very rare in southern Florida.

Other cojiMnx names. — misanteco, palo misan-
teco (Puerto Rico) ; cigua prieta (Dominican Re-
public) ; lebisa, leviza, laurel de loma, laurel
bianco (Cuba) ; Gulf licaria. Gulf misanteca
(United States) ; sweetwood (Jamaica) ; laurier
jaune (Haiti).

Botanical synonyms. — Misanteca triandra
(Sw.) Mez, Acrodididhini fnandrum (Sw.) Lun-
dell, A. jainairen.se Nees, Licaria jamaicensis
(Nees) Kosterm.

114

44. ralo (le misanteco. Gulf licaria

Natural size.

Licaria triandra (Sw. ) Ko.sterni.

115

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

45. Laurel avispillo, Jamaica nectandra

This tree, is distino'iiished by: (1) spicy leaves,
twips, and bark; (2) shiny green or dark green,
leathery, narrowly elliptic leaves nsually short-
pointed at both apex and base, pale beneath with
a ]ironiinent network of veins on both surfaces;
(3) small white flowers % inch or more across,
6-lobed, many or several in lateral clusters with
pink or red branches: and (4) round or elliptic
blackish or dark blue fruits about l/2-% inch long,
with red cup.

A small evergreen tree attaining 20-30 feet in
height and 6-12 inches in trunk diameter, with a
narrow crown. The bark is gray and smoothish.
Inner bark is light brown. The slender twigs are
green and slightly hairy when young, turning

ffi'ay-

The leaves are alternate on short petioles 14-V2
inch long. Leaf blades are 2-0 inches long and
34-2I/2 inches broad, thickened and leathery (as
the specific name indicates), often bent upward
slightly on both sides of midrib, not toothed on
edges.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 1-4 inches long,
bearing the fragrant flowers on slender stalks
]/g-i4 incli long. The calyx has 6 widely spread-
ing, white, finely hairy lobes Ms-%6 inch long;
there are 9 wliite stamens; and i)istil with 1-celled
ovary partly enclosed, style, and broader stigma.
The fleshy fruits (berries) in drooping clusters
have 1 reddish-brown seed. The cup is about 3/1,5
inch long and broad. Flowering and fruiting
probably irregularly through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, the heartwood dark
brown. Elsewhere the wood has been used in car-
pentry and cabinetwork and for poles.

Planted for shade in soutliern Florida and
Cuba. Eeported to be a honey plant. It is said
that cattle eat the fruits.

Common in the moist limestone forest region
of northern Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.
PuHLic FORESTS. — Cauibalache, Guajataca.
Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and through West Indies from Bahamas and
Cuba to Grenada and Tobago. Also in Mexico
(Yucatan Peninsula), British Honduras, and
Guatemala.

Other common names. — avispillo, laurel, cigua,
laurel cigua (Puerto Rico) ; pepper cillament
(Virgin Islands) ; cigua blanca (Dominican Re-
public) ; cigua, siguaraya, boniate, lebisa (Cuba) ;
laurel (Mexico) : Jamaica nectandra, lancewood,
Jamaica ocotea (United States) ; black torch,
sweet torch wood (Bahamas); sweetwood, cap-
berry sweetwood, small-leaved sweetwood (Ja-
maica) ; laurier marbre (Grenada) ; sweetwood

Nectandra coriacea (Sw.) Griseb.

(British Honduras) ; laurier blanc (Haiti) ; bois
doux negresse, bois violon, bois doux noir (Guade-
loupe) ; sweetwood (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — Ocotea coriacea (Sw.)
Bviiton, O. CO fesbyana (Michx.) Sarg.

Five other species of this genus, known also as
laurel, are native in moist forests of Puerto Rico,
and 2 of these reported also from the Virgin
Islands. Aguacatillo (Nectandra antillana.
Meisn.), of soutliern and eastern Puerto Rico and
St. Thomas, has oblong or broadly lance-shaped
leaves 21/2-9 inches long and 1-3 inches wide, long-
pointed at apex and short-pointed at base, hairless
except on main vein beneath.

Laurel canelon (Nectandra krugii Mez), of cen-
tral and western mountains, has the twigs, petioles,
l)ranches of flower clusters, and the flowers rusty
hairy: leaves oblong or lance-shaped, 41/4-10
inches long and 11,4-31/2 inches wide, long-pointed
at apex and short-pointed or rounded at base, veins
sunken in upper surface and prominent beneath,
liairy beneath and also above when young.

Laurel prieto (Nectandra memhranacea (Sw.)
Griseb.), also called laurelillo, has young twigs
rusty hairy and oblong to elliptic leaves 3-10
inches long and 1-3 inclies wide, long-pointed at
apex and short-pointed at base, veins sunken in
upper surface and prominent beneath, hairless or
sliirhtly hairy. This tree, included in "Puerto
Rican Woods," was reported long ago from St.
Tlirnnas and St. Croix also.

Laurel roset a (Nectandra patens (Sw.) Griseb.)
has leaves elliptic, 3-8 inches long and 114-8 inches
wide, usually short -pointed at both ends, leathery
and with prominent veins on both sides, and hair-
less except sometimes witli tufts in vein angles be-
neath ; and fruit oblong, nearly 1 inch long, white,
with i-ed cup.

Laurel amarillo (Nectandra sinterum Mez), also
called laurel macho, has young twigs with short
flattened hairs and lance-shaped to elliptic leaves
2-8 inches long and 1-3 inches wide, long-pointed
at apex, hairless, with few main veins. This tree,
listed in "Puerto Rican Woods," was recorded long
ago from St. Tliomas also.

A similar tree known also as laurel avispillo
(Phoehe elongata (Vahl) Nees) has been confused
with Nectandra coriacea. This related medium-
sized tree is common in the eastern mountains and
northern foothills of Puerto Rico and found also
in St. Croix. It has leaves only slightly shiny,
witliout prominent network of veins, and smaller
flowers less tlian i/^ inch across. The flesiiy round
or elliptic blackish fruit 1/2-% inch long has a
6-lobed cup formed from the calyx.

116

45. Laurel avispillo, Jamaica nectandra

Two-thirds natural size.

Nectandra coriacea (Sw.) Griseb.

117

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

46. Canelon

A distinct laurel reco^iized by: (1) dense, sym-
metrical, narrow, conical crown ; (2) spicy le-aves,
twigs, and bark; (3) the yoiinj; twigs, petioles,
lower surface of young leaves, flower stalks, and
flowers covered with dense, reddish-brown, rusty,
or cinnamon-colored hairs; (4) the leathery obo-
vate leaves, broadest near the abruptly short-
pointed apex and gradually narrowed toward the
long-pointed, short-stalked base; (5) the spread-
ing yellowish flowers % inch across in lateral
branched clusters; and (6) the elliptic fruits ^'s
inch long and 14 inch in diameter, with large hem-
ispheric double-margined cup.

Medium-sized evergreen tree to 50 feet high and
1 foot in trunk diameter with straight trunk. The
bark is brown or gray, smoothisli and slightly
warty, on large trunks becoming slightly furrowed,
rough, and thick (V2 inch). Inner bark is brown,
spicy and bitter. Young twigs are finely hairy
and slightly angled, and older twigs are gray and
hairless.

The aromatic leaves ai'e alternate on short, stout
])etioles Vs"^ hich long. Blades are 4—7 inches
long and 2-31^ inches broad, thick, not toothed at
edges. The upper surface is green or dark green
and finely hairy or nearly hairless, and the lower
surface densely and very finely hairy, reddish
brown when j^oung but becoming gray.

Flower clustei'S (panicles) are 3-6 inches long,
narrow, with many slightly fragrant flowers on
short hairy stalks. There are 6 spreading yellow-
ish calyx lobes less than Vg hich long; 9 stamens;
and pistil of partly enclosed 1 -celled ovary, style.

Ocotea cuneata (Griseb.) Urban

and flattened stigma. The fleshy fruit (berry) is
l-.seeded. Flowering from May to September, with
fruits nearly through the year.

The sapwood is whitish and hard. The wood is
suitable for construction, but most trees are used
for posts.

Forests of the western moist limestone and lower
Cordillera regions of Puerto Rico.

Public torests. — Guajataca, Maricao, Susua.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Other commox names. — canela (Puerto Rico) ;
sasafnis (Dominican Republic) ; canelon, canelillo,
achetillo, bijote, vencedor (Cuba).

In addition to the 5 species of this genus de-
scribed here, 3 others known also as laurel are less
common trees in Puerto Rican mountain forests.
Palo santo {Ocotea foeniculacea Mez), from the
Central Coi'dillera near Adjuntas, has elliptic
leaves 2-31/0 inches long and l-lVo inches wide,
short -pointed at both ends, stiff, shiny, and hair-
less.

Laurel de paloma {Ocotea portoricensis Mez),
called also laurel avispillo and known only from
Puerto Rico, has elliptic leaves 2^ inches long
and %-li/^ inches wide, hairless, with callus-like
thickenings in vein angles beneath, aiid has flow-
ers male and female on separate trees (dioecious).

Laurel canelon {Ocotea lortghtii (Meisn.)
Mez), of the western Cordillera, has oblong or
lance-shaped leaves 21,4-5 inches long and %-li/4
inches wide, long-pointed, and densely rusty hairy
beneath when young.

118

46. Canelon

687-921 O — 64 9

Natural size.

Ocotea cuncata (Griseb.) Urban

119

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

47. Laurel espada

Characters distinjriiishing this species are: (1)
long branches spreading outward from the trunk:
(2) twigs, bark, and leaves spicy; (3) the bmce-
sliaped or elliptic shiny dark green leaves 2-5i/^
inches long and i/4-2i^ inches broad, slightly
leathery, with long-pointed blunt apex and short-
pointed base; (4) midrib and main luteral veins
commonly yellowish white; (5) branched clusters
of many small greenish-white flowers y^ inch
across in lateral branched clusters; a:id (6)
rounded or elliptic black fruits V2 ii^ch long with
very short, flat, double-margined cup bearing the
calyx lobes turned back.

Small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 60 feet
tall and 1 foot in trunk diameter. The light brown
bark is smoothish; the inner bark also light brown,
gritty and spicy to the taste. Twigs are green,
S])arsely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves have petioles %-% inch
long. I^af blades are not toothed on edges. The
lower surface of some is dull light green and
slightly hairy on midrib and veins.

Flower clusters (panicles) at leaf bases are 1—4
inches long, with finely haii-y branches. The
short-stalked hairy flowers are male and female
on ditl'erent trees (dioecious), the calyx with 6

Ocotea floribunda (Sw.) Mez

spreading greenish-white lobes less than % inch
long. Male flowers have 9 stamens and a rudimen-
tary pistil. Female flowers have small sterile
stamens (staminodes) and pistil with 1-celled
ovary partly enclosed, style, and broad flat stigma.
The fleshy fruits (berries) have 1 rounded brown
seed % inch in diameter. Flowering from October
to December and maturing fruits from February
to July.

The wood is described as rose white, light-
weight, and easily worked. It is used mostly for
])osts and fuel and occasionally as lumber in farm
buildings in Puerto Rico. In Cuba it is employed
for interiors in rural construction.

Forests of the lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. Also in St. John and Tortola.

Pi'HLic FORESTS. — Carite, Guajataca, Luquillo,
Rio Abajo.

Range. — (ireater Antilles, St. John, Tortola,
Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe to Grenada, and
Trinidad. Also in Venezuela and Guianas.

Otiiei; comjiox names. — laurel (Puerto Rico) :
laurel, laurel bianco (Dominican Republic) ; boni-
ato laurel, lebisa (Cuba) ; black sweetwood, black
candlewood (Jamaica) ; laurier puant (Haiti) :
bois doux (Guadeloupe).

120

47. Laurel espada

Natural size.

Ocotea floribunda (Sw.) Mez
121

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

48. Laurel geo

One of tlie commonest laurels, this species is
characterized by: (1) spicy foliage, twigs, and
bark; (2) a very dense rounded crown : (3) ellip-
tic leathery leaves -i-O inches long and l^/^-Si/o
inches broad, tlie apex short-, long-, or blunt-
pointed, the base short-pointed or rounded, slight-
ly shiny dark green on upper surface and paler
beneath, often witli scattered raised dots, which
are insect galls; (i) branched clusters of numer-
ous small yellow flowers ^ig inch across near ends
of twigs; and (5) very many round black fruits
^16 inch in diameter, in a red or brown cup % inch
long covered with liglit brown warts.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 50
feet high and 10 inches in trunk diameter. The
bark is brown or gray, smoothish or becoming
slightly fissured. Inner bark is liglit brown, with
bitter spicy taste. Twigs are green and finely
hairy when young, becoming brown, slightly
angled.

The leaves are alternate on petioles %-% inch
long. Blades are hairless or nearly so and not
toothed on edges. Insect galls forming scattered
raised dots on the upper leaf surface are sufficiently
cliaracteristic of this species to serve in identifica-
tion.

Flower clusters (panicles) are i-Pi inches long,
broad and much branched, single at leaf bases and
appearing terminal, the branches green, angled,
and finely hairy. The very many fragrant, almost
stalkless flowers are male and female on dilTerent
trees (dioecious), the calyx with fi spreading yel-
low or pale yellow lobes more than l\,; inch long.
Male flowers have 9 stamens and a rudimentary
pistil. Female flowers have minute sterile sta-
mens (staminodes) and pistil with 1-celled,
1-ovuled ovary partly enclosed, style, and broader
stigma.

The fruits (berries) have thin flesh whicli is bit-
ter and spicy, covering the neai-ly round seed about
1/4 incli long. Flowering and fruiting irregularly
through the year.

Ocotea leucoxylon (Sw.) Mez

The sapwood is pale yellowish brown or cream
colored, and the heartwood uniform light golden
brown without figure. The wood is moderately
soft, lightweight (specific gravity 0.45), moder-
ately strong, and easily worked. It is not durable
and is susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.
Rate of air-seasoning is moderate, and amount of
degrade is considerable. Machining character-
istics are as follows : planing, shaping, turning,
mortising, and resistance to screw splitting are
good ; and boring and sanding are fair.

The wood is used mainly for posts but also in car-
pentry and construction. It is suitable for inex-
pensive grades of furniture and cabinetwork and
for interior trim, general carpentry, light con-
struction, boxes and crat«s, plywood, sheathing,
and concrete forms. A general utility wood in
Tobago. P^ormerly made into shingles in Jamaica.

In Dominican Republic it is reported that the
fruits are an important food for hogs.

Widely distributed in forests of the moist coast,
moist limestone, and lower mountain regions of
Puerto Rico. Also in St. Thomas and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Susua, Toro
Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
:>;>, 62.

Range. — Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles from
Montserrat to Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Other common names. — cacaillo, laurel, laurel
geo-geo, geo, geo-geo (Puerto Rico) ; false avocado
(St. Thomas) ; cigua laurel, cigua boba (Domini-
can Republic) ; boniato, curabara, judio, hojancha.
pataban de monte (Cuba) ; whitewood, loblolly
sweetwood (Jamaica) ; duckwood, black-cedar
(Trinidad and Tobago); laurier (Haiti); bois
doux jaune, bois doux piment, laurier fine, laurier
madame (Guadeloupe) ; laurier noir (Marti-
nique).

122

//^

K^

A

48. Laurel geo

Two-thirds natural size.

Ocotea lencoxylon (Sw.) Mez
123

49. Nuez moscada

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

Ocotea moschata (Meisn.) Mez

Known only from Puerto Eico, this aromatic
tree is characterized by: (1) spicy foliag^e, twi^,
and bark; (2) pronounced buttresses; (3) short-
stalked, leathery, obovate or ellii^tic leaves mostly
widest beyond the middle, blunt-]iointed or
rounded at apex and short-pointed at base, shiny
on both sides, dark preen on upper surface and yel-
low green to brownish irreen beneath with raised
veins on lower surface mostly tinjjed reddish near
the base; (4) yellowish flowers about 14 iiich
across, rusty-brown hairy, in lateral clusters
shorter than the leaves; and (5) large elliptic
fruits to IV4 inches in length, with hemispherical
double-margined cup.

A large evergreen tree to 80 feet in height and
21/^ feet in trunk diameter, with a compact narrow
crown and buttresses to 3 feet high and 2 feet
broad. The brown bark is smoothish, becoming
fissured and slightly rough. Inner bark is reddish
brown, with slightly spicy odor and taste. The
brown twigs are finely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves have stout petioles V8-%
inch long and blades 3-6 inches lon<r and 1^/^-31/2
inclies broad, not toothed at edges. The upper sur-
face is hairless and has slightly sunken veins, and
the lower surface is hairless or nearly so.

Short -stalked flowers are borne in branched
clusters (panicles). Calyx has 6 hairy lobes more
than i/g inch long; tliere are 9 stamens; and pistil
has 1-celled ovary with style. The fleshy fruit
(berry) contains 1 large seed. Flowering fi-om

.spring to fall, the fruits maturing from winter to
summer.

The sapwood is yellowish to light brown, and
the heartwood extremely variable, from medium
brown to dark brown with irregular darker brown
to black streaks or patches. The wood is hard and
heavy (specific gravity 0.59) and has medium to
fine texture. It takes a high polish but is very sus-
ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. Rate of
air-seasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade is
minor. Macliining characteristics are as follows:
planing is fair; shaping, turning, boring, and re-
sistance to screw splitting are good; and mortising
and sanding are excellent.

This attractive timber formerly was much used
for cabinetwork. It is recommended for turning,
furniture, cabinetmaking, and novelty items and
should be suitable for light and heavy construc-
tion, bridge timbers, heavy crating, and ^jacking
boxes. The fruits are used for medicinal purposes.

Forests of the lower mountain region of Puerto
Rico, commonest in and near the transition to the
upper mountain forests.

Pn5Lic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.

Range. — Known only from mountains of Puerto
Rico.

Other common names. — nemoca, nuez moscada
cimarrona, nuez moscada macho, nuez moscada del
pais (Puerto Rico).

124

49. Nuoz moscada

One-half natural size.

Ocotea moschata (Meisn.) Mez

125

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

50. Nemoca

This species of the eastern and central mountains
is identified by: (1) branches forming distinct
horizontal layers; (2) narrow buttresses at base of
large trunks; (3) spicy leaves, twigs, and bark;
(4) leaves clustered at or near ends of twigs, shiny
and leathei'y, spoon-shaped (spatulate) or olx>-
vate, IVo-Si/^ inches long and %-lV2 inches broad,
widest beyond middle; (5) greenish-yellow, rusty
hairy flowers about 1/4 inch broad, in lateral clus-
ters shorter than the leaves; and (6) large round
or elliptic fruits %-li/4 inches long with shallow
double-margined cup.

A small or medium-sized evergreen tree to 45
feet high and li/4 feet in trunk diameter. The
gray or brown bark is scaly, becoming thick and
fissured on larger trunks. Inner bark is light
brown and slightly spicy and bitter.

Though crowded at ends of the brown twigs, the
leaves are alternate. Petioles are short, only Vs-Vi
inch long. The blades are blunt-pointed or
rounded at apex and long-pointed at base, with
edges turned undei'. Upper surface is dark green,
with slightly sunken midrib and slightly raised
lateral veins, and the green lower surface with
raised veins.

Flower clusters (panicles) are in the cluster of
leaves, 1-2 inches long, branched and liairy, bear-
ing several short -stalked flowers. The calyx has
6 widely spreading hairy lotes about y^ inch long;
there are 9 stamens; and pistil with 1 -celled ovary
partly enclosed and style.

The fleshy fruit (berry), green when immature,
has 1 large seed and a bi-own cup %-V2 inch high.
Flowering and fruiting perhaps irregularly
through the year.

Ocotea spathulata Mez

Nemoca is the most unusual and perhaps the
most attractively figured commercial wood of
Puerto Rico. The uniform sapwood is yellowish
brown near the outside and pinkish brown toward
the wide interior. The highly variegated heart -
wood ranges from light pinkish brown to yellow-
ish brown and greenish brown and has dark brown
to black stripes, spots, or irregular lines. The
wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.62), fine-
textured, and sti'ong, but very susceptible to attack
by dry-wood termites. It is moderately difficult
to work but polishes satisfactorily. Rate of aii--
seasoning and amount of degrade are moderate.
Machining characteristics are as follows: planing
is fair; shaping, turning, boring, sanding, and re-
sistance to screw splitting are good; and mortising
is excellent.

The wood is used for furniture, but few remain-
ing trees are large enough to produce lumber of
good size. It is suitable for furniture, cabinet-
making, paneling, turnery, boat planking, farm
implements, handles, heavy construction, and
bridges.

Forests of the upper Luquillo and upper Cor-
dillera regions of Puerto Rico, ascending into the
dwarf forests on summits of the peaks in Sierra de
Luquillo and Sierra de Cayey.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Known only from Cuba and Puerto
Rico.

Other common n.\mes. — nemoca macho, nuez
moscada macho, nemoca cimmarron, canelillo
(Puerto Rico).

126

.jO. Xemoea

Natural size.

Ocotea spathulata Mez
127

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)

51. Aguacate, avocado

Persea americana Mill.*

Aguacate, the well-known fruit tree planted and
sometimes ji-rowin<r as if wild, is characterized by :
(1) shiny yellow-p:reen pear-shaped or nearly
round fruits about 4-5 inches long and 3—4 inches
in diameter, with oily green and yellow flesh and

1 very large seed: (2) elliptic, slightly thickened
leaves crowded near ends of twigs, slightly aro-
matic when crushed, 31/^-7 inches long and 2-31/4
inches broad, long- or short-pointed at apex and
short-pointed at base; and (3) numerous greenish-
yellow flowers about % inch across the 6 calyx
lobes in many lateral branched clusters.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree attain-
ing 15-30 feet in height and li/o feet in trunk di-
ameter, with straight axis and symmetrical nar-
row or rounded crown, old trees frequently lean-
ing. The bark is brown or gray, slightly rough
and fissure'd. Inner bark is orange brown, slightly
spicy and gritty to the taste. Twigs are green,
angular, and finely hairy, becoming brown.

The leaves ai'e alternate on yellow-gi-een petioles
1/2-1% inches long. Blades are without teeth on
edges, the upper surface green to dark green,
slightly shiny, hairless or nearly so, and the lower
surface dull gray green, finely hairy on veins.

The flower clusters (panicles) near ends of twigs
and shorter than leaves bear finely haii-y flowers
on short hairy stalks when trees are leafless or
nearly so. There are 6 widely spreading, greenish-
yellow, narrow, hairy sepals about %q inch long;
!) greenish-yellow stamens more than Vs inch long
and 3 smaller sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and
whitish-green pistil with 1-celled 1-ovuled ovaiy
and slender style.

The heavy fruits (berries), borne singly, hang
down and bend the twigs by their weight. Inside
the thin leathery skin is the edible thick soft flesh
somewhat like butter. The brown elliptic or egg-
shaped seed is about 2-214 inches long and up to

2 inches in diametei-. Flowering fi-om January to
April or May and maturing fruits from late June
to October.

The sapwood is whitish and the heartwood light
brown. The wood is moderately soft, heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.6), brittle, not durable, susceptible
to attack by dry-wood termites, and seldom used.

The nutritious fruits are eaten raw as a vege-
table or salad, usually with salt added. They can
be added to soups and in Brazil are made into ice
cream. Hogs, other domestic animals, and wild
animals are fond of the fruits. Connnercial oils,
such as a substitute for olive oil and oil for the
hair, have been extracted from the pulp, which is
reported to have an oil content of about 14 percent.
The seeds yield a reddish-brown dye for marking
clothing. Some parts of the plant, such as leaves,
seeds, fruit rind, and bark, have been employed in
folk medicines. The fragrant flowers are attrac-
tive to bees and make this tree a honey plant.

Many races, varying in size, shape, color, and
()uality of fruit and time of ripening, are in culti-
vation. Propagation is from seed or, for the su-
perior varieties, by budding.

Planted nearly throughout Puerto Rico, most
commonly on the coast and in the moist limestone
and lower mountain regions. Also in Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

E.ANGE. — Native of tropical America, probably
Mexico and Central America and not West Indies.
Widely planted and escaping or naturalized in
tropical and subtropical countries throughout the
world, including southern Florida and Florida
Keys (grown commercially also in southern Cali-
fornia ) , throughout West Indies, and from Mexico
to South America.

Other common n.ames. — pear, apricot (Virgin
Islands) ; aguacate (Spanish) ; palto, cura (Co-
lombia); palta (Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argen-
tina) ; huii-a-palto (Peru) ; avocado, alligator-
pear (United States, English) ; avocado-pear
(Trinidad and Tobago) ; pear, butter-pear (Brit-
ish Honduras) ; avocat, avocatier (French) ;
zaboca (Haiti) ; awacati, advocaat, pear-tree
(Dutch West Indies); advocaat (Surinam);
abacate, abacateiro (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Persea persea (L.)
Cockerell, P. gratissima Gaertn. f.

A related species of the mountains of central and
western Puerto Rico is known as canela {Persea
l-rugii Mez) . This native tree has smaller elliptic
leaves li/^^ inches long, hairy beneath, and much
smaller rounded inedible fruits.

128

v/

51. Aguacate, avocado

Two-thirds natural size.

Persea americana Mill.

129

HERNANDIA FAMILY (HERNANDIACEAE)

52. Mago

This tree with handsome foliage is easily recog-
nized by: (1) large, ovate, slightly shiny, dark
green leaves with long petioles attached i/o-l inch
above base of blade; (2) broad leaf blades 7-12
inches long and 4-8 inches wide, long-pointed at
apex and rounded at base with 5 main veins, 2 on
each side of midrib; (3) inconspicuous greenish-
white flowers finely gray hairy, less than 14 inch
long, borne in long-stalked lateral clusters; and
(■i) elliptic fruits 1-11/4 inches long inside a
rounded, hollow, greenish-yellow, fleshy case about
2 inches in diameter.

A large evergreen tree becoming GO feet high
and 2 feet in diameter, thick trunks with small
buttresses. The light brown bai'k is smoothish,
slightly fissured, with small corky warts. Inner
bark is light brown, slightly mucilaginous and
bitter. The stout twigs are green and minutely
hairy.

The leaves are alternate on light green, minutely
hairy petioles 6-10 inches long, nearly as long as
the blades. Surrounding the end of the petioles,
the blades (peltate) ai'e without teeth on margin,
slightly thickened, hairless or nearly so, and light
green beneath.

Flower clusters (cymes) are lateral, 5-8 inches
long, 3-6 inches across, somewliat flattened, with
light green, finely gray hairy branches. Several
to many flowers are borne usually 3 together, 2
male and 1 female (monoecious), above 4 gi'een-
ish-white bracts 1/4-% inch long. Male flowers on
stalks Yg, inch or more in length are nearly %
inch long and broad, consisting of usually 6 slight-
ly thickened greenish-white sepals more than 14
inch long and 3 stamens each with 2 glandlike
yellow sterile stamens (staminodes) at base. Fe-
male flowers stalkless, nearly i/o inch long and %
inch across, consist of a cuplike base Vs inch long
around lower part of the inferior 1-celled ovary
nearly 14 inch long, usually 8 slightly thickened
greenish-white sepals 14 inch long in 2 sets of 4
each, 4 glandlike yellow sterile stamens (stami-
nodes), and curvecl style 14 inch long with large
lobed stigma.

The swollen case around the fruit (formed from
the cuplike base) is about ^ie inch thick, has an
opening about Vo inch in diameter, is sometimes
tinged with red, and at maturity has a pleasant
mellow odor like ripe apples. The single fruit

Hernandia sonora L.

(drupe) within is 34-I inch broad, hard, blackish,
with usually S longitudinal ridges, and 1-seeded.
Flowering and fruiting reported at various times
during the year.

Sapwoocl and heartwood are indistinguishable,
both grayish white with faint olive-colored .streaks
and numerous large darker pores. The wood is
lirm. soft, liglitweight (s])ecific gravity 0.29), of
low strength, and easily worked. It is very sus-
cejitible to attack by dry-wood termites and other
insects and to decay. Eate of air-seasoning is
rapid, and amount of degrade is minor. Machin-
ing characteristics are as follows: planing and
sanding are poor; shaping, turning, boring, and
mortising are very poor; and resistance to screw
si)litting is excellent. Suitable uses are light
boxes, crates, fi.shing floats, temporary boarding,
interior construction, and as a substitute for heav-
iei' grades of guano (balsa). However, scarcity
limits the use in Puerto Rico.

Occasionally planted in the trojiics and in sub-
tropical Eui'ope as an ornamental. Easily propa-
gated from seed and gi'ows fairly rapidly if not
in dense shade. It is reported that the sap has been
used as a depilatory, removing hairs from the face
painlessly.

In forests and along streams in the moist coastal
region of Puerto Eico. Also infrequent in cultiva-
tion as an ornamental and shade tree. Trees may
be seen along the liighway to El Yunque south
of Mameyes and on the road between Maricao
and Mayagiiez.

PrBLic roRE.ST. — Luquillo.

E.\NGE. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Eico, and
Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent and
Barl)ados. Also from Mexico to Costa Rica and
from Colombia to Ecuador. Planted in other
tropical and sul)tro])ical areas, including southern
Florida.

Other common n.\mes. — maga (Dominican Ee-
jiublic) ; hoja tamal, mano de leon, tambor (Hon-
duras) ; aguacatillo (Guatemala, Costa Eica) :
jack-in-the-box (Barbados) .

A closely related species (Hernandia guianensis
.Vubl.) formerly not considered distinct is found
from Trinidad and Venezuela to the Guianas and
northern Brazil. It is called cocojoro in Vene-
zuela, toporite in Trinidad, and jack-in-the-box in
British Guiana.

130

52. Mago

Two-thirds natural size.

Hernandia sonora L.

131

CAPER FAMILY (CAPPARIDACEAE)

53. Burro prieto, Jamaica caper

Tliis small tree or shrub of coastal thickets is
identified by: (1) minute brown scales on younj;
twigs, petioles, under side of leaves, flower stalks,
flowers, and fruits; (2) elliptic, slightly leathery
leaves short-pointed at apex and base, shiny yellow
green on upper sui'face and silvery brown beneath;
(■i) purplish flowers about % inch across or 2
inches across the long, spreading, brushlike sta-
mens, borne in clustei-s at or near ends of twigs;
and (4) long, narrowly cylindrical, light brown
pods about 8 (4-12) inches long and Yie i'lc'i in
diameter, hanging downward, exposing the bright
red inner wall upon opening.

An evergreen tree or shrub attaining 10-20 feet
in height, with dense compact crown. The dark
gray or brown bark is smooth and thin, becoming
fissured. Inner bark is light brown, with spicy
taste like horseradish. The slender twigs are sil-
very brown and angled, becoming gray.

The leaves are boi'ne singly (alternate) and have
petioles i/i-i,4 i'lch long. Leaf blades are common-
ly 2-4 inches long and %-li/4 inches broad, some-
times much longer on young planfs or young
shoots, the edges slightly turned under. Different
races vary in leaf sizes and shape.

Flower clusters (corymbs) ai'e lateral but ap-
pearing terminal, about 2 inches long, with few to
several fragrant flowers near end of an angled
scalv brown stalk. Flower buds are slightly 4-
angled. There are 4 pointed sepals % inch long,
finely scaly on outside and hairy on inside; 4 el-
liptic purplish petals I/2 inch long, finely scaly on
outside; many purplish stamens II/4-IV' inches
long, with yellow anthers, widely spreading but
soon withering; and scaly, narrowly cylindrical,
1-celled ovary %(j inch long including the flat
stigma, at end of stalk about 1 inch long.

The long-stalked pods, slightly narrowed be-
tween the seeds, split open irregularly to expose
the many elliptic shiny brown seeds i/j inch long.
Dirt'erent trees in flower and fruit at various times
throughout the year.

The sapwood is light brown. The heartwood is
described as yellow, tinged with red, hard, and
heavy. Used only for posts and fuel in Puerto
Rico. Elsewhere occasionally cultivated in parks
and as a street tree. It is reported that the roots
and leaves have been employed medicinally.

In thickets, chiefly in the dry coastal region of
Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Desecheo, Icacos,
Culebra, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

Capparis cynophallophora L.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and West Indies from Bahamas and Cuba
through Lesser Antilles. Also in southern Mexico
and Central America south to Panama. Cultivated
outside the natural range.

Other common names. — bejuco ingles, sapo
(Puerto Rico) ; mostacilla, carbonero, ciguarayo,
palo diablo (Cuba) ; olivo, frijol (Dominican Re-
l)ublic) ; zic (Guatemala) ; endurece maiz (Nica-
ragua ) ; Jamaica caper, capertree, zebrawood
(United States) ; black-willow (Bahamas, Ja-
maica) ; bois Senegal, bois caca, bois d'argent
(Haiti) ; bois noir (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonym. — Capparais jamaicensis
Jacq.

Five more species of this genus are native in
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Known as
burro and caper, these shrubs or small trees are
characteristic of thickets in the dry coastal re-
gions. Linguam [Capparis indica (L.) Fa we. &
Rendle) is the only other species with minute
scales on the twigs, under side of leaves, and flow-
ers. It difl'ers from the species described above in
its flowers with short 4-lobed calyx only Vs inch
long and petals hairy as well as scaly.

The other 4 species have hairless leaves and lack
the minute scales. Palinguan or limber caper
(Capparis fexuosa. (L.) L.) has usually narrow,
linear or elliptic leaves 2-41/^ inches long and
%-2 inches broad, blunt or notched at apex, and
rounded or narrowed at base.

Sapo or rat -bean (Capparis hadiuca L.) has
large elliptic or oblong leaves 4-12 inches long and
iy2-^V2 inches wide, short-pointed at apex, and
rounded at base, and small flowers less than V2
inch long with the stamens no longer than the
petals.

The remaining 2 species have broader pods not
narrowed between the seeds. Burro or broadleaf
caper (Capparis coreolohifolia Mart.) has stiff,
leathery, broadly elliptic leaves 2-4i^ inches long
and U/i-S inches wide, rounded or notched at apex,
and usually heart-shaped at base; and the fruit
oblong, flattened, 4-7 inches long and II4 inches
wide.

Burro bianco (Capparis porforicensis Urban)
has elliptic leaves 11/2-41/0 inches long and 1-2
inches broad, rounded" or short-pointed at apex,
short-pointed at base ; and the short elliptic fruit
only 114-214 inches long and about % inch wide.

132

53. Burro prieto, Jamaica caper

Natural size.

Capparis cynophallophora L.

133

HORSERADISH^TREE FAMILY (MORINGACEAE*)

54. Reseda, horseradish-tree

This ornamental planted tree is characterized
by: (1) featliery or fernlike foliage of 3-pinnately
compound leaves 1-1 V^ f^^t long composed of nu-
merous tliin elliptic leaflets 1/4-% inch long and
1/8-% inch broad; (2) many showy fragrant wiiite
flowers % inch or more across the 10 spreading
sepals and petals, sliglitly irregidar, in lateral clus-
ters 4-8 inches long; (:5) large, 3-angled, brown
seed capsules 7-14 inches long and %-l inch broad,
hanging down; and (4) roots with odor and taste
of horeeradish.

A small deciduous tree to 3i) feet liigh and to 10
inches in trunl< diameter, with spreading brittle
branches. Tlie whitish-gray bark is smooth'sh,
fissured and warty or corky, becoming rough. The
twigs are finely liairy and green, becoming brown.

The alternate leaves have slender, finely haiiy,
green and reddish-tinged axes, the lateral ones
paired. L-^aflets are paired except for terminal
one and liave minute stalks less than Vjo inch long.
The blades are rounded or blunt-pointed at apex
and sliort-pointed at liase, tlie edges not tootlied,
green and almost hairless on upper surface, and
paler and hairless beneath.

Spreading or drooping flower clusters (pani-
cles) have many minutely hairy flowere on slender
hairy stalks. The basal cup (hypanthium) Vs
incli long and liroad bears 5 unequal white sepals
about 1/2 inch long; there are 5 unequal white petals
%-% inch long; 5 stamens alternating witli 5
smaller sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and pistil
of l-cel!ed ovary and slender style.

The seed capsules with longitudinal ridges split
open along the 3 angles. There are many seeds
about 1 inch long, composed of 3 wliitish papei-y
wings around a dark brown rounded center 1/2
inch or less across. Flowering and fruiting
through most of the year.

The soft wood is little used in Puerto Rico, but
the thick soft roots are a spicy condiment. It is
reported that the corky bai-k can be made into
mats. Root extracts, bark, and gum exuding from
the trinik have been employed in some places in
medicines.

Ben oil, elsewhere extracted commercially from
tlie seeds of tliis and a related species, is a lubricant
for watches and other fine mechanisms and a base

Moringa oleifera Lam.*

for perfumes and is said to be both edible and
medicinal. In some localities the young pods,
young leaves, and flowers are eaten cooked like
stringbeans and greens. Leaves and twigs have
been cut as fodder in India. The flowers are a
source of honey.

Grown chiefly as an ornamental and in fences
and hedges. The plants are propagated by seeds
and cuttings and coppice vigorously. Though
spectacular for the abundant white flowers and
long seed capsules, this irregiilarly shaped tree
with weak, easily broken branches is not so attrac-
tive when old. Moreover, in Puerto Rico it is very
susceptible to attack by termites and for this rea-
son not recommended as an ornamental. It is re-
ported that this tree is the only tree in gardens of
southern Florida that flowers every day of the
year.

Widely planted for ornament and along road-
sides and escaping from cultivation in Puerto
Rico, especially in the coastal regions. Also in
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Virgin Gorda.

Range. — Native of East Indies, southeastern
Asia, and India, but now widely distributed
through the tropics. Planted and escaped or na-
turalized in southern Florida including Florida
Keys (planted also in southern California) and
throughout West Indies from Bahamas and Cuba
to Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao. Also from
Mexico to Peiai, Paraguay, and Brazil.

Other common names. — ben, angela, jazmin
francos (Puerto Rico) ; moringa, palo de abejas,
libertad (Dominican Republic) ; paraiso f ranees
palo jeringa, ben (Cuba) ; paraiso de Espana,
paraiso (Central America) ; perlas, paraiso bianco
(Guatemala) ; teberinto, terebinto (El Salvador) ;
Jacinto (Panama) ; angela (Colombia) ; horse-
radish-tree, drumstick-tree (United States, Eng-
lish) ; maranga calalii (British Honduras) ; sai-
jhan, St. John (British Guiana) ; benzolivier, ben
oleifere (Haiti) ; maloko (Guadeloupe) ; ben-
boom, salaster, orengga, moriengo, brenolli, or-
selli (Dutch West Indies) ; peperwortelboom
(Surinam).

Botanical stnontms. — Moringa moringa (L.)
Millsp., M. pterygoHpernia Gaertn.

134

54. Resedd, horseradisli-tree

Two-thirds natural size.

Moringa oleifera Lani.

687-921 0—64 10

135

55. Palo bobo

BRUNELLIA FAMILY (BRUNELLIACEAE)

Brunellia comocladifolia Humb. & Bonpl.

This distinctive small to medium-sized tree of
mountain forests, the only West Indian represen-
tative of its small family, is recognized by: (1)
the opposite pinnate leaves; (2) 11-15 (sometimes
to 23) oblong, lance-shaped, long-pointed leaflets
2-5 inches long and 1-1 ^4 inches broad, with saw-
toothed edges, also paired except at end; (3) stout
greenish twigs with rings at nodes, finely rusty-
brown hairy, as are the leaf axes and flower clus-
ters.

An evergreen tree attaining 15-25 feet in height
and to 6 inches in trunk diameter, with thin, open,
spreading crown. Bark on small trunks is smooth-
ish and gray, Inner bark is light brown and
slightly bitter.

The leaves are 6-15 inches long. Leaflets are
almost stalkless, rounded and oblique at base. The
upper surface is green and almost hairless, and the
lower surface gray green and finely hairy and with
raised rusty-brown hairy veins.

Flower clusters (panicles) are lateral, branched,
and 2-5 inches long and broad. The mnnerous
short-stalked small flowei-s about %6 inch long and
broad are greenish yellow, some flowers containing
both sexes and also male and female on diii'erent

trees ( polygamous ) . The calyx is deeply divided,
with 5 pointed lobes about i/g inch long, rusty-

-12, 1/8-3/16

brown hairy; corolla none; stamens
inch long, inserted at base of a lobed disk ; pistils
5, separate, \'^ inch long, hairy, each with 1-celled
ovary, style, and stigma.

The fruits are star-shaped, 14 inch across, of 5
or fewer podlike parts (follicles) each about %6
inch long, bristly, rasty-brown hairy, splitting
open, and containing 1 or 2 brown seeds. Flowers
are formed in spring and summer, and fruits ma-
ture in summer.

The wood is light brown, hard, and lightweight
(specific gravity 0.3). Used only for fuel in
Puei'to Rico.

Forests of the upper Cordillera region of Puerto
Rico, up to 4,000 feet elevation or higher.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe, and
Venezuela and Colombia.

Other common names. — cabra (Puerto Rico) ;
guasima de pinares (Cuba) ; yuco rinon, berraco,
jobo macho de tierra fria (Colombia) ; West-
Indian-sumac (Jamaica), bois Mabel (Haiti).

136

55. Palo bobo

Two-thirds natural size.

Brunellia comocladifoUa Humb. & Boupl.

137

CUNONIA FAMILY (CUNONIACEAE)

56. Oreganillo

A small tree or shrub of dwarf forests at high
elevations on mountain peaks, recognized by:
(1) opposite pinnate leaves 3-6 inches long with
broadly winged axis and usually 9-17 stalkless
elliptic toothed leaflets, paired except for the ter-
minal one; (2) paired rounded stipules about i/4
inch long and broad, forming a rounded narrow
bud but shedding early, leaving ringed scars at
nodes; (3) numerous minute white flowers tinged
with pink, in narrow erect latei-al clusters 2-31/^
inches long; and (4) many narrow 2-lobed brown
seed capsules ^jq inch long.

An evergi-een tree or shrub to 20 feet in height
and 6 inches in trunk diameter. The dark brown
bark is smoothish, inner bark light brown and bit-
ter, and repoi'tedly exudes a resin. The brown
twigs are densely bristly with yellow haii'S when
young, becoming blackish.

The leaves have a short hairy petiole. Leaflets
are i/4-l inch long and V4-% hich broad, short-
pointed at base, rounded at apex, with margins
slightly turned under, stiff, above dark green with
midrib and lateral veins sunken, and beneath light
green with hairy midrib.

The flowers are ?!,; inch long and broad across
the stamens and are borne on short slender stalks
along a hairy axis (raceme). There are 4 or 5
minute pointed sepals, 4 or 5 white petals about Via
inch long but falling early, 8 or 10 white stamens
more than Vs inch long, and pistil less than Yg inch

Weinmannia pinnata L.

long with 2-celled ovary and 2 white styles. Seed
capsules have sepals remaining at base and 2
pointed styles at apex and contain minute hairy
seeds. Flowering mainly from August to October.

The sapwood is whitish, and heartwood reddish
brown. The hard, heavy wood is not used in
Puerto Rico. Elsewhere the bark has been em-
ployed in tanning.

In dwarf forests on mountain peaks in the upper
Lucjuillo and upper Cordillera regions of Puerto
Rico mostly above 3,000 feet elevation.

PiRLic FORESTS. — Luquillo. Toro Xegro.

Range. — Widely distributed in mountain for-
ests at high elevations from southern Mexico to
Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela. Also Greater An-
tilles and Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to St.
Vincent.

Other common names. — tamarindo de loma
(Dominican Republic) : sabicii maranon, sabicii
de pinares (Cuba) ; loro, lorito (Costa Rica) ;
encinillo, arenillo (Colombia) ; saisai, curtidor
(Venezuela) ; bastard brazilleto, wild brazilletto
(Jamaica) ; bois tan rouge (Guadeloupe) ; bois
sitHeur (Martinique).

A variable, widely ranging species with varieties
differing in hairiness, number of leaflets, and other
characters. This is the only West Indian repre-
sentative of its family and of a genus common in
mountain forests at high elevations in the Andes
of South America.

138

56. Oreganillo

Natural size.

Weinmannia pinnata L.
139

ROSE FAMILY (ROSACEAE)

57. Icaquillo

This small tree of mountain forests in Puerto
Rico only is identified by : ( 1 ) ovate, long-pointed,
shiny <ri-een, hairy leaves with veins much sunken
in upper surface and raised beneath, spreading in
2 rows on long, slender, sparsely branched, bristly
hairy twigs; (2) pink and red flowers % inch long
with 5 petals, a few or several in clusters almost
hidden under the end leaves of a twig; and (3)
dark red, elliptic, slightly flattened, 2-pointed,
fleshy fruits 1/4-% inch long.

An evergreen tree generally less than 20 feet
high and o inches in ti'unk diameter. The bark
is gray and smooth, inner bark brown and tasteless.

The alternate leaves are stalkless or with very
short hairy petioles less than Vs inch long. Leaf
blades are 11/2-31/2 inches long and %-li/2 inches
broad, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at base,
with edges turned under, the upper surface bristly
hairy on midrib, and the lower surface paler and
bristly hairy on veins.

Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal or lat-
eral, IV2 inches or less in length, with few flowers
on slender hairy stalks I/4-I/2 inch long. The haii-y
basal tube (hyj^anthium) is about i/g inch long and
broad; there are .) jiinkish hairy sepals %g inch
long; 5 elliptic red ])etals more than I/4 inch long,

Hirtella rugosa Pers.

slightly spreading; 3 long red stamens % inch
long; and pistil consisting of hairy 1-celled ovary
laterally placed and slender style attached near
base.

The fruits (drupes) are flnely hairy, composed
of thin, almost tasteless, juicy flesh and 1 brownish
stone % inch long. Flowering and fruiting nearly
throughout the year.

The sapwood is light brown. The wood is hard,
strong, and heavy (specific gravity 0.9), but be-
cause of the small size of the trees is little used ex-
cept for posts and fuel.

An understory tree in forests of the lower moun-
tain regions of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao. Toro Negro.

R.\NGE. — Mountains of Puerto Rico only.

Other common names. — hicaquillo, j icaquillo,
juanilla (Puerto Rico).

The other native species of this genus (Hirtella
triandra Sw.) is distinguished by the narrower,
lance-shaped to elliptic leaves very long-pointed
at apex and short-pointed or rounded at base, the
veins not sunken. It is found in moist forests but
not confined to the mountains.

140

57. Icaquillo

Natural size.

Hirtella rugosa Pers.

141

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

Key to the 3 subfamilies

A. Flowers regular, with 10 to many long, spreading stamens, separate or united at base; petals meeting by edges
in bud: leaves bipinnate (pinnate in In(]n) — Mimosa Sul)family ( Mimosoideae ; Mimosaeeae), this page below.
AA. Flowers irregular, with 10 or fewer stamens, often united ; petals overlapping in bud.

B, Flowers only slightly irregular ; the 5 petals separate, the largest petal innermost in bud ; leaves pinnate or
bipinnate, sometimes of 2 leaflets or simple — Cassia Subfamily ( Cae.salpinioideae : Caesalpiniaceae),
page 16S.
BB, Flowers very irregular, beanlike or butterfly-shaped; the 5 petals being the standard (largest and outermost
in bud), 2 wings, and 2 slightly united forming the keel; leaves pinnate, sometimes of 3 leaflets — Pea Sub-
family (Lotoideae; Fabaoeae), page 1S,S.

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

Key to the 13 species illustrated ( Nos. 58-70

)
A. Leaves pinnate, the leaflets in i)airs.

B. Leaf axis winged ; leaflets hairy : pods nearly cylindrical, 4-angled — 64. Inga vera.
BB. Leaf axis cylindrical, not winged : lt>aflets hairless or nearly no; pods flattened.
C. Leaflets 4 (sometimes only 2) — 62. Inga laitrina.
CC. Leaflets usually 6 or 8 (sometimes 4) — 63. Inga quaternata.*
AA. Leaves bipinnate.

T>. Leaflets very narrow, less than % inch wide, relatively long.

E. Twigs with paired spines at nodes ; lateral axes (pinnae) 1-6.

F. Lateral axes 1 or sometimes 2 pairs, each with 12-25 pairs of leaflets %-% inch long; spines brown

or gray — 70. Proxapis juliflora*
FF. Lateral axes 2-6 pairs, each with 15-25 pairs of leaflets Vs-%6 inch long; spines whitish — 58. Acacia
farnesiana.*
EB. Twigs not spiny ; lateral axes (pinnae) 3 to many pairs.

G. Lateral axes no more than 10 pairs.

H. Lateral axes 3-10 pairs, each with 10-20 pairs of gray-green leaflets %6-% inch long — 65. Leucaena
glauca.
HH. Lateral axes 8-10 pairs, each with 20-40 pairs of shiny, dark green leaflets % inch long — 67.
PithecellobiKtn arboretim.
GG. Lateral axes 2(l-3."> pairs, each with 30-100 pairs of minute leaflets % inch or less in length — 66.
Piptadenia peregrina.
DD. Leaflets more than % inch broad, less than 4 times as long as broad.
I. Leaflets 2 pairs — GX. Pitlitcclhihium rtiilce.*
II. Leaflets many, lateral axes (pinnae) 2-7 pairs.

J. Leaflets slightly diamond-shaped, asymmetrical — 69. Pithecellobium satnan.*
13. Leaflets oblong, rounded at apex.

K. Leaflets oblique or asymmetrical at base.

L. Lateral axes 2— i pairs, each with 4-9 pairs of leaflets %-l?4 inches long; the flat pods straw-
colored, more than 1 inch broad — 60. Albizia lebbek.*
LL. Lateral axes 4-7 pairs, each with t>-14 pairs of leaflets ; the flat pods rich red, turning to
brown, less than % inch broad — 61. .Albi'ia proccra.*
KK. Leaflets symmetrical, rounded at both ends, with tiny point at apex — 59. Adenanthera pavonina.*

58. Aroma, sweet acacia

A spiny shrub or small tree of dry areas, char-
acterized by: (1) the conspicuous paired whitish
spines (stipules) at nodes on the slijrhtly zigzag
twigs; (2) twice pinnate (bipinnate) leaves 2-4:
inches long, with 2-6 pairs of lateral axes (pin-
nae), each with 10-25 pairs of naiTOw (linear or
oblong) stalklessleafletsV8-%6 inch long; (3) very
fragrant flowers in bright yellow balls (lieads)
about 1/2 iiich across the numerous stamens, on
lateral stalks; and (4) dark brown to blackish
pods 11/2-3 inches long and %-y2 inch broad,
straight or slightly curved, 1-3 on a stalk.

A deciduous shrub usually less than 10 feet high
or sometimes a small tree, much branched and
spreading. The bark is dark brown and smooth-
ish. The twig.s are dark brown with light colored
dots (lenticels) and with paired .spines Vg-^ inch
or more in length.

Often the alternate leaves are crowded on short
spur twigs and appear to be more than 1 at a
node. The slender hairy axis bears a minute round

142

Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.*

gland. The thin green leaflets sometimes as much
asVie i'lch long are short-pointed at apex, rounded
at base, and hairless or sometimes hairy around
edges.

Flower heads are borne 1-3 together on hairy
stalks %-l% inches long and composed of numer-
ous narrow flowers about 14 inch long ending in
very many yellow threadlike stamens. The tubu-
lar .5-toothed calyx is i/jg inch long; the tubular
5-toothed corolla is Vg inch long; there are many
threadlike stamens almost Y^ inch long; and pistil
3/16 iiif'h long of narrow ovary and .slender style.

The pods are thick and only slightly flattened
and only a little narrowed between the seeds,
contain sweetish pulp, and open late. There are
several brown seeds, elliptic and slightly flattened,
■%(; inch long. Kecorded in flower from November
to February. The fruits remain attached after
maturing.

The sapwood is yellowish and the heartwood
reddish brown. The wood is hard and heavy

58. Aroma, sweet acacia

Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.

Natural size.

143

(specific gravity 0.8). Used only for fuel in
Puerto Rico because of the small size but elsewhere
serving for tool handles and farm implements.

The shrubs are occasionally cultivated around
houses and in gardens as ornamentals and in India
foi- hedges.

One of tlie jn-incipal products of this species is
tlie perfume distilled from the flowers, known
commercially as "cassie flowers."' In southern
Europe tlie shrubs are cultivated for this purpose.
Likewise, in tropical America the flowers, after
drying in the shade, are placed between linens to
perfume them or put in clothes cabinets. The
flowers are visited by bees. The leaves and pods
are browsed by livestock. The bark and astringent
pods, which are high in tannin content, are used
in tanning, and the pods also in making ink and a
black dye. The flowers, green fruits, bark, roots,
and leaves have also been employed in local reme-
dies. Mucilage can be prepared from tlie gum
which exudes from the trunk and which resembles
gum arable, obtained from an African species of
the same genus. The sticky juice of tlie pods has
served to mend broken china.

In thickets and forests in the dry coastal and
dry limestone regions of Puerto Rico. Also occa-
sionally planted in gardens. Also in Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin
Gorda.

Public forests. — Guanica, Maricao, Susiia.

R.\XGE. — Widely distributed in tropical Amer-
ica and spread by cultivation and naturalization.
Southwestern border of United States (Texas,
Arizona, and California) and Mexico to Chile and
Argentina. Also through "West Indies from Ba-
hamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
Curasao and Aruba. Naturalized in southeastern
United States ( Florida to Louisiana) . Also natu-
ralized in Old World tropics.

This species spreads rapidly and may appear to
be native in areas where it was brought in many
years ago. In most of the West Indies perhaps
introduced and naturalized. However, it has been
accepted as native in Cuba. The type botanical
specimen was collected in the Dominican Republic.

Othek C0M3I0N N.vMEs. — caslia, cassia (Virgin
Islands) ; aroma, aromo (Spanish) ; cambron (Do-
minican Republic) ; aroma amarilla (Cuba) ;

huisache, quisache, binorama, subinche (Mexico) ;
espino bianco, espinal, subin (Guatemala) ; cachito
de aromo, espmo, subin (Honduras) ; espino
bianco, espino ruco (El Salvador) ; cachito de
aromo (Nicaragua) ; pela, cuji cimarron, uiia de
cabra (Colombia) ; cuji aromo, pauji (Venezuela) ;
huaranga (Peru); espino bianco (Bolivia); es-
pinillo (Uruguay, Argentina) ; sweet acacia, cas-
sie, huisache (United States) ; aroma, cashia,
opoponax (Bahamas) ; cassie-flower (Jamaica) ;
cuntich, cashaw (British Honduras) ; casha, cassie
(St. Barthelemy) ; acacia odorant (Guadeloupe) ;
casha (Dutch West Indies) ; esponjeira (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — VachfllM fdmesiart/i
(L.) Wight & Am.

A few other species of acacia, characterized by
twice pinnate leaves and mostly paired spines, are
native or introduced trees and shrubs. Acacia
nudosa or spineless acacia {Acaciu m.uricata (L.)
Willd.) is a small tree with no spines, leaflets 8-16
pairs on each axis, and many small whitish flowers
along an axis.

Suma-catechu {Anic/a mmia (Roxb.) Kurz*),
an Old World tree introduced on St. Croix, has
leaflets 10-40 pairs on each axis and small whitish
flowers along an axis.

The others have small yellow flowers in balls.
Tamarindo silvestre or steel acacia (Acacm niacra-
canfha Humb. & Bonpl. ; synonyms A. macracan-
fholdex Bert., Poponux macraeanthoides (Bert.)
Britton & Rose), of the Virgin Islands, has leaf-
lets 15-40 pairs on each axis and pods somewhat
flattened.

Twisted acacia or cassia {Acacia tortuosa (L.)
Willd.; synonym Poponctx tortuosa (L.) Britton
& Rose), of the Virgin Islands, has leaflets 10-20
jjairs on each axis and pods nearly cylindrical.

Goma arabiga or gum-arabic (Acacia, nilotica
(L.) Delile*), from Africa, is sometimes planted
for ornament and is reported to be naturalized
locally. It has 10-30 pairs of leaflets on each axis
and narrow flattened pods narrowed between the
seeds.

Anegada acacia {Acacia anegadensis Britton;
synonym Fishlochia avegadensis (Britton) Brit-
ton & Rose), known only from the island of Ane-
gada, has leaves with only 1 pair of lateral axes,
each with 1 or 2 pairs of leaflets.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

59. Peronias, jumbie-bead Adenanthera pavonina L*

This introduced tree, locally naturalized, is iden-
tified by: (1) the large twice pinnate (bipinnate)
leaves 1-2 feet or more in length, composed of nu-
merous oblong thin leaflets rounded at both ends
and with a tiny point at apex; (2) the erect nar-
row flower clusters 4-7 inches long, containing nu-
merous crowded, small, pale yellow flowers 14 inch
across; and (3) the shiny scarlet lens-shaped seeds

144

% inch in diameter and nearly i/4 irich thick, borne
in pods 6-10 inches long.

A medium-sized deciduous tre« to 40 feet high
and 11/0 feet in trunk diameter, with spreading
crown. The brown bark is smoothish with many
small fissures. Inner bark is light brown. Twigs
are stout and green.

59. Peronias, junibie-bead

One-half natural size.

Adenanthera pavonina L.

145

The main axis of the alternate leaves is gfreen,
tinged with brown, with 2-5 pairs of lateral axes
(pinnae), and the latter eacli bearing 11-21 leaf-
lets. The leaflets also are alternate on short stalks
less than % i'^cli long and with blades %,-l%
inches long and %-% inch broad, edges not
toothed, minutely and verj' inconspicuously hairy
on both sides, dull green on upper surface, and
blue green beneath.

Flower clusters (racemes) are lateral and ter-
minal, slender and unbranched, with many small
flowers on stalks about Ys inch long. The tiny
light green calyx Vjg inch long is bell-shaped, 5-
tootlied; the 5 spreading, narrow, pointed, petals
i/g inch long; 10 stamens a little longer than petals,
pale yellow with brown anthers; and pistil %g inch
long with light green 1-celled ovary and slender
style.

The dark brown pods are V2-% inch broad,
curved, somewhat fleshy, flattened between seeds,
splitting into 2 parts and twisting upon opening.
The several showy seeds (about 1,600 to a pound)
adhere to the opened pods. Flowering usually
from late summer to winter (August to January),
the fruit maturing in fall and winter and remain-
ing attached for some time.

The sapwood is light brown and hard. Heart-
wood is reddish. The wood is hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.6-0.8), strong, and durable. It is used
as roundwood or fiiel. Elsewhere the wood has
been employed in construction and cabinetwork
and is the source of a red dye.

This is a shade tree and ornamental in Puerto
Rico. In Malaya grown as a shade tree for plan-
tation crops. The shiny bright colored seeds after
softening in boiling water serve as beads in neck-
laces and novelties.

Naturalized in the coastal and moist limestone
regions of Puerto Eico. Also in St. Thomas, St.
John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Mari-
cao, Rio Abajo, Vega.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia, fii-st described
from India. Planted and naturalized in other
tropical regions including West Indies from Cuba
and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Grown in
southern Florida and California. Cultivated in
Dutcli West Indies and South America fi'om
Venezuela to Brazil but very rare in Central
America.

Other common names. — coralitos, coral, mato
Colorado, palo de mato, peronias chatas (Puerto
Rico) ; Circassian-bean, coquelicot (Virgin Is-
lands) ; coralitos, peonia (Dominican Republic) ;
coralin, coral, coralillo (Cuba) ; sandal beadtree,
red sandalwood, Circassian-bean, Circassian-seed
(United States) ; red sandalwood, Circassian-seed
(Jamaica, Trinidad) ; I'eglise (Grenadines) ;
jumbie-bead (Trinidad) ; buckbead (British Gui-
ana) ; reglisse, arbre a reglisse, arbre a graines
reglisse, corail vegetal (Guadeloupe) ; pau tento,
tento Carolina (Brazil).

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

60. Acacia amarilla, tibet, lebbek Albizia lebbek (L.) Benth.*

A common introduced roadside tree of the drier
areas, acacia amarilla is characterized by: (1)
twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) 6-16 inches long,
with 2-4 pairs of lateral axes and with many ob-
long leaflets %~1% inches long and %-% inch
broad, rounded at both ends and very oblique at
base; (2) quantities of many fragrant cream-
colored flowers clustered together at end of a lat-
eral stalk in a rounded mass 2-3 inches across the
many tlireadlike, spreading, whitish to yellow
stamens tipped with light green; and (3) flat,
broad, straw-colored pods 4-8 inches or more in
length and I-IV2 inches broad, usually present in
quantities.

A medium-sized deciduous tree 20^0 feet high
and to 114 feet in diameter or larger, with spread-
ing crown of thin foliage. The gray bark is
smoothish, becoming fissured or rough," the inner
barlv pink and bitter. The twigs are greenish, be-
coming gray or brown.

The alternate leaves have a greenish or yellow-
brown leaf axis bearing a small elliptic gland on
upper side near base and 2-4 pairs of lateral axes

(pinnae), each with 4-9 pairs of leaflets. Leaf-
lets have very short stalks less than Yie inch long
and thin blades, with the midrib not in center and
sometimes a second prominent vein from base, the
edges not toothed, dull green above, and beneath
light green and sometimes minutely hairy. The
terminal leaflets are broadest above middle
(obovate).

Rounded clusters (umbels or heads) of many
spreading short-stalked narrow flowers are borne
at the end of lateral stalks 1V2-4 inches long,
singly or 2-4 together, each flower on a short slen-
der hairy stalk almost V^ inch long. The indi-
vidual flower II/4-I14 inches long to end of stamens
has a tubular 5-toothed hairy calyx i/g inch long,
narrow tubular white corolla Yi^ inch long includ-
ing 5 pointed lobes hairy at end ; many threadlike
spreading stamens united into a tube near base,
whitish turning yellow, and light green toward
tip; and pistil of narrow ovary and threadlike
style.

The seed pod, short-pointed at both ends, con-
tains a row of several seeds and is swollen and de-

146

60. Acacia amarilla, tlbet, lebbek

Two-thirds natural size.

Albisia lehbek (L.) Benth.

147

pressed around each seed. The oblong' flattened
brown seeds are % inch long'. Pods are produced
in ijreat quantities, long: persistent on tlie branches,
late in opening, remaining after the leaves are
shed. Flowering from April to September and
with fniits nearly through the year.

The sapwood is whitisli, and the heart wood light
yellowish brown to light brown. The wood is
moderately hard, coarse-grained, strong, and fairly
durable. It seasons well and worlcs and polishes
easily. In Puerto Rico used only for fuel and
posts. Elsewhere the wood has been employed for
furniture, paneling, veneering, turnery, and gen-
ei'al construction. The bariv has served in tanning,
and a few parts of tlie tree in medicines.

Propagated readily from seed, the trees grow
well in diy areas, where they are sufficiently hardy
to become naturalized. Reported to be tolerant
of salt spray and suitable also near .seashores.

Planted for shade and ornament along roadsides
and aroinid hou.ses, and naturalized in pastures and
on hillsides in the moist and dry coastal regions
of Puerto Rico. Also in Culebra, Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

R.\NGE. — Native probably of tropical Asia in-
cluding India and Burma but now widely planted
and naturalized tln'ough the tropics. Southern

Florida including Florida Keys, Bermuda, and
throughout West Indies. Also from British Hon-
duras through Central America and South
America to Brazil.

Other common names. — lengua de mujer, len-
gua viperina, casia amarilla, acacia, aroma, amor
platonico (Puerto Rico) ; woman's-tongue, tibet-
tree (Virgin Islands) ; chacha (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; algarrobo de olor, aroma francesa, forest ina,
cabellos de angel, miisico (Cuba) ; acacia, canjuro
(El Salvador) ; pisquin, muche, carbonero de som-
brio, guarmuche, dormilon (Colombia) ; barba de
caballero, saman (Venezuela) ; lebbek, lebbek al-
bizia (United States) ; koko (United States, com-
merce) ; tiljet-tree, woman's-tongue, siris-tree
(English) ; black-ebony (Bermuda) ; singer-tree,
wliistling-bean (Bahamas) ; shack-shack, West-
Indies-ebony, East-Indian-walnut (Trinidad) ;
tcha-tcha, bois noir (Haiti) ; vieille fille (Guade-
loupe) ; barba di junkuman (Dutch West Indies) ;
corac^ao de negro (Brazil).

The peculiar rattling sound produced by the con-
tinual movement of the dry pods in the wind is the
origin of the common name of woman's-tongue
(lengiia de mujer) and in Cuba the more pleasant
one. miisico (musical).

The generic name is spelled also Alhizzia.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

61. Albizia, tall albizia

This exotic tree of relatively recent introduction
i.c planted along roadsides and in gardens. It is
identified by : (1) twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate)
1-2 feet long, witli many oblong leaflets reddish in
color when firet produced, %-li/^ inches long and
yi6-% iiich wide, short-pointed at both ends and
vei-y oblique at base; (2) .showy flowers numerous
in whitish balls with many spreading stamens
about % inch across; and (3) thin flat pods 3-7
inches long and nearly % inch broad, rich red but
turning to brown, containing a central row of
<>-12 elliptic flattened green-brown seeds about 14
incji long. From acacia amarilla {Albizia lebbek
(L.) Benth.*) it dift'ers in having smaller flowers
and seed pods and in the larger number of lateral
axes in the leaf, 4-7 pairs.

A rapidlv growing deciduous tree becoming
30-60 feet tall with 'straight trunk 1-2 feet in di-
ameter, few branches, and spreading thin crown.
The bark is smoothish, varying from very light
brown to whitish or light greenish gray. Inner
bark is soft and pinkish with a strong, peculiar,
bitter, astringent, and irritating taste. The stout
twigs are greenish brown, with many small longi-
tudinal ridges.

The yellow-green axis of the alternate leaves
Itears an elliptic gland 14 inch long on upper side
near the enlarged base and 4-7 pairs of slender

Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth.*

lateral axes (pinnae). There are 6-14 pairs of
leaflets with short stalks '/jc inch long on each lat-
eral axis. The thin leaflet blades with the side
nearer axis much broader, not toothed on edges,
the upper surface dull green, and the lower surface
pale gray green and inconspicuously hairy.

Flowers are borne on several lateral axes (ra-
cemes) 3-9 inches long near the end of a twig.
An individual flower is stalkless and nearly %
inch long, including the stamens, and has a gi-een-
ish 5-toothed calyx tube about Vs inch long; a
whitish narrow corolla nearly 14 inch long includ-
ing tube and 5 pointed hairy lobes; many white
threadlike spreading stamens about Vie inch long,
united into a tube in lower part; and pistil with
small narrow ovary and threadlike style.

The pods, long-pointed at both ends, contain
6-12 seeds and have an enlarged dark spot outside
each seed. Later they split open along 1 side to
expose the papery walls and release the seeds. At
maturity the large masses of red pods against the
green foliage are showy, and then the brown dead
open pods remain on the tree for some time, until
the whole twig bearing the pods is shed. These
pods and fallen leaves make undesii-able litter in
lawns and gardens. Recorded in flower in Augu.st
and September and in fruit from January to June.

The sapwood is whitish to light yellow, and

148

61. Albizia, tall albizia AlMzia proccra (Roxb.) Benth.

Leaf, one-third natural size. Flowers (above) and pod (below), two-tliirds natural size.

149

heartwood is light brown to light chocolate brown.
The wood is moderately hard and is resistant to
attack by dry- wood termites. Used for shade and
fuel. In India the wood has been employed for
construction and agricultural implements.

Introduced by the Commonwealth Forest Serv-
ice in 1924 and sparingly planted in Puerto Rico,
such as along roadsides for shade and fenceposts
in the dry areas and in gardens. The propagation
of this species for farm plantings was increased
during the 1940's because it was considered a
promising rapid-gi'owing fuelwood species for the

coastal and lower moiuitain regions. The trees
may be raised from seed or cuttings. However,
most of the trees have suffered severely from a
fungus disease which causes dieback or death. For
this reason the species is no longer pi'opagated.
Listed from St. Thomas moi'e than a century ago.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia from India to
China and to Australia. Apparently an uncom-
mon introduced tree in the Amei'ican tropics.
Sometimes planted in southern Florida.

Other common najies. — acacia (Puerto Rico) ;
tall albizia, white siris (English).

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

62. Guama, "sweetpea" Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd.

Guania, which is commonly used for coiTee
shade, is characterized by: (1) alternate pinnate
hairless leaves with leaflets usually 2 jjairs (some-
times 1 pair), green to dark green, elliptic or
ovate, the outermost leaflets usually considerably
larger than the first pair, slightly thickened, near-
ly stalkless, and with a minute round gland on the
wingless axis between each pair; (2) many white
brushlike flowers with numerous spreading sta-
mens and 1 inch across on an axis 3-6 inches long;

(3) flat pods 21/2-41/^ inches long and 34-I14 inches
thick, slightly curved and with raised border; and

(4) whitish bark with prominent horizontal dark
lines (lenticels).

A medium-sized evergreen tree 50-70 feet high
and 11/2 feet in trunk diameter, with a rounded
dense crown of dark gi-een foliage. The inner
bark is reddish and slightly bitter. The twigs are
green when young, turning brown, with many
raised dots (lenticels).

Leaves are mostly 3-8 inches lone, the slender
green axis 1—4 inches long. Leaflet blades are
2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, blunt- or
short-pointed at apex, short -pointed and slightly
oblique at base, slightly shiny above, pale green
beneath, not toothed on edges.

Flower clusters (spikes) are lateral or terminal,
single or paired, many slightly fragrant stalkless
flowers being borne on a slender axis. The in-
dividual flower, about %-% inch long to end of
the stamens, has a greenish tubular 5-toothed calyx
less than % inch long; greenish funnel-shaped
tubular 5-lobed corolla more than i/j inch long;
many spreading white threadlike stamens %-%
inch long, united into tube in lower part ; and
pistil % inch long composed of slender ovai-y and
threadlike style. Often the flower cluster is de-
foriiied and much branched as in a witches'-bi-oom.

The pods are Vs-^e inch thick, rounded at both
ends, green when immature, turning bi-own, al-
most without edible pulp around the several seeds,
not splitting open. Flowering and fruiting
through the year.

The sapwood is whitish, and the attractive heart-
wood pale reddish brown, often streaked with
darker bi'own. The wood is moderately hard,
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.62), coarse-
textured, strong, tough, and easily worked. It is
very susceptible to decay and to attack by dry-
wood termites. The rate of air-seasoning is rapid,
and amount of degrade is moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing, turning,
boring, mortising, and resistance to screw splitting
are good ; shaj)ing is fair; and sanding is excellent.

The wood is suitable for furnitui-e, cabinetwork,
too] handles, interior trim, general and heavy con-
struction, crates, boxes, and flooring and has been
recommended for veneer and plywood. However,
in Puerto Rico it is seldom used except for fuel,
charcoal, and fenceposts.

The trees are planted extensively for coffee
shade and elsewhere for shade for cacao also.
This is an important honey plant.

Forests and coffee plantations in the moist coast,
moist limestone, the lower mountain, and the
upper Cordillera regions of Puerto Rico. Also
in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolm,
Toi-tola, and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaia-
taca, Guanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio
Abajo. Susua, Toro Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
6, 47, 53, 59.

Range. — West Indies from Hispaniola and
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands to Grenada and
Barbados and Trinidad, and in northeastern Vene-
zuela (Sucre). Also from western Mexico (Jalis-
co and Ciuerrero) and Guatemala to Panama.
Introduced into Cuba for coffee shade.

Other common names. — Spanish-oak, pom-
shock (Virgin Islands) ; jina (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; guama de Puerto Rico (Cuba) ; palal (Guate-
mala) ; cujinicuil, paternillo, chapernillo (El
Salvador) ; guavo (Panama) ; sackysac (Trini-
dad) ; Spanish-oak (Montserrat, Barbados) ; pois
doux, pois doux blanc (Guadeloupe) ; pois doux
(Martinique).

150

G2. Guama, "sweetfiea"

687-921 0—64 11

Two-thirds natural size.

Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd.
151

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

63. Guama venezolano

A rapidly <jrowin<2; spreading tree with a dense
crown, related to the native guaba and guama and
introduced for coffee shade, characterized by:
(1) alternate pinnate leaves with usually 3 or 4
pairs (sometimes 2) of obovate to oblong, nearly
hairless, stiif, slightly leathery leaflets, 21/2-6
inches long, becoming larger toward apex, short-
stalked, and with a round raised gland Yiq inch
across on the wingless axis between each pair of
leaflets; (2) the loose ball -like flower cluster about
2 inches across the many spreading threadlike
white stamens, the numerous individual flowers on
stalks i/j-'^s iiifh long; and (3) fruit a flattened
but thick pod 4-G inches long and 1-1% inches
broad with raised border, and often a little curved.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree, reach-
ing a height of 25 feet and trunk diameter of 3
inches or more at age of about 5 years. Wlien
older, attaining a height of 30 feet and a diameter
of 10 inches. Bark brown, smooth at first, ridged
slightly later. The inner bark is light brown and
slightly bitter. The twigs are dark brown and
finely hairy when young.

Leaves are 7-12 inches long, with a brownish-
green or brown axis 21-4-6 inches long, finely hairy,
not winged, and ending in a point beyond last
pair of leaflets. The leaflets have short stout stalks
about I's inch long. Leaflet blades are 1-31/^
inches wide, mostly short-pointed at both ends and
broadest above middle, not toothed, nearly hairless
except on veins, above yellow green to green and
slightly shiny, and beneath dull light green.

Flower clusters (umbels) are borne at the end of
a lateral stalk Vo-l inch long, usually 2 clusters at
base of a leaf. The narrow tubular light green
calyx of the slightly fragrant flowers is %6 iii^^i
long, 5-toothed and finely hairy; the narrow tubu-
lar whitish-green corolla about % inch long, 5-
toothed, and finely hairy; the numerous white
stamens are %~1 inch long including the tube

Inga quaternata Poepp. & EndL*

nearly half the length and spreading 34 i^ich
across; and the pistil about yg inch long consists
of narrow ovary and threadlike style.

The pods are about i/^-% inch thick, mostly
roundecl at both ends with a narrow point at apex
and stalk at base, light green, turning brownish,
becoming hairless, and do not split open. There
are several oblong seeds about <% inch long in a
thin white sweetish pulp. This whitish pulp is
edible but too thin for the pods to be of commer-
cial importance. Probably flowering and fruiting
ii'regularly through the year. Flowers collected
in July and August.

The whitish sapwood is hard. The tree has
been used only for coffee shade and fuel in Puerto
Rico to date, mainly because of relatively recent
introduction.

Introduced about 1930 and distributed by the
Puerto Rico Forest Service for coffee shade, this
tree was at first thought to be immune to attack
by hormiguilla, an insect pest on the related na-
tive species. It has since proved susceptible; but
as the tree is very adaptable, survives well, pro-
vides a low shade at early age, and is very easily
proj)agated, it probably will continue to be used
for this purpose. Now found in coffee planta-
tions in the upper and lower Cordillera regions
and in the moist limestone region.

Range. — Southern Mexico and Guatemala to
Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

Other common names. — bribri (Panama) ;
shimbillo (Peru).

Botanical synonyms. — Inga roussoviana Pit-
tier, /. specioshsima Pittier.

Besides the 2 native and 1 introduced species
described here, a few other species of Inga have
been planted for coffee shade. Guama peludo
(Inga fastuosa Willd.*), from Venezuela, is easily
recognized by the reddish-hairy twigs and large
flat pods up to 12 inches long and 21/^ inches wide,
also reddish hairy.

152

63. Giiain5 veiiezolano

Two-thirds natural size.

Iiiga qiiatt riuita Poepp. & Eiull.

153

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

64. Guaba

Gnabii, tlie commonest coffee shade tree and also
native or naturalized in wet forests, is easily dis-
tinp;uished by: (1) alternate pinnate hairy leaves
with ?>-5 pairs of elliptic to oblong, stalkless, slight-
ly droopnig leaflets on a winged axis bearing a
minute round j'ellow-green gland between each
pair; (2) lateral clusters of several large whitish
flowers with long threadlike stamens 214-3 inches
long and 3-3% inches across but soon wilting; (3)
hairy pods 4—6 inches long and 1/0-% i"ch in diam-
eter, nearly cylindrical Ijut 4-ribbed and with 2
broad longitudinal grooves, and containing white
sweetish edible pulp.

Medium-sized evergreen tree becoming 4(V60
feet tall and 1-1 V2 feet or more in trunk diameter
(recorded to 3 feet), with very widely spreading
crown of long branches and thin foliage. The
bark is gray brown, smoothish but becoming finely
fissured. Inner bark is pinkish to brown and
slightly bitter. Twigs are brown and tend to zig-
zag, with light colored dots (lenticels), and dense-
ly brown hairy when young.

The leaves 7-12 inches long are borne in 2
spreading rows on a twig. The axis 21/2-7 inches
long is brown hairy, with a green wing 1/4-% inch
broad between each pair of leaflets. Leaflets are
2-6 inches long and 1-2% inches wide, larger from
base toward apex, long-pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base, not toothed, thin and slightly con-
vex, the upper surface green, lower surface light
green, and both surfaces slightly hairy especially
on veins, and also slightly shiny.

Flowers do not open at the same time, but usu-
ally only 1 or 2 daily in each cluster. At dawn the
flower is fully expanded, but during the day the
stamens and style wither. Flower clusters
(spikes) are single or paired at base of a leaf, con-
sisting of several stalkless flowers crowded near the
end of a hairy green axis 1-21/4 inches long. An
individual flower with stamens fully expanded is
white and 21/2-3 inches long and 3-3i/^ inches
across. A few hours later the flower is greenish,
less than % inch long to end of corolla and s/ie
inch across corolla lobes, with the twisted pale yel-
low stamens drooping li/> inches or less below.
The brownish-green finely hairy tubular calyx is
cylindrical, Vig-M^ inch long, and 5-toothe-d, often
splitting on 1 side; the greenish-yellow corolla
densely brown hairy, composed of a narrow cylin-
drical tube about % inch long and 5 spreading
lobes i/s inch long; the numerous spreading white
threadlike stamens are united into a tube inside
corolla ; and the white pistil is more than 21^ inches
long with narrow ovary and very slender style.

Inga vera Willd.

The pod is densely brown hairy and slightly
curved, few-seeded, not splitting open, with calyx
remaining at base. In flower and fruit through the
year, but most fruits appearing in the fall.

The sapwood is whitish, and heartwood pale
brown to golden brown with longitudinal streaks
or patches of darker brown often shaded with
green or yellow. The wood is moderately hard,
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.59), strong,
and tough. It is very susceptible to attack by dry-
wood termites and other insects and to decay in
contact with the ground. Kate of air-seasoning is
rapid, and amount of degrade is moderate. Ma-
chining characteristics are as follows: jjlaning,
turning, boring, mortising, sanding, and resistance
to screw splitting are good; and shaping is poor.

The wood is used almost solely for posts, fuel,
and charcoal. However, it is suitable for utility
furniture, boxes, crates, light construction, and
general carpentry.

On lower slopes and along streams this tree
grows vei-y rapidly, producing coffee shade within
3 years and growing in trunk diameter at a rate
sometimes exceeding 1 inch per year. Also a honey
plant.

Common in active and abandoned coffee planta-
tions throughout Puerto Rico except in the upper
mountain, dry coastal, and dry limestone forest
regions. Commonest at the northern base of the
lower Cordillera, lower Luquillo, and moist lime-
stone regions.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, and Toro
Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
1, 5, 6, 8, 19, 21, 27, 32, 35, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, 53, 58,
61, 70, 73.

Range. — Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
Also introduced in Cuba and Guadeloupe and per-
haps elsewhere for coffee shade.

Other common names. — guaba del pais, guaba
nativa (Puerto Rico) ; guama (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; guaba (Cuba) ; pois doux, pois sucrin, su-
crier, sucrin (Haiti) ; pois doux, pois doux poilu
(Guadeloupe) ; pois doux a paille (Guadeloupe,
Martinique).

Named from material collected in Jamaica, this
species is the one upon which this large genus was
based. It has been reported also from Mexico,
Central America, and northern South America but
not by authors of the most recent floras.

Botanical synonym. — /nga inga (L.) Britton.

154

64. Guaba

Two-thirds natural size.

Inga vera Willd.
155

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

65. Zarcilla, tantan, leadtree

A small tree or shrub common along roadsides
and in old fields in the dry areas, characterized by :
(1) alternate twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) 4-8
inches long, with 3-10 pairs of lateral axes (pin-
nae), each with 10-20 pairs of stalkless narrowly
oblong or lance-shaped gray-green leaflets ^6-%
inch long and less than Vg inch wide; (2) flowers
very numerous in whitish i-ound balls %-l inch
across the spreading threadlike stamens; and (3)
usually many clustered dark brown pods 4-6 inches
long and %-% inch wide, flat and thin, with raised
border.

A rapidly growing deciduous spreading tree
15-25 feet high and 2-4 inches in diameter or
larger. The bark is gray or bi-o\\nish gray and
smooth with many dots or warts (lenticels). In-
ner bark is light green or light brown and slightly
bitter. Twigs are gray green and finely hairy, be-
coming brownish gray.

The gray-green leaf a.xBS and lateral axes have
swellings at bases. Leaflets are short-pointed at
apex and oblique at the short-pointed base, thin,
and gray green but slightly paler beneath. They
fold upward together at night.

The flower heads are borne on stalks %-li4
inches long in terminal clusters (racemelike) at
ends of twigs or lateral and composed of many
narrow stalkless flowers in a whitish round ball
about %-i/4 inch across corollas in bud stage. Each
individual flower Yie inch or more in length has
a tubular, gi"eenish-white hairy, 5-toothed calyx
more than ' ig inch long; 5 narrow greenish-white
hairy petals nearly %6 inch long; 10 threadlike
white stamens about Yie "ich long; and slender-
stalked pistil nearly 14 i"ch long with narrow
green haiiy ovary and white style.

The pods are narrowed into a stalk at base, short-
pointecl at apex, and minutely haii-y. They hang
down usually many in a cluster and split open on
both sides at maturity. In a central row are many
flattened, oblong, pointed, shiny brown seeds %b
inch long (10,000 to a pound). Flowering and
fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light yellow. Heartwood is
yellow brown to dark brown. The hard, heavy
wood (specific gravity 0.7) is used for fuel in
Puerto Rico.

The seeds, after softening in boiling water, are
jtrung as beads into necklaces, bracelets, decora-
tions on hats, and curiosities for tourists in the Vir-
gin Islands and other localities. In the Philip-
pines the young pods have been cooked as a vege-
table and the seeds prepared as a coffee substitute.
The bark and roots reportedly have been employed
in home remedies. Bees obtain pollen from the
flowers. In the Virgin Islands branches from
trees along roadsides freciuently are cut for live-

Leucaena glauca (L.) Benth.

stock feed, especially in the dry season.

The leaves and pods are poisonous to horses,
donkeys, and mules and, when eaten, cause these
animals to shed their hair, especially that of the
mane and tail (or even hooves if browsing is pro-
longed, it is reported). Hogs are similai'ly af-
fected, losing the hair along the spine, and rabbits
are poisoned also. However, cattle, goats, and
sheep can bro^^■se the foliage without ill effects.
The poison is concentrated in the seeds and young
leaves.

The trees are easily propagated from seeds or
cuttings and coppice well. Like weeds they read-
ily invade cleared lands and frequently form dense
pure thickets. This species has been used in some
countries for coffee shade, cacao shade, and hedges.
Being hardy it can be planted in pastures, to be
followed a:fterwards by timber trees. In some
areas the trees have been managed for fuel or
charcoal on a short rotation of 6 or 7 years between
cuttings. In the Far East this legimie is grown to
rebuild the soil and as a forage crop.

In roadsides, abandoned pastures, and thickets,
in the dry limestone and dry coastal regions of
Puerto Rico. Also widespread in ]\Iona, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Vir-
gin Gorda.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, ^Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Vega.

Municipalities aviiere especially common. —
26, 38, 54, 55, 75.

Range. — Throughout "West Indies from Ba-
hamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
from southern Mexico to northern South America.
Naturalized beyond the original range north to
southern Texas and southern Florida (also planted
in California) and in Bermuda and southward to
Chile and Brazil. Also naturalized in the Old
World tropics.

Other common names. — tamarindillo, hedion-
dilla, acacia, acacia palida (Puerto Rico) ; wild
tamarind, wild taman (Virgin Islands) ; lino,
granadino, granadillo bobo, lino criollo (Domini-
can Republic) ; aroma blanca, aroma mansa, aroma
l)()bn (Cuba); guaje, uaxim (Mexico); barba de
leon (Guatemala); panelo (Colombia); leadtree,
white popinac (United States) ; jumbie-bean, wild
mimosa, acacia (Bermuda) ; jumbie-bean, jimbay,
cowbiish (Bahamas) ; wild tamarind (Grenadines,
Trinidad, British Honduras) ; shack-shack. West
Indies mimosa (Trinidad); grains de lin pays
(Haiti) ; bois-lolo, monval (St. Barthelemy, Gua-
deloupe); macata (Guadeloupe); macata blanca
(Martinique) ; tumbarabu, mimosa, tantan (Dutch
West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Leucaena le^icocephaln
(Lam.) deWit.

156

65. Zarcilla, tautan, leadtree

Two-thirds natural size.

Leucaena glauca (L.) Beiith.

157

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

66. Cojobana

This small to medium-sized tree is characterized
by: (1) feathery, twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate)
with minute narrow leaflets Vs inch or less in
length; ('2) t^mall flowers numerous and crowded
in wliitisli-yellow balls %-V2 'i^ch in diameter,
several in stalked lateral clustei-s; (3) brown flat
and thin pods 3-8 inches long and about % inch
broad, slightly narrowed between the seeds, and
finely scaly; and (4) very rough, gray, brown, or
blackisli bark on larger trees, thick, deeply fur-
rowed, and witli pi'ominent warts or irregular
ridges.

A deciduous tree becoming 20-40 feet high and
8 inches or more in trunk diameter, generally much
smaller, with thin widely spreading crown of at-
tractive fine foliage. Outer bark is gi-ay or dark
brown, with lines of growth, and inner bark light
and dark brown streaked, soft, and bitter. The
brown twigs are minutely hairy.

The alternate leaves 6-^9 inches long have a light
brown, finely hairy axis bearing 1 oval reddish
gland near base and usually 2 near apex. There
are about 20-35 pairs of lateral branches (pinnae),^
each with about 30-100 pairs of stalkless, nan-ow*
(linear), slightly hairy leaflets, which are short-
pointed at a]5ex and oblique at base, green above
and paler beneath. Thus, each leaf has at least a
few thousand leaflets.

The flower clustei-s (heads) are lateral, several
together on slender haii-y stalks %-l inch long
and bearing numerous stalkless flowers. Each
flower is more than Vi long when the stamens are
fully expanded. The bell-shaped 5-toothed calyx
is Vie inch long and minutely hairy; the white
corolla i/s inch long, with tube and 5 short lobes,
finely hairy on outside ; 10 stamens more than V4

Piptadenia peregrina (L.) Benth.

inch long; and the pistil has a 1-celled ovary with
slender style about 14 inch long.

The pods have raised edges and split into 2
parts. There are several I'ounded, very thin, flat
seeds nearly 1/0 '"ch in diameter. Flowering from
March to June. Pods present most of tlie year.

The sapwood is whitish to light brown, and the
lieartwood dark brown or reddish brown. The
wood is extremely hard, lieavy (specific gravity
0.8), strong and durable, but difficult to work.
Used chiefly for posts in Puerto Kico. The thick
bark is rich in tannin and has been employed in
tanneries of Venezuela.

A narcotic snuff called "cojoba'" was prepared
from the finely ground seeds by the Indians of
Hispnniola and Venezuela and adjacent parts of
Bi-azil. It was used in religious ceremonies. Re-
cently this narcotic has been studied chemically
and tested for possible medicinal applications.

In woodlands and hillsides in the coastal and
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Maricao.

Range. — Hisjianiola, Puerto Rico, Dominica,
St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad (doubtfully
native). Reported from Jamaica, apparently in
error. Also \'enezuela, British Guiana, and
Brazil.

Other fOMjroN names. — cojobillo, cojoba, co-
jobo (Puerto Rico) ; cojoba (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; yopo (Colombia) ; cojoba, niopa,niopo,yopo,
curuba (Venezuela) ; savannah yoke, cohoba
(Trinidad) ; bois galle, bois Tecorce, ceuf de poule
(Haiti) ; parica (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Niopa peregrina (L.)
Britton & Rose.

158

66. CojSbana

Two-thirds natural size.

Piptadenia peregrina (L.) Benth.

159

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

67. Cojoba

This handsome tree with shiny, dark green,
feathery foliage is further characterized by: (1)
twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) with numerous
small narrow leaflets about % inch long and less
than l^ inch wide; (2) the many flowers in a
whitish ball more than 1 inch in diameter across
the stamens; and (3) the conspicuous red pods
21/9-6 inches long and % inch in diameter, curved
or coiled, splitting open, twisting, and exposing
the several black elliptic seeds that hang on short
threads.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree attain-
ing 30-50 feet in height and 1 foot in trunk diam.-
eter. The bai-k is gray and smoothish. Inner
bark is whitish and bitter. The brown twigs are
finely brown hairy when young.

The leaves are alternate, 5-12 inches long, with
greenish axes minutely brown hairy. The main
axis has 8-16 pairs of lateral branches (pinnae),
with a dot gland at base of each pair, each l)ranch
bearing 20—40 pairs of stalkless leaflets. Leaf-
lets are oblong or lance-shaped, short-pointed,
oblique at base, thin, hairless, paler beneath.

There are 1-3 flower clusters (heads) at base
of a leaf or at a node back of leaves, on stalks
11/0-3 inches long, containing numerous stalkless
flowers. The bell-shaped 5-toothed calyx is about
i/s inch long; the tubular whitish corolla nearly
% inch long, including the 5 lobes; the many, very
slender, whitish stamens are about % inch long,
united into a tube below; and the pistil has a
finely hairy 1-celled ovary with slender style.

The pods are borne singly or sometimes paired.
They are slightly roughened, minutely hairy, and
narrowed between the seeds. The elliptic seeds
change from shiny to dull black in color. Flower-

Pithecellobium arboreum (L.) Urban

ing in spring, the pods maturing in svmimer, and
flowering and fruiting again in autumn.

The sapwood is whitish and hard. Heartwood
is dark red or reddish brown, sometimes figured or
with darker streaks, resembling mahogany. The
wood is heavy (specific gravity 0.7), strong,
durable, and takes a fine polish. An excellent
timber suited for heavy ancl interior construction,
cabinetwork, furniture, posts, and crossties. Re-
portedly employed at one time for bobbins in cot-
ton mills.

As an attractive ornamental and shade tree with
commercial wood, this tree is worthy of more ex-
tensive cultivation. Also a honey plant.

Chiefly along streams and at the base of cliffs
in the moist limestone region and ascending into
the lower Cordillera region in western Puerto
Rico.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Mari-
cao, Rio Aba jo, Sustia, Vega.

Range. — Cuba, Januiica, Hispaniola, and Puer-
to Rico. Also in southern Mexico and Central
America to Costa Rica.

OxHiaj COMMON N.AMES. — cojobaua, cojobanilla,
cajoba, tamarandillo (Puerto Rico) ; abey, abey
heml)ra (Dominican Republic) ; moruro, moruro
rojo, moruro prieto, sabicu, .sabicu moiiiro ( Cuba ) ;
plumillo ((xuatemala) ; barba de jolote (Hon-
duras) ; agiiijote (El Salvador) ; tamarindo (Costa
Rica) ; wild tamarind, chabark (Jamaica) ; wild
tamarind, black tamarind, red tamarind, zopilote,
barba jolote (British Honduras) ; collier, poison
lasinette (Haiti).

Botanical synonyms. — Cojoba arborea (L.)
Britton & Rose, Snmanea arborea (L.) Ricker.

The generic name has been spelled also
Pifhc'colobhim.

160

67. Cojoba

Natural size.

Pithecellotium arhoreum (L. ) Urban

161

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

68. Guama americano, guamuchil

This introduced tree, planted for shade and
ornament along highways and streets and around
houses is distinguished by: (1) usually a pair of
slender sliarp spines (stipules) 1/16-% '"^h long
at base of each leaf or sometimes spineless; (2)
twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) with 2 lateral
axes, each with 2 nearly stalkless oblong or ovate
leaflets; (3) small creamy white flowers in many
small ball-like heads % inch across in slender
di'ooping terminal or lateral axes; and (-4) curved
or coiled pink to brown pods 4-5 inches long, nar-
rowed between the seeds, and splitting open on
both sides to loosen several shiny black seeds
mostly covered by pink or whitish pulp, which is
edible.

A small to medium-sized tree SO-HO feet in
height and 1-2 feet in trunk diameter, or shrubby,
with trunk and branches often crooked, and broad
spreading crown. Nearly evergreen but shedding
the old leaves as new ones appear. The bark is
light gray, smoothish, becoming slightly rough
and furrowed. The thick inner bark is light
brown and bitter or astringent. Twigs are slender
and droojiing, greenish and slightly hairy when
young, becoming gray, covered with many small
whitish dots (lenticels).

The alternate leaves have a very slender green
petiole V^-iyo inches long with minute round gland
near apex and the 2 lateral axes (pinnae) only
y^-Vi inch long. The 4 thin or slightly thickened
leaflets are 1/0-2 inches long and %6~% inch wide,
rounded at apex, the oblique base rounded or
short-pointed, not toothed on edges, hairy or hair-
less, dull iiale green above and light green beneath.
Xew growth is ])ink or i-eddish.

The flower clusters (heads) are short-stalked,
each covered with whitish hairs and composed of
about 20-30 densely hairy flowers. The flower has
a tubular hairy Ti-toothed calyx about Vie inch
long, a funnel-shaped tubular hairy 5-toothed
corolla about i/g inch long, about 50 spreading long
threadlike stamens united into a short tube at base,
and pistil with hairy ovary and threadlike style.

The pod is %-% inch wide, slightly flattened,
and inconspicuously hairy. The flattened seeds
(4.000 to a pound) are about % inch long and
hang down inside the pulpy mass (aril) as much
as 34 inch long. Recorded as flowering from Jan-
uary to May and in fruit from February to July.

Sapwood is yellowish, and heartwood yellowish
or reddish brown. The wood is moderately soft.

Pithcellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.*

heavy, strong, and durable. It takes a high polish
but is brittle and not easily M-orked.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used only for posts
and fuel, but elsewhere it is employed for general
construction. The bark, which contains about 25
percent tannin, is harvested in Mexico. It also
yields a yellow dye and is an ingredient in home
remedies. A mucilage can be made by dissolving
in water the transparent deep reddish-brown gum
which exudes from the trunk.

This attractive species makes a good highway
and street tree, especially in dry areas, growing
rapidly and enduring drought, heat, and shade.
It withstands close browsing and pruning and is
suitable for fences and hedges also. Formerly it
was a popular .street tree in southern Florida,
where it was susceptible to hurricane damage and
did not recover well.

The thick, pink, sweetish acid pulp around the
seeds can be eaten or prepared into a drink like
lemonade. Livestock and wild animals browse on
the pods under the trees. Also a honey plant.

Along roads and in towns throughout Puerto
Rico. Introduced also into St. Croix.

Range. — Mexico (Lower California, Sonora,
and Chihuahua southward) through Central
America to Colombia and Venezuela. Introduced
in southern Florida, Cuba, Jamaica. Puerto Rico,
and St. Croix. Widely planted and naturalized
in tropical regions, including the Old World.

Other common names. — guamuche (Mexico,
commerce) ; inga dulce (Cuba) ; guamuchil (Mex-
ico) ; jaguay, shahuay. madre de flecha (Guate-
mala) ; mongoUano, guachimol, espino, guayacan
bianco (El Salvador) ; mochigiiiste (Costa Rica) ;
gallinero, chininango, tiraco, chancan (Colombia) ;
yacure, guamo bianco, guamacho (Venezuela) ;
blackhead, apes-earring (United States) ; guamu-
chil. Manila-tamarind, Madras-thorn (English) ;
bread-and-cheese (British Guiana).

This species was named and described botan-
ically in 1795 from Coromandel, India, where it
had been introduced. The specific name, meaning
sweet, doubtless refers to the edible seed pulp.

A related native shrub or small tree of coastal
thickets is una de gato or catclaw blackhead
{Fifhecellobium ungim-cafi (L.) Benth.), known
also as rolon, escambron Colorado, and catclaw.
This species with yellowish or pinkish flowers is
native from southern Florida to northern South
America.

162

68. Guamd aiuericauo. guamuchil

Natural size.

PithcelloMum dulce (Roxb.) Benth.

163

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

69. Saman, raintree

This well-known beautiful shade tree reaches
larp;e size botli in trunk diameter and in a A^ery
broad arched crown. It is further identified by:
(1) twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) with many
nearly diamond-shaped leaflets %-lV2 inches long
and %-% inch broad, the sides unequal, the outer
leaflets considerably larger than the others, and
the pairs of leaflets folding together at night and
on cloudy days; (2) delicate flower heads 21/2
inches across and IV2 inches high, a mass of nu-
merous threadlike stamens pink in outer half and
white in inner half; and (3) flattened bi-own or
blackish pods 4-8 inches long, about %-% inch
wide, and 14 ii^ch thick, straight or a little curved,
with sweetish pulp, late in splitting open.

An evergreen tree attaining 50-65 feet in height,
with a relatively short stout trunk up to 4 feet in
diameter. Crown of long, stout, horizontal
branches is broader than tall, becoming 100 feet
or more across. The gray bark is roujrh. furrowed
into long thin plates or corky ridges. Inner bark
is pink or light brown, bitter. The stout greenish
twigs are minutely hairy.

The alternate leaves are about 10-16 inches long.
The axis and 2-6 pairs of branches (pinnae) are
green and finely hairy with swelling at base of each
and a gland dot on axis where branches join.
Each branch (pinna) bears 6-16 paired stalkless
leaflets with a gland dot between each pair.
Branches toward apex are longer and with more
leaflets. Leaflet blades are blunt and with a
minute point at apex, short-pointed at base, the
edges not toothed, slightly thickened, the upper
surface shiny green and with veins raised a little,
and the lower surface paler and finely hairy.

Several flower clustei-s (heads or umbels) are
lateral near end of a twig, each on a green hairy
stalk 21,4-4 inches long and composed of many
narrow tubular flowers, pinkish, tinged with gi-een,
short -stalked. The narrow green calyx is tubular,
about 14 iiicli long. 5-toothed, and finely hairy; the
narrow pink and greenish-tinged corolla %-V^
inch long is also tubular, 5-lobed, and finely hairy ;
the many stamens united in tube near base, have
spreading, very long, threadlike filaments about
IV2 inches long and dotlike anthers, soon wilting
and shriveling ; and the pistil consisting of 1-celled
light green ovary %,; inch long and a threadlike
pinkish style I-I14 inches long.

The hard seed pods have a raised border. They
contain several oblong )-eddish-brown seeds about
•yi6 inch long (about 2,500 to a pound). Flower-
ing from spring to fall, fruiting from fall to
winter.

The sapwood is thin and yellowish, and the
heartwood dark chocolate brown when freshly cut,
becoming attractive light to golden brown with

164

Pithecellobium saman (Jacq.) Benth.*

darker sti-eaks. The wood is soft, lightweight
(sjiecific gravity 0.44), of medium to coarse tex-
ture, and fairly strong. It is durable to very du-
rable in respect to decay and resistant to di-y-wood
termites. It takes a beautiful finish but is often
cross-grained and difficult to work. The rate of
air-seasoning is moderate, and amount of degrade
is considerable. Machining characteristics are as
follows: planing, mortising, sanding, and resist-
ance to screw splitting are good; shaping and bor-
ing are fair ; and turning is poor.

Elsewhere the wood has been employed occa-
sionally for furniture, interior trim, and general
construction. It is suitable also for boxes and
crates, veneer, plywood, and paneling. In Central
America crass sections of thick trunks have served
as wheels of ox carts.

The trees in Puerto Rico are valued mainly for
shade and beauty. The nutritious pods are rel-
ished by cattle, hogs, and goats and have a flavor
like licorice, which some persons like. A honey
plant. In a few countries saman has been em-
ployed as shade in plantations of coffee and cacao,
though less at present than formerly. Because of
their enormous growth the trees compete heavily
for water and soil nutrients, injuring the shrubs.

Easily propagated from seed and cuttings and
of rapid growth. Cattle disseminate the seeds in
pastures. A famox:s giant in Trinidad more than
100 years old was measured as 8 feet in trunk di-
ameter, 147 feet high, and 187 feet in spread.
Sometimes trees become to]5heavy and dangerous
along highways and near liouses. The many sur-
face roots may also be objectionable. Perhaps bet-
ter suited to dry rather than moist localities, being
of smaller size in arid places.

Cultivated along highways and streets and
planted and naturalized as a pasture shade tree
in both the moist and dry coastal regions and in
the lower Cordillera region of Puerto Eico. Also
in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native from Mexico (Yucatan Pen-
insula) and Guatemala to Peru, Bolivia, and Bra-
zil. Widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in
continental tropical America from Mexico south-
ward, throughout the West Indies (except Ba-
hamas), and in Old World tropics. Gi-own also in
southern Florida.

Other common names. — donnilon, guango
(Puerto Rico) ; licorice, giant tibet (Virgin Is-
lands) ; saman (Spanish) ; algarrobo, algarrobo
del pais (Cuba) ; algarrobo (Mexico, Guatemala) ;
cenicero (Guatemala, El Savador, Costa Rica) ;
carreto, zorra (El Salvador) ; samaguare, cam-
paiio, genizaro (Colombia) ; lara, urero, carabali
(Venezuela) ; huacamayo-chico (Peru) ; raintree,
saman (English) ; guango (Jamaica) ; cow-tama-

6S). Samfin, raintree

Two-thirds natural size.

Pithecellohium sanian (Jarq.) Benth.

165

rind (Grenadines, Trinidad) ; French tamarind,
guango (British (xuiana) ; monlveypod (Hawaii) ;
arbre a phiie (French) ; gouannegoul (Haiti) ;
samana ( Guadeloupe ) .

Botanical stnoxtms. — Samanea saman (Jacq.)
Merrill, Enferolohium snman (Jacq.) Prain.

The Spanish word "saman" and the specific name
are from the South American aboriginal name.
Several origins of the English word rainti-ee and
its French equivalent have been given. Early
travelei-s reported that the trees mysteriously pro-

duced rain at night and would not sleep under-
neath. Others observed the grass to be greener
beneath the trees during droughts. Another ex-
planation was that the rain was excreta of cicada
insects inhabiting the trees. More plausible is
that the leaflets close up at night and in cloudy
and rainy weather, indicating the approach of rain
and also letting rain fall through the crown to the
grass beneath. The Spanish name dormilon re-
fers also to the movements of the leaflets suggest-
ing sleep at night.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY (MIMOSOIDEAE; MIMOSACEAE)

70. Bayahonda, mesquite Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC*

A small flat-topped spiny tree or shrub of di-y
areas recognized by: (1) slightly zigzag green to
brown twigs with paired stout brown or gray
spines at the enlarged nodes; (2) leaves twice pin-
nate (bipinnate) with 1 or sometimes 2 pairs of
lateral axes (pinnae), each with 12-25 pairs of al-
most stalkless narrow leaflets i/4-% i'^ch long; (3)
many small pale yellow flowers about %6 inch
long, crowded and almost stalkless in narrow
drooping clusters 2-4 inches long; and (4) light
yellowish-bi-own, flattened but thick pods 4—9
inches long and %6-^/^ inch wide, and not splitting
023en.

Deciduous, 20-30 feet high, with a short crooked
trunk to liA feet in diameter, and with broad
crown of very thin spreading foliage. The gray
or brown bark is rough and furrowed, thick and
becoming slightly shaggy, the inner bark yellow-
ish, fibrous, and slightly bitter. The spines (stip-
ules) are 14-I inch or more in length.

The leaves, mostly borne on very short twigs
along larger ones, often are crowded though actu-
ally alternate. They are 3-6 inclies long, with
slender green leaf axes. Blades are narrow (lin-
ear-oblong), Vie-Vs inch wide, rounded at both
ends or minutely pointed at apex, slightly oblique
at base, thin, and dull blue green on both sides.

Flower clusters (spikes) are lateral, often on
twigs back of leaves. Flower buds are yellow
green. The greenish-yellow tubular calyx is less
than y^g inch long, bell-shaped, and 5-toothed ;
there are 5 narrow greenish-yellow petals i/g inch
long, hairy on inside ; 10 spreading yellow-orange
stamens with brown anthers, less than %6 inch
long; and pistil %6 inch long with hairy light
green ovary and slender whitish curved style.

The pods are about %6 inch thick and slightly
cui-ved or straight. The brown seeds I/4 inch long
are imbedded in a whitisji slightly sweet pulp,
which can be eaten. Flowering and fruiting
through much of the year, chiefly in the summer
and fall.

The thin sapwood is light yellow, and the heart-
wood yellowish to dark brown. The wood is mod-

166

erately hard, heavy (speciflc gravity 0.8), tough
and strong, easy to work, resistant to decay, and
durable in the ground but susceptible to attack by
drywood termites.

Used in Puerto Rico only for fenceposts and
crossties. Elsewhere the wood has served for
vehicle parts, rural carpentry, fui-niture, and
formerly even paving blocks. It is a superior fuel
and makes charcoal of high quality. An amber
gum resembling gum arable exudes from the trunk
and, when dissolved in water, becomes a mucilage.
The bark has been employed in tanning.

The nutritious pocls are browsed by livestock
and eaten bj' children. Cattle are partly responsi-
ble for the extensive invasion of pastures by this
tree. Indians of Mexico and southwestern United
States ground the pods into meal as a staple food
for baking and for mixing with water as a bever-
age. This is an important honey plant, and bees
commonly are seen around the flowers, which are
not fragrant.

Naturalized in tliickets and dry forests in the
dry limestone and dry coastal regions of southern
Puerto Rico, commonly invading pastures. Oc-
casionally planted for ornament. Also in Mona,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Guanica, Susiia.

Municipalities where especially common. —
12, 38.

Range. — Including its geographic varieties na-
tive from southwestern United States (Texas to
Kansas, Utah, and California) south through
Mexico and Central America to Colombia and
Venezuela and perhaps naturalized southward.
Through West Indies, a])parently introduced and
naturalized, from Bahamas and Cuba to Bar-
bados and Trinidad and in Bonaire, Curagao, and
Aruba. Also naturalized in Hawaii and Old
World tropics.

This species seems to be very much at home in
Puerto Rico and other islands of the West Indies
even though not native. The locality of the bo-
tanical type specimen is Jamaica, though an

70. Bayahonda, niesquite

687-921 O — 64 12

Two-thirds natural size.

Prosopis juliflora (Sw. ) DC.

167

authority on tlie flora of .Taniaioa wrote, 2 centuries
a^o that this species was introduced there from the
continent.

Otiikr cojurox xasies. — aroma americana
(Puerto Rico) ; a]<rarroho ( Vir<rin Islands) ; baya-
honda (Dominican Republic); mesquite, guata-
pana, cambron, algarrobo del Brasil (Cuba) ;
mezquite, catzimec, algarrobo (Mexico) ; nacascol
(Guatemala) ; algarrobo (Honduras) ; carbon
(El Salvador) ; acacia de Catarina (Nicaragua) ;

aromo, manca-caballo (Panama) ; trupillo, manca-
caballo (Colombia) ; cuji yaque, cuji negro, cuji
carora, cuji, yacine (Venezuela) ; mesquite (United
States, Bahamas) ; cashaw (Jamaica) ; mesquit-
tree (Trinidad) ; bayahon, bayarone (Haiti) ;
indju, qui, cuida, kuigi (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — N el turn a juliftora
(Sw.) Raf., Prosopis chilensis auth., not P. cfiilen-
•VM' (Mol.) Stuntz. The last is a closely related
species of Chile and Argentina to Peru.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

Key to the 10 species illustrated (Nos. 71-80)
A. Leaves simple or of 2 leaflets.

B. Leaves simple, with 2 rduiided lobes at aiiex — 71. liatihiiiia monandra*
BB. Leaves of 2 leaflets, paired, long- or short-pointed at apex — 76. Hymcnaea courharil.
AA. Leaves compound, of several to many leaflets.
C. Leaves once pinnate.

D. Leaflets mostly more than 2 inches long, ovate and broadest toward base.

E. Leaflets with short, green stalks %-% inch long, without black dots — 72. Cassia fistula*

EE. Leaflets with very short, red stalks Vie i^ch long, with scattered raised black dots on lower surface —
79. Stahlia monospcrma.
DD. Leaflets less than 2 inches long, mostly oblong, with edges nearly parallel.

F. Leaflets symmetrical.

G. Leaflets .short-pointed or rounded at apex — 73. Cassia javanica*
GG. Leaflets rounded with bristle-tip at apex — 74. Cassia siamea.*
FF. Leaflets oblique at base and slightly asymmetrical — 80. Tamarindus indica*
CC. Leaves bipinnate.

H. Leaves consisting of a spine and 1 or 2 pairs of dnwping yellow-green strips (lateral axes) % inch broad
bearing numerous small leaflets %-%6 inch long, which shed early — 77. Parkinsonia acnleata*
HH. Leaves regularly branched, not spiny, with 10-30 pairs of lateral axes (pinnae), each with numerous
leaflets and featherlike.
I. Leaflets less than % inch long ; young twigs and leaf axes greenish, finely hairy — 75. Delonix regia*
II. Leaflets M>-% inch long ; young twigs and leaf axes with dense coat of reddish-brown hairs — ^78.
Peltophorum inermc*

Bauhinia monandra Kurz*

71. Mariposa, butterfly bauhinia

This cultivated ornamental small tree is easily
recognized by: (1) the odd, somewhat rounded
leaves divided about Vs their length into 2 rounded
lobes slightly suggesting a cow's hoof and with 13
or 11 radiating main veins from the heart-shaped
base; (2) the very large and showy flowers 214-3
inches across, with 5 slender-stalked, narrow,
spoon-shaped pink petals dotted with red (1 petal
mostly red) ; and (3) the flat pods about 8 inches
long, 1 inch broad, and i/g inch thick, with a long
narrow point at apex, twisting as they split open.

A small evergreen tree or sometimes a slirub
growing 10-30 feet high and to 1 foot in trunk
diameter. The branches are widely spreading.
Bark of small trunks is smootli with dots (lenti-
cels) and whitish gray. Inner bark is whitish and
tasteless. Young twigs are finely hairy.

The alternate leaves have long hairy petioles
1-2 inches long. I^eaf blades are mostly 2-4 inches
long and 2— ii/^ inches broad or sometimes larger,
with the edges not toothed and a short bristle Vs
inch long between the 2 lobes, very thin, the upper
surface light green and hairless, and the lower sur-
face pale gray green and finely hairy.

Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal and un-
branched, with few male and bisexual flowers on

green hairy stalks about 14 inch long (polyga-
mous). The very narrow, tubular, stalklike, mi-
nutely hairy basal tube (hypanthium) is I-I14
inches long and only Yg inch broad; the calyx is
%-l inch long, pointecl in bud, finely hairy, split-
ting along 1 side as the flower opens; the 5 un-
equal petals are 1^4-2 inches long; only 1 slender
stamen I14 inches long and sterile stamens (stam-
inodes) i-educed to scales about I/8 iricli long;
and the very slender pistil with stalk about 1 inch
long adhering to tube and lyo inches long beyond,
witli a hairy 1-celled ovary and long curved style;
in male flowers the pistil is rudimentary.

The pods split open with force, twisting into 2
parts and scattering the many seeds. The shiny
black seeds are elliptic, flat, and % inch long.
Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is whitish and hard, and the heart-
wood recorded as brown. Wood used only for
fuel in Puerto K ico. One use reported in Jamaica
is as a roadside "''once plant : after pollarding, the
long pliable branches are arranged into the frame-
work of a fence.

Planted in Puerto Rico for the large ornamen-
tal flowers suggestive of orchids or butterflies and
the odd-shaped leaves. Escaped from cultivation

168

s

I'm

m

'^m:

'M

f^v'.T^--

,c\

\

J

J

71. Mariposa, butterfly bauhinia

Natural size.

Bauhinia monandra Kurz

169

and naturalized in roadsides, thickets, and river
hanks in the coastal, limestone, and lower moun-
tain regions. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Raxoe. — Native of southeastern Asia, originally
described from Burma. Planted and escaped or
naturalized throughout the AVest Indies from Cuba
and Jamaica to Barbados and Trinidad. Culti-
vated in southern Florida. Also introduced in
northern South America from French Guiana to
Colombia, in El Salvador, and perhaps elsewhere.

Other common names. — flamboyan bianco, se-
plina, varital variable, alas de angel, baujinia
(Puerto Rico) ; Napoleon's plume, poor man's
orchid, bauhinia (A'irgin Islands) ; flamboyan ex-
tranjero, flamboyan cubano, pata de vaca (Do-
minican Republic) ; casco de mulo, pata de vaca
(Cuba) ; urape (Venezuela) ; butterfly bauhinia,
butterfly-ftower, pink baiihinia, pink orchidtree

(United States) ; Jerusalem-date, butterfly-flower
(Jamaica) ; deux jumelles, caractere des hommes
(Haiti); vlinderbloem (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — Bauhinia. kapphri
Sagot, Caspareopsis iiwiiand/'a (Kurz) Britton &
Rose.

The specific name refers to the odd single stamen
which, however, is not restricted to this species.
The 2-lobed leaf characteristic of the genus cor-
responds to a leaf with 1 pair of leaflets partly
united.

A few related species of shrubs or snuill trees
have been introduced as ornamentals. Palo de
oi-quideas, poor man's orchid, or Buddhist bau-
hinia (Bnvhinia rnriegafa L.*; synonym Phanera
rin'icf/afa (L.) Benth.), has large variegated or-
chidlike flowers with 5 stamens and the leaves di-
vided to the middle into 2 lobes.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

72. Canafistula, golden-shower

This familiar planted tree occasionally escaping
from cultivation is identified by : (1) the large even
piiniate leaves 12-16 inches long, with 8-16 ]3aired,
large, very thin, ovate leaflets o-6 inches long and
l%-2% inches broad; (2) long drooping clusters
of long-stalked, beautifid, golden yellow flowers 2
inches across tlie 5 widely sju'eading petals; and
(3) very long cylindrical blackish ]iods 15-24
inches long and about % inch in diameter.

A medium-sized deciduous tree reported to be-
come 50 feet tall and IVo feet in trunk diameter,
usually much smaller, with straight axis, horizon-
tal and spreading branches, and an open crown of
thin foliage. The bark is smooth and gray, becom-
ing scaly and reddish brown. The dark green
twigs are minutely hairy.

The alternate leaves are composed of 8-16 leaf-
lets with short stalks V8~^/4 ''i*^li 'oi^?- loosely ar-
ranged along the slender, finely hairy, green axis.
Leaflet blades are short-pointed at both ends, not
toothed on edges, green and hairless on upper sur-
face, and paler and minutely hairy beneath.

The flower clusters (racemes), terminal and un-
branched, S-2-i inches or more in length, bear sev-
eral to many lax, slightly fragrant flowers on very
slender, nearly horizontal, gi-een stalks 11/4-2
inches long. There are 5 yellow-green finely hairy
sepals %6 i'l^"!! long; 5 stalked nearly equal, bright
yellow petals 1-11/4 inch long, elliptic and with
vedns; 10 stamens, 3 of which have very long fila-
ments, soon falling; and .slender, curved, minutely
hairy, green pistil fi/o inch long with stalked,
slender, 1-celled ovary and style.

The pods, which hang downward, do not split
open but have many cross walls, each containing
a single seed embedded in dark brown sweetish

Cassia fistula L.*

pulp. The seeds are shiny, light brown, and flat-
tened. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The reddish wood is very hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.9), strong, and durable. Suited as a
constiiiction wood and used also for cabinet and
inlay work, farm implements, and posts.

In Puerto Rico the trees are valued principally
as ornamentals for the showy golden flowers.
However, the trees are very susceptible to attack
by scale insects.

The drug cassia fistula, a mild laxative, is ob-
tained from the sweetish pulp of the seed pods,
which are sold in local markets for this purpose.
The medicinal properties were known even by the
ancient Egyptians. Flowers, seeds, and bark have
been employed also in medicine, and the bark in
tanning.

Along highways and streets and around houses
chiefly in the moist and dry coastal regions of
Puerto Rico. Sometimes escaping and naturalized.
Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St.
John.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia. Widely cul-
tivated and locally naturalized in the tropics in-
cluding West Indies and continental tropical
America. However, in many places it is less com-
mon than related species known by the same com-
mon names. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, and Trin-
idad. A common ornamental in southern Florida
and planted also in Bermuda.

Other common names. — canafistula, cafiaf istola
(Spanish) ; golden-shower, golden-shower senna,
shower-of-gold, Indian laburnum, pudding-pipe-

170

72. Canafistula, golden-shower

Two-thirds natural size.

Cassia fistula L.
171

tree (United States, English) ; cassia-stick-tree
(Jamaica) ; Indian laburnum, purj^ing cassia
(Trinidad); casse (Haiti); canefice, caneficier,
casse-habitant ((iiiadeloupe) .

Caiiafistula cimarrona or pinkshower cassia
{Cassia grandis L. f.) is a related tree species of

southwestern Puerto Rico and elsewhere planted
and locally naturalized. It has reddish or pur-
plisli flowers and leaves less than 12 inches long
with 14-40 oblong leaflets usually less than 2 inches
long. Several native species of this genus are
shnibs or herbs.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

73. Casia rosada, pink cassia

This cultivated ornamental and shade tree dif-
fers from related species, such as cahafistula, in
having a spreading arched crown and clustere of
beautiful large fragrant flowers, bright jjink in-
stead of yellow. The leaves are even pinnate,
mostly 8-15 inches long, witli usually 16-20 (some-
times as few as 10 or up to 30) paired oblong leaf-
lets 11/^-214 inclies long and %-l inch broad. The
very long, slender, cylindrical, dark brown pods
are 16-20 inches long and % inch in diameter and
do not split open.

A medium-sized, generally deciduous, tree 40
feet or more in heiglit and 1 foot or more in trunk
diameter, tlie trunk occasionally with a few stout,
dark gray, spine-tipped branches 2—4 inches long,
and with widespread crown of thin foliage. The
gray bark is smoothish and thin, with many thin
fissures. Inner bark is light brown and slightly
bitter. The long sliglitly drooping twigs are green
and minutely hairy.

The leaves are alternate, commonly spreading in
2 rows. The leaflets are regularly aiTanged on
short stalks \\c-, inch long, nearly equal in size,
mostly in pairs along the slender, green, finely
hairy a.xis. Leaflet blades are short-pointed or
rounded at apex, and thin minutely and inconspic-
uously hairy on botli sides, dull green above and
gray green beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are lateral, 5-9 inches
long and broad, containing many large rose-
scented flowers about 2 inches aci-oss, each on a
long, slender, dark red, finely hairy stalk l-ll/^
inches long and slightly curved upward. There
are 5 concave, pointed, dark red, finely hairy .sepals

Cassia javanica L.*

1/4 inch long, greenish tinged inside ; 5 spreading
oblong pink petals 1-11/4 inches long, short-stalked
at base and rounded at apex, minutely haii-y, with
reddish veins but the color of petals fading to
wjiitish witli age; 10 yellow stamens, 3 about li^
inches long and with a swelling beyond middle,
and 7 about V2 inch long; and 1 slender, curved,
reddish pistil 114: inches long, consisting of staJk,
narrow 1-celled ovary, style, and stigma.

The pods, which hang downward, contain nu-
merous rounded and flattened shiny brown seeds
14, inch in diameter, each in a separate disklike
pulpy compartment, 1,600 to a pound. Flowering
mainly from May to July and occasionally
through the summer and fall.

The soft wood witli whitish sapwood is not gen-
erally used in Puerto Rico.

A fast-growing tree of relatively recent intro-
duction to Puerto Rico but increasing in popu-
larity and certain to become commoner.

Planted along streets and in yards, chiefly in the
larger cities of Puerto Rico. Also in Virgin
Islands.

Raxge. — Native from eastern Himalayas of
India to Malaya. Planted for ornament in vari-
ous tropical regions. Introduced in southern
Florida.

Other COMMON names. — acacia rosada (Puerto
Rico) ; nodding cassia (Virgin Islands) ; pink
cassia, apple-blossom cassia, apple-blossom senna,
pink-and-white shower, Javanese cassia, joint-
wood, jointwood senna (English).

Botanical synonym. — Cassia nodosa Hamilt.

172

73. Casia rosada, pink cassia

Two-thirds natural size.

Cassia javanica L.
173

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

74. Casia de Siam, Siamese cassia Cassia siamea Lam.*

This introduced tree commonly planted along
highways and in windbreaks is characterized by :
(1) a generally erect crown, not spreading like
most similar species; (2) even pinnate leaves 9-13
inches long, with 1-2--2-2 paired oblong or lance-
shaped leaflets rounded at both ends and slightly
shiny green above; (3) the erect large terminal
clusters of numerous bright yellow flowers I14
inches across the 5 rounded petals; and (4) the
many long, narrow, flat, dark brown pods which
split open to release the seeds.

A medium-sized evergreen tree to 60 feet in
height and 1 foot in trunk diameter or sometimes
larger, with straight axis. The bark is gray or
light brown, smoothish but becoming slightly fis-
sured. Inner bark is light bi'own, gritty and taste-
less. The twigs are greenish and minutely hairy
when young, turning brown.

The alternate leaves bear leaflets in pairs along
the slender, grooved, green and reddish-tinged axis
on short stalks i/g "i^h long. The leaflet blades
are almost all the same size, I14-3 inches long and
■V^~T^s i'T^li broad, with a tiny bristle tip, the edges
without teetli, tliin, the upper surface almost hair-
less, and the lower surface gray green with minute
hairs.

Flower clusters (panicles) are branched, 8-12
inches long and 5 inches broad, with many, almost
regular flowers on straight, yellow-green, finely
hairy stalks l-li/i inches long. There are 5 con-
cave, pointed, greenish-yellow, finely hairy sepals
S'lR inch long; 5 spreading, nearly equal, yellow
petals %-% inch long, short-stalked; 7 stamens of
different lengths and 3 smaller sterile stamens ; and
a pistil with pale green, minutely hairy, 1-celled
ovary and curved style.

The pods, so nmiierous that tliey sometimes give
an initidy appearance to the tree, are 6-10 inches
long, about 1/0 inch broad, and V^g inch thick, stiff,
and often slightly curved. They split up the sides
into 2 parts, releasing the many flat, shiny, dark
brown seeds ^/iq inch long and 16,000 to a j^ound.
In flower and fruit throughout tlie year.

The sapwood is light brown and moderately
hard. The heartwood is dark brown and streaked
and hard. The wood, which is very susceptible to

attack by dry-wood termites, is used locally as a
good fuel and for posts. Elsewhere employed for
construction, furniture, turnery, and similar pur-
poses. Tannin has been extracted from the bark.

In Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands the
principal uses of the trees a.re for ornament, shade,
aiul windbreaks. They form good windbreaks be-
cause they retain a deep closed crown. This
s])ecies is a relatively recent introduction in Puerto
Rico but now widespread as a result of distribu-
tion of quantities of seedlings by the government.
It was brought to Jamaica before 1837 and in
( Guadeloupe has been planted as shade for coffee
and cacao. The trees are propagated by seeds,
grow very rapidly in full sunlight, and are suitable
for fuel within a few years. However, they are
very suscejjtible to attack by scale insects.

The seeds, pods, and foliage are toxic to hogs
and cause death quickly after being eaten. As
hogs relish the poisonous leaves, farmers in
Puerto Rico have suffered losses. Trees blown
over or broken by storms increase the danger.
Thus, swine and ]5erhaps other livestock should
be kept away from these trees.

Commonly planted along highways and streets
and in parks and yards in both the moist and dry
coastal regions, the moist limestone region, and in
the lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also
common, especially in windbreaks, in St. Croix,
St. Thomas, and St. John.

Raxge. — Native of East Indies, Malaya, India,
and Ceylon but spread by cultivation. First de-
scribed from Siam, as the common and scientific
names indicate. Widely planted through West
Indies in Greater Antilles and many of Lesser
Antilles to Trinidad and escaped and naturalized
locally. Less common in southern Florida and
from Guatemala to northern South America.

Other commox names. — casia amarilla, casia,
casia siamea (Puerto Rico) ; yellow cassia (Virgin
Islands) ; flamboUan amarillo (Dominican Re-
public) ; casia siamea (Cuba) ; Siamese senna,
Siamese shower, kassod-tree (L'nited States);
Siamese cassia, kassod-tree, Bombay blackwood
(English) ; casse de Siam (Guadeloupe).

Botanical s y n o n y m. — Sciacn.^sia siamea
(Lam.) Britton.

174

74. Casia de Siam. Siamese cassia

Two-thirds natural size.

Cassia siamea Lam.
175

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

75. Flamboyan, flamboyant-tree

Flamboyan, the widely spreading tree which
forms arches of shade along Puerto Rico's high-
ways and which is covered with brilliant masses of
large orange-red flowers mostly from May to July
or August, is known to all, visitors and residents
alike. Even when the flame-colored blossoms are
absent, the feathery foliage and the giant, flat,
blackish or dark brown pods resembling machetes
make identification easy.

This small to medium-sized deciduous tree be-
comes SO-SO feet high and '2 feet in trunk diam-
eter, large trunks buttressed and angled toward
base. The gray-brown bark is smoothish, some-
times slightly cracked, and with many dots (lenti-
cels). Inner bark is light brown and tasteless.
Long, nearly horizontal branches form a broad
flat-topped crown of thin foliage wider than the
ti-ee"s height. The stout twigs are greenish and
finely hairy when young, becoming brown.

The alternate leaves are 8-20 inches long and
twice pinnate (bipinnate) . Along the light green,
slightly hairy a.xis are 10-25 pairs of slender
featliery branches (pinnae) 2-5 inches long, each
bearing' 12—10 pairs of very small oblong leaflets
3/jg-% inch long and % inch wide. The numerous
leaflets are stalkless, rounded at base and apex,
not toothed, thin, very minutely hairy on both
sides, green on upper surface and paler beneath.

Several flower clusters (racemes) 6-10 inches
long are borne laterally near the end of a twig,
each with loosely arranged, slightly fragrant
flowers. The flo^^ei-s are 4-5 inches across, on
slender stalks 2-3 inches long. Calyx consists of
5 pointed, finely hairy sepals about 1 inch long,
green outside and reddish with yellow border with-
in; 5 unequal petals 2-21/2 inches long and ^-l^/i
inches wide, with a very long, slender, haiiy stalk,
broadly spoon-shaped, rounded but broader than
long, slightly wavy-margined or crisp, widely ex-
tended and bending backwards liefore falling; 4
petals are orange red or almost scarlet, while 1
which is longer and narrower than the othei-s is
whitish inside with red spots and streaks; the 10
stamens about 1% inches long are slender and red,
hairy toward base; and the pistil has a haii-y 1-
celled ovary about Vo inch long and slender style
about 1V4 inclies long.

The pods are hard, 14-20 inches long, 2-214
inches wide, and 14 inch thick, finally splitting into
2 parts. There are many oblong mottled brown
seeds about % inch long and i/4 hich broad,
about 900 to tlie pound. The conspicuous pods

Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf.*

liang down and remain attached most of the year,
even when the trees are leafless.

The sapwood is light yellow, and the heartwood
is yellowish brown to light brown. The wood is
soft, heavy (specific gravity 0.8), coarse-grained,
weak and brittle, and very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites. The large pods as well as the
wood are used for fuel.

Widely planted along highways and streets and
in parks and gardens of both moist and dry areas
almost throughout Puerto Eico for the spectacular
flowers and for the shade of the broad branches.
Along highways the trees often are heavily pruned
except for the leaning side forming the arch. Also
a live fencepost. Sometimes escaping from culti-
vation and becoming naturalized. Also in Mona,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Propagated easily from seed and of rapid
growth. Since the wood is weak, trees are often
broken by strong winds. x\fter the leaves are shed,
the trees are less attractive \^ith their conspicuous
pods remaining on the bare bi-anches and with the
prominent timnels and nests of the termites which
commonly attack this species. A caterpillar, or de-
foliating insect, occasionally attacks the trees and
elinunates the leaves completely. Another objec-
tionable feature is the surface root system which
sometimes breaks sidewalks and walls. Because
of these undesirable characteristics some authori-
ties classify flamboyan among the trees which
should not be planted.

Range. — Native of Madagascar. One of the
most extensively planted ornamental trees in tropi-
cal and subtropical regions throughout the world
and locally escaping or naturalized. Southern
Florida including Florida Keys, southern Cali-
fornia (planted), Bermuda, and throughout "West
Indies. Also from Mexico to Brazil.

Other common names. — flamlx)yan rojo, flam-
boyan Colorado (Puerto Rico) ; flamboyant, giant,
giant-tree (Virgin Islands) ; flamboyan (Domini-
can Republic, Colombia, Venezuela) ; framboyan,
flamboyant (Cuba) ; arbol de fuego, tabuchin
(Mexico) ; arbol del fuego, flor de fuego (Central
America) ; acacia, framboyan, guacamayo (Guate-
mala) ; guacamaya, poinciana (Honduras) ; gua-
camaya (El Salvador) ; clavellino, flor de pavo
(Colombia) ; flamboyant, josefina (Venezuela) ;
flamboyant-tree (British Guiana) ; flamboyant,
royal poinciana, flame-tree (United States, Eng-
lish) ; flamboyant (French) ; flamboyant, July-
tree (Dutch West Indies) ; flamboyant (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Poinciana regia Bojer.

176

75. Flamboydn, flamboyant-tree

Delonix regia (Bojer) Raf.

Flower and bud, two-thirds natural size; leaf and fruit, one-third natural size.

177

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)
76. Algarrobo, West-Indian-locust, courbaril Hymenaea courbaril L.

This handsome large tree is characterized by:
(1) compound leaves consisting of 2 almost stalk-
less, very unequal-sided, oblong, shiny green leaf-
lets 2— i inches long and %-lV2 inches broad, short-
or long-pointed at apex and rounded at base, and
sliglitly thickened or leathery; (2) the large
spreading wliitish flowers about li/t inches across,
nnnierous in erect terminal clusters with stout
branches; and (3) the erect, large, oblong, rough,
dark brown pods 2-4 inches long, about 1^/^-2
inches wide, more than 1 incli thick, with edible
pulp.

A usually evergreen spreading forest tree to 65
feet in heiglit and 4 feet in diameter or larger,
sometimes with buttresses. Bark is smoothish and
grav, becoming 1 inch or more in thickness. Inner
bark is light pinkish brown. The stout branches
form a rounded, widely spreading crown. The
twigs are stout, brown, and much fissured.

The alternate leaves have a petiole V2 inch long.
Leaflet blades are shiny green to dark green on
upper surface, dull yellow green and slightly
lirownish tinged on lower surface, not toothed on
edges, hairless, and show many lighter gland dots
when examined with a lens against the light.

The flower clusters (panicles) are about 4—6
inches high and broad, and flattened. The bell-
shaped, gray-green, finely hairy, thick basal tube
(hyj^anthium) is 3/s inch long and broad ; there are
5 slightly thickened, gray-green, haiiy sepals i/4-%
inch long; the 5 thin wlute petals are elliptic,
%-% inch long and a little unequal, covered with
minute gland dots: the 10 .stamens II4 inches long
iiave white filaments and red anthers; and the pis-
til consists of a stalk projecting beyond the tube,
a flattened 1-celled ovai-y less than % inch long,
and a verv slender curved style 1 inch long.

The pods are thick-walled, hard, contain pockets
of gtnn, and do not open. There are few to .several
oblong, flattened, dark red seeds about 1 inch long
imbedded in the thick pale yellow pulp. This
sweet and mealy or powdery pulp is edible, though
it has an unpleasant odor, and mixed with water
forms a drink. The large seeds weigh about 120
to a pound. Flowering from early spring to fall,
and pods remaining on the tree awhile after
maturity.

The thick sapwood is whitish to gray brown.
Heartwood is dark or reddish brown, often with
blackish streaks. The wood is very hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.7) , mostly medium textured and
usually with interlocked grain. It is very strong,
tough, durable, very resistant to attack' by dry-
wood termites, and slightly difficult to work." Rate
of air-seasoning is moderate and amount of de-

grade is considerable. Machining characteristics
are as follows: planing is fair; turning is excel-
lent; shaping, boring, mortising, sanding, and re-
sistance to screw splitting are good.

An important American timber species produc-
ing woocl of good quality but of limited quantity
in Puerto Eico. Here classed as for furniture and
sometimes compared with mahogany. Also used
in carpentry, general construction, and for wheels
and cogs. Elsewliere enqiloyed in shipbuilding
and for railway crossties, posts, looms, cartwheels,
and balls. The wood should be attractive as ve-
neer, plywood, cabinetwork, interior trim, and
turnery.

The roots and trtmk yield a pale yellow or red-
dish resinlike gum known commercially as South
American copal. The gum exudes and forms hard
hunps which l)ecome buried in the soil at the base
of a tree. Sometimes as much as a barrel of gum
has been found around the roots of a large tree or
at the site of a former tree. The gum is used main-
ly in varnish but also for incense and local medi-
cines. A honey plant.

Indians made canoes from the smooth hard thick
bark by stripping in one piece the bark of a large
tree, sewing the ends together, waterproofing the
seams with gum or resin, and inserting wooden
crosspieces. The bark has been used in medicines
also.

Efforts to use this species for reforestation in
Puerto Rico have shown it to be unadapted to de-
graded sites and generally of slow growth. Shade
is required at first if the trees are to produce
straight trunks. Trees underplanted in a forest
near Rio Piedras attained heights ranging up to
20 feet after 13 years. Plantings in the open, for
shade and ornamental purjioses, produce attractive
spreading trees more rapidly. This makes a good
roadside shade tree, but locations near houses
should be avoided because of the malodorous fruits.

Scattered in forests, pastures, and along road-
sides in the moist and dry coastal and limestone
regions of Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques. St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

PruLic FORE.STs. — Cauibalaclie, Guajataca, Lu-
([uillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia.

Municipalities where especially common. —
25.30,32,42,59,69.

Range. — Throughout "West Indies from Cuba
and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
central Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and
French Guiana. Rarely planted in southern
Florida.

Otiiek common names. — West-Indian-locust,
locust (Virgin Islands) ; algarrobo (Spanish) ;

178

76. Algarrobo, West-Indian-locust, courbaril

Natural size.

Bymenaea courharil L.
179

courbaril (commerce, English) ; curbaril, caguai-
ran, algarrobo de las Antillas (Cuba) ; guapinol,
cuapinoj, copinol (Mexico, Central America) ;
guapinal, nazareno (Colombia) ; corobore (Vene-
zuela); copal (Ecuador); courliaril (Peru); lo-
cust (British AVest Indies, British Guiana) ;
West-Indian-locust, stinking-toe (Jamaica);
stinking-toe (Trinidad) ; locust, guapinol (British
Hondui-as) ; courbaril, simiri, locust (British
Guiana) ; courbaril (Guadeloupe, Martinque,
French Guiana) ; locust (Dutch West Indies) ;

rode locus, locus, loksi (Surinam) ; jutahy, jatoba
(Brazil).

The specific epithet is taken from an American
Indian name, courbaril. Early Spanish settlers
in the New World gave the name algarrobo to this
and other trees of tlie legume family suggestive of
the related Old AVorld carob tree with the same
Spanish name {Ceratonia siliqua L.*). The lat-
ter, introduced experimentally in St. Croix, has
pinnate leaves witli 4r-10 elliptic leaflets and flat
pods 4—12 inches long with edible pulp.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

77. Palo de rayo, Jerusalem-thorn Parkinsonia aculeata L.*

Small spiny tree characterized by: (1) smooth
yellow-green or blue-green bark, branches, and
twigs; (2) specialized leaves consisting of a ter-
minal s])ine and 2 or 4 long yellow-green drooping
strips bearing numerous small leaflets V8~%6 inch
long which shed early; (3) showy golden-yellow
flowers % inch or more across the 5 petals, in loose
lateral clusters (racemes) 3-8 inches long; and
(4) brown pod 2-4 inches long and V4 inch or more
in diameter, narrowed between the seeds.

Shrub or small tree 10-20 feet tall, often branch-
ing near ground, with very open crown of spread-
ing branches and very thin drooping foliage, green
tliroughout the year, thougli appearing leafless
after the leaflets fall. The bark is smootli and
very thin, yellow green or blue green but becoming
brown and fissured or scaly on large trunks.
Inner bark is green and slightly bitter. The slen-
der, slightly zigzag, green twigs are minutely
hairy when young. They have paired .^hort spines
(stipules) at nodes bordering the larger spine
%-% inch or more in length, which ends the leaf
axis. These spines may remain on the branches
and trunk in groups of 3 or singly.

The alternate leaves actually are twice pinnate
(bipinnate), consisting of a very short main axis
ending in a spine and 1 or 2 jjairs of drooping lat-
eral axes 8-12 inclies long and i/s in^^'h broad, flat,
and slightly thickened. Each clrooijing strip or
streamer bears 20-30 pairs of thin, oblong, green,
deciduous leaflets and functions as a leaf after the
leaflets fall.

Several sliglitly beanlike fragrant flowere are
borne on slender stalks. There is a short calyx
tube with 5 narrow yellow-brown lobes %6 inch
long, turned downward ; 5 nearly round petals
%-V2 inch long, yellow, tinged with orange, and
hairy at base, tlie upper petal slightly larger, red-
spotted, and turning red in withering; 10 stamens
14 inch long with green filaments and brown
anthers; and reddisli-tinged pistil 14 inch long
with hairy 1-celled ovary and slender style. The

long-pointed pods contain usually 2-5 oblong dark
brown seeds % inch long ( 5,600 to a pound) . With
flowers and pods throughout the year.

The sapwood is yellowish and thick, and heart-
wood light or reddish brown. The wood is mod-
erately hard and heavy (specific gravity 0.6), and
brittle, used locally only for fuel.

Sometimes grown in fences and as a spiny living
iiedge. The foliage and pods are browsed by live-
stock. Elsewhei'e an infusion of the leaves has
served in home medicines.

Often planted as an ornamental along roads and
escaping from cultivation or naturalized, chiefly
in the clry coastal region of Puerto Rico. Also in
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolm, Tortola,
and Virgin Gorda.

Raxge. — Widely distributed in tropical Amer-
ica, native of Texas, Arizona, and Mexico and pos-
sibly elsewhere but cultivated, spreading, and
becoming naturalized from soutliern United States
(Florida and Georgia to Texas and California)
south to Argentina and in the Old World tropics.
Also throughout West Indies, probably intro-
duced, and planted in Benimda.

Other co5imon names. — flor de rayo, flor de
mayo (Puerto Rico) ; lluvia de oro, acacia, acacia
de los masones, cambron, siempre-viva (Dominican
lvepul)lic) ; junco niarino, espinillo (Cuba) ; palo-
\erde (Mexico) ; retama (Mexico to Colombia) ;
sulfato, sulfatillo, palo de rayo (Guatemala) ;
sulfato (El Salvador) ; acacia de agiiijote (Nica-
ragua) ; yabo, sauce, sauce espino, goajiro (Colom-
bia) ; espinillo, pauji, cuji extranjero (Vene-
zuela) ; mataburro (Peru) ; cina-cina (Uruguay,
Argentina) ; Jerusalem -thorn, horsebean, palo-
verde, Mexican paloverde, retama (United
States) ; Jerusalem-thorn (English) ; hoi-sebean
(Bahamas) ; Jerusalem (British Guiana) ; madam
naiz, madam yass (Haiti) ; arrete-boeuf (Guade-
loupe, Martinique) ; boonchi strena, wonder-tree
(Dutch West Indies) .

180

77. Palo de rayo, Jerusalem-thorn

Two-thirds natural size.

Parkinsonia aculeata L.

181

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINLACEAE)

78. Flamboyan amarillo, yellow flamboyant

This handsome ornamental and shade tree, a
relatively recent introduction to Pureto Rico, is
characterized by: (1) the feathery or fernlike,
twice pinnate leaves (bipinnate) 8-16 inches long,
with inunerons paired small oblong leaflets i,'2-%
inch long and Vi-% inch broad: (2) the dense
coat of rusty or reddish-brown hairs on young
twigs, leaf axes, branches of flower clusters, and
flower buds; (3) nuxny showy rusty-yellow flowers
with 5 rounded petals, in lai-ge clusters; and (4)
conspicuous, broad, flat and winged pods, reddish
but turning to dark reddish brown, 21/0-41/2 inclies
long and 1-1% inches broad.

A medium-sized to large evergreen tree 30-65
feet in height and li/; feet or more in trunk diam-
eter, graceful and with spreading branches and
dense foliage. Most of the trees here are not old
enough to liave reached large size, the maximum
elsewhere being about 100 feet. Bark on small
trees is smoothish, with dots and lines (lenticels),
light gi'ay, becoming brown and furrowed. The
inner bark is light brown and bitter.

The alternate leaves consist of a main axis and
14—30 paired lateral axes (pinnae), each bearing
16-32 paired leaflets. Leaflets have very short
stalks about Vgo inch long, are rounded and slightly
notched at apex and rounded and oblique at base,
the edges not toothed, thin, the upper surface green
and hairless, and the lower surface paler and finely
hairy.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and
widely branched, nearly 1 foot long. The calyx
of the fragrant flowers is more than % inch long,
with short tube and 5 rusty-brown hairy lobes;
the 5 nearly equal, stalked, rounded petals %-%
inch long have wavy, finely toothed margins and

Peltophorum inerme (Roxb.) Naves*

are bright yellow with a brown hairy stripe on
outside ; 10 stamens with orange anthers and fila-
ments brown hairy at base; and pistil with a hairy
1 -celled ovary, slender style, and broad flat stigma.

The oblong pods are slaort-pointed at both ends,
wing-margined, with 1^ flat seeds (5,600 to a
pound), and do not split open. Flowering from
spring to fall (April to September) and fruiting
chiefly in the winter.

The sapwood is whitish and hard. To the pres-
ent the wood is used locally only for fuel.

Grown for the ornamental flowers and attractive
reddish fi'uits and as a street or shade tree in the
larger cities in Puerto Rico and also in St. Thomas.
Though a fairly new introduction, this species is
increasing in popularity and being planted more
extensively,.* 'Jtispropagated from seed and grows
rapidly. The flowers attract bees. The trees are
reported to be? shallow rooted and subject to dam-
age by strong winds.

Range. — Native in Ceylon, southern India,
Malaya, East Indies, Philippines, and northern
Australia. Widely cultivated through the tropics
though apparently not yet introduced in many
parts of the New World. Recorded as planted in
southern Florida, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas,
(xuadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala,
Panama, Venezuela, and British Guiana.

Other common names. — yellow flamboyant,
yellow poinciana (English) ; peltophorum, zapa-
te.ro (Trinidad); palissandre (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonyms. — Caesalpinia fer-rug'mea
Decne., C . inennis Roxb., Peltophorum ferrugine-
um (Decne.) Benth., P. roxbwghii (G. Don)
Degener.

182

78. Elamboyan amarillo, yellow flamboyant

6S7-921 0—64 13

Two-thirds natural size.

Pelfophorum incrme (Roxb.) Naves

183

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

79. Cobana negra

This tree of coastal forests of southwestern and
southeastern Rierto Rico is easily identified by :
(1) the pinnately compound leaves with 6-12 op-
posite lance-shaped to ovate leaflets li/j-Si-o inches
lono; and i^^-li/i inches broad, on red stalks with
scattered black raised dots (glands) on lower sur-
face; (2) the clusters of pale yellow flowers about
1-2 inch across the 5 petals; and (3) the odd, ellip-
tic, thick and fleshy, red pods 2 inches or less in
length, not splitting open.

A medium-sized evergreen tree 25-50 feet in
height and l-li/^ feet in trunk diameter. Usually
small, because the large trees have been cut. Bark
on small trunks is dark gray and smoothish, be-
coming rough, much furrowed, and thick on large
trunks. Inner bark is liglit l)rown and bitter. The
twigs are brown and liairless, with raised gray
dots (lenticels).

The leaves are alternate, 4-7 inches long, with a
yellow-brown axis and with stalks of individual
leaflets i/^g inch long. Tveaflet blades are short-
pointed at apex, i-ounded and slightly oblique at
base, the edges slightly wavy, thickened and leath-
ery, shiny on upper surface and dull l)eneath.

Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal and lat-
eral, 3-6 inches long, unbranched, and the flowers
with short stalks i/i i'l'^b long. The funnel-shaped
base (hypanthium) is about 1% inch long and
broad; tliere are 5 slightly hairy sepals 14 inch
long; 5 slightly hairy (papillose) petals %-i/^
inch long; 10 stamens; and pistil with 1-celled
ovary and slender curved style.

Stahlia monosperma (Tul.) Urban

The pods are about 1% inches broad and % inch
thick, with odor of ripe apples, light brown taste-
less flesh, and 1 large seed. Flowering in spring
and early summer (February to June) and matur-
ing fruits in summer and fall.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is dark brown. The wood is very hard, heavy,
strong, durable, and resistant to attack by dry-
wood termites.

Suited for ftirnitTire, although considered hard
for this purpose. Mostly used for construction in
the past. Because of the demand of this valuable
wood, large trees have become scarce. Perhaps
this species could be planted both for shade and
wood.

Generally found in low areas and near man-
grove in the dry-coastal region of Puerto Rico east
to Ceiba. Also Vieques.

Public fokest. — Boqueron.

R.\xGE. — Formerly known only from Puerto
Rico and Vieques but in recent years found also in
eastern Dominican Republic near Macao.

Other common names. — cobana, polisandro
(Puerto Rico) ; coabanilla (Dominican Republic).

BoT.\Nic.\L SYNONYM. — iSfaMul mriritima Bello.

The generic name Sfuhlm honors Agustin
Stahl (1842-1917), physician and botanist of
Bavamcni, Puerto Rico, who wrote "Estudios
sobre la Flora de Puerto Rico" (1883-88, second
edition 1936-37), an unfinished publication on the
plants of the island. This is the only species of the

184

7y. Cobana negra

Natural size.

Stahlia monospcrma (Tul.) Urban

185

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE)

80. Tamarindo, tamarind

This well-known handsome planted tree, whose,
soiu- pods are used in a refreshinc; drink, is char-
acterized by : ( 1 ) a generally dense crown of
feathery, pinnate leaves 2^1/4 inches long, with
10-18 pairs of oblong blue-green leafl?ts %-% inch
long and Vs-Va inch broad; (2) showy flowers
about 1 inch across, pale yellow tinged with red,
several in tenninal and lateral clusters (racemes)
11/2-6 inches long; and (3) the gray, rough, thick
pods li/o-S inches long, containing dark brown
edible pulp around the seeds. Showy when in full
bloom, the flowei-s giving yellowish color to the
tre«.

A medium-sized tree to 40 feet high and with
usually a short, tiimk to 3 feet in diameter or
larger, with a rounded crown of dense fine foliage,
except on very dry sites. The bark is rough, much
fissured, gray or brown, and thick. Inner bark
is brownish, gritty, and slightly bitter in taste.
The twigs are green and minutely hairy when
young, turning gray or brown.

The leaves are alternate. Leaflets are almost
stalkless and close together along a slender pale
green axis, rounded at both ends and oblique at
base, not toothed, thin, blue green above and
slightly paler beneath, folding against axis at
night.

The flowers are slightly irregular shaped, deli-
cate, and on .slender stalks. Flower buds are dark
red. The narrow, pale green basal tube (liypan-
thium) is %6 inch long; there are 4 pale yellow
seiials % inch long; 3 pale yellow petals with red
veins, keeled and broader toward the finely wavy
apex, the 2 outer ones % inch long and central
petal % inch long, 2 other petals reduced to min-
ute scales; 3 greenish stamens Y_> inch long, united
by filaments to middle, and 2 minute sterile sta-
mens : and a green beanlike pistil % inch long with
stalked 1-celled ovary and curved style.

The heavy, often curved pods are about 1V2-4
inches long, %-l inch wide, and %-% inch thick,
slightly constricted between the seeds, with a
l>rittle outer shell, and not splitting open. Usually
3 or 4 flattened shiny brown seeds % inch long
are imbedded in the dark brown, fibrous pulp,
which is edible though very sour. Seeds 400 to a
pound. Flowering mainly from spring to fall and
fruiting from winter to spring.

Tamarindus indica L.*

The sapwood is light yellow and moderately
soft, and the snuill heartwood dark purplish
brown. The wood is described as very hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.9) , and takes a fine polish.
It is strong and durable, although very susceptible
to attack by dry-wood termites.

The wood is used chiefly for fuel and is re-
ported to generate great heat. In other places
where the species is sufficiently common, the wood
is employed for construction, tool handles, furni-
ture, and articles in woodturning but is considered
very difficult to work. Good charcoal for gun-
powder formerly was manufactured from it.

Candy and preserves, as well as the beverage,
are prepared from the edible pods. The young
tender sour fruits have been cooked for seasoning
meats, and the young leaves and flowers reportedly
consumed as food. Besides making the trees orna-
mental, the flowers attract bees and are an im-
portant source of honey. However, the litter of
the pods is objectionable in street planting. In
India the trees are planted on forest firebreaks be-
cause the ground underneath usually is bare.

The fruit pulp is employed in home medicine
and formerly was official as the source of a laxative.
It contains sugar as well as acetic, tartaric, and
citric acids and is antiscorbutic. Decoctions from
flowers, seeds, young leaves, and bark of the plant
have been used medicinally also. A yellow dye
has been obtained from the leaves.

Planted in Puerto Rico mainly for the fruits
and ornament and shade and occasionally natural-
ized. Fairly common around houses, along roads,
and on hillsides in the coastal regions, mainly on
the dry coa.st. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

R.VNOE. — Native of the Old AVorld tropics but
widely planted and naturalized in tropical and
subtropical regions and introduced into the New
World at a very early date. Cultivated and often
naturalized throughout West Indies and from
Mexico to Brazil. Planted also in southern
Florida including Florida Keys and in Bermuda.

Other common names. — taman, tamarindade
(Virgin Islands) ; tamarindo (Spanish) ; tama-
rind (United States, English); tamarin, tama-
rinier, tamarindier (French) ; tamarijn, tamarind
(Dutch West Indies); tamarinde (Surinam);
tamarindo (Brazil).

186

80. Tamarindo, tamarind

Natural size.

Tamarindus indica L.
187

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

Key to the 11 species illustrateil ( Xos. 81-91)
A. Leaves with 3 leaflets.

B. Leaflets with 3 main veins from base, short-pointed at apex.

('. Leaflets wedfje-.shaped. whitish sreen beneath: spines al)sent — S2. Eriithrina herteroana*
CC. Leaflets broadly ovate, nearly straight at base; spines often scattered on twigs and branches — 84
Ery Ihrina poipp iy tuna.*
BR. Leaflets with 1 main vein, elliiitic to ovate, nmnded or short-pointed at botli ends, whitish green Ijeneath ;
spines scattered on twigs and branches — 83. Erythrina glaiica*
AA. Leaves pinnate.

D. Leaflets rounded, %— ^ inch long and broad, with yellowish spiny or bristle tip: twigs spiny — 88. Pictetia
acidcata.
DD. Leaflets larger, longer than broad, not spiny : twigs not spiny.

K. Leaflets paired. 10-31) pairs, oblong. %-lV2 inches long, rounded at both ends — 01. .SV.ffioni'a grandiflora*
EE. Leaflets of odd number. 17 or fewer, ovaTe or elliiitic, larger, short-pointed at apex.
F, Leaves less than 1 foot long.

G. Leaflets paired except at end : sap watery.

H. Leaflets 5-0. usually 7, with stout stalks Vs-% inch long — 86, Lonchocarpus latifoUus.
HH, Leaflets 7-13 <ir more, with slender stalks.

I. Leaflets slightly shiny green on upper surface. 2-5 inches long — 81. AiuUra inerniis.
II. Leaflets dull green, mostly less than 2 inches long — 85, Gliricidia sepiutn.*
GG. Leaflets all attached singly, not paired : sap dark red.
J. Leaflets ovate — SO. Pirrocarpiis indiriis*
J.J. Leaflets elliptic to oblong — 'M\. Ptrrorarpus offlcinalis.
FF, Leaves very large, 1V2-3 feet long: leaflets 7 or 0 (sometimes 5), large, 3-12 inches long, elliptic, with
many parallel lateral veins slightly sunken — 87. Ormosia krugii.

81. Moca, cabbage angelin

This attfuctive tree is easily recognized in flower
by the sliowy masses of pink to purple pea-shaped
flowers yjfi inch long. Other distinguishing char-
acters are: (1) the rough light gray bark,
which has an unpleasant cabbagelike odor when
cut; (2) alternate pinnate leaves with 7-13 oblong
or elliptic short- or long-pointed, thin, slightly
shiny green leaflets ; and (3) the distinctive stalked
elliptic or egg-shaped green pod I-IV2 inches or
more in length, containing 1 poisonous seexl and
not splitting open.

A medium-sized deciduous tree becoming 2(V50
feet tall and 6-12 inches in trunk diameter, some-
times larger, erect in the forest but in the open
much branched and with dense rounded spreading
crown. Tlie bark 14-% inch thick is much fis-
sured and scaly. Inner bark is light brown, some-
times with slightly bitter taste. The stout twigs
are green and finely hairy when young, becoming
brown or gray.

The leaves 6-16 inches long have a gre©n axis
enlarged at base, bearing there when young 2 nar-
row pointed green to brown scales (stipules)
Vg-Vo inch long. Leaflets, paired except at end,
have short green stalks %-i/4 inch long and 2
narrow pointed green scales Vie-^ inch long at
base. The blades are 2-5 inches long and 1-2
inches broad, rounded at base, not toothed at edges,
turned up a little at midrib, pale and very slightly
shiny or dull beneath, varying in color from yel-
low green through green to brownish green.

Flower clusters (panicles) are broad and much
branched, 6-12 inches long, terminal or sometimes
also lateral, the greenish branches finely hairy,
bearing numerous almost stalkless flowers, which

188

Andira inermis (W. Wright) H. B. K.

are dark red to deep pink in bud. The bell-shaped
calyx tube is %g inch long and broad, minutely
.5-toothed at the almost even top, pinkish tinged,
finely haii-;v'; there are 5 usually pink petals '^g
incli long, all narrowed and stalked at base, a broad
rounded standard, 2 wings, and 2 keel petals; 10
white stamens, 1 free and 9 united into a tube about
% their length; and long-stalked pistil nearly i/^
inch long, including flattened light green hairy
1 -celled ovary and cur\'ed slender white style.

The thick pods (drupes) are slightly fleshy out-
side and hard within, weighing about 20 to the
pound. Recorded in flower in winter (January
and February) and summer (May to September)
and in fruit mainly from summer to December.

Sapwood is light brown. The highly figured,
decorative heartwood varies from yellowish brown
to dark reddish brown with sharply contrasting
bands of light and dark fibers. The wood is hard,
fairly heavy (.specific gravity 0.63), coarse-tex-
tured, easy to work, and finishes well. It is sus-
ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites but re-
ported to be durable in contact with the ground.
Rate of air-seasoning and amount of degrade are
moderate. Machining characteristics are as fol-
lows: planing, turning, and sanding are excellent;
shaping is fair; and boring, mortising, and resist-
ance to screw splitting are good.

Formerly and potentially for high-grade furni-
ture and cabinetwork in Puerto Rico, the wood is
now utilized chiefly for posts and poles because of
the small dimensions available. Uses elsewhere
are fancy turned articles including billiard-cue
butts, umbrella handles, and canes, also heavy con-
struction, bridge timbers, carpentry, vehicles, pil-
ing, and boats.

I

81. Jloea eabltage angelin

Two-thirds natural size.

Andira inermis (W. Wright) H. B. K.

189

Planted occasionally for coffee shade. This spe-
cies has been tested in i-eforestation in Puerto Rico
but was al)andoned because of very slow growth.
It also suffered heavy losses when field mice cut
stems of many seedlings. Nevertheless, the adapt-
ability of this species to a wide variety of sites and
its capacity to ]n-oduce large cro))s of fruits which
are dispersed by animals have made it one of the
most widespread trees of Puerto Rico.

The bark and seeds, reportedly poisonous and
in large doses causing death, have been employed
in other places as a vermifuge, purgative, and nar-
cotic. It is said that smoke from the wood is in-
jurious to the eyes.

Handsome and very showy when in flower, this
species has been planted for ornament and shade
in some countries. As the flowers are much visited
by honey bees, the tree is an excellent honey plant.

Common in all regions of Puerto Rico except the
upper mountains. Commonest on the lower south-
ern slopes of the Cordillera. Found in woodlands,
along roadsides, fence rows, river banks, and in
pastures. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
(iuaja*^aca, Guanica, (xuilarte, Luquillo, Maricao,
Rio Aba jo, San Juan, Susua, Toro Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
6, 8, 9, 23, 32, 42, U, 46, 47, 50, 53, 60, 61, 69, 70, 73.

Range. — Through "West Indies from Cuba and

Jamaica to Trinidad. Collected at Bahia Honda
Key, Florida, and introduced in southern Florida.
Also from central Mexico (Michoacan) south to
Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, and in western tropical
Africa.

Other cosimon names. — moca blanca (Puerto
Rico) ; dog-almond, dog-plum, false-mahogany
(Virgin Islands) ; palo de burro (Dominican Re-
public) ; yaba, yaba colorada, moca (Cuba) ; maca
colorada, pacay, macayo, cuilimbuca, moca, yaba
(Mexico) ; almendro (Central America) ; almen-
dro cimarron, guacamayo (Guatemala) ; guaca-
mayo (Honduras) ; almendro macho, almendro de
rio, almendro montes, almendro real (El Salva-
dor) ; cocii, carne asada (Costa Rica) ; cocii, pilon,
arenillo, quira (Panama) ; congo, guayacan congo,
palo de seca, majagua gallina, peloto (Colombia) ;
pilon, chirai, trompillo (Venezuela) ; moton
(Ecuador) ; angelim, angelim da varzea (Peru) ;
ajunado (Bolivia) ; cabbage angelin, cabbage-bark
(ITnited States) ; angelin (English, commerce) ;
cabbage-bark (English) ; black-plum (Tobago) ;
cornwood, carbon, chaperno (British Honduras) ;
batseed, koraro (British Guiana) ; bois palmiste
(Haiti) ; angelin, bois olive (Guadeloupe, Mar-
tinique) ; angelin palmiste (Guadeloupe) ; reddie,
rode kabbes (Surinam) ; angelim morcequeira
(Brazil). . .

Botanical SYNON'i'MS. — Andira jnmnwensis (W.
AVright) Urban, Geoff roya Inermis W. Wright.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

82. Bucare enano, machette Erythrina berteroana Urban*

This small introduced tree used as a living fence
is recognized by: (1) alternate leaves with 3
wedge-shaped leaflets about as broad as long,
short-pointed at apex and very broad at base, dull
light green above, and whitish green beneath; (2)
showy masses of coral pink to red flowei-s about 3
inches long but very narrow, only 14 inch broad,
resembling a machete or sword in shape, many
borne in erect unbranched clusters; and (3) the
dark brown pod 4-6 inches long, very long stalked
and very long ))ointed. slightly flattened and much
narrowed between the oblong seeds, which are
bright orange red. From related species of the
same genus in Puerto Rico, bucare enano is dis-
tinguished by the absence of spines on twigs and
trunks, though the trunk rarely may be spiny. (A
spiny form occurs in Central America.)

A deciduous small tree becoming 20-25 feet high
and 1 foot in diameter, with branching trunk and
broad spreading thin crown. The bark is brown,
smoothish, slightly warty and becoming shallow
furrowed. Inner bark is about I/2 inch thick, light
yellow, slightly soft, and almost tasteless. The

stout twigs are shiny green when young, becoming

The leaves 6-14 inches long have light gi'een
round petioles 3-6 inches lon<r, enlarged at base.
Leaflet stalks are %-y2 inch long with minute
green glands at base. Leaflet blades are 2-5 inches
long and l%-5 inches wide, broadly ovate and
often nearly diamond-shaped, not toothed on
edges, thin, with 3 main veins from base. The
leaflets often are turned upward on edge, exposing
the lower surfaces, which ai'e covered with a whit-
ish bloom.

The attractive large flowers usually appear with
the new leaves. An erect terminal flower cluster
( raceme) 5-10 inches long bears many nearly hori-
zontal short-stalked flowei-s successively shorter
toward apex. The irregular flower has a tubular
green calyx %-l inch long, opened on 1 side at
apex and obscurely toothed ; corolla of 5 unequal
petals, the coral-])ink to red standard 3 inches long
and folded, and 4 veiT small petals %-yi6 inch
long, 2 wings and 2 keel petals hidden inside; 10
slightly unequal stamens about 2V2 inches long,
united into a tube most of the length with the an-

190

82. Bucare enano, machette

Two-thirds natural size.

Erj/tliriiia bcrterouna Urban

191

thers protruding; and vei-y narrow finely hairy
pistil 21/4 inches long with stalked ovai-y and nar-
row style.

The pod resembles a string of beads in its ellip-
tic swellings aliout % inch across outside each seed
and constrict ions between tliese seeds. The curved
opened jiods wiili seeds attached remain on the tree
after maturity. Several oblong seeds neai'ly %
inch long are vei-y con.spicuous when exposed on
tlie opened edges of the thin-walled pod. Flower-
ing in winter and spring (January to April) and
maturing fruit in spring (April-May).

The wood is whitish, soft, liglitweight (specific
gravity 0.3), and weak. It is seldom used for
otlier than fuel in Puerto Rico. Elsewhere it has
been employed as a substitute for cork and for
carving toys and figures.

Posts root readily, so the tree is a common live
fencepost, chiefly in the moist coastal and lower
Cordillera regions. Also in Virgin Islands. The
plants are propagated also by cuttings. Besides
living fence]30Sts and hedges, the trees liave beeJi
grown as support for the vines in vanilla planta-
tions. However, severe attacks by defoliating in-
sects make the species undesirable for this pur-
pose. Young bi-anches and leaves are a favorite
food of rabbits. Cattle eat the young twigs and
leaves. Because of the showy flowers this species
is grown for ornament in atklition to shade and
has been introduced into Florida.

In Guatemala the flower buds, young leaves, and
young twigs are cooked and eaten like string beans,
though it is thought that eating quantities induces
sleep and may be injurious. The poisonous seeds
of this and other species have been strung into
bracelets, necklaces, and novelties. Though per-
haps toxic or narcotic, parts of the tree have been

employed in home remedies. It is reported that
the crushed branches serve as fish poison and that
the bark yields a yellow dye.

Range. — Southern Mexico and Guatemala to
Panama and Colombia. Also in Cuba and His-
paniola, ])erhaps introduced long ago, and natural-
ized in Puerto Rico. Planted in southern Florida
and Virgin Islands and in the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — machete, bucayo enano,
bucayo sin espiuas (Puerto Rico) ; machete (Vir-
gin Islands) ; pihon (Dominican Republic) ;
pinon de pito, pinon decerca, bucare (Cuba) ; pito,
piton (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) ;
miche, machetillos, coralillo (Guatemala) ; ele-
queme (Nicaragua) ; gallito, pernilla de casa
(Panama) ; pito de peronilla, peronilla, peronio,
mata caiman (Colombia) : coralbean (English) ;
brucal (Haiti).

Machete, a common name, is suggested by the
flowers with standard petal shaped like a machete
blade and the calyx forming the handle. The
common name piiion de pito in Cuba refers to the
use of the flowers by small boys in making whistles
or flutes. The corolla placed in a hollow petiole
serves as a reed.

Besides the 3 species described and illus-
trated here, 2 other species of bucare are native,
and a few others have been introduced. Piiaon
espinoso {Erythrina eggersii Krukoff & Moldenke ;
synonym E. horrida Eggers, not DC), native only
in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is distin-
guished by the spines on the veins of leaflets and
by the narrow red flowers nearly 2 inches long.

Another species, known as coraltre* or common
coralbean {Erythrina coraUodendrutn L.), has
leaves nearly spineless and narrow coral-red
flowers 2-214 inches long.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

83. Bucare, swamp immortelle

This exotic tree, found in pastures and along
roadsides in northeastern Puerto Rico, is charac-
terized by : (1) scattered small spines on twigs and
stout spines on branches and trunk, at least when
young; (2) alternate leaves with 3 slightly leath-
ery leaflets elliptic to ovate in shape, rounded or
short-pointed at apex and ba.se, shiny yellow green
to dark green above and whitish green and finely
hairy beneath; (3) numerous clusters of large and
broad, showy, pea-shaped, orange or salmon-
colored flowers, several erect near the end of a
drooping axis; and (4) flattened pod 6-10 inches
long and % inch wide, and containing 3-12 brown-
ish or blackish poisonous seeds. The whitish un-
dersur faces of leaves make the tree recognizable at
a distance.

A deciduous tree 30-50 feet high and 2 feet in
trunk diameter, sometimes larger, with broad
crown of whitish-green foliage. The bark is light

Erythrina glauca Willd.*

brown, smoothish but becoming rough and shal-
lowly furrowed. Small trunks have stout spines
%-% inch high, a few spines or warts often per-
sisting on large trunks. Inner bark is as much
as 1 inch thick, light brown, soft, and almost taste-
less or slightly bitter. The stout twigs are light
green and finely hairy when young, becoming gi'ay,
with scattered sharj) spines i/g inch or more in
length and with raised leaf scars.

The leaves are 8-12 inches long, the light green
round petioles 2-i inches long, enlarged at base.
Leaflets have stout stalks Ys inch long, with round
green glands Vie inch in diameter at base. Leaflet
blades are 2i/o-6 inches long and li/o-SV^ inches
wide, not toothed on edges, in vertical position or
folding together at night.

Flower clusters (racemes) are 4-8 inches long,
the finely hairy axis drooping and bearing erect
flowers near the end on stout, dark red and green-

192

83. Bucare, swamp Immortelle

Two-thirds natural size.

Erythrina glauca Wllld.

193

ish-tinged stalks %-% inch long. The bell-shaped
calyx about % inch long is dark red, tinged with
green, irregularly 8-lol>ed, and finely hairy; there
are 5 slightly thickened and succulent petals, the
large obovate, folded, orange-red standard 214-
2% inches long and stalked at base, 2 orange-red
wings yellow at base and 1 inch long, and 2 united
pale yellow keel petals li/o inches long; 10 stamens
2-21/i inches long with brown antliers and pale yel-
low-gre«n fleshy filaments, 9 united into a tube and
1 separate; and curved pale yellow-green pistil
about 2 inches long, with a stalived narrow hairy
ovary and curved style. The distance across an
open" flower may be as much as 4 inches but only
% inch in the narrow dimension. The poison-
ous seeds are about % inch long. Flowering in
winter and early spring (Januai-y to March) and
with mature fruit in spring.

The heartwood is light yellow to yellowish
brown and moderately soft. The lightweiglit
wood is weak, not durable, and scarcely suitable
for lumber.

Trees have been planted in pastures and along
roadsides and fences and are ornamental as well
as shade trees. Uses in other countries include
shade for cacao and coflPee and living fencepo-sts.
Propagated by cuttings.

Found near Bayamon, Eio Piedras, and Caguas,
Puerto Rico. Also recorded from St. Thomas
moi-e than a centui-}' ago but not now planted there.

Kaxge. — Native probably from Guatemala to
Pei-u, Bolivia, Brazil, and Venezuela, the original
range extended by cultivation. Also introduced in
West Indies in the Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, St. Vincent, and Trinidad and To-
bago. Planted also in southern Florida, British
Honduras, and in the Old World tropics. Wliere
native, this species foniis pure forests character-
istic of swamps and stream valleys.

Othkr COMMON NA5IES. — bucayo (Puerto Rico) ;
piiion f ranees, biicare, pinon del cauto (Cuba) ;
guiliqueme (Honduras) ; ahuijote, ahuejcvte (El
Salvador) ; poro (Costa Rica) ; gallito, pito, palo
bobo, palo santo (Panama) ; cambulo, bucaro, can-
tagallo, pisamo, pisamo calentado (Colombia) ;
bucare, ceibo, anauco (Venezuela) ; palo prieto,
madre de cacao (Ecuador) ; amasisa (Peru) ; bois
immortelle (United States) ; swamp immortelle,
bucare, bocare (Jamaica) ; bocare immortelle,
water immortelle (Trinidad and Tobago) ; sand-
coker, oronoque, cock-tree (British Guiana) ; bois
immortel, immortel blanc (Guadeloupe, Martini-
que) ; suiiia, assacu-rana (Brazil).

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

84. Bucayo gigante, mountain immortelle Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O. F. Cook*

This introduced shade tree of coffee plantations
and I'oadsides may be recognized by : (1) beautiful
masses of showy orange-red flowers in late winter,
when the trees are leafless, the large pea-shaped
flowers 114-2 inches long, erect on nearly horizon-
tal axes; (2) the trunk and branches often with
stout spines; (3) alternate leaves with 3 broadly
ovate thin leaflets, short-pointed at apex and very
broad pointed or nearly straight at base, gi-een on
both sides; and (-4) straight, cylindrical, dark
brown pod 5-10 inches or less in length and about
% inch wide, long-stalked at base and long-pointed
at both ends.

A large deciduous tree attaining 30-70 feet in
lieight and 2-4 feet in trunk diameter, with spread-
ing crown. The bark is gi-eenish brown or gray
brown, smoothish or slightly furrowed, warty or
spiny. Inner bark is thick, becoming % inch or
more in thickness, whitish, and si ightly bitter. The
stout twigs are light green and minutely hairy
when young, becoming greenish gray, with raised
leaf scars, and often with scattered spines i/ig inch
or more in length.

Leaves are 8-12 inches long, including the light
green finely hairy petioles 21/0-8 inches long. Leaf-
lets have stalks i/t-% inch long with 2 green cup-
like glands about i/g inch long at base of lateral
leaflets and 2 more glands below terminal leaflet.

The thin leaflet blades are 21/2-7 inches long and
2-6 inches wide, or larger on rapidly growing
shoots, not toothed at edges, with 3 main veins
from base, green and dull or nearly so on upper
surface, and slightly lighter dull green beneath.

Horizontal flower clusters (racemes) 4-8 inches
long bear a few open flowers, which fall soon after
opening, and many narrow flower buds progres-
sively smaller towai-d apex. Thus, the ground
under a tree becomes orange i"ed too. The flowers
are 11/2-2 inches long and about half as wide. The
cup-shaped calyx is %6~% inch long, reddish at
the top and gi-eenish below, not toothed ; 5 orange-
red petals, the large orange standard 11/4-1^/4
inches long, elliptic, keeled, short-pointed, and
spreading, 2 short elliptic wings V2 inch long,
orange red but yellow toward base, and 2 united
keel petals 11/4-1^/4 inches long, orange red but yel-
low toward base, enclosing the stamens; 10 sta-
mens 114-11/4 inches long, 9 united into a light yel-
low tube and 1 separate, the anthers brown; and
narrow greenish pistil about II/2 inches long in-
cluding stalked ovary and style. There is some
variation in flower color, a few trees having pale
yellow-orange blossoms and others rarely seen
with scarlet petals.

The pod contains several brown kidney-shaped
beanlike seeds % inch long, which are poisonous.

194

84. Bucayo gigante, mountain immortelle

Two-thirds natural size.

Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O. F. Cook

195

In Puerto Rico floweriiifj usually from January to
March, sometimes also in Anjiust, the fruits ma-
turing- from February to May.

The wood is whitish, soft, perishable, and little
used in Puerto Rico.

Formerly the trees were widely planted in
Puerto Rico for coffee shade. Now, however, they
are not recommended for that purpose. They
fjrow to large size, larger than desirable for coffee
.shade and thus may compete with the crop be-
neath. The weak branches are easily broken by
strong winds or hurricanes. The trees are grown
also as ornamental and shade trees.

Centuries ago this species was transported over
the Amei-ican tropics from its home in lower slopes
of the Andes as a shade tree for coffee and cacao
plantations and pastures and for living fences. In
some countries, especially in the Andes, this is still
a popular coffee shade tree.

The bark, twigs, and seeds of various species of
this genus are more or less toxic. They have pro-
vided drugs and medicines locally and have been
employed also to stupefy fish. It is reported that
the flowers of this species have been eaten in soup
and salad.

Chiefly in coffee plantations in the lower Cordil-

lera and moist limestone regions of Puerto Rico.
Also in St. Thomas.

MUXICTPALITY AVHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. 73.

Range. — Native probably from Venezuela to
Panama, south to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and
Brazil. Now extensively planted and naturalized
in tropical America north to Guatemala and intro-
duced into the Greater Antilles, Guadeloupe, Mar-
tinique, and Trinidad and Tobago. Cultivated
also in the Old World tropics and recorded from
southern Florida.

Other common names. — bucare gigante, bucare,
bucar, brucayo, palo de boya (Puerto Rico) ; bu-
matell (St. Thomas) ; brucal, amapola, mapola
(Dominican Republic) ; pinon de sombra, bucare
(Cuba) ; pito extranjero (Guatemala, El Salva-
dor) ; pisamo, saivo, cachimbo, cambulo, pito
gigante (Colombia) ; bucare, ceibo (Venezuela) ;
bombon (Ecuador) ; amasisa (Peru) ; saibo (Bo-
livia) ; anauca (United States) ; mountain immor-
telle, bois immortelle (Jamaica, Trinidad) ;
anauca immortelle, cocoa-mamma, coffee-mamma
(Trinidad) ; bois immortel (Haiti) ; bois immor-
tel, immortel jaune (Guadeloupe) ; mulungu
(Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Erythrina micropteryx
Poepj}.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

85. Mata-raton, mother-of-cocoa

Mata-raton, a small introduced tree commonly
planted in fence rows and for ornament, is dis-
tinguished by: (1) odd pinnate leaves 6-16 inches
long with 7-17 ovate, elliptic, or lance-shaped leaf-
lets; (2) numerous showy whitish-pink or pur-
plish-tinged pea-shaped flowers about % inch
long in lateral clusters along old branches when
leafless or along branches back of leaves; and (3)
flat blackish pods 4-6 inches long.

A small deciduous tree or shrub, becoming 25
feet tall and 8 inches in tnnik diameter, with ir-
regular spreading crown of thin foliage. The
bark is gray or light brown, smoothish to slightly
fissured. Inner bark is whitish and almost taste-
less. Young twigs are light green and finely hairy,
the older twigs light brown.

The alternate leaves have slender yellow-green
finely hairy axes. Leaflets, paired except the ter-
minal one, have hairy stalks about %6 inch long.
The thin leaflet blades are li^-2i4 inches long
and %-li4 inches wide, short- to long-pointed at
apex, rounded or short-pointed at base, not toothed
at edges, dull green above, and gray green and
slightly hairy beneath.

The numerous lateral flower clusters (racemes)
2-5 inches long are many flowei-ed. The attractive
flowers have a slender green stalk and a bell-
shaped light green calyx tinged with red, i/4 inch

196

Gliricidia septum (Jacq.) Steud.*

long and broad, minutely 5-toothed at apex; the
butterfly-shaped corolla about % inch long con-
sists of 5 whitish-pink or purplish-tinged petals,
the broad .standard turned back and yellowish near
base, 2 oblong curved wings, and 2 united petals
forming a keel ; 10 whitish stamens % inch long,
9 united in a tube and 1 separate; and pistil %
inch long, with stalked narrow red ovary and
whitish bent style.

The pods are yellow green when immature, turn-
ing blackish, i/^-% inch wide, short-stalked at base
and short-pointed at apex, splitting open at ma-
turity. There are 3-8 flat, elliptic, shiny, blackish
seeds % inch lon^ (2,000 to a pound). Flowering
in winter and spring (December to May) , the fruit
maturing from winter to summer.

The sapwood is light brown and the heartwood
dark brown, turning reddish brown on exposure.
The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and considered
durable in the ground as posts. It is used chiefly
for this purpose in Puerto Rico because promptly
set posts generally sprout and take root, lasting
indefinitely. Elsewhere the wood has been em-
ployed for railroad ties and heavy construction.
Pretty and taking a good polish, it should be suit-
able for furniture and small articles.

This tree is a popular ornamental or hedge plant,
being readily propagated from cuttings as well as

85. Mata-rat6n, mother-of-cocoa

Natural size.

Oliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud.

197

seed and growins; rapidly. However, an objection
to furtlier planting of this species in Puerto Rico
is that the foliage often is attacked by an aphid or
plant louse. These tiny insects spread and multi-
ply rapidly, secreting a sweet liquid which attracts
ants and causes growth of a black fungus or sooty
mold over the leaves. jNIany blackened leaves fall,
and automobiles parked beneath the trees may be
damaged by the liquid.

As the common name ma.ta-rat6n (mouse killer)
suggests, the toxic seeds, bai'k, leaves, and roots are
used to poison rats, mice, and other rodents.
Another use of the freshly crushed leaves is in
poultices in home remedies. The leaves are re-
ported to be nutritious for cattle and also to be
poisonous for horses and dogs. The flowers,
though not fragrant, are visited by bees and are
a source of honey. In a few countries the flowers
are fried or boiled and eaten.

The names madre de cacao and mother-of-cocoa,
applied to this species is some areas, indicate that
the trees are grown also as shade trees in cacao
plantations. Before the Spanish conquest, the
Aztec Indians of Mexico had observed that cacao
grew well under these trees, which they named
cacahuanantl or mother of cacao. These trees
have nodules on their roots containing nitrogen-
fixing bacteria which enrich the soil.

Another use of mata-raton is support for vanilla
vines. In a few countries the trees, though not
evergreen, have been planted for coffee shade.

In Puerto Rico this species is common along
roads, in fence rows and as an ornamental in the
moist and dry coastal regions, the moist limestone
region, and lower mountain regions. It may be
naturalized locally. Also planted occasionally in
St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola.

R.\NGE. — Native from Mexico to Colombia,
Venezuela, and Guianas. Introduced and becom-
ing naturalized in "West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Cura-
sao. Planted also in southern Florida and in
South America south to Brazil. Also introduced
into the Old World tropics, including Africa and
southern Asia and recorded as naturalized in the
Philij^pine Islands.

Other coimon names. — madre de cacao (Puer-
to Rico) ; pea-tree (Virgin Islands) ; mata-raton,
madre de cacao (Spanish) ; pinon de Cuba (Do-
minican Republic) ; pinon amoroso, pinon florido,
bien vestida, pifion violento (Cuba) ; cacahuan-
anche, cocoite (Mexico) ; madera negra (Hon-
duras, Costa Rica, Panama) ; madriado, madrial,
cacaguance, cacagua (Honduras) ; palo de hierro,
cacahuanance (El Salvador) ; madriado (Nicara-
gua) ; bala, balo (Panama) ; St. Vincent plum,
quick-stick (Jamaica) ; Nicaragua cocoa-shade,
madura (Trinidad) ; quick-stick (British Gui-
ana) ; lilas etranger (Haiti) ; gliricidia, gliceridia
(Guadeloupe) ; yerba di tonka, mataraton, raton-
era (Dutch "West Indies) .

Botanical synonym. — Gliricidia maculata (H.
B. K.) Steud.

86. Retama

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

Lonchocarpus latifolius (Willd.) H. B. K.

This uncommon though widely distributed tree
is characterized by: (1) alternate pinnate leaves
with 5-9, usually 7, elliptic leaflets on thick stalks,
2-6 inches long, pale light green and finely hairy
beneath, paii-ed except at end; (2) numerous
crowded purple pea-sliaped flowers %6 ii^^'^ loi^g
in lateral clusters which usually are several to-
gether near end of twigs; and (3) the distinctive
light brown oblong flat pods IVo-i inches long and
%-l inch wide, short-pointed at both ends, very
thin and like parchment, 1-3-seeded but not split-
ting open, often produced in large numbers and
rather conspicuous.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree 15-30
feet high and 4—8 inches in trunk diameter with
spreading crown. The bark is gray to brown,
smoothish, becoming slightly fissured. The light
brown inner bark is slightly bitter. The brown
twigs are finely hairy when young.

The leaves are 7-14 inches long, with finely hairy
green axis and leaflet stalks i/g-i^ inch long." Leaf-
let blades are 11/4-2% inches wide, mostly short-
pointed at apex but varying from blunt to long-

pointed, rounded or short-pointed at base, the
edges not toothed, thin or very slightly thickened,
above green to dark green and hairless, and be-
neath pale light green and finely hairy.

Flower clusters (racemes or panicles) are 2-4V^
inches long at base of leaves, the axis usually finely
brown hairy and the flower stalks about i/ie inch
long, also hairy. The flowere have a bell-shaped
5-toothed calyx i/g inch long, finely brown hairy ;
dark reddish-purple to greenish-purple corolla of
5 stalked petals about 14 inch long, the rounded
standai-d notched at apex and finely brown hairy
on outside, 2 oblong wings, and 2 elliptic slightly
united keel petals; 10 stamens 1/4 inch long with
filaments united; and pistil with narrow brown
hairy ovary and bent style.

The minutely hairy pod is thickened and darker
brown around the flat seeds, which are brown,
kidney-shaped, and vie incli long. Recorded in
flower from March to June and in fruit nearly
through the year.

The sapwood is whitish and the heartwood red-
dish. The wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity

198

\

/

tSi^.

Retama

687-921 O— 64 14

Two-thirds natural size.

Lonchocarpus latifoUus ( Willi) H. B. K.

199

0.6), strong, and reported to be durable. Used
chiefly for fuel or feiiceposts in Puerto Rico. In
Cuba the wood is employed for piling.

Planted as an ornamental in .southern Florida
and Cuba. Also a honey plant. The root and
fruit reportedly have insecticidal properties.

Alon<r streams and in youno; forests in the moist
toastal, moist limestone, and lower mountain for-
est reo;ions of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, Susiia.

Range. — Throu<ih West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Grenada and Trinidad. Also from
soutliern Mexico (Tabasco), Guatemala, and Brit-
ish Honduras to Colombia, Venezuela, the Gui-
anas, and Brazil. Introduced in southern Florida
and Cuba.

Other common n.\mes. — palo hediondo, fort-
eventura, frenogeno, palo seco (Puerto Rico) ;
guama de costa, frijolillo amarillo, guama macho
(Cuba) ; mataboy (Guatemala) ; cincho (Hon-

duras) ; puapaste, cuapaste (Nicara^a) ; coto
(Costa Rica) ; acurutii, mahomo, jebe (Venezu-
ela) ; savonette (St. Lucia) ; white savonette,
savonette jaune (Trinidad) ; lancewood (United
States) ; swamp doo^wood, dogwood (British
Honduras) ; dogwood (Canal Zone) ; savonette
grand bois, savonnette grandes feuilles, savon-
nette riviere (Guadeloupe, Martinique).

Two other species of this genus are native and a
few otliers have been planted experimentally.
Genogeno {Lorichocarpvs doinivgensis (Pers.)
DC), of western and southern Puerto Rico, has
leathery pods deeply narrowed between the seeds,
long-pointed leaflets hairy beneath, and twigs
finely hairy.

Geno {Lo-nchocarpus gJaucifoUus Urban),
known only from western Puerto Rico, has narrow
leathery pods not or only slightly narrowed be-
tween seeds, leaflets whitish beneath and notched
at apex, and twigs hairless.

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

87. Palo de matos

A tree of mountain forests characterized by : (1)
clean, light tan, smoothish bark; (2) young twigs
finely brown haiiy; (3) very large pinnate leaves
11/2-3 feet long, consisting of 7 or 9 (sometimes 5)
stout-stalked, large, elliptic, dull green leaflets with
abrupt minute point at rounded apex, paired ex-
cept at end; (4) many pea-shaped dark ^aolet
flowers % inch long in terminal or lateral clusters;
and (5) brown pod IVo-^ inches long, deeply nar-
rowed between the rounded se«ds, which are %
inch in diameter and shiny scarlet red usually with
1 or more black spots.

A medium-sized evergreen tree 30-60 feet high
and to 2 feet in tnmk diameter, with broad crown.
The bark becomes scaly on large trees. Twigs
are stout and greenish. Young leaves, branches
of flower clusters, calyx, and pods are finely brown
hairy.

The alternate leaves have a stout green axis
keeled above and swollen at base. The green leaf-
let stalks are %-% inch long, longer on the ter-
minal leaflet. Blades are 3-12 inches long and
11/4-8 inches wide, the base rounded or short-
pointed, not toothed on edges, strongly pinnately
veined with many parallel lateral veins slightly
sunken, slightly thickened, the upper surface dull
green, and the lower surface paler and inconspicu-
ouslv fine hairy, especially on the veins.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 6-12 inches long,
branched, and many-flowered. The short-stalked
flower has a brown hairy bell-shaped calyx more
than % inch long, including unequal pointed teeth ;
5 dark violet petals about % inch long, including
broad rounded standard spotted with white or yel-

Ormosia krugii Urban

low, 2 wings, and 2 keel petals; 10 separate and
unequal stamens ; and pistil % inch long with flat-
tened brown-hairy 1-celled ovary and slender
curved style.

The brown pods are %-% inch wide, slightly
keeled, long-pointed at both ends, and with calyx
remaining at base. There are 1-5 seeds, rounded
but slightly flattened. Recorded in flower from
September to November and in fruit from May to
November.

The sapwood is yellowish, and the heartwood a
uniform salmon color with occasional darker
streaks. The wood is somewhat coarse-textured,
of medium weight (specific gravity 0.50), with in-
distinct growth rings, and large open pores. It is
very susceptible to damage by dry-wood termites.
The rate of air-seasoning is slow, and amount of
degrade is moderate. Machining characteristics
are as follows: planing, shaping, sanding, and re-
sistance to screw splitting are good; turning, bor-
ing, and mortising are fair.

The wood is used chiefly for fuel in Puerto Rico.
However, it should be suitable for furniture, mill-
work, construction, boxes, crates, and general
carpentry.

Because of the rapid growth and vigorous
sprouting of the trees in secondary forests, efforts
are being made to find a better use for the wood.
Apparently the trees are shallow rooted and easily
blown over, as many are leaning or prostrate.
Possibly suited for shade or ornament.

Found in secondary forests in the lower Luquillo
and lower Cordillera forest regions of Puerto Rico.

200

87. Palo de matos

Two-thirds natural size.

Ormosia kriigii Urban
201

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.

Range. — Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Re-
public), Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Dominica.

Other common names. — matillo, mato, palo de
peronias, peronia (Puerto Rico) ; peronia, palo de
peronia (Dominican Republic) ; malcaconier (Do-
minica).

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

88. Tachuelo, fustic

This small tree of dry areas is easily identified
by: (1) spiny branches, usually several from the
base; (2) odd pinnate leaves 21/0-41/2 inches long
with 9-25 rounded or obovate leaflets %-% inch
long and broad, almost stalkless, each bearing a
yellowish spiny or bristle tip Vm-Vi inch long at
apex; (3) quantities of showy, bright yellow, pea-
shaped flowers 34-I inch long, several together in
a lateral cluster; and (4) narrow flattened brown
pod %-2 inches long and 14 inch wide, 2-6-
jointecl.

A deciduous tree or shrub 10-20 feet high and to
8 inches in trunk diameter or larger. Formerly
reported to 30 feet tall, but now rarely seen that
size because most large individuals have been cut.
Bark of shrubs is brown or gray and smooth with
spines remaining, on larger trunks separating in
large flakes. Inner bark is yellowish and slightly
bitter. The slender twigs are brown or green and
finely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves have at base a pair of
slender spines (stipules) %6-V2 inch long, brown-
ish but gi-een when young, and a slender finely
hairy axis. Leaflets are notched or nearly
straight at the spiny tip, rounded or slightly
notched at base, bent up on both sides of midrib
and curved down at tip, not toothed on edges,
slightly thickened, finely hairy when young but
l)ecoming nearly hairless, and green and slightly
shiny on both surfaces.

Flower clusters (racemes) are 1^-3 inches long,

Pictetia aculeata (Vahl) Urban

with flowers on slender stalks. The bell-shaped
green calyx 1/1-% inch long is unequally 5-toothed;
there are 5 petals %-l inch long, narrowed into
stalks at base, the bright yellow standard nearly
round and curved backward, 2 bright yellow ob-
long wings, and 2 pale yellow petals forming the
keel; 10 stamens %-l inch long, 9 united into a
tube and 1 separate; and greenish pistil consisting
of stalked, narrow, hairy, 1-celled ovary and slen-
der curved style. The slightly curved pod is fine-
ly hairy and does not split open. Flowering and
fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
dark brown. Resembling lignumvitae, the wood
is extremely hard, hea\-y (specific gravity 0.8),
and durable. Used in Puerto Rico only for fence-
posts, since larger sizes are not now available, for-
merly also for larger poles.

Because of the numerous attractive yellow flow-
ers which beautify the counti-yside, this species is
suitable as an ornamental for dry areas. Some-
times grown as a living fencepost.

Coastal thickets and pastures in the dry coastal
and dry limestone regions of Puerto Rico. Also
in Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Guanica.

Municipalities where especially common. —
21, 26, 28, 36, 55, 66, 75.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands and
reported from Hispaniola.

202

(t-^

Hit

M

W !

t^

W

m.

i

R

l^J

W

88. Tachuelo, fustic

Natural size.

Pictetia aculeata (Vahl) Urban

203

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

89. Pterocarpus, India padauk

An introduced liandsome ornamental, shade,
and timber tree, distinguished by: (1) a broad
crown of lonj; drooping branches, some nearly
touching the ground; (2) reddish latex sparingly
produced in the cut bark ; (3) pinnate leaves alter-
nate in 2 rows with usually 7-11 ovate, thin, shiny,
green to yellow-green alternate leaflets, long-
pointed at apex; (4) many showy, yellow pea-
shaped flowers nearly % inch long, produced in
lateral clusters; and (5) nearly round brown pod
11/4-1 V^ inches in diameter, flattened and bordered
by a broad thin wing, stalked at base and with
pointed style at 1 side.

A spreading medium-sized tree 50 feet high and
1 foot in trunk diameter, or larger. Essentially
evergreen but nearly leafless for a short period in
spring when old leaves are falling and new leaves
forming. The bark is light brown and finely fis-
sured. Inner bark is light brown and reddish
brown streaked, astringent, and yielding a small
amount of red latex, sticky and bitter, when cut.
Twigs are green when young, becoming light
brown, hairless except at apex.

The slightly drooping leaves about 9-16 inches
long have a slender green axis enlarged at base,
and tlie leaflets have stalks about 14 inch long. A
few short leaves have only 3-5 leaflets. Leaflet
blades are 21/4-5 inches long and li/4-2i/^ inches
wide, the edges not toothed, turned up a little at
midrib, shiny green to yellow green above and dull
green beneath.

The fragrant flowers are bonie on slender green
stalks in clustere (racemes and panicles) 4-7 inches
long. The sliglitly irregular bell-shaped green
calyx is %6 i'^ch long, pointed at base and un-
equally 5-toothed at apex, and minutely hairy ; the
5 yellow petals %-% inch or less in length are
stalked at base, becoming crinkled, the rounded
standard % inch wide and rolled backward, 2
wings, and 2 smaller paler keel petals barely
united on sides; 10 stamens about % inch long,

Pterocarpus indicus Willd.*

united by the whitish filaments into 2 groups of 5
each; and gi-een hairy pistil ^e inch long, consist-
ing of stalked narrow ovary and tapering style.

The winged pods have a roughened wrinkled en-
largement near the center enclosing 1 or 2 small
seeds but do not .split open. Flowering in June
and July and maturing fruits in summer to Sep-
tember.

The reddish hard wood is an excellent timber in
southern xVsia, known as padauk or Burma-rose-
wood. It is listed among the most valuable timbers
in the Philippines, where it is called narra. Uses
include construction, furniture, musical instru-
ments, and cart wheals.

Lignum nephriticum (Latin for kidneywood)
was the wood of this Philippine species and of kid-
neywood (Eysenhm'dtin polystachya (Ortega)
Sarg.) from Mexico. It was known throughout
Europe from the 16th to early 18th centuries for
its reputed diuretic properties but is no longer
employed in medicine. However, infusions of the
wood are fluorescent, and this odd response to light
may have been associated with remedies. Cups
made from the wood and chips of wood impart, to
water a beautiful blue and yellow color, which
changes in light and shadow.

Classed among the finest, tropical shade trees,
this species is occasionally planted in Puerto Rico
for shade and ornament. Introduced by the
United States Forest Service in 1924, it is still
limited to a few streets and patios, chiefly in the
metropolitan areas. A honey plant.

Range. — Philippines to Java, Sumatra, south-
ern China, Burma, and Andaman Isands of India
and introduced in southern India. Planted else-
where in the tropics for shade, such as in southern
Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad.

Other comsion names. — India padauk, Burma-
coast padauk, Burma-rosewood (English) ; ix)se-
wood (Trinidad).

204

89. Pterocarpus, India padauk

Two-thirds natural size.

Pterocarpus indicus WiUd.
205

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

90. Palo de polio, swamp bloodwood

Lai-fje tree of swamj) forests and stream borders
in mountains, easily recognized by the enormous
narrow planklike buttresses extending high up
trunk and horizontally along roots and by the dai-k
blood-red latex in bark. Other distinguishing
characters are: (1) alternate pinnate leaves with
5-9 elliptic to oblong long-pointed shiny green
alternate leaflets; (2) clusters of yellow pea-
shaped flowers V2~% incli long and broad; and
(3) flat, irregularly rounded, dark brown winged
pods 11/4-2 inches in diameter.

An evergreen tree 50-90 feet tall and 2-3 feet
in trunk diameter above buttresses. Trunks often
are curved or crooked and fluted. Tlie very jn'omi-
nent buttresses on large trees sometimes rise to 15
feet in height and may be 2-5 feet wide at base,
often extending outward along roots a distance
of 10 feet. These buttresses, frequently 4 large
ones to a tree with smaller ones between, and
scarcely 1 inch wide, generally curve snakelike
along the forest floor. Bark of trunk and but-
tresses is smoothish light brown, becoming finely
and thinly fissured and scaly. Inner bark is light
brown, with dark blond-red streaks in inner part,
slightly bitter, containing bitter latex. Twigs are
green or reddish green, becoming brown.

Leaves are 6-16 inches long, the axis reddish
when young but turning brownish green, slender
but enlarged at base and with 2 basal narrow
pointed green scales (stipules), which shed eai'ly.
Leaflets have stout green stalks %-%6 mch long
and thin or only slightly thickened blades 2-6
inches long and ly^^-iyo inches wide, rounded at
base, not toothed on edges, shiny green above, and
beneath a little lighter and shiny or dull.

Flower clusters (panicles or racemes) are mostly
21/4-6 inches long, lateral at base of leaves, with
many loosely arranged short-stalked fragrant
flowers, the branches finely hairy. The bell-
shaped calyx 1/4 inch long has 5 unequal short -
pointed teeth; 5 yellow petals about 14 inch long
■with narrow stalklike bases, the broad rounded
standard reddish tinged or dark red near base, or
reported sometimes to be violet tinged, also 2
wings, and 2 keel petals; 10 stamens about s/jg
inch long, united into a tube about half their
length; and pistil more than s/jg inch long,
composed of long stalk, flattened 1-celled ovary,
and short slender style.

The pod, green when immature, turning to dark
brown, is short-stalked with calyx at base, 11/^-2
inches in diameter, oblique or asymmetrical, with

Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq.

few prominent veins, with wing around edge
broad on 1 side, not splitting open, 1-seeded. Re-
corded in flower from February to September and
in fruit from April to November.

The sapwood is whitish to light yellow. The
wood is lightweight (specific gravity 0.3), very
soft, and weak. It stains easily in drying, is sub-
ject to decay, and susceptible to attack by dry-
wood termites.

Tlie wood has been used in Puerto Rico for floats
for fishnets. At one time pieces of the thin but-
tresses served as pans in washing or panning for
gold. The resin or gum, which soon solidifies
from the latex, formerly was exported in large
quantities from Colombia to Spain for medicinal
use under the name sangre de drago as a hemo-
static and also as an astringent. The trees have
been planted for shade and ornament in southern
Florida and Cuba and might be suitable for the
same purposes in Puerto Rico.

Growls in swamp forests, chiefly on ilie land-
ward side of mangrove but also in swamps and
along sti-eaml)anks in the lower Luquillo forest
region up to about 1,500 feet elevation. Common
in swampy areas on the southeast coast near
Humacao.

Public forests. — Luquillo, San Juan.

Municipality where especi.vlly common. — 33.

Range. — Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico,
Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinque, St. Lucia, St.
Vincent, ancl Trinidad. Also in continental tropi-
cal Amei-ica from southeastern Mexico (Yucatan)
and British Honduras to Colombia, Ecuador,
Venezuela, Guianas, and Brazil. Introduced in
Cuba and southern Florida.

Other common names. — sangre de drago (Puer-
to Rico, Spanish) ; drago (Dominican Republic,
commerce) ; sangregado (Guatemala, Nicaragua,
Costa Rica) ; sangre, cowee (Honduras) ; chajada
amarilla, .sangrillo (Costa Rica) ; bloodwood
(Panama) ; sabroso (Colombia) ; sangrito, cacti,
lagunei-o, mucutena (Venezuela) ; bambulo (Ecua-
dor) ; swamp bloodwood (Trinidad) ; kaway,
swamp kaway (British Honduras) ; bloodwood,
corkwood (British Guiana) ; bois pale (Haiti) ;
mangle medaille, paletuvier, sang dragon (Guade-
loupe) ; moutouchi de savane (French Guiana) ;
bebe, bebe hoedoe, watrabebe, waata gwe-gwe
(Surinam) ; mututy (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Pterocarpus draco L.
(in part).

206

90. Palo de polio, swamp bloodwood

Two-thirds natural size.

Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq.

207

LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)

PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)

91. Baculo, agati

An introduced ornamental, spreading from cul-
tivation, this tree is distinguished by: (1) alter-
nate, even pinnate leaves with 10-30 pairs of ob-
long leaflets 34-IV2 inches long and V4-V2 inch
wide, rounded at both ends, and very short-
stalked; (2) giant white or bright red, flattened,
pea-shaped flowers 21/2-4 inches long, 2-5 hanging
in a stalked cluster at base of a leaf; and (3) light
brown pods 12-18 inches long and only %6 inch
wide, flattened but slightly i-angled, long-pointed
at both ends, and stalked at base.

Eapidly growing, short-lived, deciduous small
tree attaining 15-25 feet in height and 6-12 inches
in trunk diameter, with thin crown of few
branches. The gray bark is 1/2 inch or more in
thickness, rougli, and furrowed into thick plates.
Inner bark is pink and slightly bitter. The young
twigs are finely hairy.

Tjeaves are 6-14 inches long, with finely hairy
axes enlarged at base. Tlie leaflets have very short
hairy stalks less than i/k; inch long and thin blades
with apex round or minutely notched with very
tiny point, with base romided but slightly unequal-
sided, pale green, and nearly hairless except when
young.

Flower clusters (racemes) shorter than the
leaves have 2-5 flowers with unpleasant odor, com-
nionly white but red in one variety, which is illus-
trated. The bud is somewhat curved. The large
bell-shaped whitish calyx is nearly 1 inch long,
slightly 2-lobed with 5 shallow teeth; the corolla
of 0 white or red fleshy petals 214^ inches long,
stalked at base, the oblong spreading standard
sliorter than tlie others and curved back. 2 curved
M-ings, and 2 united curved keel petals; 10 curved
stamens, 9 united into a tube and 1 separate ; and
pistil of stalked very narrow ovary and slender
style. The pods hang down and split open to re-
lease many elliptic brown seeds %6 inch long.
Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

The wood is whitish, soft, and lightweight. It
is weak and seldom used.

Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers,*

In India and elsewhere in southern Asia uses
have lieen found for other parts of the tree. The
flowers, tender green pods, and young leaves are
eaten, such as in salads, curries, soups, and fried.
Leaves and young shoots are fed to cattle also.
The bark yields a fiber, and gum with red and
yellow coloring principles has been obtained from
tlie pinkish white sap exuding from the cut trunk.
Extracts of leaves and flowers and of the bark
have been employed medicinally.

Tlie name baculo (walking-stick) perhaps was
suggested by the odd, very long and narrow pods.
Other names, gallito and cresta de gallo (cocks-
comb), are descriptive of the shape and color of
the flowers in the red-flowered variation. Flower-
ing when small and only 2 years old.

Planted as an ornamental in gardens and escap-
ing from cultivation in roadsides and thickets and
perhaps naturalized locally in Puerto Rico,
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Ranc.k. — Native from India to Ea,st Indies,
Philii)pines, and northern Australia. Widely
though sparingly distributed by cultivation and
occasionally si>ontaneous or naturalized in south-
ern Florida, through most of the West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to St. Vincent and Trinidad,
and from southern Mexico through most countries
of Central America to South America.

Ottier common names. — gallito, cresta de gallo,
agati (Puerto Rico) ; jack-in-the-beanstalk (Vir-
gin Islands) ; gallito (Dominican Republic) ;
cresta de gallo, gallito bianco, gallito Colorado,
zapaton bianco, zapaton rojo, paloma (Cuba) ;
pico de flamenco (Mexico) ; choncho (El Salva-
dor) ; cobreque (Nicaragua) ; gallito (Venezue-
la) ; agati, agati sesbania, Australian corkwood-
tree (United States) ; agati, flamingo-bill (Ba-
hamas) ; pois vallier (Haiti) ; colibri vegetal,
papillon, fleur-papillon (Guadeloupe) ; tiger-
tongue (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Agati grandif.ora (L.)
Desv.

This genus is represented also by 3 native
species of shrubs. The generic name formerly was
spelled also Seshan.

208

:A..

I'm

W:

a

91. Bdculo, agati

Two-thirds natural size.

Sesiania grandiftora (L.) Pers.

209

92. Indio

COCA FAMILY (ERYTHROXYLACEAE)

Erythroxylon areolatum L.

A small tree or shrub of dry areas characterized
by: (1) short-stalked elliptic leaves 1V2~3 inches
long and %-liA inches broad, minutely notched
at rounded apex and witli -2 faint lines nearly par-
allel with midrib and more prominent on lower
surface; (2) small whitish flowers ^/^q inch across,
several togetlier in lateral clusters mostly before
the leaves or at base of new leaves; and (3) fleshy
red oblong fruits •yi6-% inch long, 1-seeded.

A deciduous tree or shrub 8-20 feet high and
2-0 inches in trunk diameter. The gray bark is
fissured and scaly, inner bark red and slightly bit-
ter. Twigs gray, the short lateral twigs often
with old scales where leaves and flowers were
boiTie.

The leaves are alternate but sometimes close
together on short lateral twigs. Petioles are %6~
1/4 inch long and slender, with a pointed scale
(stipule) 1/8 inch long inside base. Blades are
broadly short-pointed at base, not toothed on
edges, with 2 faint lines nearly parallel with mid-
rib but converging with it at both ends, thin, dull
dark green above, and pale whitish green beneath.

Several fragrant flowers develop from a lateral
bud on twig, each on a slender stalk i/g-i/l inch
long. There is a 5-toothed green calyx less than
i/i6 inch long; 5 white rounded spreading petals
1/8 inch long, each with a minute 2-lobed scale on
inner side; 10 stamens Viq-Vs inch long, united in-
to a tube in lower part; and pistil about y^ inch
long with 3-celled green ovary and 3 styles. Some
flowers have long stamens and short styles, while
others have short stamens and long styles. Col-
lected in flower in different months from October
to June. The fruits (drupes) are green when im-
mature but turn red and have thin flesh and 1 large
seed.

The sapwood is light brown and hard. Heart-
wood is rich reddish brown (the generic name
means red wood) or chocolate brown, with oily
appearance, very fine-grained, and very liard. The
wood is heavy, strong, and highly durable but
available only in small sizes.

It is reported that the leaves contain a small
amount of cocaine. This drug is obtained from
the leaves of coca {FJrythro.vyJon coca Lam.), a
related species of the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.

Characteristic of thickets and forests on hills
from Ponce to Cabo Rojo, the dry coastal and dry
limestone regions of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona
and doubtfully recorded from St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Guanica.

Range. — West Indies in Bahamas, Cuba, Ja-
maica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Mona. Also
in southern Mexico (Tabasco to Yucatan), Guate-
mala, El Salvador, British Honduras, and Hon-
duras. Reported from northern South America,
probably in error.

Other common names. — palo de hierro, cocaina
falsa, muerto, hieri-o negro (Puerto Rico) ;
piragua, fruta de palonia, arabo (Dominican Re-
public) ; arabo carbonero, arabo jiba, arabo real
(Cuba); limoncillo (Guatemala); thin-leaf ery-
throxylon (Baliamas) ; redwood (Jamaica); red-
wood, ridge redwood, swamp redwood (British
Honduras) ; poirier, arabo (Haiti).

This genus is represented by 3 additional
species of shrubs or small trees, and another species
is a low shrub. Jiba {Erythioxylon hrevipes DC.)
has nearly stalkless obovate leaves less than 1 inch
long. Raton (E. roh/ndifoh'umJjunaTi) has simi-
lar leaves with petioles Vg-Vi inch long. E. mfum.
Cav. has oblong leaves 2i/2^ inches long, slightly
thickened, with prominent network of veins.

210

92. Indio

Natural size.

Erythroxylon areolatum L.
211

CALTROP FAMILY (ZYGOPHYLLACEAE)

Key to the 2 native species, both illustrated (Nos. 93-94)

A. Leaflets mostly 4, sometimes 6; fruits mostly flattened, heart-shaiied at apex — 93. Oiiaiacum officinale.
AA. Leaflets mostly 6-10; fruits deeply 5- or 4-angled or winged, pointed at apex — 94. Guaiacum sanctum.

93. Guayacan, common lignumvitae

A handsome small evei-f^-een tree with a dense
rounded crown and dark jjreen foliai^e, easily rec-
ognized by: (1) light brown bark smoothish and
mottled, peeling off in thin scales; (2) opposite
even pinnate leaves with mostly 4 or 6 stalkless,
oblique, broadly elliptic or obovate leathery leaf-
lets; (3) several to many deep to pale blue flowers
with 5 petals minutely hairy on the outer surface,
spreading starlike %-% inch across in showy ter-
minal ancl lateral clusters shorter than the leaves;
and (4) flattened orange-brown cai^sules % inch
long and broad, heart-shaj^ed and slightly winged,
attached at narrowed end.

A tree 15-30 feet high, with a short trunk 4-18
inches in diameter. The bark scales are 1-2 inches
across and u])on falling expose smoothish gray-
brown spots beneath. Inner bark is light brown
and bitter. Tlie green twigs, turning to gray, have
enlarged ringed nodes and are nuich branched and
widely forking.

Leaves are 1V2~3 inches long, with green axis
and at base paired minute hairy scales (stipules)
which shed early. Leaflets are %-2 inches long
and %-lVi inches wide, roundecl or sometimes
blunt-pointed at both base and apex, broadest on
the side toward base of leaf, slightly thickened and
often turned under at edges, hairless, and dark
green or olive green on both sides, slightly shiny-
above. The lowest pair of leaflets is at the base of
axis beside the twig, while the pair of leaflets at
apex is largest.

Many pretty, faintly fragrant flowers are
clustered together (nmbellike) on slender minute-
ly hairy stalks %-l inch long. There are 5 broad
rounded finely hairy sepals nearly 14 irich long;
5 spreading deep to pale blue petals nearly Yj inch
long, narrowed at base and rounded at apex, mi-
nutely hairy on outer surface; 10 stamens about
%6 inch long, with blue filaments and yellow
anthers; and stalked pistil I/4 inch long, with flat-
tened usually 2-celled ovary and pointed style.

The flattened capsules minutely pointed at the
heart-shaped apex are green when immature, turn-
ing orange brown. They split open to discharge
2 or 1 seed 1/2 inch long, brown with a red fleshy
covering (aril). Flowering and fruiting from
early spring to fall.

The narrow sapwood is pale yellow. Heartwood
is dark greenish brown or nearly black. Lignum-
vitae is one of the heaviest commercial woods (spe-
cific gravity about 1.2-1.3). It is extremely hard,
of very fine uniform texture, with highly inter-
locked grain, growth rings clearly defined, and
characteristic oily feel caused by the unique resin
content. The wood is difficult to season and work
but takes a fine polish. The heartwood is very

212

Guaiacum officinale L.

durable and very resistant to decay. It is very
resistant to attack by dry-wood termites, but the
sapwood is susceptible.

The self-lubricating resinous wood is so valuable
that it is sold by weight, though not now of com-
mercial importance in Puerto Rico. It is famed
for its special use in bearings and bushing blocks
for propeller shafts of steamships. It serves also
for pulley sheaves, deadeyes, and as a replacement
for metal bearings in roller mills. Other uses in-
clude handsaw guides, awning rollers, furniture
casters, mallets, bowling balls, and turned nov-
elties.

Under the name lignumvitae (Latin for wood
of life), the extract of this wood formerly was
official in medicine as a stimulant and to increase
perspiration. Earlier it was thought to be a cure
for various diseases, having been introduced in
Europe about 1508. Also employed medicinally
was guaiac resin, which exudes from bark and sap-
wood, reddish brown in color but changing to blue
or blue green.

The trees occasionally are planted as orna-
mentals for the masses of blue flowers, which are
rare in the tropics, and for the handsome dark
green foliage. However, their growth is slow, so
slow that forest plantings in Puerto Rico by the
Forest Service have been discontinued in favor of
other species. Bees visit the flowers.

Forests, thickets, and pastures in the dry coastal
and dry limestone regions of Puerto Rico from
Guayama to Cabo Rojo. Also in Culebra, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Reported to
be nearly exterminated on Virgin Islands except
in cultivation.

Public forest. — Guanica.

MuNflCIPALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON.

12, 66.

Ranoe. — West Indies from Bahamas and Great-
er Antilles to Martinque in Tjcsser Antilles and in
Bonaire, Curasao, and Aruba. Also in Panama,
Colombia, Venezuela, and British Guiana. Plant-
ed in southern Florida, Bermuda, Trinidad and
Tobago, Surinam, and elsewhere in tropical
America.

Other common names. — guayaco (Puerto
Rico) ; lignumvitae (Virgin Islands) ; guayacan
(Spanish) ; palo santo (Cuba, Venezuela) ; guaya-
can negro (Cuba) ; guayacan de playa, guayacan
colombiano, guayaco (Colombia) ; lignumvitae,
common lignumvitae (United States, English,
commerce) ; gaiac (French, commerce) ; gai'ac
franc, ga'ic male (Haiti) ; bois saint (Martinique) ;
wayaca, pokhout (Dutch West Indies) ; guaiaco,
pan santo (Brazil).

The generic name is also spelled Guajacum.

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93. Guayacan, common lignumvitae

Two-thirds natural size.

Ouaiacum officinale L.

213

CALTROP FAMILY (2YGOPHYLLACEAE)

94. Guayacan bianco, holywood lignumvitae

Guaiacum sanctum L.

A small tree of diy areas characterized by :
(1) bark deeply fissured vertically; (2) opposite,
even iiiiinate leaves with mostly 6-10 stalkless,
oblique, elliptic or obovate leaflets ending in a mi-
nute point, witli several veins from base; (3) blue
flowers % inch across the 5 spreading hairless
petals, usually a few in terminal clusters shorter
tlian the leaves; and (4) yellowish or orange cap-
sule % inch lonfr, deeply 5- or 4-angled or winged.

An evergreen tree 15-30 feet high with sliort
stout trunk S inclies or more in diameter, and dense
round crown of spreading or drooping branches.
The light gray bark is rough. Imier bark is light
brown and slightly bitter. Sapwood is light yel-
low and very hard. The light gray twigs are en-
larged at nodes, slightly angled, and green and
minutely hairy when young.

Tlie leaves 21/2-31/2 inches long have paired mi-
nute hairy scales (stipules) at base and a green
minutely hairy axis. Leaflets are %-l inch long,
%-3/4 inch wide, short-pointed at base, rounded
and minutely pointed at apex, not toothed on
edges, broadest above middle and on the side to-
ward base of leaf, slightly thickened and leatheiy,
hairless, and green on both sides. During the hot-
test part of the day the paired leaflets often fold
together.

Flowers are borne on slender minutely hairy
stalks %-l inch long attached between the upper-
most pair of leaves. There are 5 blunt -pointed
sliglitly hairy sepals 14 inch long; 5 blue petals
%6-% inch long, narrowed at base and in part
2-lobed at apex ; 10 stamens nearly i/j inch long ;
and stalked pistil 14 inch long, the ovai-y with 5
or 4 angles and cells and ending in pointed style.

Seed capsules are % inch long and 14 inch across
the angles, broadest near the short-pointed apex,
containing dark brown or black seeds about %
inch long, each with a scarlet fleshy covering

(aril). Flowering and fruiting from spring to
fan.

Sapwood is light yellow and very hard, and
heartwood becoming greenish or brown on expo-
sure. The wood has clearly defined gro%\'th rings,
is resinous with a characteristic odor, very hard,
very heavy (specific gravity about 1.1), and very
durable. It resembles the wood of common lig-
numvitae {Gxiaiacum officinale Ij.) and has similar
uses but is less valuable. Like its relative this
species of lignumvitae formerly was official in med-
icine for similar purj^oses.

Sometimes planted as a handsome blue-flowered
ornamental in Puerto Rico, southern Florida, and
elsewhere.

In thickets and forests in the dry coastal and dry
limestone regions of Puerto Rico from Ponce to
Cabo Rojo. Also in Mona.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, His-
paniola, Puerto Rico, and Mona. Also in Mexico
(Yucatan). Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicara-
gua. Recorded from Bonaire, Curasao, and
Aruba, perhaps in cultivation. Planted in south-
ern Florida, Trinidad, and elsewhere in tropical
America. (The botanical type specimen came
from Puerto Rico.)

Other common names. — guayacan de vera,
guayacancillo (Puerto Rico) ; vera, guayacan-
cillo (Dominican Republic, Cuba) ; guayacan
bianco (Cuba) ; guayacan (Mexico, Guatemala,
Nicaragua) ; palo santo (Mexico) ; holywood
lignumvitae, roughbark lignumvitae, lignumvitae
(United States) ; lignumvitae (English, com-
merce) ; bois saint, gaiac blanc, gaiac femelle
(Haiti) ; wayaka shimaron, beera, boeloebarie, wa-
jakaa maatsjoe (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical stnontm. — Guaiacuvi guatemalense
Planch.

214

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jfci;— -rvv.

94. GuayacS,n bianco, holywood lignumvitae

Natural size.

Guaiacum sanctum L.

687-921 O— 64 15

215

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

Key to the 9 species illustrated (Nos. 95-103)
A. Leaves opposite, with usually 3 (sometimes 1 or 5) long-pointed leaflets — 95. Amyris elemifera.
AA. Leaves alternate.
B. Leaves simple.

C. Leaves elliptic, with many minute rounded teeth on margin, petiole usually jointed with blade; flowers
large, white; fruit a rounded or elliptic juicy berry (citrus).

D. Leaves small, l%-3 inches long; fruit elliptic l%-2yo inches long (lime) — 96. Citrus aurantifolia*
DD. Leaves and fruit larger.

E. Petiole broadly winged.

F. Leaves mostly long-pointed at apex; fruit round, roughened, orange, bitter, inedible (sour

orange) — 97. Citrus aurantium*
FF. Leaves rounded at both ends (or blunt-pointed at apex) ; fruit round, smooth, large, pale
yellow grapefruit — (Kt. Citrus paradisi*
EE. Petiole almost wingless or narrowly winged.

G. Petiole almost wingless ; fruit elliptic, blunt-pointed or tubercled at both ends, the surface

often rough and wrinkled, yellow (lemon) — !KS. Citrus limon*
GG. Petiole narrowly winged; fruit round, smooth, orange (sweet orange) — 100. Citrus sinensis*
CC. Leaves with margin not toothed, sometimes slightly wavy, petiole not jointed with blade; flowers and
fruit very small — 103. ZantlwxyUim monophyilum.
BB. Leaves pinnate.

H. Leaflets 5-9, elliptic, margin without teeth or very finely wavy; not spiny — 101. Zanthoxylum ftavum.
HH. Leaflets 7-19, oblong to lance-shaped, margin very finely wavy ; spiny — 102. Zanthoxylum martinicense.

95. Tea, sea amyris

Amyris elemifera L.

A small tree or shrub characterized by: (1)
dense rounded crown of compact pale green foli-
age; (2) opposite compound leaves with usually 3
(sometimes 1 or 5) ovate or lance-shaped, long-
pointed leaflets l-2i^ inches long and Y2-W2
inches broad, slightly leathery, slightly shiny yel-
low green, and with many gland dots; (3) many
small, greenish-white, 4-parted, spreading flowers
about %6 i'K^h across; (4) many small round black
fruits about 14 inch in diameter; and (5) twigs,
leaves, and fruits with slight citrus odor when
crushed.

An evergreen tree commonly 10-20 feet high and
3-6 inches in trunk diameter. The bark is smooth-
ish and gray, becoming rough with deep furrows
and rectangular plates. Inner bark light brown,
with slight citrus spicy taste. The twigs are yel-
low green when young, becoming gray.

The leaves are 2-4 inches long. The leaflets, on
slender stalks Vg-V^ i'^cli long, are short-pointed
or rounded at base, the edges without teeth or
minutely wavy.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and lat-
eral, much branched, li/^-2 inches long and broad.
The short-stalked flowers have a minute 4-lobed
calyx; 4 gland-dotted spreading petals; 8 sta-
mens; and pistil of 1-celled ovary and broad
stigma. The fruits (drupes) are covered with a
bloom, gland-dotted, witli thin flesh and 1 brown
seed. Flowering and fruiting irregularly during
the year, recorded in flower from March to
October.

The sap wood is whitish, and the heartwood light
yellow. The wood is very resinous with strong
odor, very hard, fine-grained, heavy (specific grav-
ity 1.0-1.1), and strong. It takes a good polish, is
very durable, and definitely repellent to dry-wood
termites.

Used chiefly for posts in Puerto Rico. For-
merly also employed for furniture and fuel. If
available in quantities and larger size, the wood
might be valuable. As common names in different
languages indicate, torches are made from the
resinous wood. The tree yields a fragrant resin.

Widely distributed in thickets of the dry lime-
stone and dry coastal regions of Puerto Rico.
Also in Mona, Desecheo, Icacos, Culebra, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolxn, and Anegada.
On Mona the species is becoming less common
owing to extensive browsing of its bark by goats.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Guanica, Susiia.

Municipalities where especially common. —
26, 28, 55, 75.

Range. — Central and southern Florida includ-
ing Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, His-
paniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and
Lesser Antilles from St. Martin to St. Vincent,
Grenadines, and Grenada. Also Central America
in Guatemala, British Honduras, Honduras, and
El Salvador. Reported from Venezuela, appar-
ently in error.

Other common names. — cuabilla (Puerto
Rico) ; candlewood, torchwood (Virgin Islands) ;
guaconejo, ])alo de tea (Dominican Republic) ;
cuabilla, cuaba decosta (Cuba) ; chilillo, pimienta,
taray (Honduras) ; roldan, melon (El Salavdor) ;
.sea amyris, torchwood, candlewood (United
States) ; white torch (Bahamas) ; amyris-wood,
torchwood (Jamaica) ; waiki-pine (British Hon-
duras) ; bois chandelle (French) ; bois chandelle
blanc, bois pini, bois flambeau (Guadeloupe).

The Spanish name tea means torch. This is not
the shrub called tea in English.

Teilla (Amyris halsamifera L.), a related spe-
cies of southwestern Puerto Rico, has 3-7 leaflets
and larger elliptic fruits 14-V^ inch long.

216

95. Tea, sea amyris

Natural size.

Amyris elemifera L.

217

96. Limon agrio, lime

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

Citrus aurantifolia (L.) Swingle*

Several species of citrus (<jenus Citrus) native
in southei'n Asia are cultivated for their well-
known edil)le fruits. Characteristics for identifi-
cation of tlie proup are: (1) aromatic, glandular
evergreen slirubs and small trees with distinctive
spicy odor and taste of crushed parts; (2) green
twigs mostly with sharp brown-ti])ped green
spines i/g-l inch long, single at base of leaves;
(3) alternate leathery leaves, green to dark gi-een
and mostly elliptic, with many minute rounded
teeth on margin and lunnerous tiny gland dots vis-
ible against tlie light; (-1) petiole jointed with
blade (except in 1 species) and usually winged;
(5) fragrant white (sometiuies purplish-tinged)
flowers with 4-G spreading, slightly fleshy, gland-
dotted petals %-2 inches across; and (G) rounded
or elliptic yellow or orange fruits (berry or hes-
peridiuin), green when immature, composed of an
aromatic i)eeling, 8-15 cells with many pointed
juicy sacs, and several to many whitish seeds.

Lime is distinguished from the other kinds of
citrus fruits by: (1) the small elliptic fruit II/2-
21/^ inches long and 1-2 inches in diameter, ))ointed
or rounded at apex, smooth, green but turning to
greenish yellow, with thin peeling Vj,; inch thick,
and with very sour green flesh; (2) small white
flowers only I/2-I ineh across the -1 or 5 petals: and
(3) small dull green, elliptic leaves commonly
rounded or blunt-jiointed at apex and with nar-
rowly winged jietioles.

An evergreen aromatic and glandular shrub or
small tree to 20 feet higii, with irregular branches.
The brown bark is smoothish, inner bark pale yel-
low and bitter. The green to dark green tw"ig.s,
angled wlien young, have short sharp spines, us-
ually Vs-% inch long, green and tipped with
brown, solitary at base of the alternate leaves.

The green petioles %-% inch long are jointed
with blade. The small thick and leathery blade is
11/0-3 inches long and %-134 inches wide, some-
times to 4 inches long and 214 inches broad, round-
ed at base, the edges with many minute rounded
teeth, and with numerous tiny gland dots visible
against the light. Upper surface is dull green,
and lower surface is dull light green.

Flowers, only slightly fragrant, are produced
in clusters of 2-7 on short stalks at base of a leaf.
The white saucer-shaped calyx is about %6 inch
across and less than i/g inch high, with 4 or 5
teeth; 4 or 5 white oblong gland-dotted petals
about 1/2 inch long; 20-25 white stamens Vi inch
long, separate at base, with yellow anthers; and
pistil % inch long on a whitish disk, consisting
of green rounded ovary with 9-12 cells, stout
whitish style, and yellowish rounded stigma.

The fruit (berry or hesperidium) has a few
whitish elliptic pointed seeds about % inch long,
with brownish-red caps at end. Flowering in
spring to July, later than the other species of

218

citrus, and maturing fruit in summer and fall.

The hard wood with whitish sapwood is little
used locally. When pruned back, the plants make
a good fence. Also a honey plant.

The fruit is picked and shipped green. It is
utilized extensively in refreshing drinks and for
seasoning foods. ' The West Indian islands of
Montserrat and Dominica produce quantities of
lime fruits and lime juice for export. The fruit is
the main source of citric acid for tlie dyeing indus-
try and medicinal use, and lime oil "is extracted
from the rind. The bottled juice, which is rich in
vitamin C, has been carried on ships as a means
of preventing scurvy. A tea or tonic has been
prepared from the leaves.

Cultivated and escaping or naturalized, chiefly
at low elevations, in Puerto Rico and Mona, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native of East Indian Archipelago but
introduced into the New World more than 400
years ago. Widely cultivated and naturalized in
tropical and suI)tropical regions, including south-
ern Florida and Florida Keys, West Indies, and
from Mexico to South America.

Other common names. — West Indian lime
(Virgin Islands) ; lima (Spanish) ; lima boba
(Dominican Republic) ; limon criollo, lima agria
(Cuba); lima chica (Mexico); limon (Central
America) ; lima agria (Venezuela) ; limon sutil
(Ecuador) ; limon agrio (Pent) ; lime. West In-
clian lime (English); lime-leaf-plant (Grena-
dines) ; citron (Haiti) ; citron commun (Guade-
loupe); lamunchi, lemoen (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Cifrxis lima Lunan.

Sweet lime or limon dulce (citron doux in
French) apparently is a variation or hybrid of
lime or limon agrio and not botanically distinct,
tliough it has been i-ecognized by some authors as
a species (C/fn/s limefta Risso) . It has a rounded
greenish-yellow fruit 2iv> inches in diameter, with
whitish or greenish-tinged flesh which is slightly
sweet or insipid. Sometimes planted as a fruit
tree in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in tropical
America, though not ranking highly among the
citrus fruits because of the weak flavor.

Besides the 5 citrus species described and illus-
trated here, a few others are less frequently culti-
vated. Mandarin orange, tangerine, or mandarina
{Citrus reticuhita Blanco;* synonym C. noHTis
auth., not Lour.) has orange rounded fruits 2-3
inches in diameter, broader than long, with loose
peel and easily separable segments.

Pummelo, shaddock, or pomelo {Citrus grandis
(L.) Osbeck*) has large yellow fruits round or
slightly pear-shaped, 5-6 inches in diameter.

Citron or cidra {Citrus mediea L.*), usually
shrubby, has large yellow fniits oblong or elliptic,
5-8 inches long, and about 2 inches in diameter,
with very thick peel and small pulp.

96. Limon agrio, lime

Natural size.

Citrus aurantifoUa (L.) Swingle

219

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)
97. Naranja agria, sour orange

Citrus aurantium L.*

Sour orange differs from the other citrus fruits
in: (1) the round orange or reddish-orange fruit
21^-4'^ inches in diameter, often bi'oader than
long, more or less roughened, with thick peeling,
and hollow pulpy core, which is bitter and too sour
to be edible; (2) strongly fi'agrant large white
flowers with usually 5 petals; and (n) leaves ovate,
more or less long-pointed at apex and tapering or
rounded at base, the petioles with lu-oad wmgs
%-% inch across.

A small aromatic evergreen tree 15-30 feet high,
with rounded crown. The bark is brown and
smoothish, the inner bark light brown and bitter.
Twigs green, angled when young, with sharp
spines becoming 1 inch long.

Leaves are alternate on petioles %-lV2 inches
long. Blades are jointed with petiole, ovate, 21/^-
51/^ inches long and l^'o—^ inches wide, with many
minute rounded teeth at edges, a little leathery,
with numerous tiny gland dots, above green and
slightly shiny, and beneath pale light green. The
leaves have a pleasant scent.

There are 1 to few fragrant large white flowers
at base of a leaf. Calyx is light green and 4-5-
toothed; usually 5 narrowly oblong white gland-
dotted petals about % inch long; 20-24 stamens
united into tube in lower half; and pistil on a disk
with 9-12-celled ovary, style, and rounded stigma.

The fruit (berry or hesperidium) rind, 1/4-%
inch thick, is bitter and aromatic, and the flesh has
bitter walls. The whitish seeds are flattened,
marked with I'idged lines, and about ^2 inch long
(1,600 to a pound). Flowering throughout the
year.

Tlie heartwood is whitish to light yellow, hard
and fine-grained, with prominent gi'owth rings.
It is reported that the wood is like that of sweet
orange or china (Citrus sinensi'i L.*) and perhaps
is suitable for the same purposes. In Cuba tJie
wood is used to make baseball bats.

The peeling with pulp of this species is the prin-
cipal source of orange marmalade and is sometimes
candied and, when fresh, yields an essential oil.
The juice serves for seasoning foods, such as soups
and meats, and .sometimes as an orangeade drink
when sweetened with sugar. A perfume, oil of
neroli, is produced in southern Europe from the
petals. In home medicines the juice is an anti-
septic and hemostatic, and a decoction of the leaves
induces sweating. The peel and its oil have been
used medicinally as a source of vitamins. This
is a honey plant also.

Being resistant to the root rot disease of citnis
fruits, this species is employed, especially in the
United States, as the stock for budding the other
species.

Cultivated in Puerto Rico and spontaneous after
planting and naturalized, chiefly in the lower
mountain and moist limestone forest regions. A
hybrid or variety of the Seville orange, which has
sweet juice, is grown in Puerto Rico also. St.
Croix, St. Thomas, and probably others of the Vir-
gin Islands.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Luquillo,
Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Native of southeastern Asia. Widely
planted and naturalized in tropical and subtropi-
cal regions. Naturalized in southeastern United
States (Georgia and Florida), Bermuda, through
West Indies, and from Mexico to Argentina.

Other common names. — naranja agi'ia, naranja
acida (Spanish) ; naranja cajera (Venezuela) ;
naranjo amargo (Argentina) ; sour orange, Seville
oi-ange (United States, English) ; bitter orange
(Bermuda, Jamaica) ; bigarade orange (Ja-
maica) ; orange sure (Haiti) ; orange siire, orange
amei-e, orange grosse-peau (Guadeloupe) ; bois
d'oranger, naranga (French Guiana) ; laraha,
laraha zier (Dutch West Indies) ; laranjada terra,
laranja amarga (Brazil).

Botanical .synonyms. — Citrus vulgaris Risso,
C. higaradia Loisel.

220

97. Naranja agria, sour orange

Natural size.

Citrus aurantium L.

221

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

98. Limon de cabro, lemon

Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.

Lemon is separated from the other kinds of
citrus fruits by: (1) the very sour yellow elliptic
fruit 21/4-4 inches lonjr and li/^-3i/o inches in di-
ameter, blunt-pointed or tuhercled at both ends,
and the surface often rough and wrinkled; (2)
flowers 11/4-2 inches broad with -i or 5 whitish
petals purplish tino;ed on outside; and (3) leaves
with apex pointed and with almost wingless
petiole.

A small aromatic evergreen tree attaining 10-20
feet in lieight and 4 inches in trunk diameter or
larger, the trunk slightly angled, with long irregu-
lar spreading branches. The bark is brown or
gray and smooth to finely fissured, the light brown
inner bark slightly bitter. The green twigs usu-
ally have a short stout spine at base of leaf.

The alternate leaves have petioles 1/4--V2 i'lch
long, jointed with blade. Blades are oblong to
elliptic, 21/2^14 inches long and 11/4-21/4 inches
wide, short- to long-pointed at apex and rounded
at base, with many minute rounded teeth at edges,
tliick and leathery, and with numerous gland dots.
The upper surface is green or dark green and
slightly shiny, and the lower surface chill light
green. Young leaves are reddish.

Flowers are single, paired, or few at base of a
leaf, slightly fragrant, some bisexual and some
male, the buds reddish or purplish tinged. There
is a cuplike 4-5-toothed light green and purplish
calyx about I/4 inch high and broad ; 4 or 5 slightly
fleshy, gland-dotted petals % inch long, and
curved back on the outer side; 20-40 stamens %
inch long with fleshy white filaments slightly
united at base and with yellow anthers; and pistil
on basal disk with 7-li-celled ovary tapering to
the stout style.

The fruit (beri-y or hesperidium) has a thick
peeling 1/4-% inch thick and veiy sour, pale yel-
lowish flesh. Tlie elliptic whitish seeds about
% inch long are pointed at 1 end. Flowering

in spring and with fruit in summer and fall.

The wood is light brown and hard.

The juice is made into lemonade drinks, sweet-
ened with sugar and serves to season foods. The
fruit is more generally consumed in the United
States than in Latin America. In home medicines
the juice is antiseptic and arrests bleeding, a de-
coction pi'oduces sweating, and the root has been
employed also. The lime juice of the old sailing
vessels, a preventative of scurvy, came partly from
this species. I^emon oil, from the fruit peel, is offi-
cial in tlie United States Pharmacopoeia as a
flavoring agent. A honey plant.

Formerly planted as a fruit tree and naturalized
in Puerto Rico, chiefly in the lower mountain and
moist limestone forest regions. Also in the Virgin
Islands.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Maricao,
Rio Abajo, Toro Negi'o.

Range. — Perhaps from southeastern Asia, the
origin uncertain and perhaps relatively recent,
possibly hybrid. Now widely cultivated and natu-
ralized in tropical and subtropical regions. Ber-
muda, West Indies, and from southern Florida
and southern California and Mexico to South
America. It is rejjorted that this s]5ecies was first
introduced into the New World at Hispaniola by
Columbus in 1493.

Other common names. — limon (Spanish) ;
limon agrio (Dominican Republic, Mexico) ; limon
frances, cidra (Cuba) ; limonero (Mexico, Colom-
bia) ; limon real (Central America, Ecuador) ;
limon comiin (Nicaragua) ; limon criollo, limon
frances (Venezuela) ; lemon (United States, Eng-
lish) ; limon (Fi'ench) ; citronnier, limon france
(Haiti) ; lamoentsji, lamunchi dushi (Dutch West
Indies) .

Botanical synonym. — f'/ffus limonvm Risso.
Formerly referred also to Citrus J/mon/a Osbeck,
Canton lemon, which is a dilferent Chinese hybrid.

222

98. Lim6n de cabro, lemon

Natural size.

Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.

223

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

99. Toronja, grapefruit

Grapefruit is recognized among the citiiis fruit
trees by: (1) the large round fruit, which is pale
yellow at maturity, 31/2-5 inches in diameter,
smooth, with flesh usually light yellow, sometimes
pink, the taste sweet and acid and bitter combined ;
(2) fragrant large white flowers 1-1% inches
across the 4 petals; and (3) leaves elliptic, rounded
at both ends (or blunt-pointed at apex) and peti-
ole usually broadly winged.

A small aromatic evergreen tree becoming 15-20
feet high and G inches in trunk diameter, some-
times larger, with rounded spreading crown of reg-
ular branches. The bark is smooth gray brown,
inner l)ark light yellow and slightly bitter. The
green twigs usually have short slender and flexible
spines single at nodes, the leaves also alternate.
Young twigs and leaves are hairless or nearly so.

The petiole is 14-I inch long, the wing i4-i/^
inch wide. Blade is 3-6 inches long and l%-3
inches wide, jointed to petiole, with many minute
rounded teeth at edges, slightly leathery, and with
numerous tiny gland dots, above shiny cUirk green,
and beneatii dull light green.

Flowers are solitary or 2-6 in a lateral cluster
(raceme). The cup-shaped calyx is irregularly
5-toothed, about Y^q inch high and 14 indi or more
across; there are 4 oblong white fleshy petals %
inch or more in length; 20-25 stamens united into
tube in lower part ; and pistil on a disk with round
11-14-celled ovary.

The fruit (berry or hesperidium) has a whitish
peeling ■%«-% inch thick. Walls of the flesh are
bitter. The numerous whitish elliptic pointecl
seeds are about 1/2 inch long. Flowering in the
spring and fruiting in the fall, the mature fruits
pereisting until May.

The sapwood is whitish to light yellow, and the
heartwood light yellow to yellowish brown. The
hard, fine-grained wood with growth rings clearly
defined is used chiefly for fuel.

Grapefruit, a breakfast favorite, is marketed in
Puerto Rico eitiier fresh or as canned sections or
juice. The tree is an attractive ornamental and
honey plant as well as fruit tree.

Citrus paradisi Macfadyen*

This is one of the commonest citrus species in
Puerto Rico, being grown in plantations, chiefly
in the moist coastal region. Formerly it was the
most important fruit gi-own commercially on the
island for shipment in fresh form to the United
States. Now the plantations are mostly aban-
doned because competition destroyed the export
market. Scattered trees are to be found in the
moist limestone and lower mountain regions. Also
in the Virgin Islands.

Range. — Apparently of relatively recent origin
in cultivation in the West Indies and not found
wild in Asia. Planted extensively in subtropical
areas of southern United States in Florida, Texas,
Arizona, and California. Also grown through
West Indies, from Mexico to South America, and
in the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — toronja (Spanish) ;
grapefruit (Central America) ; greifruta (Colom-
bia) ; grapefruit (United States, English); cha-
deque (Haiti) ; pamplemousse, grapef niit (Guade-
loupe) ; gi-apefruit (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Citrus maxima (Burm.)
Merr. var. uvicarpa Merr. & Lee.

By some authoi-s the grapefruit is placed as a
variety of pununelo, shaddock, or pomelo. Citrus
grandis (L.) Osbeck* {C. maxima (Burm.) Merr.,
C. denimnna (L.) L.). The latter has larger
thick-skinned fruits 5-6 inches in diameter or
slightly pear-shaped, with the juicy particles large
and easily separable, large rough yellowish seeds,
larger leaves with broadly winged heart-shaped
petioles, and very large flowers.

It is thought that grapefniit originated in the
West Indies as a mutation of pummelo or possible
hybrid of that species with sweet orange. Ap-
parently it was fii-st described in 1750 as the for-
bidden fruit of Barbados. In 1814 the English
name grapefruit first appeared in a Jamaican
book, which attributed the derivation to the re-
semblance in flavor to the grape. The species was
named botanically from Jamaica in 1830.

224

99. Toronja, grapefruit

Natural size.

Citrus paradisi Macfadyen

225

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

100. China, sweet orange

Sweet orange, or orange, the best known and
most popular of the citrus fruits, is distinguished
by : ( 1 ) the familiar, usually smooth orange roimd
fruit, mostly 21/0-314 inches in diameter, with
sweetish orange-colored flesh; (2) very fragrant
white flowers with usually 5 petals about 11/4-11/4
inches across; and (3) leaves oblong to elliptic or
ovate, short-pointed or rounded at both ends, and
with narrowly winged petiole.

An evergreen small tree becoming 20-30 feet
tall and 6-10 inches or more in trunk diameter,
with rounded crown. The bark is brown and finely
fissured, the inner bark yellowish and slightly bit-
ter. The light green angled twigs usually have 1
slender sharp spine i/g hich long at a node.

The alternate leaves have a green petiole %-%
inch long, jointed to the blade. The leaf blade is
21/2-6 inches long and II/4-3I/2 inches wide, the
edges usually with many minute rounded teeth,
slightly leathery and with numerous tiny gland
dots, above dark green to yellow green and slightly
shiny, and beneath dull light green.

Flowers are lateral, 1-6 at base of a leaf. There
is a greenish-white broad saucer-shaped calyx %
inch high and 5-toothed; usually 5 white elliptic
petals 1/2-% inch long, gland-dotted and slightly
fleshy, spreading and turned back; 20-25 white
stamens I/2 inch long with brown anthers, united
into ring at base; and on whitish disk a pistil %
inch long with 10-13-celled yellow-green rounded
ovary, slender style, and rounded stigma.

The familiar sweetish orange fruit (beriy) has
a smooth usually thin peeling less than 14 inch
thick, orange at maturity (but the fruit is some-
times consumed while still green), and solid center
of orange-colored juicy flesh which is sweet or
sometimes slightly sour. Seeds are white and
wrinkled. The navel orange is a variety distin-
guished by the fruit apex not completely covered
by the outer rind but with additional small seg-
ments or cells and usually is seedless. Flowering
in spring and maturing fruits in the fall, but in
some areas the fruits may persist on the trees into
the following May.

Citrus sinensis Osbeck*

The wood is light yellow, hard, strong, and
tough, and very susceptible to attack by dry-wood
termites. Its uses includes canes and various small
articles, such as manicure sticks.

The orange, witli its high vitamin C content, is
one of the most popular tropical fniits. Quanti-
ties of the sweetish juice are canned in Puerto
Eico for export. The peel yields an essential oil
when pressed and sometimes is candied. Orange
oil is official in the United States Phai'macopoefa
as a flavoring agent.

Grown extensively as a fruit tree in Puerto Rico,
where it is one of the most important fruits and
also a good honey plant. The trees are also orna-
mental. Found throughout the island but chiefly
in cofi'ee plantations in the lower Cordillera and
moist limestone regions. Also in Mona, St. Croix,
and St. Thomas, and probably othei-s of the Vir-
gin Islands. Occasionally escaping from cultiva-
tion or naturalized.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro
Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
5, 6, 8, 21, 32, 47, 61, 70, 73.

Range. — Probably originally native of China,
Vietnam, or other southeastern Asiatic regions
but no longer known as truly wild. Widely culti-
vated in tropical and subtropical regions, escaping,
and becoming naturalized. Bermuda, throughout
West Indies, and subtropical United States from
Florida to California, south to Argentina.

Other common names. — china dulce (Puerto
Rico) ; naranja, naranja dulce (Spanish) ; naranja
de China (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Nicara-
gua) ; naranjo, naranjo comun, chino dulce (Vene-
zuela) ; sweet orange, orange (United States, Eng-
lish) ; orange douce (French) ; sinaasappels
(Dutch AVest Indies).

The scientifiic name and apparently also the
Puerto Rican common name refer to the country
of origin. Formerly known as Citrus aurantium
L., a name now restricted to the sour orange.

226

100. China, sweet orange

Two-thirds natural size.

Citrus sinensis Osbeck

227

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

101. Aceitillo, yellow-sanders, yellowheart

Zanthoxylum flavunt Vahl

Formerly one of Puerto Rico's most valuable
timbers, this now scarce tree is distin<ruished by:
(1) the pinnate leaves with mostly 5-9 nearly
stalkless elliptic leaflets rouiuled or short-pointed
at a])ex and base, the edjres witliout teeth or very
finely wavy, and with minute g'land dots; (2)
trunk and twips not sjiiny as in related species;
(.'5) small yellowish 5-parted spreading flowers i/i
inch across; and (4) the dry fruits of 1 or 2 dark
brown jjods i/i inch lonfr.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree 20-50
feet high and S-lfi inches in trnnk diameter or a
shi'ub. Tlie bark is smoothish, slightly fissured,
light gray, and thin. Inner bark yellowish, with
citrus spicy taste. The twigs are stout, gray, and
finely gray hairy with minute star-shaped hairs
when young.

The leaves are alternate and 4-10 inches long.
Leaflets are paired except for the end one, 1-;;
inches long and V2-IV2 inches broad, tiiin, with
minute star-shaped hairs when young but Ijecom-
ing almost hairless, and slightly shiny gi-een at
maturity.

Tlie much branched flower clusters (panicles)
are terminal and 2-5 inches long and broad. The
many short-stalked fragrant flowers are male and
female on difl'erent trees (dioecious). Sepals 5,
minute, covered witli gray star-shaped haii"s,
l^etals 5; male flowers with 5 stamens about as
long as petals; and female flowers with pistil of
mostly 2-lobed 2-celled ovary (or 1-3-celled) and
mostly 2-lobed stigma.

The fruits are of 1 or 2 stalked pods (follicles),
splitting open and containing 1 nearly round shiny
black .seed Vg i»ch long. Flowering mainly with
the new leaves or from winter to summer and with
fi'uit from s]>ring to fall.

The sapwood is whitish to light yellow, and the
heartwood yellow to yellowish brown. The wood
is very hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.9), strong,
fine-grained, with clearly defined growth rings,
and with odor of coconuts or oil. It has a satiny
luster, takes a fine polish, and is resistant to attack
l)y dry-wood termites.

This beautiful decorative wood has been prized
for cabinetmaking, fine furniture, paneling, inlaid
work, veneer, and turnery. Other uses are backs
of hand mirrors and hairbrushes. Wood figured
with wavy grain is converted into veneer for hand-

.some furniture and paneling. It is reported that
Puerto Rico formerly produced the finest West
Indian satinwood, both in quality and color, but
exjiorts ceased with exiiaustion of the supply.
Logs of figured wood commanded very high prices
by the cubic foot or by weight. Even the stumps
and roots were removed and shipped from Puerto
Rico as late as 1920.

This species can be planted for shade as well as
its fine wood. It is also a honey i)lant, the flowers
attracting bees.

Protected forests in the serpentine and dry and
moist limestone regions of westei'n Puerto Rico,
now rare. Planted experimentally in the Guaja-
taca Foi-est, this species is proving slow growing.
Trees 15 years old are scarcely 3 inches in diam-
eter. Reported many years ago from Bordeaux
Hills, St. John, and possibly now extinct there.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Gua-
nica, Maricao.

Ranoe. — ]>ower Florida Keys (nearly extinct),
Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles from Anguilla to
St. Lucia. Also recorded from Bonaire.

Other common names. — espinillo (Dominican
Republic) ; aceitillo (Cuba) ; yellowheart, satin-
wood, yellowheart prickly-ash, yellow wood (Unit-
ed States) ; West Indian satinwood, satinwood
(English, commerce) ; Jamaican satinwood, yel-
low-sanders (Jamaica) ; noyer, bois noyer (Gua-
deloupe) ; kalabarie (Bonaire).

Botanical synonym. — Fagara flava (Vahl)
Krug & LTrban.

This genus, whose name frequently is spelled
Xanthoxylnm, has 2 additional native tree spex^ies
and 2 of shrubs besides the 3 figured here. An-
other species of espino rubial {Zanthoxylum cari-
haeum Lam.; synonym Fagara caribaea (Lam.)
Krug & Urban) in southern and westei-n Puerto
Rico has pinnate leaves with 7-13 elliptic leaflets
rounded at apex and with wavy-toothed margins.

Alfiler {Zanthoxylum panctatum Vahl; syno-
nym Fagara trifoliata Sw.) , a spiny shrub or small
tree of southwestern Puerto Rico, Mona, and St.
Croix, has pinnate leaves with obovate or elliptic
leaflets, usually 3 or sometimes as many as 7 or
even 19, with variable apex, and relatively few
small S-jjarted flowers in lateral clusters.

228

101. Aceitillo, yellow-sanders, yellowheaxt

Two-thirds natural size.

Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl

229

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

102. Espino rubial, white-prickle, Martinique prickly-ash

Zanthoxylum martinicense (Lam.) DC.

This medium-sized tree is characterized by:
(1) tlie very stout conical spines V^-l incli lon<j
and broad on the smoothish liglit gmy trunk and
usually smaller spines on the twigs; (2) the pin-
nate leaves with 7-19 stalkless oblong to lance-
shaped leaflets H/2-5 inches long and V2-'^V2 inches
broad, very finely wavy margined, and with mi-
nute glancl dots; (3) many small greenish-white
5-parted flowers %(i inch long and broad; and
(4) the dry fruits, deeply 5-parted, i/^ inch long
and s/ju inch broad, dark brown.

An evergreen tree becoming 20-65 feet in
height and 18 inches in trunk diameter, with thin
spreading crown. The bark is smoothish, light
gray, about i/i inch thick, with spines on larger
trees becoming 2 inches long and broad. Inner
bark brown, with citrus spicy taste and also
slightly gritty. The twigs are gray, stout, brittle,
minutely bristly hairy when young, usually spiny
with many stout gray spines Vie-^ inch long.

The alternate leaves are 6-12 inches long, the
axes and midribs finely haii-y and often spiny.
The leaflets are short-pointed to i-ounded at apex,
slightly oblique at base, thin, upper surface gi-een
and hairless, lower surface paler and minutely
hairy on veins.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and lat-
eral, much branched, 2-6 inches long and broad,
beai-ing many almost stalkless flowei-s, male and
female on different trees (dioecious). There are 5
minute sepals; 5 spreading petals; in male flowers
5 stamens longer than petals; and in female flowers
a pistil with deeply 5-lobed 5-celled ovary and
5-lobed stigma. The fruits are deeply 5-parted,
each part (follicle) sjditting open and with 1
nearly round shiny black seed Vs inch long. Flow-
ering and fruiting from spring to fall.

The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood light
yellow to light yellowish browni. The wood is of
medium weight (specific gravity 0.46), hard, of
medium to fine texture, with growth rings clearly

defined, but without distinctive figure. It is very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and
other insects and is not durable where exposed.
The rate of air-seasoning is rapid, but the amount
of degrade is considerable. Machining character-
istics are as follows : planing, shaping, boring, and
mortising are fair; turning and sancling are poor;
and resistance to screw sjilitting is good.

Because of the small size of the remaining trees,
the wood is seldom used. It is suitable for boxes,
crates, general carpentry, low-grade furniture,
light construction, concrete forms, and similar
uses.

This species requires overhead light and grows
i-apidly. In Trinidad it spreads naturally and
vigorously in clearings. It has been grown for
shade in Cuba and southern Florida, though the
spines may be objectionable for this purpose.
Also a honey plant.

Widely distributed in the coastal, limestone, and
lower mountain forest regions of Puei'to Rico.
Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio
Abajo, Susiia, Toro Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
14, 20, ;30, 40, 42, 47, 68, 69.

Range. — Throughout West Indies from Cuba
and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago.

Other common names. — cenizo, espino, espin-
osa, ayua (Puerto Rico); pino macho (Domini-
can Republic) ; ayiia, ayua amarilla, bayua
(Cuba) ; jjrickly-yellow, yellow Hercules (Jamai-
ca) ; Martinique prickly-ash (English) ; Pepine
gomniier (St. Lucia); Tepine (Dominica);
le))inet (Trinidad) ; yellow-prickle (Tobago) ;
bois pine (Haiti) ; lepine jaune, lepuni jaune,
lepineux jaune (Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; yel-
low-prickle (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Fagara martinicensis
Lam.

230

102. Espino rubial, white-priekle, Martinique prickly-ash

Two-thirds natural size.

Zanthoxylum martinicense (Lam.) DC.

687-921 0—64 16

231

RUE FAMILY (RUTACEAE)

103. Palo rubio, yellow-prickle, yellow prickly-ash

Zanthoxylum monophyllum (Lam.) P. Wilson

An aromatic small tree or shrub, generally with
spiny twigs and trunk, further characterized by :
(1) short-stalked simple leaves with elliptic blades
11/4-4 inches long and 1^-2 inches broad, or some-
times larger, usually short-pointed at both ends,
with numerous minute gland dots, slightly spicy
when crushed; (2) many small whitish 5-parted
flowers about %6 i^^h across in terminal or lateral
branching clusters 1-2 inches long; and (3) 1-3
rounded light green fruits %6 inch long from a
flower, each splitting open to release 1 rounded
shiny black seed. The simple leaves (or single
leaflets) easily distinguish this from other species
of the genus, which have pinnate leaves.

A deciduous tree attaining 15-25 feet in height,
or shrubby, with spreading crown. The gray to
brown bark is snioothish with vertical fissures,
often bearing many stout pyramidal spines i/^-%
inch high and 1 incli or more in vertical length
along the trunk. Inner bark is deep yellow, with
a bitter spicy taste. The green twigs, becoming
brown, frequently have scattered stout spines i/g
inch or more in length.

The alternate leaves have slender petioles y^-Vz
inch long. Blades are slightly thickened, the edges
sometimes slightly wavy, hairless, green and
slightly shiny above and paler beneath.

Branches of the flower cluster (panicle) often
are minutely hairy when young. Flowers appar-
ently are mostly male and female on different trees
(dioecious) . Female flowers have 5 minute pointed
sepals, 5 narrow white petals less than i/g inch
long, and pistil more than \\^ inch long with deep-
ly 2- or 3-lobed, 2- or 3-celled ovary and 2 or 3

styles. Male flowers have 5 stamens about as long
as petals. From each female flower are formed
1-3 rounded podlike fruits (follicles) longer than
broad, each covered with tiny gland dots and
1-seeded.

The sapwood is light yellow and the heartwood
dark brown. The wood is very hard, heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.76), tough, fine-textured, and has
growth rings. It takes a good polish but is sel-
doni used because of the small size of the trees.

Distributed chiefly in western Puerto Rico in
the coastal and limestone forest regions. Also in
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Public forests. — Guanica, Susiia.

Municipalities where especially common. —
12, 36, 38.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, and Lesser Antilles from Montserrat to
St. Lucia and Barbados and in Trinidad, Bonaire,
and Curasao. Also in Venezuela, Colombia, and
Costa Rica.

Other common names. — enrubio, espino, mapu-
rito, espino rubial, espino bianco, carubio, rubia
(Puerto Rico) ; yellow-prickly (Virgin Islands) ;
pino macho (Dominican Republic) ; lagarto, la-
garto negro, lagarto amarillo (Costa Rica) ; bosu,
bosiia, concha de paneque, paneque (Venezuela) ;
yellow prickly-ash (English) ; yellow harklis
(Barbados); lepuni jaune, lepine jaune, bois
noyer (Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; bossoea, kau-
baati (Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Fagara monophylJa
Lam.

232

103. Palo rubio, yellow-prickle, yellow prlckly-ash

Natural size.

Zanthoxplum monophyllum (Lam.) P. Wilson

233

AILANTHUS FAMILY (SIMAROUBACEAE)
104. Guarema, bitterbush Picramnia pentandra Sw.

A small slender tree or shnib characterized by :
(1) the showy or ornamental red or scarlet fruits
%-% in*^'b long, in grapelike terminal clusters,
turning to black; (2) leaves with 5-9 elliptic to
ovate, mostly long-pointed leaflets liA-5 inches
long and 1-2 inches broad; (3) minute green and
reddish-tinged 5-parted flowers % inch long and
broad; and (4) the leaves, gray twigs, bark, fruits,
and seeds very bitter.

An evergreen ti-ee or shrub to 20 feet high and
4 inches in trunk diameter. Bark on small trunks
is gray and smooth. The inner bark is brown and
bitter. Young twigs, vei-y young leaves, and
flower stalks are covered with minute grayish
pressed hairs.

The alternate leaves are 5-12 inches long, the
axis green or reddish tinged. The leaflets have
short stalks y^ inch long and are short-pointed or
sometimes oblique at base, not toothed at edges,
slightly thickened, almost hairless at maturity,
slightly shiny green on upper surface and some-
what paler beneath.

Male and female flowers are on different trees
(dioecious) in branched terminal clusters (pani-
cles) 3-7 inches long. The flowers have 5 narrow
sepals and 5 narrow petals about Vie inch long.
Male flowers have 5 stamens, and female flowers
a pistil with 2- or 3-celled ovary and 2 or 3 stigmas.

Berrylike fruits, borne on slender red stalks, are
round to elliptic, %-% inch long, somewhat juicy
inside, with 1-3 shiny brown seeds \i-% inch long.
Flowers and fruits produced nearly through the
year.

The whitisli, hard, heavy wood is little used in
Puerto Kico, because the trees are too small.

The leaves and bark have been employed medic-
inally in Cuba against fevers. In southern
Florida and Cuba the small trees have been grown
as hardy ornamentals. A honey plant.

In secondary forests in the coastal and limestone
regions of Puerto Eico. Also in Tortola and re-
ported from St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guanica, Rio
Abajo.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica ( ? ) , Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico and Tortola, St. Martin, St. Barthe-
lemy, Antigua, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dom-
inica, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Tobago. Also in
Colombia and Venezuela.

Other common names. — hueso (Puerto Rico) ;
aguedita, palo de peje, palo de pez (Dominican
Republic) ; aguedita, roble agalla, quina del pais
(Cuba) ; bitterbush, Florida bitterbush (United
States) ; doctor-bar (Tobago) ; bois poison, vail-
lant gar^on (Haiti) ; bois poison, bois montagne
(Guadeloupe) ; wild-coffee (Dutch West Indies).

234

104. Guarema, bitterbush

Natural size.

Picramnia pentandra Sw.

235

BURSERA FAMILY (BURSERACEAE)

105-107)
-105. Bursera simaruha.

Key to the 3 native species, all illustrated (Nos.
A. Leaflets asymmetrical at base, less than 3 inches long ; flowers 5-parted-
AA. Leaflets symmetrical at base, '2V>-7 inches long.

B. Leaflets short-pointed or rounded at both ends : flowers 3-parted — 106. Dacryodes excelsa.
BB. Leaflets long-pointed at apex, short-pointed at base; flowers 4-parted — 107. Tetragastris balsamifera.

105. Almacigo, turpentine-tree, gumbo-limbo

Tliis spreadiiifj; aromatic tree is easily recog-
nized by the siiiooth reddish-brown or copper-
colored bark, which peels oft' in papery flakes and
exposes the greenish-brown layer beneath. Other
distinguishing characteristics are: (1) a grayish
resin witli taste like turpentine which exudes from
cuts in the bark; (2) tlie slightly pungent or tur-
pentine odor of crushed leaves and fruits and cut
twigs; (3) the pinnate leaves with 5 or 7 (some-
times 3) oblong to ovate leaflets ly^-^ inches long,
abruptly short-pointed at apex and broad and
oblique at base, and (-1) the many small whitish or
yellowish-green 5-parted flowers about %6 u^^h
across.

A medium-sized deciduous tree 20-40 feet high
with relatively thick trunk 1-2 feet or more in di-
ameter, large spreading crooked branches, and thin
foliage. The bark is about V2 inch thick, tlie inner
bark whitish or reddish, soft, and almost tasteless.
Twigs are brownish green, becoming light brown.

Leaves are alternate and 4—8 inches long. The
leaflets are paired except for the end one, short-
stalked, oblong to ovate, %-li/^ inches broad,
slightly thickened, edges not toothed, mostly hair-
less, green or dark green and slightly shiny above,
and paler beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and lat-
eral, branched and narrow, and 2-6 inches long.
The flowers on slender, usually short stalks are
mostly male and female on different trees or
some flowers bisexual (polygamous). Calyx is
5-toothed; petals 5; stamens 10; and pistil with
3-celled ovary, short style, and 3-lobed stigma.

The fruits (drupelike) are diamond-shaped,
slightly 3-angled, pointed at both ends, about 1/2
inch long and s/ig "^ch broad, dark pink, splitting
into 3 parts, with usually one 3-angled whitish seed
% inch long. Flowers and fruits appearing usual-
ly in spring before or with the new leaves, some-
times in summer.

Both sapwood and heartwood are a imiform
cream to light brown color, though turning bluish
gray because of sap-staining. The wood is light-
weight (specific gravity 0.29), fine-textured, soft,
weak, with strong odor, the growth rings absent
or indistinct. It is very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites and other insects and is very
perishable. Sap stain develops in freshly cut logs
unless milled immediately and the lumber is
dipped in an antistain solution before piling. Rate
of air-seasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade is
minor. Machining characteristics are as follows:
planing and sanding are good ; shaping, turning,

236

Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg.

and mortising are very poor; boring is poor; and
resistance to screw splitting is excellent.

The wood is suited for boxes, crates, cement
forms, interior carpentiy, light construction, fire-
wood, and charcoal. Other products made else-
where are matches, match boxes, toothpicks, and
utility plywood.

The aromatic resin known as Chibou, Cacliibou
resin, or Gomart resin, has been employed in do-
mestic medicines and as glue, varnish, coating for
canoes, and incense. A tea substitute has been pre-
pared from the leaves.

The trees are used in Puerto Eico chiefly for liv-
ing fenceposts, being easily propagated from cut-
tings and posts. They are also planted along road-
sides and in hedges and can serve also as living
telegraph poles. Because of the attractive colored
bark, the trees have been planted as ornamentals
in dry soils of southern Florida, where they are
also native.

Xative to the soils derived from limestone in
Puerto Rico but seen as a fence row and roadside
tree in the coastal and lower mountain regions.
Also in Mona, Desecheo, Icacos, Culebra, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. A
few trees of this species in the thorn scrub at the
eastern end of St. Croix are the easternmost trees
in United States territory.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 32, 36, 38,
44,54,55,61,66,68,75.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and almost tliroughout West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
Curasao and Aruba. Also from Mexico to Colom-
bia, Venezuela, and British Guiana.

Other common names. — West-Indian-birch,
gommier (Virgin Islands) ; almacigo (Spanish,
commerce) ; indio desnudo (Spanish) ; almacigo
bianco, almacigo Colorado (Dominican Republic) ;
almacigo. almacigo Colorado (Cuba) ; mulato, palo
mulato, chaca, palo retinto (Mexico) ; jiote, palo
jiote (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salva-
dor) ; chino, chinacahuite, palo chino, chaca, chic-
chica, palo pulato (Guatemala) ; chinacuite, jene-
quite, chino, palo chino, copon, palo mulato, torch-
wood (Honduras) ; jinocuabo, jiiiicuite (Nica-
ragua) ; jiiiote, carana, jiiiocuavo (Costa Rica) ;
almacigo, carate (Panama) ; almacigo, caratero,
guacimo, resbalo mono (Colombia) ; jobo pelon,
carana, pellejo de indio, mara, cucheme, palo de

105. Almficigo, turpentine-tree, gumbo-limbo

Two-thirds natural size.

Buraera simaruba (L.) Saxg.

237

incienso (Venezuela) ; giimbo-limbo (United
States, commerce) ; gum-elemi, West-Indian-birch
(United States) ; gmntree (Baliamas) ; red-bircli,
West-Indian-birch, turpentine-tree, incense-tree,
mastic-tree (Jamaica) ; gommier maudit (St.
Lucia) ; gomme mombin (Grenada) ; birch-gum
(Barbados); turpentine-tree (Grenadines); peel-
ing-bark gommier, naked-Indian, Indien nue, dry-
land gommier (Trinidad) ; naked-boy (Tobago) ;
birch, red gombo-limbo, hukup, chaca, palo chine,
palo jiote (British Honduras) ; chioue, gommier

blanc (Haiti) ; gommier rouge (Guadeloupe, Mar-
tinque) ; gommier, gommier barriere (Guade-
loupe) ; paaloe sieja doesji, paaloe sieja maatsjoe,
sieja blanko, gumtree, balsam-tree (Dutch West
Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — Bursera gummifera L.,
B. ovaUfoJla (Schlecht.) Engler, Elaphrivm
sinmniha (L.) Kose.

Tlie English name gumbo-limbo is a corniption
of the Spanish name goma elemi meaning gum
resin.

BURSERA FAMILY (BURSERACEAE)

106. Tabonuco

Usually a very large erect tree, rising above the
forest canopy and distinguished at a distance on
the mountainsides by its size and dark green foli-
age. Tabonuco is further recognized bj' : (1) the
smooth whitish bark, peeling oif in thick flakes and
exuding streaks of fragrant whitish resin from
cuts; (2) the pinnate leaves with 5-7 elliptic leaf-
lets 21/0-5 inches long and IVi-S inches broad, pro-
ducing characteristic fragrance when crushed ; and
(3) oblong fleshy brown fruits 1 inch long and V2
inch broad. Because of its abundance, size, and
good form, this was one of the most valuable trees
of Puerto Kico's original mountain forests.

Tabonuco reaches 100 feet or more in height, is
evergreen, and has an elongated crown. Britton
and Wilson in their flora called it "the most ma-
jestic tree" of Puerto Eico. The trunk becomes
3-5 feet or more in diameter and is slightly en-
larged at the base, sometimes with short broad
buttresses giving the appearance of an elephant's
foot. The bark is thin (about I/4 inch thick) and
reddish brown on rapid-gi'owing young trees. The
resin, which is an amber liquid when fresh and be-
comes white and hard after exposure to the air,
is inflammable. The inner bark is brown, gritty,
and has a turpentine taste. Twigs are brown and
slightly warty.

Leaves are alternate and 6-10 inches long. The
short-stalked leaflets, paired except for the end
one, ai-e elliptic, short-pointed or rounded at apex
and base, not toothed on edges, slightly thickened,
hairless, dark green on upper surface, and green
beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are lateral and much
branched, 3-8 inches long. The small greenish
flowers about %6 inch across are male and female
on different trees (dioecious). Calyx is cup-
shaped, 3-toothed ; petals 3, less than Vs inch long,
spreading; stamens 6, short, inserted at base of
thick disk ; and pistil of female flowers with ovary,
short style, and stigma.

The fruit (drupe) resembles an olive and is 1-
seeded. Flowering and fruiting nearly through

238

Dacryodes excelsa Vahl

the year, but most fruits produced from July to
October.

The narrow sapwood is grayish, and the heart-
wood uniform brown with pinkish cast when first
cut, turning pinkish brown when seasoned and
later lustrous brown when exposed. The wood
is moderately heavy (specific gi-avity 0.53), mod-
erately hard, tough, and strong, of fine to medium
uniform texture, with roey and interlocked gi-ain
and ripple marks, lacking growth rings, and with
high luster. It is very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites and is only slightly resistant
to decay. Rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and
amount of degrade is minor. Machining charac-
teristics are as follows: planing, shaping, mor-
tising, sanding, and resistance to screw splitting
are good ; and turning and boring are fair. The
wood cuts and saws easily but rapidly dulls saws
and other tools. It stains well, finishes beauti-
fully with varnish or lacquer, and resembles
mahogany.

Tabonuco has been utilized in Puerto Rico more
because of its availability in quantity and in large
sizes than because of its wood quality. It is ex-
tensively used as a substitute for mahogany in
furniture. Besides all types of furniture, it serves
for cabinetwork, interior trim, general construc-
tion, carpentrj', and vehicle and truck bodies.
Elsewhere it is made into crates, boxes, shingles,
and small boats. The wood should be suitable also
for soft-drink cases, fruit and vegetable con-
tainei-s, and decorative veneer. The Caribs of
Dominica still hollow the trunks into dugout
canoes, one of which was found washed on the
eastern shore of Mona Island in 1953. The resin
was formerly widely employed for torches, as in-
cense in religious ceremonies, to calk boats, and for
medicinal purposes.

Because of the limitations of the wood, the dif-
ficulty of successfully transplanting seedlings
bare-rooted, and the mediocre growth rate of
forest trees, efforts by the government to increase
tabonuco artificially in the public forests have
been abandoned. On the other hand, young trees

106. Tabonuco

Two-thirds natural size.

Dacryodes excelsa Vahl

239

which appear naturally within the public forests
in some places are beinfj protected and cared for.

Formerly distributed widely in the lower Lu-
quillo and lower Cordillera forests, where it was
the dominant tree. Because this species does not
readily reinvade open or cutover areas, it has dis-
aitjieared from all but the least disturbed forests.
Now chiefly limited to the i-emaining virgin or
protected rain forest of the lower slopes of the
Luquillo Mountains but also remaining in several
smaller isolated areas in the lower Cordillera.

Pi'BLiG FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Tore Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
10, 27, 52, 58, 64, 70.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Lesser Antilles from
St. Kitts to Grenada.

Other common names. — gommier blanc (Do-
minica) ; candlewood (English) ; gommier (com-
merce, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada) ;
grommier blanc, gommier montagne, bois cochon
(Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; gommier, gommier a
canot (Guadeloupe).

BoT.vNicAL synonyms. — DocTyodes hexandra
(Hamilt.) Griseb., PachyJoius hexandrus
(Hamilt.) Engler.

107. Masa

BURSERA FAMILY (BURSERACEAE)

Tetragastris balsamifera (Sw.) Kuntze

This large tree is characterized by : (1) pinnate
leaves with 5-9 (commonly 7) lanceolate to ellip-
tic, abruptly short-pointed, dark green leaflets .'5-7
inches long, in pairs except for end one, long-
pointed at apex, short-pointed and symmetrical at
the base, fragrant when crushed, and with promi-
nent translucent venation; (2) several to many
small, 4-lobed, whitish and greenish flowers about
%Q inch long are borne in tei'minal and lateral
clusters: and (3) rounded fruits %-l inch in di-
ameter in grapelike clusters.

An evergi-een tree attaining 50-80 feet in height
and l-iyo fpet in trunk diameter. Bark smooth-
ish, slightly fissured or flaky, and gray, the inner
bark brown and bitter. Twigs stout, gray brown,
finely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves are 7-18 inches long. The
leaflets have stalks Vi inch long (end one to 1 inch)
and blades 3-7 inches long and li/i-2% inches
broad, not toothed on edges, .slightly thickened,
dark green and slightly shiny above, paler and
with raised veins beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal and lat-
eral, branched, 2-7 inches long. The slightly fra-
grant small flowers are male and female on differ-
ent trees or some flowers containing both sexes
(polygamous). Calyx is 4-lobed, greenish; co-
rolla 4-lobed, whitish, brown tinged, the lobes not
spreading; stamens 8; and pistil with 4-celled
ovary, short style, and 4-lobed stigma. Fruits
(drupes) are 2-4-celled, with 2 seeds in each cell.
Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

The sapwood is whitish, becoming yellowish
brown, while the heartwood is light reddish brown,
becoming orange brown with darker streaks. The
wood is heavy (specific gravity 0.63), hard, tough,
strong, of uniformly fine texture, of irregular to

very roey grain, with indistinct growth layers,
and fragrant. Rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and
amount of degrade is minoi'. Machining charac-
teristics are as follows: planing and resistance to
screw splitting are fair; shaping, turning, boring,
and sanding are good ; and mortising is excellent.
The wood is susceptible to attack by dry-wood ter-
mites but generally durable to very durable in con-
tact with the ground.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used for furniture,
cabinetwork, paneling, interior construction, and
oai-s. It is .suitable also for millwork, light and
heavy construction, and flooring. Now it is not
sufficiently common in large sizes to be an impor-
tant timber locally. However, the species regen-
erates readily in the forest, gi'ows rapidly, and is
of good form, and therefore may become import-
ant.

Found in little-disturbed forest in the lower
mountain, moist limestone, and moist and dry
coastal regions of Puerto Rico. Also St. Croix.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Luquillo, Maricao, Eio Abajo,
Susua, Toro Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
14, 30, 49, 60.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, St. Croix,
and Guadeloupe. Reported from Cuba, probably
in error.

Other common names. — palo de aceite (Puerto
Rico) ; abey, amacey, abey hembra (Dominican Re-
public) ; bois cochon (Haiti) ; gommier, gommier
encens (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonyms. — Hedwigia balsamifera
Sw., Tetragastris balsamifera var. lanceifolia
Swart.

240

107. Masa

Two-thirds natural size.

Tetragastris balsamifera (Sw.) Kuntze

241

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)

Key to the 7 species illustrated (Nos. lOS-114)
A. Leaves bipinnate, leaflets with toothed margins — 110. McUa azedaracft.*
AA. Leaves pinnate ; leaflets not toothed.

B. Leaflets all paired (even pinnate), a.symmetrlcal.
C. Leaflets mostly many, 10 or more.

D. Leaflets 10-16 (sometimes 30), veins not sunken; flowers and fruit 5-parted — 108. Cedrela odorata.
DD. Leaflets 8-20, veins sunken ; flowers and fruit -l-parted — 109. Guarea trichilioides.

CC. Leaflets 4-12.

E. Leaflets 2%-6 inches long — 111. Swietenia macrophyUa*
EE. Leaflets 1-2V2 inches long — 112. Swietenia mahagoni*

BB. Leaflets of odd number (odd pinnate).

F. Leaflets 7-21, symmetrical, about equal in size, veins slightly sunken — 113. Trichilia hirta.
FF. Leaflets 3 or .% (.sometimes 7), asymmetrical, the end leaflet largest and lowest leaflets smallest; veins
much sunken, causing a wrinkled appearance — 114. Trichilia pallida.

108. Cedro hembra, Spanish-cedar

This native tree with valuable aromatic wood is
distinjTuished by : (1) the alternate, long, even pin-
nate leaves 1-2 feet or more in lenfjth with 10-22
paired lance-shaped, oblonjj, or ovate leaflets long-
pointed at apex and oblique at the rounded or
short-pointed base; (2) many narrow yellow-gi-een
flowers i/i-% inch long, appearing tubular but
with 5 narrow petals, in long loose spreading ter-
minal clusters; (3) brown elliptic seed capsules
about 1-13/4 inches long and % inch in diameter,
splitting widely into 5 parts and releasing many
long-winged seeds; and (4) the odor of garlic in
flowens, crushed leaves, and cut twigs, and garlic
taste in twigs and bark.

A large deciduous tree 40-100 feet high and 1-3
feet in trunk diameter, sometimes with slight but-
tres.ses at base, and with large rounded or tall
crown. The gray or brown bark is thick, becom-
ing rougli and furrowed. Inner bark is light
brown to pinkish with bitter taste of garlic. The
stout gray-brown twigs have raised jjrown dots
(lenticels) and large prominent rounded leaf scars.

The leaves have a greenish-brown roimd axis
bearing the leaflets on slender stalks Vs-% inch
long. Leaflet blades are 2-6 inches long and 1-21^
inches wide, slightly curved, not toothed on edges,
thin, hairless, green and slightly shiny on upper
surface and dull green beneath. The lateral veins,
which often are slightly sunken in upper surface,
commonly are nearly parallel with midrib for a
minute distance at base before forking at a wide
angle.

The flower clusters (panicles) 6-16 inches long
bear many flowers on slender, usually hairless
branches. Flowers have a calyx more than 14 g inch
long in form of cup, irregularly toothed and split
on 1 side, hairless; yellow-green corolla about
5/1 6 inch long, appearing tubular but with 5 narrow
oblong petals, minutely hairy on outside, united to
the disk like a tube; 5 stamens with filaments at-
tached on the narrow columnar disk, shorter than
petals; and also on the disk the pistil i/g inch long
including 5-celled ovary, style, and rounded
stigma.

242

Cedrela odorata L.

The woody seed capsule is rounded at both ends.
It has a central 5-angled axis with broad apex, to
which are attached many long-winged seeds %
inch long, about 18,000 per pound. Flowering
from June to August, the fruits maturing and
remaining on the tree in fall and winter.

Sa]iwood is whitish to light brown, the heart-
wood light brown to reddish brown with promi-
nent growth rings (semi-ring-porous). The wood
resembles mahogany (caoba) but has the charac-
teristic fragrant odor of S])anish-cedar (cedro)
and a bitter taste. It is soft, lightweight (specific
gravity 0.45), strong, easily worked, and takes a
smooth polisli. It is durable, resistant to dry-wood
termites, and not attacked by other insects. Rate
of air-seasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade
is minor. Machining characteristics are as fol-
lows : planing, shaping, mortising, and sanding ai-e
good ; turning is fair ; and boring is poor.

Spanish-cedar or cedro (Cedrela) including 7
or more species with similar woods is widely dis-
tributed in the New World from West Indies and
Mexico south to Argentina (except Chile). It is
the most important timber for local use in tropical
America, the lumber being used extensively for
general construction, carpentry, and suitable for
many other purposes. This fine cabinet wood is
preferred for furniture, cabinetmaking, carpentry,
doors and windows, interior trim, shelves, canned
figures, etc. Being resistant to insects and aro-
matic, the wood is a favorite for chests and ward-
robes. Elsewhere it is used also for veneer, ply-
wood, and boat parts. In the past, quantities were
exported to the United States and other countries
for cigarboxes, but now little is used for this pur-
pose. Indians made dugout canoes from the
trunks and paddles from the wood. The astringent
bark has been employed in home remedies.

This and related species are commonly grown
in tropical America as handsome shade trees along
streets and highways, in parks, and pastures, and
in plantations of coffee and cacao. Also a honey
plant.

Because of the valuable wood the native trees of
this species have been reduced to scattered remote

108. Cedro hembra, Spanish-cedar

Two-thirds natural size.

Cedrela odorata L.
243

areas in Puerto Rico, chiefly in the moist limestone
and lower Cordillera forest recjions. In the Cor-
dillera restricted chiefly to steep rocky areas with
soils in the Mucara (rroiip or in associated well-
drained rocky soils. In a few experiments the
native seed has not produced promising forest
plantations.

Seed from continental America formerly re-
jrarded as a distinct species, cedro espahol
or Mexican-cedar {Cedrela mfxicana M. J.
Roem.), has also been tested in Puerto Rico.
Thoufjh widely planted in the public forests for
timber, most of the trees became chlorotic and died
for reasons not understood. Nevertheless, a few
trees grew very rapidly. The handsome shade trees
commonly seen alonf? roadsides are from imported
seed.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Guilarte,
IMaricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Neja'c

Range. — Widely distributed in wet forests of
low elevations in tropical America. Native ap-
parently through West Indies in Greater Antilles
and Lesser Antilles to Trinidad and Tobago, the
range spread by cultivation. Also native in con-
tinental tropical America from Mexico (Sinaloa
and San Luis Potosi .southward)" to Ecuador,
Peru, Brazil, and Guianas. Introduced into
southern Florida and the Old World.

Other common names. — cedro, cedro oloroso,
cedro del pais, cedro hembra del pais, cedro mexi-
cano, cedro espahol (Puerto Rico) ; cedro (Span-
ish, commerce); cedro hembra (Dominican Re-
public, Cuba); cedro macho (Cuba); cedro
Colorado, culche (Mexico) ; cedro real (El Salva-
dor) ; cedro amargo, cedro bianco, cedro dulce,
cedro Colorado, cobano (Costa Rica); cedro
amargo (Panama) ; cedro bianco, cedro oloroso,
cedro caoba, cedro clavel (Colombia) ; cedro
amargo, cedro amarillo (Venezuela) ; cedro de
Castilla (Ecuador); cedro Colorado (Peru);
Spanish-cedar, West -Indies-cedar, Mexican-cedar,
Central-American-cedar, South-American - cedar
(English); cigarbox - cedar, cigarbox cedrela
(United States) ; cedar, Jamaican-cedar, Hon-
duras-cedar (Jamaica) ; redcedar, acajou (Domin-
ica, Trinidad) ; cigarbox-cedar, cedar (Trinidad) ;
redcedar (Tobago); cedar (British Honduras);
redcedar, cedar, kurana (British Guiana) ; acajou
rouge (French) ; cedre, cedre espagnol (Haiti) ;
acajou amer, acajou senti, acajou a muebles, acajou
]iays (Guadeloui>e) ; acajou (Dutch AVest Indies) ;
leli (Curacao) ; ceder (Surinam) ; acaju, cedro
vermelho ( Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Cedrela sintenisii C.
DC, C. mcxicana M. J. Roem.

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)

109. Guaraguao, American muskwood

Large tree of moist forests distinguished by :
(1) a dense crown of large, alternate, even pinnate
leaves with 8-20 or more paired, elliptic to oblong,
glossy, dark green leaflets, with sunken veins giv-
ing a slightly corrugated appearance ; (2) the apex
of the woody leaf axis continuing to grow like a
stem and forming new leaflets at tlie tip after the
other leaflets are mature; (3) many 4-parted
greenish-white flowers %-% inch a^'ross; and (4)
the reddish-brown seed capsules home in narrow
grapelike clusters, nearly round, %-% inch in di-
ameter but narrowed at base, covered with many
raised dots (lenticels), and splitting into 4 parts,
with 4 or fewer reddish seeds.

An evergreen tree of the forest canopy 40-75
feet tall, with straight clear trunk (forked low in
open grown trees) 1-3 feet in diameter, a few
larger, becoming fluted when large, and with a
widely spreading crown. The bark is rough, with
many longitudinal fissures, brown with a reddish
tinge, thick ( % inch or more) . Inner bark is pink-
ish and slightly bitter. T\vigs are brown and
stout, with many raised dots (lenticels).

The leaves are 8-24 inches long on stout round
brown woody axes. The leaflets, borne on short
stalks Vs inch long, are 5-7 inches long and ly^-
21/2 inches broad, short-pointed at apex and base,

244

Guarea trichilioides L.

edges not toothed, slightly thickened, dark green
on upper surface and paler lieneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are borne laterally,
branched but narrow, 4-12 inches long. The nu-
merous fragrant short-stalked flowei-s are spread-
ing and minutely hairy. The calyx is 4-lobed;
there are 4 haiij petals i/4 inch long; white stamen
tulje 14 inch high with 8 anthers inside top; and
pistil 3/jg inch high on a disk with 4-celled ovary,
style, and stigma. The seeds are %-V2 inch long.
Flowers and fruit are produced over most of the
year.

The sap wood is whitish to brownish, and the
veiy attractive heartwood pinkish to red, turning
light reddi.sh brown. The wood is of medium
weight or moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.51), hard, strong, tough, medium-textured,
straight-grained, somewhat brittle, and aromatic
when green though odorless when seasoned. Rate
of air-seasoning is slow, and amount of degrade
is moderate. Machining characteristics are as fol-
lows: planing, .shaping, turning, mortising, and
resistance to screw splitting are good; boring is
fair; and sanding is excellent. The wood is re-
sistant to attack by diy-wood termites and is dur-
able in the ground.

This pretty wood makes fine furniture and cabi-
nets, since it resembles mahogany and Spanish-

109. Guaraguao, American muskwood

Natural size.

Ouarea trichilioides L.

245

cedar and takes a high polish. It is used also for
construction, carpentry, implements, and cooper-
age.

Planted as a hardy small shade tree in southern
Florida. Elsewhere the leaves and roots have
served in home medicines.

This species is one of the commonest trees of
moist forests and cofl'ee plantations of Puerto Rico.
It regenerates abundantly and withstands forest
shade. Trees which come up in coffee plantations
are sometimes left until they can be harvested for
their wood, although the shade is generally con-
sidered too dense for cofl'ee culture. Test planta-
tions established by the government show this
species to be slower in growth than broadleaf ma-
hogany, so the latter has been substituted where
adapted. The trees are suitable for shade as well
as wood.

Distributed throughout the lower mountain,
moist limestone, and moist coastal regions of
Puerto Rico. Also St. Croix.

PrBLic FORESTS. — Canibalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro
Negro, Vega.

MuNICIPAIjITTES where ESPECIALLY COMMON. — 5,

6, 7, 21, 40, 42, 43, 47, 50, 53, 61, 70, 73.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
and St. Croix. Also in Trinidad and from Costa

Rica and Panama south to Argentina and Brazil.
Introduced in southern Florida.

Other common names. — cabinna santa, ca-
birma, cedro macho (Dominican Republic) ;
yamao, yamagua (Cuba) ; carbonero, mami (Costa
Rica) ; cedro macho (Panama, Colombia) ; trom-
pillo (Colombia, A'enezuela, Bolivia) ; bilibili,
mestizo, trompeto, zambo cedro (Colombia) ;
cedro dulce, ceclron, cabimbo, shuparai (Vene-
zuela) ; fruta de loro (Ecuador) ; latapi, latapi-
caspi, atapio, requia (Peru) ; cedrillo (Argen-
tina) ; American muskwood (United States) ; red-
wood (Trinidad) ; karaba-balli, buck vomit (Brit-
ish Guiana) ; bois rouge (Haiti) ; bois pistolet
(Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; bois bale (French
Guiana) ; doifiesirie (Surinam) ; gito, cedrohy,
atauba (Brazil).

Botanical synontm. — Guarea guara (Jacq.)
P. Wilson.

Guaraguaillo {Guarea rnmifora Vent.), known
also as guaraguao macho, is the other native
species of this genus. It is a small tree, common
and widely distributed in mountain forests only
in Puerto Rico. The pinnate leaves 2-7 inches
long have 2-6 long-pointed oblong leaflets 3-8
inches long with prominent veins on both sides.
The few flowers borne in lateral clusters are pink.

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)

110. Alelaila, chinaberry

This popular introduced tree, planted for its
showy clusters of pale purplish 5-parted spreading
flowers and for the shade of its dense, dark green
foliage, is further characterized by : ( 1 ) leaves
twice pinnate (bipinnate), composed of many thin
lance-shaped to ovate leaflets 1-2 inches long,
which are long-pointed and saw-toothed on the
edges (or some lobed) and which has a character-
istic bitter taste and pungent odor when crushed ;
and (2) the clustei-s of nearly round, yellow poi-
sonous fruits about % inch in diameter, conspicu-
ous when the tree is leafless.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree becom-
ing 20-50 feet tall and 1-2 feet in trunk diameter,
with crowded, abruptly spreading branches form-
ing a hemispherical or flattened crown. The bark
is dark or reddish brown, becoming furrowed.
Inner bark is whitish, slightly bitter and as-
tringent. The twigs are green and hairless or
nearly so.

The leaves are alternate and 8-16 inches or more
in length and may be in part three times pinnate
(tripinnate). The numerous short-stalked leaflets
are borne in pairs along the slender green branches
of the leaf axis but single at the ends. These
leaflets are %-% inch broad, with the base short-
pointed and mostly 1-sided. They are thin, hair-

lUelia azedarach L.*

less or nearly so, and dark green on the upper sur-
face and paler below.

Branched flower clusters (panicles) 1-10 inches
long are laterally attached and long-stalked. The
numerous showy fragrant flowers on slender stalks
are about % inch long and %-% inch across.
There are 5 greenish sepals Vie inch long; 5 pale
purplish or lilac-colored petals % inch long, nar-
row, spreading and slightly turned back; usually
10 stamens on a narrow violet tube %6 hich long;
a pale green pistil s/ig inch long with disk at base,
3-6-celled ovary, and long style.

The fruits or berries (clrupes) are smooth but
becoming a little shriveled, and slightly fleshy but
with hard stone containing 5 or fewer narrow dark
brown seeds %« inch long. These fruits are bitter
and have poisonous or narcotic properties. Flow-
ering throughout the year in Puerto Rico, and the
old slightly wrinkled yellow fruits generally
present.

The sapwood is yellowish white, and heart wood
light brown to reddish brown and attractively
marked. The wood is moderately soft, weak and
brittle, and very susceptible to attack by dry-wood
tennites. In Puerto Rico the wood is used for
fuel. Uses of the wood elsewhere include tool
handles, cabinets, furniture, and cigarboxes.

246

\\/v

\^^

v^

iJrj^

H^^

:^"^^\i\.f-

a^-

110. Alelaila, chinaberry

Two-thirds natural size.

Melia azedarach L.

687-921 0—64 17

247

Extensively planted for ornament and shade.
This attractive tree is easily propagated from seed
and cuttinjrs, sprouts from stumps, and jrrows rap-
idly. However, it is short-lived; and the brittle
linibs are ea.sily broken by the wind.

This species is poisonous and has insecticidal
properties, the leaves and dried fruits having- been
used to protect stored clothing and other articles
apainst insects. Various parts of the tree, includ-
ing fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots, have
been employed medicinally in different countries.
The berries are toxic to animals and have caused
deaths of pigs. An oil suitable for illumination
Avas extracted experimentally from the berries.
The hard, angular, bony centers of the fruits,
when removed by boiling, are dyed and strung as
beads. In parts of Asia this is a sacred tree.

In Puerto Rico planted and locally naturalized
in the coastal and lower mountain regions. Com-
monly planted and escaping in the Virgin Islands.
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolm, and
Tortola.

Raxoe. — Native of southern Asia, probably
from Iran and Himalaya to China, but culti-
vated and naturalized in tropical and subtropical
countries over the world. Bermuda and through-
out AVest Indies. Also fi-om southern United
States and Mexico south to Argentina and Brazil.

Hardy also in warm temperate regions, this
tropical species is naturalized in southeastern
United States and grows north to Virginia and
Oklalioma and west to California.

Other cojimon names. — lilaila, pasilla (Puerto
Rico) : lilac (Virgin Islands) ; paraiso (Spanish) ;
alilaila, Hla, lilayo, violeta (Dominican Republic) ;
jaeinto (Panama); aleli (Venezuela); flor de
paraiso (Peru); chinaberry, chinatree, pride-of-
Cliina, pride-of-India, umbrella chinabeiry, um-
brella-tree (United States) ; hoop-tre«, West-In-
dian-lilac, bead-tree (Jamaica) ; chinaberry, West-
Indian-lilac (Trinidad) ; paradise-tree (British
Honduras) ; lilas (Haiti) ; lilas, lilas du pays
(Guadeloupe) ; lilas des Indes (French Guiana) ;
aleli, anesita, lilac (Dutch West Indies); cinna-
momo (Brazil).

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)

111. Caoba hondurena, Honduras mahogany

Mahogany, the world's premier cabinet wood
and probably the most valuable timber tree in trop-
ical America, was not. originally known from
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but 2 species
have been widely planted. Honduras mahogany
is recognized by : (1) usually dense crown of shiny
green leaves, which are even pinnate and 8-16
inches long with 6-12 paired, unequal-sided leaf-
lets 21/2-6 inches long; and (2) erect egg-shaped
or pear-shaped seed capsules 4i/^-7 inches long and
about .3 inches in diameter, splitting upward from
the base into 5 parts. Leaves and fruits are much
larger than in West Indies mahogany (Sivietenm
mahagoni Jacq.).

A medium-sized to large deciduous tree 60 feet
or more in height with clear, straight, erect trunk
to 2 feet or more in diameter, becoming buttressed
at base. The bark is rough, deeply fissured into
flat scales, light brown, and about H inch thick,
the inner bark dark reddish and bitter. The stout
brown twigs have many raised dots (lenticels).

The alternate leaves have a .slender round yel-
low-green axis ending in a narrow dead point,
bearing leaflets on short stalks less than 14 inch
long. Blades are I-214 inches wide, elliptic to ob-
long, short-pointed at base and abruptly long-
pointed at apex, noticeably broader on side toward
axis, not toothed on edges, slightly thickened or
leathery, green to dark green and slightly shiny
on upper sui-f ace, and paler beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) 4-6 inches or more in
length at base of new leaves bear many small,

248

Swietenia macrophylla King*

short-stalked, fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers
nearly i/o inch across. The light green calyx Yiq
inch high is .5-toothed; there are 5 oblong, slightly
concave, greenish-yellow petals 14 i"ch long,
greenish-yellow stamen tube nearly I/4 i'l^^h long,
bearing inside apex 10 tiny brown stamens between
as many teeth; and pistil %6 ii^^l^ lo'^S ^ith
orange-red basal disk, light green rounded 5-
celled ovary, style, and bi-oad flattened stigma. A
few flowers have parts in 4's.

The seed capsules are borne on long stout stalks,
thick-walled and heavy, and the large, 5-angled
axis remains on the tree. The numerous flat, long-
winged, brown seeds are 3-31/2 inches long and %-l
inch broad, about 900 to the pound. Flowers
liorne in May and June, and seeds produced gen-
erally in the late fall.

The thin sapwood 1-2 inches wide is yellowish
white. The heartwood is pinkish when freshly
cut, later becoming light reddish brown with a
golden luster. The wood is moderately light-
weight (specific gi-avity 0.5-0.6), strong, of medi-
um to fine unifonii texture, with interlocked grain
and attractive figure, and growth layers indistinct.
It is one of the easiest woods to work and takes an
excellent polish. Rate of air-seasoning is rapid,
and amount of degrade very minor except when
tension wood is present. Machining characteris-
tics are as follows: sanding is excellent; planing,
shaping, turning, boring, mortising, and resistance
to screw splitting are good. The heartwood is
resistant to decay and generally is resistant to at-

111. Caoba hondurena, Honduras mahogany

One-half natural size.

Stcietenia macropliyUa King

249

tack by cll•y-^YOod termites, but the sapwood is
very susceptible to decay and insects. From West
Indies mahoijany the wood difi'ers in being more
open-grained, ligliter in weiglit, and softer.

This is one of the conunonest woods for furni-
ture manufacture and cabinetmaking in Puerto
Rico, being imported in large quantities from Mex-
ico as rough lumber. Limited amounts of small
logs come from local plantations also. Other uses
mostly elsewhere include face veneer, interior
trim, paneling, burial caskets, interiors of boats
and ships, turning, musical instruments, molds,
dies, and patternmaking.

This sjjecies is now much more important com-
mercially than West Indies mahogany, because of
its more extensive range in Central and South
America and its delayed utilization. British Hon-
duras was established as a colony for the prized
timbers of mahogany and logwood. Timber ex-
jiorted from other tropical American countries is
often designated by the country of origin, for
example, Brazilian mahogany.

With straight tall trunk and few branches, this
is a handsome street and shade tree in tropical
countries, also producing valuable timber. The
bark is high in tannin content. Also reported to
be a honey plant.

Planted extensively in the public forests of
Puerto Rico and as a shade tree in patios and
along roadsides in Puerto Rico and St. Croix and
perhaps others of the Virgin Islands. One of the
most promising species for forestry on well-
drained deep soils in the lower mountain and moist
limestone regions of Puerto Rico. It withstands
shade, grows rapidly, and produces a tree of good
form.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Slaricao, Rio Abajo,
Suslia, Toro Negi'o.

Range. — Southern Mexico (Oaxaca, Veracruz,
Tabasco, and Yucatan Peninsula southward), At-
lantic slope of Central America from British Hon-
duras to Panama, and in Colombia, Venezuela, and
portions of upper Amazon region in Peru, Bolivia,
and Brazil. Until about 1923 it was not known
from the Amazon region, where a large supply of
timber occurs in the virgin forests. Introduced
into southern Florida, Puerto Rico and Virgin Is-
lands, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and
other tropical areas.

Other common names. — caoba de Honduras
(Puerto Rico) ; broadleaf mahogany, bigleaf ma-
hogany. Central American mahogany (Virgin
Islands); caoba, caoba hondureiia (Spanish);
chacalte (Guatemala) ; caoba americana (Colom-
bia) ; aguano (Peru) ; mahogany, Honduras ma-
hogany, British Honduras mahogany, Venezuelan
mahogany, Peruvian mahogany, Brazilian ma-
hogany (United States, English, commerce) ;
acajou Amerique (French, commerce) ; mahogany
Honduras ((xuadeloupe, Martinique); acajou du
Honduras (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonyms. — Snuetenia ravdolUl
Pittier (caoba venezolana, Venzuelan mahogany),
S. helizensis Lundell, 8. knd-ovii Gleasoji & Pan-
shin, S. feftsmannr/. Harms.

What is believed to l)e a natural hybrid between
this and the following species {tSirietenia macro-
phylla X mahagoni) is found in St. Croix. Wliere
trees of the 2 species have been planted together,
some of the seedlings are intermediate in appear-
ance. The intermediate is known locally as me-
diumleaf mahogany because the leaflet width is be-
tween that of the parent species. In preliminary
experiments the plants grow rapidly and appar-
ently show hybrid vigor. Also, the wood is of high
quality like that of the second species.

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)
112. Caoba dominicana, Dominican mahogany, West Indies mahogany

West Indies mahogany is commonly planted in
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands though not
native. This first-discovered species of mahog-
any, the world's premier cabinet wood, is easily
recognized by: (1) its distinctive leaves, alternate
and even pinnate, 4-7 inches long, bearing 4-10
paired shiny green leaflets, ovate to lance-.shaped,
I-214 inches long and 1/2"% inch broad, long-
pointed and very conspicuously unequal-sided;
and (2) the odd, egg-shaped or pear-shaped, dark
brown erect seed capsules Si^-o^ inches long and
11/4-2 inches in diameter, hard and thick-walled,
splitting upward from the base into 5 parts and
releasing many flat long-winged seeds.

A medium-sized to large deciduous tree with
maximum size 40-60 feet in height and 3-41/2 feet

250

Swietenia mahagoni Jacq.*

in trunk diameter. The trunk is usually short and
has swollen or buttressed base when large, and
produces a spreading, much-branched crown.
Bark on small trees is smoothish, slightly fissured,
and gray, becoming dark reddish brown and scaly
on large trunks. The inner bark is pink and bit-
ter. Young twigs are pale red, becoming brown-
ish gray with many raised dots (lenticels).

Leaflets are borne along a slender yellow-green
axis on slender stalks less than 14 inch long.
These leaflets have the inner or upper edge
rounded at base but edges not toothed, are slightly
thickened or leathery, shiny green above and paler
beneath, and have a reddish-brown midrib.

The flower clusters (panicles) are lateral, 2-6
inches long, and branched. Several to many small

112. Caoba domlnicana, Dominican mahogany, West Indies mahogany

Two-thirds natural size.

Swietenia mahagoni Jacq.

251

greenish-yellow flowers, 5-parted, spreadintr, and
14 inch across, are borne on short stalks. There
are 5 minute sepals, 5 whitish or yellow spreading
petals i/s ill'"!"' long, 10 stamens inside a short tube
i/s inch long, and i)isti] on a disk and composed of
a 5-celled ovary, style, and flattened stigma.

The fruits are borne on long stalks, and the
large 5-angled axis remains attached. The light
brown seeds are about 2-214 inches long and V2
inch broad, approximately 3,200 to a pound.
Flowers are borne mainly from March to July
in Puerto Rico, and mature fruits are present
chiefly in the winter.

The sapwood is whitish or yellowish. The
heartwood is reddish, pinkish, or yellowish when
freshly cut, gradually turning dark rich reddish
brown. The wood "is moderately hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.7-0.8), and strong. It is very
resistant to decay and to attack by dry- wood ter-
mites.

The wood is used chiefly for furniture, cabinet-
making, interior finish, and veneers, being easily
worked and taking a beautiful polish. It formerly
was employed in shipbuilding, construction, and
for beams.' Roots and stumps of large trees are
especially prized for their irregular wavy grain.
Considered superior in quality and durability to
the wood of Honduras mahogany. The astringent
bitter bark has been used in medicine.

Planted as a street and shade tree because of the
attractive spherical crown and dense shade. Often
grown in southern Florida where also native. Re-
ported to be a honey plant.

The oldest surviving use of mahogany by Euro-
pean colonists is said to be in the cathedral at
Santo Domingo (Ciudad Trujillo), Dominican
Republic, completed in 1550. It contains much
carved mahogany woodwork still in fine condition
after more than four centuries in (he tropics and
a rough-hewn mahogany cross bearing the date
1514, the year construction was begun. The Do-
minican Re]3ublic has selected the mahogany
flower for its national emblem.

West Indies mahogany was introduced into
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands more than 200
years ago. Fine old trees recently cut near Gua-
yama on the south coast of Puerto Rico ranged
up to 52 inches in trunk diameter, one near Ponce
measured 50 inches, and some in St. Croix are
more than 50 inches. A number of small plantings
were made by Dr. Agustin Stahl near Aguadilla,
Toa Alta, and Manati about 50 years ago. More
extensive forest plantations have been established
on both public and private lands within the past
25 years. This species has proven better adapted
to dry rocky sites than Honduras mahogany.
Trees 20 years old near San Gennan averaged 5
inches in diameter and 35 feet in height. The
alnmdance of young trees developing beneath and
near the plantations may be partly responsible for
the popular misconception that the tree is native.
Planted also in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Gua-
nica, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia.

RAXGE.-Xative in southern Florida including
Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and His-
paniola. Introduced in Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, Bermuda, throughout Lesser Antilles,
Trinidad and Tobago, and Curagao, south to
South America and elsewhere in tropical regions,
and naturalized locally.

Othee common names. — caoba, caoba de Santo
Domingo (Puerto Rico, Spanish) ; small-leaf ma-
hogany, mahogany (Virgin Islands) ; caobilla
(Cuba); West Indies mahogany, West Indian
mahogany, mahogany (United States, English,
commerce); madiera (Bahamas); Spanish ma-
hogany ( St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago) ;
acajou (Haiti) ; mahogany petites feuilles
(Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; mahogany, mahogany
du pays, acajou de Saint Domingue (Guade-
loupe) ; mahok (Dutch West Indies) ; mahoni
(Surinam).

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)

113. Tinacio, broomstick

A small tree or shrub of dry areas character-
ized by: (1) a rounded crown of dense foliage;
(2) alternate ]iinnate leaves with 7-21 lance-
shaped to elliptic leaflets slightly oblique at base
with sunken veins above; (3) several to many
small greenish-white or pale yellow, 5-parted
flowers about 3/j,. inch long and broad in branching
clusters at leaf bases; and (4) rounded greenish-
brown seed capsules %-i/2 inch in diameter, finely
hairy, splitting widely into 3 parts and exposing
usually 3 orange-red seeds.

Deciduous, 15-20 feet high with trunk 4-6 inches
in diameter, elsewhere a tree to 50 feet in height.

Trichilia hirta L.

The brown or gray bark is rough, fissured and
scaly or furrowed, and the whitish inner bark is
bitter. The twigs are green and finely hairy when
young, becoming brownish.

Leaves are 6-12 inches or more in length, the
slender round green axis bearing leaflets on short
lateral stalks yi6-'4 i'lch long. Leaflet blades are
I-414 inches long and V^-'^V-i inches wide, bluntly
long- or short-pointed at apex, the side toward
apex of axis broader at the rounded or short-
pointed base, not toothed at edges, thin, above
slightly shiny green to dark green, aiid beneath
paler and often slightly hairy.

252

113. Tinacio, broomstick

Two-thirds natural size.

Trichilia hirta L.

253

Tlie narrow flower clusters (panicles) li^-'''
inches lonjr are near ends of twijrs. the individual
flower stalks about Vs i»fh lou?; and jointed below
niidd'p. The sliffhtly fragrant cup-shaped to
spreading flowers have a liffht jjreen minute
5-l.»bed calyx less tlian Vu; inch lono;; 5 greenish-
white or pale yellow oblonp; petals ^Aq inch long;
10 stamens Vs i"ch long, witli white liairy filaments
flattened and united toward base; and on a yellow
disk the light green pistil more than 1/8 i"ch long
including rounded liairy 3-celled ovary, style, and
rounded stigma. The elliptic seeds are %6 inch
long, with fleshy coats. Flowering and fruiting
over most of the year.

The sapwood is light brown and heartwood red-
dish brown with darker veins. The wood is de-
scribed as resembling cedro {Cedrelo) in color,
moderately lightweight (specific gravity 0.5).
Heartwood vei-y resistant and sapwood resistant to
attack by dry-wood termites.

Used ' chiefly for posts and fuel in Puerto
Rico. Broom handles have been made from young
stems. In Venezuela oars or paddles (canaletes)
were made from the wood, which was recom-
mended as suitable for interior finish, furniture,
implements, and plywood. Planted for shade and
ornament in southern Florida. Also a honey plant.

Open forests in the limestone and coastal
(chiefly dry coast) regions of Puerto Rico. Also
in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guanica, Susua.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, and Grenadines and
Grenada. Also from Mexico and Tres Marias Is-
lands to Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela.
Introduced in southern Florida.

Other common names. — cabo de hacha, guaita,
retamo, palo de anastasio (Puerto Rico) ; broom-
wood (Virgin Islands) ; jojoban (Dominican Re-
public) ; jubabiin, cabo de hacha (Cuba) ; cabo de
hacha, garbancillo, jumay, mapahuite (Mexico) ;
mapahuite, trompillo, cedrillo, cedro Colorado
(Guatemala) ; ceclro espiuo (Honduras) ; cola de
pavo, jocotillo, cedrillo (El Salvador) ; mata piojo
(Nicaragua); canalete, cazabito, cedrillo, trom-
pillo, pan de trigo (A^enezuela) ; pata de vaca (Co-
lombia) ; gajigua (Ecuador) ; redcedar (British
Honduras) ; mombin batard (Haiti) ; carrapeta
(Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Trichilia spondioides
Jacq.

Bariaco (Trichilia friacantha Urban), called
also guayabacon, the third representative of this
genus, is known only from the dry southwestern
part of Puerto Rico. This shrub or small tree is
easily recognized by the spiny tips of the leaflets.
The pinnate leaves have 3-7 obovate or wedge-
shaped leaflets 1/2-1^/4 inches long and %-% inch
wide, broadest at the spiny 3-toothed apex.

MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELLACEAE)

114. Gaeta

Trichilia pallida Sw.

A small tree, recognized by: (1) the alternate
pinnate leaves with 3 or 5 (or 7) elliptic leaflets
having veins sunken and prominent beneath, caus-
ing a wrinkled appearance, the end leaflet largest
and others paired and smaller toward base; (2)
the few 4-])arted spreading greenish-white flowei-s
almost 1/^ inch across; and (3) the nearly round
seed capsules %-i/^ inch in diameter, light brown
and finely hairy, with 1-3 bright orange-red seeds.

Evergreen, commonly 15-30 feet high and 3-6
inches in trunk diameter. Bark on small trunks is
dark brown, smooth, with many horizontal dots
and lines (lenticels), and the inner bark whitish
and bitter. The twigs are light to dark brown,
with raised dots (lenticels), hairy when young.

The leaves are 4—9 inches long. The leaflets are
short-stalked or almost stalkless, li/i>-6 inches long
and %-21/i inches broad, siiort-pointed at apex
and base, edges often slightly turned down,
slightly thickened, dark green or green on upper
surface and paler beneath.

The small flower clusters (like umbels) are lat-
eral at base of leaves, %-li/4 inches long and
broad, with slender hairy branches. Flowers are

finely hairy and slightly fragrant. Calyx is
4-toothed ; petals 4, i/4 inch long, whitish, minutely
hairy; stamens 8 on a cup-shaped stamen tube;
and pistil with 3- or 2-celled ovary, style, and
stigma. The few clustered seed capsules split
widely into 3 or 2 parts, releasing elliptic seeds
1/4 inch long. Flowering and fruiting nearly
throughout the year (March to December).

The wood is hard, heavy (specific gra\nty 0.7),
and fine-textured, the sajnvood whitish. Though
seldom used because of the small dimensions, the
wood is very resistant to attack by dry-wood
termites.

Usually an understory tree in forests of the
lower mountain and moist limestone regions of
Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Susiia, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — ramoncillo, caracolillo
(Puerto Rico) ; caracoli, palo amargo, almendro,
almendrillo (Dominican Republic) ; siguaraya
(Cuba) ; hois arada, dombou, Marie-Jeanne
(Haiti).

254

114. Gaeta

Two-thirds natural size.

Trichilia pallida Sw.

255

MALPIGHIA FAMILY (MALPIGHIACEAE)

Key to the 2 species illustrated (Nos. 115-116)
A. Leaves thin, tuniing rich red upon drying, upper surface shiny, midrib lighter in color than blade — 115. Ryrsonima
coriacea.
AA. Leaves leathery, with prominent veins, upper surface slightly shiny, lower surface with larger veins often rusty-red
hairy — 116. Byrsonima crassifolia.

115. Maricao

A medium-sized tree with a spreading crown,
characterized by: (1) opposite elliptic to lance-
shaped leaves 2-5 inches long and %-2 inches
broad, short -pointed or rounded at apex and short-
])ointed at l)ase, the midrib notably lighter in color
than the thin blade, turning rich red upon drying,
a few such leaves on most trees at all times; (2)
young twigs and flower stalks covered with fine,
rusty-red hairs; (3) flowers showy, yellow, i/2~%
inch across with 5 rounded petals narrowed into
long stalks ; and (4) the nearly round yellow fruits
%-i/2 inch in diameter.

An evergreen tree 30-60 feet tall and I-IV2 f^^t
or more in trunk diameter. The bark is smoothish,
gray, becoming slightly rough and warty and
1/^-% inch thick. Inner bark is pinkish and bitter.

Petioles are Vi~% inch long. The upper surface
of the Ijlades is shiny green and hairless, the lower
surface lighter green and often slightly hairy on
midrib and near edges, which are not toothed.

Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal, 2-4
inches long. The many flowers are borne along
the erect flower stalks %-V2 inch long and curved
downward when young. The calyx % inch long is
5-lobed with 10 oblong glands on outside ; 5 petals,
yellow, widely spreading, 14 inch long, nearly
round but narrowed into long stalks; 10 stamens;
and pistil witli 3-celled ovary and 3 styles. The
flowers are slightly fragrant and attract bees. The
juicy fruits (drupes) are broader than long and
with a large stone, edible, but with a bitter taste.
Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is gray to reddish brown, and the
heartwood is reddish brown with a purplish cast
and generally marked by darker stripes with a
stippled effect. The wood is moderately hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.64), of fine texture and
straight to slightly roey grain, and fairly strong
but brittle. Its rate of air-seasoning and amount
of degrade are moderate. Machining characteris-
tics are as follows: planing, shaping, turning, and
sanding are good ; boring and mortising are excel-
lent ; and resistance to screw splitting is poor. Tlie
wood is very susceptible to attack by dry-wood ter-
mites and only slightly resistant to decay.

Though few trees are large enough to produce
lumber, the wood is recommended for fancy furni-
ture and cabinetwork, turning, flooring, interior
trim, and other decorative uses. It is suitable also
for general carpentry, heavy construction, ply-
wood, and veneer. Elsewhere it has been made into
charcoal. The bark is employed in tanning.

The trees are rather ornamental when in flower
and suitable for shade but are seldom planted for

256

Byrsonima coriacea (Sw.) DC.

these purposes. The seeds are slow to germinate,
lying as long as a year on the forest floor before
germination. Early growth is rapid.

Common in secondary forests and frequently on
lands degraded by farming in the lower mountain,
moist coastal, and moist limestone regions of
Puerto Rico. Also in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Susiia, Toro Negro.

IVIUNICIPALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON.

29, 69.

Range. — Through West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
Guianas to Colombia and Panama and south to
Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Other common names. — doncella (Puerto
Rico) ; peralejo (Dominican Republic) ; peralejo
de pinar (Cuba) ; piginio (Colombia) ; manteco
sabanero, manteco, manteco de agua, chaparro de
chinche (Venezuela) ; hogberry, locust-tree (Ja-
maica) ; indano,indano Colorado (Peru) ; mauricef
(Dominica, Grenada) ; bois tan (St. Lucia) ;
barka-locust, locust-berry (Barbados) ; serrette
(Grenada, Trinidad) ; rosewood (Tobago) ; hicha
(British Guiana) ; bois tan, mauricef (Guade-
loupe, Martinique) ; hollyhock (Dutch West In-
dies) ; holia, moeleri, sabana kwarie (Surinam) ;
pau de cortume, pessegueiro bravo (Brazil).

The West Indian tree has been placed in a vari-
ety {Byrsonima coriacea (Sw.) DC. var. spicata
(Cav.) Niedenzu) often accepted as a species (B.
spicata (Cav.) DC).

Besides the 2 illustrated here, 4 additional tree
species of this genus known also as maricao are
native in Puerto Rico. Palo de doncella (Byr-
so7uma hicida DC; synonym B. cttneata (Turcz)
P. Wils.) has small spoon-shaped or obovate leaves
34-2 inches long and flowers with white to red
petals.

Two poorly known, doubtfully distinct, local
species described from Guanajibo, near Mayaguez,
have yellow petals turning red. They are Byrson-
ima ophiticola Small, with obovate leaves less
than 2 inches long, and B. horneana Britton &
Small, with obovate leaves 11/0-31/2 inches long.

A distinct species rare in dwarf forests and
mountain forests of eastern and central Puerto
Rico is almendrillo {Byrsonima. loadswortMi
Little) . During the preparation of this book, this
species was noted as new and was named in 1953.
It has elliptic leaves mostly li/^-3 inches long,
slightly thickened, with edges turned under, gray
hairy beneath, and flowere with white petals turn-
ing pink.

115. Maricao

Natural size.

Byrsonima coriacea (Sw.) DC.

257

MALPIGHIA FAMILY (MALPIGHIACEAE)

116. Maricao cimarron

Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) H. B. K.

This small crooked tree or shrub of dry forests
is characterized by: (1) opposite, mostly elliptic
leaves 21/2-5 inches long and 1-2 inches broad,
short-pointed at apex and base, leathery and with
jM-ominent veins; (2) the young twigs, flower
stalks, ]ietioles, and very young leaves covered with
hne, rusty-red hairs; (3) the flowers %-% inch
across with 5 rounded yellow petals narrowed into
long stalks, in terminal clusters on stalks which
curve downward ; and (4) the nearly round yellow
fruits 1/^ inch or less in diameter, sour but edible.

A small evergreen tree or shrub attaining 15-25
feet in height and 10 inches in trunk diameter,
with open, wide spreading crown. The baik is
gray to dark brown, becoming thick and very
rough, with irregular large warts. The inner
bark, more than % inch thick, is streaked with
jiink and red, and is bitter.

The leaves, with petioles %-% inch long, are
variable in shape and size, edges not toothed,
upper surface green, slightly shiny, and almost
hairless at maturity, and lower .surface light green
and wi(h larger veins rasty-red hairy or nearly
hairless.

Flower clusters (racemes) are 3-4 inches long.
The many yellow flowers are borne along the erect
rusty hairy axis on flower stalks %-V2 ii''ch long
and curved downward, also rusty hairy. The
calyx is pale yellow, rusty haii-y, %,; inch long,
5-lobed with 10 oblong glands at base outside; the
5 bright yellow petals widely spreading, i/4-%
inch long, nearly round but narrowed into long
stalks; 10 pale yellow stamens i/g inch long; ancl
pale green pistil l/g inch long, including 3-celled
ovary with 3 slender styles. The fruits (drupes)
are juicy and have a large stone. Flowering and
fruiting from spring to fall.

The reddish-brown wood is hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.7), strong but brittle, and only moder-
ately durable. Considered suited for construction,
though generally too small, and in other places
burned for charcoal.

The fruits are eaten raw or cooked or prepared
in a drink like lemonade and are consumed by
hogs and other animals, domestic and wild. In
Mexico and Central America the trees are planted
for the fruits, which are larger and ditferent in ap-
pearance. A light brown dye for cotton textiles is
extracted from the fruit rind in Guatemala. Be-
cause of their many golden flowers the plants are
classed as ornamentals and have been introduced
for this purpose in southern Florida. Also re-
ported to be honey plants. The bark has been em-
ployed for tanning and in home remedies.

This species is found chiefly in open forests of
the lower Cordillera forest regions in southwestern
and western Puerto Rico.

Public forest. — Susiia.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, St.
Martin, Dominica, Barbados, Trinidad, and Cura-
sao. Also from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia,
Paraguay, Brazil, and (niianas. Planted in
southern Florida.

In some parts of its range, such as the savannas
of Cuba and the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela,
this tree is a common and characteristic shrubby
tree on the grassy plains. Some authors have dis-
tinguished varieties of this widely distributed spe-
cies whose leaves vary in shape, size, and hairiness.

Other commox names. — maricao verde, per-
alejo, peralejo bianco (Puerto Rico) ; doncela
(commerce) ; peralejo, maricao (Dominican Re-
public) ; peralejo, peralejo de sabana (Cuba) ;
nanche, nance, nance agrio, chi, changugo (Mex-
ico) ; nance, nancite (Central America) ; chi, tapal
(Guatemala) ; nancito, crabo (Honduras) ; nance
verde (El Salvador) ; wild-cherry (Panama) ;
chaparro, chaparro manteca, yuco, peraleja, noro
(Colombia) ; chaparro manteco, chaparro de sa-
bana, manteco, manteco merey, manero (Vene-
zuela) ; savanna serrette (Trinidad) ; craboo,
crapoo, wild craboo (British Honduras); huria
(British Guiana) ; sabana kwari moeleidan, hori,
.sabana mango (Surinam).

258

116. Marieao cimarron

Natural size.

Byrsonima crassifoUa (L.) H. B. K.

259

MILKWORT FAMILY (POLYGALACEAE)

117. Violeta, violet-tree

Native only in Puerto Rico, violeta is well
known Ity the beautiful masses of violet-colored
rtowers about ■^'_i inch across, slifrhtly pea-shaped,
which cover the tree from February to March or
April, (renerally wlien leatless. Other distinguish-
ing chai-actersare: (1) the elliptic yellow-green
leaves '2-5 inches long, slightly thickened and
leathery, with a peculiar arrangement of many
nearly parallel, slightlv raised, thin, lateral veins;
and (2) fruit a flattened capsule IVi-li^ inches
long, with L' rounded wings, 1 large and 1 small.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree 15-40
feet tall with trunk 4-S inches in diameter, rarely
to 65 feet in height and to '2 feet in diameter. The
gi-ay bark is smoothish to slightly fissured, inner
bark light brown and bitter. The slender, light
green twigs are minutely hairy when young.

The leaves are alternate on short petioles 1/47%
inch long. Leaf blades are 1-2^2 inches wide,
short-pointed to rounded at both ends, slightly
turned under at edges, shiny above and dull be-
neath.

The flowers appear in profusion when the trees
are leafless or before the old leaves are shed, borne
on slender stalks in short lateral clusters (ra-
cemes). Both calyx and corolla are violet. There
are 3 small sepals Vs-^e i»ch long and 2 large
elliptic sepals (wings) %6 i"ch long; usually 3
unequal petals about %6 i"cli long, the central
petal keeled and enclosing the stamen tube, and
sometimes 2 additional petals i/g inch long; 8
stamens nearly 1/4 inch long, united into a split
whitish tube; and pistil consisting of green

Polygala cowellii (Britton) Blake

rounded 2-celled ovary i/ie inch long and curved
style 5^8 inch long.

The seed capsule has a large curved or rounded
wing I14-IV2 inches long on 1 side and a small
wing 1/2 inch long on the other and contains 1 or
sometimes 2 hairy seeds s/ie "^^h long, maturing in
March or April.

The yellow or light brown wood is hard and is
little used.

The trees are worthy of cultivation as orna-
mentals for the very showy flowei's. They are evi-
dently slow growing.

In forests of hillsides and arroyos, mostly in the
southern coastal region but scattered also through
the moist limestone and lower Cordillera regions
of Puerto Rico. Rare on the limestone hills of the
northern coast near Toa Baja, Vega Baja, and
Arecibo.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — arbol de violeta, palo
de violeta, palo de tortuga. tortuguero (Puerto
Rico) ; Puerto Rican violet-tree (English).

Botanical synonym. — Phlebotaenia cowellii
Britton.

The scientific name honors John Francis Cowell
(1852-1915), director of the Botanical Garden of
Bufi'alo, New York, who aided in collecting at
Coamo Springs the botanical specimens from
which this species was described.

Trees are unusual in this genus. The 4 other
Puerto Rican species are herbs.

260

jfiHii

Mm

^vIM^^^^^^

mmmHmm:

117. Violeta, violet-tree

Natural size.

Polygala cowellU (Britton) Blake

261

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Key to the 12 si)ecies illustrated (Nos. 118-129)
A. Leaves 3 or more at a node ; nodes with rings — 122. Euphorbia pet Maris.
AA. Leaves alternate: nodes without rings.
B. Leaves with 3 main veins from base.

C. Leaves with coarsel.v saw-toothed edges and 2 straight lateral veins from rounded base — 118. Alchornea

latlfoUa.
CC. Leaves with incf)nsiiicuousl,v wavy-toothed edges and 2 curved veins from short-pointed base — 119.
AlcJifirncopsis portoriccnsis.
BB. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib.

D. Petiole more than 1 inch long ; leaves in more than 2 rows.

E. Leaves with several lateral veins at acute angles to midrib.

F. Leaves short-pointed at base, the edges not toothed ; tiny dotlike brown scales on twigs, petioles,
and leaf blades.
G. Leaves thick and leathery, short-pointed at both ends, petiole silvery brown — 120. Croton
poccUanthus.
OG. Leaves slightly thickenefl, rounded or blunt-pointed at both ends, ijetiole usually reddish
tinged — 126. Hyrroiiima rlusioides.
FF. leaves broad at liase. with toothe<l edges, without scales, mo,stly hairless.

II. Leaves short-pointed at apex and rounde<l at base — 124. Flippomane mancinella.
IIH. Leaves abruptly long-pointed at ai>ex and heart-shajied at ba.se — 12.5. Hura crepitans.
EE. Leaves with many straight, parallel lateral veins almost at right angles to midrib — 129. Sapiiim
tauroccrasus.
DD. Petiole short, less than % inch long : leaves in 2 rows.

I. Leaves broadest beyond middle, often with a few teeth toward apex — 123. Gymnanthes Incida.
Leaves broadest below or near middle, without teeth.

J. Leaves many along slender deciduous twigs and appearing to be pinnate, ovate. 1-3 inches long,
on very short petioles Vs inch long — 127. Plnillantlnis acirlus.*
.JJ. Leaves several, not api>earing to be pinnate. 2-0 inches long, on jietioles more than % inch long.
K. Leaves widely spaced, lance-shaijed, slightly thickened, m^per surface slightly shiny — 121.
Driipctcs (liiuira.
KK. Leaves hanging down, elliptic, thin, upper surface dull green, lower surface pale whitish
green — 128. Phyllanthus nobilis.

II.

118. Achiotillo

Alchornea latifolia Sw.

A widely distrilnited tree distinguished by : (1)
reddish-brown smooth bark; (2) ]ono;-petioled
large yellow-green elliptic leaves with coarsely
saw-toothed edges and 2 prominent, long, straight
lateral veins at the rounded base, and short-
pointed at apex; (3) many small greenish or
yellow - green stalkless flowers, the male on
branclied lateral axes and the female on un-
branched axes of different trees (dioecious) : and
(4) seed capsules % inch in diameter, with 2 long
styles, 2-seeded.

A medium-sized evergreen spreading tree at-
taining ?)()-,50 feet in height and IV2 feet in trunk
diameter. The inner bark is whitish and slightly
bitter. The brown twigs, greenish and with
groups of tiny star-shaped hairs when young, have
raised nearly round leaf scars.

Tlie alternate leaves have petioles 114 -21/^ inches
long and blades -l-TU (sometimes to 10) inches
long and 21/2-41/2 inches broad, slightly thickened,
and sliglitly shiny on upper surface. The base has
2-4 small glands, and lower surface has minute
tufts of hairs in vein angles and, when young, scat-
tered small star-shaped liairs.

The flower clusters (spikes) are 2-8 inches long,
witli grou]is of tiny star-sliaped liairs on the slen-
der axes. Male flowers ai-e few together, about Vg
inch long and broad, with calyx splitting into 3
or 4 lobes and with 8 or fewer stamens. Female
flowers single or paired along a drooping axis have
a 4-lobed calyx i/ig inch long and pistil with

2-celled ovary less than Vs i'lch long and 2 long
styles 14-% inch long.

Seed capsules are nearly rouiul but slightly flat-
tened, dark red when immatui-e but becoming dark
brown, the 2 long brown styles breaking off.
There are 2 red, tubercled seeds i^ inch long.
Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The lieartwood is liglit brown, and the sapwood
similar or wliitisji. Tiie wood is fairly .soft, moder-
ately lightweigiit (specific gravity 0.39), moder-
ately strong for its weight, of medium texture,
with straight to slightly wavy grain, and without
growth rings. Reddish-brown radial canals ap-
pear on the surface as small holes. The rate of
air-seasoning and amount of degrade are moder-
ate. Machining characteristics are as follows:
planing is good; shaping, turning, boring, and
mortising are poor; sanding is very poor; and re-
sistance to screw splitting is excellent. The wood
is not durable and is very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites and other insects.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used for posts and
fuel. It is suitable for kite sticks and other small
bent jjarts, boxes, crates, toys, temporary cement
forms, and utility veneer. With preservative
treatment it would serve for light cari:)entry and
some types of ^-xterior construction.

This rapidly growing tree has been introduced
for shade in southern Florida.

Commonest in the mountain forests of Puerto
Rico, including the upper mountain regions, but

262

118. AchiotiUo

Two-thirds natural size.

Alchornea latifolia Sw.

6S7-921 0—64 18

263

also in the moist limestone and moist coastal re-
gions. Growing mainly in openings in the forests
and along roadsides where there is plenty of light.
Also in Tortola.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
1, 4, 5, 10, 19, 22, 23, 35, 43, 52, 58, 64.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto

Rico, and Tortola. Also from southern Mexico to
Panama. Planted in southern Florida.

Other common names. — palo de cotorra (Puerto
Rico) ; aguacatillo (Dominican Republic, Cuba^ ;
bacona, chote (Cuba) ; palo mu]er (Mexico) ;
carreton, cajeton (Guatemala) ; canelito (Hon-
duras) ; pochote, tambor (El Salvador) ; dove-
wood (Jamaica) ; bois crapaud, bois vache
(Haiti).

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

119. Palo de gallina

This small to medium-sized tree of mountain
forests is recognized by : (1) thin, light or yellow-
green, elliptic leaves with 3 prominent veins from
base of blade, the midrib and 2 long and curved
lateral veins, short-pointed at both ends, and with
inconspicuously wavy-toothed edges; (2) numer-
ous small greenish or yellow-green flowers borne
on very short stalks along slender lateral axes 1-3
together and 1-2 inches long, male and female on
different trees (dioecious) ; and (3) brown seed
capsules ^/je inch in diameter, 3-seeded. Distin-
guished from achiotillo (A/chornea Jafifolia Sw.)
by the smaller and narrower leaves with few lat-
eral veins and with less prominent teeth and by the
smaller seed capsules with 3 short styles.

A generally erect evergreen tree 20-50 feet in
height and to II/2 feet in trunk diameter. Bark on
small tiiinks is smoothish, slightly fissured, and
light gray. Inner bark is brownish, with gritty
and slightly bitter taste. The light brown twigs
are finely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves have slender petioles %-li/4
inches long and blades 3-51/2 inches long and
l%-2% inches broad, slightly shiny.

Alchorneopsis portoricensis Urban

The flower clusters (narrow racemes) and flow-
ers are minutely hairy. Male flowers 1-4 together
have a calyx splitting into 3 or 4 lobes and have
5-8 (usually 6) stamens. Female flowers have a
4-lobed calyx and a pistil composed of a romided,
finely hairy, 3-celled ovary and 3 short styles. The
seed capsules have 3 whitish seeds i/g inch long,
the surface with irregular ridges. Flowering and
fruiting perhaps nearly through the year.

The sapwood is soft and whitish, and the heart-
wood is pale brown. The wood is moderately soft,
lightweight (specific gravity 0.4—0.5), and perish-
able. It does not plane well. Used occasionally
for fuel.

Forests of the upper and lower mountain regions
in the eastern half of Puerto Rico. A light-
demanding tree generally found in openings in the
forest, and often in or beside swampy areas.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

Other common name. — palo de gallina (Do-
minican Republic) .

264

^,

<\

^; — 03

119. Palo de gallina

Two-thirds natural size.

Alchorneopsis portoricensis Urban

265

120. Sabinon

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Croton poecilanthus Urban

This tree with watery hitex, confined to the east-
ern mountains of Puerto Rico, is distinguished by :
(1) lower surface of leaves, ])etioles, youjig twips,
flower stalks, flowers antl fruits silvery fjreen or
brown, being covered with tiny round silvery-
brown scales; (2) the leaves elliptic, thick and
leathei-y, 3-7 inches long and 2-3 inches wide,
short-pointed at both ends, the upper surface
green to dark green, and slightly shiny; and (3)
the many small silvery-brown male and female
flowers almost stalkless on a terminal axis 3-7
inches long.

A small or medium-sized evergreen tree attain-
ing 20^0 feet in height and 10 inches in trunk di-
ameter, with irregular spreading crown. The
bark is smoothish and minutely fissured or warty,
gray or brown. Inner bark is pink, slightly bitter
with a burning taste. Tiiere is a small amount of
whitisli watery or nearly transparent latex. The
leaves are alternate on jjetioles %-2 inches long,
the blades not toothed on edges.

The flower clusters (racemes) have all male
flowers, or also a few female flowers at base., or all
female flowers (monoecious). Male flowers %
inch long and broad have a gray-green scaly calyx
with 3 or 4 deep lobes %6 inch long, 5 wMtish
scaly petals %6 inch long, and about 20 whitish

spreading stamens. Female flowers about the
same size have a cup-shaped, gray-green, scaly
calyx %g inch long including the 5 short lobes, and
pistil witli gray-green, scaly, 3-celled ovary and 3
large whitish styles, deeply forked and appearing
as 6, afterwards turning black and remaining at-
tached to fruit.

The seed capsules are nearly round but longer
rlian broad, slightly 3-angled, about 1/2 in^li long.
At maturity the capsule .separates into 3 brown
parts, each falling from the axis and splitting open
to release a brown seed % inch long. Flowering
and fruiting nearly throughout the year.

The sap wood is whitish, and the heart wood is
light yellow. The wood is moderately hard and
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.6). It is
used only for posts and fuel.

An imderstory tree in the upper Luquillo forest
region and extending down the slopes into swampy
areas and along stream courees in the upper por-
tion of the lower Luquillo region of Puerto Rico.

Public fokest. — laiquillo.

R.\NGE. — Known only from mountains of eastern
Puerto Rico.

The other native species of this genus include 10
of shi'ubs and 2 of herbs.

266

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120. Sabinon

Natural size.

Crotoii poecilanthus Urban

267

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

121. Varital

A small to mediuiii-sized imderstory tree char-
acterized by: (1) smooth whitish or light gray
bark ; (2) broadly lance-shaped, dark green leaves,
;U/2-6 inches long and W^-i inches broad, abruptly
long- or short -pointed, usually widely spaced, in
2 rows on horizontal or slightly drooping twigs;
(3) small greenish flowers about %6 inch across
and % inch high, 1 to several at base of leaves,
the male and female flowers on different trees
(dioecious) ; and (4) whitish elliptic fleshy fruits
% inch long, borne along the branches at base
of leaves.

An evergreen tree commonly lt)-30 fe«t high
and to 6 inches in trunk diameter, with spreading
branches, reported to reach larger size. The bark
has small warts (lenticels). The inner bark is
light brown or orange and slightly bitter. Young
twigs are green, minutely hairy, becoming gray.

The alternate leaves have petioles %-% inch
long and blades often oblique at base, a little
thickened, not toothed on edges, slightly shiny
on upper surface, and paler beneath.

Male flowers on short, hairy stalks less than 1/4
inch long have 4—5 yellow-green, minutely hairy,
spreading sepals, 6-8 spreading stamens, and a
broad lobed disk. Female flowers are single or
paired on short hairy stalks about % inch long,
with 4 greenish, slightly hairy sepals and pistil

Drypetes glauca Vahl

with hairy 1-celled ovary and broad stigma. The
fruits (drupes) are finely hairy or hairless and
1 -seeded. Flowering and fruiting from spring to
fall.

The sapwood is whitish and hard. The wood is
used for charcoal and posts and in the Lesser
Antilles for construction.

Widely distributed in the lower mountain re-
gions of Puerto Rico. Also reported long ago
from St. Croix.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser
Antilles from St. Kitts to St. Vincent. ( Reported
also from Jamaica, perhaps in error.)

Other common names. — palo bianco, palo de
aceituna, cafeillo (Puerto Rico) ; bois caie, cafe
grand bois (Guadeloupe).

Three additional species of this genus are trees
or shrubs. Hueso {Drypetes alia Poit.), known
also as palo de vaca and cafeillo, has smaller ellip-
tic whitish fruits less than % inch long. Cueri-
duroor Guianaplum (D. Jaterlfora (Sw.) Krug&
Urban), native also as far as southern Florida,
has rounded dark brown fruits i/4-y2 inch long.
Encinilla (/>. ilici folia Krug & Urban), known
only from northern Puerto Rico, has spiny toothed
oblong leaves and elliptic fruits about % inch long.

268

121 Varital

Natural size.

Drypetes glauca Vahl

269

122. Rascaso

SPURGE FAlvULY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Euphorbia petiolaris Sims

A poisonous shrub or small tree of dry and
coastal areas with very toxic and caustic whitish
latex irritating to the skin and easily recognized
by: (1) shiny brown bark peeling off in papery
layers and very thin; (2) jointed twigs bearing
3-8 leaves at the swollen nodes; (3) slender peti-
oles mostly longer than the blades; (4) small,
ovate or rounded, thin, green leaf blades about
%-% inch long and broad but slightly wider than
long, rounded or minutely notched at ajjex and
nearly straight or romided at base. The plants
should be known in order to be avoided.

Deciduous and usually growing to 20 feet tall
and 2^ inches in trunk diameter. The light brown
inner bark, though almost tasteless, contains latex
which is vei-y irritating to the mouth. Twigs are
light green when young, becoming gray and then
dark reddish brown.

Petioles are 14-I inch long, reddish tinged, with
glandular scales (stipules) at base. The blades
have widely spreading lateral veins, are not toothed
on edges, and are pale beneath.

The inconspicuous minute male and female flow-
ers both on the same plant (monoecious) are borne
in a stalked green hemispheric cup (involucre) %
inch long, which luis 5 yellowish petallike lobes
each with a gland at base. The many male flowers
within consist of a single yellow stamen less than

1/16 inch long.

The female flower is a single light
gz-een pistil with stalked 3-angled 3-celled ovary
and 3 spreading 2-forked styles.

The smooth 3-angled capsule splits into 3 keeled
))arts, each containing 1 egg-shaped white seed Vs
incli long, pointed and pitted. Collected in flower
in August and December.

The wood is little used because of the small size
of the tree and the poisonous or caustic latex.

Common in thickets in the dry coastal and dry
limestone regions of eastern, southern, and south-
western Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Culebra,
Vieques, St. Croix ( ? ) , St. Thomas, St. John, Tor-
tola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

Pttblic forest. — Guanica.

Range. — South Caicos Island in Bahamas, His-
paniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, St. Mar-
tin, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, and Margarita
(Venezuela).

Other common names. — indio desnudo ( Puerto
Rico) ; bi'oadleaf spurge (Bahamas) ; palo de
leche, palo de yuca (Dominican Republic) ; bon
gar^on (Haiti) ; black mageniel (St. Martin).

Botanical synonym. — Aklema. petiolare ( Sims)
Millsp.

This is the only native tree species of its genus.
About 20 related native species are herbs and
shrubs, sometimes placed in segregate genera.

270

^''^

122. Raseaso

Natural size.

Euphorbia petiolaris Sims

271

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

123. Yaiti, oysterwood

This poisonous small tree or shrub is character-
ized by : ( 1 ) poisonous milky juice which may irri-
tate the skin; (2) slightly thickened stiff shiny
leaves reverse lance-shaped (oblanceolate) to near-
ly spoon-shaped (spatulate), broadest beyond
middle, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex and
tapering and long-pointed at base, often with a
few small teeth toward the apex; (3) scaly or
flaky bark on older trees ; and (4) small yellowish-
green lateral flowers, the male numerous along an
axis (narrow raceme) i^^-l inch or more in length
and usually 1 female flower at the base (monoeci-
ous).

An evergreen tree becoming 30 feet high and 8
inches in trunk diameter, with a narrow crown.
The bark is gray or brown, smoothish on young
trees with many thin fissures. Inner bark is light
brown and slightly bitter. The gray twigs, green
when young, have many raised dots (lenticels).

The alternate leaves have petioles I/4-V2 i'lch
long and leathery blades l^A-Si^ inches long and
14-I14 inches broad, green to dark green above
and paler beneath. The edges are slightly turned
under, and veins are slightly raised in a prominent
network on the upper surface.

The crowded male flowers are borne 3 above a
scale (bract) on the axis, each minute (less than
%2 inch long and broad) and consisting of a
smaller scale and 2-4 stamens. Tliey are faintly
fragrant and attract bees. There is 1 female
flower (or none or sometimes 2) Vjg inch long at
base of flower cluster, on a stalk Vs i^^'i long which
lengthens greatly in fruit, and consisting of 3
scales and a pistil composed of greenish 3-celled
ovary and 3 styles.

Brown seed capsules, borne on slender stalks

Gymnanthea lucida Sw.

1-2 inches long, are rounded but slightly 3-lobed
and broader than long, about % inch in diameter.
There are 3 or fewer brown seeds %q inch long.
Flowering and fruiting from spring to fall.

The sapwood is whitish or yellowish. The heart-
wood is light olive, streaked with dark brown.
Tile wood is very fine-gi'ained, very hard, very
iieavy (speciflc gravity 1.1), takes a fine polish,
and is durable.

IT.sed in Puerto Rico for fenceposts, the gener-
ally small size limiting its values. The wood
has been made into various small novelties, includ-
ing canes, handles, backs of brushes and mirrors,
and ornamental articles shaped by woodturning.

The white latex is reported to produce inflam-
mation of the skin upon contact. It is said that
smoke from burning wood is irritating to the eyes.

Forests and thickets in both limestone regions
of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Desecheo, Icacos,
Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca,
Guanica.

MuNiciP-VLrrv where especially common. — 9.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and northern
lesser Antilles from St. Eustatius to Antigua and
Guadeloupe. Also in southeastern Mexico
(Yucatan), Guatemala, and British Honduras.

Other common names. — ramon, tabaco (Puerto
Rico) ; tabacon, palo de hueso (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; yaiti, aite (Cuba) ; pij (Guatemala) ; oyster-
wood, shiny oysterwood, crabwood (United
States) ; crabwood (Bahamas, Jamaica) ; false
lignumvitae (British Honduras); bois marbre
(Haiti).

272

123. Yaitj, oysterwood

Natural size.

Cfymnanthea lucida Sw.

273

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

124. Manzanillo, manchineel

The deadly manzanillo or manchineel is the most
poisonous tree of Puerto Rico and the A^irgin Is-
lands and ranks amona; the most famous poisonous
plants in tropical America. The attractive palat-
able fruits cause serious illness or even death when
eaten, and the mili^y sap is injurious both exter-
nally and internally. Growing along and near
sanely seashore or sometimes inland, this tree is
characterized by: (1) irritating milky sap in the
leaves, twigs, and bark; (2) round, yellow-green
or yellowisli fruits, tinged witii red, l-li/i> inches
in diameter, resembling small apples or guavas
(guayabas) but very toxic, often littering the
beaches; and (-3) the long-istalked, shiny, leathei-y,
yellow-green, elliptic leaves with minute wavy
teeth on edges, the sides bent upward slightly at
the yellowish midrib, and with a raised dot
(gland) at base of midrib.

An evergreen tree to 40 feet in height and 2
feet in diameter, usually smaller, with widely
forking branches and broad spreading crown.
The bark is dark browii or gray, scaly or fissured
or with warts, as much as 14 inch thick. Inner
bark is light brown or whitish with bitter lasting
irritating taste and witli poisonous white sap or
latex. Tw'igs are green when young, liecoming
brownish graj% and smooth.

The alternate leaves liave round yellow-green
petioles liA-2 inclies long. Tlie leaf blades are
2-A: inches long and li4-2i/^ inches wide, short-
pointed, roimded at l)ase, shiny on upper surface
and dull and paler beneath.

The inconspicuous greenish male and female
flowers are borne stalkless along a glandular
greenish terminal axis (spike) 2^ inches long
(monoecious). Male flowers are in groups of 5-
15 each, about Vj,; inch long, composed of calyx
with 2 or 3 lobes and 2 or 3 stamens. Female
flowers, 1, 2, or none at base of same axis, about
Ys inch long and broad, consist of 3-lobed calyx
and pistil with 6-8-celled ovary and 6-8 curved
short brown styles.

The stalkless fruits (drupes), single or paired
but produced in quantities, appear lateral after
forking and continued growth of twigs beyond.
The sweet-scented fruit has a sunken spot at end
and greenish-white mellow flesh which is palatable
and not irritating to the taste though vei-y toxic.
A hard stone encloses 6-8 dark brown seeds 14
inch long. Flowering from spring to October, the
fruits maturing almost a year later.

The sapwood is light brown or yellowish, and
the heartwood dark brown. The wood is fairly
hard, mediumweight (specific gravity 0.5), and
strong, taking a good polish. Though reported to
be durable, it is very susceptible to attack by dry-
wood termites. The wood has been emploj'ed for
furniture, cabinetwork, interior finish, and con-

274

Hippomane mancinella L.

struction. Though the poisonous sap adds dif-
ficulties to logging and handling lumber, the trees
can be girdled in advance or the bark can be burned
otf or charred before felling.

The caustic milky sap is particularly irritating
to the eyes and mouth, causing prolonged pain. It
also produces severe inflammations and blisters on
the skin of some persons. However, in some places
it has been employed in local medicines. Caribs
poisoned their arrows with this toxic liquid. As
smoke from burning parts of the tree causes in-
flammation of the eyes, the wood should not be
used for fuel. It is reported that rain water drip-
])ing from the leaves is injurious. It has been
claimed that a person who rested or slept under
one of these trees would be injured, blinded, or
even killed, but these exaggerated reports are
erroneous. Classed as a honey plant, the honey re-
])orted to be nontoxic.

Early explorers, who discovered this tree along
beaches, ate the attractive, aromatic, tempting
fruits, wliich resembled wild apples or crab apples,
with disastrous and sometimes fatal results. In
1733, a royal ordinance prescribed destruction of
all manzanillo trees at St. Barthelemy. However,
as recently as 1940, during the late war, famished
survivors of a sunken ship were poisoned by eating
these fruits after landing their lifeboat on an un-
inhabited beach there. Taken promptly to a hos-
|)ital, they recovered after a few days. About
ISs."), these fruits poisoned 54 Gernuin seamen at
Cura(jao, causing the death of 5 and serious illness
of the others.

Two persons were hospitalized at St. Thomas in
1954 after consuming these dangerous fruits.
Prompt treatment includes causing vomiting and
use of a stomach pump.

Livestock have also been affected and should not
be confined in areas with these trees. The fruits
have poisoned hogs. Cattle have suffered skin
irritation from contact with the plants.

Perhaps the wide distribution along tropical
shores, including small islands, resulted from dis-
semination of the fruits by ocean currents. Near
settlements the eradication of these dangerous
trees has been undertaken, for example, in south-
ern Florida.

Fortunately this species is local and not very
connnon in Puerto Rico. However, it is distrib-
uted also through the Virgin Islands, being com-
monest on St. Croix.

The trees grow in coastal woods and thickets,
sometimes singly, along and near sandy seashores
and on rocky cliffs in both wet and dry areas
around the islands. They are less common inland
along streams. In the Virgin Islands they are
found occasionally along i-oadsides, fences, and
ditchbanks, in pastures and waste grounds, and
around houses. Puerto Rico, Deseoheo, Mona,

124. Manzanillo, manchineel

Natural size.

Eippomane mancinella L.

275

Icacos, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. John, St.
Thomas, and Virgin Gorda.

PiBLic FOREST. — Guiinica.

Raxge. — Cliiefly along shores in southern Flor-
ida including Florida Keys and throughout West
Indies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and
Tobago and in Bonaire, Curagao, and Aniba.
Also Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Mexico and
Central America to Colombia, Ecuador, and Vene-
zuela. On Revillagigedo, Galapagos, and other
islands.

Othp:i; common names. — poison-guava, man-
chioneel (Virgin Islands) ; manzanillo (Spanish,
commerce) ; manzanillo de costa, pinipiniche
(Cuba) ; manzanillo de playa (Costa Rica) ; man-
zanillo de playa, limoncillo (Venezuela)' ; manchi-
neel (United States, English) ; mancinillier
(French) ; maximilier (Guacleloupe, Martinique) ;
mangeniel, manzalinja, manzanilla (Dutch West
Indies) .

The English name manchineel is a corruption of
the Spanish word manzanilla (little apple), from
wiiich the Latin scientific name also is derived.
This genus has only one species.

Symptoms and t'l-eatment of manzanillo or man-
chineel poisoning in the Grenadines have been
summarized by Richai-d A. Howard^ as follows:

"Serious nausea and diarrhea are usually followed by
shock and by an appalling muscular weakness. Sloughing
off of mucous membranes occurs within a day or two if
even a small quantity of the fruit is eaten. The juice of
the tree or the fruit in the eye will cause violent conjunc-
tivitis and usually temporary blindness. Arrowroot is
considered the best antidote for this poison in the Grena-
dines. A suspension of arrowroot starch is given in lib-
eral do.ses when the fruit has been eaten and poultices of
arrowroot starch are applied to external burns from the
juice of the manchineel."

' Howard, Richard A. The vegetation of the Grenadines,
Windward Islands, British West Indies. Harvard Univ.
Gray Herbarium Contrib. 174, 129 pp., illus. 1952.

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)
125. Molinillo, sandbox, hura

Hura crepitans L.

This handsome large tree, with sap and seeds
both poisonous, planted along highways and in
pastures and wild, is recognized by: (1) a globu-
lar crown of dense foliage; (2) the trunks and
branches usually with many blackish spines %-%
inch long on the smoothish light brown bark; (3)
heart-shaped leaves with blades curved up at the
midrib, 5-8 inches long and 4-5 inches broad,
abruptly long-pointed, with or without teeth on
edges, and with long round green petioles about
as long as the blades: (4) copious watery or
slightly whitish latex, which is very irritating and
poisonous; and (5) the large dark brown seed
capsule 21/2-31/2 inches in diameter and IVi-lVs
inches high, grooved into about 15 sections.

Deciduous or nearly so, to 80 feet in height, with
straight trunk 2—1 feet or more in diameter. The
thick bark forms a sheath around the base of each
spine. Inner bark is light brown, irritating to the
taste.

The leaves are alternate on the stout green to
brown twigs. Blades are .slightly thickened, dark
green and slightly shiny above and paler beneath,
in a variation hairy, especially on the veins be-
neath.

Male and female flowers are borne on the same
tree (monoecious), the former numerous in a ter-
minal crowded cluster (spike) 1-2 inches long and
34 inch in diameter at the end of a slender green
stalk 21/0-4 inches long and resembling a short ear
of corn. Individual male flowers are %q inch long
and Ys inch broad, dark red, consisting of a cup-
like calyx and 8-20 stamens in 2 or 3 rings on the
central column. Female flowers, also dark red.

are single and lateral near ends of twigs, on stout
stalks 1/2-I inch long, and include a cup-shaped
calyx 14 inch long and broad and a pistil, the
ovary of about 15 cells inside the calyx, a long
tubular style %-l% inches long, and a prominent
enlarged and flattened stigma i/o-li/i inches across,
including about 15 narrow lobes.

The seed capsule is flattened and sunken in the
center. Wlien dry it splits and explodes violently
with a loud noise, scattering the hard 1 -seeded
sections at a distance. The brown seeds are
rounded and flattened, %-l inch long and broad.
Flowering from winter to summer, the fruit ma-
turing in spring and summer.

The sa]nvood is whitish to light yellow, and the
heartwood is jiale yellowish brown, pale olive gray,
or dark brown. The wood is moderately soft, mod-
erately liffhtweight (specific gravity 0.38), brittle,
fine-textured and often with interlocked grain.
Air-seasoning is rapid but moderately difficult
with warping. Tlie wood is very susceptible to at-
tack by dry-wood termites and variable in dur-
ability.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used chiefly for
fenceposts and fuel. Elsewhere it is used for gen-
eral carpentiy, interior construction, boxes, crates,
veneer, plyw'ood, furniture, joinery, and poles.
Formerly, dugout canoes were hollowed from
large trunks.

The caustic, poisonous latex causes inflammation
or eruption upon contact with the skin of some
persons and is very irritating to the eyes, report-
edly causing temporary blindness. It makes the
tree unpopular with wood cutters. The juice has

276

125. Molinillo, sandbox, hura

Two-thirds natural size.

Hura crepitans L.
277

been used to stupefy fisli. The seeds are toxic to
luunaiis and livestock and have been emplo^'ed in
poisoning animals and in medicine, but such use is
dangerous. When explodiiiir, the mature seed cap-
sules may injure or frighten persons and livestock.

In some tropical areas, including southern Flor-
ida, the trees are planted for shade. However, the
poisonous sap makes the trees objectionable around
houses. Young trees gro^Y rapidly but require
plenty of light. Windstorms damage the trees.

Connnon as a roadside shade tree and living
fence along the moist coast of Puerto Rico, mostly
east of San Juan. Occasionally elsewhere on the
island, planted and wild. Through the Virgin
Islands scattered in moist forests and pastures and
])lanted along fence rows and for shade. St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Through "West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago and on the con-
tinent from Costa Rica south to Peru, Bolivia,
Brazil, and Guianas. Planted also in southern
Florida and southern California, Bahamas, and
Dutch West Indies. Cultivated and occasionally
naturalized in Old World tropics.

Otheh coMJiox NAMES. — javilla (Puerto Eico) ;

monkey-pistol (Virgin Islands) ; habillo, habilla,
jabillo, jabilla (Spanish) ; salvadera, haba
(Cuba); tronador, nune (Panama); ceibo ama-
rillo, ceiba de leche, acuapar, tronador, castaneto
(Colombia) ; ceiba, ceiba blanca, ceiba habillo
(Venezuela) ; catahua (Peru) ; ochoho (Bolivia) ;
hura (commerce) ; hura, hura-wood, possumwood,
sandbox, sandbox-tree (United States, English) ;
monkey-pistol, possumtree (English) ; monkey
dinner-bell (British Guiana); sablier (French);
arbre au diable (Haiti); bois du (liable (Marti-
nique) ; zandkokerboom, sandbox-tree (Dutch
West Indies) ; possentrie (Surinam) ; assacu
(Brazil, commerce) ; cataua, areeiro (Brazil).

The English name sandbox and French name
sablier refer to the early use of the hollowed out
shell of immature seed capsules to hold sand, em-
ployed in blotting ink before blotters came into
use. Paper weights have been made by filling the
capsides with lead, but the capsules may come
apart on drying.

A closely related species of jabillo (Hura poly-
andra Baill.), differing in the white male flowers
with more numerous stamens in a column %-%
inch long, is native from Mexico to Costa Rica.

126. Cedro macho

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Hyeronima clusioides (Tul.) Muell,-Arg.

This medium-sized tree limited to Puerto Rico
is characterized by: (1) a very uniform, dense,
bright green crown, pyramidal on young trees;

(2) twigs, petioles, branches of flower clusters, and
flowers covered with tiny dotlike brown scales,
which are less conspicuous on both leaf surfaces;

(3) the elliptic leaves blunt-pointed or rounded at
both ends with wavy and often recurved edges,
slightly jointed and bent where the blade is at-
tached to the usually reddish-tinged petiole; and

(4) numerous minute yellowish-green flowers less
than % inch long in lateral branched clusters,
male and female on different trees (dioecious).

Evergreen tree to 70 feet in height and 3 feet
or more in trunk diameter. The bark varies from
scaly to fissured and rough, from gray to dark
brown, and becomes more than 14 inch thick.
Inner bark is brown or reddish and slightly bitter.
Twigs are light brown.

The leaves are alternate on petioles Vi-'^Vi
inches long and have slightly thickened blades
214-5 inches long and 11/4-3 inches broad. The
upper surface is green and slightly shiny, and the
lower surface paler and with midrib often hairy.

Flower clusters (panicles) 1-4 inches long bear

flowers almost stalkless along the branches. Male
flowers have a cup-shaped, 3-5-toothed scaly calyx,
a hairy disk, and 3-5, usually 5, spreading sta-
mens. Female flowers have a cup-shaped scaly
calyx and a pistil with 2-celled ovary and 2 or 3
2-forked styles. The nearly round fruits are less
than i/g inch long, reddish to blackish, slightly
fleshy, and 1 -seeded. Flowering mainly in summer
and fall and in fruit from late summer to winter.

The sapwood is light brown, the heartwood rich
reddish brown. The wood is hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.8), finishes well, and takes a good polish.
It is susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.
The wood has been employed both for furniture
and construction. It is considered heavy for the
former use but is very attractive.

Distributed in Puerto Rico chiefly in the moist
limestone and western lower Cordillera regions.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

The generic name also is spelled Hieronyma.
Reports of this species from Jamaica and from
Dominica to Trinidad refer to H. jamaicens'ts
Urban and //. caiibaea Urban, respectively.

278

12(j. Cedro macho

Two-thirds natural size.

Hyeronima clusioides (Tul.) Muell.-Arg.

687-921 O— 64 19

279

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)
127. Grosella, Otaheite gooseberry-tree Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels*

A small tree cultivated for its edible sour fruits.
It is distinguished by: (1) the light yellow juicy
berries %-% incli in diameter, somewhat rounded
but broader than long and slightly 8- or 6-angled,
suggesting a diminutive squash, hanging down in
clusters from tlie branches; (2) the sim])le leaves
alternate in 2 rows along slender deciduous twigs
and appearing to be pinnate, ovate, 1-3 inches long
and %-li/4 inches broad, short-pointed at apex
and rounded at base, on short petioles Vs inch long;
(3) stout twigs rougli from rounded raised twig
scars; and (-1) flowers minute and reddish or pink,
4-parted and Vs-^e i"ch across, usually clustered
along slender axes back of leaves.

A spreading deciduous tree attaining 20-30 feet
in height and 6 inches in trunk diameter. The
greenish-gray bark is fissured and slightly scaly.
Inner bark is pink and almost tasteless. The con-
spicuous persistent twigs are 1/2 ir^ch or more in
diameter, brownisli gray, green and slender at
apex.

The leaves hang down from green or pinkish-
tinged twigs 6-12 inche-s long which appear to be
axes of pinnate leaves and which shed from the
stout twigs like leaves. Blades are thin, green and
slightly sliiny above, and beneath pale blue green
with a bloom. At base of each leaf are 2 minute
pointed scales (stipules).

Flowers are bonie mostly on slender leafless axes
(panicles) 2-5 inches long, several clustered to-
gether on short stalks. Male and female flowers
are mixed in the same clusters (monoecious) and
have 4 spreading calyx lobes about 14 e ii^cli long
but lack petals. There are 4 stamens also in male
flowers, and in female flowers a pistil with 4- or
3-celled ovary and 4 or 3 styles.

Fruits hang down in clusters, several along a
slender drooping axis. The fruit contains a
brownish stone with few seeds. Flowering and
fruiting nearly through the year, fruiting chiefly
in April and August.

The heartwood is reddish brown, moderately
hard, fine-grained, of medium weight (specific
gravity 0.6) , strong, tough, and fibrous. It is said
to be durable and to take a good polish but, seldom
being available, is little used.

Widely planted in tropical regions for the juicy
sour fruits, which can be eaten raw but usually
are made into jelly, preserves, candy, and pickles.
The root and seed have been used in medicines.
Introduced into the West Indies in 1793.

Cultivated and also spreading along i-oadsides
and waste places, chiefly in the coastal regions of
Puerto Eico. Also in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia and perhaps
also East Indies but extensively introduced and
spontaneous and sometimes naturalized in tropical
regions. Southern Florida, through West Indies
from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad, Mexico,
Central America, and South America.

Other commox names. — cereza amarilla, cerezo
agrio, grosella blanca (Puerto Rico) ; grosella
(Spanish) ; guinda, piniienta (El Salvador) ; gro-
sella de Nicaragua (Nicaragua); cerezo agrio,
cereza (Venezuela); Otaheite gooseberry -tree,
Otaheite-gooseberry, star-gooseberiy , West-Indi-
an-gooseberrj', gooseberry -tree, jimbling (United
States, English) ; wild-plum (British Honduras) ;
wild gooseberry (Briti.sh Guiana) ; sybilline
(Haiti) ; surelle (St. Bartheleniy) ; ponime surelle
(Guadeloupe) ; gooseberry (Dutch West Indies) ;
goesberie (Surinam) ; roselle (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Phyllantlni.'i distichus
(L.) Muell.-Arg., Cicca disticha L., C. acida (L.)
Merr.

This species is botanically uni-elated to the true
gooseberry, which is a prickly bush {Rihes grossu-
Itiria L., family Saxifragaceae) grown in tem-
perate regions and having fruits with similar
flavor.

The genus sometimes divided into several, is
represented also by 2 native tree species, 1 of which
is illustrated here, and by 6 species of herbs and
shrubs. Jagiierillo {PhyUanthuf: jtigJandifoUus
Willd.; synonyms P. grandifolms auth., not L.,
Astrmndra grandifoJia auth.), known also as to-
billo and gamo de costa, is a small tree with larger
oblong or lance-shaped leaves 2-6 inches long.

280

127. Grosella, Otaheite gooseberry-tree

Two-thirds natural size.

Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

281

128. Millo

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Phyllanthus nobilis (L. f.) Muell.-Arg.

Millo is a small tree distineuislied by: (1) dark
brown twigs witJi numerous conspicuous, raised,
light brown, warty dots (lenticels), the alternate
leaves hanging down in 2 rows; (2) thin narrowly
elliptic leaves 2-5 inches long and ^A-l% inches
In-oad, short- or long-pointed at both ends, above
dull green or dark green and beneath pale whitish
green; (3) tiny 4-parted green flowei-s, male and
female on ditlerent trees (dioecious) in lateral
clusters scattered along the twig; and (4) green-
ish seed capsules %6 inch in diameter, rounded
but broader than long, with 5 or 4 peculiar narrow
2-forked styles remaining flattened on apex,
slightly fleshy but splitting into 5 or 4 dark blue
segments, each 2-seeded.

A deciduous tree 25-40 feet high and to 8 inches
in tnmk diameter, with irregular spreading crown.
The bark is light gray, smoothish but becoming
slightly fissured and scaly, exposing the brown
bark beneath. Inner bark is pinkish and slightly
bitter.

The leaves have short thin petioles V^-Vi mch
long and at base a pair of pointed scales (stipules)
i/i6 inch long.

The male flowei-s less than Vs hich across are
borne on threadlike stalks about ^,\e-, inch long,
many clustered together at a node, consisting of 4
sepals less than i/ie inch long and 4 stamens of the
same length. The small but larger female flowers
have stalks 14-1/2 inch long, calyx nearly %& inch
across the 4 lobes which are turned downward,
and pistil of rounded 5- or 4-celled ovary i/jg i^ch
in diameter \\\i\\ 5 or 4 styles united at base, bent
downward, each with 2-forked stigma. The brown
seeds are Vg inch long. Flowering and fruiting
nearly thi-ough the year, chiefly in the spring and
early summer. Often flowering when leafless.

The light brown sap wood is hard. Heart wood
is brownish, sometimes pinkish and heavy (spe-
cific sravity 0.9) . The wood is used only for posts
and fuel.

"Widely distributed in thickets and the under-
story of forests in the coastal, moist limestone, and
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also in
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola, and recorded
from St. Croix.

PrRLic FORESTS. — Cambalaclie, Guajataca, Lu-
fpiillo, Susna.

Range. — Widely distrilnited in tropical Amer-
ica. Through West Indies in Cuba, Jamaica, His-
]5aniola. Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Lesser
Antilles from Saba to Grenada, and Trinidad.
Also from Mexico to Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Gui-
anas, and Venezuela.

Other common names. — amortignado, palo de
millo, higuillo, avispillo, siete-cueros, yuquillo
(Puerto Rico) ; false gooseberry (Virgin Islands) ;
palo amargo (Dominican Republic) ; gnaicaje,
azulejo, lloron (Cuba) ; nistamal (El Salvador) ;
carillo (Nicaragua) ; pinturero, yayo (Colombia) ;
guarataro (Venezuela); chaquirillo (Ecuador);
ucariviro (Peru) ; bastard hog-ben-y (Jamaica) ;
clawberry, ramon macho (British Honduras) ;
mille branches, bois diable, acomat batard (Guade-
loupe) ; gooseberry (Dutch West Indies) ; boskof-
fie ( Surinam ) .

Botanical synonyms. — Margarifaria nohilis
L. f., M. nohilis var. nntillana (A. Juss.) Stehle &
Quentin, FJu/Uanthus antillamis (A. Jus.s.)
Muell.-Arg., P. nobilix var. antillanus (A. Juss.)
Muell.-Arg.

282

128. Millo

Natural size.

Phyllanthus noMlis (L. f.) Muell.-Arg.

283

SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE)

129. Tabaiba

A mediuin-sized poisonous tree of moist forests
confined to Puerto Rico, easily recognized by : (1)
abundant irritating and poisonous milky juice;
(2) the oblong or elliptic dark green leaves,
slightly thickened and shiny, with many straight
parallel lateral veins almost at right angles to mid-
rib and 2 raised dotlike glands at upper end of
petiole; and (3) the small yellowish-green flowere
stalkless on narrow lateral axes %-2 inches long,
mostly male with 1 or a few female flowei-s often
present at base (monoecious).

An evergreen tree 20-fiO feet high and to 2 feet
in tiimk diameter, with a columnar crown. The
light brown bark is smoothish or slightly fissui-ed
and thin. Inner bark is whitish,- its thick white
latex causing a lingering irritation in the mouth
when tasted. The twigs are green, becoming
brown or gi'ay.

The alternate leaves have green petioles 1/4-1^,4
inches long and blades mostly 21/2-6 inches long
and 11.^-214 inches broad, sometimes to 8 inches
long and 2% inches wide. They are abruptly
short-pointed at apex and short-pointed or
rounded at base, finely and inconspicuously
toothed or almost without teeth, paler and slightly
shiny on lower surface.

Near the ends of twigs are located the green
flower clustei-s (spikes). Male flowei-s, in groups
of 3-9 above a broad romided scale, are about Vir
inch long and broad, yellow green, and consist of
a cup-shaped 2-toothed calyx and 2 stamens. Fe-
male flowers when present at base of axis are
borne singly and are long and narrow, V8~%6 ii^oh
long, green, composed of a cup-shaped 3-lobed
calyx and pistil with ovary and 3 styles.

The seed capsules are nearly round or slightly
3-angled, about % inch in diameter, green, turning

Sapium laurocerasus Desf.

brown, slightly fleshy but becoming di-y, with 3
white seeds about I/4 inch long. Flowering and
fruiting from spring to fall.

The sapwood is wjiitish, and the heartwood light
brown or light yellow. The wood is soft, light-
weight (specific gravity 0.38), mostly fine-tex-
tured except for many large pores, with grain fre-
quently tightly interlocked, and without visible
growth rings. Rate of air-seasoning and amount
of degrade are moderate. Machining character-
istics are as follows: planing is excellent ; shaping
and turning are fair; boring and mortising are
poor ; sanding is very poor ; and resistance to screw
splitting is good. The wood is very susceptible to
attack by dry-wood termites and other insects and
to decay. Sap-staining fungi discolor freshly cut
wood if it is neither dipped in fungicide nor dried
promptly.

Though cut occasionally for posts, the wood is
unjropular l>ecause the caustic latex injures the
skin. It is suitable for boxes, crates, interior con-
struction, jiaper pulp, and plywood. Latex of re-
lated South American species has been a minor
source of rubber.

In forests of the lower and upper mountain and
moist limestone regions of Puerto Rico. Also re-
ported long ago from St. John but not seen in
flower there. Sterile specimens possibly of this
species were collected at Tortola in 1954.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Ri'o Abajo, Toro Negi-o.

Municipalities where espbciallt common. —
1, 10, 35.

Range. — Known definitely only from Puerto
Rico.

Other common names. — manzanillo, lechecillo
(Puerto Rico).

284

129. Tabaiba

Natural size.

Bapium laurocerasus Desf.

285

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDLACEAE)

Key to the 6 species illustrated (Nos. 130-135)
A. Leaves simple.

B. Leaves elliptic or obovate. roiinded at both ends or slightly notched at apex — 130. Anacardiiim occidentale.
BB. Leaves lance-shai)ed, long-pointed at both end.s — 131. Mangifcra indica*

AA. Leaves pinnate.

C. Leaflets usually 5 (3-7), ovate, blunt-pointed or minutely notched at apex; sap poisonous to the touch — 132.

Metopium toxiferum.
CC. Leaflets 9-25.

1). Leaflets mostly lance-shaped, long- or short-pointed at apex, with .short stalks about % inch long.
E. Leaflets inconspicuously toothed — 133. Spotidias diilcis*
BE. Leaflets not toothed — 134. Spondias nwmbiii.
DD. Leaflets elliptic, rounded or short-pointed at apex, almost stalkless — 135. Spondias purpurea*

130. Pajuil, cashew

Known for its cashew nuts and fruits, this small
tree of sandy areas on the north coast of Puerto
Rico, sometimes planted, is identified by: (1) a
dense irregular crown of obovate or elliptic, dull
blue-green, leathery leaves 2i/o-6 inches long and
13/4-3 inches broad, rounded at both ends or slight-
ly notched at apex, with the edges turned under
and with prominent sunken lateral veins nearly
at right angles to the midrib; (2) many fragrant
pinkish flowers about % incli long, with 5 very
narrow petals, short-stalked and crowded toward
ends of terminal branched clusters; and (3) the
very odd fruits consisting of a shiny gray-brown
kidney-shaped or bean-shaped nut (edible only
when roasted), about 1-11/4 inches long on a yel-
low or reddish, fruitlike, enlarged, pear-shaped
stalk or false fruit about 13/4-3 inches long and
13/4-2 inches broad, juicy and edible, thus appear-
ing as if the nut grows outside the fruit. The nut
shell contains a caustic poisonous oil which blisters
or burns the skin.

An evergi-een tree to 20 feet high and 6 inches
in trunk diameter, or often shrubby. The light
gray to brown bark is smoothish, becoming slightly
fissured. The whitish to reddish-brown inner bark
is thick, bitter, and a.stringent, and contains a
milky juice, and larger trunks yield a gum. Twigs
are yellow green and finely liairy when young,
becoming light gray, stiff, and crooked.

The alternate leaves have broad yellow-green
petioles 1,4-^2 i'l^h long. Leaf blades slightly
thickened, pale beneath.

The widely spreading flower clusters (panicles)
are 4—19 inches long and nearly as broad. Flowers
are male and bisexual on the same tree (polyg-
amous). Calyx is more than %f^ inch long, light
green and finely hairy, narrowly 5-lobed nearly
to ba.se; the 5 pinkish petals yellow green at first
are %-V2 i'^ch long, long-pointed, spreading and
curved backward, and miiuitely hairy ; 10 or fewer
stamens, 1 much longer than the others, slightly
united at base; and in bi.sexual flowers a pistil on
a disk with 1-celled ovary and slender curved
style on 1 side.

The nuts, which are the true fruits, are attached
at end, dry, and do not split open. Inside the
poisonous shell is 1 large curved seed nearly 1 inch
long, the edible cashew nut. As the nut matures,

286

Anacardium occidentale L.

the stalk (receptacle) at base enlarges rapidly
within a few days into a fleshy fruitlike structure
broadest at apex, popularly known as the fruit.
This thin-skinned edible cashew "fruit"" has light
yellow spongy flesh, which is very juicy and pleas-
antly acid and slightly astringent when eaten raw
l)ut highly astringent when green. Flowering
from February to May, the fruit maturing from
Ajn-il to August.

The wood is whitish, brownish, or pinkish, of
medium hardness, mediumweight (specific gravity
0.5), moderately strong, and easy to work but
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.
Though little used in Puerto Rico, the wood has
been employed elsewhere locally in construction
and carpentry, including boatbuilding, yokes,
hubs, etc., and for charcoal. The bark has served
in tanning. Mucilage repellent to insects and var-
nish liave been made from the gum, which is
similar to gum arabic, and an indelible ink from
the milky sap.

The tree is valued primarilv for the inits and
fruits. Roasted cashew nuts are an item of world
commerce. In roasting, the poisonous oil of the
shell is removed by heat, but the caustic fumes
and drops of oil may blister the skin and inflame
the eyes if care is not exercised. The "fruits" are
eaten fresh or in preserves and have been em-
ployed in preparation of wine and vinegar.

Cardol oil, the poisonous, thick, black, very acrid
oil of the shell of the nut, has been used medici-
nally and to preserve book bindings, carved wood,
and similar articles against insects. A nutritious
oil similar to olive oil has been obtained from the
seeds. The bark has been the source of medicines
also. As the flowers are attractive to bees, this
species has been classed also among the honey
plants.

Living fences have been made from the trees,
which sometimes are grown for ornament. The
l^lants mature at a very early age and are short-
lived, flowering and fruiting as early as the second
or third or sometimes the first year after sowing.
Through the tropics the trees are grown in planta-
tions for the nuts and "fruits," but they are semi-
wild or naturalized in many regions. In the Vir-
gin Islands the trees are uncommon but widely
planted for shade and fruit, such as around houses,

ISO. Pajuil, cashew

Natural size.

Anacardium occldentale L.

287

along roads, and in waste jxronnds.

Limited to the moist coastal region of Puerto
Rico, chiefly on the white sands between Bayamon
and Aguadilla. Also in Culebra, Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin
Gorda.

R.\NGE. — Tliroughout West Indies, except Ba-
hamas, from Cuba to Trinidad and Dutcji AVest
Indies. Also from southern Mexico to Peru and
Brazil, the range extended through cultivation
and naturalization. Planted also in southern
Florida. Cultivated and naturalized in Africa,
India, and elsewhere in the Old World tropics.

It has been suggested that Indians from South

America may have brought this species to the West
Indies in pre-Columbian times.

Other cojimon n.\mes. — c a j u i 1, maraiion
(Puerto Rico) ; maraiion (Spanish) ; cajuil (Do-
minican Republic) ; jocote maraiion (Guatemala,
Hondiiras, El Salvador) ; merey (Colombia, Ven-
ezuela) : caju, casu (Peru) ; cashew, cashew-nut,
casliew-apple (United States, English) ; acajou,
noix d'acajou, pomme d'acajou, pommier d'acajou
(French) ; pomme cajou (Guadeloupe) ; acajou a
pomme, noix d'acajou (French Guiana) ; cashu,
palu di cashu]>ete, kasjoe, cashew, cherry (Dutch
West Indies) ; kasjoe, boschkasjoe, mereke, orvi
(Surinam) ; caju, cajueiro (Brazil).

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDIACEAE)

131. Mango

This popular introduced fruit and shade tree,
bearing one of the finest tropical fruits, hardly re-
quires description. It is characterized by: (1) a
very dense round crown and stout trunk; (2)
large, leathery, dark green, lance-shaped or nar-
rowly oblong leaves long-pointed at both ends or
short-pointed at base, drooping in conspicuous
red-brown clusters when fii-st ]iroduced; (3) nu-
merous small yellow-green to pink S-parted flow-
ers about 1/4 inch across in large showy terminal
clusters; and (4) the familiar large, elliptic, yel-
low fruits with edible flesh and a large seed in a
mass of fibers.

A medium-sized to large evergreen tree attain-
ing 20-05 feet in height witli trunk to 3 feet in
diameter. The brown bark is smoothish, with
many thin fissures, and thick, becoming darker,
rough, and scaly or furrowed. Inner bark is light
brown and bitter. A wliitish latex exudes from cut
twigs, and a resin from cuts in the trunk. The
stout twigs are pale green and hairless.

The alternate leaves have petioles V^-'^Vi inches
long and swollen at base. Leaf blades are 6-12
inches long and 114-3 inches broad, curved up-
ward from midrib and sometimes with edges a
little wavy.

Large branched flower clusters (panicles) are
6-8 inches or more in length, with reddish hairy
branches. The short-stalked finely haiiy fragrant
flowers are partly male and partly bisexual (po-
lygamous). The yellow-green calyx i/m inch long
is deeply .5-lobed; there are 5 spreading petals
more than i/s inch long, pink l)ut turning reddish ;
5 stamens, 1 fertile and 4 shorter and sterile, borne
on a disk; and some flowers have a pistil with
1-celled ovarj' and slender lateral style.

The large aromatic fruits (drupes) on hanging
stalks are mostly 3^1/^ inches long, slightly nar-
rowed toward apex and a little flattened, soft at
maturity. The yellow flesh is thick and juicy, the
seed 21/2-31/4 inches long, flattened, and weighing
about an ounce. Flowering mainly in winter and

Mangifera indica L.*

spring (recorded from November to July) and
maturing fruits mostly from May to September.

The sapwood is cream colored or light brown,
and tile heartwood pale yellow or brown and often
with darker s])ots and irregidar lines. The wood
is hai-d, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.62),
tougli, strong, and medium-textured and has
straight to wavy grain, many large pores, and
growth rings. Rate of air-seasoning is moderate,
and amount of degrade minor. Machining char-
acteristics are as follows: planing, shaping, and
turning are fair; boring, mortising, and resistance
to screw sjilitting are good; and sanding is poor.
The wood works easily but with only fair results.
It is susceptible to attack by di-y-wood termites.

In Puerto Rico the wood has been used occasion-
ally for meat chopping-blocks as well as for fuel.
Elsewhere it has been employed for furniture, car-
pentry, flooring, construction, boxes and crates,
carts, plywood, and dry cooperage. Beautiful fur-
niture has been made from a variety with streaked
wood.

Tliis is perliaps the most popular fruit through
tropical America. Though usually eaten raw,
mangos are also cooked or made into preserves or
juice. Numerous improved varieties with larger
and less fibrous fruits have been developed. These
superior varieties, propagated vegetatively by
budding or grafting, should replace the common
unimproved fibrous mangos which are grown from
seeds.

Mango is an excellent hardy shade tree. It is
also among the important honey plants, secreting
quantities of ne-ctar, and the flowers reportedly
are edible. Livestock eat the fruits. The seeds,
flowers, bark, leaves, and resin have been em-
ployed medicinally, and the bark and leaves yield
a yellow dye. A few persons have skin sensitive
to the sap, which produces a rash around the
mouth and on the face.

Widely planted as a fruit tree and shade tree
around houses and along highways and commonly

288

131. Mango

Two-thirds natural size.

Mangifera indica L.

289

escapinp; from cultivation and naturalized almost
throughout Puerto Rico with the exception of the
mangrove, dry limestone, and upper mountain
regions. Throiigh the Virgin Islands commonly
planted and also spontaneous except in the drier
areas. Mona, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

R.\xGE. — Native of tropical Asia probably from
India east to Vietnam. Planted and escaped from
cultivation tliroughout the tropics, including
southern Florida and Florida Keys, West Indies,
and from Mexico to Peru and Brazil. Grown also
in southern California.

Though the exact date of introduction into the
New World is uncertain, mango reportedly
reached Mexico and Brazil before the end of the
17th century. About 174'2 this fruit was first in-
troduced into the West Indies at Barbados from
Brazil and in 1782 reached Jamaica. It is thought
that mangos have been cultivated by man for 4,000
years.

Other roMirox n.ames. — mango, mango (Span-
ish) ; mango (United States, English) ; mangue,
manguier (French) ; mangot, mangotine (Guade-
loupe) ; manggo, manggaboom (Dutch); manja,
kajanna manja, bobbie manja (Surinam) ; manga,
mango, mangueira (Brazil).

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDIACEAE)
132. Papayo, Florida poisontree Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urban

This small tree related to poison-ivy of the
United States, with caustic sajj poisonous to the
touch, is abundant in Mona but uncommon in
Puerto Rico. It is characterized by: (1) smooth-
isli light gray bark mottled with yellow to brown
spots; (2) a broad rounded crown of widely
spreading stout branches; (3) pinnate leaves with
usually 5 (3-7) mostly ovate leathery leaflets
blunt-pointed or sometimes minutely notched at
a])ex and nearly straight at base on yellow-green
axes and leaflet stalks; (4) many small 5-))artecl
greenish flowers about %6 i'^ch across in branched
lateral clusters; and (5) numerous elliptic or ob-
long fruits %-J/2 inch long and 14 i'lch in diam-
eter, green turning to orange brown at maturity.

An evergreen tree 15-20 feet in height and 6-12
inches in trmik diameter. The distinctive bark
peels off in thin scales or flakes, exposing the yel-
low to brown thin inner layer. Inner bark is pink-
ish. The stout twigs are brown with many raised
orange-brown dots (lenticels), finely haii-y when
young. The poisonous watery sap turns black
upon drying.

The alternate leaves clustered near ends of twigs
are 6-11 inches long and have leaflet stalks 14-I
inch long. Leaflets are paired except the terminal
one. Leaflet blades are V/j-Wi inches long and
I-21/2 inches broad, not toothed at edges, above
shiny green, and beneath yellow green and slightly
shiny or dull. Some leaflets have scattered black
dots composed in part of black dried sap at in-
jured places.

The slender, narrow flower clusters (panicles)
at base of leaves are 6-10 inches long, bearing
flowers on short stalks. Flowers are mostly male
and female on different trees or partly bisexual
(polygamous). There are 5 rounded sepals %2
inch long, 5 yellow-green elliptic petals less than
i/g inch long and with dark lines within, 5 stamens
Vie inch long, and pistil (rudimentary in male
flowers) on a disk, consisting of 1 -celled ovary,
short style, and slightly 3-lobed stigma.

290

Fruits (drupes) retain the sepals at base and
have 1 seed about i/4 i'lch long. Pigeons feed upon
the great quantities of fruits on ]\Iona. Recorded
with flowers in February and with fruits in sum-
mer and fall.

Sapwood is yellowish or light brown, and heart-
wood dark brown streaked with red. The hard,
heavy wood is easily worked, takes a fine polish,
and is reported to be durable. It is little used in
Puerto Rico but has served elsewhere for fence-

])OStS.

This species is of interest primarily as a poison-
ous tree to be avoided and to be recognized in areas
where found. The genus is closely related to that
of the well-known poison-ivy and ]3oison-oak
(Toncodf)uJi'on or RhuA) in the United States.
The sap of all parts of the plant is irritating to
the skin of many persons and often ])roduces a
painful rash or swelling u]>on contact with leaves
or twigs. For example, men clearing land where
this tree grows have suffered inflammation of the
skin.

Sometimes the trees are seen as ornamentals in
southern Florida, where they may have persisted
from the original forest. A resinous gmn from the
bark is said to have medicinal jiroperties. Also a
honey plant.

In" forests and thickets of the di-y limestone re-
gion and rare in the moist limestone region of
Puerto Rico. One of the commonest trees of
Mona. Absent from Culebra, Vieques, and Virgin
Islands.

Public forest. — Cambalache (very rare).

Raxoe. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, through Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola. Mona
and Puerto Rico, and Anguilla in Leeward
Islands.

Other common xames. — almendron, c e d r o
prieto (Puerto Rico) ; giiao de cost a (Cuba) ;
Florida poisontree, poisonwood. West Indies
poisontree (United States) : poisontree, poison-
wood (Bahamas); mancenillier (Haiti).

132. Papayo, Florida poisontree

Natural size.

Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urban

291

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDLACEAE)
133. Jobo de la India, ambarella Spondias dulcis Parkinson*

This exotic fruit tree is characterized by: (1)
pinnate leaves 8-1-2 inches lontj witli 11-23 sliort-
stalked, lance-sliapecl or oblonjj leaflets lyo-iYo
inches long, thin and long-pointed, the edges in-
conspiciioiislv toothed and turned under; (2) nu-
merous small, fragrant, whitish, 5-parted flowers
nearly l^ inch across in branched terminal clus-
ters; and (3) large elliptic or rounded yellow
fruits 2-4 inches long and 2 inches in diameter,
sour and edible.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree reach-
ing 20—10 feet in height and li/> feet in trunk di-
ametei-, with few stout branches and stout twigs.
The bark is smooth and greenish and exudes a res-
inous juice.

The leaves are alternate. Leaflets have stalks
less than Vs inch long and blades paired except the
terminal one, %-l inch broad, ?hort-pointed at
base.

The flower clusters (panicles) are 8-12 inches
long, the flowers on stalks about Vie inch long.
Flowers are male or female and bisexual on the
same tree (polygamous). The small calyx is
5-lobed; the 5 whitish petals less than Vs i'^ch long
are spreading and bent downwards; there are 10
stamens ; and the pistil on a disk has an ovary with
5 styles.

The thick-skinned fruits (drupes) are borne
2-10 in a drooping cluster. They have a pleasant
odor and flavor suggesting apples. The large few-
seeded stone 1-11/^ inches long has stiff spinelike
projections into the yellow juicy pulp. In fruit
through most of the year.

The sapwood is whitish to light yellow, and the
heartwood is light brown. The wood is moder-
ately soft, lightweight, and not durable.

The fruits are made into preserves as ^vell as
eaten fresh. Plants are propagated readily by
cuttings.

Grown for its fruits in Puerto Rico, chiefly in
the coastal regions. Also in St. Croix, St. Thomas,
and St. John.

Eange. — Native of Society Islands in the South
Pacific but planted in various tropical regions and
relatively uncommon in the New World. Culti-
vated in southern Florida, through West Indies
from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago,
and from Guianas and Venezuela to Brazil.

Though introduced into Jamaica as early as
1782, this has not become a popular fruit tree in
the West Indies.

Other common names. — citara (Puerto Rico) ;
pomme cythere (Virgin Islands) ; jobo de la India,
manzana de ore (Dominican Republic) ; ciruela
dulce, manzana de Otahiti, jobo de la India
(Cuba) ; jobo de indio (Venezuela) ; manzana de
oro (Ecuador) ; ambarella, golden-apple, vi-apple,
Otaheite-apple (English) ; Otaheite-plum (Ja-
maica) ; pomme cythere (French) ; mombin es-
pagnol, robe (Haiti) ; prune cythere (Guadeloupe,
Martinique) ; ponuiie de Cythere (Curasao, Suri-
nam) ; fransi mope (Surinam) ; caja manga, im-
buzeiro (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Spondias cytherea
Sonner., S. dulcis Forst. f .

292

133. Jobo de la India, ambarella

Two-thirds natural size.

Spondias dulcia Parkinson

293

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDLACEAE)

134. Jobo, hogplum, yellow mombin

Jobo, which grows wild and is planted as a
fence row tree and for its fruit, is recognized by :
(1) numerous spinelike projections i/4~% "''ch
long on the thick, corky bark of the trunk; (2) a
very spreading yellow-green crown, usually with
few nearly horizontal branches; (3) pinnate leaves
8-16 inches or more in length with 9-19 asymmet-
rical ovate or lance-shaped, short or long-pointed,
thin leaflets; (4) numerous small, fragrant, yel-
lowish-white, 5-parted flowers nearly I/4 inch
across in showy branched terminal clusters; and
(5) clusters of yellow, cylindrical, soft, juicy fruits
11/4-114 inches long and %-l inch in diameter,
edible though inferior.

A small to medium-sizetl deciduous tree to 60
feet in height and 2i/^ feet in trunk diameter.
The whitish-brown or gray bark is smoothish ex-
cept for numerous spinelike projections i/4-% inch
high, becoming rough and furrowed. Inner bark
is light pink and slightly bitter. A resin exudes
from cuts. The stout twigs are hairless or finely
hairy.

The alternate leaves have slender and finely
hairy axes. The leaflets are more or less paired
except for the terminal one, on stalks Vs-Vi inch
long. Leaflet blades are 2-4 inches long and 1-1%
inches broad, short-pointed or rounded and oblique
at base, the edges not toothed or slightly wavy,
yellow-green on upper surface and paler beneath.

The spreading flower clusters (panicles) are 6-
12 inches or more in length, with flowers on short
stalks 1/16 inch or more in length. Flowers are
male or female and bisexual on the same tree
(polygamous) . The minute hairy calyx is 5-lobed ;
there are 5 yellowish-white petals nearly Vs inch
long, spreading and curved back; 10 stamens; and
pistil on a disk, composed of ovary and 4 styles.

The pleasantly odorous f raits (drapes) have a
thin yellow edible flesh with slightly sour pungent
taste and a large few-seeded stone about 1 inch
long. Flowering chiefly from winter to summer
and maturing fruits from summer to winter.

The sapwood is whitish or cream colored, and
the heartwood similar when first cut but turning
golden brown. Sap-staining fungi in seasoning
often turn the wootl to a blue-gray color. The
wood is soft., lightweight (specific gravity 0.41),
with straight to slightly interlocked grain, coarse
texture, and numerous pores. It is tough and
strong for its weight. Rate of air-seasoning and
amomit of degrade are moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows : planing is excellent;
shaping, turning, boring, and mortising are poor ;
sanding is fair; and resistance to screw splitting
is good. The wood is perishable and very sus-

294

Spondias mombin L.

ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and other
insects.

In Puerto Rico the wood serves for fenceposts
and fuel. It is used also for soft-drink cases,
packing boxes, and matches. It will produce pulp
for white paper and utility plywood and could be
utilized for cheap furniture and light construction
where protected. Other uses elsewhere are as a
cork substitute and for charcoal, and the bark as
an astringent.

The trees are planted as living fenceposts and
for shade and ornament, being readily propagated
by cuttings and fast growing when not in deep
shade. The fruits can be eaten, though inferior
to the smaller fruits of puiple mombin (Spondias
purjmrea L.), and serve to fatten hogs and cattle.
A honey plant.

Along roadsides and fence rows and in pastures
and forests in the coastal, moist limestone, and
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico, perhaps
naturalized rather than native. Also in St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Ptjbijc forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
Guajataca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, San
Juan, Susua, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
8, 25, 30, 44.

Range. — Throughout West Indies except Ba-
hamas and from southern Mexico to Peru and
Brazil, in part cultivated or naturalized. Planted
in southern Florida. Also in Old World tropics,
perhaps introduced.

Other common names. — jobillo, jobo gusanero,
jobo vano, jobo de perro (Puerto Rico) ; jobo
(Spanish, commerce) ; ciraela amarilla (Domini-
can Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador) ; jobo de
puerco, joboban, ciruela (Dominican Republic) ;
jobo hembra (Cuba) ; jocote jobo, jobo jocote
(Guatemala) ; ciruela de monte, jocote (Hon-
duras) ; jocote, jocote de jobo, ciruela de jobo,
jocote montanero (Nicaragua) ; hogplum, wild-
plum (Costa Rica, Panama) ; jobo bianco, jobo
Colorado, jobo de castilla (Colombia) ; cuajo,
guama zapatero (Venezuela) ; yellow mombin,
hogplum (United States) ; hogplum (English) ;
Bequia-plum (Bequia) ; hoba, hubu, plum-bush
(British Guiana) ; mombin, monbin (French) ;
mombin franc, myrobalane (Haiti) ; mombin
fruits jaunes, prane mombin, prime Myrobolan
(Guadeloupe) ; prunier mombin, monbinier
(French Guiana) ; macaprein, hoba, yellow-plum
(Dutch West Indies) ; mope (Surinam, com-
merce) ; moppe, monbe, hooboo (Surinam) ; caja,
caja-mirim, caja seira (Brazil).

Botanical synontm. — Spondias lutea L.

i»i5J

134. Jobo, hogplum, yellow mombin

Two-thirds natural size.

Spondias mombin L.

687-921 0—64 20

295

CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDIACEAE)

135. Ciruela del pais, purple mombin

Occasionally planted in fence rows and for its
edible fruits, this small tree, frequently with
gnarled branches, is characterized by : (1) pinnate
leaves 4—8 inches long witli 9-25 almost stalkless,
elliptic, thin, yellow-green leaflets, %-lV^ inches
long, rounded or short-pointed at apex, short-
pointed and sliglitly oblique at base, with edges
slightly wavy toothed; (2) small red or pnik
5-parted flowers less than I/4 inch across, in lateral
clustei-s; and (3) the yellow or purplish-red, cylin-
drical, slightly sour, edible fruits 1-11/4 inches
long.

A small spreading deciduous tree to 30 feet
high, with thick trunlc to 1 foot in diameter, or
sometimes shiiibby. Tlie bark is brown or gray,
smoothish, soft, and thick, becoming rough and
warty on large trunks. Inner bark is whitish and
brown streaked, soft, and astringent. The large
branches are brittle and easily broken. The stout
twigs are green with brown dots (lenticels), be-
coming brown.

The leaves ai-e alternate and with slender,
angled, finely haii-y, yellow-green axes. Leaflet
blades are more or less paired except for terminal
one, 1/4-1 inch broad, nearly hairless, and dull or
slightly shiny.

The branched flower clusters (panicles) are
short and finely hairy and bear few flowere on
stalks about Vg inch long when the trees are leafless
or nearly so. Flowers are male or female and bi-
sexual on the same tree (polygamous). The mi-
nute calyx is 5-lobed ; there are 5 petals about Vs
inch long; 10 stamens; and pistil on a disk, with
usually 5-celled ovary and 3 or 4 short styles.

The short-stalked fruits (dnipes) have yellow,
juicy and edible pulp and a large stone V2-% inch
long, which is fibrous on the outside, and contain
5 or fewer- seeds. Flowering in spring and matur-
ing fruits in summer.

The wood is wliitish, soft, lightweight, and
brittle. It is seldom used, though elsewhere the
ash has been employed in soapmaking.

The fruits, which resemble plums (ciruelas)
and have a similar flavor, are eaten raw or some-
times cooked and produce wine and other alcoholic
drinks. They serve also to fatten hogs and cattle.

Spondias purpurea L.*

In parts of Mexico and Central America this
species is one of the most important fruits. The
sour young shoots and leaves sometimes are eaten
raw or cooked and are browsed by animals.

Grown commonly as living fenceposts, tlie trees
are easily propagated from cuttings and seeds.
Tliey are luindsome with tlieir small flowers and
showy fruits when leafless. Elsewhere the trees
have been employed to support cultivated orchids.

In fence rows, along highways, and near homes
in the coastal regions, commonest and largest and
in a narrow strip along the base of the southern
side of the Cordillera of Puerto Eico. Probably
naturalized rather than native. Also in St. Croix,
St. Thomas, and St. John.

Range. — Planted and naturalized tlu'oughout
West Indies except Bahamas. Native of tropical
continental America and widely distributed from
central Mexico to Peru and Brazil, spread through
cultivation. Planted in southern Florida. Also
introduced into the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — ciruela, jobillo, jobo
f ranees (Puerto Rico) ; purple-plum (Virgin
Islands) ; ciruela, ciruelo (Spanish) ; jobo, ciruela
morada, ciruela sanjuanera (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; ciruela colorada, ciruela campechana (Cuba) ;
jocote (Mexico, Central America) ; jocote de
invierno, jocote jobo, jobo, pitarrillo (El Salva-
dor) ; jocote comiin (Nicaragua) ; jobito (Costa
Rica) ; wild-plum (Costa Rica, Panama) ; hobo
Colorado, ciruelo Colorado (Colombia) ; hobo,
ciruela colorada (Ecuador); ajuela ciruelo
(Peru); purple mombin, red mombin, hogplum,
Spanish-plum (United States, English) ; Jamaica-
plum (Trinidad); jobo (British Honduras);
cirouelle (Haiti); prune d'Espagne, prune du
Chili (Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; prune rouge,
prune jaune, mombin rouge (Guacleloupe) ; noba,
makka pruim, redplum, Jamacia-plum (Dutch
AVest Indies) ; imbuzeiro, caja, ciroela (Brazil).

BoTANic.VL SYNONYMS. — Spondios mombln L.
(1759, not 1753), S. ciroueUa Tussac, S. purpurea
L. forma luteci (Macfadyen) Fawcett & Rendle.
The yellow-fruited form has been separated from
the purple-fi-uited form by some authors as a
species {S. ciroueUa Tussac) .

296

135. Ciruela del pais, purple mombln

Natural size.

Spondias purpurea L.

297

CYRILLA FAMILY (CYRILLACEAE)

136. Palo Colorado, swamp cyrilla

Palo Colorado, a large tree common in the higher
mountains, is characterized by: (1) leathery,
lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves IV2-SV2
inches long, blunt and minutely notched at apex,
usually turning red before falling; (2) reddish-
brown, smoothish thin bark on the large crooked
and twisted trunks which splits otf in thin plates
or scales, becoming whitish pink, spongy at base
of ti'ee; (3) leaves confined chiefly to the top of
a many-branched crown, which resembles a broom
in appearance; and (-4) numerous crowded, small,
white, 5-parted flowei-s % long in very narrow
lateral flower clusters 3-6 inches long and only
% inch broad.

This evergreen tree generally becomes 50 feet
high and 3 feet in diameter, rarely 60 feet in height
and 6 feet in trunk diameter. On exposed moun-
tain ridges and sununits it may be small or
shrubby. The bark on small trunks does not have
the reddish-brown color noted above but is gray
to brown, smoothish and minutely fissured. The
inner bark is reddish to brown and bitter. Young
twigs are brown, turning gray.

The alternate leaves have petioles %-i4 inch
long. The leaf blades are variable in form and
size, commonly %-l inch broad, sometimes smaller,
pointed at base, with edges curved under. They
are gi-een and shiny on upper surface and pale
green on lower surface.

One to 10 flower clusters (spikelike racemes) on
a twig are located below most of the leaves. They
bear numerous short-stalked flowers %^ inch
across and spreading slightly. There are 5 short,
pointed sepals; 5 pointed "petals Vs inch long,
white or also tinged with pink; 5 stamens; and
pistil with a 2-celled ovary, short style, and 2
stigmas.

The many small, dry, egg-shaped fruits
(drupes) i/g inch long are pink to red and contain
2 or 3 light brown seeds. Flowering and fruiting
probably during most of the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the seasoned
heartwood attractive dark reddish brown. This
vei-y hard, moderately heavy wood (specific
gravity approximately 0.53) has fine uniform tex-
ture, heavily interlocked grain, and prominent an-
nual growth rings. The rate of air-seasoning is
very slow, but degrade is exceptionally severe, and
shrinkage is very high. Because of severe warp-
ing, air-dry lumber is unfit for most commercial
uses. Machining characteristics are as follows:

Cyrilla racemiflora L.

planing and resistance to screw splitting are ex-
cellent; shaping, turning, boring, and mortising
are good; and sanding is fair. The wood is sus-
ceptible to dry- wood termites.

In Puerto Rico the wood is seldom used except
for fuel, because of the great warping in season-
ing. Also, the large, very old trunks are short,
often crooked, and usually hollow. However, in
Cuba the handsomelj' colored wood has been made
into furniture. The spongy bark at the base of
trunk is absorbent, pliable, and astringent and has
been recommended as a styptic.

Sometimes planted in the United States as an
ornamental because of the graceful white flower
clusters and showy autumnal coloration of the foli-
age. The flowere produce dark honey, and in
Cuba the hollow trunks serve as beehives.

Widely distributed in the forests of the upper
mountain regions of Puerto Rico, chiefly in the
Luquillo Mountains. The wild pari'ots native only
in the Luquillo Mountains nest in these hollow
trees.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Maricao,
Toro Negro.

Range.— Southeastern United States (near
coast from southeastern Virginia to Florida and
southeastern Texas), Gi-eater Antilles, and Lesser
Antilles in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Vin-
cent. Also in southern Mexico (Oaxaca) and
British Hondiu-as and from Venezuela to Guianas
and northern Brazil.

According to its unusual northward distribu-
tion, this species is one of the hardiest native trees
of Puerto Rico in resistance to cold. Growing
wild north to southeastern Virginia, it has been
cultivated farther north in eastern United States
to New England. Over most of the wide range a
small tree or shrub of swamps and river banks but
in the mountains of the Greater Antilles it be-
comes a large tree.

Other comjion names. — Colorado (Puerto
Rico) ; granado, palo coloi-ado, sabina macho (Do-
minican Republic); barril, clavellina, llorona,
yanilla (Cuba) ; piojillo, piojito (Venezuela) ;
swamp cyrilla, American cyrilla, leatherwood,
southern leatherwood, titi, white titi (United
States) ; bloodwood, beetwood (Jamaica) ; wari-
miri (British Guiana) ; bois couche, olivier nion-
tagne (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonym. — Cyrilla antillana Michx.

298

136. Palo Colorado, swamp eyrilla

Natural size.

Cyrilla racemiflora L.

299

BLADDERNUT FAMILY (STAPHYLEACEAE)

137. Sauco cimarron

This small or medium-sized tree is character-
ized by: (1) opposite pinnat« leaves with 5-11 el-
liptic or ovate leaflets also paired except for the
terminal one, the edges minutely saw-toothed; (2)
numerous small 5-pai-ted greenish-white flowers
about 1/4 inch across in a large broad, branched,
terminal cluster; and (3) nearly round or slightly
3-lobed fruits Vo-^ inch in diameter, mostly on
long, slender, spreading stalks.

An evergreen tree commonly less than 30 feet
high and 6 inches in trunk diameter with an open
crown, hairless throughout except for young twigs
and young leaves. The gray bark is much fissured
and thin. Inner bark is brown and almost taste-
less. The brown twigs are stout and slightly
fissured.

The leaves, 5-10 inches long, have a slender
light green or pinkish-tinged axis, and the leaflets
have short stalks 1/3-% inch long. Leaflet blades
are li/^-4 inches long and y2-^% inches broad,
mostly short-pointed at apex and rounded or
short-pointed at base, the saw-toothed edges often
wa^'y, thin or very slightly thickened, gi^een and
often shiny on upper surface, light green beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are mostly 6-12
inches long and nearly as broad and have long,
slender, horizontally spreading, light green
branches bearing many short-stalked fragrant
flowers. The calyx consists of 5 light gi-een im-
equal elliptic sepals less than i/g inch long, remain-

Turpinia paniculata Vent.

ing on fruit ; there are 5 white rounded petals more
than % inch long; 5 whitish stamens i/g inch long;
and pistil 14 inch long on a lobed disk with 3-
lobed, 3-celled ovary and 3 united styles which
often remain on the fiiiit as points or hooks.

The rounded fruits are broader than long and
slightly 3-angled, turning from green to brown,
dry but not splitting open, 3-celled. There are
3-6 shiny light brown elliptic seeds 14 inch long.
Flowering chiefly in spring (Febi-uary to June),
the fniits maturing in summer and fall (July to
October) .

The sapwood is whitish and hard. The heart-
wood is moderately resistant to attack by dry-
wood termites. Reported to be brittle, the wood
is used only for fuel.

Lower and upper mountain forests of Puerto
Rico, ascending to summits of peaks. Also in
Tortola.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Toro Negro.

]\IUNICIP.\L1TY WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. 10.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and
Tortola. Also from southern Mexico and Guate-
mala to Panama.

Other common names. — sauquillo, lilayo, eu-
genio (Puerto Rico) ; cedro hembra (Dominican
Republic) ; saiico cimarron, roble giiira, serrucho
(Cuba) ; cedrillo (El Salvador) ; cajeta, tinta
(Guatemala).

300

137. Saueo clmarr6n

Two-thirds natural size.

Turpinia paniculata Vent.

301

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

Key to the 6 species illustrated (Nos. 13S-143)

A. Leaves simple, elliptic, the edges finely toothed — 142. Tliouinia portoricensis.
AA. Leaves compound.

B. Leaflets 3, elliptic or obovate, broadest beyond middle, short-pointed at both ends, toothed on edges — 143.
Tliouinia striata.
BB. Leaflets pinnate, 4 or more (sometimes only 2).

C. Leaflets 4-S, not paired, with wavy-toothed edges, elliptic, those toward apex largest, rounded or notched
at apex — 13S. Cupania ainericana.
CC. Leaflets mostly paired, not toothed.

D. Leaflets 2-8, rounded or blunt-ixiinted at apex, on slender reddish or dark brown axis; fruit a
flattened seed capsule — 139. Matayba domiiKjcnsis.
DD. Leaflets long- or short-pointed at both ends, on axis often winged; fruit round, fleshy.

E. Leaflets 4, the pair at apex larger, fruit "/s-l^ inches in diameter, edible — 140. Melicoccus
bijiigatus.*
EE. Leaflets usually 6-12, sometimes only 1 at end : fruit %-l inch in diameter, yellow, inedible — 141.
Sapiiitlus saponaria.

138. Guara

Cupania americana L.

This tree is characterized by : (1 ) twigs and leaf
axes brown hairy ; (2) pinnate leaves with 4-8 al-
ternate elliptic or obovate leaflets, those toward
apex largest, rounded or notched at apex, short-
pointed at base, with wavy toothed edges, the up-
per surface shiny green and hairy only on veins,
and the lower surface paler and densely soft
hairy; (3) numerous small whitish 5-parted flow-
ers Vs ii^ch across, in mostly terminal branched
clusters; and (4) the rounded seed capsules i/^-%
inch long, bluntly 3-lobed, velvety -brown or rusty-
brown hairy, splitting into 3 parts and exposing 3
rounded shiny blackish seeds %6 i^ch long, each
in an orange cup.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree attain-
ing 20-50 feet in height and 10 inches in trunk
diameter with a broadly spreading rounded crown.
The gray bark is smoothish or becoming rough and
fissured into plates. Inner bark is light brown and
slightly bitter. The twigs are stout.

The leaves are alternate, 5-10 inches long, with
stout axes. Leaflets have short hairy stalks Yg-y^
inch long and blades 1 1/0-6 inches long and %-2%
inches broad and slightly thickened.

The flower clusters (panicles) 4-8 inches long
have brown hairy branches. Flowers are male,
female, and bisexual (polygamous). There are 5
hairy sepals nearly i/g inch long; 5 hairy, narrow
stalked petals about as long as sepals, each with 2
scales on the outer edges ; 8 stamens on a disk ; and
pistil composed of hairy 3-celled ovary with short
style and 3 stigmas.

Seed capsules commonly are many and crowded
in terminal branched clusters, short-stalked at

base, opening widely into 3 parts, retaining the 3
seeds attached for some time. Flowering in winter
and early spring (December to March) and ma-
turing fruits in spring and summer.

The wood is light brown and hard, of medimn
weight (specific gravity 0.4). Very susceptible to
attack by dry-wood termites. Used in Puerto Rico
chiefly for posts and poles and elsewhere for con-
struction and shipbuilding.

This species has been suggested as an ornamental
and shade tree. The seeds and leaves sometimes
serve for medicinal puiposes. Also a honey plant.

Forests, especially along streams, in the moist
coast, moist limestone, and lower mountain regions
of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. —Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia, Vega.

Range. — Greater Antilles and in Lesser Antilles
only in Dominica, Martinique, and Barbados, and
in Trinidad and Tobago. Also in Colombia and
Venezuela.

Other common names. — guara blanca (Puerto
Rico) ; guarana, guara (Dominican Republic) ;
guara, guara comiin, guarano, guarana macho,
guarana hembra (Cuba) ; guacharaco (Colom-
bia) ; guara, patillo. zapatero, cabimo, guamo
guara, guamo matias (Venezuela) ; candlewood-
tree (Barbados) ; maraquil (Trinidad) ; bois de
satanier (Haiti).

A closely related species of guara (Cupania
triqii^fra A. Rich.) in Puerto Rico differs in hav-
ing twigs and seed capsules with shorter yellow-
brown hairs and the seed capsules sharply 3-angled
and on longer stalks.

302

138. Guara

Natural size.

Cupania americana L.

303

139. Negra lora

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

Matayba domingensis (DC.) Radlk.

Tliis medium-sized tree of mountain forests is
characterized by: (1) pinnate leaves with 2-8
paired elliptic or lance-shaped stiff and leathery
leaflets IVo-Wi inches long and 1/4-11/4 inches
broad, on a slender reddish or dark brown axis,
rounded or blunt -pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base, the upper surface shiny green and
with many slightly raised lateral veins, pale or
with a brownish cast beneath; (2) minute 4- or
5-parted flowei-s less than Yg inch long and broad,
numerous in lateral branched flower clusters; and
(3) odd, reverse heart-shaped (obcordate) dark
brown or blackish seed capsules i/2-% inch long
and broad, mostly flattened and less than %6 inch
thick.

An evergreen tree attaining 30-60 feet in height
and 11/4 feet in trunk diameter, with a compact,
slightly spreading crown. The bark is dark
brown, smoothish, about I/4 inch thick, often spot-
ted with an orange-red lichen. Inner bark is red-
dish brown, bitter and gritty. The twigs are red-
dish brown or dark brown, finely hairy when
young.

Some leaves are alternate and othere opposite,
3-8 inches long. Leaflets have short stalks %-i/4
inch long and blades with minute lighter dots, not
toothed on edges.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 1-4 inches long,
with finely hairy branches. The numerous hairy
flowers are male, female, and bisexual (polyga-
mous). There are 4 or 5 pointed sepals, 4 or 5
smaller petals, 8 stamens on a disk, and pistil
with usually 2-celled ovary, style, and 2 stigmas.

Seed capsules are slightly stalked, hard, com-
monly 2-lobed and 2- or 1 -seeded, reported as also
3-lobed. The shiny black seeds are %6 inch long

and flat. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
uniform pinkish brown or reddish brown. The
wood is attractive, very hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.70), strong, fine- textured, of usually ir-
regidar and interlocked grain, and has a distinc-
tive foul odor. The rate of air-seasoning is low,
and amount of degrade is moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows : planing and resist-
ance to screw splitting are fair; and shaping, turn-
ing, boring, mortising, and sanding are good. The
wood is moderately difficult to saw and dulls cut-
ting edges. It is vei-y susceptible to damage by
dry -wood termites and other insects and is not
durable.

Chief uses in Puerto Rico are posts and poles,
though preservative treatment is recommended.
The wood is suitable far furniture, cabinetwork,
turnei-y, interior trim, flooring, handles, agricul-
tural implements, vehicle bodies, and light and
heavy construction.

Forests of the transition zone between the lower
and upper mountain regions of Puerto Rico.

PiTBLic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — doncella, tea cima-
rrona, raton, escoba (Puerto Rico) ; raton, guara
(Dominican Republic) ; caraicillo, macurije
(Cuba).

A second species known as doncella (Matayba
oppositifoUa (A.Rich.) Britton) has oblong leaf-
lets short- or long-pointed at apex and the leaves
opposite. It apparently is rare in mountain
forests of Puerto Rico.

304

139. Negra lora

Natural size.

Matayha domingensia (DC.) Radlk.

305

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

140. Quenepa, kinep, Spanish-lime

Quenepa is a familiar exotic tree planted for its
edible f rait and shade. It is distinguished by : ( 1 )
erect form and a dense symmetrical globular crown
of dull light gi-een foliage ; ( 2 ) pinnate leaves with
4 paired elliptic leaflets 3-5 inches long and li/i-
21^ inches broad, long- or short -pointed at both
ends and slightly oblique at base, almost stalkless
along an axis sometimes winged; and (3) small
gi"eenish-white fragrant flowers about %6 ^^ch
across, very numerous in terminal branched clus-
tere; and (4) round or elliptic green fruits %-li/4
inches in diameter with thni, sweet and acid, juicy
flesh and 1 (sometimes 2) large seed.

An evergreen tree becoming 40-60 feet high,
with trunk 1-2 feet in diameter, slightly angled
and fluted. The bark is gray and smoothish, the
inner bark orange brown, gritty, and tasteless.
Twigs are brown or gray, greenish when young.

The alternate leaves are 6-8 inches long, with
light green axis 21/2-3 inches long. Leaflets are
thin, not toothed on edges, the pair at apex larger.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 3-6 inches long
and broad, with several to many narrow branches.
Flowers are mostly male and female on different
trees but partly of both sexes (polygamous), on
spreading stalks i/i inch long. Calyx is deeply 4-
or 5-lobed, the lobes more than i/ie ^^^('^ long;
there are 4 or 5 rounded greenish-white petals
about Yg inch long; 8-10 stamens on a disk; and
pistil composed of 2- or 3-celled ovary with short
style and 2- or 3-lobed stigma.

Fruits (drupes), borne in clusters, are marketed
for their thin flesh, which is gelatinous and slight-
ly flbrous, yellowish to salmon colored, and sug-
gestive of grapes. The pale yellow elliptic seeds

Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq.*

%-!% inches long are edible when roasted.
Flowering in spring (April to June), the fraits
maturing from June to September.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
light brown or pale yellow gray. The wood is of
medium weight and fairly hard but reportedly not
resistant to decay. Elsewhere it has been used in
construction, interior work, and cabinets.

Besides furnishing f iniit and shade, the trees are
honey plants, their pleasantly scented flowers at-
tracting bees.

Planted as a frait and shade tree and along
highways in Puerto Rico and escaping from culti-
vation. Commonest in the dry coastal region.
Also in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
and Tortola.

Range. — Native of Colombia, Venezuela, and
Guianas. Widely planted and escaping or na-
turalizes! throughout West Indies from Bahamas
and Cuba to Trinidad and Curasao. Cultivated
also in southern Florida and California, Bermuda,
Central America, Ecuador, and perhaps elsewhere
in tropical America. Also introduced in Asia.

Other common names. — genip, ginep (Virgin
Islands) ; mamon (Spanish, commerce) ; mamon-
cillo (Spanish) ; quenepa (Puerto Rico, Colom-
bia) ; limoncillo, quenepa (Dominican Republic) ;
escanjocote (Nicaragua) ; mamon de Cartagena
(Costa Rica) ; Spanish-lime, genip, mamoncillo
(United States) ; genip (English) ; chenet (Trini-
dad ) ; quenepe ( Haiti ) ; quenette, quenettier, kene-
pier (Guadeloupe) ; quenette (French Guiana) ;
kenepa, kiimup-tree (Dut:Ch West Indies) ; knip-
pen (Surinam).

Botanical synonym. — Melicocca hijuga L.

306

140. Quenepa, kinep, Spanish-lime

Two-thirds natural size.

Melicoccus iijugatus Jacq.

307

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

141. Jaboncillo, wingleaf soapberry

Small to medium-sized tree sometimes plajited
for shade, characterized by: (1) pinnate leaves
8-16 inches long, witli usually 6-12 paired elliptic
to lance-shaped dull green leaflets, the green axis
often with a wing V^^-Vi ii^ch wide; (2) very nu-
merous small 5-parted whitish flowers %6 i'lch
across in large branched lateral clustere 6-18 inches
long; and (3) shiny brown ball-like berries %-l
inch in diameter, borne singly or sometimes 2 or 3
together, containing yellow, sticky, bitter, poison-
ous flesh and 1 round black poisonous seed.

An evergreen tree 20-60 feet high and 1 foot in
trunk diameter, sometimes larger, with broad
crown. The light gray or brown bai'k is smoothish
and warty, becoming finely fissured and scaly.
Inner bark is light orange brown, slightly bitter
and astringent. The stout twigs are light gray
with raised reddish-brown dots (lenticels), fiinely
hairy when young.

The alternate leaves have jjaired leaflets with or
without a single terminal one. Leaflets are stalk-
less or nearly so, 2i/^-6 inches long and l-2i/^ inches
wide, mostly short-pointed at lx)th ends, often
oblique and unequal-sided with side toward leaf
apex much broader, thin, not toothed on edges,
beneath slightly paler and sometimes soft hairy.

The male flowers produced in great quantities
seem to fall from the tree almost like rain and litter
the ground beneath. Flowers are mostly male but
some are female or bisexual (polygamous). In
male flowere there are 5 spreading sepals about
YiQ inch long, unequal, the outer 2 being smaller,
whitish and tinged with green; 5 white hairy
petals rounded and smaller than sepals; 8 light
yellow stamens more than Vie inch long on a light
green disk; and a minute brown nonfunctional
pistil. Female flowei-s have besides the sepals and
petals shoi'ter stamens and a greenish pistil more
than i/ie inch long with 3-celled ovary and slender
style.

One or sometimes 2 or 3 fruits develop from a
pistil, the abortive ones remaining as disklike ap-
pendages at base. Inside the translucent yellow
flesh is the poisonous seed %-Vo inch in diameter.
Branches of the flower cluster (panicle) become
hard and woody when the fruits mature.

Sapwood is whitish, and heartwood yellow or

Sapindus saponaria L.

light brown. The wood is hard and heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.8), coarse-textured, and not durable
when exposed. Used locally for posts and else-
where employed in caqjentry.

The common names refer to the use of the fleshy
fruit as a substitute for soap. When cut up, the
fleshy part, which contains about 30 percent sap-
onin, produces suds abundantly in water.

Crushed seeds serve as a fish poison when
thrown into a stream. An insecticide has been
made from gi-ound seeds, and medicinal oil ex-
tracted also. Other uses of the seeds are as beads
in necklaces, as marbles, and formerly as buttons.
Infusions of the roots and leaves have been pre-
pared for home remedies. A sliade tree and honey
plant.

In the dry coastal region of Puerto Rico, infre-
quently planted for shade. Also in Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

PxjBLio FOREST. — Aguirre.

Range. — Common and widely distributed in
tropical America and spread farther through cul-
tivation. Southern Florida including Florida
Keys (gi-own also in California and Bermuda)
and throughout West Indies from Bahamas and
Cuba to Trinidad. Also from Mexico to Ecuador,
Galapagos Islands, Pei-u, Argentina, Paraguay,
and Brazil. Introduced into Old World tropics.

Other common names.- — soapberry (Virgin
Islands) ; jaboncillo (Spanish) ; palo amargo,
chorote, niata de chivo (Dominican Republic) ;
giiiril, huiril, jaboncillal (Guatemala) ; paeon
(Honduras) ; paci'm (El Salvador) ; paeon, cuyus
(Nicaragua); limoncillo (Panama); chumbino,
chumbimbo, chocho (Colombia) ; paraparo, pepo
(Venezuela) ; jurupe (Ecuador) ; .sulluco (Peru) ;
jisotoiibo (Bolivia) ; yequiti, casita, palo-jabon
(Argentina) ; wingleaf soapberry, soapberry
(United States) ; soapberry (English) ; soapseed
Trinidad) ; soap-tree, soapseed-tree, jabon-che
(British Honduras) ; savonette pays, graine can-
ique, bois savonette (Haiti) ; savonier, savonettier,
savonette montagne, bois mausseux, savonette
mousseuse (Guadeloupe) ; savonetapel (Curasao) ;
sopo sirie (Surinam) ; saboeiro, saboneteiro
(Brazil).

308

141. Jabonclllo, wingleaf soapberry

Natural size.

Sapindus saponaria L.

309

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

142. Serrasuela

This small tree or shrub restricted to dry south-
western Puerto Rico is distinguished by: (1) few
slender spreading branches and witliout a definite
crown; (2) leathery elliptic leaves simple (some-
times compoiuid with 3 leaflets), rounded at apex
and short-poLnted at base, the edges finely toothed,
shmy gre«n above and jjale green and densely soft
hairy with prominent veins beneath; (3) many
small whitish flowers Yie inch across, 4- or 5-
parted, in narrow branclied lateral clusters 1-21/4
inches long; and (4) brown narrow key fiiiits V2~
% inch long, usually 3 attached together. This
species is closely related to the next species, c«boru-
quillo (Thouinla striata Radlk.), a large tree hav-
ing compound leaves with 3 thinner leaflets and
smaller flowere. Intermediate individuals have
been found.

A deciduous tree becoming 15 feet high and 3
inches in trunk diameter. The gi"ay bark is rough,
fissured and divided into thin scaly plates. Inner
bark is brownish and slightly bitter. Twigs are
brownish green, finely hairy when yoimg, becom-
ing gray.

The alternate leaves have finely brownish hairy
petioles %-lV2 inches long. The blade is iisually
simple and 2^ inches long and 1-2 inches wide,
the upper surface nearly hairless except on veins.
Sometimes there are 3 stalkless leaflets at end of

Thouinia portoricensis Radlk.

petiole, the 2 lateral leaflets much smaller, %~1V^
inches long.

The densely hairy flower clusters (thyi-ses) are
attached along the twigs, often at leaf bases.
Flowers are male, female, and bisexual (polyg-
amous), borne on short stalks less than Vs inch
long. There are 4 or 5 greenish haii-y sepals more
than i/ie inch long and rounded at apex; 4 or 6
white petals less than % inch long; 8 stamens %
inch long on a disk; and pistil i/g inch long with
hairy 3-celled ovai-y of 3 nearly separate lobes and
3-f orked style rising between lobes.

The dry fruits (samaras), usually 3 developing
from a flower, are finely hairy, enclosed 1 seed at
base, and have a long narrow curved wing %e inch
wide. Flowering and fruiting nearly through the
year.

The sapwood is light brown and hard. The
wood is little used.

Forests and thickets of the dry limestone region
of southwestern Puerto Rico.

Public forest. — ^Guanica.

MuNICIPAHTIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON.

28, 38, 54.

Range. — Confined to southwestern Puerto Rico.

Other common name. — quebracho (Puerto
Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Thyana portoricensis
(Radlk.) Britton.

310

142. Serrasuela

Natural size.

Thouinia striata Radlk.

687-921 a— 64 21

311

143. Ceboruquillo

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)

Thouinia striata Radlk.

A small to medium-sized tree of Puerto Rico
recognized by : ( 1 ) compound leaves with 3 elliptic
or obovate leaflets, the middle leaflet largest, broad-
est beyond middle, saw-toothed on edges, and
short-pointed at apex and base, the lower surface
soft hairy and with prominent veins; (2) small
whitish flowers less than % inch long and broad,
4-parted, numerous, and short-stalked in very nar-
row clusters 1^^— 4 inches long and % inch wide at
leaf bases; and (3) brown narrow winged key
fruits %-% inch long, borne in 3's.

An evergreen tree to 50 feet in height and 8
inches in trunk diameter, with an erect crown.
The bark is gray, rough, broken into thin rectan-
gular scaly plates. Inner bark is light brown and
slightly bitter. The brownish twigs are finely
hairy, green when young.

The alternate leaves are 4—8 inches long, with
leaflets at the end of a minutely hairy petiole
1/^-214 inches long, the leaflets with short stalks
about i/g inch long. Leaflet blades are 2i/^-6 inches
long and 1-3 inches broad, slightly thickened, the
upper surface yellow green and hairless except on
veins, the lower surface light green and densely
soft hairy.

The lateral flower clusters (panicles) commonly

have 2 main finely hairy branches. Flowers are
male, female, and bisexual (polygamous), borne
on stalks less than i/g inch long. There are 4
yellow-green hairy sepals less than i/m inch long;
4 white narrow hairy petals more than ^g inch
long, notched at apex; 8 stamens on a disk; and
pistil composed of hairy 3-celled ovary and slen-
der style 3-lobed at apex.

The fruits (samaras) are dark brown at the nar-
row base, slightly hairy, 1-seeded, with a long light
brown wing i^ inch broad. Flowering and fruit-
ing fi'om spring to fall.

The sapwood is light brown. The wood is hard,
tough, and heavy (specific gravity 0.9). It is used
chiefly for ])OSts.

Forests of the moist limestone and lower Cordil-
lera regions in western Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Mari-
cao, Rio Abajo, Susua.

Municipalities where espeoiallt common. — 7,
9, 23, 24, 31, 34, 68.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — quiebra-hacha, que-
bracha, serrasuela, guaba (Puerto Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Thy ana striata (Radlk.)
Britton.

312

143. Ceboruquillo

Two-thirds natural size.

Thouinia striata Radlk.

313

SABIA FAMILY (SABIACEAE)

144. Aguacatillo

A medium-sized tree of mountain forests char-
acterized by: (1) petioles with an enhirgement at
base and %-!% inches long; (2) dark green ellip-
tic leaves mostly broadest beyond the middle, 3-8
(sometimes 10) inches long and ly2-3l^ (some-
times 4) inches wide, short-pointed or blunt at
apex, short-pointed at base, edges not toothed ex-
cept on young plants; (3) veiy numerous minute
white 5-parted flowers less than % inch long and
broad in much-branched clusters; and (4) few to
many nearly round fniits %-% inch long, dark
brown, violet, or black, and fleshy.

An evergreen tree reaching 30-60 feet in height
and 2 feet in trunk diameter. The bark is smooth-
ish but slightly warty, gray, and thin, becoming
fissured on large trunks. Inner bark is brownish
and bitter. The gray twigs, hairless except when
young, have scattered reddish-brown, corky warts
(lenticels) Vs i"cli or less in length.

The leaves are alternate, with the few lateral
veins sunken, slightly shiny on both sides, and
paler beneath. Young plants produce larger
leaves.

The branches! flower clusters (panicles) are ter-
minal and lateral, 2-8 inches long and broad, and
minutely hairy. The flowers have a few minute,
luiiry, overlapping scales at base. There are 5
rounded overlapping sepals i/ie inch long, with
hairy border, remaining attached at base of fruit;
petals 5, white, the out^r 3 larger and more than
Vie inch long and 2 small narrow scales; 5 stamens
opposite the petals and united with them at base,
2 fertile stamens opposite the small petals and 3
sterile (staminodes) ; and pistil with ovan', style,
and 2 minute stigmas.

Fniits (drapes) are light green when inomature,
nearly round but longer than broad, have a large
1 -seeded stone, and remain attached for sometime.

Meliosma herbertii Rolfe

Flowering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the attractive
heartwood light brown with darker streaks and
often an attractive orange overcast. The wood is
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.42), firm,
tough, with moderately coarse texture, straight to
frequently interloclced grain, and faint growth
rings. It is low in durability and vei-y susceptible
to attack by diy-wood termites. The rate of air-
seasoning is moderate, but the amount of degi-ade
is considerable. Machining characteristics are as
follows : planing and resistance to screw splitting
are excellent; .shaping, turning, boring, and mor-
tising are poor; and sanding is good.

Few trees become large enough for commercial
timter. Uses elsewhere include construction and
carpenti-y. Though difficult to work, the wood is
suitable also for furniture, cabinetwork, paneling,
interior trim, and boxes and crates.

Forests of the lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. Also in Tortola.

PiTBLic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Tortola,
and Lesser Antilles from St. Kitts to Grenada.
Also in northeastern Venezuela.

Other common names. — arroyo, cacaillo, cacao
bobo (Puerto Rico) ; cacao cimarron, cacao bobo
(Dominican Republic); gross grain (Grenada);
bois violet, graines violettes, graines vertes
(Guadeloupe) ; wild cocoa (Trinidad).

Arroyo {Meliosma ohhisifoUa (Bello) Krug &
Urban) is a related, less common tree species
known only from mountain forests of Puerto Rico.
It has leaves rounded at apex and smaller nearly
round fruits about % inch in diameter. Other
common names are cacaillo, cerrillo, ciralillo, and
guayarote.

314

l&^'^-^

144. Aguaeatillo

Meliosma heriertii Rolfe

Two-thirds natural size.

315

BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE)

Key to the 4 species illustrated (Nos. 145-148)

A. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib, edges not toothed : twigs not spiny.

B. Leaves mostly short-pointed at apex, lateral veins curved and prolonged near margins.

C. Leaves slightly thickened, the lower surface, petioles, and twigs with rusty brown hairs, especially
when young — 14.5. Cohibriiia arborcscens.
CC. Leaves thin, the lower surface pale green and minutely hairy — 146. Cohthrina reclinata.
BB. Leaves rounded at both ends and slightly notchetl at apex, nearly hairless — 147. Erugiodendron ferreum.
AA. Leaves with 3 main veins from base, edges often minutely toothed ; twigs with paired or single spines — 148.
Sarcomphalus reticulatus.

145. Abeyuelo, coffee colubrina

This usually small tree is identified by: (1)
rusty-brown hairs on young twigs, young leaves,
veins or lower surface of mature leaves, petioles,
and flower clusters; (2) slightly thickened elliptic
leaves IV2-6 inches long and %-3 inches bi'oad,
blunt- or short-pointed at apex and rounded at
base, with the prominent lateral veins curved and
prolonged near margins, the upper surface slight-
ly shiny green and nearly hairless, and the lower
sui'face lighter green and finely hairy; (3) small,
spreading, 5-parted, greenish and rusty-brown
hairy flowers ^ie-Vi "icli across in small lateral
clusters; and (4) rounded dark brown or blackish
seed capsules about V4 i'lch in diameter, 3-seeded.

Commonly 10-15 feet high and 2 inches or less
in trunk diameter but sometimes 25 feet or more in
height, evergreen, with spreading crown. Bark
of small trees is brown or gray, smoothish, and
thin, peeling off in small thin flakes, on larger
trimks becoming fissured. Inner bark is light
brown or pink and slightly bitter. Older twigs
are gray or reddish brown.

Leaves are alternate in 2 rows and have petioles
14-V2 incb long. Blades are li/^-6 inches long
and %-3 inches broad, not toothed on edges.

Trees planted in moist sites of Puerto Rico are
so different in their more vigorous rapid growth
that they scarcely seem to represent the same spe-
cies. They become 40-50 feet in height and 6-10
inches in trunk diameter, witli long stout nearly
horizontal branches bearing 2 rows of large coarse
leaves. These much larger leaves have stout peti-
oles %-l inch long and blades 8-11 inches long
and 4—6 inches wide. The flowers are similar,
though the seed capsules may be slightly larger.
The drawings illustrate both the typical and large-
leaf forms.

Flower clusters are V2 in<^h across or smaller,
almost stalkless, with several, mostly sihort-stalked
flowers. The short cuplike base (hypanthium)
bears 5 spreading, pointed sepals more than Yiq
inch long, greenish and on outside rusty-brown
hairy, and 5 smaller narrow yellow petals folde<l
ai-ound the 5 opposite stamens; and the pistil con-
sists of 3-celled ovary covered by the broad disk,
a style, and 3 stigmas.

Colubrina arborcscens (Mill.) Sarg.

Seed capsules, borne few to several together
along twig mostly back of leaves, are nearly round
or slightly 3-lobed, with cuplike base (hypan-
thium) in lowest third to half, splitting into 3
parts and separating from base. The shiny black
seeds are V^-'^^ inch long. Flowering and fruiting
probably irregularly from .spring to fall.

The sap wood is whitish or light brown, the
heartwood yellowish brown. The wood is hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.7), strong, and durable.
Used chiefly for posts in Puerto Rico and formerly
for piling because of resistance to decay in water.
Elsewhere employed in construction where suffi-
ciently large.

Planted as a shade tree in southern Florida,
Guatemala, and El Salvador. Recent forest plan-
tations of this species in the Guilarte Forest con-
tain rapid-growing trees of good form. The shiny
seeds of this and related species have been made
into necklaces and similar ornaments in Jamaica.

Thickets and forests in the coastal and lime-
stone regions, chiefly in the drier areas of Puerto
Rico. Also in Mona, Icacos, Vieques, Ctilebra, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin
Gorda, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Boqueron, Cambalache, Gua-
jataca, Guanica, Guilarte, Rio Abajo.

MUNICIPALITT WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON, 49.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and "West Indies from Bahamas and Cuba
to Antigua and in Barbados. Also southern
Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, and introduced
in El Salvador.

Other common names. — corazon de paloma,
cuerno de buey (Dominican Republic) ; bijaguara,
birijagua, fuego (Cuba) ; cascalata (Mexico) ;
coxte, costex, guayabillo (Guatemala) ; chaquirio,
chaquira (El Salvador) ; coffee colubrina, naked-
wood, wild-coffee (United States) ; common snake-
bark, bitters (Bahamas) ; greenheart, snake- wood,
black velvet, wild ebony, mountain ebony (Ja-
maica) ; blackbead-tree (Barbados) ; bois de fer,
bois mabi, bois pel6, bois ferblanc (Haiti),

Botanical synonyms. — Colubrina cohihrina
(Jacq.) Millsp., C. ferruglnosa Brongn.

316

145. Abeyuelo, coffee colubrina

Coluirina arborescens (Mill.) Sarg.

Typical form (above) and large-leaf form (below), two-thirds natural size.

317

BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE)

146. Mabi, soldierwood

This small tree or shrub of dry areas is charac-
terized by: (1) finely hairy brown twigs; (2) thin,
elliptic leaves 1-3 inches long and V2-IV2 inches
broad, short-pointed at apex and rounded at base,
with the lateral veins curved and prolonged near
margins, green and hairless on upper surface, and
pale green and minutely hairy beneath; (3) the
small, spreading greenish 5-parted flowers nearly
%6 i'lch across, several in almost stalkless clusters
at bases of leaves; and (4) the rounded, slightly
3-angled, reddish-brown seed capsules 14 inch in
diameter, 3-seeded.

Evergreen, usually 10-15 feet high and less than
4 inches in trunk diameter, with spreading crown
of thin foliage. The orange-brown Ibark is
smoothish on small trunks but becomes fissured,
s])litting off in thin scales. Inner bark is light
brown and bitter. The twigs are slender.

The alternate leaves have haii-y petioles 1/4-1/2
inch long. The blades coirmionly have 2 brown
gland dots on the margin near base.

Flower clusters about 14 inch across, hairy.
Each flower has a short cuplike base (hypanthium)
on which are borne 5 spreading, pointed, greenish
sepals more than Vig inch long, hairy on outside,
and 5 smaller, narrow, yellow petals folded around
the 5 opposite stamens; the pistil has a 3-celled
ovary covered by the broad disk but with style and
3 stigmas protruding.

Colubrina reclinata (L'Her.) Brongn.

Seed capsules have a cuplike base (hypanthium)
in lowest third and split apart fi-om the base to
release the shiny brownish-black elliptic seeds %6
inch long. In flower from July to November and
in fruit from July to January.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
dark brown. The wood is hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.8), strong, and reported to be durable.
It is used only for posts in Puerto Rico.

From the bark is produced the popular fer-
mented drink "mabi." Elsewhere decoctions from
the bitter bark and the leaves have been used in
local medicines. The plants have been grown as
ornamentals in southern Florida.

Thickets and woods in the dry coastal and dry
limestone regions of southwestern Puerto Rico.
Also in Culebra, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
Tortola, and Anegada.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Lesser
Antilles south to St. Vincent. Also in southern
Mexico (Veracruz and Yucatan) and Guatemala.

Other common names. — palo amargo, mabi
(Dominican Republic) ; jayajabico, carbonero de
costa, carbonero (Cuba) ; soldiei-wood, naked- wood
(United States) ; smooth snake-bark (Bahamas) ;
bois mabi, bois de fer (Haiti) ; bois mabi, mambee
(Guadeloupe).

318

146. Mabd, soldierwood

Natural size.

Coluirina reclinata (L'H6r.) Brongn.

319

BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE)

147. Bariaco, "ironwood," leadwood

One of several similar species with small leaves,
this small tree or shmb is characterized by:
(1) densely leafy spreading branches in horizon-
tal layers; (2) mostly opposite, nearly hairless,
elliptic (sometimes ovate) leaves %.-2 inches long
and V^-1V4 inches broad, rounded at both ends and
slightly notched at apex, reddish when unmatm-e,
later green or yellow green, shiny on upper sur-
face and dull beneath; (3) yellow-green 5-parted
flowers %6 i'lch across, a few in clustere Vi-V2 i"ch
long at leaf bases; and (4) elliptic dark brown or
black fruits i/4— % inch long.

An evergreen tree or shrub commonly 10-15 feet
high and 2-6 inches in tnuik diameter. The gray
bark is smootliish or slightly fissured, becoming
ridged and scaly on large trunks. Inner bark is
reddish bi-own, slightly bitter. The slender twigs
are minutely hairy, gray or light brown, the youiig
green portions bearing the lateral flowers. Raised
leaf scars and dots (lenticels) make the twigs
slightly rough.

The leaves have short, finely hairy petioles
Vs-yie inch long and blades usually slightly tluck-
ened, not toothed on edges.

Flower clusters (cymes) have 5 or fewer flowers,
each on a stalk about Vs inch long. The short cup-
shaped base (hypanthium) is less than y^e long,
bearing 5 spreading pointed yellow-green sepals
Vie inch long and 5 stamens; the pistil ^g inch
long bordered by the disk has ovary, short style,
and 2 stigmas. Petals are lacking. The fruits
(drupes) are 1-seeded. Flowering and fruiting at
different times during the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is orange brown to dark brown, streaked. The
wood is exceedingly hard, exceedingly heavy (spe-
cific gravity 1.3-1.4), very fine-textured, and very

Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urban

resistant to decay and to attack by dry-wood ter-
mites. Because of the small size of local trees,
the wood has little use in Puerto Rico except for
posts.

Used elsewhere for cabinetwork, veneer, cross-
ties, and canes. The wood is one of the densest
in the world, the heaviest of the native woods in
the United States and perhaps also of Puerto
Rico.

Thickets and woods in the limestone regions of
Puerto Rico, mostly in the southwest. Also Mona,
Desecheo, Caja de Muertos, Icacos, Culebra, Vie-
ques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and
Anegada.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Guanica.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles
south to St. Vincent and Bequia, and in Bonaire
and Curaciao. Also in southern Mexico, Guate-
mala, British Honduras, and Honduras.

Other common names. — espejuelo, palo de
hieiTo, quiebra-hacha (Puerto Rico) ; ironwood,
guatafer, bois de fer (Virgin Islands); quiebra-
hacha, ciguamo, palo de hierro (Dominican Re-
public) ; cocuyo, hueso de tortuga, coronel, carey
de cost a, palo diablo, acero (Cuba) ; quiebra-hacha
(Guatemala) ; leadwood, black-iron wood (United
States) ; black-ironwood (Jamaica) ; axemaster,
quebracho (British Honduras) ; bois de fer
(Haiti, Guadeloupe) ; manggel cora, ironberry
(Dutch West Indies).

The generic name means Krug's tree. This
genus of a single species was dedicated to Leopold
Krug (1833-98), German consul in Puerto Rico,
businessman, botanist, and patron of science, who
studied the flora of the West Indies.

320

147. Bariaeo, "Ironwood," leadwood

Natural size.

Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urban

321

148. Cascarroya

BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE)

Sarcomphalus reticulatus (Vahl) Urban

This small tree of dry forests is distinguished
by: (1) small gi'ay or brown spines %-% inch
long, paired or single at some nodes; (2) densely
rusty hairy twigs; (3) mostly small, thickened,
still' and brittle elliptic leaves 1-3 inches long and
%-2 inches broad, rounded at both ends, with 3
main veins from base, the lower surface with prom-
inent network of raised veins and finely soft hairy ;
(4) many small yellow-green 5-parted flowers %6
inch across, finely and densely hairy, in branched
clusters; and (5) elliptic brown fruits %-% inch
long, with bi-own hairy base V-i hich across.

An evergreen tree or shrub to 20 feet high and
4 inclies in trunk diameter. The dark gray or
brown bark is smoothish. Inner bark is dark red,
gritty, and tasteless. The brown or gray twigs are
angled when young.

The alternate leaves have short hairy petioles
about Ys inch long. Leaf blades are often slight-
ly heart-shaped at base, with edges often minute-
ly toothed and turned imder, the upper surface
green to dark green, dull or a little shiny, finely
hairy or becoming nearly hairless, with slightly
sunken veins, and the lower surface light green.

The flower clusters (panicles) are mostly ter-
minal, 1/2-21/4 inches long, densely hairy, and bear
many crowded, almost stalkless, slightly fragrant
flowers less than Vs "ich long. The conical green
haii-y base (hypanthium) y^g inch long bears 5
spreading, pointed, yellow-green sepals Vie hich
long, haii-y on outside, 5 minute long-stalked con-
cave pale yellow petals Yiq inch long, and 5 sta-
mens opposite the petals and the same length ; and
within the yellow-green disk is the pistil Vie inch

long composed of a green hairy 3-celled ovary and
3 styles united below.

The fruits (drupes), a few in a cluster, are
slightly longer than broad, light green and turn-
ing to brown, finely hairy or hairless. The large
stone encloses 3 or fewer .shiny brown flattened
seeds. Flowering and fruiting in summer.

The wood is light brown or yellowish, hard, and
heavy (specific gravity 0.9). Used in Puerto
Rico for posts.

In Dominican Republic hogs and goats eat the
fruits. Reported to be a honey plant.

Forests and thickets of the dry limestone re-
gion of southwestern Puerto Rico. Also in Caja
de Muertos, St. Croix, and Tortola.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, and Lesser Antilles at Barbuda and Long
Island near Antigua.

Other common names. — cacao rojo, azufaito,
cascarilla, espejuelo (Puerto Rico) ; saona cimar-
rona, saona de puerco, sopaipo (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; coquemolle (Haiti).

A related tree species (Sarcomphahis domin-
ffen.'iis (Spreng.) Krug & Urban) has the twigs,
leaves, and flowers all hairless. It is recorded from
the British Virgin Islands, Vieques, and the north-
eastern end of Puerto Rico.

Another species (Sarcomphalus taylorii Brit-
ton), a shrub or small tree of Mona Island and Ba-
hamas, has obovate leaves less than 1 inch long,
bright green on both sides, and notched or
rounded at apex.

322

148. Cascarroya

Natural size.

Sarcomphalus reticulatus (Vahl) Urban

323

149. Motillo

ELAEOCARPUS FAMILY (ELAEOCARPACEAE)

Sloanea berteriana Choisy

A large tree of mountain forests, recognized by :

(1) the mostly large elliptic leaves 6-18 inches
long and 3-S inclies broad, short-pointed at both
ends and the petioles with a swelling at each end:

(2) the pale yellow widely spreading flowers
%-% inch across, 4- or 5-parted, several in lateral
clusters; (3) the elliptic brown seed capsules II/4
inches long, hard and thick-walled, splitting usu-
ally into 4 parts and commonly present on ground
under trees; and (4) pronounced buttresses at the
base of the trunk.

This evergreen tree becomes 100 feet tall, with
a straight trunk 2-3 feet in diameter. The smooth-
ish dark gray bark lias reddish-brown warts about
14 inch long and broad. Inner bark is light
brown, with slightly bitter gritty taste. The
brown twigs are finely haii'>' when young.

The alternate leaves have stout petioles i/2""3V2
inches long, green turning brownish. Leaf blades
vary gi'eatly in size and are thin or slightly thick-
ened, without marginal teeth, nearly hairless, dark
green and with slightly sunken veins on upper sur-
face, and green beneath.

Flower clusters (racemes) are unbranched, 2
inches or less in length, with several flowers on
slender, finely hairy stalks V2-% inch long. There
are 4 or 5 pale yellow, pointed, finely haii-y sepals
Vi-YiG inch long; no petals; numerous hairy sta-
mens 1/4 inch or less in length, attached on a broad
disk; and the hairy pistil I/4 inch long, consisting
of 4- or sometimes 3-c«lled ovary, style, and 4 or
sometimes 3 stigmas.

The 4-])arted seed capsules, inconspicuously fine
hairy, hard and with walls %6 inch thick, release
a few rounded or elliptic seeds about 14 inch long.
Flowering chiefly from spring to fall, with fruits
nearly through the year.

The sapwood is yellowish brown, and the heart-
wootl multicolored, varying from yellow brown to
pinkish brown or dark brown, sometimes with

darker bi-own stripes. The wood is very hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.80) , strong, and medium-
textured, and has gro\\1:h rings and irregular
gi-ain. It is considered hard on tools, is classsed
as durable, and is susceptible to attack by dry-
wood termites. Its rate of air-seasoning and
amount of degrade are moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing, turning,
mortising, and sanding are good ; shaping and bor-
ing are excellent; and resistance to screw splitting
is poor.

In Puerto Rico the wood has been used sparing-
ly for furniture and also in local construction and
for crossties. Lacking attractiveness and unifonn
color for furniture and cabinetwork, it is suitable
for heavy construction, fann implement parts,
handles, heavy-duty flooring, and boat parts.

Forests of the lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. A dominant tree m the rain forest, usually
growing in the moist ra\'ines and becoming an
emergent tree in the upper story of the forest.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negi'o.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser
Antilles from St. Kitts to Martinique.

Other common" names. — cacao motillo, cacaillo,
cacao roseta, cacaotillo, roseta (Puerto Rico) ; ca-
cao cimarron (Dominican Republic) ; petit coco,
chataignier petit coco, cocoyer (Guadeloupe,
Martinique).

Another species (Sloanea amygdalina Griseb.)
is rare in the mountain forest at Maricao Forest in
the western Cordillera. This tree has smaller el-
liptic leaves with blades 21/2-6 inches long, blunt
or notched at apex, fewer flowei-s usually single or
no more than 3 together, and smaller seed capsules
%-l inch long, densely covered with short spines
i/x6 inch long. It is native also in Hispaniola and
Cuba but was not listed from Puerto Rico by Brit-
ton and Wilson.

324

149. MotlUo

Sloanea ierteriana Cholsy

Two-thirds natural size.

325

MALLOW FAMILY (MALVACEAE)

AA,

Key to the 3 species illustrated (Nos. 150-152)

Leaves with mostly 11 or 9 main veins from base ; petioles and lower leaf surfaces densely covered with whitish-
gray star-shaped hairs ; flowers with yellow petals, turning orange and reddish with age — 150. Hibiscus
tiliaceus.*
Leaves with mostly 7 main veins from base, petioles and blades with scattered minute scales.

B. Leaves abruptly long- or short -pointed at apex ; flowers with red petals — 1.51. Montezuma speciosissima.
BB. Leaves long-pointed at apex; flowers with pale yellow petals, turning to purple — 152. Thespesia populnea.*

150. Emajagua, sea hibiscus

Hibiscus tiliaceus L*

This small tree or shrub is characterized by:
(1) long-pet ioled, heart-shaped and ne^arly round
leaves 4-7 inches lonjj; and liroad, with mostly 11
or 9 main veins from base, shiny yellow green and
hairless on upper surface; (2) the yomig twigs,
petioles, lower leaf surfaces, calyx, and seed cap-
sules densely covered with whitish-gray star-
shaped hairs; (3) widely spi-eading or prostrate
crooked branches; (4) the large funnel-shaped
yellow flowers 3-3^/^ inches long and broad, turn-
ing orange and reddish with age; and (5) the ellip-
tic, gray-green, hairy seed capsules 1-1^4 inches
long, which split into 5 parts.

An evergreen tree attaining 10-20 feet in height,
with a short crooked trunk to 6 inches in diameter
and a broad crown. The bark is gray and smooth,
the thin inner bark fibrous. The twigs have rings
at nodes and become brown and hairless in age.

Leaves are alternate and have petioles 2-5 inches
in length. Leaf blades are abruptly short- or long-
pointed at apex and heart-shaped at base, with
edges not toothed, and slightly thickened. There
are 2 large short-pointed whitish haii-y scales
(stipules) I-IV2 inches long at base of leaf, soon
shedding and leaving a ring scar.

A few flowers are borne in terminal branching
clusters (panicles) or lateral near ends of twigs,
each on a whitish hairy stalk %-2 inches long. At
the base of a flower there is a gray-green hairy
cup (involucre) 3,4 inch long with usually 9 or 10
narrow pointed lobes. The calyx, also gray-green
hairy, is I-I14 inches long, tubular with 5 narrow
long-pointed lobes. Petals 5 (greenish tinged in
dried specimens), 21/2-31/^ inches long, rounded
but broader on 1 side, with star-shaped hairs on
outside. Numerous stamens are on a column about
2 inches long united with petals at base. The
pistil consists of a densely hairy conical .5-celled
ovary with long slender style and 5 broad stigmas.

The long-pointed seed capsules split and break
open the calyx and involucre which remain at-
tached. There are many brownish-black seeds
Vs-^/ie inch long. Flowering and fruiting through
the year.

The sapwood is whitish, and heartwood is dark
greenish brown. The wood is moderately soft,
porous, and moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.6). Used chiefly for fuel, sometimes elsewhere
for floats or as a cork substitute.

An important use of the fibrous bark, which
can be peeled off in long strips, is for cordage. Be-

sides ropes, fish nets, mats, and coarse cloth for-
merly were made from the bark, which even could
be eaten in times of famine along with the roots
and yoimg leaves. Also, the fiber has served for
tying tobacco. The trees sprout from stumps and
when cut back produce long vigorous shoots from
which quantities of ropes can be made. Different
parts of the tree have served in home medicines.
Also a honey plant.

Grown as an ornamental for the showy flowers.
The plants are easily propagated by cuttings and
are started in fence rows as living fenceposts. In
coastal swamps near mangroves, leaning trunks
and branches form roots in the mud and aid build-
ing the land.

Roadsides, thickets, and swampy areas in the
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also in
Mona, Vieques, St. Thomas, and St. John. (Re-
corded long ago from St. Croix.)

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

R.\NGE. — Seashores throughout the tropics,
probably of Old World origin and naturalized in
America. Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bennuda, and through West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago. Also
from Mexico to Peru and Brazil.

Other COMMON names. — majagua (Puerto Rico,
Spanish) ; damajagua (Dominican Republic) ;
majagua hembra (Cuba) ; majao (Honduras) ;
algodoncillo, mahoe (Panama) ; sea hibiscus, lin-
den hibiscus, tree hibiscus, mahoe (L^nited States) ;
mahoe (English) ; seaside majoe (Jamaica, Trini-
dad and Tobago) ; mahot (St. Vincent) ; blue
moho, wild cotton (British Honduras) ; maho,
kayuwa (British Guiana) ; cot on marron, mahaut
franc (Haiti) ; bois flot, bois de liege, grand mahot,
mahot gombo (Guadeloupe) ; bois flot (Marti-
nique) ; pariti (French Guiana); maho
(Surinam).

BoT.\NicAL SYNONYM. — Paritium tiliaceum (L.)
St.-Hil., Juss., & Camb.

The Spanish common name majagua, of which
the English name mahoe is a corruption, is an
American Indian word applied in tropical Amer-
ica to several unrelated trees with useful fibrous
bark.

Mahoe {HihiJicus elatus Sw.*) is a related large
upland tree native in Cuba and Jamaica and intro-
duced into Puerto Rico in experimental forest
plantations. It has a tall straight trunk and

326

150. Bmajagua, sea hibiscus

Hibiscus tiliaceus L.

Two-thirds natural size.

687-921 O — 64 22

327

larger flowers about 4 inches long and broad.
The petals are dark red at base, changing in color
from pink to yellow and red.

This genus is represented also by 10 or more
species of native and introduced shrubs and herbs,

including the vegetable okra {Hihiseuft escidentus
L.). Amapola or Chinese hibiscus (H. rosor-
sinensis L.*) is a popular ornamental shrub with
purple, rose, or white petals, introduced from
tropical Asia.

151. Maga

MALLOW FAMILY (MALVACEAE)

Montezuma speciosissima Sesse & Moc.

Maga, a widely planted native tree is easily rec-
ognized by its very large red spreading flowei-s
.3-31/4 inches long and 3i/o-5 inches broad, with 5
rounded overlapping petals. Though generally in
flower, identification may be made also by: (1) the
long-petioled heart-shaped leaves with blades
41/0-9 inches long and 4— 61A inclies broad and usu-
ally 7 main veins fi-om base; and (2) the nearly
round pointed green fruit 11/4-2 inches in
diameter.

A medium-sized evergreen tree becoming 30-50
feet tall and 6-18 inches in trimk diameter, for-
merly larger. The gray or brown bark is rough
and relatively thick (i.^ inch), deeply fuiTowed
on large trunks. Inner bark is light brown, fi-
brous, and slightly bitter. The stout, warty twigs
are green when young, turning brown; young
twigs and other green parts have scattered mi-
nute brown scales.

The alternate leaves have yellow-green petioles
2-5 inches long. Leaf blades are abruptly long- or
short-pointed at apex, heart-shaped at base, with
edges not toothed, slightly thickened, green or
yellow green above and paler beneath.

Flowers are solitary at leaf bases on stout stalks
4^51/2 inches long, longer than petioles. Though
several are formed on a twig, only 1 flower opens
at a time. The cup-shaped green calyx is about
% inch long and broad, slightly thickened, shed-
ding as a ring after flowering, with 3 narrow green
scales (bracts) % inch long at base falling from
the bud. The 5 very large petals are 3-31^ inches
long and 2-3 inches broad, rounded but broader
on 1 side, with minute star-shaped hairs on out-
side. Stamens many, %q inch long, on a whitish
column about 2% inches long united at base with
petals and shedding with them. The pistil is com-
posed of a slightly conical yellow-green ovary
about % inch long and broad, 4- or 3-celled, slen-
der white style 21/4 inches long, and 4 or 3 yellow
united stigmas i/4-% inch long.

The fruits are fleshy or leathery, not splitting
open. There are a few brown seeds Vo inch long,
averaging about 1,200 to the pound. They lose
viability within a month. Flowering and fruiting
throughout the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is rich chocolate brown resembling old mahogany.
The wood is rather hard, heavy (specific gravity
0.7), fine-textured, vei-y durable, and very resist-

ant to attack by dry-wood termites. A now scarce
furniture woocl used also occasionally for turnery,
musical instruments, posts, and poles.

This tree was formerly widely planted along
roadsides and for timber in the public forests. As
it proved to be an alternate host of the pink boll-
worm {Pecthhophora goss^piellu Saiuiders), its
planting was discontinued in the cotton region.
Subsequently, propagation of this species has near-
ly terminated except for landscaping. Forest
plantings stopped when it was found that trees
which at first grew straight and rapidly later near-
ly ceased growth, became excessively branchy, and
produced numerous cankerlike defects on the
trunk. Trees in plantations on good soils in the
moist limestone region averaged 3.6 inches in di-
ameter at an age of 9 years. Another objection to
extensive planting even for the flowers is that the
trees are very susceptible to a scale insect which
deforms trunk and branches and sometimes causes
death. In southern Florida and elsewhere the trees
have been introduced for ornament and shade.

This handsome tree is Puerto Rico's own and
should be a candidate for adoption as the official
tree. "When originally described, it was confused
with Mexican collections by the same Spanish
botanists, and the range was erroneously given as
Mexico. The scarcely appropriate name for this
genus of a single species confined to Puerto Rico
honors Montezuma, Aztec ruler in Mexico at the
time of the Spanish conquest in 1513, but the spe-
cific name means very beautiful.

Native in the moist limestone forest region of
Puerto Rico. Extensively planted on the humid
coast, lower Cordillera, and lower Luquillo forest
regions. Cultivated also in St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Wild and planted in Camba-
lache, Guajataca, and Rio Abajo. Planted in
Carite, Luquillo, and Toro Negro.

MUNIOIPALITTES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. —

49, 53.

Range. — Native only in Puerto Rico. Planted
in St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ja-
maica, southern Florida, and British Honduras,
and perhaps elsewhere.

Other common names. — maga colorada (Puerto
Rico) ; purple haiti-haiti (St. Thomas) ; tulipan
del Japon (^Dominican Republic).

Botanical synonyms. — Thespesia grandif,ora
DC, Montezuma grandi-flora (DC.) Urban, Maga
gnxindi-fiora (DC.) Urban.

328

151. Maga

Two-thirds natural size.

Montezuma speciosisaima Sess6 & Moc.

329

MALLOW FAMILY (MALVACEAE)
152. Emajagiiilla, otaheita, portiatree Tliespesia populnea (L.) Soland.*

This tree or shnib of coastal woods, also planted
for ornament and shade, is characterized by: (1)
larjje bell-shaped flowers 2 inches lon<i and broad,
with 5 overlapping petals, pale yellow but turning
to purple, single at leaf bases; (2) dark gray,
rounded but flattened, slightly 5-ridged, hard, dry
fruits about li/4 inches or more in diameter and
% inch high; (3) long-petioled, long-pointed,
deeply lieart-shaped, darii green shiny leaves with
blades 4-8 inclies long and ^i/o-^ inches broad,
with usually 7 main veins from base; and (4)
tough fibrous bark.

An evergi-een tree to 30 feet in height and 8
inches in trunk diameter witli dense crown, the
long spreading lower branches of crowded plants
forming dense thickets. Tlie bark is gray and
slightly fissured, becoming thick and rough. Inner
bark is yellowish and fibrous. The stout twigs are
green and covei-ed with vei-y small brown .scales
when young, becoming gray. Petioles, leaf blades,
flower stalks, calyx, and fruits have scattered
minute inconspicuous brovni scales also.

The alternate leaves have petioles 2— i inches
long. Leaf blades are slightly thickened and
leathery, lighter beneath, not toothed on edges.

Flowers lateral on a twig, opening 1 at a time,
on stout stalks shorter than petioles, iA-2 inches
long. The cup-shaped gi-een calyx is about %
inch liigh and i^ inch across, remaining at base
of fruit, with 3-5 narrow green scales (bracts) 1/2
inch or more in length on outside, falling from the
bud. The broad, rounded, oblique petals 2 inches
or more in length are pale yellow, purplish at
base and turning to purple, with minute star-
sliaped hairs on outside. Stamens many, on a
column 1 inch long joined to petals at base. The
pistil has a 5-ce.lled ovary with slender style and
5 broader stigmas.

The fruits, which remain attached for some time
but do not split open, contain several brown hairy
seeds about % inch long and 1/4 inch broad. Flow-
ering and fruiting from spring to fall.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
chocolate brown. The wood is moderately soft,
medimnweight, durable, and takes a fine polish.

It is classed as resistant to attack from dry-wood
termites. Used in boatbuilding and for fuel and
elsewhei'e in cabinetwork.

Rope has been made from the tough fibrous
bark. It is rej^iorted that the flowers are eaten as
food and that the fruit is employed medicinally
for the treatment of skin eruptions.

Planted as a street tree and ornamental and liv-
ing fencepost. However, this tree is a host of the
cotton stainer, a red insect which stains the fibers
of growing cotton, and is eradicated in West
Indian islands where cotton is an important crop.
For this reason, the elimination of this tree from
cotton areas of Puerto Rico has been advocated,
and further ])ropagation has been discouraged.

Coastal woods and thickets along seashores and
borders of mangrove in Puerto Rico. Also in
Mona, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St.
John.

Range. — Widely distributed on tropical shores,
believed to be native in the Old World tropics and
planted and naturalized elsewhere. Southern
Florida including Florida Keys (planted also in
California), Bermuda, and throughout West
Indies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and
Tobago. Also occasionally cultivated in continen-
tal tropical America from southern Mexico (Yuca-
tan) and British Honduras to Brazil and Chile.

Other common names. — majagiiilla, frescura,
jaqueca, palo de jaqueca, clamor, santa maria
(Puerto Rico) ; haiti-haiti (Virgin Islands) ;
alamo, alamo bianco (Dominican Republic) ;
majagua de Florida (Cuba) ; frescura (Nicara-
gua) ; demon, algodon de monte (Colombia) ;
cremon (Venezuela) ; macoi (Chile) ; portiatree,
seaside mahoe (United State) ; seaside mahoe
(English) ; cork-tree, Spanish-cork (Bahamas) ;
John- Bull-tree (Jamaica, Bequia) ; mahot bord-
de-mer ( St. Lucia) ; tuliptree, mahault de Londres
(Trinidad) ; Spanish-cork, cork-tree (British
Honduras) ; beach maho, maho (British Guiana) ;
gros mahaut (Haiti) ; catalpa (Guadeloupe) ;
otaheita, palu santu (Dutch West Indies) ; bosch-
katoen (Surinam).

330

''./•*

m

I

/

eho

152. Bmajagililla, otaheita, portiatxee

Natural size.

Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland.

331

BOMBAX FAMILY (BOMBACACEAE)

Key to the 3 native species, all illustrated (Nos. 153-155)

A. Leaves digitate (palmate), with 5-S lance-shaped or oblong leaflets — 153. C'eiba pentandra.
AA. Leaves simple.

B. Leaves with 5-9 main veins from base — 154. Ochroma pyramidale.
BB. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib — 155. Qiiararibaea iurbinata.

153. Ceiba, silk-cotton-tree

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.

This giant tree, one of the lai'gest m tropical
America, is easily recognized by the massive gray-
green or gray smoothisli trunk ( spiny when small)
which reaches an enormous size of 5-8 feet or more
in diameter above the unusually large narrow but-
tresses and by the very broad flat crown of hori-
zontal branches. Other distinguishing character-
istics are: (1) the palmately compound leaves
(digitate) of 5-8 lance-shaped or oblong leaflets
3-8 inches long, drooping from the end of a long
petiole; (2) numerous spreading 5-parted whitish
to pink flowers 11/4-11/2 inches long and broad ; and
(3) oblong or elliptic seed capsules 3-6 inches or
more in length and 2 inches in diameter, contain-
ing many seeds and woolly hairs, the kapok of
commerce.

Ceiba is a rapidly growing deciduous tre« be-
coming 80 feet or more in height. The buttresses,
6-12 inches thick, extend horizontally out from
the tnuik over the large roots as much as 10 feet
and almost as high. Many stout conical spines
i/g-l inch long are present on branches and small
trunks but are. mostly absent on large tnuiks. The
thick inner bark is light brown and almost taste-
less. The thin crown is commonly broader than
the height of tlie tree. Twigs are stout, green at
tip, and becoming gray.

Leaves are alternate, with slender green petioles
3-9 inches long. The leaflets hang clown on short,
stalks V8-% inch long and are 3-8 inches long and
%-l% inches broad, short-pointed at base and
apex, not toothed on edges, thin, above bright
green to dark gre«n, and beneath dull green.

Great quantities of flowers are produced in la-
teral clusters near the ends of twigs in winter or
early spring (December to February) though not
every year, often while the tree is leafless. Flower
stalks are l-li/^ inches long. The calyx is cup-
shaped, about 1/2 inch long and broad, with 5-10
shallow teeth. The 5 petals are about IV4 inches
long, whitish to rose colored, and densely brown
silky hairy on the outer surface. Five stamens,
longer than the petals, are united into a column
near the base. The pistil consists of 5-celled ovarj- ,
a long style curved near apex, and enlarged stigma.

Seed capsules mature in spring and summer,
splitting open along 5 lines. Many rounded black
seeds less than % inch long (about 3,200 to a
pound) are imbedded in a dense mass of gray
woolly hairs.

The wood is very light brown but nearly al-
ways turned to blue gray by sap-staining fungi,

the sapwood almost the same color and not readily
distinguished. It is very soft, exceedingly light-
weight (specific gravity 0.23), weak, coarse-tex-
tured, and straight -grained. The rate of air-sea-
soning and amount of degrade are moderate. The
wood machines easily but not satisfactorily. Ma-
chining characteristics are as follows: planing,
sanding, and resistance to screw splitting are ex-
cellent; shaping and boring are poor; turning is
very poor; and mortising is fair. Logs and lum-
ber are very susceptible to attack by insects and de-
cay. However, blue-stain can be prevented by dip-
ping the lumber in a fungicide solution soon after
sawing.

The wood is seldom used in Puerto Rico al-
though sometimes has served for interior sheath-
ing. It resembles heavier grades of balsa
(guano) but is twice as strong and could be used
similarly. It is suitable for boxes, slack cooper-
age, toys, light construction, patternmaking, and
utility-grade plywood. Because it is easily worked
and in spite of lack of durability, the wood has
been employed for tubs and basins. Indians made
drums of the wood and hollowed out the trunks
for dugout canoes of large size.

Trees are occasionally planted for shade and
ornament, and young cut branches or cuttings will
root when planted. In many tropical towns a
giant spreading ceiba occupies the center of the
plaza. Classed as a valuable honey plant. It is
repotted that the leaves are edible when cooked.

Kapok, the woolly or silky hair from the seed
pods, is an important product of this species. The
harvest is mainly from planted trees in Java and
the Philippines. A growing tree produces about
600-900 seed capsules or 6-9 pounds of clean floss
annually. This fiber is fine, lightweight, and elas-
tic and does not become matted vmder pressure.
Because of these characteristics and its insulating
qualities, kapok is preferred for linings of sleep-
ing bags and was a strategic material in the last
war. Another use is for life preservers. In many
places kapok has been used locally in stuffing pil-
lows and mattresses, and commercial development
has been su.crgested where the trees are sufficiently
common. The fiber is brittle and inflammable and
not suitable for spinning into threads. An oil
suitable for making soap and illumination has been
extracted from the seeds.

Ceiba is .scattered and widely distributed in
Puerto Rico along river banks and open hillsides
on the coastal plain and in the lower mountain

332

153. Ceiba, silk-cotton-tree

Ceiba pentandra (L. ) Gaertn.

Two-thirds natural size.

333

regions and is commonest in the drier, southern
areas. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, and Tortohi.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, Eio Abajo, San Juan, Susua, Tore Negro,
Vega.

Range. — Nearly throughout West Indies from
Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. In-
troduced in Bermuda and Bahamas and planted
also in southern Florida and California. "Widely
distributed from Mexico to Ecuador, Brazil, and
Guianas. Also in tropical Africa and Asia.

Other common names. — kapok (Virgin
Islands) ; ceiba, ceibo (Spanish, commerce) ;
pochote (Mexico, Central America) ; bongo, cot-
ton-ti-ee (Panama) ; ceiba de lana, bonga, ceiba
de Garzon (Colombia) ; silk-cotton-tree, kapok

(English) ; cotton-tree (Bi-itish Honduras) ;
kumaka (British Guiana) ; mapou (Haiti, Guade-
loupe) ; fromager (commerce, Guadeloupe, Mar-
tinique, French Guiana) ; bois coton, kapokier
( French Guiana) ; katoenboom, katunbom, kapok-
boom, silk-cotton-tree (Dutch West Indies) ; kan-
kantrie, kaddo bakkoe (Surinam) ; sumauma, mai
das arvores, cyyba, mocmayn (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Bonxbax pentandrwn
h., Ceiba anfractuosa (DC.) Maza..

Some authors have separated the New World
trees from those of the Old World as a variety or
species {Ceiba penfandm (L.) Gaertn. var. cari-
baea (DC.) Bakh., C. caribaea (DC.) A. Chev., C.
occidentalis (Spreng.) Burkill). The Spanish
and generic names are from an old Caribbean
word which is said to mean boat.

BOMBAX FAMILY (BOMBACACEAE)

154. Guano, balsa

Balsa, a very rapidly gi-owing tree known in
Puerto Rico as guano, is easily recognized by : (1)
an open crown of a few coai-se spreading branches ;
(2) smooth pinkish-gray bark; (3) large, nearly
round, heart-shaped leaves 8-16 inches long and
broad with 7-9 main veins spreading from base
(pahnately veined) and with long petioles; (l)
the large, tubular bell-shaped, whitish and green-
ish flowers 5 inches long, with 5 petals, borne
singly; and (5) the odd dark brown cylindrical
seed capsules 7-10 inches long and 1-1^/4 inches
in diameter, covered with light brown wool after
opening.

A medium-sized to large evergi'een tree, becom-
ing .50-80 feet in height and 21/2 feet in trunk
diameter, witji slight Ijuttresses when large. Inner
bark is fibrous, pinkish. % inch or less in thick-
ness. The twigs are stout, 14 inch in diameter,
greenish, rusty-brown haiiy when young, with
large brownish leaf scars and thick pith.

The alternate leaves have stout reddish-tinged
petioles about as long as the blades and 2 broad
I'ounded scales (stipules) ^2 i'^ch long at base.
Leaf blades are short-pointed or slightly 3-pointed
(sometimes 5-pointed), edges mostly without
teeth, slightly thickened, green and hairless on
upper surface and yellow gi'een with minute star-
shaped hairs on lower surface. Young plants have
very large leaves with blades as much as 2 feet
long and broad.

The flowers are formed on long stout stalks near
ends of twigs. They are 3-4 inches broad, slightly
fleshy, bearing minute star-shaped hairs. The
thickened brownish-green calyx has a tube about
2 inches long and 5 large spreading lobes IV2
inches long, the 2 outer lobes narrow and pointed,
2 lobes very broad and notched, and 1 broad on 1
side. There are 5 whitish petals 5 inches long,
broad and rounded at apex and narrow below.
The stamen column about 5 inches long has an
enlarged terminal pollen-bearing portion of many
spirally twisted anthers and surrounds the pistil

334

Ochroma pyramidale (Cav.) Urban

with its 5-celled, conical ovary, long style A^/o
inches in length, and 5 spirally twisted stigmas.

The seed capsules are 10-angled and grooved and
split into 5 parts to expose a mass of tawny -brown,
long, soft hairs, in which many small dark brown
seeds % inch long are loosely imbedded. Flowers
appearing from winter to summer, and fruits and
seeds mature in spring and summer.

Balsa is the lightest of commercial woods, weigh-
ing less than cork. However, the Puerto Rican
guano (specific gravity 0.22) is heavier than balsa
of major commercial sources. The sapwood, the
main source, is whitish, often with yellowish or
pinkish hue, and the heartwood is pale brown or
reddish tinged. The wood is very soft, weak, and
has very coarse, straight, uniform grain. It is
absorbent unless treated (frequently with paraf-
fin), warps badly, and requires very sharp tools to
work. Also it is perishable, decays and becomes
discolored readily, and is very susceptible to attack
by dry-wood termites. The rate of air-seasoning
and amount of degrade are moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing is good;
shaping is poor; turning, boring, and mortising
are very poor; sanding is fair; and resistance to
screw splitting is excellent.

Balsa wood was a strategic material in the Sec-
ond Woi'ld War, being employed chiefly for life-
rafts, lifebelts, and similar equipment, and in air-
plane construction. The best grades were used in
making British mosquito bombers. Nearly all the
wartime supply came from Ecuador. In the First
World War, 80,000 balsa floats were made for a
submarine mine barrage 250 miles long in the
North Sea.

Peacetime uses elsewhere include insulation,
toys, floats for fishnets, and lightweight boxes.
Because of the insulating qualities, boxes of balsa
have been used for shipping cold perishables with-
out ice. The wood can serve as a substitute for
cork. The Puerto Rican guano can be used in
many ways like the heavier grades of balsa. It is

154. Guano, balsa

Two-thirds natural size.

Ochroma pyramidale (Cav.) Urban

335

suitable for certain types of fruit and vegetable
containers, novelties, toys, and temporary forms.
The Spanish common name balsa, meaning raft
and perhaps of aboriginal origin, is associated
with the use of the buoyant logs by the Indians for
rafts.

The woolly or silky hairs of the seed capsules are
employed for stuffing pillows and mattresses, be-
ing similar to the kapok fibers of commerce ob-
tained from the related tree, c«iba. It is reported
that these fibers have been used also in felt hats.
Ropes have been made from the fibrous bark, which
also contains tannin.

The trees are sometimes grown as ornamentals
for the large leaves and large flowers, such as in
southern Florida.

Scattered in the moist coast, moist limestone, and
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Requir-
ing full sunlight, it is confined to open areas, such
as roadsides, clearings, and cutover forests, where
the wind-borne seeds are widely distributed. Grer-
mination is rapid, especially following fire. Trees
attain mature size within 6-10 years, sometimes
averaging 10 feet in height growth a year.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Rio Abajo, Susua.

Range. — Widely distributed in tropical America
with minor variations distinguished as species by

BOMBAX FAMILY

155. Garrocho

This small tree is limited to deep shade of moist
forests and characterized by : ( 1 ) straight erect
trunk and axis with horizontal branches attached
in circles of 5 or 4 together at the same point ; (2)
elliptic leaves 3-9 inches long and 1^/^-4 inches
broad, short-petioled, slightly thickened, strongly
odorous when dry; (3) lateral whitish funnel-
shaped flowers % inch long, mostly single and al-
most stalkless at base of leaves; and (4) rounded,
orange, fleshy fruits % inch in diameter.

An evergreen tree becoming 20 feet in height
and 6 inches in trunk diameter. The branches, at-
tached in whorls about lV^-2 feet apart along the
axis, are distinctive of this genus. The gray-
brown bark is smoothish but finely warty. Inner
bark is yellowish and slightly bitter. Twigs are
brown, with faint rings where leaves are borne.

The alternate leaves have petioles i/4-% inch
long. Blades are short-pointed at both ends, with-
out teeth on edges, dark green and slightly shiny
with sunken lateral veins on upper surface and
dull yellow green beneath. At base of young
leaves is a pair of narrow pointed gray scales
(stipules) %6 inch long, which slied early, leaving
a ring scar.

The flowers are attached on very short stalks
along the twigs, bear minute star-shaped hairs, and
have a peculiar odor. The narrow green calyx
tube is %-V2 iiich long, slightly and irregularly
2- or 3-lobed ; there are 5 spreading whitish petals

336

some authors. Greater Antilles and Lesser An-
tilles from St. Kitts to Grenada, and Trinidad and
Tobago. Also from southern Mexico to Ecuador,
Pern, Bolivia, and Brazil. Planted also in south-
ena Florida and Dutch West Indies.

Other common names. — false cork-tree (Virgin
Islands) ; balsa, palo de balsa, balso (Spanish) ;
palo de lana, lana, lanero (Dominican Republic) ;
lanero, ceibon botija (Cuba) ; corcho (Mexico) ;
lana, cajeto, lanilla, guano, corcho, jujul (Guate-
mala) ; guano, tambor (Honduras) ; algodon (El
Salvador) ; gatillo (Nicaragua) ; lana, cottontree
(Panama) ; tucumo, ceiba de lana, lana (Colom-
bia) ; huampo, topa (Peru) ; balsa, balsa- wood
(United States, English, commerce) ; corkwood,
downtree, bombast mahoe (Jamaica) ; bois flot
(St. Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago) ;
polak (British Honduras) ; coton fleurs, mahau-
deme (Haiti) ; bois flot (Guadeloupe, Marti-
nique) ; fromager mapou, bois liege, bois pripri,
patte lapin, bois lievre (Guadeloupe) ; balsa
(Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Ochroma J)icolor Row-
lee, O. hoUvmna Rowlee, 0. grandifora Rowlee, 0.
1-agop^is Sw., 0. lagopios var. hicolor (Rowlee)
Standi. & Steyerm., O. limonensis Rowlee, 0.
ohhi.sa Rowlee, 0. peniviava Johnst., O. tomentosa
Willd., 0. velutina Rowlee.

(BOMBACACEAE)

Quararibaea turhinata (Sw.) Poir.

more than ^o iiich long; stamen column % inch
long, with many anthers clustered at apex; and
pistil with 2- or 3-celled ovary, slender style, and
enlarged stigma inside the stamen column.

The rounded, orange fleshy fruits are slightly
broader than long, with calyx remaining at base,
and have 1 or 2 large seeds. Flowers are produced
chiefly in spring (February to May), and fruits
mature slightly later (February to July).

The sapwood is whitish and hard. The wood is
little used in Puerto Rico. Formerly the stems
were used for goad sticks, as the Spanish common
name indicates. Because of the peculiar branch-
ing, small stems could serve as hatracks.

An understory tree of the moist coast, moist
limestone, and lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. Also Vieques, St. Jolin, and St. Croix. Re-
discovered in St. Croix in 1954, more than 150
years after an earlier collection there.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, Rio Abajo.

Municipality avhere especially common. — 46.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St.
John, and St. Croix, and Lesser Antilles from St.
Eustatius, St. Kitts, and Antigua to Grenada.
Also recorded from Surinam.

Other common names. — palo de garrocha, asu-
billo (Puerto Rico) ; molinillo (Dominican Re-
public) ; swizzle-stick-tree (Lesser Antilles) ;
millerwood (St. Eustatius).

155. Garrocho

Two-thirds natural size.

QuarariMea turMnata (Sw.) Poir.

337

CHOCOLATE FAMILY (STERCULL\CEAE)

Key to the 3 si)ecles illustrated (Nos. 156-158)

A. Leaves deeply 5-lobed, with 5 maiu veins from heart-shaped base ; petiole nearly as long as blade — 157. StercuUa
apetala.*
AA. Leaves not lobed.

B. Leaves with 3 or sometimes 5 main veins from the oblique base, with edges finely saw-toothed — 156. Ouazuma
tilmifoUa.
BB. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib, not toothed on edges — 158. Theoiroma cacao*

156. Guacima, jacocalalu

This tree is recoji;nizecl by: (1) long widely
spreading branches, horizontal or slightly droop-
ing, with the alternate leaves in 2 rows in a flat-
tened arrangement; (2) bark becoming furrowed
and rough or slightly shaggy; (3) young twigs
covered with minute rusty-brown or light gray
star-shaped hairs; (-1) the ovate to lance-shaped
leaves 21^-5 inches long and 1-21/4 inches wide,
long-pointed, finely saw-toothed, and witli 3 or
sometimes 5 main veins from the rounded oblique
base; (5) small brown-tinged yellow 5-parted
flowers in clusters at base of leaves; and (6) fniit
round to elliptic, hard, very warty, black, %-l
inch long.

A small to medium-sized tree to 50 feet high and
2 feet in trunk diameter, with spreading roimded
crown. The bark is gray or gray brown, 14 i^cli
or more in thickness. Inner bark is light brown,
fibrous, and slightly bitter. Evergreen except in
areas with long diy seasons. The long slender
twigs become dark brown.

The slender petioles Y%-V2 ii^cli long are covered
with minute rusty-brown or light gray star-shaped
hairs. Leaf blades are thin, nearly hairless or
sometimes densely hairy, green on upi^er surface
and paler beneath. At night the leaves hang
vertically.

Branched flower clusters (panicles) are 1-2
inches long at base of leaves and bear many small,
slightly fragrant flowers on minutely hairy stalks.
The spreading flowers are about % inch long and
half as broad, consisting of a 2- or 3-lobed rusty-
brown or light gray hairy calyx less than y^ inch
long, turned back and then greenish, 5 yellow
petals each witli a slender 2-forked appendage, and
yellowish stamen column with about 15 antihers
surrounding the pistil, composed of hairy light
green 5-celled ovary, style, and 5 miited stigmas.

The warty seed capsules, which mature in fall
and winter, are 5-celled, open at the apex or irreg-
ularly by pores, and contain many seeds % inch
long. Flowering from spring to fall (March to
October) and with fiiiits throughout the year.

This is a variable species with differences in
shape and amount of hairiness in the leaves and
in shape and method of opening of seed capsules.
Some botanists distinguish 2 species, both widely
distributed with almost the same range and both
occurring in Puerto Rico. Trees in moist areas
have nearly hairless foliage with rusty-brown

Guazuma ulmifolia Lam.

hairs, while those in diy areas have densely light
gray haiiy foliage and have been separated as a
different species (G. tomentosa H. B. K.).

Sapwood is light brown and heart.wood is pink-
isli to brownish. The wood is moderately soft,
lightweight to moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.5), easily worked, and not durable. It is very
susceptible to attack by dry- wood termites.

In Puerto Rico the wood is used chiefly for posts.
Various uses of the wood elsewhere include gen-
eral carpentry, interior construction, furniture,
barrel staves, boxes and crates, tool handles, gun-
stocks, shoe lasts, violins, and charcoal for gun-
powder.

The trees sometimes serve as shade in pastures.
Immature fruits and foliage are browsed by
horses and cattle, especially in dry periods, and the
fruits are fed to hogs. These mucilaginous green
fruits, fresh or cooked, are edible, and it is re-
ported that a beverage can be prepared by soak-
ing the crusiied fruits in water. In some areas
rope and twine are made from the tough fibrous
bark and young stems. The flowers attract bees
and are a source of honey. Different parts of the
plant are employed in home medicines.

This species is characteristic of openings, stream
banks, clearings, and second growth of disturbed
areas and is less common in forests. It requires
light, grows rapidly, and is hardy in dry as well
as moist areas. Thus, it has been classed as a
weed tree. It is reported to be one of the com-
monest and most widely distributed tree species in
Cuba and one of the commonest plants of Central
America.

Along stream courses and in thickets, pastures,
and forests in the coastal and lower mountain re-
gions of Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo,
Susua.

Municipalities wheke especially common.—
8, 21, 66.

Range. — Throughout West Indies (except Ba-
hamas) from Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
cultivated in Dutch West Indies. Also from
Mexico to Ecuador, Peru, northern Argentina,
Paraguay, and Brazil.

Other common names. — guacima, guacimo
(Spanish) ; guacima cimarrona (Dominican Re-
public) ; guacima de caballo (Cuba) ; tablote.

338

156. Guleima, jacocalalu

Two-thirds natural size.

Ouazuma ulmifolia Lam.

339

maja^a de toro (Mexico) ; tapaculo (Guatemala,
El Salvador) ; caulote (Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador, Colombia) ;contamal (Guatemala) ; chi-
charron (El Salvador) ; guacimillo (Nicara^a) ;
guacimo bianco (Costa Rica) ; guacimo de ternero
(Panama) ; iumanasi, papaj'illo (Peru) ; coco
(Bolivia) ; camba-aca, guazuma (Argentina) ;
bastard-cedar (Jamaica, Trinidad) ; bois d'onne,
West-Indian-elm (Trinidad); pigeon-wood (To-
bago) ; bay-cedar, caulote, pixoy (British Hon-

duras) ; bois d'orme, orme d'Amerique (French) ;
bois de hetre, hetre gris, hetre vert, mahot-hetre
(Guadeloupe) ; goeaazoema (Dutch West Indies) ;
mutamba (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Gtmzuina gvMzuma
(L.) Cockerell, G. tomentosa H. B. K., G. ulmi-
folia var. tomentosa (H. B. K.) K. Schum.

The common name jacocalalu, applied to this
species in St. Thomas, is said to be an African
word for an edible plant like spinach.

CHOCOLATE FAMILY (STERCULLACEAE)
157. Anacagiiita, panama-tree Sterculia apetala (Jacq.) Karst.*

This large and handsome, introduced shade tree
is distinguished by: (1) a den.se broad spreading
crown; (2) the abundant foliage of long-petioled,
broad, deeply 5-lobed, pleated leaves with thick
and leathery blades 8-12 inches long and wide;
(3) large clusters of many bell-shaped yellowisli
flowers tinged with red or purple, 5-lobed and
about % inch long and % inch across; and (4) the
large, dark brown, hard, dry fruits, each of 5 or
fewer spreading pods 21/2-31/2 inches long, opening
widely to release the large black seeds and covered
within with stiff needlelike bristles, which pene-
trate and irritate the skin.

An evergreen tree to 50 feet high. The trunks
are commonly 3 feet or more in diameter, develop-
ing narrow prominent buttresses taller than broad.
The bark is smooth and gray or brown. Inner
bark is orange brown, gritty, and tasteless. Young
twigs, flowers, and young leaves are thickly cov-
ered with brown, mucli-branched or star-shaped
hairs. Older twigs are stout and light gray, with
large, nearly round leaf scars.

The alternate leaves liave round yellow-green
petioles 5-8 inches or more in length. Blades have
5 main veins from the heart-shaped base (palm-
ately lobed) , the lobes ovate and short-pointed, not
toothed on edges. The green and slightly shiny
upper surface becomes almost hairless, while the
gray to brownish-green lower surface is densely
woolly with minute star-shaped hairs.

Branched flower clusters (panicles) about 8
inches long are borne near the ends of twigs. The
numerous flowers are partly male or female and
partly bisexual (polygamous), with a 5-lobed
calyx but have no petals. Stamens and pistil are
borne at the end of a stalk 14-% inch long, with
7-15 anthers on a very short tube, and the woolly
pistil, when pi-esent, consisting of a 5-celled ovary
i/s inch in diameter and a style of the same length
but curved downward. There are 2-5 elliptic

seeds % inch long in each pod (follicle), maturing
usually in spring. Flowering in spring and oc-
casionally in summer and fall.

The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood light
brown to reddish brown. The wood is lightweight
(specific gravity 0.30-.45), soft, spongy, fibrous,
coarse-textured, and has growth rings. It works
easily but discolors rapidly and is susceptible to
decay. Possible uses are interior construction and
packing boxes. Large trunks have been hollowed
into dugout canoes elsewhere.

The principal value of this species is for shade
and ornament, since tlie wood is seldom used. It
is reported that the edible seeds when ground can
be made into a beverage and when roasted taste
like peanuts. Pigs eat the seeds also. Flowers,
leaves, and bark have been employed in home
medicines. Also a honey plant.

Individual trees have been planted for shade
and ornament in various parts of Puerto Rico and
in St. Thomas and perhaps others of the Virgin
Islands, but the species is not native. This species
is honored as the national tree of the Republic of
Panama and as the origin of tliat country's name.

Range. — Southern Mexico and Central America
to Peru and Brazil. Naturalized in Jamaica and
Trinidad. Planted in southern Florida, Cuba,
Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and
elsewhere in the tropics.

Other common names. — anacahuita (Domini-
can Republic) ; chicha (commerce) ; anacagiiita,
camanica (Cuba) ; bellota (Mexico, Guatemala) ;
castano (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador) ;
panama (Central America) ; camajuru, camajon-
duro (Colombia) ; camoruco, pata de danta, sun-
sun, cacaito, cacaguillo (Venezuela) ; panama-tree
(English) ; pistache des Indes (Haiti) .

Botanical synonym. — Sterculia carthaginensis
Cav.

340

v

'%

157. Anacaguita, panama-tree

Two-thirds natural size.

Bterculia apetala (Jacq.) Karst.

341

CHOCOLATE FAMILY (STERCULIACEAE)

158. Cacao, chocolate-tree

Cacao, the soiirte of cocoa and chocolate, is a
small cultivated tree characterized by: (1) low
spreading crown; (2) large elliptic or oblong
leaves hanging downward, 8-14 inches long and
2i/2^y2 inches broad, long-pointed, broadest above
middle, and rounded at base; (3) many flowers in
clusters along tnink, branches, and larger twigs,
1 to several on slender pink stalks %-l inch long,
oddly star-shaped, 5-parted, and spreading, %
inch across, whitish, tinged with orange and pink ;
and (4) the large oblong or egg-shaped, yellow or
purplish, fleshy fruits 6-12 inches long and 3-4
inches thick, pointed, ridged and grooved, and
hanging downward from trunk.

This evergreen tree, cultivated under larger
shade trees, becomes 25 feet high and 6 inches in
trunk diameter. The dark brown bark is fis-
sured and rough, and inner bark is light brown
and tasteless. The twigs are brown and minutely
haii'y wlien young.

The alternate leaves hang down from petioles
1/4-1 inch long. Blades are slightly thickened, not
toothed on edges, green or dark green on upper
surface and paler beneath.

Flowers have 5 narrow, pointed, widely spread-
ing pink sepals i/4 "ich long; 5 ])etals i/4 inch long,
hood-shaped at base, with a veiy narrow middle
part bent backward, and spoon-shaped at apex ; 5
short stamens united into a cup at base and with
5 vei-y nari'ow lobes i/4 inch high ; and pistil com-
posed of 5-celled ovary, style, and stigma.

In the large 5-cellecl fruits are many large
chocolate-colored or purplish seeds 1 inch or more
in length and bitter tasting. There are about 200

Theobroma cacao L*

seeds to a pound. Flowering in summer and fall.
Fruits mature chiefly in spring and summer.

The light brown, hard wood is not used in Puer-
to Rico.

Cacao is planted widely in wet tropical regions
for its seeds or "beans," from which cocoa and
chocolate are prepared by grinding and roasting.
It is one of the best known cultivated plants origi-
nating in the New World. The Spanish Conquis-
tadores found it already being cultivated by the
Mexican Indians. Besides the main use in Mexico
for preparing drinks, the seeds served the natives
as money. Sweetened chocolate now is an im-
portant ingredient of candies and desserts as well
as a popular beverage. Cacao (cocoa) powder and
synip from the seeds are official in the United
States Pharmacopoeia, serving as a flavoring agent
and concentrated nutriment.

In active and abandoned coffee plantations,
chiefly in the western part of the lower mountain
regions of Puerto Rico. Cacao is planted to a
limited extent also in St. Croix.

Range. — Native of southern Mexico and Cen-
tral America and spread by cultivation south to
Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Introduced and planted
throughout the West Indies, mostly on a small
scale. ProjDagation worldwide in moist tropical
regions.

Other common names. — cacao (Spanish) ;
cacao, cocoa, chocolate-tree (English) ; cacao,
cacaoyer (French); cacao, cacateiro (Brazil).
Several cultivated varieties have been given de-
scriptive common names.

342

158. Cacao, chocolate-tree

Two-thirds natural size.

Theoiroma cacao L.

687-921 O — 64- 23

343

DILLENIA FAMILY (DILLENIACEAE)

159. Dilenia, India dillenia

A showy exotic introduced in gardens as an
ornamental shade tree, distinguished by: (1) the
symmetrical, usually conical dense crown; (2)
large oblong or oblanceolate shiny green leaves
with saw-toothed edges and with many straight
parallel lateral veins V4-% inch apart leaving mid-
rib at an angle of about 45 degrees and each ending
in a tooth; (3) beautiful very large white flowers,
with yellow stamens, 8-9 inches across the 5 petals ;
and (4) large, hard, light green fruits 5-8 inches
in diameter, resembling a cabbage head, covered by
very thick sepals.

An evergreen tree attaining 50 feet in height
with straight trunk to 1 foot in diameter, with
large spreading branches arising a few together
along the trunk. The brown bark is smoothish,
with faint horizontal ring scars, and becoming
slightly scaly. Inner bark is pinkish brown and
bitter. The stout brownish-gray twigs have many
broad leaf scars and at apex bear crowded alter-
nate leaves and have pointed buds V^ inch long,
covered with pointed gray silky hairy scales.

The leaves have stout, light green, grooved
petioles li/4-l% inches long. Blades are 6-15
inches long and 214-6 inches wide, abruptly long-
pointed at apex and narrowed toward the short-
pointed base, often broadest above middle, above
shiny green with midrib and lateral veins slightly
sunken, and beneath lighter green with prominent
lateral veins which are inconspicuously hairy.

Flowers are borne singly near end of twig on a
long stout stalk. There are 5 spreading light green
sepals, concave and fleshy; 5 spreading obovate
white petals about 4 inches long; very numerous
curved bright yellow stamens in a globelike mass;
and a central ring of about 16-18 crowded but

Dillenia indica L.*

nearly separate pistils (carpels), each 1-celled and
bearing a white slender spreading stigma % ii^ch
long, narrow, flat, and pointed, the stigmas spread-
ing as rays in a circle.

The heavy fiiiits hang down singly, only 1 at
the end of a leafy twig. They are rounded but
broader than long and slightly irregular, being
shaped by the 5 rounded hard sepals which are
more than 1 inch thick at base with whitish flesh,
the outer 2 short and the inner 3 tightly overlap-
ping. The sepals do not open but enclose tightly
the aggregate fruit of crowded light brown ovaries
about 3 inches across, each with thick soft sour
walls and containing several light brown flattened
seeds i^ inch long in transparent gelatinous flesh.
Observed in flower in July and August and with
fruits nearly through the year.

The light brown sap wood is slightly soft. The
wood is not used in Puerto Rico.

In India the fruit is eaten, the entire fruit being
made into jelly or a drink or sometimes cooked as
a vegetable. The bulk consists of the very thick
sepals, which have a very sour taste. The smaller
juicy fruits inside are sour also.

Planted in Puerto Rico as an ornamental and
shade tree and experimentally in St. Thomas.
Elsewhere in the tropics examples may be seen in
botanical gardens.

Range. — Native of tropical Asia from India to
Malaya. Introduced into other tropical regions,
sparingly in the New World, including southern
Florida and southern California, Greater Antilles,
and Central and South America.

Other common names. — coca (Dominican Re-
public) ; India dillenia, dillenia (United States).

344

159. Dllenia, India dlUenla

Two-thirds natural size.

Dillenia indica L.
345

TEA FAMILY (THEACEAE)

160. Maricao verde

This tree native only in Luquillo Mountains is
distinguished by: (1) alternate elliptic leaves
2-41/^ inches long and %-l% inches wide, rounded
at apex and long-pointed at the vei-y short-stalked
base, with slightly wavy-toothed edges, the lower
surface with 2 faint lines parallel with midrib, and
orange red when new ; ( 2 ) fragrant showy white
flowers nearly 2 inches across the 6-9 petals, al-
most stalkless and single at base of leaves; and (3)
oblong dark brown capsule %-l inch long and
%-V2 inch in diameter, 6-10-ridged, remaining at-
tached after opening.

A medium-sized evergreen tree to 40 feet in
height and 11/2 feet in trunk diameter. Bark on
old trunks is gray and fissured. The twigs are
gray, finely hairy when young. The terminal bud
is long and narrow and covered by a hairy scale
(stipule).

The dark green leaf blades are often broadest
above middle, turned under a little at edges, only
slightly thickened, and beneath with prominent
veins and paler and sparsely hairy.

The large flowers are very conspicuous and at-
tractive, contrasting with the foliage. A flower

Laplacea portoricensis (Krug & Urban) Dyer

has 5 overlapping, unequal, rounded, leathery,
finely hairy sepals %-V2 inch in diameter; 6-9
bright white unequal obovate petals about % inch
long, some notched, soon falling; more than 100
unequal stamens i/i inch long with yellow anthers;
and pistil more than %6 inch long with broad,
rounded, hairy, 6-10-celled ovary and 5 or 6 styles.

The finely hairy capsule splits open along the
ridges to release many thin, narrow, winged,
brown seeds nearly I/2 inch long. These old open
capsules serve as an aid in identification. Ke-
corded as flowering and with fruits in several
months nearly through the year.

This tree perhaps is worthy of trial as an orna-
mental for its showy flowei-s. The wood is little
used.

Found only in the lower Luquillo forest region.

PtTBLic FOREST. — Luquillo.

Range. — Restricted to eastern Puerto Rico.

OiTiER COMMON NAMES. — maricao, nifio de cota
(Puerto Rico).

Botanical synonyms. — Haemocharis portori-
censk Krug & Urban, Wickstroemia portoricensis
(Krug& Urban) Blake.

346

160. Maricao verde

Natural size.

Laplacea portoricensis (Krug& Urban) Dyer

347

MANGOSTEEN FAMILY (GUTTIFERAE)

Key to the 5 species illustrated (Nos. 161-165)

A. Leaves stiff, ending in long-pointed sharp spine — 165. Rheedia portoricensis.
AA. Leaves rounded or notched at apex.

B. Leaves thick, with many straight parallel lateral veins nearly at right angles to midrib.

C. Lateral veins only about %2 inch apart; fruit nearly 1 inch in diameter, inedible — 161. Calophyllum

hrasiUense.
CC. Lateral veins more than Vi& inch apart; fruit 3-10 inches in diameter, edible (mamey)^164. Mammea
americana.
BB. Leaves very thick and fleshy, with lateral veins inconspicuous or scarcely visible.

D. Leaves with rounded apex, the edges rolled under, seed capsules %-% inch in diameter — 162. Clusia

krugiana.
DD. Leaves with rounded or notched apex, the edges slightly turned under; seed capsules 2-2% inches in
diameter — 163. Clusia rosea.

161. Maria, santa-maria

Maria, a native and widely planted tree for tim-
ber, ornament, and shade, is identified by its dense
crown with opposite stiff elliptic leaves 2i^-5
inches long and 1 14-21/2 inches broad, dark green
and slightly shiny on upper surface, with very
many straight parallel lateral veins only about 1/32
inch apart and nearly at right angles to midrib,
and without smaller veins. Other distinguishing
characteristics are: (1) numerous small fragrant
white flowers %-i/2 inch broad in a lateral
branched cluster 1-2 inches long; (2) the round,
light brown, 1 -seeded fruits nearly 1 inch in di-
ameter; and (3) the whitish latex produced in
small quantities.

A medium-sized evergreen tree 40-65 feet high,
becoming larger, and up to 11/4 feet or more in di-
ameter, with straight axis and usually a spreading
crown. The bark is light gray and smooth or
slightly fissured, becoming spotted with numerous
dark protuberances on large trunks. Inner bark
is whitish and bitter. The twigs are green, 4-
angled, and minutely hairy when young, becoming
gray.

The petioles are 14-% inch long. Blades are
rounded or minutely notched at apex, short-
pointed at base, not toothed on edges, and slightly
leathery. Some leaves have a rust, or fungus dis-
ease, producing on the upper surface wartlike nar-
row swellings Vie-Vi inch long, becoming brown,
and corresponding sunken brown areas on lower
surface.

Flower clusters (racemes) at leaf bases or on
twigs back of leaves are much shorter than the
leaves and have several flowers on slender stalks.
Flowers are male and bisexual on the same tree
(polygamous). There are 4 white rounded and
concave sepals, 2 about 1/4 inch long and 2 about
half as long, widely spreading and turned back;
petals commonly absent (or 1-^, smaller than the
largest sepals and white) ; male flowers have about
40-50 stamens in a prominent orange cluster more
than 14 inch across and often a rudimentary pistil.
Bisexual flowers have 8-12 stamens and a pistil
consisting of round green ovary % inch in diam-
eter, 1-celled with 1 ovule, short bent style, and
flattened whitish stigma.

Calophyllum brasiliense Camb.

The fruit (drupe) has a hard, dry shell and con-
tains 1 large rounded seed. Flowering chiefly in
spring and summer, the f i-uit maturing from late
spring to winter, mostly in the fall.

The sapwood is light brown or whitish, and the
heartwood varies from light pinkish to reddish
brown, often with fine darker stripes. The wood
is hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.55),
fairly strong, and coarse-textured, and frequently
has interlocked grain. It is moderately durable
in contact with the ground but is very susceptible
to attack by dry-wood termites. Air-seasoning
is slow and very difficult, and the amount of de-
grade is considerable. Machining characteristics
are as follows : planing is fair; shaping, mortising,
sanding, and resistance to screw splitting are
good; and turning and boring are poor.

Maria is classed as a construction wood, but the
small trees now available are chiefly for posts.
The attractive wood resembles mahogany and can
be used for many of the same purposes but is some-
what more difficult to season and work. Else-
where it is used for furniture, cabinetmaking,
flooring, shingles, interior construction, shipbuild-
ing, house framing, agricultural implements, han-
dles, vehicles, structural timbers, poles, and cross-
ties.

The latex or resin from the trunk, called bal-
samo de maria, has been employed medicinally.
The fruits are reported to be good food for hogs,
and an oil has been extracted from the seeds.

The tree is widely planted for ornament and
shade along highways. When young, its crown
may be shaped into a hedge or other forms. The
fruits are apparently distributed by bats with the
result that dense clumps of seedlings sometimes
develop directly beneath coconut palms along the
coast.. Extensively planted in forest areas because
of its adaptability to degraded soils and the ease
with which it may be established by direct seed-
ing. Seedlings do not survive transplanting well
if lifted without a ball of earth. Almost the only
valuable tree wliich grows well on the extremely
laterite soils of the western mountains, where it
attains 8 inches in diameter in 25 years.

348

161. Maria, santa-maria

Natural size.

Calophyllum hrasilienae Camb.

349

Introduced for ornament and shade in southern
Florida, and in parts of the We-st Indies planted as
shade for coffee and cacao and for windbreaks.
In Grenada the trees are windbreaks for nutmeg
plantations.

Probably native only in the moist coastal and
moist limestone forest regions of Puerto Rico.
Now distributed as well throughout the lower
Cordillera and lower Luquillo regions with a few
trees on the dry coast. Also in Vieques, St. Croix,
and St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Native in Cambalache, Guaja-
taca, Rio Abajo, and Vega. Introduced into
Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Susua, and
Toro Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
17,34,62,74.

Range. — This species with its geographic varie-
ties also known as species is widely distributed
through the West Indies and from Mexico to Peru,
Boli\na, Brazil, and Guianas. The variety in
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Caiophyllum.
hrmiliense var. antUJamim (Britton) Standi., also
classed as a species by some authors, ranges from
Cuba and Jamaica through the Lesser Antilles to

Grenada, is naturalized in Beraiuda, and is intro-
duced in southern Florida.

Other common names. — palo de maria, santa
maria, aceite de maria (Puerto Rico) ; false-
mamey (Virgin Islands) ; santa maria, maria
(Spanish) ; baria, mara, palo maria (Dominican
Republic) ; ocuje, ocuje Colorado (Cuba) ; barillo,
mario, vario (El Salvador) ; cojon, cachicamo
(Venezuela) ; jacare-iiba, lagarto-caspi bianco
(Peru) ; santa-maria, Brazil beauty-leaf (United
States) ; santa-maria (English, commerce) ; wild-
mamee (Jamaica) ; came-marie, damage, dalemarie
(Haiti) ; galba (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Marti-
nique, St. Vincent) ; galba odorant, calaba
(Guadeloupe) ; koelarie, mani kwaha, koerahara
(Surinam) ; guanandi, olandi, landi (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms of Caiophyllum. hrasiliense
var. antiUanmn (Britton) Standi. — Caiophyllum
calaba Jacq., not L., C. antiUanum Britton, C.
jacqidnii Fawc. & Rendle.

The common name maria is said to be of Carib
Indian origin rather than Spanish. A closely re-
lated species (Caiophyllum lucidum Benth.) or
variety known as galba occurs in Trinidad and
Tobago, Venezuela, and British Guiana.

162. Cupeillo

MANGOSTEEN FAMILY (GUTTIFERAE)

Clusia krugiana Urban

This tree with orange or yellow latex is common
in upi^er mountain forests of Puerto Rico. It is
characterized by: (1) opposite, very thick, stiff
and leathery, obovate dark green leaves, broade.st
near the rounded apex, gradually narrowed toward
an almost stalkless base, and with edges consider-
ably rolled under; (2) terminal branched clusters
of several to many spreading yellow flowers about
1/4 inch across, male and female on different trees
(dioecious) ; and (3) round green fleshy seed cap-
sules %-% inch in diameter, splitting open and
becoming 5-parted and star-shaped, exposing the
orange pulp in which the light brown seeds are
imbedded.

A small to medium-sized evergi-een tree to 40
feet high and 6-12 inches in ti-unk diameter, with
a spreading crown of thick branches, sometimes
with a few prop roots. The gray bark is smooth-
ish, often covered with mosses, and within is pink-
ish and slightly bitter, containing orange or yel-
low latex. Twigs are stout and brownish, ringed
at nodes.

The stout broad petioles are only about % inch
long. Blades are 2-5 inches long, 11/2-4 inches
broad, with the veins inconspicuous or scarcely
visible on both sides, dai-k green and often slightly
shiny above, and pale yellow green beneath.

The flower clusters (cymose) are li/4-2i/^ inches
long, the fleshy branches paired, and flower stalks
Vs-% inch long. There are 4 sepals about %6 inch

long and 4 oblong yellow petals more than I/4 inch
in length. Male flowers have many stamens s/ig
inch long. Female flowers have pistil %e inch long
with 5-celled ovary and 5 blackish stigmas on top.

The round green fruit retains the calyx at base
and 5 stigmas at apex and when split open is iy2
inclies across the 5 lobes. Several light brown
seeds % inch long are imbedded in orange pulp.
Flowering and fruiting probably through the year.

The light brown wood is hard and heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.9) . As the trunk is seldom straight,
the wood is used mostly for fuel.

Common in the dwarf forests on mountain sum-
mits in the upper Luquillo and Cordillera forest
regions in Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Maricao,
Toro Negro.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Hispaniola (Domini-
can Republic).

Cupey trepador (Clusia minor L.), a related
shrub, small tree, or vine, has fleshy leaves with
petioles %-% inch long, and clusters of few
flowers with white to pink petals.

Cupeillo de altura (Clusia gundlachii Stalil),
or cupey de altura, a vinelike shrub or sometimes
tree known only from Puerto Rico, has fleshy
leaves with petioles 14-% inch long, clusters of
many small flowers, and oblong fruits about %
inch long. The fourth native species of this genus
is described below.

350

/«&.J

n)

162. Cupeillo

Two-thirds natural size.

Cluaia krugiana Urban

351

MANGOSTEEN FAMILY (GUTTIFERAE)

163. Cupey, wild-mammee, copey clusia

A tree with yellow resinous latex easily recog-
nized by : (1) vei-y broad spreading dense crowii;
(2) opposite, veiy thick, stiff and leathei-y, obovate
leaves, rounded or slightly notched at apex and
gradually narrowed toward the short -pointed
base; (3) showy, large, spreading, white flowers
about 3 inches across the 6-8 obovate petals
notched at apex, male and female on different trees
(dioecious) ; and (4) nearly round fleshy seed cap-
sules 2-21/2 inches in diameter, yellow green turn-
ing brown" splitting into 7-9 parts and containing
many yellow se«ds in orange-red pulp.

Medium-sized evergreen tree to 60 feet high and
2 feet in trunk diameter, usually with prop roots
at base. Like jagiieyes or matapalos (Fici/s spp. ) ,
the trees often begin as air plants or epiphytes,
the seed germinating in the fork of a tree and send-
ing long aerial roots to the ground. In time these
rapidly growing roots come together and encircle
the host tree, finally forming a tnink around it
and strangling and killing it. The gray bark is
smoothish, slightly fissured and warty. Inner
bark is pink brown and gritty, with yellow latex.
The gi-een twigs are stout and ringed at nodes.

Petioles are y^-l i'lch long, green, stout, flat-
tened, and enlarged at base. Blades are 3-6 inches
long and 2-41/2 inches wide, broadest beyond
middle, the edges slightly turned under, fleshy and
with lateral veins scarcely visible, green to dark
green and slightly shiny above and dull yellow
green beneath.

Flowers are terminal, 1-3 at end of twig on
stalks 1/2 inch or more in length and curved down-
ward. The buds are white, tinged with pink, about
% inch in diameter. There are 4-6 rounded con-
cave sepals 1/^-% inch long, white and tinged with
pink, and 6-8 white obovate fleshy petals about I14
inches long. Female flowers have a brown ring or
cup of sterile stamens and a pistil with 7-9-celled
ovary and green resinous mass of 7-9 stigmas i/^
inch across. Male flowers have sepals, petals, and
many stamens united in a ring, the inner ones in
a resinous mass.

The ball-like fruits are not edible and are con-
sidered to be poisonous, though eaten by bats.
They are broader than long, changing in color
from yellow green to brown at maturity, retaining
the sepals at base and flat blackish stigmas in a
circle % inch across at apex. The seeds are %6
inch long. In flower or fruit throughout the year.

The heartwood is reddish brown, and the sap-
wood lighter colored. The wood is hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.67), strong, of medium to fine
texture, straight-grained, and without growth
rings. It is moderately difficult to saw and ma-

Clusia rosea Jacq.

chine and is very susceptible to attack by dry- wood
termites. The rate of air-seasoning and amount
of degrade are moderate. Machining character-
istics are as follows : planing and boring are fair ;
and shaping, turning, mortising, sanding, and re-
sistance to screw splitting are good.

The wood is used mainly for fuel, fenceposts,
rural construction, and crossties. It is suitable also
for light and heavy construction, cheap furniture,
farm implement parts, and tool handles.

The yellow resinous latex of bark, fruit, and
other parts of the tree hardens upon exposure and
has been used variously, including calking the
seams of boats in the Virgin Islands, as plaster,
and in medicine.

It is chronicled by Oviedo that the early Spanish
conquistadores in the West Indies made playing
cards of the thick leaves, drawing the figures and
spots with a pin and shuffling these substitutes in
their gambling games in the absence of regular
cards. Another early use was for writing paper.

By strangling and killing more valuable trees,
this species may be classed as a forest pest. How-
ever, the leathery leaves and large flowers make it
an attractive ornamental. As the heavy foliage
is salt tolerant, this tree is suitable for ornamental
plantings on exposed ocean front properties.

Common in forests on river banks and hillsides
throughout Puerto Eico except in the upper moim-
tain regions. Also in Mona, Desecheo, Vieques,
Culebra, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola, and
recorded long ago from St. Croix.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Luquillo, Maricao, Susua, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
11,14,20,30,31,34,45,60,62,69.

Range. — Nearly throughout West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
Bonaire and Curagao. Very rare in Florida Keys
but planted in southern Florida. Also from south-
ern Mexico (Chiapas) to Colombia, Venezuela, and
French Guiana.

Other common names. — pitch-apple, wild-fig,
strangler-flg, false-mamey (Virgin Islands) ; cu-
pey, copey (Spanish) ; cape, gaque, cucharo (Co-
lombia) ; copey, tampaco, chuchi copei (Venezu-
ela) ; copey clusia, monkey-apple (United States) ;
pitch-apple (Bahamas) ; balsam-tree, wild-fig (Ja-
maica) ; monkey-goblet (St. Vincent) ; Scotch-at-
torney, Scotchman, matapal (Trinidad) ; parrot-
apple (Tobago); kufa (British Guiana); figuier
maudit cimarron (Haiti) ; figuier maudit, figuier
marron, abricotier maudit (Guadeloupe) ; aralie,
aralie grande feuille (Martinique) ; dam machu^
cuchiu, kopijk (Dutch West Indies) .

352

y

^A

163. Cupey, wild-mammee, copey elusla

Natural size.

Clusia rosea Jacq.

353

MANGOSTEEN FAMILY (GUTTIFERAE)

164. Mamey, mammee-apple

Mamey, a handsome wild or planted fruit tree,
is best known for its brown nearly round edible
fruits 3-10 inches in diameter. Other characters
are: (1) an erect trunk with very dense shiny
green columnar crown; (2) bark containing pale
yellow latex, which is evident where cut; (3) op-
posite elliptic leaves 4-61/2 inches long and 2Vi-
334 inches wide, thickened and leathery, glossy
green to dark green above, and with numerous
closely arranged, parallel lateral veins; and (4)
large fragrant white flowers 11/4-2 inches across
the usually 6 spreading petals, borne on twigs
mostly back of leaves.

An evergreen tree to 60 feet high and 2 feet in
trunk diameter. The brown or gray bark is
smoothish to slightly fissured, inner bark light
brown or pinkish and bitter. Tlie stout twigs are
green when young, turning brown.

Petioles are y^-% inch long and stout. Blades
are rounded at apex and rounded or short-pointed
at base, turned under slightly at edges, with veins
slightly sunken on upper surface, and yellow green
beneath. The leaves have gland dots visible with
a hand lens against the light.

The flowers are single or a few together on stout
stalks 1/4"% inch long, male and female and bi-
sexual (polygamous). The flower bud is whitish
green, turning brown, round to elliptic, 14-% long,
splitting into 2 sepals about % inch long. There
are 4-6, usually 6, obovate spreading white petals
%-l inch long. Male flowers have in the center
numerous small crowded yellow stamens 1/4 inch
high and % "ich across, united at base. Female
flowers have a pistil composed of 2- or 4-celled
ovary with short style and usually broadly 2-lobed
stigma.

The fruit (berrylike) has a thick skin and finn
bright yellow or reddish flesh with white sap.
There are 2-4 very large oblong reddish-brown
stones or seeds with rough fibrous surface. Ob-
served in flower from May to October and with
fruits during most of the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
reddish brown. The surface of this attractive
wood often is flecked with small dark oily exuda-
tions. It is hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.62),
strong, medium-textured, and frequently has ir-
regular and interlocked gi-ain. Air-seasoning is
moderate in rate but very difficult, and the amount
of degrade is considerable. Machining character-
istics are as follows : planing, turning, boring, and
mortising are good; shaping and resistance to
screw sjjlitting are excellent ; and sanding is poor.
The wood is very susceptible to attack by dry-

Mammea americana L.

wood tennites but is moderately durable in the
ground.

The scattered trees in Puerto Rico serve for
fruit, fenceposts, and fuel. Elsewhere the wood
is employed for some types of general construction
and carpenti-y and for piling.

The fruits are eaten raw or made into preserves
and marmalades. The skin and flesh next to the
seeds are bitter. In the French West Indies an
aromatic liqueur, known as "eau de creole" or
"creme de Creole," is distilled from the flowers.
The gummy latex from the bark and the powdered
seeds have been used as insecticides, to extract
chiggers and insects from the skin, and to kill ticks
and other parasites of dogs and other domestic
animals. When twisted into the shape of a cone,
the leaves serve as pots for planting tobacco seed-
lings and protect the young plants from root-
destroying insects.

The large seeds are reported to be poisonous,
though not eaten by livestock. They are highly
toxic to certain types of insects, to fish, and to
chicks.

Planted in Puerto Eico and Virgin Islands (St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola) for the
edible fruits and for shade and ornament. A com-
mon tree along roadsides and fence rows. Appar-
ently native to the moist coastal forest of Puerto
Rico.

MUNICIP.ALITIES WHERE ESPECI.ALLT COMMON. —

31, 47.

Range. — Native of West Indies. Spread by cul-
tivation over tropical America in southern Flor-
ida, Bermuda, West Indies from Bahamas and
Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico south
to Brazil and in the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — mamee (Virgin Is-
lands) ; mamey (Spanish) ; mamey de Santo Do-
mingo, mamey amarillo (Cuba) ; zapote mamey,
zapote de niho, zapote de Santo Domingo (Mex-
ico); ruri (Nicaragua); mamey de Cartagena
(Panama, Ecuador) ; mata-serrano (Ecuador) ;
mamey, mammee-apple (United States, English) ;
apricot (Dominica) ; abricot, abricotier (Haiti,
Guadeloupe, Martinique) ; abricot des Antilles,
abricot de Saint-Domingue, abricot pays (Gua-
deloupe, Martinique) ; mamie, abricotier, abri-
cotier d'Amerique (French Guiana) ; mami,
mamaya (Dutch West Indies) ; mammi, mamie-
boom, mamaja (Surinam) ; abrico do Para, abri-
coteiro (Brazil).

The generic name is derived from the native
West Indian name.

354

■••*;s?;;

•■*■.■■■-■.

164. Mamey, mammee-apple

Two-thirds natural size.

Mammea americana L.

355

MANGOSTEEN FAMILY (GUTTIFERAE)

165. Palo de cruz

Palo de cruz is easily identified by its opposite,
elliptic or obovate, shiny dark ojeen leaves which
are small, thick and stiff, with sunken midrib, and
curved downward from the long-pointed base to
the long-pointed sharp spine Vs-Vi inch long.
Other distinguishing chai-act eristics are: (1) reg-
ular opposite branching of twigs at right angles
from the axis; (2) pale yellow latex in inner bark,
twigs, leaves, and fruits; (3) small, pale yellow,
pinkish-tinged flowers about i/t hich across, sev-
eral or 1 at leaf bases; and (4) bright yellow ellip-
tic berry 1-11/4 inches long.

Cormnonly a small tree to 20 feet high (formerly
to 65 feet, according to earlier reports) and 4
inches in tiiink diameter, evergreen, with naiTow
crown of drooping or horizontal branches and
dark green foliage. The bark is brown and smooth
or slightly fissured. Inner bark is reddish, bitter,
with pale yellow latex in innennost part. The
twigs are green and slightly angled when young,
becoming gray and enlarged at nodes.

The leaves have short, erect petioles V4-V2 i^ich
long and blades 1M>-314 inches long and %-2
inches broad. Margins are turned under slightly,
and the lower surface is light green.

Lateral flowers on stalks about 1/4-% inch long
are bisexual and male and female on the same or
different trees (polygamous or dioecious). There
are 2 yellow-green sepals i/ir, inch long; 4 pale
yellow petals pinkish at base, Vs-Vt inch long; sta-
mens about 7-10 (about 18 stamens around a broad

Rheedia portoricensis Urban

whitish disk in male flowers) ; and pistil with
rounded pinkish 2-celled ovary less than % inch
long and 2-lobed flat stigma (sometimes ovary is
3-celled and stigma 3-lobed) . The fleshy fruits are
pointed and contain usually 2 large seeds. Flow-
ering and fruiting at different times during the
year.

The sapwood is very light brown, and the heart-
wood light brown. The wood is very hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.9) , and very fine-textured. Be-
cause of the small size of tliis tree its wood is used
only for posts.

Forests of the lower Luquillo Mountain region
and thickets of the moist and dry coastal regions.
Also in Vieques. A handsome small tree of pos-
sible ornamental value.

Public forests. — ^Carite, Luquillo, Susiia.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico and
Vieques.

Other common name. — guayabacoa (Puerto
Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Rheedia actiminata
(Spreng.) Planch. & Tr., not R. acuminata (Ruiz
& Pa V. ) Planch. &Tr.

The common name palo de cruz (tree of cross)
refei-s to the branching of twigs at right angles to
the straight axis in the shape of a cross.

A second native species (Rheedia hessii Britton)
known only from near Maricao apparently is rare.
It has narrowly lance-shaped leaves less than 1
inch lonff.

356

165. Palo de cniz

Natural size.

Rheedia portoricensis Urban

357

ANATTO FAMILY (BIXACEAE*)

166. Achiote, anatto

Achiote, or anatto, a small tree planted for the
orange-red dye on the seeds, has become natural-
ized. It is characterized by : (1) thin ovate leaves
long-pointed at apex, heart-shaped at base, and
long-petioled ; (2) large, showy, pinkish or pur-
plish-tinged or whitish flowers li/^-2 inches across
the 5 spreading petals, several or few in terminal
clustere; (3) reddish-brown to dark brown,
rounded seed capsules 1-1 V^ inches long, and broad,
densely covered with soft prickles up to Vi "^cl^
long; (4) orange sap m the inner bark; and (5)
twigs ringed at nodes.

A small evergreen tree commonly less than 15
feet high and 4 inches in triuik diameter. The
bark is light brown and smoothish, with many
warty dots (lenticels), or fissured. Inner bark is
pinkish toward outside and orange within, and
often slightly bitter. The twigs are green and
with minute, rusty, reddish-brown scales, becom-
ing dark brown.

The alternate leaves have slender petioles 1-3
inches long. Leaf blades are 314-714 inclies long
and 21^-41/^ inches broad, thin, with minute scales
when young but becoming hairless or remaining
slightly scaly on lower surface, green or dark green
on upper surface, and gray to brownish green
beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) are branched, and
the fragrant flowers are on scaly stalks. Tliere are
5 brownish-green sepals about % inch long,
covered with reddish-bro%vn scales and soon fall-
ing; 5 broad, rounded, pinkish or puii^lish-tinged
or whitish petals about 1 inch long; numerous pur-
plish stamens about % inch long; and pistil %
inch long composed of bristly 1-celled ovary, style,
and short 2-lobed stigma.

Seed capsules are somewhat flattened and split
into 2 parts. There are many angular seeds about
%6 inch long, with bright orange-red fleshy seed
coat. Flowering mainly in spring and maturing
fruits chiefly in summer.

The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood
is light brown or yellowish. The wood is soft,

Bixa orellana L.*

lightweight (specific gravity 0.4), porous, weak,
and not durable.

Commercially important for the orange-red dye
called anatto. Extracted in the kitchen by boiling
the seeds in cooking fat or oil, anatto is used to
colar rice, margarine, butter, cheese, soups, and
other foods but adds no flavor. It is a dye for oils,
varnishes, and cosmetics also. Indians have
painted their faces and bodies with this pigment,
which also is reported to give relief from insects.

The conspicuous pinkish flowers and prickly
fruits also make this plant an attractive ornamen-
tal, and the flowei-s are a source of honey. Kopes
and twine have been made from the fibrous bark,
and a ginn similar to gum arabic has been obtained
from the branches. It is said that fire can be
started by friction of two pieces of the soft wood.
In some places the seeds and leaves have been em-
ployed in domestic medicine.

Grown around houses and occasionally natural-
ized in nearby thickets on the coastal plains of
Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, and St. John.

Range. — Native of continental tropical Amer-
ica but spread by cultivation and now from Mexico
to Argentina and Brazil. Widely planted and
naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of
the world. Through West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Barbados and Trinidad. Uncommon
in cultivation in southern Florida.

Other common names. — achote, bija (Puerto
Rico) ; roucou (Virgin Islands) ; achiote, achote
(Spanish); bija (Dominican Republic, Cuba,
Venezuela) ; chaya, xayau (Guatemala) ; cuaja-
chote (El Salvador) ; onoto, onotillo, caituco
(Venezuela); shambu (Peru); unicu (Bolivia,
Argentina) ; annato, annatto, anatto-tree (Eng-
lish) ; roucou (Trinidad and Tobago) ; atta (Brit-
ish Honduras) ; onoto (British Guiana) ; roucou,
roucouyer (French) ; achiot (French Guiana) ;
rucu, roucou (Dutch West Indies) ; roucou, koesoe-
wee (Surinam) ; urucu, achiote (Brazil).

358

166. Achiote, anatto

Natural size.

Biwa orellana L.

687-921 0—64 24

359

CXDCHLOSPERMUM FAMILY (COCHLOSPERMACEAE*)

167. Rosa imperial, Brazilian-rose, cochlospermum

This introduced, cultivated ornamental is dis-
tinguished by : ( 1 ) quantities of large, showy,
bright yellow roselike flowers 3^ inches across,
borne in tenninal clusters usually when the trees
are leafless; and (2) long-petioled, deeply pal-
mately lobed leaves with usually 5 long-pointed
toothed lobes. The double-flowered form with
many petals grown in Puerto Rico does not mature
fruits and seeds.

A small to medium-sized deciduous tree to 25
feet tall and 1 foot in trunk diameter, with rela-
tively few stout branches. The bark is gray,
smoothish and becoming slightly furrowed. Inner
bark is brown streaked, hbrous, slightly bitter,
and yields a gum. Twigs are green when yomig,
becoming brown.

The alternate leaves have petioles 3-7 inches in
length, green and tinged with red, and a pair of
minute threadlike stipules at base which soon
shed. Leaf blades measure about 4-8 inches long
and broad, are heart-shaped at base, and have us-
ually 5 (rarely 3 or 7) spreading lobes, each with
a prominent central vein and small teeth along the
edges. Upper surface of the thin blades is gi-een
to dark green and slightly shiny, and the lower
surface lighter gray green, finely hairy to nearly
hairless.

Flowers are borne on long stalks in erect spread-
ing terminal clusters (panicles), sometimes a few
on shiiibby plants only 3-5 feet high. There are
5 green to yellow-green sepals 1^-% inch long, the
outer 2 pointed and smaller and the inner 3
rounded and broader. In the double-flowered
Puerto Rican form there are many widely spread-
ing, rounded, elliptic, bright yellow petals 11/2-2
inches long. Numerous spreading orange stamens
%-% inch long with curved slender filaments and
curved narrow anthers are in the center, but a
functional pistil is lacking. Blooming mostly
from Januai-y to March, during the drier part of
the year.

The more widespread single-flowered form not
found in Puerto Rico has only 5 petals about 2
inches long, notched at apex, and in the center of
the many stamens a pistil consisting of a green
rounded ovary Yiq inch in diameter, 5-carpeled,
and a slender curved yellow style about li/4 inch
long. On wild trees the large elliptic dark brown
capsules about 3 inches long and 2 inches in diam-
eter hang down from curved stalks. The incon-
spicuously hairy, thin-walled capsules split into

Cochlospermum vitifolium (Willd.) Spreng.*

5 parts, releasing many dark brown kidney-shaped
seeds %e inch long, imbedded in masses of soft
cottony white hairs.

The whitish to light brown wood is soft, spongy,
very lightweight, perishable, and of little use.

Planted for ornament on the coastal plains of
Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands, growing
rapidly and best in dry areas. Reported to be a
honey plant. The trees are propagated easily by
cuttings. The more attractive double-flowered
form in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Dominica, and
perhaps a few other islands of the West Indies is
preferred for cultivation but apparently is little
known elsewhere. Both the normal and double-
flowered forms are grown in St. Thomas. Hedges
and living fences can be formed by planting
branches and pruning them back.

Elsewhere, rope has been made from the fibrous
bark, and the cotton around the seeds is used for
stuffing pillows. A home remedy has been ex-
tracted from wood and leaves.

Range. — Continental tropical America from
western Mexico through Central America and
northern South America to Ecuador, Peru, Bo-
livia, Brazil, Guianas, and Trinidad, chiefly in dry
forests. Planted for ornament in the West Indies,
such as in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and other tropi-
cal areas and as far north as southern Florida and
southern California.

Other common names. — rosa china, emperatriz
de la selva, rosa de Maximiliano (Puerto Rico) ;
rose-of-Sharon (Virgin Islands) ; botija, palo bobo
(Cuba) ; tecomasuche (Mexico, Guatemala, El
Salvador) ; rosa amarilla, chuun, cocito, apomo
panaco (Mexico) ; jicarillo (Honduras) ; cho,
pochote, pumpo, pumpumjuche, tecomatillo
(Guatemala); bombon, tecomasuchil (El Salva-
dor) ; poroporo (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama,
Colombia) ; bombon, catamericuche (Nicaragua) ;
caniestolendas, bototo (Colombia, Venezuela) ;
papayote (Colombia) ; bototillo, bototito, botulo
(Eucador) ; huimba, quillo-sisa (Peru) ; cochlo-
spennum, shellseed (English) ; rose-of-Peru
(Dominica) ; wild-cotton, pochote (British Hon-
duras); kanakuchiballi, wild-cotton (British
Guiana) ; njoe fodoe (Surinam).

Botanical synonyms. — MaxlTnilianea vitifolia
(Willd.) Krug & Urban, Cochlospermum hihis-
coid-es Kunth.

The descriptive specific name, meaning "grape-
leaf," recalls the similarity of the leaves to those of
cultivated grapes.

360

167. Rosa imperial, Brazilian-rose, cochlospermum Cochlospermum vitifoUum (Willd.) Spreng.

Two-thirds natural size.

361

CANELLA FAMILY (CANELLACEAE)

168. Barbasco, canella

This small tree characteristic of dry areas is
identified by: (1) a dense crown of obovate or
spoon-shaped, leathery shiny green leaves 11/4-3^/2
inclies long and %-li/^ inches broad, rounded at
apex and gradually narrowed toward base, aro-
matic and with peppery stinging taste; (2) small
dark red, purplish-tinged flowers 14 inch long
and broad, several to many in terminal flat-topped
clusters shorter than the leaves; (3) round red
(or purplish-black) berries about % inch in diam-
eter; and (4) aromatic, gray, smoothish, slightly
warty bark with burning or stinging taste.

An evergreen tree to 20 feet high and 5-8 inches
in trunk diameter, or shrubby. The thin bark
sometimes is fissured. Inner bark is whitish. The
twigs are green at apex, becoming gray, with spicy
taste.

The alternate leaves are crowded near ends of
twigs, with petioles Vs-i/i inch long. Leaf blades
are broadest beyond middle, with edges slightly
turned under, thickened, with few indistinct veins,
minutely gland dotted, and paler beneath.

Flower clusters (corymbs) are branched, about
1 inch long and broad, with fragrant spreading
flowers on stalks about % inch long. There are 3
broad, rounded, blue-green sepals less than % inch
long; 5 elliptic rounded fleshy petals %6 inch long,
dark red but purplish on outside; about 20 red
stamens united by filaments and anthers into a
tube more than I/8 inch long; and pistil %6 inch
long consisting of light gi-een 1-celled ovary with
short style and very slightly 2-lobed stigma, pro-
truding through stamen tube. Berries are fleshy,
with a few black seeds %6 inch long. Flowering
and fi-uiting probably irregularly through the
year.

The sapwood is olive brown, and the heartwood
blackish. The wood is very hard and very heavy
(specific gravity 0.9-1.0). In Puerto Rico it is
seldom utilized except for posts because of the

Canella icinterana (L.) Gaertn.

small size of the trees. Uses elsewhere have been
for plows, poles, and beams.

Canella bark, the wild cinnamon bark of com-
merce, has served in medicine though rarely at
present as an aromatic stimulant and slight tonic
and also as a condiment. The leaves have been
employed similarly and as a fish poison. The ber-
ries are reported to be hot like black pepper when
gathered green and dried. Also a honey plant,
the flowers being very rich in nectar. Though this
usually is not regarded as a poisonous plant, the
leaves and stems were toxic to poultry in feeding
trials in St. Croix.

Planted around houses in the Virgin Islands.
In southern Florida this is a hardy ornamental
shrub grown for the numerous bright red berries
borne m spring.

Thickets in the dry coastal and limestone re-
gions of Puerto Rico and also at Cabezas de San
Juan at the northeastern corner of the island.
Also on Mona, Icacos, Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Guanica, Maricao, Susua.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands, and Lesser Antilles from St. Mar-
tin and Barbuda to St. Lucia and Barbados.

Other common names.— canela (Puerto Rico) ;
wild cinnamon, caneel, pepper cinnamon, cilli-
ment-bush (Virgin Islands) ; canela de la tierra,
canelilla (Dominican Republic); ciirbana, pica-
pica, malambo, canela blanca (Cuba) ; canella, cin-
namon canella (United States) ; canella, wild cin-
namon, white wood bark (English) ; cimiamon-
bark (Bahamas) ; canelle poivree (Haiti) ; canel-
lier blanc, canellier batard, bois canelle (Guade-
loupe).

Botanical synonyms. — Canella alba Murr.,
Winterana canella L.

362

]68. Bax-baseo, canella

Natural size.

Canella winterana (L.) Gaertn.

363

FLACOURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTIACEAE)

Key to the 5 species illustrated (Nos. 169-173)

A. Flowers in short lateral clusters ; fruit a rounded or an elliptic seed capsule.

B. Leaves many, evenly spaced on long slender twigs, appearing pinnate ; seed capsules ?i6 inch or less in
diameter.

C. Leaves with lower surface gray green, hairy ; edges toothed — 169. Casearia arborea.
CC. Leaves green on both surfaces ; edges appearing as if without teeth — 172. Casearea sylvestris.
BB. Leaves few ; seed capsules about % inch in diameter.

T>. Leaves less than 3 inches long, hairless ; seed capsules round — 170. Casearea decandra.
DD. Leaves 2V2-5V2 inches long, hairy on veins; seed capsules elliptic — 171. Casearia gtiianensis.
AA. Flowers in long-stalked lateral clusters ; fruit of seed capsules resembling dried flowers with 6 or 7 large brown
sepals attached — 173. Homalium racemosum.

169. Rabo raton

This very common small tree is distinguished
by: (1) many crowded lance-shaped or narrowly
oblong leaves flattened in 2 rows on long, slender,
nearly horizontal or slightly drooping twigs;
(2) the leaves long-pointed, finely saw-toothed,
and the lower surface gray green and covered with
minute hairs; and (3) small greenish-white bell-
shaped flowers %Q inch long and broad and seed
capsules %6 "^ch in diameter in clusters at leaf
bases.

An evergreen tree to 30 feet high and 6 (rarely
10) inches in trunk diameter, or shrubby. The
thin gray-brown bark is smoothish. Inner bark is
light brown and slightly bitter. The twigs are
finely hairy and brown, gi*e€n when young.

The alternate leaves have short hairy petioles
Vs inch long and thin blades li/2^ inches long and
1/4-1 inch broad, short-pointed at base, shiny green
and almost hairless on upper surface and densely
gray-green hairy beneath. Many minute gland
dots and lines can be seen when a leaf is examined
with a hand lens against the light.

Several to many small flowers are borne in lat-
eral clusters (umbels) about i/4 inch across at bases
of leaves, each on a short,, hairy, jointed stalk less
than Vs inch long. The whitish or greenish-white,
bell-sliaped flowers consist of the calyx with 5
finely hairy, spreading lobes about i/g inch long;
10 stamens attached to calyx and alternating with
smaller hairy sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and
pistil with 1-celled ovary with style and rounded
stigma. Seed capsules become reddish and black-
ish. Flowering and fruiting thi'ough the year.

Casearia arborea (L. C. Rich.) Urban

Sapwood is hard and brittle, very light brown.
The tree is used chiefly for posts and fuel in Puerto
Rico.

Abundant and widely distributed along road-
sides and in openings, thickets, and forests, in the
lower mountain, moist limestone, and moist coastal
regions of Puerto Rico. (Also reported long ago
from St. Thomas, perhaps in error.)

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro Negro.

JNIUNICirALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. 4,

19, 20. 27, 29, 35, 40. 49, 51, 52, 53, &4.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
Recorded from Honduras, British Honduras, and
Costa Rica in Central America. Also in South
America from Guianas to Brazil, Bolivia, and
Peru.

Other common names. — rabo junco (Puerto
Rico) ; palo de yagua, palo salvaje, cascarita (Do-
minican Republic) ; guaguasi, jique, guasimilla
(Cuba) ; 11a j as (Peru).

Two additional species of this genus are native
in Puerto Rico besides the 4 illustrated here.
Casearia aculeafa Jacq., a shrub or small tree of
southern and western Puerto Rico, has elliptic
leaves 1-2% inches long, usually hairy beneath and
distinguished by spines %-li4 inches long, often
branched, on the twigs.

Talantron {Casearia bicolor Urban), appar-
ently rare, is a tree species known only from the
Cordillera near Utuado. It has narrow oblong
leaves 3^i/^ inches long and 1-1% inches wide,
short-pointed at apex and rounded at base.

364

169. Eabo rat6n

Natural size.

Casearia arborea (L. C. Rich.) Urban

365

FLACOURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTIACEAE)

170. Tostado, wild honey-tree

This shrub or small tree is characterized by : (1)
the small, yellow-green elliptic leaves less than 3
inches long, finely saw-toothed, thin, and sliedding
in winter; (2) the many small greenish- white
flowers Vi inch across in clusters about % inch
across at nodes when twigs are leafless; and (3)
the round seed capsules % inch in diameter, pale
yellow or brown, edible but almost tasteless.

A deciduous shrub or small tree to 15 feet high
and to 3 inches in trunk diameter, with spreading
crown. The gray bark is smooth and thin, the
inner bark light brown and tasteless. The slender
hairless twigs are green when young, becoming
brown.

The alternate leaves have short petioles Vg-Vi
inch long and thin blades 1^-3 inches long and
%~Wi inches broad, long- or short- pointed at
apex and short-pointed or rounded at base, green
on both sides and slightly shiny above, hairless
except for inconspicuous tufts of haii-s usually in
vein angles beneath.

Many finely hairy flowers are borne in lateral
flower clusters (umbels) on slender stalks about
%G inch long, jointed near base. The calyx is
deeply divided into 5 narrow, finely haiiy, spread-
ing lobes Vs inch long; 10 haiiy stamens attached
near base of calyx are alternate with smaller hairy
sterile stamens (staminodes) ; and pistil consist-
ing of hairy 1 -celled ovary, slender hairy style,
and rounded stigma.

Casearia decandra Jacq.

The fleshy seed capsules are single or sometimes
paired on twigs back of the leaves and split into 3
parts. There are 2-4 seeds in the orange-colored
flesh. Flowering and fruiting at different times
during the year.

The light brown, hard sapwood perhaps is used
as roundwood where the trees are of sufficient size.

The fruits are edible, as the common name cerezo
(cherry) indicates, but almost tasteless. An im-
portant honey plant.

Common and widely distributed in thickets and
as an understory tree in moist coastal and lower
mountain forests in Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques,
St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.
(Reported long ago from St. Croix also.)

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro Negro.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, throughout Lesser Antilles, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Margarita. Also in Costa Rica and
northern South America from Colombia and Vene-
zuela to Brazil and Peru.

Other common n.vmes.— palo bianco, cerezo, gia
mausa, cotorrelillo (Puerto Rico) ; wild-cherry
(Virgin Islands); machacomo, tapaculo (Vene-
zuela) ; fortuga caspi, limoncaspi (Peru) ; jumbie-
apple (Grenadines); wild-cherry (Barbados);
pipewood, biscuitwood (Trinidad) ; bois jaune
(Guadeloupe).

366

170. Tostado, wild honey-tree

Natural size.

Casearia decandra Jacq.

367

FLACOURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTIACEAE)

171. Palo bianco, wild-coifee

This small tree is characterized by: (1) thin
elliptic or obovate, light ji^reen leaves, abruptly
short-pointed or rounded at apex, with toothed
edges and sunken curved lateral veins, arranged
in 2 rows on the twigs: (2) whitish or yellowish
spreading flowers %6 inch across, several in clus-
ters at leaf bases; and (3) the elliptic fruits nearly
1/2 inch long, splitting into 3 parts.

Evergreen shrub or small tree 15 feet high (re-
ported to 30 feet) and 2 inches or more in trunk
diameter, with spreading crown. The smooth thin
bark is light gray or whitish, the inner bark light
brown and slightly bitter. The twigs are green
and finely hairy when young, becoming gray.

The alternate leaves are borne in 2 rows on short
gi-een petioles i/i inch long. Leaf blades are 2i/^-
5V^ inches long and li^-2i/^ inches broad, often
widest beyond middle, short- or long-pointed at
base, hairless except on veins, the lower surface
pale green and with raised vems. Numerous mi-
nute gland dots and a few lines can be seen when a
leaf is viewed with a hand lens against the light.

Lateral flower clustere (umbels) are composed
of several flowers on slender hairy stalks Vs-Vi
inch long, which are jointed below middle. The
whitish or yellowish calyx %6 inch long consists
of 5 widely spreading, finely hairy lobes ; there are
usually 8 stamens inserted near base of calyx and
alternating with smaller hairy sterile stamens

Casearia guianensis (Aubl.) Urban

(staminodes) ; and pistil composed of 1-celled
ovary, style, and rounded stigma.

The elliptic seed capsules, commonly borne
singly, are % inch or more in length, greenish,
slightly fleshy. Flowering and fruiting probably
through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, hard, and heavy
(specific gravity 0.7). Used only for fuel.

Scattered in moist coastal and lower mountain
regions in Puerto Rico. Also Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, and St. John.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Luquillo, Rio
Aba jo.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles from
Antigua to Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and
Margarita. Also in southern Mexico, Central
America, and northern South America in Vene-
zuela and Guianas.

OxirER COMMON NAMES. — cafcillo, cafetillo
(Puerto Rico) ; cafe cimarron, cafe de gallina, palo
bianco (Dominican Republic) ; jia amarilla
(Cuba) ; limoncillo (El Salvador) ; palo de la
cruz (Panama) ; palo bianco (Colombia) ; punta
de ral, palo amarillo, huesito, limoncillo (Vene-
zuela) ; pipewood (Trinidad) ; kibihidan (British
Guiana).

Botanical synonym. — Casearia ramifiora Vahl.

368

171. Palo bianco, wild-coffee

Natural size.

Casearia guianensis (Aubl.) Urban

369

FLACOURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTLACEAE)

172. Cafeillo

This rather common and widely distributed
shrub or small tree is recognized by: (1) the
shiny (jreen lance-shaped to ellij-tic leaves longer
than 21/2 inclies, mostly long-pointed, thicker than
those of related species, edges wavy and incon-
spicuously toothed but appearing as if without
teeth, hairless, in 2 rows in a flattened arrange-
ment on long, unbranched twigs; (2) many minute
greenish or yellowish-white flowers about % inch
across, crowded on short stalks at leaf bases; and
(3) rounded, red, fleshy seed capsules % inch or
more in diameter, containing usually 3 brown
seeds.

Evergreen shrub or small tree 10-15 feet high
and to 4 inches in trunk diameter, also recorded as
up to 65 feet in height, with rounded spreading
crown, sometimes several trunks, hairless through-
out. The thin gray bark is smoothish with warty
dots (lenticels). Imier bark is whitish and taste-
less or slightly bitter. The long, slender, un-
branched twigs commonly are horizontal or slight-
ly drooping, green and afterwards becoming gray.

Leaves are alternate on short gi-een petioles 14
inch long. The blades vary in size as well as shape,
214-7 inches long and 1-3 inches broad, mostly
with a long narrow point at apex and short-
pointed at base, the upper surface with sunken
veins, and the lower surface light green. Wlien
examined with a hand lens against the light, the
leaves show numerous minute lighter gland dots
and lines within the network of veins.

Flower clusters (umbels) are lateral, about 14
inch across, with numerous small greenish or yel-
lowish-white flowers about % inch across on
slender stalks of the same color, % inch long and
jointed near middle. Each flower consists of usual-
ly 5 spreading calyx lobes more than i/ig inch long;
about 10 stamens insei-ted near base of calyx and
alternating with sterile stamens (staminodes) ;

Casearia sylvestris Sw.

and pistil composed of green ovai-y with short style
and 3-lobed stigma. The rounded, red, fleshy seed
capsules split into 3 parts and have usually 3 brown
seeds Vie inch long. Flowering a:id fruiting
tlirougliout the year.

Sapwood is light brown, heartwood dark brown.
The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and tine-textui"ed.
Classed as fuelwood. Suitable for small handles
and elsewhere used in carpentry and for poles.

A honey plant, the fi'agrant flowers attracting
bees.

Very common, especially in open areas, road-
sides, and also in forest understory, in moist coastal
and lower mountain regions in Puerto Rico. Also
in Vieques, St. Ci'oix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Gua-
jataca, Luquillo, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, throughout Lesser An-
tilles, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
southern Mexico to Peni, Argentina, Uruguay,
and Brazil. Botanical varieties have been distin-
guished in different areas.

Other common names. — cafe silvestre, cafeillo
cimarron, palo bianco (Puerto Rico) ; sarnilla, jia
colorada, ]uba rompehueso (Cuba) ; guayabillo,
palo de cotona (Mexico) ; corallilo, sacmuda
(Guatemala); barredera (El Salvador); sombra
de annado, sombra de conejo (Honduras) ; comida
de culebra (Nicaragua) ; corta lingua (Panama) ;
dondequiera, mahajo (Colombia) ; tortolito, gua-
yabito, punteral, tacasito, pabito (Venezuela) ;
avtvti-timbati, palo rajador, guazatumba, cambagui
(Argentina); wild-coffee (Trinidad); wild-sage
(British Honduras) ; pajielite (Haiti) ; crack-open
(Saba) ; guassatunga (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Casearia parvifiora
auth., not (L.) Willd.

370

172. Cafeillo

Natural size.

Casearia sylvestris Sw.

371

FLACOURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTIACEAE)

173. Caracolillo

A large tree characterized by : ( 1 ) elliptic leaves
with wavy-toothed edges, abruptly short-pomted
at apex and rounded or short-pointed at base,
spreading in 2 rows ; (2) the lateral flower clusters
2-6 inches long bearing few to many grayish or
pale green, finely hairy, widely spreading flowers
%-y2 inch across the 6 or 7 spreading petals; and
(3) brown seed capsules resembling dried flowers
with dead brown sepals attached. Large trees
stand out because of their pale or light green foli-
age and their white bark.

An evergreen tree to 70 feet or more in height
and 2 feet in trunk diameter, with narrow or
spreading crown. The light gray to white bark
is thin and smooth, becoming slightly fissured and
scaly. Inner bark is light brown and bitter. The
slender twigs are brown, green when young, hair-
less or nearly so.

The alternate leaves have short petioles %-%
inch long. Leaf blades are variable in shape and
size, 2-5 inches long and 1^/4-2 V2 inches broad,
thin or slightly thickened, hairless or often with
minute tufts in vein angles beneath, shiny green
above and beneath dull green and slightly paler.

The usually narrow flower clusters (racemes or
panicles) are borne singly at leaf bases and vary
greatly in length and in number of flowers. The
slender, finely hairy axis has flowers on short
stalks about Vie inch long or sometimes 3 on a
branch less than 1/4 irich long. The calyx bonie
on the tubular base (hypanthium) has 6 or 7
widely spreading, pointed, hairy sepals Vg-Yie inch
long; there are as many spreading petals %6 inch
long, pointed, and hairy; numerous stamens in
groups of mostly 4-6 opposite the petals and al-
ternate with glands; and the pistil with hairy,
half inferior ovary conical at both ends and with
3 styles % inch long separate to base or partly
united.

The seed capsule and spreading sepals fall to-

Homalium racemosum Jacq.

gether. There is usually 1 rounded brown seed
more than i/m inch long. Flowering and fruiting
from spring to fall (April to September) .

Tlie attractive golden yellow sapwood merges
gradually into the grayish-brown to reddish-brown
heartwood, frequently with irregular darker
streaks and patches. The wood is very hard,
very heavy (specific gi'avity 0.77), moderately
strong, fine-textured, and with interlocked gi-ain.
It is resistant to attack by dry-wood termites.
Rate of air-seasoning and amount of degrade are
moderate. Machining characteristics are as fol-
lows: planing, shaping, turning, mortising, and
sanding are good ; boring is excellent ; and resist-
ance to screw splitting is very poor.

The wood is used for general construction, al-
though its hardness is a disadvantage. It is suit-
able for tool handles, sporting and athletic goods,
agricultural implements, boat parts, and heavy
construction.

Widely distributed in Puerto Rico in forests,
thickets, and along streams, in the upper and lower
mountain, the limestone, and coastal regions.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Rio Abajo,
Susua, Toro Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
24, 60.

Range. — Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles
fi'om St. Kitts to Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Also from Mexico to Venezuela, Surinam, and
northern Brazil.

Other common names. — tostado, guajanilla,
cereza (Puerto Rico) ; corazon de paloma (Domin-
ican Republic) ; caramacate, marfil, granadillo de
clavo, verdecito (Venezuela) ; bois de hetre, acoma
blanc, acoma hetre, acoma franc (Guadeloupe) ;
acomat (Martinique); bietahoedoe (Surinam).

Botanical SYNO'sirMS.—HomaJiimi plelandrum
Blake, H. heTtiistylimh Blake, H. leiogynum Blake.

372

173. CaracoUUo

Natural size.

Homalium racemosum Jacq.

373

PAPAYA FAMILY (CARICACEAE*)

174. Lechosa, papaya

Papaya, a familiar small tree with distinctive
pungent odor, is widely grown for its delicious
edible fruits and also is naturalized. It is easily
recognized by: (1) usually unbranched, soft, suc-
culent trunk with thin milky sap, bearing a clus-
ter of alternate spreading leaves at apex ; (2) large
long-petioled leaves with palmately 7- or 9-lobed
blades, deeply cut into smaller long- or short-
pointed lobes; (3) male and female flowers whitish
or pale yellow, on different plants (dioecious), the
narrow tubular male flowers 1-1 V2 inches long and
numerous in branched clusters, and the larger fe-
male flowers about 2 inches long, with 5 spreading
petals and borne nearly stalkless, single or a few
together at base of a leaf; and (4) fruit clustered
around the trunk, usually 6-15 inches long, oblong,
obovoid, or rounded, and short- pointed.

A rapidly growing short-lived evergreen shrub
or tree to 20 fe«t tall, with tnmk usually less than
8 inches in diameter (rarely to 24 feet high and 16
inches in diameter) and with a narrow crown.
The bark is greenish or grayish brown to light
gray, smooth, with ]3rominent broad to nearly
horizontal leaf scars. The greenish or yellowish
inner bark has a spicy or slightly bitter taste. Be-
cause of the soft almost herbaceous stem and short,
life of a few years, this species is also regarded as
a giant perennial herb rather than a tree.

Upper leaves are erect spreading and lower
leaves drooping. The stout green petioles are
16-24 inches or more in length, round and hollow.
Leaf blades are rounded in outline, 8-24 inches in
diameter, slightly thickened and fleshy, dull light
green above and beneath pale whitish green and
covered with a bloom.

The slender lateral cluster (panicle) of many
fragrant male flowers is 6-24 inches long or longer.
A male flower has short 5-toothed calyx about Vie
inch long; whitish corolla of narrow funnel-
shaped tube about %-iy4 inches long and 5 widely
spreading narrow oblong lobes more than 1/2 inch
long and extending 1 inch or more across; 10 yel-
lowish stamens inserted in throat of corolla tube,
5 stalkless and 5 short-stalked; and rudimentary
narrow pistil about % inch long. The short-
stalked female flowers have 5-toothed gi-een calyx
%6~% inch long, 5 twisted narrow lance-shaped
fleshy pale yellow petals about 2 inches long, soon
falling ; and pale yellow pistil %-li/4 inches long
with large elliptic or round ovary, 1-celled with 5
ridges covered with ovules, and 5 spreading stalk-
less much-lobed stigmas. Rarely perfect flowers
with both stamens and a pistil are produced
(polygamous).

Several to many short-stalked fruits (berries)
hang down from the trunk of a female tree near
its summit, turning from green to orange at ma-
turity. The soft orange flesh 1-2 inches thick with

Carica papaya L.*

milky juice surrounds a large central cavity con-
taining many rounded blackish seeds about %6
inch in diameter, which are enclosed in a gelati-
nous membrane (aril). There are about 8,000
seeds to a pound. In flower and fruit probably
through the year.

The whitish or pale yellow wood is very soft,
vei-y lightweight, and fleshy. There is a large
white pith, and the center of the trunk is hollow
except at nodes. The wood is not used.

Papaya is one of the most popular tropical
fruits. Races differ in size and shape of fruit.
Like large melons, giant papayas may reach 18
inches in length and weigh as much as 20 pounds,
while the fruits of wild plants often are small,
sometimes only 3 inches long, and bitter flavored.
This esteemed melonlike fruit is served at the
breakfast table or as a dessert, often flavored with
juice of limes, but it is also made into preserves
and sherbets. The juice is also extracted and
canned. Green papayas can be cooked as a vege-
table like squash.

The milky latex or juice of the fruit, leaves, and
other parts of the plant contains the enzyme
papain (papaina) which, like pepsin, digests pro-
teins and curdles milk. Thus, papayas when eaten
aid in digestion of other foods. Tough meat is
made tender by wrapping it in papaya leaves for
a few hours, by washing in water containing the
juice, or by rubbing the juice on. Or the leaves
can be boiled with the meat, but if the time is too
long or the juice too concentrated, the meat may
fall apart in shreds. Though the tenderizing prop-
erty of papaya leaves has long been common
knowledge of tropical residents and known also to
botanists, only in recent years have meat tenderiz-
ers prepared from this plant become available
commercially.

Other applications of this enzyme are medici-
nally to aid digestion in cases of dyspepsia and for
clarifying beer. In some areas the seeds, juice,
flowers, and leaves have served in home remedies.
Also the leaves have been stewed as greens. The
male flowers may be a source of honey. It is re-
ported that the leaves have been employed in place
of soap for washing delicate fabrics. Children
make flutes from the hollow petioles.

Many races vary in size and quality of fruit.
The plants are also attractive ornamentals.
Through the tropics they grow almost as weeds,
bearing fruit the first year from seed and spread-
ing along roadsides and in waste places. Plants
are being heavily affected by diseases, especially
viruses.

Widely cultivated, escaping, and naturalized in
Puerto Rico. Also on Mona, Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

RANGE.^Native in tropical America, the origi-

374

174. Leehosa, papaya

687-921 0—64 25

Two-thirds natural size.

Oarica papaya L.
375

nal home unknown. Widely cultivated and nat-
uralized in southern Florida, Bennuda, through-
out West Indies, from Mexico to Argentina and
Brazil, and in the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — papay, pawpaw (Vir-
gin Islands) ; papaya (Spanish) ; fruta bomba

(Cuba) ; melon zapote (Mexico) ; papayo calen-
tano (Colombia) ; lechosa, papaya (Venezuela) ;
papayo, mamon (Argentina) ; papaya, pawpaw,
papaw (United States, English) ; papaye, papa-
yer (French); papaya, papao, papay (Dutch
West Indies) ; mamao, mamoeiro (Brazil).

CACTUS FAMILY (CACTACEAE)

Key to the 2 species illustrated (Nos. 175-176)

A. Branches columnar, with 7-11 ridges and grooves : fruits round, spineless — 175. Cephalocereus royenii.
AA. Branches flat, oblong joints or pads ; fruits pear-shaped, mostly spiny — 176. Opuntia ruiescens.

175. Sebucan, dildo

This tree cactus of dry areas is easily recognized
by: (1) stout erect gray-green columnar branches
2^4-4 inches in diameter with 7-11 ribs, or ridges,
and grooves between the branches and trunk, not
woody but soft and succulent; (2) absence of
leaves, but with many clusters of several spreading
needlelike yellow to gi^ay spines %-2i/4 inches in
length along the ribs; (3) greenish, whitish or
purplish-tinged, flowers 2 inches or more in length,
tubular and fle.shy with many sepals and petals,
borne singly and stalkless along ribs near apex;
and (4) rounded but much flattened edible red
berry up to 1 inch high and 2 inches in diameter,
the surface smooth and spineless.

A branched cactus 6-20 feet tall with trunk 4-12
inches in diameter, commonly dividing at 1-2 feet
above the base into several branches. As twigs
and leaves are absent, there is no definite crown as
in other trees. The trunk is reddish brown,
smoothish except for rows of spines radiating in
clustei"S and with very thin bark. The surface of
the smooth grooves in the branches is covered with
a bloom at least when young.

The spines are in clusters, several radiating out
from the central point of attachment (areole),
which also bears inconspicuous whitish hairs.
Near the rounded apex of branches the ribs bear
tufts of longer white hairs about li/i inches in
length, which are woolly and somewhat shaggy.

The tubular fleshy flowers extend straight and
nearly horizontal, opening at night. The flower
has an inferior, smoothish, spineless rounded
ovary about i/^ inch long, 1-celled; a funnelform
greenish fleshy tube (hypanthium) with many
overlapping oblong, rounded or pointed, whitish
or purplish-tinged, fleshy sepals about % inch long
and with about 10 whitish narrow pointed petals
%-i/4 inch long within ; very many white stamens
Vi~V2 iiich long attached at the throat and base of
the tube ; and protruding white fleshy style almost
2 inches long with many narrow stigma lobes.

Cephalocereus royenii (L.) Britton & Rose

The ovary develops into the fruit, while the re-
maining flower parts shrivel and dry, remaining
attached. The flattened berry contains red juicy
flesh slightly sweet and edible and many small
shiny black seeds less than i/jg inch long. Probably
flowering irregularly through the year.

The trunk is composed mostly of soft water-
storing tissues, light green near the surface and
yellowish within, juicy and slightly salty in taste.
The soft wood is a light brown fibrous cylinder
with large white rays.

The tree cactus is remarkably well adapted to
very dry conditions. The root system is broad and
near the surface where water from light rains can
be absorbed rapidly. The bulk of the plant is
made up of water storage tissue, which retains
water absorbed after rains for use over long dry
periods. The surface area is greatly reduced
through absence of leaves, and loss of water to the
air (transpiration) is correspondingly checked.
The branches have a very thick skin which also
retards evaporation and, being green, at the same
time cari-y on the processes of food manufacture
( photosynthesis ) , normally functions of the green
leaves. Further, the fonnidable spines protect
the juicy stems from animal life.

Scattered in dry forest on plains and hills at
lower elevations in southern and southwestern
Puerto Rico and rare at Cape San Juan in the di-y
extreme northeastern corner. Also on Mona,
Desecheo, Icacos, Culebraj and Vieques. Through
Virgin Islands on St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
Tortola, Vii'gin Gorda, Anegada, and probably
smaller islands.

Public fokest. — Guanica.

Range. — Mona, Puerto Rico and smaller adja-
cent islands, Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts and
Antigua in northern Lesser Antilles.

Other common names. — pipe-organ cactus,
cactus (Virgin Islands).

Botanical synonyms. — Cereus royenii (L.)
Mill., Pilocereus royenii (L.) Riimpl.

376

175. Sebucfin, dildo

Cephalocereus royenii (L.) Britton & Rose

End of branch with flower and fruit (upper right), two-thirds natural size.

377

CACTUS FAMILY (CACTACEAE)

176. Tuna de petate, pricklypear

Distinguishing characters of this large treelike
cactus ai^e: (1) numerous spines, 1-6 together
spreading in a cluster with a tuft of needlelike
hairs at base, or spines sometimes absent; (i3)
erect rounded fleshy spiny tiimk with bark pa-
peiy or scaly, bearing as branches flat, oblong
to obovate, dull gray-gi-een to dark green or red-
dish-green joints or pads, 6-16 inches long, spiny
and fleshy; (3) essentially leafless, the leaves be-
ing minute gi'een fleshy scales located singly at
base of clusters of spines; (4) orange, red, or
yellow flowers •% indi across the many petals,
borne on an oblong tubercled spiny green ovary
11/^-2 inches long; and (5) red fleshy fruit a pear-
shaped or rounded berry 2-3 inches long, spiny
or spineless. A spineless form of this species oc-
curs in Puerto Rico.

A cactus 10-15 feet tall, with trunk ^6 inches
in diameter, not jointed, erect and unbranched
for a few feet. The reddish-brown trunk be-
comes furrowed and flaky, retaining many gray
spines 1-2 inches long in radiating clustere.
There are several stout spiny branches ascending
and ending in several spreading to horizontal
flat si^iny joints. They continue or branch. 1-3
at the end of an older joint. A definite crown
of foliage is not present.

The leaves are borne at a cushion (areole) of
many small, needlelike, fine, stifi', brown hairs and
cluster of spines which corresponds to a node.
Though the leaves fall, the flashy joints are ever-
green and function yearlong like leaves in food
manufacture. There are 1-6 needlelike whitish
spines 14-2 inches long, spreading from a center.

Flowers are borne singly and stalkless on the
terminal joints, 1-3 on the edges of a joint, located
at the cushions of needle hairs. The largest part
of the flower is the inferior tubercled and usually
spiny gi-een ovary 11/2-2 inches long and 1%
inches in diameter. The calyx is composed of
many fleshy sepals. The petals are obovate, mi-
nutely pointed, and spreading. There are very
many stamens about half as long as the petals and
a central style bearing the stigma with several
rays.

Opuntia rubescens Salm-Dyck

The fruit is the enlarged ovary, usually spiny.
There are many seeds less than 14 inch in diam-
eter. Flowering and fruiting nearly through the
year.

Beneath the bark is liglit yellow, soft watery
tissue, almost tasteless, and inside is the light yel-
low, fibrous wood.

As in certain other species of cacti, some fruits
proliferate, that is, grow to form new flowers at
the ends. Upon falling to the ground, these easily
detached ovaries develop roots and grow into
new plants around the parent, directly and veg-
etative ly, rather than through seeds. Likewise, a
joint on the soil can begin a new plant. Vegeta-
tive propagation in this manner is more direct and
more certain in dry areas than seed germination
and establishment of small seedlings.

Like the columnar tree cactus, tuna de petate or
pricklypear is adapted to a hot and very dry cli-
mate. It has a shallow root system, water storage
tissue in the fleshy joints, reduced surface area,
and reduced water loss (transpiration) .

This species is often an undesirable plant where
common. The spineless form has been introduced
into cultivation in gardens in Puerto Rico.

Scattered in dry forest on plains and hills at low
elevation in southern and southwestern Puerto
Rico and rare at Cape San Juan in the extreme
northeastern corner. Also on Mona ( ? ) , Icacos,
Culebra, and Vieques. Through Virgin Islands on
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and
probably smaller islands.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Range. — Mona ( ? ) , Puerto Rico and smaller ad-
jacent islands, through Virgin Islands, and St.
Martin to Guadeloupe in Lesser Antilles.

Other common names. — tuna de yagua, tuna
(Puerto Rico) ; tree cactus (Virgin Islands) ;
petites raquettes (Guadeloupe).

Botanical s t n o n t m. — Consolea rubescens
(Salm-Dyck) Lemaire.

This genus of pricklypears is represented by 6
other native species not reaching tree size and by
a few others introduced for ornament.

378

176. Tuna de i)etate, pricklypear

Natural size.

Opuntia ruieacens Salm-Dyck

379

ME2EREON FAMILY (THYMELAEACEAE)

177. Majagua brava

This small Puerto Kican tree with tough, fibrous
bark is characterized by: (1) twigs forking into
2 or sometimes 3 equal forks, reddish brown when
yoimg and turning brown; (2) elliptic to obovate,
leathei-y and slightly fleshy leaves short- or long-
pointed at both ends, clustered together at ends of
twigs and at nodes; (3) small fragrant white
flowers, several at nodes in stalkless clusters
(heacls) with hairy scales; and (4) elliptic white
fleshy fruits %-V2 i"ch long, 1-seeded.

An evergreen tree or shrub 10-20 feet high and
2-4 inches in trunk diameter. The bark is gray,
smooth or slightly fissured, and thin. Inner bark
is whitish, almost tasteless.

The leaves appear as if opposite or in clusters
of 3 or 4 (whorled). They have petioles 1/3-%
inch long and blades 21/4^ inches long and 1-21^
inches broad, commonly widest beyond middle,
edges not toothed, slightly shiny on upper surface,
and pale gi-een beneath.

Flowers are male and female on different plants
(dioecious). Male flowers have a white hairy
calyx with narrow tube more than 1^4 "^ch long
with 4 lobes less than Vs inch long, 8 stamens in 2
sets of 4 each near mouth of tube, and rudimentai-y
pistil. Female flowers are smaller, with a calyx
about half as long as in male flowers, with tube
and 4 lobes, and pistil with ovary and short style.

Daphnopsis philippiana Krug & Urban

The fleshy fruits are borne several together or
only 1 at a node on very short stalks, green when
immature but becoming white. The single brown
seed is about i/4 inch long. Flowering and fruit-
ing nearly through the year.

The wood is whitish or yellowish, soft, and
little used because of the small size of the tree.
The bark has in the past been used for rope.

Known only from the upper Luquillo and Cor-
dillera forests of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Restricted to mountains of Puerto
Rico.

Other common names. — emajagua de sierra,
majagua quemadora, emajagua brava (Puerto
Rico).

This genus and family are represented by 2
other tree species. Majagua de sierra or mahout
{Daphnopsis americana (Mill.) J. R. Johnston;
synonyms D. americana subsp. cariiaea- (Griseb.)
Nevl., D. cariiaea Griseb.), of forests in Puerto
Rico, Vieques, and the Virgin Islands and beyond,
has slightly smaller flowers in small branched
clusters at ends of twigs, and fruits only i^ inch
long. The other (Z>. helleriana Urban), known
only from 1 collection near Bayamon, has ob-
long leaves rounded at apex and hairy beneath.

380

177. Majagua brava

Natural size.

Daphnopsis philippiana Krug & Urban

381

LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY (LYTHRACEAE)
178. Reina de las flores, queen-of-flowers Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.*

Planted for its numerous showy purple flowers,
this exotic tree is identified by: (1) the large,
loosely branched, terminal clustere 6-18 inches
long bearing many beautiful lavender or pui-ple
(or on some trees pink) flowers 2-21A inches across,
with 6 rounded, crinkled and wavy-margined,
spreading petals; (2) the gray-brown romided
seed capsules %-li/4 inches in diameter, splitting
into 6 parts and shedding many brown winged
seeds V2-% inch long; and (3) the large elliptic
leaves abruptly short-pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base, opposite or alternate, appearing to
be in 2 rows on the long, spreading twigs.

A small cultivated tree 15-30 feet high, with
trunk to 8 inches in diameter, or larger, and with
rounded or widely spreading dense crown. Decid-
uous only in dry climates. The bark is gray or
light brown, smooth ish to slightly fissured and
scaly. Inner bark is light brown and bitter to the
taste.

Leaves appear in 2 rows on the light green twigs
as a result of bending of the short petioles 1/8-%
inch long. Leaf blades are 5-12 inches long and
2V2-5 inches broad, not toothed on edges, slightly
thickened, green on upper surface and paler
beneath.

Flower clusters (panicles) have stout, finely
hairy branches, with individual flower stalks
Vi-Vz inch long. The vei'y showy flowere have a
light green, cup-shaped. i2-ridged base (hypan-
thium) % inch high and nearly i/^ inch broad,
minutely hairy, bearing 6 light green, pointed,
thickened, finely hairy sepals %e inch long and
widely spreading, 6 stalked nearly round petals
11/1 inches long, and numerous purplish stamens
about % inch long. The pistil consists of a 6-celled
ovai-y 3/jg inch in diameter, a slender purplish style
about 1 inch long, becoming curved, and small
rounded green stigma.

The seed capsules are nearly round or elliptic,
with dried hypanthium and sepals attached at
base. The many seeds, about 39,000 to a pound,
have a long, mostly narrow wing. Flowering
from May through October, the fruit maturing
from winter to summer.

The light brown sapwood is hard. An impor-
tant large timber tree in India, where the wood is
preferred for small boats, shipbuilding, and pil-
ing. In Puerto Rico the tree is grown in the open
i:)rimarily for ornament and seldom produces a
straight stem.

Occasionally planted for ornament and shade,
such as a street tree and in gardens, in Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands and sometimes escaping
from cultivation. Commonly purplish flowered,
but a variation with pinkish flowers is also grown.

Range. — Native from India to southern China,
Malay Peninsula, Philippines, East Indies, and
northern Australia. Planted as an ornamental
flowering tre« and escaping in many tropical lands.
Grown in southern Florida and West Indies
from Cuba and Jamaica (naturalized) to Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique,
and Trinidad and from Mexico to South America.

Other common names. — tree crapemyrtle (Vir-
gin Islands) ; astromelia, flor de la reina (Ven-
ezuela) ; queen-of-flowers, queen-flower, pride-of-
India, queen crapemyrtle (English) ; king-of-
flowers (British Guiana) ; pyinma (commerce).

Botanical synonym. — Lagerstroemia flos-
reginae Retz.

Astromelia or common crapemyrtle {Lager-
stroemta indica L.*), a related shrub or small tree
from Asia, is a popular ornamental. It has small
elliptic leaves 1-2 inches long and showy masses of
pink, white, or purple flowers less than li/^ inches
across.

382

178. Reina de las flores, queen-of-flowers

Two-thirds natural size.

Lagerstroemia speciota (L.) Pers.

383

MANGROVE FAMILY (RHIZOPHORACEAE)

179. Mangle Colorado, mangrove

This common species on protected muddy sea-
shores is easily recognized by the mass of peculiar,
branching, curved and arching stilt roots, enabling
the trees to spread in shallow salt and brackish
water and form dense, impenetrable thickets at
tide level. Other distinguishing characteristics
are : ( 1 ) the conspicuous, naiTow, long, pointed,
green terminal buds; (2) the opposite, elliptic,
blunt-pointed, shiny green leaves, slightly leathery
and fleshy, and yellow green beneath ; (3) the pale
yellow flowers about % inch across with 4 widely
spreading narrow and leathery sepals, usually 2-4
in stalkecl lateral clusters; and (4) the unique dark
brown fruits about 11/4 inches long and 1/2 }^p^ in
diameter, remaining attached, each containing a
growing seedling with long narrow podlike first
root U]) to 1 foot long and hanging down.

Commonly a small tree 15-25 feet or more in
height, evergreen, with an erect trunk 8 inches or
more in diameter. Formerly probably much
larger. The bark is gray or gray brown, smooth,
and thin on small trunks, becoming furrowed and
thick on larger ones. Inner bark is reddish or
pinkish, with slightly bitter and salty taste. The
stout twigs are gray or brown, bearing several
crowded leaves near apex. The bud is 1-2 inches
long, covered with 2 green scales (stipules) around
the pair of developing leaves and which make a
ring scar on the twig upon shedding.

The slightly flattened petioles are 1/2-% inch
long. Leaf blades are 21/2-4 inches long and 1-
21/2 inches broad, blunt-pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base, the edges slightly rolled under.

Flowers are 2-4 together on a forked green
stalk altogether 11/2-8 inches long, slightly fra-
grant. The bell-shaped pale yellow base (hy-
panthiura) less than i/4 inch long bears 4 widely
spreading narrow pale yellow sepals almost y^
inch long, leathery and persistent; there are 4
narrow petals % inch long, curved downward,
whitish but turning brown, white woolly or cot-
tony on inner side; 8 stamens; and the pistil con-
sists of a 2-celled ovary, mostly inferior but coni-
cal at apex, with 2 ovules in each cell, slender style,
and 2-lobecl stigma.

The single seed germinates inside the conical
fruit, forming a long narrow first root (radicle)
green except for the brown enlarged and pointed
end up to i/o inch in diameter. When about 1
foot long, the heavy seedling falls and is usually
carried by water before becoming fi.rnily rooted.
Flowering and fruiting through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, the heartwood
reddish brown or dark brown. The wood is hard,

Rhizophora mangle L.

very heavy (specific gravity 0.9-1.2), durable in
the soil but susceptible to attack by dry-wood
termites.

Used as roundwood, for posts and poles and
excellent for fuel and charcoal. Elsewhere the
wood in larger sizes has been employed also for
marine piling and wharves, shipbuilding, and
in cabinetwork. The bark is important commer-
cially in tanning leather, and the leaves are rich
in tannin also. A dye and medicines have been
obtained from the bark. Fishermen in Puerto
Rico preserve their lines with an extract from the
roots.

Mangrove forests on depositing shores aid in
extending the shore line, holding the black mud
in place and gradually advancing on the side to-
ward the ocean. This species with its stilt roots
growing in shallow water extends farther sea-
ward than the 3 other species of mangroves.

Common to abundant in mangrove swamp for-
ests over large flat areas of silty or muddy shores
in salt and brackish water around Puerto Rico.
Forming pure stands on the sea side of such for-
ests and mixed with other mangrove species far-
ther inland. Also in Mona Vieques, St. Croix,
St Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Boqueron, Ceiba,
Guanica, San Juan.

Range. — Shores of central and southern Florida
including Florida Keys, Bermuda, and through-
out West Indies (excep*^ Dominica) to Trinidad
and Tobago and Dutch West Indies. Also on both
coasts of continental tropical America from cen-
tral Mexico south to Ecuador and northwestern
Peru and to Brazil. Also in Galapagos Islands,
Melanesia, and Polynesia.

Other common names. — mangle, mangle zapa-
tero, mangle de chifle (Puerto Rico) ; mangle
(Virgin Islands) ; mangle, mangle Colorado
(Spanish) ; mangle gateador, mangle caballero
(Costa Rica) ; mangle salado (Panama) ; mangle
rojo (Venezuela) ; mangle injerto (Ecuador) ;
mangrove, red mangrove (United States, Eng-
lish) ; black mangrove (British Guiana) ; man-
glier, manglier rouge (Haiti) ; paletuvier rouge
(French, commerce) ; manglier rouge, mangle
rouge, mangle noir, manglier chandelle (Guade-
loupe) ; mangel tan (Dutch West Indies) ; man-
gro (Surinam) ; mangue sapateiro, mangue ver-
melho (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Rhizophora mangle
var. samoensis Hochr., R. sa7noensis (Hochr.)
Salvoza.

384

179. Mangle Colorado, mangrove

Two-thirds natural size.

Rhizophora mangle L.

385

COMBRETUM FAMILY (COMBRETACEAE)

Key to the 5 species illustrated (Nos. 180-184)

A. Leaves mostly clustered at ends of twigs; petiole without glands, blade broadest beyond middle; upland trees.
B. Leaves less than 3 inches long, green or yellow green.

C. Twigs spineless ; fruit an elliptic pointed drupe about % inch long — 180. Buchenavia capitata.
CC, Twigs often with paired spines ; fruits about V< inch long, with calyx at apex, some deformed as slender
hornlike galls 2-3 inches long — 181. Bticida buceras.
BB. Leaves 6-11 inches long, turning reddish before falling — 184. Terininalia catappa*
AA. Leaves evenly spaced along twigs: petiole with 2 glands near the elliptic blade; trees of mangrove swamp forests.
D. Leaves alternate, long-pointed at both ends — 182. Conocarpus erectus.
DD. Leaves opposite, rounded at both ends — 183. Lagiincularia racemosa.

180. Granadillo

This large, spreading timber tree is character-
ized by : ( 1 ) a striking thin crown composed of a
few main, widely spreading nearly horizontal
branches; (2) erect clusters of small reverse lance-
shaped (oblanceolate) or spoon-shaped (spatu-
late) yellow-green leaves crowded at ends of short
erect twigs from horizontal branches; (3) many
small greenish flowers about Vs inch across at the
end of a lateral stalk, altogether 1-1 i/o inches long;
and (3) elliptic greenish fruits %-% inch long
and 14 inch in diameter, pointed at both ends and
slightly 4- or 5-angled, single or paired.

A tree growing to 60-80 feet tall and 2-i feet in
trunk diameter, with straight trunk becoming but-
tressed at base. Deciduous but with the new yel-
lowish foliage appearing soon after leaf fall in
most areas. The light brown bark is smoothish,
with many small fissures. The inner bark is yel-
lowish and bitter. The brown to gray twigs, finely
rusty-brown hairy when young, have slender leaf-
less areas and shorter stout spurs bearing leaves
or leaf scars close together.

The leaves are alternate, though clustered. Pet-
ioles are %-% inch long. Leaf blades are 1^/4-3
inches long, V2-IV2 inches broad, roiuided at apes
and long-pointed at base, broadest beyond middle,
the edges flat or rolled under, becoming thickened
and leathery, hairless or nearly so when mature,
shiny yellow green on upper surface and paler
beneath.

Flower clusters (spikes or heads) V^-^A iiich
long on hairy stalks i^-l inch long are inconspicu-
ous among the new leaves. The crowded, hairy
flowers are both bisexual and male (polygamous).
Tlie calyx is broadly cup-shaped, 5-toothed, Vie
inch long, soon falling, and there are 10 stamens;
and the pistil has an inferior hairy, 1-celled ovary.

Fruits (drupes) borne on a stalk about 1 inch
long resemble an olive, are slightly fleshy and bit-
ter, and contain 1 large stone. Flowering mainly
in winter and spring and maturing fruits through
the year.

The light yellow to golden-brown heartwood is
not clearly separated from the pale yellow sap-
wood. The attractive, good quality wood is mod-
erately hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.61), and strong. It has high luster, roey or

Buchenavia capitata (Vahl) Eichl.

straight grain, medium texture, and growth rings
marked by narrow bands of darker pores. The
lumber air-seasons rapidly with only a very small
amount of degrade. It finishes well and takes a
high satiny polish. Machining characteristics are
as follows : planing, shaping, turning, boring, mor-
tising, sanding, and resistance to screw splitting
are good. The heartwood, sometimes found among
the timbers of old buildings, is resistant to attack
by dry-wood termites and is fairly durable in the
ground, but the sapwood is perishable.

Though not widely used, the wood is highly rec-
ommended for furniture and cabinetwork. It is
suited also for construction, framing, flooring, ply-
wood, decorative veneer, interior trim, boatbuild-
ing, boxes and crates, and turnery.

Planted as a shade tree in soutliem Florida,
where it is reported to be hardy and suitable for
dry soils and exposed sites. Classed also as an
ornamental in Puerto Rico. Requires ample light
for good growth. The bark is high in tannin.

A prominent tree of the forest canopy chiefly in
the lower mountain and moist limestone re-
gions, descending in some places to the moist coast
of Puerto Rico. Also in Tortola.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Susua, Toro A'egro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
4, 10, 11, 20, 22, 29, 35, 42, 43, 46, 47, 50, 53, 58, 61,
68, 70, 73.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico and Tortola, Lesser Antilles, and Trinidad
and Tobago. Also in Panama and South America
from Venezuela to French Guiana, Brazil, and
Bolivia.

Other common names. — gri-gri, ciruelillo,
guaraguao (Dominican Republic) ; jiicaro ama-
rillo, jiicaro mastelero, jociuna, jucarillo (Cuba) ;
amarillo boj, amarillo, chicharro (Venezuela) ;
yellow olivier (Trinidad) ; yellow sanders (To-
bago) ; wild olive (Jamaica) ; bois margot, bois
gris-gris (Haiti) ; bois gli-gli, bois gri-gri, bois
olivier (Guadeloupe) ; olivier gi-and bois, an-
gouchi des sables (French Guiana) ; matakki,
gemberhout, katoelima, toekoeli (Surinam).

Botanical synonym. — Bucida capitata Vahl.

386

v./

f.

^

<-^( \ <

y

J

\

fM

180. Granadillo

Natural size.

Buchenavia capitata (Vahl) Elchl.

387

COMBRETUM FAMILY (COMBRETACEAE)

181. Ucar, gregre, oxhorn bucida

A widely spreading timber and shade tree iden-
tified by : (1) a broad symmetrical crown of nearly
horizontal branches which generally droop near
the ends; (2) paired gray spines 14-% inch long
on the twigs of some trees; (3) elliptic leaves 1-3
inches long and %-2 inches broad, clustered at
ends of short erect twigs; (4) small, greenish-
white or light brown flowers stalkless in lateral
clusters 1-4 inches long; and (5) brownish, some-
what conical fruits about 14 inch long with spread-
ing calyx remaining at apex, but some fruits
deformed as hornlike galls 2-3 inches long and
more than Yg inch in diameter.

Evergreen or deciduous medium-sized to large
tree 30-60 feet high and to 3 feet in trunk diam-
eter. The bark is brown, fissured and slightly
rough or becoming thickened and scaly. Inner
bark brown and slightly bitter. The gi'ay twigs,
finely hairy when young, are widely forking, con-
sisting of slender leafless portions and shorter
stout, spurlike areas bearing leaves or mas.ses of
leaf scars.

The leaves are alternate on slightly hairy petioles
1/4-%, inch long. Blades are rounded, short-
pointed, or notched at apex and short-pointed at
base, often widest beyond middle, the edges not
toothed, slightly thickened, hairless or nearly so
at maturity, green on upper surface and yellow
green beneath.

Flower clusters (spikes) are among the leaves,
unbranched, and bear along the finely haiiy gray-
green axis or at the end many stalkless flowers,
which are 14,-% i"ch long and y^-Vo inch broad
across the stamens. The base (hypanthium) is less
than Yg inch long, gray green or light brownish,
finely hairy; the bowl-shaped, greenish- white
calyx is y^g inch long and %6 inch across, 5-
toothed, and finely hairy; there are 10 widely
spreading stamens Vs-V^ inch long; and the pistil
with inferior 1-celled ovary and slender hairy
style %6 inch long.

The fruits (dnipes) are irregularly 5-angled,
slightly fleshy or dry, narrowed lielow the calyx,
minutely hairy, 1-seeded. Odd, hornlike galls
caused by mites commonly develop from some
fruits and become many times longer than normal
size. Flowering and fruiting irregularly through
the year.

The sapwood is yellowish or light brown, and the
attractive heartwood dark greeiiish brown with
longitudinal stripes resulting from roey grain.
The wood is very hard, very heavy (specific grav-
ity 0.93), very strong, tough, and moderately fine-

Bucida buceras L.

textured. Rate of air-seasoning and amomit of de-
grade are moderate. Machining characteristics
are as follows: planing is fair; shaping and sand-
ing are good; turning, boring, and mortising are
excellent; but resistance to screw splitting is very
poor. One of the heaviest available woods of
Puerto Eico, it is difficult to work because of the
high density and hardness. It is durable in con-
tact with the ground, resistant to attack by dry-
wood termites, and takes a fine polish.

This valuable timber is used locally in carts,
gates, fences, and rural construction. It is suita-
ble also for heavy-duty flooring, workbenches, ma-
chinery platforms, and heavy exterior construc-
tion. Uses elsewhere include marine piling in
nonteredo areas, crossties, house posts, bridge
timbers, and charcoal.

Formerly the bark was employed in tanning.
Also planted as a shade and ornamental tree,
especially in coastal and dry regions. Common in
cultivation as a street tree in southern Florida.

In forests of the moist and dry limestone regions
and forests along coasts and streams near the sea
in Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, and St. John.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Boqueron, Camba-
lache, Guajataca, Guanica, Rio Abajo, San Juan,
Susua.

Municipalities where especi.^llt common. —
12, 21, 24, 26, 28, 36, 38, 44, 54, 55, 66, 75.

Range. — Upper Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba,
Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, and Leeward Islands to Guadeloupe in
Lesser Antilles. Also from southern Mexico to
Panama and northern South America along the
coasts of Colombia, Venezuela (including Mar-
garita), and Guianas.

Other common names. — guaraguao, gri-gri
(Dominican Republic) ; jucaro, jucaro negro,
jucarillo (Cuba) ; pucte (Mexico) ; bucida (Co-
lombia) ; oxhorn bucida, black-olive (United
States) ; black-olive (Bahamas, Jamaica) ; olive-
bark-tree (Jamaica) ; bullet-tree, bullywood,
bully-tree (British Honduras) ; bois gri-gri, gris-
gris des montagnes, gue-gue (Haiti) ; bois gli-gli,
bois gris-gris (Guadeloupe) ; grignon (French
Guiana) .

Botanical synonyms. — Buceras hucida Crantz,
TerTii'malia huceras C. Wright.

The scientific name and English common name
oxhorn bucida are descriptive of the elongated
fruit galls.

388

181. tJcar, gregre, oxhom bucida

Natural size.

Buoida huceras L.

3«9

COMBRETUM FAMILY (COMBRETACEAE)

182. Mangle boton, button-mangrove

Button-mangrove, a tree frequently shrubby in
habit and usually on the landward side of tidal
mangrove swamp forests, is distinguished as the
only mangrove species with alternate leaves. It is
further characterized by: (1) leathery and slight-
ly fleshy, lance-shaped or elliptic leaves IVi-^
inches long and Vo-l^ inches broad, long-pointed
at both ends, yellow green on both sides; (2) yel-
low-green angled or winged twigs; (3) minute
greenish fragi-ant flowers less than Yie i"ch across,
crowded in balls less than % inch in diameter in
terminal and lateral clusters; and (4) purplish-
brown rounded conelike f I'uits Ys-Vo inch in diam-
eter, composed of many scalelike single 1-seeded
fruits about i/g inch long.

A small evergreen tree to 20 feet in height and
8 inches in trunk diameter, .sometimes larger or
a low shrub, with spreading crown. Usually hair-
less throughout, but one variation has silky or sil-
very hairy foliage. The bark is gray or brown,
becoming rough, furrowed, and thick. Inner bark
is light brown and astringent and bitter. The
twigs are yellow green when young, becoming
brown, and with a prominent angle or wing below
each leaf.

The leaves have slightly winged, short petioles
i/g-% inch long with 2 dotlikc glands. Leaf blades
are not toothed on edges and usually have several
dotlike glands near vein angles on lower surface.

There are commonly several stalked balls or
lieads of flowers in clusters mostly 1-3 inches long.
Flowers are mostly bisexual, but some trees bear
heads of male flowers. Bisexual flowers are more
than Vio inch long, with hairy grayish 2-winged
tubular base (hypanthium), cuplike green calyx
with 5 lobes, 5-10 protruding stamens, and pistil
of inferior ovary with slender style. Male flowers
lack the tubular base (hypanthium) and pistil and
have longer stamens.

The dry individual fruits (drupes) are brown,
2-winged, overlapping and separating at maturity.
Flowering and fruiting probably through the
year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
yellow brown. The wood is very hard, very
heavy (specific gravity 1.0), strong, and fine-
textured. It takes a fine polish and is said to be
generally vei-y durable, although susceptible to at-

Conocarpus erectus L.

tack by dry-wood termites. The wood has been
used for fenceposts, crossties, wood turning, and
in boatbuilding. It burns slowly and makes good
fuel and charcoal.

The bark has served in tanning and medicine,
and the leaves contain tannin also. Elsewhere,
it is reported that plants can be propagated from
cuttings as liviuir fenceposts. In southern Florida
the variation with silky or silvei-y hairy foliage is
grown as a handsome ornamental. Plants of this
species will grow on dry land away from the sea-
shores.

Mangrove swamp forests on silty shores near
salt and bi-ackish water, and sometimes also on
rocky and sandy shores around Puerto Rico. Also
in Mona, Icacos, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

PuiiLic FORESTS. — Aguirre, Boqueron, Ceiba,
Guiinica, and San Juan.

Range. — Shores of central and southern Florida
including Florida Keys, Bermuda, nearly through-
out West Indies (except Dominica) from Ba-
hamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
Dutch West Indies. On both coasts of continental
tropical America from Mexico south through Cen-
tral America and northern South America to
Ecuador and Galapagos Islands and to Brazil.
Also in western ti'opical Africa.

Other common names. — botoncillo (Puerto
Rico) ; buttonwood (Virgin Islands) ; mangle
boton (Spanish) ; botoncillo, mangle prieto (Do-
minican Republic) ; yana (Cuba) ; mangle negro,
mangle prieto (Mexico) ; botoncillo (El Salva-
dor) ; marequito, mangle negro, mansrle marequita
(Costa Rica) ; zaragosa, mangle pihuelo, mangle
torcido (Panama) ; mangle negro, mangle garban-
cillo (Colombia) ; botoncillo, mangle botoncillo,
mangle lloroso (Venezuela) ; mangle jeli, jele
(Ecuador); button-mangrove, buttonwood
(United States, English) ; manglier (St. Lucia) ;
buttonbush, botoncillo (British Honduras) ; man-
gle, paletuvier (Haiti) ; paletuvier gris (Guade-
loupe, Martinique) ; mangle gris, manglier gris,
chene Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe) ; mangel, grijze
mangel, mangel blancu, witte mangel (Dutch West
Indies) ; mangue, mangue branco, mangue de
botao (Brazil).

390

182. Mangle boton, button-maagrove

Natural size.

Conocarpiis erccUis L.

687-921 O— 64— — 26

391

COMBRETUM FAMILY (COMBRETACEAE)

183. Mangle bianco, white-mangrove

One of the 4 species of mangrove swamp forests
on brackish siUy seashores, mangle bianco is char-
acterized by: (1) opposite, leathery and slightly
fleshy, elliptic leaves l^-i inches long and 1-2
inches broad, rounded at both ends, dull yellow
green on both sides and borne on reddish petioles
with 2 raised gland dots near apex; (2) gray-
brown bark becoming rough and fissured; (3)
many small bell-shaped whitish flowers about %6
inch long, stalkless in terminal and lateral clusters
1-4 inches long; and (4) clusters of velvety gray-
green fruits %-% inch long, slightly pear-shaped
(obovoid), flattened and with ridges.

Commonly a small evergreen tree to 40 feet
high and 1 foot in trunk diameter, sometimes
larger. Many trees consist of a clump of stems
which liave sprouted after cutting. The inner bark
is light brown, bitter and astringent. Twigs are
greenish or reddish brown when young but be-
coming brown, hairless, and thickened at nodes.

The leaves have stout petioles %-i/4 inch long.
Leaf blades are without toothed edges, visible
veins, or hairs.

Flower clusters (panicles) are generally
branched and spreading, the fragrant flowers
mostly bisexual (or a few male). The minutely
liairy, whitish tubular base (hypanthium) is less
than % inch long and broad, bearing 2 minute
scales (bracts), 5 spreading blunt-pointed whitish
sepals less than i/^e inch long, and 5 rounded
whitish petals i/ie inch long; there are 10 stamens;
and pistil with inferior 1-celled ovary with 2
ovules, slender style, and minutely 2-lobed stigma.

The slightly fleshy fruit (drupe) is minutely
hairy, gray green when immature and brownish at
maturity, broadest near the apex, which has sepals
remaining attached. It floats and is disseminated
by water. There is 1 large seed which starts to en-
large and sometimes begins germination withm the
fruit on the tree or floating in the water. Flower-
ing and fruiting nearly throughout the year.

Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
yellowish brown. The wood is moderately heavy
(specific gravity 0.6), hard, and strong, but not
very durable. In Puerto Rico used mainly for
posts, fuel, or charcoal, and sometimes for tool
handles and similar objects. Elsewhere the wood
has served also for construction. The bark con-
tains tannin and has been employed in tanning and
medicinally.

A rapidly growing tree which may flower and
fruit when less than 2 years old. Also a honey
plant.

The most widely distributed of the mangrove
species in Puerto Rico. Grows along the silty
shores of lagoons and estuaries near the coast.
Also in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Boqueron, Ceiba,
Guanica, San Juan.

R.^NGE. — Shores of central and southern Florida
including Florida Keys, Bermuda, and nearly
throughout West Indies (excep!^ Dominica) from
Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and
Dutch West Indies. On both coasts of continental
tropical America from Mexico south to Ecuador
and northwestern Peru and to Brazil. Also in
western tropical Africa.

Other common names.^ — mangle bobo (Puerto
Rico) ; mangel (Virgin Islands) ; mangle bianco
(Spanish) ; mangle amarillo, mangle prieto
(Dominican Republic) ; pataban (Cuba) ; cin-
cahuite (El Salvador) ; palo de sal, mangle mare-
quita (Costa Rica) ; mangle amarillo (Vene-
zuela) ; white-mangrove, white button wood
(United States, English); gi'een turtle-bough
(Bahamas); coil (British Guiana); mangle,
manglier blanc (Haiti) ; paletuvier (French) ;
mangle blanc, manglier blanc (Guadeloupe) ;
akira (Surinam) ; mangue, mangue branco
(Brazil).

392

183. Mangle bianco, wMte-mangrove

Natural size.

Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn. f.

393

COMBRETUM FAMILY (COMBRETACEAE)

184. Almendra, Indian-almond

This familiar tree commonly planted for shade,
ornament, and nuts is introduced, rather than
native. It is characterized by: (1) horizontal
branches in circles at different levels on the trunk;
(2) large leathery leaves broadest toward apex
(obovate), turning reddish before falling; (3)
many small greenish-white flowers Yie^V-i i^^ch
across in narrow lateral clusters; and (4) elliptic,
slightly flattened greenish fruits about 2 inches
long, each with a hard husk containing a large
edible seed or nut.

Usually a medium-sized tree, to 50 feet in height
and 1 foot in trunk diameter, sometimes larger and
with slight buttresses. It is evergreen except in
areas with a marked dry season. The gray bark
is smoothish and thin, becoming slightly fissured.
Inner bark is pinkish brown, slightly bitter and
astringent. Twigs are brown, finely hairy when
young, slender but swollen at leaf scars and the
nodes.

The leaves are alternate but crowded together
near ends of twigs and have stout, finely brown
hairy petioles %-% inch long. Blades are 6-11
inches long and 31/0-6 inches broad, abruptly
short-pointed or rounded at apex and gradually
narrowed toward the rounded base, not toothed on
edges, slightly thickened, the upper surface shiny
green or dark green and hairless, and the lower
surface paler and often finely brown hairy.

Flower clusters (narrow racemes) are 2-6 inches
long, with numerous, mostly short-stalked, slightly
fragrant flowers, mostly male and a few bisexual
flowers near base (polv.<ramous). Both kinds have
a greenish-white or liarht brown, hairv calyx with
cup-shaped tube and 5 or 6 pointed, spreading
lobes ViG lontr and bearing twice as many small sta-
mens near base. In addition the bisexual or fe-
male flowers, which are stalkless, have a slender
style and a narrow basal tube (hypanthium) %e
inch long, brownish green and finely hairy, resem-
bling a stalk but containing the inferior 1-celled
ovary.

The fruits (drupes) are about 1 inch broad,
poin<^ed. sliirhtlv flattened and with 1 or 2 nar-
rowly winged edges, light brown at maturity. The
thin outer layer is sliffhtlv sour and can be eaten.
Inside the hard fibrous hu^k there is a light brown,
thick, hard stone containing an oily seed or nut
about V^ inches long and % inch broad, somewhat
like the true almond. Flowering and fruiting
nearly through the year.

The heartwood is reddish brown with slightly
darker stripes, and the sapwood liffhter in color.
The wood is hard, moderately heavy (specific
gravity 0.59), moderately strong, tough, medium-
textured, and with irregular and often interlocked

Terminalia catappa L.*

grain. It is very susceptible to attack by dry-wood
termites. Rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and
amount of degrade is moderate. Machining char-
acteristics are as follows: planing is vei-y poor;
shaping, boring, and mortising are fair; turning is
poor ; and sanding and resistance to screw splitting
are good.

Local uses are for posts and fuel. However, this
attractive wood if carefully handled in machining
would be suitable for millwork, furniture, veneer,
and cabinetwork. Elsewhere it has been recom-
mended for boatbuilding, general construction,
bridge timbers, crossties, flooring, and boxes and
crates.

The bark, roots, astringent green fruits, and
leaves contain tannin and have been used in tan-
ning. A black dye serving for ink has been ob-
tained from bark, fruits, and foliage also. An oil
lias been extracted from the seeds.

Planted chiefly for shade and ornament and for
the edible seeds, and growing rapidly. One of the
common roadside trees in Puerto Rico, attractive
for its peculiar branching and the reddish-tinged
old leaves. Trees are extensively planted along
sandy seashores, being hardy and salt tolerant,
though reportedly not resistant to hurricanes or
storm winds. A thrips insect attacks the trees
generally in autumn and winter, causing the leaves
to turn yellowish or whitish and to fall and thus
making the leafless trees less suitable for shade.

Naturalized in Puerto Rico, especially on the
sandy soils and dunes along the coasts, but exten-
sively planted and escaping from cultivation in
various places. Also in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.

R.vNc.E. — Native of East Indies and Oceanica
and widely planted and naturalized in tropical
reirions. Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bermuda, and throuerhout West Indies.
Also from Mexico to Peru and Brazil.

Other common n.vmes. — almendro (Puerto
Rico, Spanish) ; almond, West-Indian-almond
(Virgin Islands) ; almendro de la India (Domini-
can Renublic, Cuba, Colombia) ; alcornoque
(Costa Rica) ; almendron (Venezuela) ; almendro
americano (Colombia) ; castana (Peru) ; Indian-
almond, tropical-almond, West-Indian-almond
(United States. English) ; almond (British West
Indies. British Honduras. British Guiana) ; aman-
dier des Indes. amandier tropical, zanmande
(Haiti); amandier, amandier - pays (Guade-
loupe) ; amandier de Cayenne (Guayana Fran-
cesa) ; manguel, wilde amandel (Dutch West In-
dies) ; amanda, amandelboom (Surinam) ; amen-
doeira. chapeo de sol. guarda-sol, castaiiola
(Brazil).

394

/^

184. Almendra, Indian-almond

Two-thirds natural size.

Terminalia catappa L.

395

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

Key to the 11 siiecies illustrated (Nos. 185-195)

A. Leaves alternate : corolla absent — 1S6. Eucalyptus robusta*
AA. Leaves opposite ; corolla of 4 or 5 rounded petals.
B. Leaves small, less than 2 inches long.

C. Leaves rounded at ai^ex : the short petioles and young twigs reddish-brown hairy — 185. Calyptranthes
krugii.
CC. Leaves long-pointed at apex, hairless when mature.

D. Leaves bluntly long-pointed, nearly diamond-shaped, dull green, thin, the few lateral veins incon-
spicuous— 190. Eugenia rhombca.
DD. Leaves ending in long narrow point, ovate or lance-shaped, shiny, slightly thickened, with many
prominent side veins — 193. Myrcia splendens.
BB. Leaves larger, more than 2 inches long.

E. Leaves rounded at apex, thick and leathery.

F. Leaves with many straight, parallel side veins, edges rolled under ; flowers many, very small — 194.
Pimenta racemosa.
FF. Leaves with few side veins ; flowers few, large — 191. Eugenia stahlii.
EE. Leaves long- or short-pointed at apex.
G. Leaves with side veins sunken.

H. Leaves thick, stiff, upper surface shiny ; petioles and twigs densely reddish-brown hairy ;
flowers and fruits many, small — 192. Myrcia dcltcxa.
HH. Leaves slightly thickened, not stiff ; twigs and lower leaf surfaces finely hairy ; flowers few,
large; fruit large, round edible (guava) — 195. Psidium guajava.*
GG. Leaves with side veins not sunken.

I. Flowers and fruits small, about % inch long and broad — 187. Eugenia aeruginea.
II. Flowers large, more than 2 inches broad : fruits more than 1 inch long, edible.
J. Flowers white : fruits rounded ( ro.se-apple) — 188. Eugenia jambos*
J J. Flowers purplish red ; fruits pear-shaped (Malay-apple) — 189. Eugenia malaccensis*

185. Limoncillo

This shrub or small tree found only in the
mountains of Puerto Rico is characterized by:
(1) dark brown twigs, crowded, much branched
and forking, wlten young densely rusty reddish-
brown hairy; ('2) ojjposite small, obovate, slightly
aromatic, leathery leaves almost stalkless, %-l
inch long and %-% inch wide, rounded at apex
and pointed at base, green to dark green above and
pale light green beneath, with many minute
gland dots; (3) each leaf covered until almost full
size by 2 odd brownish scales (stipules), which
split open at midrib on both sides; (4) white flow-
ers 1,4-% inch across the many white stamens,
single and stalkless at leaf bases; and (5) round
beri-y I/4 i'lch in diameter, with ring at apex.

An evergreen shrub or small tree 8-15 feet tall
and 2-3 inches or more in trunk diameter, with
narrow crown. The brown bark is smooth, within
whitish or brownish and almost tasteless to slight-
ly bitter. The slender forking twigs are slightly
fissured.

Tlie leaves have short reddish-brown hairy pe-
tioles Vjg inch or less in length. The thickened
stiff' blades are hairy when young, the edges
turned under, slightly shiny above, and with in-
conspicuous lateral veins.

Flower buds are rounded and reddish-brown
hairy. The flower, about % inch high, has a red-
dish-brown hairy cuplike base (hypanthium) en-
closing the inferior ovary and projecting beyond,
bearing the calyx, which splits open as a lid at-
tached on 1 side, 4 minute white petals less than
'ie inch long, a ring of spreading white sta-
mens 1/4 inch long, and a green style V4 inch long.

Calyptranthes krugii Kiaersk.

The fleshy fruit is covered with reddish-brown
hairs and is greenish when immature. Collected
in flower from June to October and with fruit in
January.

The sapwood is light brown and hard. The
wood is not used because of the small size of the
tree.

In the upper mountain forests, including the
dwarf forests of the summits of the Luquillo
Mountains and also in the Central Cordillera.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Confined to eastern and central moun-
tains of Puerto Rico.

This genus is represented by 2 more species of
small trees or shrubs in Puerto Rico and 3 others
in the Virgin Islands. Flower characteristics of
this genus include a cuplike base (hypanthium),
which upon shedding leaves a ring scar at apex of
the round berry fruit ; the calyx which splits open
as a lid ; and corolla none or of 4 very small white
petals. The English generic name lidflower, from
the scientific name, refers to the calyx.

Calyptranthes klaerskovii Krug & Urban,
known only from foliage collected at Tortola, has
obovate hairless leaves 1 inch or less in length with
blunt or rounded apex and upper surface shiny.

The other species have larger leaves 1-3 inches
long. Limoncillo del monte (Calyptranthes sin-
tenisii Kiaersk.), of moist forests in Puerto Rico
and also in Plispaniola, has elliptic long-pointed
leaves bright green and faintly shining above and
beneath paler, dull, and sometimes slightly hairy;
and fruit i/t inch or more in diameter.

Pale lidflower (Calyptranthes paUens Griseb.),
of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Mona and wider dis-

396

185. Limoncillo

Natural size.

Valyptranthes krugii Kiaersk.

397

tribution from Guadeloupe to southern Florida,
has elliptic long-pointed leaves shiny above and
smaller fruit about %6 in<^i^ iu diameter.

Calyptranthes portoricensis Britton, known
only from near Maricao in Puerto Rico, has leaves
rounded or short-pointed at apex and hairy be-

neath when young; dense brown hairs on twigs,
flower clusters, and fruits ; and fruit about %g inch
in diameter.

Calyptranthes thomasiana Berg, described from
St. Thomas, has blunt-pointed oblong or obovate
leaves 1-2 inches long.

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)
186. Eucalipto, beakpod eucalyptus Eucalyptus robusta J. E. Smith*

This handsome introduced tree, occasionally
planted in Puerto Rico, is characterized by: (1)
generally very straight axis with thick furrowed
bark and narrow to spreading crown of dark green
foliage; (2) broadly lance-shaped leaves 4-8
inches long and 11/4-21/2 inches broad, mostly
slightly curved and unequal-sided from the short-
pointed base, with a long tapering point, stiff and
leathery, aromatic, with a peculiar spicy resinous
odor (when crushed) and taste; (3) cream-col-
ored flowers with very numerous stamens in a
spreading mass I14 inches across, several borne
laterally at the end of a flattened green stalk about
1 inch long; and (4) cu])like dark green seed cap-
sules 1/^-% inch long and % inch in diameter.

A medimn-sized evergi'een tree to 90 feet in
height and li/4 feet in trunk diameter. The bai-k
on large trunks is gray on the surface, 1-1 14 inches
thick, deeply furrowed, reddish brown beneath,
fibrous and vei-y soft. The inner bark, about 14
inch thick, is fibrous, whitish, and slightly bitter.
Twigs are yellowish green and angled when young,
becoming round and reddish brown.

The alternate leaves have slightly flattened yel-
lowish-green petioles 1-1 1/4 inches long. Blades
have toothless edges and many fine, widely spread-
ing, parallel lateral veins and are dark green on
upper surface and only slightly paler beneath.

Spreading clusters (umbels) of 10 or fewer
short-stalked flowers are borne at leaf bases.
Flower buds are 1 inch long and % inch broad,
becoming pale yellow and tinged with green, with
a long-pointed cap nearly I/2 inch long formed
from calyx or corolla, which becomes detached
from the' funnel-shaped base (hypanthium) about
Yo inch long. The stamens, i/^ inch and less in
length, with minute anthers, are attached on the
rim of the hypanthium in a widely spreading mass
about 11/4 inches across and soon shedding. The
pistil is composed of inferior 3-5-celled ovary and
straight stout style % inch long.

Seed capsules, which remain on the tree for some
time, have 3-.5 pores sunken below the rim, through
which numerous minute brown seeds i/je inch long
sift out. Nearly 2,000,000 seeds per pound. Flow-
ering and fruiting from late summer to early
spring (mostly from August to March).

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
salmon to light reddish brown, often mottled with

brown streaks and patches. The wood is hard,
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.51), strong,
brittle, stitF, elastic, coarse in texture, and fairly
straight-grained with some interlocked grain.
The rate of air-seasoning is moderate but with
considerable degrade from warp with very great,
imeven shrinkage. Machining characteristics are
as follows: planing, shaping, turning, mortising,
and sanding are good; boring is fair; and resist-
ance to screw splitting is excellent. The wood is
very susceptible to attack by dry- wood termites
but is considered durable in the ground.

Uses include undergroimd piling, utility poles,
and fenceposts. This species is employed for gen-
eral construction in Australia, especially in con-
tact with the ground, and should be suitable for
the same purpose in Puerto Rico.

Suitable for shade and ornament and also a
honey plant. An infusion of the leaves has been
prepared for home remedies.

This species grows very rapidly, 15-year-old
trees attaining a diameter of 16 inches and a height
of 90 feet. Natural regeneration in Puerto Rico
is very rare. Growth is best in the upper and lower
moimtain regions, above 1,500 feet elevation. As
a street tree in California, this tree proved objec-
tionable because the tops were easily broken by
strong winds. Planted also in Florida.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Native of Australia but introduced in-
to many tropical and subtropical lands including
West Indies and from subtropical United States
and Mexico south to Argentina and Brazil.

Other common names.— eucalipto del alcanfor,
eucalipto de pantano (Puerto Rico) ; eucalyptus
(Virgin Islands); eucalipto comun, eucalipto
achatado (Colombia) ; beakpod eucalyptus, eu-
calyptus (United States) ; eucalyptus, eucalypt.
swamp-mahogany, browngum (English).

Botanical synontm. — Eucalyptus multiflora
Poir.

This species seems to be the best adapted of more
than 30 species of Eucalyptus which have been in-
troduced experimentally into Puerto Rico from
their native home in Australia. Several are being
tested by the United States Forest Service in
plantations.

398

186. Eucalipto, beakpod eucalyptus

Two-thirds natural size.

Eucalyptus rohusta J. E. Smith

399

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

187. Guasabara

Gusabara, a tree of mountain forests, is distin-
guished by : (1) light gray to whitish bark, slight-
ly rough and separating in irregular fiakes; (2)
opposite elliptic long-pointed leaves 21/4-41/2
inches long and 11/2-21/4 inches broad, with minute
gland dots; (3) whitish flowers nearly 1/2 inch
across with 4 petals and many spreading stamens,
in lateral clusters at base of leaves; and (4)
blackish-purple berry %-% inch long, elliptic or
rounded, with sepals at apex and reported to be
edible.

An evergreen tree 30-60 feet tall and 8-18 inches
in trunk diameter. Inner bark is brown, woody,
and slightly astringent and bitter. Twigs are
light brown.

The green petioles ai-e i/4-% inch long. Blades
are mostly short-pointed at base, slightly leathery
or thin, shiny green above and lighter green be-
neath, and hairless or nearly so at maturity.

Flower clusters (racemes) are 1-2 inches long,
bearing several to many flowers on slender hairy
stalks. Flower buds are greenish and hairy, with
2 short xuiited scales or bracts at base. The flower
has a greenish hairy cuplike base (hypanthium)
less than % inch long, which encloses the inferior
ovary and bears 4 gi'eenish rounded hairy sepals,
2 more than i/g inch long and 2 much smaller, 4
white petals about %6 inch long, many spreading
stamens, and style %6 inch long. In flower and
fruit nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light bi-own. The wood is de-
scribed as hard, strong, and heavy. It is little
used except for posts and fuel. This species has
been listed as suitable for shade and ornament.

In lower momitain forests of Puerto Rico, as-
cending to nearly 3,000 feet elevation in the Cen-
tral Cordillera.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Dom-
inica, Maitinique, St. Vincent, and Trinidad. Re-
ported doubtfully from Jamaica nearly a century
ago.

Other common names. — guasara (Dominican
Republic) ; comecara (Cuba) ; serrette guava
(Trinidad) ; brignolle (Haiti).

Eugenia aeruginea DC.

Botanical stnontm. — Eugenia domingensis
Berg.

This genus, known in English as eugenia, is per-
haps the largest in number of species of small trees
or shinibs represented in Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. The Spanish name hoja menuda
and English name stopper are applied to many
species. The group is characterized by flowers
mostly few in lateral clusters among the leaves, by
4 or 5 sepals which remain attached at the apex
of the usually rounded berry fruit, and by 4 or 5
white petals (red in an introduced species).

Besides the 3 native and 2 introduced species de-
scribed and illustrated here, Britton and Wilson
(Botany of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands
6: 33-42. 1925) described 22 other native species
and prepared a key for their identification. These
species are listed below in alphabetical order by
scientific name with any distinctive common
names. Eugenia axillaris (Sw.) Willd., grajo,
white-stopper eugenia; E. hellonis Krug& Urban;
E. Mflora (L.) DC. (£". Z(z>iceaPoir.), pitangueira;
E. hoqueronensis Britton ; E. iorinquensis Britton,
guayabota ; E. confusa DC, cieneguillo, redberry
eugenia; E. cordata (Sw.) DC; E. corozalensis
Britton ; E. eggersii Kiaersk., guasabara ; E. flori-
bunda West; E. fragrans (Sw.) Willd. (Anamo-
mis fragrans (Sw.) Griseb.), guayabacon; E. lig-
ustrina ( Sw. ) Willd., palo de muleta ; E. monticola
(Sw.) DC, biriji ; E. myrtoides Poir. {E. huxifolia
(Sw.) Willd.), anguilla, boxleaf eugenia; E.
procera (Sw.) Poir. ; E. pseudopsidiitm Jacq., quie-
brahaca ; E. serra.suela Krug & Urban, serrazuela ;
E. sessiliflora Vahl ; E. sint&nisii Kiaersk., murta;
E. steumrdsonii Britton; E. underwoodii Britton;
E. xerophytica Britton.

Cerezo de Cayena or pitanga {Eugenia uniflora
L.*), also called Surinam -cherry, is planted for its
fruit in St. Croix and St, Thomas and recorded
as escaping from cultivation. It has ovate shiny
dark green leaves 1-2 inches long, flowers mostly
single on long stalks, and bright red edible fruits
% inch in diameter.

400

187. Guas5bara

Natural size.

Eugenia aeruginea DC.

401

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

188. Pomarrosa, rose-apple

A naturalized tree with handsome foliage and
edible fruits, rose-apple is distinguished by: (1)
stems frequently very crooked and several from
a single base; (2) a dense opaque dark crown; (3)
opposite, shiny, dark green, lance-shaped, leathery
leaves 31/4-8 inches long and %-l% inches broad,
with minute gland dots visible against the light
with a lens; (4) few large j'ellowish-white 4-pet-
aled flowers in terminal clusters, 3-4 inches across
the numerous widely spreading long stamens; and
(5) fragrant ])ale yellowish or pinkish-tinged
rounded or elliptic fruits about li/^-li/^ inches
long, with 4 sepals at apex, the slightly sweet,
edible flesh with odor and flavor like rose perfume.

A small evergreen tree 15-30 feet tall and 4—8
inches in trunk diameter, with a spi'eading crown.
The brown bark is smoothish with nuiny small
fissures. The inner bark is whitish or light brown
and astringent. Twigs are dark bi-own, green
when ycung.

The short petioles are %6'~% irich in length.
Leaf blades are very long-pointed at apex, short-
pointed at base, not toothed on edges, and dull
green beneath. Often the leaves are covered with
a black sooty mold fungus which makes them ap-
pear even darker.

The flower cluster (corymb) has commonly 4
or 5 flowers. An individual flower is mostly a
brushlike mass of whitish stamens, which are 11/4-2
inches long, with brown clot anthere. The conical
pinkish-green tubular base (hypanthium) is about
1,4 inch higli and wide, enclosing the ovai-y; there
are 4 rounded broad sepals Vi inch long, persistent
on the fruit; 4 rounded concave whitish petals
about % inch long, faintly tinged with green,
coarsely gland dotted; and pistil consisting of the
inferior 2-celled ovary and persistent whitish
slender style 1% inches long.

Fruits (berries) have pale yellow firm flesh with
little juice and usually 1 (sometimes 2) rounded
brown seed % inch in diameter in a large cavity.
About 180 seeds per ]>ound. Flowering and fruit-
ing nearly through the year, though infrequently
in summer.

The dull lirown wood is hard and heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.7). Used chiefly as fuel. It is not

Eugenia jambos L.*

durable in the soil and is very susceptible to attack
by dry-wood termites. Young branches have been
tised for making coarse baskets and barrel hoops.
In Cuba tobacco poles are made from the branches.

Planted occasionally for ornament, primarily
for the showy flowers and handsome foliage and
sometimes for windbreaks and shade, rather than
for the fruits, which are insipid and not popular.
Sometimes the fruits ai'e prepared into jellies, pre-
seT'ves, and salads. A good honey plant. Else-
where the seeds and roots have been employed in
home remedies. The trees reproduce naturally
from seeds, and sprout vigorously when cut. The
shade beneath pure thickets generally kills out all
vegetation.

In the lower mountain, moist coast, and moist
limestone regions of Puerto Rico, locally abun-
dant, spreading like a weed, and forming pure
stands or dense thickets, especially along streams.
Also in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tor-
tola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Su-
siia, Toro Negro, Vega.

MrXICIPALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. —

4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 40, 43,
45,49,51,52,59,60,62.

R.VNGE. — Native of southeastern tropical Asia
but now widely cultivated and naturalized
through the tropics, including West Indies and
continental tropical America from Mexico south
to Brazil. Planted also in Florida and southern
California and in Bermuda.

Other common names. — plum-rose (Virgin Is-
lands) ; porno (Dominican Republic) ; manzana
rosa (Cuba) ; manzana rosa, manzana (Central
America) ; pomarrosa, manzanita de rosa (Co-
lombia) ; rose-apple (United States, English) ;
ponnne rose, pommier rose (French) ; jambosier
(French Guiana); plum-rose (Dutch West In-
dies) ; pommeroos, appelroos (Surinam) ; jam-
beiro, jambo amarello (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Jambos jambos (L.)
Millsp., Jamhosa vulgaris DC., Syzygiuvi jambos
(Li.) Alston, Caryophyllus jambos (L.) Stokes.

402

188. Pomarrosa, rose-apple

Natural size.

Eugenia jam^os L.

403

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

189. Manzana malaya, Malay-apple

Malay-apple, an exotic tree occasionally planted
for ornament, shade, and windbreaks, is identified
by: (1) an ei'ect stem and dense conical or colum-
nar crown of dark green foliage; (2) opposite,
large, oblong, mostly dark green, leathery leaves,
short-stalked, with blades 7-12 inches long and 3-5
inches broad, long-pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base: (3) pretty purplish-red or rose-
purple flowers composed of a mass of spreading
stamens 2i/o-3 inches across, like pins in a pin cush-
ion, several clustered together along twigs back of
leaves and hidden in crown; and (4) red (some-
times pink or whitish) pear-shaped fruits 2-3
inches long and 1-2 inches in diameter, with 4
sepals at apex and the white, slightly sour edible
flesh witli applelike flavor.
A small to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-40 feet
tall and 3-8 inches in trunk diameter, or larger.
The bark is light brown, smoothish to slightly fis-
sured. Inner bark is brownish streaked and slight-
ly astringent. The twigs are light brown, green
when young, with slightly raised leaf scars.

Petioles are i/2-% inch long, stout, green to
brown. Leaf blades are slightly curved upward on
both sides of midrib, the lateral veins slightly
sunken and connected near margins, the upper sur-
face dark green or green and usually slightly
shiny, and the lower surface dull light green.
Scattered minute gland dots are visible with a lens
when the blade is held toward the light.

Several to many odorless flowers are borne in
clusters 4-5 inches across, almost stalkless on a
short branched green lateral axis (cyme or pani-
cle). The flower has a funnel-shaped, light pur-
plish-green base (hypanthium) % inch long and
ViQ inch wide at top, enclosing the ovai-y and ex-
tending as a broad tube %6 inch beyond. There
are 4 broad, rounded, thickened, persistent sepals
Vs-^Ag inch long; 4 spreading, rounded, concave,
purplish-red petals i/o inch long; the mass of sta-
mens 1-11/4 inches long, purplish red with yellow
dot anthei-s; and pistil composed of inferior
2-celled ovary and persistent purplish-red straight
style about I14 inches long. As the stamens fall,
the ground under the tree becomes a purplish-red
carpet.

The berries have thin soft skin, crisp juicy flesh
with pleasant flavor, and 1 large rounded light

Eugenia malaccensis L*

brown seed about % inch in diameter. Seeds re-
corded as 1)6 to a pound. Flowering and fruiting
nearly tlu'ougli the year.

The sapwood is light brown. The wood is de-
scribed as hard, tough, very heavy, but tending to
warp, and difficult to work. The tree is not suf-
ficiently common for its wood to be much used in
Puerto Kico or the Virgin Islands.

Widely cultivated elsewhere for the fruits,
which are eaten raw or also cooked or preserved
Or used for wine, and for ornament. One author
places this among the most beautiful flowei-ing
trees of the tropics. It is said that the slightly
sour stamens can be prepared into salads. Easily
propagated from seed and of moderately rapid
grow til.

Malay-apple was introduced into Jamaica in
1793 from Tahiti by Captain Bligh of the British
ship Providence. This, along with breadfruit, was
one of several trees brought in to provide inexpen-
sive food for the slaves.

Limited chiefly to urban areas in Puerto Rico,
planted around buildings but occasionally also for
windbreaks in rural areas on the moist coast.
Also in St. Croix.

Raxge. — Native probably of IMalay Archipelago
or Malay Peninsula. Widely planted through the
tropics, including AVest Indies and continental
tropical America. Uncommon in southern
Florida.

Other common names. — pomarrosa malaya,
ohia (Puerto Rico) ; cajuilito suliman (Dominican
Republic) ; pomarrosa de Malaca, pera (Cuba) ;
maranon japones (El Salvador) ; manzana (Costa
Rica) ; maraiion de Curasao, manzana de Faiti
(Panama); pomarrosa de Malaca (Colombia);
pomagas, pomagada (Venezuela) ; Malay-apple,
ohia (United States, English) ; Otaheite-apple
(Jamaica, British West Indies) ; pomerac, pomme
malac (Trinidad); French - cashew (British
Guiana) ; jamelac (French) ; pomme de Tahiti,
pomme de Malaisie (Guadeloupe) ; pommerak
(Surinam) ; jambeiro, jambo encarnado (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Jambasa tnalaccensis
(L.) DC, Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merrill &
Perry.

404

189. Manzana malaya, Malay-apple

Natural size.

Eugenia malaccensis L.

405

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

190. Hoja menuda, spiceberry eugenia

One of several known as hoja menuda, this
species of dry areas of southwestern Puerto Rico
is recognized by tlie small ovate drooping leaves
nearly in the shape of a diamond (rhomb), as the
scientific name indicates. Other distinguishing
characters are: (1) opposite leaves iy4-2 inches
long and %-li4 inches broad, bluntly long-pointed
at apex and short-pointed at base, lateral veins
inconspicuous, and with many gland clots includ-
ing black dots on lower surface ; (2) few to several
white flowers with 4 petals, i^ inch across the
spreading stamens, in lateral clusters at leaf bases
or back of leaves; and (3) rounded red to black
berries %-% inch in diameter, broader than long,
with sepals at apex.

A small erect evergreen tree 20-25 feet high with
trunk 2-8 inches in diameter, or shrubby. The
brownish-gray bark is smooth, peeling off in flakes.
Inner bark is light brown and slightly bitter. The
slender whitish-gray twigs are often drooping.

The petioles are brown yellow, or reddish tinged,
Vs-Vi iiich long. Blades are slightly thickened,
leathery, and stiff, not toothed on edges, dull dark
green above and yellow green beneath.

The flower cluster (umbel) without amain stalk
is composed of flowers on slender spreading stalks
14-% inch long. The flower has a short basal tube

Eugenia rhombea (Berg) Krug & Urban

(hypanthium) enclosing the inferior ovaiy, 4
rounded sepals less than i/g inch long, 4 white
rounded petals %6 u\c\\ long, many spreading
stamens, and style. The fleshy 1-seeded fruits
change color from red to black as tliey I'ipen. Ee-
corded with flowers in July and with fruits in
January and July.

The light brown wood is very hard and heavy.
Because of the small dimensions, it is used chiefly
for posts, stakes, and fuel. The wood is not dur-
able in the ground.

In cutov-er dry forests and thickets in the dry
limestone region of southwestern Puerto Rico.
Also in Desecheo, Mona, Muertos, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, and St. John.

Public forest. — Guanica.

Raxge. — Lower Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba,
Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto llico and Virgm
Islands, and Lesser xlntilles from St. Martin to
Guadeloupe.

Other common names. — guayabilla de costa
(Puerto Rico); arrayan (Dominican Republic);
mije, guairaje (Cuba); spiceberry eugenia, red
stopper, stopper (United States) ; red stoppef
(Bahamas); rodwood (Barbuda); myrte, bois
myrte (Haiti) ; merisier (St. Bartheleniy) ; meri-
sier rouge (Guadeloupe).

406

190. Hoja menuda, spleeberry eugenia

687-921 0—64^ /27

Natural size.

Eugenia rhombea (Berg) Krug & Urban

407

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

191. Guayabota

Known only from Puerto Eican mountains, this
medium-sized tree is identified by: (1) erect dense
columnar crown; ('2) light gray or whitish bark,
scaling off in plates; (3) opposite, elliptic, thick
and leathery leaves 21/2-31/2 inches long and li/4-
21/9 inches broad, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex
and short-pointed at base, with minute gland dots,
and on short petioles 1/4-% inch long; (4) large
spreading white -i-petaled flowers about 1 V2 inches
across the numerous stamens, few at or near ends
of twigs or singly at nodes; and (5) rounded ber-
ries %-Ys inch in diameter, with 4 unequal sepals
at apex, resembling small guayabas.

An evei'green tree reaching 60 feet in height and
more than 1 foot in trunk diameter. The stout
twigs are light gray. Leaf blades have margins
which may be slightly turned under, the upper
surface green and slightly shiny, the lower surface
paler.

Flowers ai-e borne on stout, often flattened,
stalks 1/2-11/4 inches long. The bell-shaped base
(hypanthium) is nearly I/4. inch long and broad,
with 4 persistent, rounded concave, yellow-green
sepals, 2 nearly % inch long and 2 half as long;
there are 4 spreading rovmded petals i/2-% inch
long; numerous spreading stamens; and pistil
with 2-celled inferior ovary and long style.

The fleshy fruit, dark green when immature, is
minutely warty on the surface, with 1 large irreg-
ularly rounded brown seed. Flowering and fruit-
ing nearly through the year except in spring.

Eugenia stahlii (liiaersk.) Krug & Urban

This attractive wood has pinkish-brown sap-
wood, gray-brown heartwood, and growth rings
marked by narrow darker bands. It is very hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.73), tough, strong, fine-
textured, with irregular grain, and with mild
pleasant odor. Rate of air-seasoning and amount
of degrade are moderate. Machining character-
istics are as follows: planing and mortising are
good; shaping, turning, and boring are excellent;
sanding is poor; and resistance to screw splitting is
very poor. The wood has high but uniform
shrinkage during seasoning and is moderately dif-
ficult to work because of its hardness. It is very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood tennites and is
reported to be variable in decay resistance.

Uses include general construction, crossties, ox-
cart tongues, poles, and posts. The wood is suit-
able also for furniture, cabinetwork, turnery, carv-
ing, interior trim, tool handles, farm implements,
and boatbuilding.

Commonest in the transition zone between the
lower and upper mountain forests of Puerto Rico,
between 1,500 and 3,000 feet elevation. Appar-
ently a slow-growing tree.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.

Mt'NICIPALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON.—

13, 30, 44.

Range. — Mountains of Puerto Rico only.

Named for Agustin Stahl (1842-1917), Puerto
Rican physician and botanist, who collected speci-
mens of this species.

408

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191. Guayabota

Natural size.

Engenia stahUi (Kiaersk.) Knig & Urban

409

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

192. Cieneguillo

A small to medium-sized widely distributed
tree, characterized by: (1) twigs, petioles, buds,
and branches of flower clusters densely and finely
reddish brown or light brown hairy; ('2) opposite,
oblong to elliptic, long-pointed leaves with minute
gland dots, thick and stiff and hanging downward,
with lateral veins much sunken on the shiny upper
surface; (3) masses of fragrant, delicate, small
white fiowers with 5 petals and numerous spread-
ing stamens % inch across; and (4) oval berry
about 1/4 inch long with calyx at apex.

An evergreen tree 10-30 "feet tall and to 6 inches
in trunk diameter, with spreading crown. The
gray bark is smoothish, becoming slightlj- cracked
ancl fissured, and the trunk grooved. Inner bark
is pinkish and bitter.

Petioles are about i/4 inch long, and blades
21/^-6 inches long and 1-2% inches wide, short-
pointed at base, not flat but the sides bent up
slightly from the sunken midrib and the apex
bent downward, inconspicuously hairy on veins
and lower surface. The upper surface is shiny
yellow green to green with the lateral veins near-
ly parallel to midrib, and the lower surface dull
whitish green with lateral veins much raised.
Older leaves and twigs often are partly covered
by black masses of sooty mold fungus.

Flower clusters (panicles) 2-4 inches long and
broad are terminal and lateral, those at apex actu-
ally at base of leaves and besicle the terminal bud,
bearing many nearly stalkless flowers on the finely
hairy branches. Flower buds are whitish and
rounded, about i/g inch in diameter. The most
conspicuous floral parts are the numerous thread-
like curved stamens spreading more than % inch
across, each about i/^ inch long and ending in a
dotlike anther. The whitish hairy tubular base
(hypanthium) i/jg 'i^di long encloses the inferior
2-celled ovary and bears the other parts. There
are 5 whitish hairy, rounded and widely spreading
sepals about i^ inch long and 5 round white petals
less than %6 '^^^^ ^O'^g) curved backward and near-

Myrcia deflexa (Poir.) DC.

ly hidden by the stamens. In the center of the
stamens is a tiny white style. Flowering and
fruiting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is whitish and the heartwood red-
dish. The wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity
0.8) , and strong. It is made into stakes, posts, and
handles. Elsewhere it is employed in construction,
carpentry, and vehicles.

A shade-enduring understoi-y tree of the lower
mountain forests of Puerto Rico, in some places
extending into the upper mountain region.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Lesser
Antilles from Guadeloupe to Grenada, and Trini-
dad. Also in Colombia, Venezuela, Guianas, and
northern Brazil.

Other comsion n.\mes. — aquey del chiquito
(Dominican Republic) ; goyavier (Grenada) ;
bresillette, petite-feuille, goyavier queue-de-rat
( Guadeloupe ) .

BoTAxic.vL SYNONYM. — Myrcio ferruginea Berg.

This genus is represented by 4 more native spe-
cies of small trees in addition to the 2 illustrated
here. The group has flowers in terminal and lat-
eral branched clusters ; calyx of 5 sepals which re-
main attached at apex of round or elliptic berry
fruit; and 5 white petals. Two species {Myrcia
herberis DC. and M. paqanii Krug & Urban) were
recorded from Puerto Rico long ago but have not
been collected there in recent years.

Limoncillodel monte {Myrcin citrifolia (Aubl.)
Urban), of moist areas in Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands, has ovate to oblong leaves %-2i/4
inches long, blunt or short-pointed at apex, edges
turned under, hairless or nearly so, and shiny, and
round fruit 1/4-% inch in diameter.

Guayabacon {Myrcia leptodada DC), of moist
forests in Puerto Rico, has elliptic leaves 2-4
inches long, with long-pointed apex, edges not
turned under, and round fruit i^ inch in diameter.

410

192. CienegulUo

Natural size

Myrcia deflexa (Poir.) DC.

411

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

193. Hoja menuda

This small tree with opposite small leaves bear-
ing minute gland dots is easily distinguished from
others with tlie same common name by tlie very
short-stallied leaves shiny green to darlv green,
slightly thickened, with very long tapering point
and numerous prominent, straight, nearly parallel
lateral veins. Other characters are : (1) numerous
small white flowers with 5 rounded petals, about
% inch across the many spreading white stamens,
in lateral and terminal clusters mostly 1-1 1/2
inches long; and (2) elliptic or rounded blackish
berries Vi-Yie inch long, with ring of sepals at
apex.

An evergreen tree to 30 feet high and 4 inches in
trunk diameter or often a shrub. The brown or
gray bark is rough, fissured, and flaky or divided
into many small plates. Inner bark is brown or
dark red and slightly astringent and bitter to the
taste. The brown twigs are slender and finely
hairy.

Petioles are i/ie iridi or less in length and finely
hairy. The thin blades are 1-3 inches long and
1/^-1 inch wide, rounded or short-pointed at base,
with sunken midrib, edges slightly turned under,
beneath paler green and slightly shiny, hairy when
young but nearly hairless at maturity.

Flower clusters (panicles) have slender hairy
branches. The fragrant flower has a hairy tubular
base (hypanthium) i/ig inch long and broad,
which encloses the inferior 2-celled ovary and
bears the other parts; 5 minute blunt-pointed

Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC.

hairy sepals, 5 white rounded petals nearly Vs inch
long, hairy on outside; numerous white stamens
nearly %6 inch long; and style more than Vs inch
long.

The fleshy fruits are green when immature, turn-
ing to dark blue or blackish, and have thin flesh
and 1 large seed. Elsewhere they are reported to
be edible. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The sapwood is light brown to reddish brown
and hard. The hardwood is used for posts.

Common in forests and openings in moist areas
in the lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico.
Also in St. Croix and Tortola and reported from
St. Thomas.

Public forests. — Luquillo, Carite, Maricao.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica (i), Hispaniola, Puer-
to Rico, St. Croix, Tortola, Lesser Antilles from
St. Martin to St. Vincent and Barbados, and
Trinidad and Tobago. Also Colombia to Peru,
Bolivia, and Brazil.

Other common names. — rama menuda (Puerto
Rico) ; birchberry, punchberry (Virgin Islands) ;
arraijan, comecara, tinajero (Cuba) ; vidho caspi
(Peru); black-birch (Montserrat) ; bois creole
(St. Lucia) ; red rodwood (Barbados) ; wild
guava (Trinidad) ; small-leaf (Tobago) ; ibbi-
banaru (Britisli Guiana) ; petit merisier (Guade-
loupe) ; merisier petites feuilles, ti feuilles, bois
Creole (Martinique) ; Surinam-cheri'y (Dutch
West Indies); meerilang (Surinam).

412

193. Hoja menuda

Natural size.

Myrcia splendens (S\v.) DC.

413

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

194 Malagueta, bay-rum-tree

The bay-rum-tree or malagiieta, including the
variety ausii, is native and also cultivated both for
the essential oil in its leaves and twigs and for
ornament and shade. It is easily recognized by
the strong pungent odor of the leaves when
crushed. Other distinguishing characteristics are :
(1) erect fonn with a dense columnar dark green
crown; (2) smooth gray to light brown bark peel-
ing off in thin strips exposing lighter gray shades
beneath; (3) opposite, elliptic or obovate, mostly
small, stiff and leathery leaves rounded at both
ends or the apex notched or sometimes short-
pointed, with minute gland dots, shiny dark green
on upper surface and beneath paler or finely gray
hairy, with midrib sunken and edges rolled under;
(4) white flowers % inch or more across the 5
petals, several to many in lateral and terminal
branched clusters; and (5) the rounded or elliptic
fleshy black (or finely gray haiiy) fruits %6-V2
inch in diameter.

This is a variable species with races differing in
shape, size, color, and hairiness of leaves, shape
and hairiness of fruit, and in amount and quality
of oil. One variety called ausu {Pimenta race-
mosa var. grisea (Kiaersk.) Fosberg) is char-
acterized by finely gray or white hairy coats on
under surface of leaves, young twigs, branches of
flower clusters, and fruits.

A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 40
feet high and 8 inches or more in trunk diameter,
the trunk often slightly angled and grooved, or
sometimes shrubby. Inner bark is pinkish and
slightly bitter and astringent. The twigs are
green or dark green, with gland dots, hairless ( or
finely gray hairy), and angled when young, be-
coming brown.

The leaves have short, green, reddish-tinged
petioles %-% inch long and blades 11/4-4 inches
long and l-2i^ inches broad or larger (recorded to
6 inches long), hairless to finely gray hairy
beneath.

The flower clusters (cymes) are 1-3 inches long
and broad, gland-dotted, and bear fragrant gland-
dotted flowers on short stalks. There is a light
green tubular base (hypanthium) less than Vs i'^''^
long and broad, extending beyond ovary; 5 broad,
spreading sepals less than %6 ii^ch long; 5 white
rounded petals more than i/g inch long and widely
spreading; numerous white stamens %6 inch long;
and pistil composed of inferior 2-celled ovary and
slender, slightly bent, white style %6 inch long.

The berrylike fruits have sepals attached at apex
and contain a few brown seeds more than Vs "i^h
long. Flowering mainly in spring and summer
(April to August) and maturing fruit in late sum-
mer and fall (August to October).

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
brownish red or blackish and mottled. The wood
is very hard, very heavy (specific gravity 0.9),

Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J. W. Moore

strong, tough, durable, and resistant to attack by
dry-wood termites. Employed for posts and in
carpentry, it is said to split readily and to be ex-
cellent for fuel.

The main product is myrcia oil (bay oil) ob-
tained by distillation of the leaves and twigs and
which is the important ingredient in bay rum, used
in cosmetics and medicines. A yield of more than
1 pound of bay oil has been extracted from 100
jiounds of leaves. Bay rum was originally pre-
pared by distilling the leaves in rum. Compound
myrcia spirit (bay rum) is composed of bay oil,
orange oil, pimenta oil, alcohol, and water.

Confined chiefly to the dry slopes of the lower
Cordillera region of southwestern Puerto Rico,
but commercial plantations grow near Adjuntas,
Patiilas, and Guayama. Also in Vieques, St.
John, St. Thomas, and Toi-tola. Reported long
ago from St. Croix and now planted there. In
St. John large forests of this species under man-
agement have produced oil of superior quality.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Luquillo,
Maricao, Susiia.

Range. — Through West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Grenada and Tobago. Also in Vene-
zuela and Guianas. Planted in southern Florida,
Bermuda, Bahamas, and Trinidad, and in East
Indies.

Other common names. — ausii, limoncillo
(Puerto Rico) ; wild cilliment, wild cinnamon,
cinnamon (Virgin Islands) ; malagueta, ozila,
caiielillo (Dominican Republic) ; pimienta de
Tabasco (Cuba) ; bay-rum-tree. West Indian bay-
berry (English) ; bayberry-tree, wild cinnamon,
wild olive (Jamaica) ; cinnamon (Montserrat,
Grenadines); bayleaf (Barbuda, Tobago); bois
dTnde Frangais (Haiti) ; bois dTnde (Guade-
loupe, Martinique, St. Lucia) ; bay boom
(Surinam).

Botanical synonyms. — Amomh caryophyllata
(Jacq.) Krug & Urban, Pimenta acrls (Sw.)
Kostel.

Botanical variety. — ausu, Pimenta racemosa
var. grisea (Kiaersk.) Fosberg (synonyms P.
acris var. grisea Kiaersk., A7no7nis caryophyllata
var. grisea (Kiaersk.) Krug & Urban, A. grisea
( Kiaersk. ) Britton ) .

The generic name Pimenta is taken from the
Spanish name for allspice, pimienta {Pimsnta
dioica (L.) Merr.*; synonyms P. officinalis Lindl.,
P. pimenta (L.) Cock.). This related species of
Cuba, Jamaica, and continental tropical America
is sometimes planted in Puerto Rico and the Vir-
gin Islands. It has elliptic or oblong leaves 3-6
inches long and many small white flowers about
5/i6 inch across, with 4 petals. The dried green
berries I/4 inch or less in diameter, with a flavor re-
sembling a mixture of clove, cinnamon, and nut-
meg (or all spices), are used as a condiment.

414

194. Malagueta, bay-nim-tree

Natural size.

Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J. W. Moore

415

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)

195. Guayaba, common guava

Guayaba or guava is a well-known cultivated
tree, because of the paste and jelly made from its
fruits. It is characterized by: (1) shrubby form,
the stems seldom straight; (2) smooth reddish-
brown bark which is thin and scales off in thin
sheets; (3) oblong or elliptic leaves with sunken
veins and minute gland dots; (4) large white flow-
ers about iy2 inches across the 4 or 5 large petals,
mostly borne singly at leaf bases; and (5) rounded
(sometimes j^ear-shaped) yellow edible fruits
11/4-2 inches in diameter, with 4 or 5 sepals at
apex.

Generally a shrub or low, widely spreading ever-
green tree 10-15 feet high and to 8 inches in diam-
eter. Inner bark is brown and slightly bitter.
Young twigs are 4-angled and slightly winged,
hairy, and green, becoming brown.

The leaves have short petioles i/g — Vi ii^^h long.
Leaf blades are 2—4 inches long and 1-2 inches
wide, short-pointed or rounded at both ends,
slightly thickened and leathery, with edges a little
turned under, the upper surface green or yellow
green, slightly shiny, almost hairless at maturity,
with the many pai-allel lateral veins sunken, and
lower surface paler, finely hairy, and with lateral
veins raised.

The fragrant flowers are scattered on stalks %-l
inch long at base of a leaf. The green finely hairy
tubular base (hypanthium) % inch long and
broad encloses the ovary and bears the other parts.
There are 4 or 5 yellow-green, slightly thickened,
finely hairy sepals %-% iii^h long; 4 or 5 elliptic
rounded white petals %-% inch long; and very
numerous brushlike spreading stamens with slen-
der white filaments averaging I/2 iii<^h long; and
pistil consisting of the inferior 4- or 5-celled ovary
and slender white style y^e inch long.

Cultivated varieties of this variable species
difl'er in fruit characters. The fruits (berries)
have a strong mellow odor at maturity. "Within
the thin, yellow, slightly sour, edible outer layer

Psidium guajava L.*

are numerous yellow seeds more than i/g inch long
in a juicy, pinkish or yellow pulp. Flowering and
fruiting nearly throughout the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
brown or reddish. The hard, strong, heavy wood
(specific gravity 0.8) has been used for handles
and implements.

Commonly cultivated as a fruit tree. The fruits
are unusually rich in vitamin C. The outer layer
of the fruit is preserved and canned commercially,
as is the juice. Guava powder has been pi-epared
from the dehydrated fruits also. Elsewhere the
bark has been employed in tanning. Extracts
from lea\'es, bark, roots, and buds have served in
folk medicine.

Forming thickets and spreading in pastures,
chiefly on the coastal plains but also in the lower
mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona,
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

Range. — Native of tropical America probably
from southern Mexico south to South America, the
range greatly extended beyond through cultiva-
tion. Planted and naturalized also in southern
Florida including Florida Keys (grown also in
California), Bermuda, and throughout West In-
dies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad, and
south to Brazil. Cultivated in Dutch West Indies.
Also introduced in tropical and subtropical
regions of the Old World.

Other common names. — ^guava (Virgin Is-
lands) ; guayaba, guayava, guayabo (Spanish) ;
guayaba perulera (Nicaragua) ; guayabo dulce
(Colombia) ; araza-puita (Argentina) ; common
guava, guava (United States) ; guava (English) ;
wild guava (British Honduras) ; goyave, goyavier
(French) ; goyavier a fruits (Guadeloupe) ; gu-
yaba, goeajaaba, guava (Dutch West Indies) ;
guave, goejaba (Surinam) ; goiaba, gobiabiera
(Brazil).

416

195. Guayaba, common guava

Two-thirds natural size.

Psidium guajava L.
417

MELASTOME FAMILY (MELASTOMATACEAE)

Key to the 4 species illustrated (Nos. 196-199)

A. Leaves broadly ovate, with 7 main veins from base, reddish tinged above, bristly hairy ; petioles and twigs with
sticky red hairs — 197. Hctcrotrichiim cymosum.
AA. Leaves narrow, elliptic to lance-shaped, with 3 or .5 main veins from base, hairless or soft hairy.

B. Leaves mostly rounded at apex ; minute brown scales on ijetioles, blades, and young twigs — 196. Caly-
cogoniiim squamulosum.
BB. Leaves long- or short-pointed at apes ; not scaly.

C. Leaves green on both surfaces, hairless or nearly so, edges finely wavy-toothed — 198. Miconia prasina.
CC. Leaves densely whitish hairy on lower surface ; petioles and young twigs light brown, finely scurfy hairy —
199. Tetrazygia elaeagnoldes.

196. Jusillo

This medium-sized tree, confined to the moun-
tains of Puerto Rico, is readily distinguished by :
(1) the erect, twigs frequently with clusters of
erect leaves on nearly horizontal branches; (2) the
opposite, elliptic, thick, yellow-green leaves with
3 main veins from base, the 2 lateral veins near the
turned under edges; (3) young twigs, petioles,
flower stalks, flowers and fruits covered with small
brown scales; and (4) the flowers more than %
inch long and broad and with 4 white petals, usu-
ally 3 together on a short stalk at base of leaf.

An evergreen tree 3O-.50 feet high and to 1 foot
in trunk diameter, with spreading crown of nearly
horizontal branches and erect, leafy, brown or
gray twigs. The bark is brown or gray, smooth-
ish or si ightly fissured, the inner bark also bi-own
and almost tasteless.

Petioles are 1/4-V2 i"ch long, and blades IVat^
inches long and iA-li/4 inches broad, the apex
rounded or with a minute point, the base short-
pointed. The upper surface is yellow green to
green, slightly shiny, with inconspicuous minute
dotlike scales, and with sunken midrib, and the
lower surface paler yellow green aJid with minute
brown scales.

Flowers are borne at the end of a cui'ved, brown,
scaly stalk about 14 ii^ch long. The tubular base
(hypanthium) and tubular 4-lobed calyx, both
scaly brown, together are about %6 inch long and
broad, angled and slightly flattened in the bud;
there are 4 spreading, white, reddish-tinged petals
1/4 inch long; 8 stamens; and pistil with inferior
i-celled ovary and slender style %6 inch long.

Calycogonium squamulosum Cogn.

The rounded berrylike fruit, with calyx remain-
ing attached, is .scaly brown, %h inch in diameter.
It contains numerous minute brown seeds about
1/32 inch long. Flowering mainly in summer and
fall (June to October), the fruit maturing in fall
and winter.

The sajjwood is bright yellow. The attractive
hea.rtwood is pinkish brown to pale brown, with
widely spaced black streaks. The wood is hard,
lieavy (specific gravity 0.74) . strong, fine-textured,
with generally straight grain, and without growth
rings. Rate of air-seasoning and amount of de-
grade are moderate. Machining characteristics
are as follows : planing, sanding, and resistance
to screw splitting are poor; and shaping, turning,
boring, and mortising are good. The wood is very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. It is
of doubtful durability in contact with the gi'ound,
and old forest trees are frequently decayed.

Uses are posts and poles, though preservative
treatment is recommended. The wood seems suit-
able also for furniture, patternmaking, veneer and
plywood, farm implements, tool handles, heavy-
duty flooring, turnery, boat parts, vehicles frames,
heavy construction, and bridge timbers.

In upper mountain forests in eastern and cen-
tral Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilaxte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other commox names. — camasey jusillo, cama-
sey negro ( Puerto Rico) .

41«

196. Jtisillo

Natural size.

Calycogonium squamulosum Cogn.

419

MELASTOME FAMILY (MELASTOMATACEAE)

197. Camasey peludo

This distinctive shrub or small tree limited to
Puerto Kico is easily recognized by: (1) the
straight, bristly, sticky (glandular), red hairs
i/ig-i/g incli long (and also dense minute star-
shaped hairs) on twigs, petioles, flower stalks,
flowers, and fruits; (2) the opposite, long-pet ioled,
bristly hairy, broadly ovate leaves reddish tinged
above, with 7 veins from base; (3) large white
flowei's % inch long and broad, with 6-8 spreading
petals, several in terminal clusters; and (4) the
edible, purplish, very juicy berries 14 inch ui
diameter.

An evergreen tree commonlj' less than 15 feet
high and 3 inches in trunk diameter, sometimes
larger, with spi-eading crown. The brownish-gray
bark is smoothish and slightly fissured and thin.
Inner bark is light brown and almost tasteless.
The twigs are greenish and reddish tinged, becom-
ing brown, with long straight red hairs.

The leaves have petioles l^/^-SVo inches long, and
thin but stiff blades 4-7 inches long and 3-41,^
inches wide (smaller below flowei-s), long-pointed
with slightly heart-shaped or rounded base. The
edges are finel}' toothed and with bristly haire, the
upper surface is green and bristly hairj', and the
loMNer surface yellow green.

Flower clusters (panicles) are branched, 3-5
inches long and broad. The very hairy tubular

Heterotrichum cymosum (Wendl.) Urban

base (hypanthium) encloses the inferior ovary
more than Vs ii^ch in diameter and extends y^e
inch above; the calyx tube is about y^ inch long
and 1/4 inch across, widely spreading, with 6-8
very narrow, very hairy, green lobes 1/4 inch long;
there are 6-8 sjjreading white petals tinged with
pink, almost i/o inch long; twice as many stamens
as petals, pink, with yellow anthers; and pistil
composed of inferior, several-celled ovary and
slender, curved style Yie inch long.

The berries, rounded witli a flattened spreading
top of calyx tube and lobes remaining, are slightly
sweet to the taste. There are numerous tiny light
brown seeds. In flower and fruit nearly through
the year.

The sapwood is light brown, moderately hard,
and medium weight (specific gravity 0.6) . Because
of the small size and spreading form of the tree
the wood is little used.

Common and widely distributed in open areas,
such as roadsides in the moimtain forest regions
of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Negro.

Raxge. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — pelua, terciopelo, ca-
masey de paloma (Puerto Rico).

420

197. Camasey peludo

Natural size.

Heterotrichum cymoaum (Wendl.) Urban

421

MELASTOME FAMILY (MELASTOMATACEAE)

198. Camasey

Camasey {Mieonia and related genera) is rep-
resented by many species of snaall trees and shrubs
in Puerto Rico. One of the commoner species,
this is characterized by : ( 1 ) opposite, narrowly
elliptic leaves finely wavy-toothed, green and
slightly shiny on both sides, with 5 main veins, the
2 pail's of lateral veins joined to the midrib at
different points near base (5-nerved) ; (2) small
whitisli flowers in large tenninal clusters with
horizontal, paired, spreading branches; and (3)
rounded purplish-blue berries yig inch in diameter.

An evergreen shrub or small tree to 25 feet high
and 4 inches in trunk diameter. The bark is
smooth, gray, and thin, the inner bark yellowish
brown and bitter. The stout gray-brown twigs are
minutely hairy with star-shaped hairs when young
and with faint rings at nodes.

The leaves have winged or wingless petioles
1/4-1 inch long and blades iVo-'J^V^ inches long and
II/2-214 inches broad, the apex long-pointed and
base short-pointed, slightly thickened, usually
hail-less or nearly so at maturity. The veins are
a little sunken on upper surface and raised on the
lower surface, which is slightly lighter green.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 3-6 inches long
and 2—1: inches broad, with branches covered with
minute star-shaped hairs, bearing many stalkless
flowers 14 ii^ch long. The tubular base (hypan-
thium) and slightly o-lobed calyx are less than i/g
inch long, finely hairy; there are 5 small white
petals more than W^ inch long; 10 spreading sta-
mens with white filaments; and pistil composed of
inferior ovary, slender style, and rounded stigma.

The berries are slightly flattened, juicy, edible
but slightly sour and almost tasteless. There are
many brown seeds about I/30 inch long. In flower
and fruit nearly through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is grayish brown. The hard, heavy wood (spe-

Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC.

cific gravity 0.7) is little used except as fuel. Not
durable as a fencepost.

Common in the moist coastal, moist limestone,
and lower mountain forests in Puerto Rico. Also
in Tortola.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Rio Aba jo,
Toro Negro.

Range.— Common and widely distributed in
tropical America. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico, and Tortola. I^esser Antilles in An-
tigua, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and
Grenada, and Trinidad and Margarita. Also
from southern Mexico to Peru, Boliva, Paraguay,
and Brazil. Botanical varieties are distinguished
in dift'erent parts of the broad range.

Other common names. — camasey bianco (Pu-
erto Rico) ; granadillo bobo, cenizoso (Dominican
Republic) ; mullaca Colorado, mullu caspi (Peru) ;
sardine (Trinidad) ; waraia (British Guiana) ;
santo, selele beletere, konorrepie, pint jo (Suri-
nam) ; jacatirao, mondururu preto (Brazil).

This genus has 15 additional native species of
small trees or shrubs recorded from Puerto Rico
and tiie Virgin Islands, found generally in moist
areas and known commonly as camasey. Britton
and Wilson (Botany of Porto Rico and the Vir-
gin Islands 6: 6-11, 555. 1925) published botani-
cal descriptions and a key for identification.
These species are : Mieonia foveolata Cogn., M. im-
petiolaria (Sw.) D. Don, M. laevigata (L.) DC,
M. Janata (DC.) Triana, M. microcarpa DC, M.
ottoHchulzii Urban & Ekman, M. pachyphylla
Cogn., M. punctata (Desv.) D. Don, M. pycno-
neura Urban, M. racemosa (Aubl.) DC, M. ruhi-
ginosa (Bonpl.) DC, M. sintenisii Cogn., M. sub-
corymbosa Britton, M. tetrandra (Sw.) D. Don,
ancl M. thomasiana DC.

422

.'^

198. Camasey

Natural size.

Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC.

687-921 0—64 28

423

MELASTOME FAMILY (MELASTOMATACEAE)

199. Verdiseco

This small tree is easily recognized by the erect
conical crown which is grayish in appearance, the
thick furrowed gray bark, and the opposite, most-
ly small, lance-shaped leaves with 3 main veins
from near base to apex and with the lower surface
whitish and densely fine hairy. The spreading 4-
petaled white flowers, %, inch broad and almost as
long, are borne in short, few-flowered terminal
clusters, and the fruit is a rounded berry nearly
% inch in diameter, with calyx at apex.

An evergreen tree 20-30 feet high and to 6
inches in trunk diameter, with a crown of thin
foliage. The inner bark is light brown and slight-
ly sour to the taste. Young twigs, petioles, and
branches of flower clusters are light brown, finely
scurfy hairy. Older twigs are dark brown.

inch long and blades
inch broad, mostly
short-pointed (sometimes blunt-pointed) at both
apex and base, thickened, dark green and hairless
on upper surface, and whitish, soft hairy beneath.
There are many small parallel veins almost at
right angles to midrib.

Flower clusters (panicles) branched, 1-2 inches
long, the few flowers short-stalked. The tubular
base, (hypanthium) extends % inch above the in-
ferior ovary about i/ie inch long, contracted, scaly
hairy, with short, spreading calyx tube %6 i^ich in
diameter, membranous at edge; 4 broad and

Leaves have petioles Vi"^/^
1^/4-3 inches long and i/4-%

Tetrazygia elaeagnoides (Sw.) DC.

rounded petals % inch long, narrowed at base,
white but fading to pink; 8 slender stamens V2
inch long; and pistil with inferior 4-celled ovary
and slender, slightly curved style more than lA
inch long. The berry is broader than long and 4-
lobed, fleshy and containing numerous minute,
seeds. Flowering and fruiting probably through
the year.

The sapwood is light brown and hard. The tree
is used chiefly for fenceposts.

Hillsides and cutover lands in the moist lime-
stone forest region in northern and western Puerto
Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
St. .John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca,
Vega.

Municipality where especially common. — 11.

Range. — Hispaniola and Puerto Rico and Vir-
gin Islands. Also recorded from Montserrat and
Martinique.

Other common names. — camasey cenizo, cenizo,
(Puerto Rico) ; kre-kre (Virgin Islands).

Another species {Tetrazygia angustifoJia (Sw.)
DC.) is a small tree or shrub through the Virgin
Islands, common on St. .John, but absent from
Puerto Rico. It has narrower lance-shaped leaves,
clusters of many small flowers about i/4 inch long
and broad, with yellowish or pink petals, and
small blackish berry %6 i^^ch in diameter.

424

199. Verdiseco

Natural size.

Tetrazygia elaeagnoides (Sw.) DC.

425

GINSENG FAMILY (ARALIACEAE)

Key to the 2 species illustrated (Xos. 200-201)

A. Leaves simple — 200. Dendropanax arhoreiis.
AA. Leaves digitate or palmately compound, with usually 10 or 11 leaflets— 201. Didymopanax morototoni.

200. Polio

A small to medium-sized tree characterized by :
(1) mostly loniT-stalked (to 4 inches) elliptic to
ovate leaves, dark green and slightly shiny above
and light green beneath; (2) terminal compound
flower clusters of numerous small, usually 5-
parted, greenish-yellow flowers %6 ii^ch across on
shorter stalks in ball-like clusters 1/2-% inch
across, which are borne on long equal stalks along
the main axis; and (3) fleshy rounded fruit
(berry) about V^ inch in diameter, turning from
whitish green to black at maturity.

An evergreen tree to 40 feet or more in height
and 1 foot in trunk diameter, with wide spreading
rounded crown, hairless throughout. The bark is
light gray, smooth or warty with raised dots
(lenticels) or becoming slightly fissured. Inner
bark is whitish and tasteless. Twigs are gi'een,
turning to gray, slender or stout.

Leaves are alternate, the green petioles mostly
long but varying from very short to very long,
14-4 inches. Blades are 2-8 inches long and II4-
314 inches wide, short- to long-pointed at apex and
shoi't -pointed to roiinded at base, thin to slightly
thickened, not toothed on edges, the lateral veins
often slightly sunken on upper surface. On young
shoots the leaves are reported to be often 3-lobed.

Flower clusters (raceme of umbels with com-
pound umbel at apex) are 2-5 inches long and 2
inches across, the branches about % inch long and
flower stalks about y^ inch long, the axis and
branches yellow green. Flower parts usually 5,
sometimes 6 or 7, of each kind. A flower consists
of a basal tube (hypanthium) about i/ig inch long
and broad, partly enclosing the inferior 5-celled
ovary and bearing the minute 5-toothed calyx, 5-
pointed yellow petals more than i/jg inch long, 5
erect stamens V^e inch long, and top of ovary with
5 partly united styles.

The fruits upon drying become 5-angled and
contain 5 flattened seeds nearly I/4 inch long, ar-
ranged starlike. The styles remain at apex of

Dendropanax arboreus (L.) Decne. & Planch.

fruit. Flowering and fruiting nearly through the
year.

The sapwood is whitish or yellowish brown.
The moderately soft, moderately lightweight wood
(s))ecific gravity 0.5) is little used.

Elsewhere a decoction of the leaves and roots
has been employed in home medicines. A honey
plant.

Widely distributed in the lower mountain and
moist limestone regions of Puerto Rico, especially
in the coffee plantations of the central and west-
ern Cordillera. Also in St. Thomas and Tortola.

PunLic FORESTS. — Caiubalache, Guajataca, Lu-
quillo, jVIaricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia, Toro Negro.

MlNICH'ALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY O0MM0>f . — 6,

35.

Range. — Common and widespread in tropical
America. Greater Antilles, St. Thomas, Tortola,
St. Vincent. Grenada, and Trinidad. Mexico
(Sinaloa to Tamaulipas and southward) to Co-
lombia, Venezuela (including Margarita), Peru,
and Bolivia. Also planted in southern Florida.

Other common names. — palo de polio (Puerto
Rico) ; ramon de costa, ramon de vaca, lengua de
vaca, palo de burro (Dominican Republic) ;
vibona, ramon de vaca, ramon de caballo, palo
santo (Cuba) ; mano de oso, mano de leon, palo
santo, palo de danta, palo guitaro (Mexico) ;
mano de leon (El Salvador) ; vaquero (Panama) ;
paina (Venezuela) ; galipee, angelica-tree (Ja-
maica) ; bois negresse (Haiti).

Botanical synonym. — Gilibertia arborea (L.)
E. March.

Gongoli (Dendropanax laririfolhts (E. March.)
Decne. & Planch.), also called palo de polio negro,
palo de cacliumba, palo de vaca, vibona, and
vibora, is a related tree species known only from
moist forests of Puerto Rico. It has the flower
clusters si)reading and branched (umbels in
umbel-like clusters), the stalks of the branches up
to 11/^ inches long.

426

200. Polio

Two-thirds natural size.

Dendropanux arhoreiis (L.) Decne. & Planch.

427

GINSENG FAMILY (ARALIACEAE)
201. Yagrumo macho, matchwood Didymopanax morototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch.

A striking tree easily recognized by its distinc- Flowering and fruiting nearly throughout the
tive branching, crown, and leaves. The smooth, y^^i'-
gray, ringed trunk, unbranched below, has a few-
stout branches above, bearing in uppermost part a
shallow crown like an umbrella formed by the ter-
minal clusters of leaves. The veiy large leaves
are palmately compound, with a long stout round
petiole 2 feet or less in length and usually 10 or 11
long-stalked oblong leaflets with blades 10-17
inches long, long-pointed at apex, and beneath
brown or greenish brown with a satiny coat of fine
hail's.

As the common name suggests, this species re-
sembles yagrumo hembra (Cecropia peltata L.),
a botanically unrelated tree. However, in yag-
rumo hembra the leaves are not compound but
merely palmately veined and palmately lobed with
rounded lobes and they are whitish rather than
brown beneath.

An evergreen tree becoming 60 feet or more in
height, with trunk 6-18 inches in diameter, in
Puerto Eico usually medium-sized. The gray or
light brown bark is smooth with many faint hori-
zontal rings and large leaf scars about 3 inches
apart. Inner bark is brownish and slightly bitter
or spicy in taste. The twigs, petioles, under sur-
face of leaflet blades, flower stalks, and flowers are
minutely gray or brown hairy. The few twigs are
very large and stout, about IV2 inches in diameter
and finely brown hairy.

Leaves are alternate but closely crowded, with
sheath of 2 hairy pointed scales (stipules) I/4-V2
inch long at base. At apes of the round green
petiole are usually 10 or 11 spreading green leaflet
stalks 214—4!/^ inches long. Leaflet blades are 4-
7I/2 inches wide, and rounded or sometimes a little
heart-shaped at base, the edges often a little wavy,
slightly thickened and leathery, above green and
hairless. Young leaflets are brown haii-^' on both
surfaces. However, leaflets of young plants are
green on both sides and rough hairy above, thin,
sometimes saw-toothed on edges, and smaller, with
shorter petiole and fewer leaflets (7 or more).

Flower clusters (panicled umbels) are lateral,
about 1-2 feet long and broad, with branches gi'ay
and finely hairy. The very numerous flowers are
grouped at ends of branches into numerous small
rounded clusters (umbels) less than 14 inch across,
on spreading flower stalks ^/i6-%6 irich long. The
5-parted finely brownish and gray hairy flower
about 3/jg inch across has a minute Ijasal tube (hy-
panthium) less than Vje inch long enclosing the
inferior 2-celled ovary and Ijearing the minute 5-
toothed calyx, 5 white pointed petals more than
1/^6 i'lch long, 5 stamens, and 2 styles.

The fleshy fruit (berry) , gi-ay and covered with
a bloom, is about 3/jg inch long, 14 bich broad, and
a little flattened, with 2 styles at apex. It con-
tains 2 oblong flattened brown seeds 3/ig inch long.

The wood is pale brown or light brown through-
out, soft, fairly lightweight (specific gravity
0.3G), fine-textured, straight-grained, brittle, and
has large pith. It is very susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites and other insects and to decay.
The rate of air-seasoning is rapid, but the amovmt
of degrade is considerable. Machining character-
istics are as follows: planing, shaping, mortising,
and sanding are good ; turning is very poor ; boring
is poor; and resistance to screw splitting is ex-
cellent.

In Puerto Rico the wood is little used, though
it is especially suitable for boxes and crates.
Wliere the trees are more abundant and of larger
size, uses include general carpentry, interior con-
struction, and boxes. In Trinidacl and British
Guiana the wood is made into matchsticks and
matchboxes. Other possible uses are utility grade
plywood, toys, pulp, and as a substitute for heavier
grades of balsa.

Of possible value as an ornamental, growing
rapidly and requiring light. The leaves have
served in home remedies in other places.

Scattered in forests of the lower mountain moist
coast and moist limestone regions of Puerto Rico.
Also in St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro
Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where especially commox. —
4, 6, 10, 19, 20, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 40, 43, 49, 51, 53,
58, 59.

Raxge. — Widespread in wet forests of tropical
America. "West Indies in Cuba, Hispaniola, Puer-
to Rico, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Guade-
loupe, and Trinidad. Continental tropical Amer-
ica from southeni Mexico (Oaxaca) to Bolivia,
Argentina, Brazil, and Guianas. Also planted in
southern Florida.

Other common xames. — pana cimarrona (Puer-
to Rico) ; morototo, mandioquiera (commerce) ;
palo de sable, sablito, yagrumo macho (Domini-
can Republic) ; zapaton, yagrumo macho, arriero,
gaviliin, badana, cordoban. padero, papayon
(Cuba) ; chancaro bianco, roble bianco (Mexico) ;
Costilla de danto (Nicaragua) ; pava, pavilla,
probado (Costa Rica) ; mangabe, gargoran, pava
(Panama) ; yarumero, yagrume (Colombia) ; ya-
grumo macho, orumo macho, sun-sun, higuerete,
tinajero (Venezuela) ; sacha-uva, anonillo (Peru) ;
guitarrero (Bolivia) ; ambay-guazu (Argentina) ;
matchwood, jereton (Triniclad) ; mountain trum-
pet (British Honduras) : karohoro, matchwood,
morototo (British Guiana) ; arbre de Saint -Jean
(French Guiana) : morototo, cassavehout, bigi
boesie, papajahoedoe, kasabahoedoe (Surinam) ;
morototo, mandioqueira, marupa, matatauba
(Brazil).

428

201. Yagrumo macho, matchwood Didnmopanax morototoni (Aubl.) Decne. & Planch.

Flowers, leaflet, and fruits, two-thirds natural size; immature leaf (lower right), reduced.

429

MYRSINE FAMILY (MYRSINACEAE)

Key to the 3 species illustrated (Xos. 202-204)

A. Leaves elliptic to obovate, with flattened or winged petiole ; flowers and fruits many in terminal clusters — 202.
Ardisia oborata.
AA. Leaves lance-shape<l or elliptic, clustered near ends of twigs, with slender petiole ; flowers and fruits many in
almost stalkless clusters along twigs.
B, Twigs rusty-brown hairy ; leaves slightly hairy beneath, lance-shaped, short-pointed — 203, Rapanea
fcmiginca.
BB. Twigs hairless; leaves hairless, elliptic, rounded or blunt-pointed — 204. Rapanea guianensis.

202. Mameyuelo

Ardisia obovata Desv.

W-^ie

This shrub or small tree is characterized by : (1)
elliptic or obovate .slightly shiny leaves, leathery
and slightly succuler.t, with inconspicuous veins,
with minute gland dots on both sides, blmit-pointed
or rounded at apex, often broadest above middle,
and gradually narrowed at base to the broad or
winged petiole ; (2) erect, terminal, much branched
flower cluster 3-5 inches long and broad, with very
many small greenish flowers % inch across, with
tiny black dots; and (3) many black 1-seeded fruits
%e inch in diameter.

An evergreen shrub or small tree 10-20 feet high
and to 4 inches in diameter, hairless throughout.
The stout twigs are greenish when young, becom-
ing light gray. Bark on small trunks is smoothish,
gray, and thin, with pinkish, tasteless inner bark.

The alternate leaves have flattened or winged
petioles 1/4-% inch long. Blades are 2I2-5V2
inches long and 1-2 inches broad, with edges slight-
ly turned under, green on upper surface and paler
beneath.

The flower cluster (panicle) contains crowded,
short -stalked flowers. Calyx is composed of 5

rounded lobes

Vie

inch long; corolla with short

tube and usually 5 elli]3tic lobes nearly %6 inch
long, which are spreading or ttirned backwards
and % inch across; 5 stamens inserted near base
of corolla tube and opposite the lobes; and pistil
with 1-celled ovary and short style.

The numerous berries are round or slightly
broader than long, with short point (style) at end,
turning from green to red to blackish at maturity,
with thin dark red flesh and 1 large round brown
seed %6 iiich in diameter. Flowering and fruiting
throughout the year.

The sapwood is pinkish, and the heartwood is
light reddish brown. The hard, heavy wood is
used only for posts in Puerto Rico.

In the moist and dry limestone forests at lower
and middle elevations in Puerto Rico. An under-
story tree or shrub. Also Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Susiia.

Range. — Bahamas (North Caicos only), His-
paniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and Les-
ser Antilles from Saba to St. Lucia.

Other cojiMox names. — badula (Puerto Rico) ;
Guadeloupe marlberry (Bahamas).

Botanical synonyms. — Ardisia guadalupensis
Duch., Icacorea guadahipensi.s (Duch.) Britton.

Another species of mameyuelo {Ardisia glaiici-
fora Urban; synonym Icacorea gJauHflora
(Urban) Britton) is a small tree known only from
mountain forests of Puerto Rico. It has larger,
elliptic, thick, leathery leaves 4-8 inches long with
I)rominent network of veins, and many larger
flowers about 14 "^ch across.

430

202. Mameyuelo

Two-thirds natural size.

Ardiaia obovata Desv.

431

MYRSINE FAMILY (MYRSINACEAE)

203. Mantequero

This common small tree is distinguished by : (1)
lance-shaped shiny green leaves numerous and
crowded near ends of twigs, with minute gland
dots on both sides; (2) long slender twigs, I'usty-
brown hairy, greenish near apex but becoming
brown; (3) many inconspicuous small yellow-
green flowers almost stalkless in scaly lateral clus-
ters mostly back of leaves; and (4) numerous
round black fruits Vs inch or more in diameter,
almost stalkless and crowded along the twigs for
a few inches.

Small evergreen tree 15-30 feet high and 3-6
inches in trunk diameter, with ei"ect crown. The
bark is smooth or slightly fissured, thin, and gray.
Inner bark is whitish or light brown, tasteless or
slightly astringent, with sticky sap.

Leaves are altei-nate but close together, with
finely hairy petioles Vi-^,4 i"*"!! long. Blades are
11/2-4 incites long and V2-I inch broad, widest at
middle or a little beyond, short-pointed at apex
and tapering to the long-pointed base, slightly
thickened, and with edges turned under. The
lower surface is paler and usually slightly hairy.

The spreading flowers about tg inch across are
male and female on different trees or some flowei'S
bisexual (polygamo-dioecious). Calyx is deeply
5-lobed; the spreading corolla has 5 narrow,
pointed lobes, yellow green with pink dots ; 5 stalk-
less stamens on the corolla and opposite the lobes;

Rapanea ferruginea (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez

and pistil composed of 1-celled ovary with short,
lobecl stigma.

The berries change color from green to red to
black at maturity and contain purplish flesh and
1 round brown seed less than Yg inch long. Flower-
ing and fruiting nearly through the year.

The whitish sapwood, characterized by promi-
nent white rays, is hard and heavy (specific grav-
ity 0.7). The wood is used chiefly for fenceposts.

In open moist forests in Puerto Rico from near
sea level almost to the summit of Cerro Pimta,
above 4,000 feet in altitude. Characteristic of
openings, clearings, and edges of forests and prob-
ably light requiring.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Range. — Greater Antilles and throughout
Lesser Antilles from Saba and St. Kitts to Gren-
ada. Also from Mexico and Central America to
Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.

Other common names. — arrayan, arrayan bobo,
biidula (Puerto Rico) ; hojita larga, palo de sabana
(Dominican Republic) ; camagiiilla (Cuba) ; ama-
tillo (El Salvador) ; manglillo (Panama) ; espa-
dero (Colombia) ; manteco, manteco bianco, man-
tequero, mantequito (Venezuela) ; canelon-puita
(Argentina) ; bois plomb, bois savanne (Haiti) ;
azeitona brava, azeitona do matto (Brazil).

432

203. Mantequero

Natural size.

Rapanea femiginea (Ruiz & Pav.)Mez

433

MYRSINE FAMILY (MYRSINACEAE)

204. Badula, Guiana rapanea

This small tree resembles its close relative man-
teqiiero (Ri(panea femiginea (Ruiz&Pav.) Mez)
but is hairless throughout and has broader leaves
with mostly rounded apices and slightly larger
flowers and fruits. It is characterized by : (1) the
elliptic, slightly shiny, green leaves clustered at
ends of twigs, with minute gland dots on both
sides; (2) the long slender twigs, greenish when
young, becoming liglit brown; (3) numerous small
greenish flowers almost stalkless in scaly lateral
clusters mostly back of leaves; and (4) many
round blue-black fruits 3/ig inch in diameter
crowded along the twigs for a few inches.

A small evergreen tree to 25 feet high and 3-6
inches in trunk diameter, with straight axis, open
and narrow crown, and relatively few unbranched
twigs. The thin gray bark is smooth or slightly
fissured. Inner bark is reddish or brown, slightly
bitter or almost tasteless.

The leaves, alternate but close together, have
petioles V^-Vi inch long. Blades are 2-i inches
long, %-!% inches broad, widest at middle or be-
yond, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex, pointed at
base, slightly thickened, and with edges turned
under. The lower surface is paler.

Male and female flowers are on different trees
or some flowers bisexual (polygamo-dioecious),
greenish and more than %6 inch across. The small
calyx is deeply 5-lobed, dotted with purple; the

Rapanea guianensis Aubl.

spreading corolla with 5 unequal pointed lobes dot-
ted with purple: 5 stalkless stamens on the corolla
and opposite the lobes; and pistil with 1-celled
ovary and short-lobed stigma. The berries have
thin flesh and 1 large brown seed more tlian i/g inch
in diameter. Collected in flower in spring and
with fruits in summer.

The light brown, hard, strong wood is used
chiefly for posts.

In the moist and dry limestone forests in north-
ern and western Puerto Rico. Also in Tortola.

PuRLic FoitESTS. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Rio
Aba jo, Susiia.

R.A.NGE. — Central and southern Florida includ-
ing Florida Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles,
Tortola, Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe to
Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also in
southern Mexico, British Honduras, Costa Rica,
and South America from Colombia to Bolivia, Ar-
gentina, Brazil, and Guianas.

Othkr fOJiMox NAMES. — mamcyuclo (Domini-
can Republic) ; camagiiilla (Cuba) ; chagualito
(Colombia) ; manteco bianco, mameycillo, cucharo
(Venezuela) ; canelon (Argentina, conunerce) ;
Guiana rapanea, myrsine (United States) ; myr-
sine (Baliamas) ; dakara (British Guiana) ; fuelle
canelle (Haiti) ; dakai-a, konaparan, mannie
botieie (Surinam).

434

204. Badiila, Guiana rapanea

Rapanea guianensis Aubl.

Natural size.

435

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

Key to the 10 species illustrated (Nos. 205-214)

A. Leaves with many straight, parallel side veins nearly at right angle to midrib.
B. Leaves small, less than 314 inches long; fruits elliptic, inedible.

C. Leaves abruptly short-pointed ; the lower surface reddish brown, finely silky hairy — 211. MicrophoUs

chrysophylloides.
CC. Leaves rounded or slightly notched at apex, green on both surfaces, becoming hairless or nearly so — 212.
MicrophoUs garciniaefoUa.
BB. Leaves more than 3 inches long ; fruits round, edible.

D. Leaves rounded, blunt-pointed, or notched at apex ; fruits about 1 inch in diameter — 209. Manilkara

bidentata.
DD. Leaves short-pointed; fruits IV2-3 inches in diameter (sapodilla) — 210. Manilkara zapota.*
AA. Leaves with several side veins at acute angle to midrib, mostly curved at end.

B. Leaves mostly lance-shaped, long-pointed at both ends, the edges appearing finely wavy or wrinkled — 208.
Dipholis salicifolia.
EE. Leaves broader, mostly elliptic.

P. Leaves with short petiole less than % inch long.

G. Leaves elliptic, broadest near middle, less than 5 Inches long.

H. Leaves with lower surfaces grayish or silvery green and often silky hairy — 205. Chrysophyllmn
argenteum.
HH. Leaves with lower surfaces reddish brown or golden silky hairy.

I. Fruit round, several-seeded, 2-3 inches in diameter (star-apple) — 206. Chrysophyllum
cainito.
IL Fruit elliptic, 1-seeded, about % inch long — 207. ChrysophyUum oliviforme.
GG. Leaves narrowly elliptic, broadest beyond middle, large, 5-16 inches long — 213. Pouteria multiftora.
FF. Leaves with long slender petiole more than % inch long, often slightly winged toward ajwx ; midrib
yellow — 214. Sideroxylon foetidissimum.

205. Lechecillo

This tree with milliy sap is characterized by:
(1) a spreading low crown ; (2) elliptic or oblong
leaves with lower surfaces slightly grayish or sil-
very green and often silky hairy and with lateral
veins straight and parallel, almost at right angles
to midrib and regularly spaced Vs-Vi inch apart;

(3) small greenish-yellow bell-shaped flowers
about 3/jp inch long clustered at leaf bases; and

(4) oval or rounded, dark blue, edible berries %-
34 inch long.

An evergreen, usually small tree 15-25 feet high
and -1—8 inches in diameter. Bark on small trunks
is smoothish or much fissured, light brown or gray,
the inner bark pinkish and slightly bitter. Young
twigs are greenish and finely hairy, becoming
brown or gray. The bud composed of youngest
leaves is brown and finely hairy.

The alternate leaves have finely hairy petioles
14-% inch long. Leaf blades are 2V2-5 inches long
and 11/4-21/4 inches broad, mostly short-pointed at
apex and short-pointed or rounded at base, a little
thickened. The upper surface is green or dark
green, slightly shiny, and hairless or nearly so.
The specific name, meaning silvery, describes the
lower leaf surface.

Few to several flowers with a peculiar odor are
borne together on slender hairy stalks about i/4 inch
long. There are 5 rounded brownish-green sepals
nearly i/g inch long, finely brown hairy; a tubular
bell-shaped, greenish-yellow, finely hairy corolla
%e inch long, with 5 or 6 small rounded lobes; 5
or 6 small stamens on the corolla tube opposite
the lobes; and pi.stil with hairy 6-8-celled ovary,
short style, and minutely lobed stigma. The fruit

Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq.

contains 1 large shiny brown seed. Flowering and
fruiting probably through the year.

The wood with light brown sapwood is reported
to be hard, heavy, strong, tough, and durable.
Used chiefly for posts in Puerto Rico. Elsewhere
utilized in construction and carpentry.

Moist limestone and lower mountain forests in
Puerto Rico. Also in St. Thomas and Tortola.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Luquillo, Rio
Aba jo.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, St.
Thomas, Tortola, and nearly throughout Lesser
Antilles to Trinidad and Tobago. Also in Vene-
zuela.

Other common names. — caimito verde (Puerto
Rico) ; caimito bianco cimarron, caimitillo, caimi-
to cocuyo, carabana (Dominican Republic) ;
macanabo (Cuba) ; milky-iron (Montserrat) ;
star-apple (Antigua, St. Vincent) ; balata chien
(St. Lucia) ; wild kaimit (Trinidad) ; petit
caimite, ti caimite (Haiti) ; bois glu, bois kaki,
ca'imitier bois (Guadeloupe) ; bois bonis, petit
bonis (Guadeloupe, Martinique).

Botanical synonym. — ChrysophyUum gla-
hnim Jacq.

Two more species of this genus are native, in
addition to the 3 illustrated here. Caimito de pe-
rro {ChrysophyUum. paucifonim Lam.) is known
only from dry areas of Puerto Rico, Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. It differs from
the species described above in the nearly hairless
leaves shiny above, the flower with 5-celled ovary,
and the sharp-pointed, oblong fruit %-% inch
long.

436

205. Lechedllo

Natural size.

Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq.

437

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

206. Caimito, star-apple

A handsome tree with milky sap, cultivated for
its very sweet, edible, round fruits 2-3 inches in
diameter, oreenish or purplish, and for shade. It
is further identified by : ( 1 ) its spreading to droop-
ing crown; and (2) pretty, reddish-brown or gold-
en (copper-colored) silky hairy lower surfaces of
the elliptic or oblong leaves. The snudl purplish-
white or greenish flowers 14 ii^ch long are clustered
at bases of leaves.

Small to medium-sized evergreen tree 20-40 feet
high and 2 feet in trunk duimeter, with dense
crown. The bark is rough, much fissured, and
brown. Young twigs, as well as the petioles, which
are V2-% inch long, and the flower stalks, are red-
dish-brown hairy.

The alternate leaves have blades 3-5 inches long
and II/2-214 inches broad, mostly abruptly short-
pointed at apex, short -pointed at base, with edges
not toothed, and slightly thickened. The upper
surface is dark green, slightly shiny, and hairless.

Flower clusters have numerous small flowers on
slender hairy stalks I/4— '''s inch long. Calyx is com-
posed of usually 6 rounded sepals Yiq inch ■long,
reddish-brown hairy: the purplish-white corolla,
also hairy, is nearly 14 inch long, tubular and 5-7-
lobed: stamens on the corolla tube opposite the
lobes; and pistil consisting of hairy 6-11-celled
ovary with short style and as many small stigma
lobes as cells.

Chrysophyllum cainito L.

The edible berry has a thick, glossy, leathery
rind with gummy latex, white jellylike flesh, and
several flattened brown seeds. The arrangement
of cells and seeds like a star in the cut half fruit
is the source of the English name star-apple.
Flowering in summer and fall, the fruit matur-
ing from late fall to summer. Said not to fruit
in the Virgin Islands.

The wood is reddish brown, hard, heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.7), strong, and durable. It is suit-
able for construction.

The principal value of this tree in Puerto Rico
is its fruit and its attractive appearance as an
ornamental and shade tree.

Planted and escaping from cultivation in Puerto
Rico and possibly native. Also grown in St.
Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Range. — Native in Greater Antilles, the range
spread by cultivation through tropical America.
Now widely planted in southei-n Florida, through
West Indies from Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago
and from southern Mexico to Brazil.

Other coiiMox names. — cainit (Virgin Is-
lands): caimito (Spanish); maduraverde, caimo,
caimo morado (Colombia) ; star-apple, goldenleaf
(English) : kaimit, caimite (Trinidad and Toba-
go) ; caimite, caimitier (French) ; sterappel (Cu-
rasao) ; sterappel, apra (Surinam) ; cainito
(Brazil).

438

m

' /

V/-^

l.M<i

206. Caimito, star-apple

Two-thirds natural size.

Chrysophyllntn caitiito L.

687-921 O — 64 29

439

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

207. Caimitillo de perro, satinleaf

A small tree, with milky sap, resembling star-
apple or caimito {ChrysophyUuni cahutol^.) and
easily recognized by the similar elliptic leaves
with lower surfaces pretty reddish brown (copper
colored), finely satiny or silky hairy. It difl'ers in
the smaller elliptic dark purple berry about %
inch (to 11/4 inches) long with usually onlj- 1
seed. Other distinguishing characters are: (1)
young twigs, buds, petioles, flower stalks, and
calyx finely reddish-brown hairy; and (2) the
small tubular bell-shaped 5-lobed flowers %e inch
long and broad, whitish green, a few together on
short stalks at base of leaves.

An evergreen tree 12-30 feet high with trunk to
1 foot in diameter. Tlie gray-brown bark is rough
and much fissured into iri'egular plates and thin
scales. Inner bark is light pink and contains
milky latex. The slender reddish-brown or rusty
young twigs later become light gray.

The alternate leaves have petioles 1/4--'/^ inch
long. Blades are 11/4-3 inches long and %-l%
inches wide, short-pointed at apex, rounded or
short-pointed at base, slightly thickened, above
shiny green witli inconspicuous veins and hairless
except when young.

There are a few flowers clustered together at
the base of a leaf on slender reddish-brown hairy
stalks 1/8-1/4 inch long. The calyx consists of .5
rounded, reddish-brown hairy and greenish sepals
more than y^e inch long; the whitish-green tubu-
lar corolla ^le inch long with 5 rounded lobes and
bearing 5 minute stamens at apex of tube opposite
the lobes; and light green pistil Vg inch long with
hairy 5-celled ovary, short style, and minutely
5-lobed stigma.

Chrysophyllum oliviforme L.

The elliptic fleshy fruit resembles an olive, as
the specific name indicates. It retains the calyx
at base and has a minute style point at apex. The
light purple to whitish flesh is sweetish and edible,
but the skin is gummy or rubbery with milky sap.
The large seed is shiny light brown. Collected in
flower from July to October and with mature
fruits in February.

The light brown wood is hard, very heavy (spe-
cific gravity 0.9), and strong. In Cuba it is used
for construction, beams, and doors and windows.

Planted in southern Florida as an ornamental
for the beautiful foliage. Jelly can be prepared
from the fruits.

The moist limestone region of northern and
western Puerto Rico.

PtTBLic FORESTS. — Canibalaclie, Vega.

R.\NGE. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
Mona (possibly introduced) , and Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — caimitillo, caimito de
perro (Dominican Republic) ; caimitillo, caimito,
caimito cimarron, macanabo (Cuba) ; satinleaf
(United States) ; satinleaf, saffron-tree (Baha-
mas) ; cai'mite marron (Haiti).

A related species of caimitillo {ChrysophyJJum
biroJor Poir. ; synonym C eggersii Pierre) is
called also wild cainit and lechecillo. It has ellip-
tic leaves with lower surfaces reddish brown and
finely satiny or silky hairy when young but later
nearly hairless. It differs from the above species
in the flower with 5-9-celled ovary and in the fruit
with 1 to few seeds. Besides Puerto Rico, it is
found in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

440

207. Caimitillo de perro, satinleaf

Natural size.

Chrysophyllum oliviforme L.

441

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

208. Sanguinaria, wild mespel, willow bustic

This small to medium-sized tree with white
latex is recognized by: (1) lance-shaped or nar-
rowly elliptic leaves, mostly widest at middle and
long-pointed at both ends, the edges appearing
finely wavy or wrinkled; (2) numerous small
whitish-gi'een fragrant flowers, rounded and
about 3i6 "^"^h long and broad, borne in crowded
lateral clusters along tlie twigs mostly back of the
leaves; and (3) many round black berries I/4 inch
or more in diameter along the twigs.

An evergreen tree 30-50 feet high and to 1-2
feet in diameter. The brownish-gi\ay bark is
smoothish and much fissured, becoming rough and
flaky or scaly. Inner bark is pinkish and bitter.
The slender twigs are brownish-gi'een hairy when
young, becoming gray.

The leaves are crowded but alternate on brown
hairy or hairless petioles I/4-I/2 inch long. Leaf
blades are 21A-4 inches long and %-li4 inches
broad, slightly thickened, hairy when young,
green and slightly shiny on upper surface and
paler beneath. As the scientific name suggests,
thev resemble willow leaves.

Flower clusters are less than 1/4 inch across, with
each flower on a brown hairy stalk less than %
inch long. The calyx is composed of 5 nearly
round, brown hairy sepals less than % inch long;
the whitish funnel-shaped corolla has 5 rounded
lobes each with 2 small lobes or appendages; 5
stamens on the corolla tube opposite the lobes and
alternating with 5 toothed a|)))endages (stami-
nodes) ; and pistil with 5-celled ovary and slender
style.

The fruits mostly single back of the leaves are
blunt-pointed, sticky inside, and contain usually
1 brown seed less than %6 inch in diameter.
Flowering chiefly in eai'ly spring and spring
(January to May) and maturing fruit in summer
and fall.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
reddish brown or dark brown. The wood is hard,
very heavy (specific gi'avity 0.9), strong, tough,

Dipholis salicifolia (L.) A. DC.

and moderately durable. It has medium-fine tex-
ture, fairly straight grain, and a bitter taste. In
Puerto Rico used chiefly for posts. Uses else-
where include heavy construction, bridges, poles,
flooring, and crossties.

In British Honduras the trees though rare re-
portedly are tapped for chicle. The flowers are
attractive to bees.

The moist and dry limestone regions of Puerto
Rico. A tree of open areas and probably light-
requiring. Also in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, and
Guanica.

Municipalities where especially common. —

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and nearly through West Indies from Ba-
hamas and Cuba to Dominica, St. Vincent, and
Barbados. Also in southern ]\Iexico, Guatemala,
and British Honduras.

Other common names. — almendron (Puerto
Rico) ; cayacolorada (Dominican Republic) ; cuya,
almendrillo, almendro silvestre, Carolina, jubilla
(Cuba) ; xac-chum (Mexico) ; willow bustic, bus-
tic, cassada (United States) ; bustic (commerce) ;
bustic, wild cassada, cassada- wood (Bahamas) ;
white bulletwood (Jamaica) ; sweetwood (Bar-
buda) ; bully-tree (Barbados) ; chachiga, mijico
(British Honduras) ; acomat rouge, sapotillier
marron (Haiti); acomat batard (Guadeloupe).

Two other species of this genus are native only
in mountain forests of Puerto Rico. Tabloncillo
(Dipholis heUonis Urban) is a rare large tree
known only from the Central Cordillera. It has
ovate leaves 3— 4i/^ inches long, long-pointed at
apex, and larger black berries 3^ inch long.

Espejuelo (Dipholis cuhensis (Griseb.) Pierre;
synonym D. sintenisiana Pierre), of the central
and western mountains, has usually smaller obo-
vate leaves I-21/2 inches long with usually rounded
apex, and oblong greenish berries % inch long.

442

208. Sanguinaria, wild mespel, willow bustic

Natural size.

Dipholis sal ici folia (L.) A. DC.

443

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

209. Ausubo, balata

In the past, this Large forest tree with milky
latex probably was the most important timber of
Puerto Rico. It is characterized by: (1) a dense
crown of horizontal branches with the foliage ap-
pearing in layers; (2) dark green elliptic leaves,
often large, the apex varying from blunt-pointed
to rounded or notched and base short-pointed,
thickened and leathery with edges slightly turned
under, with many faint parallel lateral veins; (3)
small whitish fragrant bell-shaped flowers in lat-
eral clusters at leaf bases; and (4) round or oval,
edible fruits 1-1 Vi inches long.

An evergreen tree becoming 100 feet tall, with
straight trunk to 4 feet in diameter. Large trunks
have broad rounded buttresses spreading at base.
The thick brown bark is fissured and scaly. Inner
bark is pink and bitter. The stout gray twigs are
hairless or minutely hairy when young.

The alternate leaves, frequently darkened by a
covering of sooty mold, have petioles %-lVi inches
long. Leaf blades are 31/4-10 inches long and 1 1/2-
4I/2 inches broad, often broadest beyond middle.
The midrib is slightly sunken on the dark green
upper surface and raised on the light green lower
surface.

There are 3-10 flowers together on stalks about
14 inch long. Calyx consists of 6 pointed green
sepals 14 iiich long, minutely hairy or nearly hair-
less, arranged in 2 series; the whitish corolla
slightly longer, with .short tube and 6 lobes, each
with 2 long narrow appendages resembling addi-
tional lobes; 6 stamens on the corolla tube opposite
the lobes and alternating with the same number
of appendages (staminodes) ; and pistil with 6-10-
celled ovary and slender style.

The smooth berry has a sweet sticky or gummy
pulp and is edible. It contains usually a single
shiny blackish seed. Flowering and fruiting per-
haps irregularly through the year.

Ausubo is one of the strongest and most attrac-
tive commercial woods of Puerto Rico. The sap-
wood is whitish to pale brown, and the heartwood
is light red when cut, turning to dark reddish
brown when dry. The wood is very hard, heavy
(specific gravity 0.82), very strong, fine-textured,
with grain usually straight but sometimes coarsely
interlocked. The rate of air-seasoning is rapid,
and amount of degrade is minor. Machining
characteristics are as follows: shaping, boring,
mortising, and sanding are excellent; planing is
good; turning is poor; and resistance to screw
splitting is fair. The wood finishes beautifully,
resembling mahogany. It is generally resistant to
attack by dry-wood termites, very resistant to de-
cay, and very durable in contact with the ground.

The chief use of this wood in Puerto Rico was
for construction timbers. Elsewhere it is utilized

Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev.

for furniture, cabinetwork, crossties, utility poles,
tool handles, heavy construction, flooring, and
bridges. It is suitable also for shuttles and other
textile items, billiard cues, and violin bows.

Formerly named as distinct, this tree of Puerto
Rico, St. John, and Tortola is now considered the
same as the more widely distributed and commer-
cially important tropical American timber species,
balata or bulletwood. The milky latex of this
species is the source of balata gum, which is simi-
lar to gutta-percha. Trees in northern South
America and Panama are tapped for this pur-
pose. In some areas the trees are first destroyed
by felling and then bled. The latex is coagulated
by heat and smoke over a fire or is dried in the
sun. Souvenirs and novelties are made from the
gum.

Moist coastal and limestone forests and lower
mountain forests in Puerto Rico. Also St. John
and Tortola. The trees grow slowly but are toler-
ant of shade. This species has been listed as
worthy of planting for shade and timber.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Rio Abajo. There is a very large
tree along the Big Tree Trail in the La Mina
Recreation Area in the Luquillo Forest.

Municipalities where especially common. —
13,42,58,74.

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, throughout Lesser Antilles to Barbados,
Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, and northern
South America from Guianas and Venezuela to
Peru and northern Brazil.

Other common names. — balata (Spanish) ;
purguo, acana, pendare (Venezuela) ; pamashto,
quinilla, quinilla colorada (Peru) ; balata (Eng-
lish, commerce) ; bulletwood, bullet (English) ;
gooseberry (Tobago) ; bully-tree (Barbados) ;
sapotillier marron, sapotilher noir, bois noir
(Guadeloupe) ; balate (Guadeloupe, Martinique) ;
balata franc, balata rouge (French Guiana) ;
bolletrie, balata, parata (Surinam) ; balata
(Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — ManUkara nitida (Sesse
& Moc.) Dubard, Manilkara halata auth., Manil-
kara riedleana. (Pierre) Dubard, Mirrmso-ps bi-
dentata A. DC, Mimusops halata auth., Mimusops
sieberi A. DC, Mimusops riedleana Pierre,
Mimusops domingensis (Pierre) Huber.

Zapote de costa {Manilkara pleeana (Pierre)
Cronq. ; synonym M. duplicata (Sesse & Moc.)
Dubard), called also mameyuelo, is a related tree
of moist coastal forests known only from Puerto
Rico, Vieques, St. Jolm, and Tortola. It has
leaves silvery hairy beneath, larger flowers with
corolla about V2 i^ch long, and larger fruits 1V2~
21/^ inches long, broader than long, and 3-8-seeded.

AM.

:'- J-- A

^$^ws:^^-;

■.^'

ul.ll

r\ \ v. A-.N .

vv-^-^,^-^

209. Ausubo, balata

Natural size.

Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev.

445

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

210. Nispero, sapodilla

This exotic tree whose white latex is the main
source of chewinjj jium is cultivated for its well-
known edible fruits. It is distinguished by: (1)
elliptic shiny green leaves mostly short-pointed at
both ends, with indistinct lateral veins close to-
gether and nearly at right angles to midrib, on
slender petioles clustered at ends of stout twigs
though actually alternate; (2) light green cup-
shaped or bell-sliaped flowers about % inch long
and broad, borne singly at leaf bases; and (3) the
brown roundetl or egg-sliaped fruits 11,4-3 inches
in diameter, with sweet brownish flesh and milky
sap.

Handsome evergreen tree, in cultivation to 50
feet in height and 20 inches in diameter but be-
coming more than 100 feet tall in forests, with
dense rounded crown of shiny green to dark green
foliage. The dark brown bark when cut yields the
latex known as chicle. The stout twigs are gray
and widely forking.

Petioles are %-%, inch long, yellow green, and
finely brown haii-y. Blades are 3-41/2 inches long
and 11/4-11/^ inches wide, slightly thickened, shiny
green above and dull light green beneath.

Flowers are borne on brown hairy stalks about
1/4 inch long and consist of 6 sepals about %6 inch
long, the outer 3 brownish hairy, ovate, and blunt-
pointed and the inner 3 light brownish gi-een and
elliptic; light green corolla about % inch long,
forming a tube, in lower half and 6 elliptic lobes
above; 6 stamens less than i/g inch long at apex of
corolla tube, opposite the corolla lobes and alter-
nating with toothed lobes (staminodes) nearly
^16 iiii^h long; and pistil nearly % inch long with
light brown hairy 10-12-celled ovary and stout
green style.

The rough-skinned berry contains 1-5 or some-
times more flattened elliptic shiny black or brown
seeds 3/4-1 inch long with a white scar on inner
edge. Flowering and fruiting nearly through the
year.

The wood is dark red, very hard and heavy,
strong, tough, and durable. Where available, the
wood is employed in general and heavy constiiic-
tion, cabinetwork, furniture, tool handles, cross-
ties, carts, rulers, and shuttles.

Chewing gum is made from commercial chicle,
which is the condensed latex principally of this
species and obtained chiefly by tapping trunks of

Manilkara zapota (L.) v. Royen*

wild trees in the Yucatan Peninsula of southern
Mexico, British Honduras, and Guatemala. Ac-
cordingly, this is one of the most important tree
species of British Honduras. V-shaped gashes are
cut in the bark in the rainy season, and the milky
liquid is collected in small vessels. Then the sap
is condensed by heating, and the resulting gum
kneaded with a stick and made into small cakes
for export.

Nispero, or sapodilla, is extensively planted
over tropical regions of the world for the edible
fruits, whicli are among the most popular in the
tropics, and for ornament and shade. Besides
being eaten raw, the fruits can be made into pre-
serves and syrup.

In Puerto Rico the trees are grown occasionally
for fruit and shade around houses at lower eleva-
tions, mostly in the drier areas. Also in Mona, St.
Croix, St. Tliomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native in southern Mexico and Central
America south to Costa Rica. Now widely culti-
vated and occasionally naturalized from southern
Florida and Bermuda through West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Barbados, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Dutch West Indies, from INIexico to
Brazil, and in the Old World tropics.

Other common names. — mespel (Virgin Is-
lands) ; nispero (Spanish) ; sapote (Cuba) ;
zapote, chicozapote, zapote chico, chicle, zapotillo
(Mexico) ; muyozapot (El Salvador) ; sapodilla
(United States, English) ; naseberry (British
West Indies) ; dilly (Bahamas) ; chicle, sapodilla,
zapote bianco, zapote Colorado, zapote morado
(British Honduras); sapotille, sapotillier
(French) ; mispu, mispel, sapodille (Dutch West
Indies) ; sapotille, sapatija, mispelboom (Suri-
nam) ; sapoti, sapotilha (Brazil).

Botanical stnonyms.^ — Achras zapota L., Sa-
pota achrufi Mill., Manilkara zapotilla (Jacq.)
Gilly.

Another species, wild-dilly (Manilkara jaiTniqui
(Wright) Dubard; synonyms Manilkara emargi-
n-ata (L.) Brjtton & Wilson, Achras emurffinafa
(L.) Little), has been recorded from southwestern
Puerto Rico, extending to Florida. It has
smaller oblong leaves ly^-i inches long, slightly
notched at apex; flowers about % inch long and
broad, witli light yellow corolla; and round inedi-
ble fruits 1-2 inches in diameter.

446

210. Nispero, sapodilla

Natural size.

Manilkara zapota (L. ) v. Royen

447

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

211. Caimitillo

A tree of mountain forests distinguished by the
beautiful bronze or reddish-brown, finely silky
hairy lower surfaces of the elliptic leaves, which
are 1V2~3V2 inches long and 1-2 inches broad, and
abruptly short-pointed at the apex. Other char-
acteristics are : ( 1 ) small, bronze and greenish cup-
shaped flowers about 14 inch long and broad, borne
laterally; (2) elliptic berries %-13^ inches long
and % inch or less in thickness; and (3) a small
amount of milky sap.

Medium-sized evergreen tree 30-60 feet in
height and 2 feet in trunk diameter, with erect
trunk and narrow dense crown of dark green
foliage. The gray bark is smoothish. Inner bark
is pinkish, tasteless or bitter. Twigs are bronze
hairy when young, becoming dark gray and hair-
less.

The alternate leaves have bronze hairy petioles
14-% inch long. Blades are short-pointed at base,
thick and leathery, the upper surface dark green,
hairless or nearly so, and slightly shiny, and the
lower surface sometimes in age also nearly hair-
less.

The inconspicuous flowers are attached on
bronze hairy stalks about i/i inch long, usually 1-3
(sometimes to 8) at the base of a leaf or on twig
back of leaves. There are 5 bronze hairy sepals
Yg inch long ; the yellowish-green corolla with tube
and 5 short, rounded spreading lobes 14 i'^^h
across; 5 small stamens on the corolla tube op-
posite the lobes and 1 short appendage (stami-
node) between each 2 lobes; and pistil with hairy
5-celled ovary and sliort style. One large elliptic
brown seed is contained in the flesliy fruit. Flow-
ering and fruiting nearly through the year.

The heartwood is uniform light yellowish bi-own
and not readily separated from the lighter brown

Micropholis chrysophylloides Pierre

sapwood. The wood is hard, heavy (specific grav-
ity 0.68), strong, tough, fine-textured, straight-
grained, and with indistinct growth rings. It is
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. The
rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and the amount of
degrade is minor. Machining characteristics are
as follows: planing, turning, and mortising are
good ; shaping and boring are excellent ; and sand-
ing and resistance to screw splitting are fair.
Sawing and machining ai'e moderately difficult
because silica in the wood dulls the saw teeth and
cutting edges. However, the wood takes a high
polish.

The wood is used sometimes for construction. It
is suitable for furniture, cabinetwork, interior
trim, flooring, paddles, farm implements, tool han-
dles, veneer, plywood, and general carpentiy.

In the forests of the upper mountains of Puerto
Rico, widely distributed from east to west.

Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negi'O.

Municipalities where especially common. —
1, 17, 19, 27, 35, 45, 52, 54, 62.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Lesser Antilles from
St. Kitts to Grenada.

Other common names. — mesa, leche prieta
(Puerto Rico) ; pan mango (Nevis) ; wild mango
(INIontserrat) ; caimite (Dominica) ; feuille doree
(St. Lucia) ; wild star-apple (St. Vincent) ; bois
(Grenada) ; caimitier bois (Guadeloupe, Marti-
nique).

Botanical synonyms. — Micropholh curvata
(Pierre) Urban, M. partoricensis Pierre var. cur-
vata Pierre, Pouteria chrysophylloides (Pierre)
Stehle.

448

211. CaimitiUo

Natural sl;e.

Mioropholis chrysophylloides Pierre

449

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

212. Caimitillo verde

This tree found only in the eastern mountains
of Puerto Rico is characterized by: (1) small el-
liptic leaves II/4-21/2 iiiclies long and %-l% inches
broad, stiff and leathery, rounded or slightly
notched at apex, hairless or nearly so when ma-
ture, green on both surfaces, witli numerous
straight lateral veins very close together and par-
allel; (2) small greenish and rusty-brown cup-
shaped flowers about %6 in^'^ ^ong and broad
borne laterally on short stalks; {?>) elliptic green
fruits I-IV2 inches long, pointed at both ends and
5-angled; and (4) a small amount of milky sap.

Small to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-50 feet
higli, witli straight trunk to II/2 feet or more in di-
ameter, buttressed at base wlien large. Tlie bark
is smoothisli or sliglitly fissured, bi-own or dark
gray. Inner bark is reddisli brown, slightly bitter,
with small amount of wliite latex. The twigs are
rusty-brown liairy when young, becoming brown
or gray and finely fissurecl.

The alternate leaves have brown hairy petioles
1/8-% inch long. Leaf blades are rounded at base,
with edges turned under, finely hairy when young
but becoming liairless or nearly so, dark green and
slightly shiny on upper surface, and yellow green
on lower surface.

One to 5 flowers are borne at the base of a leaf
on rusty-brown hairy stalks about 14 i^^^'i long.
Sepals 5, Vs inch long, rusty-brown hairy; the
green corolla with tube and 5 short, rounded,
spreading lobes nearly 14 i'^ch across, hairless or
with a few hairs on outside; 5 small stamens on
the corolla tube opposite tlie lobes and 1 short
appendage (staminocle) between each 2 lobes; and
pistil with hairy 5-cellecl ovary and short style.

Micropholis garciniaefolia Pierre

Tlie berry has thin flesh and 5 or fewer pointed
dark brown seeds about % inch long. Flowering
from June to November, the fruits maturing in
summer and fall.

The wood is very similar to that of the preceding
species of caimitillo. The heartwood is uniform
light yellowish brown, and the sapwood lighter
brown and not clearly differentiated. The wood
is hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.64),
strong, tough, fine-textured, straight-grained, and
witli indistinct growth rings. It is considered
vei-y susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.
The rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and the amount
of degrade is moderate. Machining characteris-
tics are as follows : planing, turning, boring, mor-
tising, sanding, ancl resistance to screw splitting
are good ; ancl shaping is excellent. The wood is
moderately difficult to saw and machine because
silica dulls te«th and cutting edges. However, it
takes a high polish.

The wood is used for posts and in constiiiction.
It is suitable also for veneer, plywood, furniture,
cabinetmaking, turning, interior trim, flooring,
fai-m implements, tool handles, and general car-
pentry.

In the upper mountain forests of eastern Puerto
Rico, chiefly in the Luquillo Mountains.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo.

Range. — Known only from mountains of eastern
Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — caimitillo cimarron,
caimitillo (Puerto Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Pouteria garciniaefolia
(Pierre) Baehni.

450

212. Caimitillo verde

Natural size.

Micropholis gwrciniaefolia Pierre

451

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

213. Jacana

This large tree with small amount of milky sap,
found in moist forests, is distinguished by : (1) us-
ually large, narrowly elliptic dark green leaves
5-16 inches long and 2-5 inciies broad, widest be-
yond middle, slightly thickened and leathery, with
sunken lateral veins on upper surface; (2) the
white to pinkish bell-shaped flowers % inch long
borne in lateral clusters along the twigs at leaf
bases or back of leaves; and (3) orange-colored
round or elliptic fruits IV2-2 inches long, which
are edible but mealy and almost tasteless.

An evergreen tree 60-80 feet in height and to
IV^ feet in trunk diameter, with wide crown of
spreading and slightly drooping branches. Bark
is much fissured, sliglitly rough, and brown. The
inner bark is light pink, almost tasteless, and with
a small quantity of white latex. The stout twigs
are brown and minutely hairy when young, be-
coming gray.

The leaves are alternate but mostly close to-
gether on petioles V2~% inch long. Blades are
usually short-pointed at apex, long- or short-
pointed at base, not toothed on edges, hairless or
nearly so, and beneath green or yellow green with
raised veins.

A few flowers are borne together on green, mi-
nutely hairy stalks % inch long. There are 4
broad, rounded, overlapping, green sepals less than
l^ inch long, the outer 2 finely hairy ; the white to
pink corolla tubular, % inch long and l^ inch
broad with generally 6 rounded lobes; there is 1
stamen on the corolla opposite each lobe and 1 ap-
pendage (staminode) between each 2 lobes; and
pistil with brown hairy 4- or 5-celled ovary and
stout style 14 inch long.

The large soft berries have a slight mellow odor
and an orange pulp, almost the color of an egg
yolk. Tliere is usually a single, very large, elliptic,
shiny brown seed l-l^A inches long. Flowering
from spring to fall, the fruit maturing nearly
through the year.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is reddish brown. The wood is very hard, very

Pouteria multiflora (A. DC.) Eyma

heavy (specific gravity 0.74) , strong, fine-textured,
with generally straight grain, ancl without evi-
dent growtli rings. It is susceptible to attack by
dry-wood termites. Air-seasoning is slow, diffi-
cult, and with considerable degrade. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing and resist-
ance to screw splitting are fair; shaping, turning,
mortising, and sanding are good; and boring is
excellent.

The wood is used principally for construction
and also for furniture. Uses elsewhere include
heavy construction, house framing, bridgework,
and posts.

Suitable for planting for shade and ornament.
Fruits are eaten locally.

Moist coastal and limestone forests and lower
mountain forests in Puerto Rico. Seedlings some-
times are numerous in the shade of a parent tree.
Also St. Croix and St. Thomas.

PtJBLic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro Negro.

Municipality where especially common. —
43.

Range. — Jamaica, Hispaniola (Dominican Re-
public), Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
through Lesser Antilles from Saba and St. Kitts
to (irenada, and Trinidad. Planted in Bermuda.

Other common names. — bully-tree, savannah
bully-tree (Jamaica) ; choky-apple (St. Kitts,
Nevis) ; pain d'epice (Dominica, Trinidad) ;
penny-piece (Dominica, St. Vincent, Grenada,
Trinidad) ; pomme pain, pain d'epice (Guade-
loTipe, Martinique).

Botanical synonym. — Lucuma multiflora A.
DC.

On limestone hills of northern Puerto Rico there
is another species {Pouteria dictyoneura (Griseb.)
Radlk.; synonym Paralahatia portoricensis Brit-
ton & Wilson ) , found also in Hispaniola and Cuba.
It has lance-shaped leaves 2V2^V^ inches long and
1-11/4 inches wide, hairy beneath with long whit-
ish hairs; smaller flowers %« inch long; and roimd
or elliptic fruits %-l inch long, 1-seeded.

452

213. Jaeana

Natural size.

Pouteria multiflora (A. DC.) Eyma

453

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)

214. Tortugo amarillo, false-mastic

This tree with milky hitex is characterized by:
(1) elliptic to oblong, slightly shiny, yellow-green
leaves appearing wavy or slightly wrinkled at
edges, "with long slender ()etioles and yellow mid-
ribs; (2) numerous small yellow flowers about i/i
inch long and nearly % inch across, widely spread-
ing and 5- or 6-lobed, with somewhat unpleasant
odor, crowded in clusters along twigs, mostly back
of leaves; and (3) elliptic yellow sour fruits about
%-l inch long.

Small to medium-sized evergreen tree with
straight trunk and dense irregular crown, general-
ly 15-50 feet high and 4—12 inches in diameter,
sometimes larger. P^lsewhere reported to reach a
maximum height of 80 feet and trunk diameter of
more than 3 feet. Bark of small trunks is smooth-
ish, with many small fissures and horizontal cracks,
gray or light l)rown, on large trunks becoming
thick, deeply furrowed, and splitting into plates.
Inner bark is whitish and bitter, with a small quan-
tity of white latex. The twigs are brown and hair-
less, light green and minutely hairy when young.

The yellow-green petioles of the alternate leaves
are %-l% inches long and often slightly winged
toward apex. Blades are 214-414 inches long and
Yg-iVi inches broad, blunt-pointed, rounded, or
slightly notched at apex and short -pointed at base,
veiy slightly thickened, hairless except when
young, yellow green or a little paler beneath, and
curved upward on both sides of the midrib.

The bright or pale yellow flowers are bonie us-
ually several together, sometimes single, on slender
stalks 1/4 inch or less in length. Calyx consists of
5 or 6 rounded yellow-green overlapping sepals
more than i/ie inch long; the yellow corolla with
short tube and 5 or 6 rounded widely spreading
lobes Ys inch long; as many yellow stamens erect
at apex of corolla tube opposite the lobes and al-
ternating with pointed deeply toothed appendages
(staminodes) ; and greenish-yellow pistil Vs inch
long with 5-cellecl ovary and short, tapering style.
The scientific name refers to the peculiar, strong,
cheeselike odor of the flowers.

Sideroxylon foetidissimum Jacq.

Usually 1 large brown seed is contained in the
berry, which is shaped like an olive. Though edi-
ble and consumed by animals, the fruits have an
unpleasant, gmiimy taste. Flowering and fruit-
ing and fruiting at different times during the year
but not continuously.

The thick sapwood is yellowish and the heart-
wood is yellowish or orange. The wood is hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.9), strong, and durable.
The goocl timber is used for construction. Else-
where it has Ijeen employed for boats, heavy
planking, furniture, and fenceposts.

Reported to be a fair honey plant and to be
suitable as an ornamental for the clustered yellow
flowers.

Coastal and moist limestone forests of Puerto
Rico, probably common in the original forests but
now scarce because of demand for the wood. Also
in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

PiuLic FORESTS. — Cambalche, Guajataca, Rio
Abajo.

R.AXGE. — Central and southern Florida includ-
ing Florida Keys and through West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Grenada and Barbados. A
variety occurs also in Yucatan Peninsula of south-
eastern Mexico and in British Honduras.

Other common names. — tortugo Colorado
(Puerto Rico); mastwood, bully-mastic (Virgin
Islands); caya amarilla (Dominican Republic);
jocuma, jocuma amarilla, jocuma blanca, jocuma
lechera, caguani (Cuba) ; false-mastic, mastic,
mastic jungleplum (United States) ; mastic (Ba-
hamas) ; mastic-bully (Bahamas, Jamaica) ; mast-
wood (Antigua, St. Vincent) ; caimite acoma (Do-
minica) ; acoma (Grenadines); acomat (Haiti);
acoma, acoma batard, acoma franc (Guadeloupe).

Botanical synonyms. — Sideroxylon masticlio-
dendron Jacq., S. portoricense Urban, Masticho-
dendron foetidissimum (Jacq.) Cronq. The ge-
neric name is sometimes spelled Sideroxylum.

454

214. Tortugo amarillo, false-mastlc

Natural size.

Sideroxylon foetidUsimum Jacq.

687-921 O — 64 30

455

SWEETLEAF FAMILY (SYMPLOCACEAE)
215. Aceituna blanca, candlewood Symplocos martinicensis Jacq.

A small to medium-sized tree characterized by:
(1) shiny elliptic leaves 21/2-5 inches long and
1-21/2 inches broad, abruptly short-pointed at apex
and base, and with scattered inconspicuous wavy
teeth aloufr edges; (2) small 5-lobecl white flowei-s
nearly 14 inch long and broad, a few to several to-
getlier in clusters at bases of leaves; and (3) the
oblong bluish-black fleshy fruits %-% inch long
and % inch in diameter, with 5-lobed calyx re-
maining at apex.

An evergreen tree 20-30 feet high and to 6 inches
or more in trunk diameter, with spreading crown.
Bark is smoothish or with small fissures, light gray
to brown. Inner bark is pinkish and bitter.
Twigs green and sometimes finely hairy when
young, becoming light gray or brown.

The leaves are alternate on petioles 1/4-^/4 i'l^^li
long. Blades are thin or slightly thickened, often
turned upward at midrib, hairless, shiny green on
upper surface and slightly paler beneath.

The fragrant flowers are attached a few to sev-
eral together in short-stalked clusters (cymes).
The green tubular base (hypanthium) is about i/s
inch long, with 5 rounded calyx lobes minutely
hairy on edges; the white corolla %-i/^ inch long
and broad with a wide tube and 5 oblong spreading
lobes ; there are many stamens with flattened white
filaments united to corolla tube and projecting Vs
inch beyond; and pistil with inferior 3-5-celled
ovary, slender style % inch long, and enlarged
stigma.

Fruits are mostly single, green when immature,
and contain usually 1 seed % inch long. In flower
from late spring to fall and in fruit from summer
to fall.

The wood with yellowish-brown sapwood is
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.8). Little
used in Puerto Rico except for fuel, probably be-
cause of scarcity and generally small dimensions.
Elsewhere a recorded use is for vehicles.

Widely distributed in moist to moderately dry
forests at low to high elevations in Puerto Rico.
Also in St. Thomas and Tortola.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Luquillo, Maricao.

Range. — Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas,
Tortola, nearly throughout Lesser Antilles from
Saba to Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also
Central America in British Honduras, Guatemala,
and Honduras, and in British Guiana and French
Guiana.

Other common names. — aceituna cimarrona
(Puerto Rico) ; Martinique sweetleaf (English) ;
white-box (St. Kitts) ; whitewood (Nevis) ; white-
beech (Montserrat) ; caca rat, bois bleu (St.
Lucia) ; graines bleues (Dominica, Martinique,
Guadeloupe) ; bois blanc (Grenada) ; blueberry
(Saba, St. Eustatius).

Three related species of smrfll trees are foimd
only in Puerto Rico. One called palo de cabra
{Symplocos polyantha Krug & LTrban), rare and
collected but once in Luquillo Mountains, has
young twigs short hairy, elliptic leaves 21/0— 114
inches long, hairless, and larger flower clusters
about 2 inches long bearing many flowers with
corolla 14 inch long.

The other 2 species have twigs and petioles with
long, stitF hairs. Nispero cimarron {Symplocos
Inmita Krug & Urban), confined to mountain for-
ests of the Central Cordillera, has the young twigs
and petioles densely covered with long stiff reddish
hairs ; elliptic leaves 21-2-2% inches long, hairy be-
neath, with petioles Vg-i/i inch long; and flowers
with corolla about %(j inch long.

The closely related species called aceitimillo
{Symplocos micmnfha Krug & Urban), known
only from mountain forests of eastern and central
Puerto Rico, differs in the young twigs and petioles
less liairy, the longer petioles i/4— % incb long, and
the slightly smaller flowers with corolla 14 inch
long.

456

215. Aceituna blanca, candlewood

Natural size.

Symplocos martinicenaia Jacq.

457

OLIVE FAMILY (OLEACEAE)

216. Hueso bianco

This small to medium-sized tree is characterized
by: (1) an erect trunk which is usually deeply
fluted near the base and covered with whitish bark ;
(2) opposite, narrowly elliptic, slig^htly leathery,
pale green leaves 3-6 inches long and 1-2 inches
broad, very long-pointed at the base, slender-
stalked; (3) flowers with 4 very narrow white
petals about 3^ inch long; and (4) slightly egg-
shaped and bonelike white fruits about % inch
long, with thin bitter flesh and 1 large stone, sev-
eral in clusters and sometimes produced in large
quantities.

An evergreen tree 15-60 feet high and to 1 foot
in trunk diameter, with spreading crown. The
bark is smoothish and thin. Inner bark is light
brown, bitter, and slightly gritty. Twigs light
gray, with prominent, nearly romid, raised leaf
scars.

The leaves have petioles iA-1 inch long. Blades
are not toothed on edges but sometimes slightly
wrinkled, green to yellow green and hairless on
upper surface, paler and with minute tufts of hairs
along midrib on lower surface.

The branched flower clusters (panicles) are ter-
minal and lateral, 3 inches or less in length and
width, at the end of long stalks or nearly stalkless,
bearing many flowers 2 or 3 together at the end of
slender branches. Calyx cup-shaped, more than
YiQ inch long, 4-toothed, nearly hairless or with
minute hairs around edges; the 4 very narrow
white petals % inch or less in length and only
Vie inch wide but slightly thickened and fleshy;
the 2 stamens Via inch long borne at base of petals;
and pistil less than i/y inch long with 2-celled
ovaiy, short style, and stigma.

The fruits (drupes) are about % inch broad and
1/^ inch thick, blunt-pointed, green when immature.
The stone is angled and grooved. Sometimes the
fruits are so numerous and heavy that they bend
over the branches. Flowering from winter to sum-
mer, the fruits maturing from spring to fall.

The wood with light brown sapwood is hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.9), and reported to be
dui-able. Used chiefly for posts in Puerto Rico,
since it is not available in sufficient quantities or

Linociera domingensis (Lam.) Knobl.

large enough for other purposes. It takes a fine
polish and has been made into ornamental objects
and curiosities.

In the coastal, limestone, and lower mountain
forests of Puerto Rico. Also St. Croi.x.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guilarte,
Luquillo, Maricao, Susua, Toro Negro.

Range. — Cuba, .Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puer-
to Rico. Also in British Honduras and Guatemala.

Other common names. — palo de hueso, huesillo
(Puerto Rica) ; brojo (St. Croix) ; lirio, tarana
(Dominican Republic) ; caney, huesillo, hueso,
bayito, guaney (Cuba) ; white rosewood, ironwood
(Jamaica) ; pine-ridge ironwood (British Hon-
duras) ; cayepon (Haiti).

Botanical synonym. — Mnyepea domingensis
( Lam. ) Krug & L^rban.

This genus has 3 more species of small trees in
Puerto Rico. Avispillo (Linociera caribaea
(Jacq.) Knobl.; 'synonym Mayepea caribaea
(.Jacq.) Kuntze) is native in eastern Puerto Rico,
Culelira, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and other
islands to Venezuela. It has leaves with shorter
petioles less than % inch long and lateral flower
clusters with several flowers.

The other 2 species have thicker, leathery leaves.
Linociera axiUi flora Griseb. {Mayepea axilli'flora
(Griseb. ) Krug & Urban), collected near Guanica
and also west to Cuba, has oblong or elliptic leaves
11/4-2^4 inches long with petioles y^ inch long;
short, lateral flower clusters about V^ inch long
with few flowers about I/4 inch long; and fruits
about 1/4 inch long.

Linociera holdridgii Camp & Monachino, a small
tree known only from dry forests of southwestern
Puerto Rico, was first collected in 1938 by Leslie
R. Holdridge, formerly of the LTnited States
Forest Service, and was named in 1939. It has
elliptic leaves about 2 inches long and 1-11/4 inches
wide, shiny on both sides, often hairy in vein
angles beneath, with petioles less than i/4 inch
long; lateral flower clusters i/^-l inch long with
few flowers about 3/^ inch long; and black fruits
about 1/4 inch long.

458

216. Hueso bianco

Natural size.

Linociera domingensis (Lam.) Knobl.

459

DOGBANE FAMILY (APOCYNACEAE)

Key to the 3 species illustrated (Nos. 217-219)
A. Leaves alternate.

B. Leaves narrowly lance-shaped, long-pointed, with edges turned under, the lower surface densely white hairy ;
fiowers white — 217. Pliimeria alha.
BB. Leaves elliptic, short-pointe<l, edges not turned under, lower surface often hairy; flowers red, yellow, or
white — 218. Pltimeria rubra.*
AA. Leaves whorled, 4 of unequal size at a node— 219. Rauvolfia nitida.

217. Aleli, milktree

This attractive wild tree, with milky juice or
white latex whicli runs abundantly from cut parts,
is easily distinguished by: (1) its peculiar shape
witliout a crown of foliage but with a few stout
soft and brittle brandies ending in clusters of
crowded .spreading leaves; (2) tiie long narrow
lance-shaped leaves 6-15 inches long and %-2
inches broad, shiny green on upper surface and
densely and minutely white hairy beneath; (3) the
clusters of sliowy and very fragrant, tubular and
spreading, waxy, white flowers 1 1/2-2 inches long
and broad, with 5 overlapping elliptic corolla
lobes; and (4) the paired brown pods 4-6 inches
long and about i/o inch in diameter.

A small evergreen tree to 10-15 feet or more in
height and 4 inches in trunk diameter or .shrubby,
witii bare branches. The smoothish bark is brown-
ish gray. Inner bark is orange, slightly bitter,
when cut yielding much latex, which reportedly is
poisonous. Tlie twigs ^0-% i"cb in diameter are
greenish, becoming brownish gray, and have nu-
merous nearly round leaf scars.

The leaves are alternate on petioles %-lV2
inches long. Blades are long-pointed at both ends,
thick and leathery with edges turned under, and
with many lateral veins spreading out almost at
right angles from the midrib, hairless on upper
surface.

A flower stalk 3-8 inches long, arising among
the leaves, bears several to many short-stalked
flowers in a compact, flattened cluster (cyme).
The small calyx is about i/g inch long, 5-lobed;
corolla with narrow tube and 5 widely spreading
lobes, waxy and white except for a yellow dot or
"eye'' at the base of each lobe; 5 small stamens
inserted near base of corolla tube; and pistil of 2
separate ovaries about Vs i»<-'h long, partly infer-
ior, with single short style.

Each fruit consists of 2 brown pods (follicles),
long-pointed and widely spreading, containing

Plumeria alba L.

many flat winged seeds. Flowering and fruiting
throughout the year in Puerto Rico.

The wood with light brown sapwood is hard,
heavy (specific gravity 0.8), and tough. A fuel-
wood in Puerto Rico but used also in carpentry
where the tree grows to sufficient size.

This species apparently is not in cultivation
thougli it should be a hardy ornamental for dry
areas. The white-flowered aleli commonly grown
for ornament belongs instead to the related intro-
duced sjjecies, frangipani {Plumeria rubra L.*),
which typically has red blossoms. Wlaite-flowered
forms of the latter are distinguished by broader
elliptic leaves greenish beneath and by more nu-
merous larger blossoms.

Coastal thickets and limestone forests at low
elevations and ascending in the western mountains
of Puerto Rico. Also Muertos, Icacos, Culebra,
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola,
Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guanica, Ma-
ricao, Susua.

Range. — Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands and
throughout Lesser Antilles from Anguilla to
Grenada.

Other common names. — aleli bianco, alelaila
(Puerto Rico) ; milky -bush (Virgin Islands) ;
jasmine (Barbuda) ; frangipanier sauvage (Gua-
deloupe) ; white frangepane, pigeonwood (Dutch
AVest Indies).

The generic name honoring the French botanist
Charles Plumier is spelled also Plumiera and
Plumieria.

Aleli cimarron (Plumerm ohtusa L. ; synonyms
P. knigii Urban, P. portoricensis Urban) is a re-
lated species of di"y areas of western Puerto Rico
and Mona and west to Cuba and Bahamas. This
small tree has oblong leaves 21^-8 inches long,
rounded or notched at apex.

460

217. AleU, milktree

Two-thirds natural size.

Plumeria alia L.

461

DOGBANE FAMILY (APOCYNACEAE)

218. Frangipani

Frangipani is a small ornamental tree with
milky juice, introduced and connnonly planted in
gardens and ]5arks for its beautiful clusters of
very fragi'ant, large, tubular, red, yellow, or
white flowers. Characters for recognition include :
(1) the few stout fleshy branches with whitish
latex, bearing alternate but crowded leaves at
apex; (2) the large elliptic leaves 5-16 inches long
and 1V2~5 inches wide, shiny green above and
often hairy beneath; (3) loose clusters of large
waxy flowers 2-?> inches across the 5 spreading,
overlapping corolla lobes; and (4) paired pods
5-10 inches long and i/^-lVo inches in diameter.

This handsome small tree becomes 15-25 feet
tall, with very open crown of few thick s)>reading
branches. Bark is gray and smoothish. In Puerto
Eico the trees are evergi-een. but in areas with a
long dry season they shed their leaves and often
flower when leafless.

Petioles are stout, mostly 1-21/2 inches long.
Blades are usually short-pointed at both ends, not
toothed on edges, thick and leathery, with many
parallel lateral veins almost at right angles to
midrib.

The long-stalked flat-top])ecl flower cluster
(cyme) is terminal or appearing lateral, often 6-9
inches across. Many blossoms are borne on stout
stalks 34-I inch long, buds in the center opening
first. The flower has a 5-lobed calyx % inch long;
corolla with narrow tube %-l inch long and less
than 1/8 inch in diameter and with 5 elliptic
rounded lobes 1-2 inches long, 5 small stamens less
than 1/8 inch long inserted near base of corolla
tube; and pistil of 2 separate ovaries partly infe-
rior and a single short style.

The paired pods (follicles) from a flower
spread widely apart, split open on 1 side, and con-
tain many winged seeds. Flowering and fruit-
ing nearly through the year in Puerto Rico.

Flowers commonly have red, rose-colored, or
purplish-tinged corollas, but some cultivated
forms have yellow flowers or white with a yellow
dot or eye at base of each lobe. A less frequent
tricolored form has a white or pale yellow corolla
with outer margin of lobes rose and usually with
a yellow spot at base of lobes. The white-flowered
garden form has been incorrectlj' referred to the
native white-flowered species (Phunerla alba L.),
which has narrow lance-shaped leaves densely
white hairy beneath and also fewer, smaller
blossoms.

The firm blossoms, which do not wither easily,

Plumeria rubra L.*

are strung into chains and garlands and variously
employed in decoi-ations, often in churches. In
the Pacific Islands the trees frequently are planted
in cemeteries and sometimes called temple-flowers
and graveyard-flowers.

The caustic milky juice which flows freely from
the cut trunks reportedly is poisonous but has been
employed in some regions in folk medicines.
Frangipani, one of the common names, is said to
be derived from the French word "frangipanier,""
coagulated milk, which is descriptive of the thick
white rubbery latex.

Common as an ornamental in Puerto Rico, St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, and Tortola and
occasionally escaping from cultivation. Plants
are propagated easily from cuttings. It is re-
ported that cuttings allowed to dry out for 2 weeks
root readily. The trees will grow in dry, rocky,
and windy areas. In some areas planting is not
recommended because large caterpillare caused re-
peated defoliation.

Range. — Native of southern Mexico and Central
America south to Costa Rica. Now widely intro-
duced through tropical and subtropical regions of
the world. Planted in southern Florida and Cali-
fornia, through the West Indies, and South
America south to Peru and Brazil. First de-
scribed botanically from specimens collected in
Jamaica.

Other common names. — aleli, aleli rojo (Puerto
Rico) ; frangijaponie, red paucipan (Virgin
Islands); ataiba rosada (Dominican Republic);
lirio, lirio tricolor, frangipan (Cuba) ; cacaloxo-
chitl, cacalosiichil, siichil, flor de cuervo (Mexico) ;
flor de la cruz, palo de cniz, flor de mayo, matu-
hua, nicte de monte (Guatemala) ; flor blanca,
flor de la cruz, flor de ensarta, flor de mayo (El
Salvador) ; flor de toro, sacuanjoche (Nicaragua) ;
cacalojoche, flor blanca, juche, torito (Costa
Rica) ; caracucha, cararucha blanca, palo de la
cniz (Panama) ; amancayo (Colombia) ; amapola
(Venezuela) ; carachuche (Peru) ; frangipani, red
frangipani, white frangipani, nosegay frangipani,
Mexican frangipani, nosegay (English) ; red
jasmine (Bermuda, Jamaica) ; jessamine, Spanish
jasmine (Bahamas); frangipanier (French);
frangipanier rose (Haiti) ; frangij^anier rouge,
frangipanier blanc (Guadeloupe) ; red f rangepane
(Dutch West Indies).

Botanical syngni-ms. — Plumeria acutifoJia
Poir., P. tricolor Ruiz & Pav.

462

218. Frangipani

Two-thirds natural size.

Plumeria rubra L.

463

DOGBANE FAMILY (APOCYNACEAE)

219. Palo amargo, bitter-ash

This small tree or shrub with white latex is dis-
tinguished by its shiny yellow-green lance-sliaped
or narrowly elliptic leaves 21/4-6 inches long and
%-l% inches wide, long-pointed at apex and base,
slightly turned under at edges, attached to the
twig in groups of 4 of unequal size (whorled).
The small whitish flowers are about 14 'n^b across
and the reddish to blackish rounded fruits about
% inch long and I4"y2 inch broad.

Commonly a shrub or small tree to 20-40 feet
high and to I14 feet in trunk diameter, evergreen
with open rounded crown. The bark is smoothish,
slightly fissured and warty, very light brown, and
thin. Inner bark is light green and bitter. The
twigs are bright green with raised brown dots
(lenticels), enlarged at the nodes, and becoming
brownish.

The slightly thickened leathery leaves have
petioles 14-% inch long and blades green or yel-
low green on upper surface and lighter yellow
green beneath.

The small flower clusters (cymes) are terminal
or lateral, branched, 1-1 V2 inches long and broad,
shorter than the leaves, with several to many flow-
ers. The white and greenish flowers are tubular,
about % inch long, with 5 spreading lobes 14 inch
across ; the green 5-lobed calyx is less than i/g inch
long; corolla has a narrow greenish tube 14 inch
long and 5 rounded white lobes; 5 minute stamens
are inserted near mouth of corolla tube; and the
pistil is composed of a 2-lobed ovary with slender
style and enlarged stigma.

The fleshy fruits, with milky juice, turn from
green to reddish and blackish and contain 1 or 2
brownish seeds %6 inch long. Flowering and
fruiting nearly throughout the year.

RauvolHa nitida Jacq.

The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
clear yellow. The hard, lightweight wood is em-
ployed for posts in Puerto Rico. Elsewhere, use
for furniture and musical instruments has been
suggested.

In the coastal and limestone forests and thickets
of Puerto Rico, growing in the open and probably
requiring light. Also in Mona, Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guanica.

Range. — Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Guade-
loupe, and Martinique. Also recorded long ago
from St. Barthelemy.

Other common names. — palo de muneco, ca-
chimbo (Puerto Rico) ; bitterbush, milkbush (Vir-
gin Islands); palo de leche (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; huevo de gallo (Cuba) ; smooth rauvolfia
(Bahamas) ; bois lait femelle (Haiti).

The name of a low shrub {Ruuvolf-a tetraphylla
L.) has been misapplied to this species.

The genus Rait vol fia (also spelled Raitwolfia)
has attracted much attention in recent years be-
cause the root of a shrubby species in India has
yielded a drug for the treatment of high blood
pressure and certain mental illnesses. Related spe-
cies are also under investigation.

Another native species is a shrub 3-10 feet high
known as bitterbush {Rauvolfia vindis Roem. &
Schult.; synonym R. lamarckii A. DC). It has
slightly unequal leaves in groups of 4 (whorled),
ovate to elliptic, mostly 11/2"^ inches long, thin,
dull green instead of shiny, and smaller blackish
fruits about 14 inch broad. It gi-ows in coastal
thickets of eastern Puerto Rico, Mona, Icacos,
Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John,
and Virgin Gorda and other islands to Hispaniola
and northern South America.

4(A

219. Palo amargo, bitter-ash

Natural size.

Rauvolfia nitida Jaeq.

465

BORAGE FAMILY (BORAGINACEAE)

Key to the 5 species illustrated (Nos. 220-224)

A. Flowers tubular, with narrow, tubular calyx and 5-lobed white corolla, turning brown; fruit a nutlet; leaves
elliptic, long- or short-pointed, thin, hairy — 221. Cordia alliodora.
AA. Flowers spreading, mostly small and not showy, with white corolla ; fruit a rounded drupe.
B. Leaves mostly rounded at apex, elliptic ; fruit orange red.

C. Leaves ly^-S inches long, slightly thickenetl ; flowers about Yn inch broad; fruit almost % inch in

diameter, slightly flattened — 220. Boiirreria sucoilenta.
CC. Leaves mostly large. 3-10 inches long, thick and leathery, with prominent network of many raised veins ;
flowers about % inch broad, fruit about % inch in diameter, broader than long, oblique — 222. Cordia
borinqiiensis.
BB. Leaves short- or long-pointed at apex.

D. Leaves elliptic, 2-6 inches long, very shiny ; flowers bell-shaped, %-% inch across ; fruit bright red,

%-% inch in diameter — 223. Cordia nitida.
DD. Leaves large, ovate to elliptic, mostly 9-12 inches long, rough hairy on upper surface and soft hairy
beneath ; flowers %g inch broad ; fruit whitish, % inch in diameter — 224. Cordia sulcata.

220. Palo de vaca, pigeon-berry

A small tree or shrub widely distributed in open
areas at low elevations, characterized by: (1) el-
liptic leaves 11/2-5 inches long and 1-3 inches
broad, rounded or blunt-pointed or sometimes
notched at apex and short-pointed at base, slightly
thickened, green above and paler l^eneath, the
under surface often finely haiij in dry regions;
(2) many fragrant tubular white flowers Yo inch
across the .5 rounded spreading corolla lobes, in a
much branched flat-topped terminal erect flower
cluster; and (3) fleshy orange-red rounded fruit
almost Yo inch in diameter and slightly flattened.

Evergreen tree 12-25 feet high and 4 inches or
more in trunk diameter, or sometimes a shrub, with
spreading or drooping branches. The bark is
smooth and gray, sometimes becoming finely fis-
sured and slightly rough and corky. Inner bark
is light brown and slightly bitter. Twigs are
green wlien young, turning to gray or light brown.
Hairless in wet areas but in dry regions, such as
southwestern Puerto Rico, a hairy form has the
twigs, lower leaf surfaces, branches of flower clus-
ters, and calyx finely soft hairy, and upper leaf
surfaces and outside of corolla with a few hairs.
Leaves are alternate on petioles i/4-% inch long.

The flower clusters (cymes) are 2-8 inches
across and high, and the short-stalked flowers
about % inch high. The light green bell-shaped
tubular calyx Y-i inch long has 5 slightly unequal
pointed lobes; the white corolla has a tube more
than 1/4 inch long with 5 rounded spreading lobes
^16 inch long, turning brown before shedding; 5
stamens 14 inch long with white filaments and
brown anthers, inserted on corolla tube and pro-
truding; and pistil % inch long, with light green
2-celled ovary, slender white style 2-forked near
apex, and flattened greenish stigmas.

The fruit (drupe) is broader than long, green to
yellow when immature but turning orange red.
Calyx and often tJie dead style remain attached.

Bourreria succulenta Jacq.

Inside the flesh are 4 brown ridged bony nutlets.
In flower and fruit nearly through the year.

The light brown, hard wood is used for fuel. Re-
ported to be a good honey plant.

Coastal and limestone forests of Puerto Rico,
especially in thickets and cutover forests. Also in
Mona, Icacos, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and
Anegada.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guanica, Lu-
quillo, Susiia.

Mt NiciPALrriES where especially common. —
12, 36, 66.

Range. — Throughout West Indies (except Ba-
hamas) from Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica,
Hispaniola, and Turks Island to Grenada, Trini-
dad and Tobago, and Dutch West Indies. Also
Panama to Venezuela.

Other common names. — doncella, cerecillo, ro-
ble de guayo (Puerto Rico) ; pigeon-wood, spoon-
tree (Virgin Islands) ; palo bobo (Dominican Re-
public) ; ateje de costa, roble guayo, fruta de
catey, curaboca (Cuba) ; chinkswood (Antigua) ;
cutlass (Grenadines) ; cafe marron, mapou gris
(Haiti) ; acomat cote-lette, bois capri batard
(Guadeloupe) ; goeaana, watakeeli, white-chank
(Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonym. — Bourreria succulenta
var. caneacens O. E. Schulz. The generic name is
spelled also Beurerict.

A related species {Bourreria virgata (Sw.) G.
Don) is a shrub or small tree of dry forests in
southwestern Puerto Rico and west to Cuba. It
has small elliptic leaves mostly %-2 inches long,
rough above, and small red fruits 1/4-% inch in
diameter. Also recorded from the same area and
from Vieques is a doubtfully distinct species (B.
domingen.sk (DC.) Griseb.), which differs from
the last in the leaves smooth above.

466

220. Palo de vaea, pigeon-berry

Natural size.

Boiirreria succulenta Jacq.

467

BORAGE FAMILY (BORAGINACEAE)

221. Capa prieto, capa

When in flower capii prieto is recog^iizable at a
distance by the handsome masses of numerous
white flowers over the tree. Other charactei-s for
identification are: (1) erect trunk with whorled
branches appearing in liorizontal layers; (2) el-
liptic or oblong, slightly shiny yellowish-green
thin leaves, the lower surface paler and more or
less finely hairy with minute star-shaped hairs,
with odor of garlic when crushed; (3) the frag-
rant white flowers tubular, 5-lobed, and about %
inch long and broad, crowded in large, showy,
branched terminal clustei-s, afterwards turning
brown ; and (4) the fruits are nutlets 14 inch long,
with calyx and brown corolla remaining attached.

A medium-sized evergreen tree to 65 feet in
height and IV2 feet in trunk diameter. The gray
or brown bark is fissured, becoming rough and
thick. Inner bark is light brown, fibrous, and
tasteless but has a slight odor of garlic, to which
the scientific name refers. The twigs are green
and with star-shaped hairs when young, becoming
brown.

The alternate leaves have hairy petioles %-%
inch long. Leaf blades are 2I/2-6 inches long and
1-1% inches broad, short-or long-pointed at apex
and short-pointed at base, slightly thickened, the
upper surface with scattered star-shaped hairs or
nearly hairless.

Flower clusters (panicles) are large and 4—12
inches broad, several spreading and almost stalk-
less at ends of widely forking hairy branches.
The cylindrical gray-gi-een calyx almost Vi inch
long is 10-ribbed, densely covered with minute
star-shaped haii"s, 5-toothed ; the expanded tubular
corolla is % inch high and Vo inch across the 5
widely spreading, oblong, rounded lobes, white but
fading to brown; 5 prominent erect white stamens
ins-erted near mouth of corolla tulje; and whitish
pistil with ovai-y and slender style 2-forked near
apex and each fork with 2 broad stigmas. The
nutlet is oblong, 1-seeded, with attached corolla
serving as wings in dispersal by wind. Flowering
and fruiting irregularly through the year.

The thick light brown sapwood is not clearly
marked. The heaitwood when freshly cut is light
greenish brown to olive brown with darker streaks
and in seasoning becomes pale golden brown to
brown with the darker streaks more prominent.
Growth rings are shown by narrow dark lines of
pores. The attractive wood is moderately soft,
moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.57), moder-
ately strong, tough, of medium or hue texture, and
generally straight-grained. The rate of air-
seasoning and amount of degrade are moderate.
Machining characteristics are as follows : planing,
shaping, mortising, and sanding are good; turning
and boring are excellent; and resistance to screw
splitting is poor. The wood is easily worked and
takes a fine polish. It is generally resistant to

Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken

attack by dry-wood termites and is very durable
in the ground.

This valuable wood is used extensively through
the American tropics for furniture, cabinet work,
millwork, and general construction. Various uses
in difl'erent countries include bridge timbers, floor-
ing, ship decking, boat parts, truck parts, oars, and
crossties.

The seeds and leaves have been used in home
medicines. Also a good honey plant.

Capa prieto has been planted for its wood and
for coiTee shade and ornament. Propagated readily
from seed, it grows very rapidly and re-
quires nearly full sunlight. P^ntomologists
report that insects sometimes attack and discolor
the leaves, causing leaf fall.

Forests in the moist limestone and lower moun-
tain regions of Puerto Rico. Particularly common
on soils derived from tuffaceous parent material.
Also in Vieques, St. Croix. St. Thomas, St. Jolm,
and Tortola.

Pttblio roRESTS. — Cambalache, Carite, Gua-
jataca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Rio Abajo, Susua, Toro
Negro, Vega.

Municipalities where esfeciallt common. — 5,
8.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands, throughout Lesser Antilles, and
Trinidad and Tobago. Reported as introduced in
.Jamaica. Also widely distributed in continental
tropical America from central Mexico to Ecuador,
Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Planted in southern
Florida.

Other common names. — capa, capa prieto,
guacimilla. capa de sabana, capa de olor (Domini-
can Republic) ; varia, varia prieta, varia colorada,
varia amarilla (Cuba); hormiguero, bojon, tam-
bor hormiguero (Mexico) ; laurel (Central
America) ; laurel bianco (Central America, com-
merce) ; bojon (Guatemala) ; laurel negro (Hon-
duras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica) ; laurel macho
(Nicaragua); solera, canalete, canalete de humo,
laurel negro (Colombia) ; pardillo, tacurai
(Venezuela) ; laurel negro, laurel prieto, laurel
macho, laurel (Ecuador) ; arbol del ajo (Peru) ;
ajo (Bolivia) ; onion cordia (United States) ;
spruce (Antigua) ; laurier cypre (Dominica) ;
Spanish-elm (Jamaica) ; cypre, cyp (Trinidad) ;
cypress (Tobago) ; salmwood, salaam, bohun,
laurel bianco (British Honduras) ; brown silver-
balli (British Guiana) ; bois soumis, chene caparo
(Haiti) ; bois de rose, bois de Rhodes (Guade-
loupe) ; louro, louro amarello, uruazeiro (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Cerdana alliodora Ruiz
& Pav.

This genus, formerly divided by a few authors
into as many as 5, is represented by 7 native tree
species, 4 of these illustrated here, 1 introduced
ornamental tree, and 7 shrub species.

468

221. CapS prieto, capa

Natural size.

Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pa v.) Oken

469

A shrub or small tree known as cerezas blancas
and white nianjack {('ordia dentata Poir. ; ('. alba
auth., ('(ilyptnieordhi idha auth.) is found in dry
forests of southwestern Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and
St. Thomas, throug;h the West Indies, and from
Mexico to Venezuela. It has elliptic leaves li/^-
414 inches lonw, coarsely toothed, rough hairy
above; terminal branched clusters of numerous
showy white Howers % inch across; and elliptic
whitish fruits about lA inch long.

The '1 species below have very showy flowers 1-
114 inches long and broad, with tubular oi-ange
corolla. Anaconda or Geiger-tree {Cordia se-
bestena L.*; synonym Sebesten sebesterm (L.)

Britton) is a popular planted ornamental along
roadsides of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
but not native. It has ovate thick leaves 3i/^-8
inches long, often toothed on edges, long-pointed
at apex, rough on upper surface, and egg-shaped
pointed white fruit l-li/^ inches long.

San Bartolome {Cord la rickseckeri Millsp.;
synonym Sebesten rickseckerl (Millsp.) Britton)
is a closely related small tree of coastal thickets
native only in Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques, St.
Thomas, and Tortola. It has elliptic leaves us-
ually very rough on upper surface, orange-red
corolla, and yellow or orange f iniit.

BORAGE FAMILY (BORAGINACEAE)

222. Muneco

A small tree of wet forests mostly in mountains,
known only from Puerto Rico, distinguished by :
(1) erect axis with horizontal branching fre-
quently in 3's; (2) thick and leathery, mostly
large, elliptic or obovate, shiny green leaves witn
prominent network of many raised veins and vein-
lets on both sides; (3) small white flowers more
than 14 inch long and broad, with tubular 5-lobed
corolla, several to many in branched flat-topped
terminal clusters, male and female on ditferent
trees (dioecious) ; and (4) fleshy orange-red
rounded fruit % inch in diameter, broader than
long, and oblique and swollen on side.

Usually about 20 feet tall and 5 inches in trunk
diameter but recorded as becoming larger, some-
times flowering when only 5 feet high, evergreen.
The gray bark is smooth with raised dots (lenti-
cels), whitish within, and tasteless. The stout
twigs are green and minutely hairy when young,
becoming brown.

Leaves are alternate, with stout green petioles
1/4-1 inch long, grooved above, and minutely hairy.
Blades are 3-10 inches long and ly^-^Vo inches
broad, rounded or short-pointed at both ends,
green above and slightly lighter beneath, turning
dull yellow before falling.

Flower clusters (panicles) are l-Si^ inches
broad and high, with slender curved nearly hori-
zontal branches bearing almost stalkless flowers.

Cordia borinquensis Urban

The bell-shaped tubular calyx about %6 inch long
is minutely hairy and has 5 pointed lobes, and the
tubular white corolla hairy inside has 5 rounded
lobes turning downward, becoming brown before
shedding. Male flowers have 5 stamens nearly i/g
inch long, hairy at base, protruding from corolla
tube, and a small pistil. Female flowers have
slightly larger calyx, shorter sterile stamens, and
larger pistil 14 indi long, with 4-celled ovary, 2
protruding styles, united below and each forked
above, ending in 4 flattened stigmas.

The shiny fruits (drupes) are green, turning to
orange red at maturity, with greenish calyx re-
maining at base, broader tlian long, oblique and
swollen on 1 side, with remains of style slightly
on 1 side. Within the orange-red flesh is a brown
nutlet. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The whitish or light yellow wood is hard and
heavy (specific gravity 0.7). It is used for posts
and tool handles.

An understory tree in the mountain forests of
Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Maricao, To-
ro Negro.

Range. — Puerto Rico only.

Other common names. — capa, capa cimarron
(Puerto Rico).

470

222. Muneco

Natural size.

Cordia horinquensis Urban

687-921 O— 64 31

471

BORAGE FAMILY (BORAGINACEAE)

223. Capa Colorado, red manjack

A handsome tree, generally small, distinguished
by: (1) whorled branches appearing in horizontal
layers; (2) very shiny elliptic leaves, short-point-
ed at both ends, slightly leathei-y and stiff, bent
up a little on both sides of midrib; (3) usually
many bell-shaped white flowers V^-% "icli across
the 5 spreading corolla lobes, in an erect wide
branching terminal flower cluster; and (4) clusters
of fleshy, bright red, rounded fruits V2-% i"ch in
diameter but slightly flattened.

An evergreen or deciduous tree 15-25 feet high
and to 1 foot in trunk diameter, i-eported to reach
65 feet, with dense rounded crown, or sometimes
shrubby. Tlie bark is gray, smoothish but becom-
ing furrowed and thick. Inner bark is light
brown, turning darker upon exposure, fibrous and
almost tasteless. The twigs are light brown,
green and finely hairy when young, often
forking into 3 unequal twigs.

The alternate leaves have slender light green
petioles %-% inch long. Blades are 2-6 inches
long and 1-2 inches broad, hairless, above very
shiny green with midrib and some lateral veins
often slightly sunken, and beneath light green and
only slightly shiny.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 2-4 inches broad
and high, the slender branches widely forking by
2's. The short-stalked flowers have a tubular
whitish calyx 1/4 inch long, 3-5-toothed; the white
corolla 14 inch long has a short tube and 5 spread-
ing lobes which become turned under before fall-
ing ; 5 stamens hairy at base are inserted on corolla
tube between the lobes and extend above ; and the
white pistil Yie "^ch long has 4-celled ovary on an
orange base and 2 styles united below and each
forked above.

Cordia nitida Vahl

The fruit (drupe) retains the irregularly split
greenish calyx at base. A light brown angled
nutlet is imbedded in the slightly astringent red-
dish flesh. Flowering and fruiting irregularly
through the year, frequently with quantities of
fruits.

The wood is used chiefly for posts. When cul-
tivated, the trees make attractive ornamentals. A
lioney plant.

In tliickets and forests of the coastal and lime-
stone regions of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Vie-
ques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.
Originally named and described from St. Croix in
1793.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Gua-
nica, Rio Abajo, Susua.

Municipality where especially common. —
13.

Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puer-
to Rico and Virgin Islands. Also Central Ameri-
ca from British Honduras to Costa Rica. Planted
in southern Florida.

Other common names. — cerezo, cerezo del pais,
palo de goma, muneco (Puerto Rico) ; West-In-
dian-cherry, wild capa (Virgin Islands) ; cerezo,
ateje de costa, ateje cimarron, atejillo (Cuba) ;
sombra de ternero (Honduras) ; buriogi-e amarillo,
muiieco, buriogre de montaiia (Costa Rica) ; bois
paupit, bois poupee (Haiti).

Palo de muneca or manjack {Cordia collococ-
ca L. ; synonym C. glabra auth., not L.), called
also cerezo, is a related tree of Puerto Rico, Mona,
Culebra, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tor-
tola, also through AVest Indies and from Mexico to
South America. It differs in the leaves dull rather
than shiny and the stalkless white flowers only
14 inch across.

472

223. Capa Colorado, red manjack

Natural size.

Cordia nitida Vahl

473

BORAGE FAMILY (BORAGINACEAE)

224. Moral, white manjack

Tliis medium-sized tree of moist areas is easily
recoijnized by its open spreading crown of a few
widely forkinfi and often nearly horizontal
branches witii large, rough hairy leaves, whicli are
ovate to elliptic to nearly round, mostly 9-12 in-
ches long and 5-8 inches wide and usually spaced
apart on lateral branches forking at broad angles.
Other distinguishing characteristics are the much-
branclied flattened clustei-s of numerous small
whitish flowers 1/4 inch long with tubular 5-lobed
corolla and the round whitish mucilaginous fruits
% inch in diameter.

Deciduous tree 20-65 feet high and II/2 feet or
more in trunk diameter. The bark is smooth and
gray, becoming furrowed on large trunks. Inner
bark is light brown, slightly astringent. The
twigs are finely hairy, green but becoming gray,
slightly furrowed when young, as the scientific
name suggests.

The alternate leaves have short stout petioles
1/4-1,4 inch long. Blades are short-pointed to
rounded at apex and rounded or slightly heart-
shaped at base, the edges inconspicuously saw-
toothed or without teeth, slightly thickened, green
to dark green, rough and finely hairy on upper sur-
face, and paler and finely soft hairy on lower sur-
face.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 4—6 inches high
and 4-10 inches broad, terminal but becoming lat-
eral at the base of 2 forking twigs. There are
numerous fragrant small flowers 14 inch long and
%6 i'lch across, stalkless. Calyx is tubular, 3-5-
toothed, green, and minutely hairy; the white co-
rolla has a tube and 5 shorter lobes turned back;
5 stamens are inserted on the corolla tube: and the

Cordia sulcata DC.

pistil has an orange 4-celled ovaiy with style twice
forked.

The fruits (drupes) containing sticky flesh and
a large irregular-shaped stone are produced in
abundance. Flowering from late spring to fall
and with mature fruits nearly through the year.

The wood is light brown, soft, moderately light-
weight (specific gravity 0.6), and easily worked
but not durable. In use classed as roundwood.
Elsewhere the wood has sometimes served for
cooperage.

The trees have been planted along highways for
shade and ornament.

Common and widespread in moist forests at all
elevations in Puerto Rico. It is characteristic of
openings and second-growth forests and probably
is light-requiring. Also in Vieques, St. Thomas,
St. John, and Tortola. Reported long ago from
St. Croix.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua, Tore
Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. — 1,
29, 42, 50, 51, 59, 64, 68.

Range. — Greater Antilles, Virgin Islands, and
Lesser Antilles from Saba to St. Vincent and
Barbados.

Other common names. — moral de paz (Puerto
Rico) ; mucilage manjack (Virgin Islands) ; ateje
cimarron, ateje macho, palo tabaco (Cuba) ; man-
jack (Jamaica, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Vincent) ;
bois bre (Dominica) ; wild clammy-cherry (Bar-
bados) ; laylay, mapou, haii-y laylay, bois laylay
(Trinidad); paresol (Haiti); grand mapou,
mahot grandes feuilles, mapou (Guadeloupe) ;
manjack (Dutch West Indies).

474

224. Moral, white manjack

Two-thirds natural size.

Cordia sulcata DC.

473

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

A. Leaves simple.

Key to the 6 species illustrated (Nos. 225-230)

Leaves less than 6 inches long.
C. Leaves lance-shaped or narrowly elliptic, 2-414 inches long, lower surface gray green, hairy ; trees of
mangrove swamp forest — 22.5. Avicennia nitida.
CC. Leaves elliptic ; upland trees.

D. Petioles short, less than 1 inch long; leaf blades hairless or nearly so, the upper surface slightly
shiny.
E. Leaves with few side veins ; flowers with definite stalks — 226. Citharexylum caudatum.
EE. Leaves with prominent network of small veins when dry, turning red before falling, petiole
pink or orange; flowers almost stalkless — 227. Citharexylum fruticosum.
DD. Petioles long, l-2i,l> inches long; leaf blades rough, lower surface pale yellow green, with minute
scales and hairs and prominent veins — 228. Petitia domingensis.
BB. Leaves very large, elliptic, 12-15 inches or more in length, thickened, leathery, and harsh, the upper surface
rough, the lower surface soft hairy — 229. Tcctona grandis*
AA. Leaves mostly compound with 3 elliptic leaflets, often only 1 or sometimes 2, the end one largest — 230. Vitex
divaricata.

225. Mangle prieto, black-mangrove

This is 1 of the 4 kinds of mangrove trees which
form swamp forests at sea level in salt water and
l)rackish water along silty seashores. Mangle
prieto is distinguished by: (1) opposite lance-
shaped or narrowly elliptic leathery leaves 2-4:1^
inches long and i/^-l% inches broad, the upper
surface yellow green and often shiny, the lower
surface gray green with a coat of fine hairs giving
a grayish color to the crown, and both surfaces
often with scattered salt crystals and salty to the
taste; (2) clusters of several crowded stalkless
white 4-lobed flowers about i/^ iri^h long ^rid %
inch across; (3) elliptic flattened blunt-pointed
seed capsules I-I14 inches long and about % inch
wide, yellow green and finely hairy, often split-
ting open into 2 parts; and (-4) bright orange to
yellow inner bark.

Commonly a small tree or shrub 10-40 feet high
and attaining a trunk diameter of 1 foot in Puerto
Rico, evergreen with rounded crown of spreading
branches, liark is smooth and dark gray or brown
on small trunks but becomes dark brown, fissured
and scaly, and thick. The inner bark, brown
deeper within, has a slight salty taste. Twigs are
gray or brown, finely hairy when young, with en-
larged and ringed joints or nodes.

Often numerous fleshy pencillike projections
(pneumatophores) rise vertically from the long
horizontal roots in the mud under a tree, perhaps
aiding in bringing air to the roots. Masses of
roots 1/^-11/2 feet long sometimes hang in the air
from the upper part of large trunks.

The short petioles are Vs-Vz ii^*^li long- Blades
are sihort-pointed or blunt at apex, short-pointed
at base, and not toothed on edges.

Flower clusters (spikes or panicles) are terminal
and lateral, erect on 4-angled stalks i/^-lV^ inches
long, and bear several finely hairy flowers. The
gray-green calyx is cup-shaped, Yiq inch long,
deeply 5-lobed, with 3 smaller scales (bracts) out-
side; the corolla tube about the same length has
4 slightly unequal spreading rounded or notched
lobes, white but yellowish at base; 4 stamens %q
inch long are inserted on corolla tube near base;

Avicennia nitida Jacq.

and the pistil %6 inch long has a 1-celled ovary,
slender style, and 2-lobed stigma.

The fleshy seed capsule contains 1 large dark
green seed which is an embryo plant without
seedcoat. Often the seed germinates on the tree,
splitting open the fruit. Upon falling, the young
plant continues growth in the mud or may float
and be transported by tide and currents. Flower-
ing and fruiting nearly throughout the year.

The sapwood is light brown and thick. The
iieartwood is dark brown or blackish. The wood
is very hard, very heavy (specific gravity 0.9),
and strong. It has a coarse, uneven, interlocked
grain and prominent growth rings and is very sus-
ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.

Seldom sawed into lumber, the wood is used
primarily for posts in Puerto Rico. Timbers of
larger size have been employed elsewhere for vari-
ous purposes, such as piers, wharves, and other
marine construction, as well as for telegraph and
power poles and crossties. The wood is used also
for fuel and charcoal, and the bark for tanning.

This is an important honey plant of coastal
areas, producing clear white honey of high quality.
The flowers are rich in nectar and attract bees. It
is reported that the sprouting seeds are edible
when cooked but poisonous raw. Salt for cooking
or eating purposes can be obtained from the salt-
coated foliage.

This species seems more hardy than the other 3
kinds of mangroves, to which it is not related. It
penetrates farther inland along rivers and in the
United States ranges farther northward, beyond
the tropical zone. In Puerto Rico it appears to
withstand prolonged flooding better than white-
mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa). The ad-
vancing thickets of mangroves with networks of
roots collect and hold silt, thus building up the
shores.

In mangrove forests in brackish water near pro-
tected silty shores and at mouths of rivers around
Puerto Rico, usually with other species of man-
grove but rarely forming pure stands. Also Cule-

476

225. Mangle prieto, black-mangrove

Avicennia nitida Jaeq.

Natural size.

477

bra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

Public forests. — Aguirre, lioqueron, Ceiba,
Giianica, and San Juan.

Range. — Veiy widely distributed along tropical
silty seasliores of Bermuda and throughout West
Indies (except Dominica) from Bahamas and
Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and Bonaire and
Curagao. Coasts of Florida from northern part to
Florida Keys, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas in
southeastern United States and both coasts of Mex-
ico south along Central America to Ecuador,
northwestern Peru, and (lalapagos Islands and to
Brazil. Also west coast of Africa.

Other common names. — mangle negro, man-
gle bobo, siete cueros, salado (Puerto Rico) ; man-
gle prieto, mangle negro, mangle bianco (Span-
ish) ; black-mangrove, manglecito (commerce) ;

puyeque (Mexico) ; palo de sal (Central
America) ; istaten, arbol de sal (El Salvador) ;
culumate, mangle salado (Costa Rica) ; mangle
salado, white-mangrove (Panama) ; iguanero (Co-
lombia) ; mangle salado, mangle rosado, mangle
prieto (Venezuela) ; mangle iguanero (Ecuador) ;
black - mangrove, honey - mangrove, saltbush
(United States) ; black-mangrove (English) ;
blackwood-busli (Bahamas) ; limewood (Trini-
dad) ; courida, cmda (British Guiana) ; manglier
noir, paletuvier (Haiti) ; paletuvier blanc, mangle
blanc, chene Guadeloupe, paletuvier (Guade-
loupe) ; paletuvier blanc, manglier noir (French
Guiana) ; mangel blancu, saltpond-tree (Dutch
West. Indies); parwa (Surinam); siriuba, seriba
(Brazil).
Botanical synonym. — Avicennia germinans L.

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

226. Pendula de sierra

Shrub or tree of upper mountain forests char-
acterized by: (1) opposite elliptic leaves blunt or
rounded at apex and short-pointed at base, with
few lateral veins; (2) narrow clusters of small
white flowers %e inch across the 5 slightly unequal
.spreading corolla lobes and borne on short stalks
Vie inch long; and (3) shiny pear-shaped or elliptic
fruits nearly \'2 iuch long, turning fi'om green to
orange brown or black, with cuplike calyx at base.

This species differs from its widely distributed
close relative pendula {CifharexyJum. fniticosum
L.) in the leaves coarsely veined without a promi-
nent network of small veins when dry, in the flow-
ers definitely stalked instead of almost stalkless,
and in its distribution in mountain forests at
higher elevations.

A small slender evergreen tre« 1.5-.30 feet high
and to 8 inches in trunk diameter, or a shrub. The
bark is smoothish and brown, inner bark light
brown and bitter. The long narrow twigs are light
gray brown, with prominent raised leaf scars.

Petioles are 1/4-% i'lch long. Blades are 2-5
inches long and %-2i4 inches wide, slightly thick-
ened and with edges sometimes turned under a
little, slightly shiny green above and dull and paler
beneath. On the lower surface are many minute
inconspicuous dots visible with a lens.

Flower clusters (racemes) are li/o-S inches long,
terminal and lateral, bearing many slightly fra-
grant flowers. The bell-shaped calyx is about Vg
inch long and broad, minutely 5-toothed ; the white
finely hairy corolla with tube nearly I/4 inch long
and ;") lobes i/g inch long; 4 stamens nearly i/g inch
long inserted on corolla tube; and greenish pistil

Citharexylum caudatum L.

%6 inch long with 2-celled ovary, slender style,
and slightly 2-lobed stigma.

The fleshy fruits (drupes) slightly 2-lobed have
cuplike calyx Vs inch long remaining at base.
They contain 2 elliptic shiny brown nutlets % inch
long, each 1 -seeded. Flowering and fruiting near-
ly through the year.

The light brown, hard wood is used for posts
and fuel. Also a honey plant.

Upper mountain forests and dwarf forests of
mountain peaks in Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo.

Municipality where especially' common. — 22.

Range. — Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Leeward
Islands, and Dominica. Also Yucatan, Mexico,
and Central America from British Honduras and
Honduras to Panama and in Colombia. Planted
in southern Florida.

Other common names. — cafe cimarron, penda
(Dominican Republic) ; penda, collarete (Cuba) ;
roble amarillo (Nicaragua) ; dama (Costa Rica) ;
manglillo (Panama) ; fiddlewood (English) ;
racemose fiddlewood ( Bahamas) ; birdseed,
pigeon-feed (British Honduras), cafe marron
(Haiti).

The generic name (Citharexyhim) is Greek for
fiddlewood. The English name ficldlewood and
similar ones in French and Spanish for related
species refer to the use for violins, guitars, and
other musical instruments. The Spanish name
pendula, meaning pendent, describes the long
slender drooping or hanging clusters of flowers
and fruits.

478

226. P^ndula de sierra

Natural size.

Citharexyltim caudatutn L.

479

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

227. Pendula, pasture fiddlewood, Florida fiddlewood

Citharexylum fruticosum L.

This small tree is easily recognized by: (1) op-
posite, mostly elliptic, yellow-green leaves with
conspicuous pinlv or orange petioles; (2) narrow
clusters of small fragrant white flowers nearly %
inch across the 5 slightly unequal spreading corol-
la lobes, borne almost stalkless on narrow droop-
ing axes; (3) nearly round, shiny, reddish-brown
or black fruits % inch or less in diameter; and
(4) rough, light brown bark, becoming much fis-
sured and shredding in long narrow strips.

Evergreen shrub or small slender tree 10^0 feet
in height and to 1 foot in trunk diameter. The in-
ner bark is whitish and tasteless. Young twigs are
4-angled and with faint rings at nodes, slender,
light brown or green, becoming gray and finely fis-
sured.

Petioles are 1/2-1 inch long. Leaf blades are 3-7
inches long and 1-21/^ inches broad, short- or long-
pointed at both ends or sometimes rounded or
notched at apex, the edges rarely toothed on young
shoots, thick and leathery, sometimes hairy on
veins beneath, shiny yellow green on upper surface
and dull beneath, turning red before falling.
They vary greatly in shape from lance-shaped to
elliptic or obovate and when dry show a raised
network of small veins on both sides. The midrib
often is pinkish toward base.

Flower clusters (racemes) are 2-12 inches long,
lateral and terminal, unbranched, bearing many
white flowers about % inch long. The pale green
calyx is narrowly tubular, ^g inch long, mostly
5-toothed, hairless or hairy; the white tubular 5-
lobed corolla nearly % inch long, hairy at throat ;
4 stamens inserted on corolla tube; and pistil with
4-celled green ovary, slender style, and slightly 2-
lobed stigma.

The drooping clusters of the fleshy fruits
(dru])es), sometimes abundant, are reported to be
sweet and edible. Each has a stone which sepa-
rates into 2 2-seeded nutlets. Flowering and f rait-
ing through the year.

The sapwood is light brown and thin, and the
heartwood is reddish. The wood is very hard.

heavy (specific gravity 0.7), and strong. Consid-
ered a good fencepost in Puerto Rico. The wood
of this and related species has been used elsewhere
for furniture, construction, and violins, guitars,
and other musical instruments.

Sometimes planted along highways and fences
and in gardens as an ornamental. Also a honey
plant. This species is subject to attacks by cater-
pillars which fasten the leaves together in bundles
and cause leaf fall, reducing the value for orna-
ment.

In thickets and forests of the coastal, limestone,
and lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also
in Desecheo, Icacos, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, To"rtola, and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalaciie, Carite,
Guajataca, Guanica, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio
Abajo, Susiia.

JMuNICIPALmES WHERE ESPECIALLY CX)MMON. —

21, 31, 32, 36, 42, 66, 69.

Range. — Central and southern Florida includ-
ing Florida Keys and through West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to St. Vnicentj Grenada, and
Trinidad. Also Venezuela to Surinam in north-
ern South America. Widely planted for ornament.

Other common names. — palo de guitarra,
balsamo (Puerto Rico); susanaleche (Virgin
Islands) ; cafe cimarron, penda, pendula (Domini-
can Republic) ; penda, canilla de venado, guayo
bianco (Cuba) ; Florida fiddlewood, fiddlewood
(United States); spicate fiddlewood, long-tom
(Bahamas) ; fiddlewood (Jamaica, St. Vincent,
Trinidad).

Minor botanical varieties differing cliiefly in
hairiness and leaf shape have been distinguished
outside Puerto Rico.

A related tree species of pendula {Citharexylv/m
sphwsum L.), known also as susana, is wild and
planted in St. Croix and St. Thomas and ranges
southward to northern South America. It has
elliptic leaves 3-8 inches long, thin, hairless, and
with prominent network of small veins when dry,
and oblong shiny black fruits % inch long.

480

\\' >^

227. P^ndula, pasture fiddlewood, Florida fiddlewood

Two-thirds natural size.

Citharexylum fruticosum L.

481

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

228. Capa bianco

A small to inedium-sized tree characterized by:
(1) the crown usually having a gi'ayish color; (2)
opposite long-stalked elliptic leaves with rough
surfaces, green and almost hairless on upper sur-
face, the lower surface pale yellow green and
covered with minute scales and hairs and with
prominent veins; (3) twigs 4-angled, finely hairy,
green but becoming brown; (-1:) numerous small
white flowers about i/g inch long and broad, with
tubular 4-lobed corollas, borne in long-stalked
lateral branched clusters and forming round juicy
fruits about ^iq inch in diameter, turning from
green to red to black; and (5) gray bark slightly
shreddy and separating into strips.

A tree 20-70 feet high and 1 foot or more in
trunk diameter, with spreading open crown, ever-
green or nearly so. The rough fissured bark has
brown and tasteless inner bark. The young twigs,
petioles, and flower stalks are minutely hairy.

Petioles are l-2i^ inches long and blades 3-6
inches long and 11,4-3 inches broad, short-pointed
at apex and rounded or short-pointed at base,
slightly thickened, and without teeth on edges.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 2-6 inches long,
including the long stalks, and bear many minutely
hairy, slightly fragrant flowers. Calyx is bell-
shaped, 4-toothecl; the white tubular corolla with
4 spreading lobes; stamens 4, minute, borne near
mouth of corolla tube; and pistil with 2-celled
ovary, slender style, and 2-lobed stigma. The
fruits (drupes) are 1-seeded. Flowering and
fruiting through the year.

The light brown sapwood is not clearly sep-
arated from the very attractive light brown to
medium brown heartwood, which frequently is
variegated or marked by darker stripes. The
wood is vei-y hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.66),
tough, strong, fine-textured, with straight, wavy,

Petitia domingensis Jacq.

or interlocked grain, and without growth rings.
It is susceptible or moderately resistant to attack
by dry-wood termites and moderately durable in
contact with the ground. The rate of air-season-
ing is rapid, and the amount of degrade moderate.
Machining characteristics are as follows: planing
is fair; shaping, sanding, and resistance to screw
splitting are good; and turning, boring, and mor-
tising are excellent.

Uses include furniture, light and heavy con-
struction, posts and piling, crossties, and rollers
for cort'ee-hulling mills. The wood is suitable also
for cabinetmaking, turned articles, novelty items,
interior paneling, farm implements, handles, and
bridges.

On hillsides, thickets and woods, in the coastal,
limestone, and lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. Also reported long ago from St. Croix and
St. Thomas.

This species is characteristic of openings in sec-
ond-growth forests and probably is light-requir-
ing. It is being tested in small plantations in
Puerto Rico. The flowers attract bees.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susiia, Toro
Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
32,34,38,46,47,49,69.

Range. — Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Ja-
maica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Also planted
in southern Florida.

Other common names. — capa amarillo, capa
rosado, capa de sabana (Puerto Rico) ; capa de
sabana. capa sabanero, capa bianco (Dominican
Republic); roble guayo, guayo prieto (Cuba);
petitia, bastard stopper (Bahamas) ; fiddlewood
(Jamaica) ; boisd'ortie, chene calebassier (Haiti).

482

228. Capfi bianco

Petitia domingensis Jacq.

Natural size.

483

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

229. Teca, teak

Teak, wliicli has been introduced sparingly in
plantations for its valuable timber and for or-
nament and sliade, is easily identified by its huge
elliptic opposite leaves 1'2-15 inches long and 9-10
inches broad or larger, by its stout 4-angled twigs
and few coarse branches, and by tlie bronze-col-
ored young leaves which jneld a reddish juice
when cruslied. The numerous small whitish flow-
ers 14 inch long and % inch across the 6 spreading
corolla lobes are borne in very large flower clus-
ters. An enlarged thin egg-shaped calyx about 1
inch across encloses the fruit, which is a light
brown ball about V^ inch in diameter.

In its native home this is a large tree to 150 feet
tall, often with buttressed or fluted trunk. Trees
of plantations in Puerto Rico have grown to 60
feet in height and 1 foot in trunk diameter within
20 years. They are deciduous. The light brown
bark is much fissured and scaly and I/2 i'^^'^ <^r
more in thickness. Inner bark is soft, whitish, and
almost tasteless. The spreading branches form
an open ci'own of light gray twigs and few very
large leaves. Young green twigs, foliage, and
flower clusters are covered with fine gray-green
star-shaped hairs.

Leaves are stalkless or short-petioled, mostly
short-pointed at botli apex and base, thickened,
leathery, and harsh, the upper surface green and
rough, and the lower surface light green and soft
hairy. Very large leaves measure as much as 2
feet long and 16 inches broad.

Flower clusters (panicles) are terminal, erect
and branched, about 1V2~2 feet long and broad.
The finely hairy flowers have a bell-shaped 6-
lobed gray calyx; the funnel-shaped whitish co-
rolla has a short tube and 6 spreading lobes; 6
stamens are inserted on corolla tube; and the pis-
til has a 4-celled ovary, slender style, and 2-lobed
stigma.

The light brown, finely hairy ball fruit (drupe)
has a hard stone containing 4 or fewer seeds y^
inch long (600 fruits to the pound). Recorded in
flower from August to December and with fruits
persisting nearly through the year.

The sapwood is yellowish or whitish. The heart-
wood is olive green when freshly cut, turning
golden brown upon seasoning. The wood is mod-

Tectona grandis L. f.*

erately hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity
0.5.5), strong, fine-textured, straight-grained, and
has distinct annual growth rings, oily feel, and
characteristic fragrance when fi-eshly cut. Air-
seasoning is rapid with minor amount of degrade
and with low, uniform shrinkage. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing, shaping,
boring, mortising, and resistance to screw split-
ting are good; turning is excellent; and sanding
is very poor. The wood works easily but contains
silica which dulls cutting edges. The heartwood
is very resistant to attack by dry-wood termites,
moderately resistant to subterranean termites, and
very durable in the ground. However, the sap-
wood is susceptible to attack by termites and is
not durable.

Teak, one of the world's best known and most
valuable timbers, is important in shipbuilding,
particularly for decking. Its many other uses in-
clude fine furniture, flooring, joinery, interior
trim, frames, doors, paneling, carvings, turnery,
tanks and vats, and laboratory fixtures. Thin-
nings from plantations serve for posts and furni-
ture.

Trees are cultivated occasionally in tropical
countries as ornamentals for the large leaves and
spreading flower clusters. In Puerto Rico small
experimental plantations have been made on Gov-
ernment forests to determine the practicability of
growing teak commercially. The tree is well
adapted to deep soils at low elevation.

Grown experimentally or for ornament at low
elevations in Puerto Rico and in St. Croix and
Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guaja-
taca, Luquillo, Rio Abajo.

Range. — Native of southern Asia from India
to Malaya. Introduced and naturalized in Philip-
pines and Java. Planted for timljer or ornament
and in botanical gardens in various tropical areas
including the AVest Indies from Cuba and Jamaica
to Trinidad and from Panama to Brazil. Grown
in southern Florida.

Other common names. — teca (Spanish) ; teak
(United States, English); teck (Guadeloupe,
French) .

484

229. Teca, teak

Two-thirds natural size.

Tectona grandis L. f.

485

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)

230. Higiierillo, white fiddlewood

Small to medium-sized tree with much-fissured
lijrht brown bark, rough and shreddy and separat-
ing in strips, further distinguished by: (1) op-
posite leaves mostly compound with 3 elliptic leaf-
lets or often only 1 or sometimes 2, the end one
larger than the others; (2) numerous showy pale
purplish-blue tiowers % inch long and 1/2-%
inch across the 5 unequal corolla lobes, in lateral
branching clusters; and (3) black egg-shaped
fleshy fruits 1/0 inch long, with cuplike calyx at
liase.

A deciduous tree 20-65 feet high and to 21/0
feet in trunk diameter, with rounded crown. The
inner bark is light brown and slightly bitter. The
twigs are greenish and minutely hairy when young,
becoming gray or brown.

The slender green petioles are %-2% inches
long, and the leaflet stalks 14 inch or less in
length. Leaflet blades are 2-6 inches long and
li/i-3 inches wide, mostly short-pointed at both
ends, thin or slightly thickened, above light green,
beneath paler and hairy on veins.

Often the ground under a tree in flower has a
bluish tinge from the numerous fallen corollas.
Flower clusters (cymes) 2-6 inches long at base of
leaves bear several to many slightly fragrant flow-
ers on short slender stalks. The flower about %
inch long has a cuplike calyx less than i/g inch
high and broad ; pale blue or purplish-blue irregu-
lar finely hairy corolla with narrow tube 14 inch
long and 5 unequal, spreading, wavy-margined
lobes, 1 much larger than the others; -1: stamens 14
inch long in 2 pairs inserted on corolla tube and
slightly protruding; and pistil % inch long with
4-celled ovai-y and slender style 2-forked at end.

The fruit (drupe) contains a large 4-celled and
4-seeded stone. In maturing, fruits change color
from yellow green to brownish and black. Ob-
served in flower from February to July and in
fruit from June to November.

The grayish sapwood turns light brown upon
drying. The heartwood when freshly cut is tan
to brown, generally variegated with darker shades,

Vitex divaricata Sw.

and afterwards becomes gray brown to deep
brown, often with indistinct, narrow, lighter or
darker bands. The wood is hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.62), strong, tough, and fine-textured and
has irregular, interlocked grain and well-defined
growth rings. Air-seasoning is too slow to be
practicable commercially. Amount of degrade is
minor. Machining characteristics are as follows:
planing and resistance to screw splitting are poor;
shaping, boring, and mortising are good; turning
is excellent ; and sanding is fair. The wood works
easily and takes a fine polish. It is moderately re-
sistant to dry-wood termites and is durable in con-
tact with the gi'ound.

The wood is used for framework of houses,
fenceposts, construction, cabinetwork, and else-
where for shingles. It should be suitable also for
sporting goods, tool handles, boats, and flooring.

Planting tests show this species to grow slowly
and to require nearly full sunlight. The trees,
which become covered with flowers, are suitable
for oniamentals also. They can be propagated
from cuttings and grow rapidly in open areas. A
honey plant.

Widely distributed in coastal, limestone, and
lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico. Also in
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Carite, Guajata-
ca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua,
Toro Negro.

Municipalities where especially common. —
46, 50.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti), Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, and throughout Lesser
Antilles to Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.
Also in Venezuela and Guianas.

Other common names. — pendula, pendula
blanca (Puerto Rico) ; roble guayo, roble de olor,
ofon criollo (Cuba) ; totumillo (Venezuela) ; fid-
dlewood (St. Kitts, St. Vincent); white fiddle-
wood (Montserrat) ; bois lezard (Dominica) ;
black fiddlewood (Trinidad) ; timber fiddlewood
(Tobago) ; bois lezard, bois a agouti (Guadeloupe,
Martinique).

486

230. Higuerillo, white flddlewood

Two-thirds natural size.

Vitex divaricata Sw.

687-921 O— ,64 32

487

NIGHTSHADE FAMILY (SOLANACEAE)

231. Tabacon

A shrub or small tree characterized by: (1)
large, thin, elli))tic, alternate leaves long-pointed
at ai)ex, the base also long-pointed and gradually
narrowed into the long petiole, both surfaces
slightly rough and bearing minute star-shaped
hairs; (2) many widely spreading star-shaped
white flowers % inch across the 5 narrow pointed
lobes, borne in terminal flattened clustei-s; and (3)
many round yellow berries i/4 inch in diameter,
green when immature.

A spreading evergreen shrub or tree 12-15 feet
high with trunk 2-3 inches in diameter, branching
at wide angles. The light gray bark is smoothish
and slightly warty, the inner bark soft, whitish,
and slightly bitter. The greenish twigs bear many
minute star-shaped hairs and are slightly rough.
Spineless tliroughout, though many species of this
genus are spiny.

The alternate leaves have long petioles i/^-lV2
inches long, appearing winged from the tapering
leaf base. Blades are mostly 5-10 inches long and
2-A inches broad, green above and paler beneath,
not toothed on edges.

The long-stalked branching and flattened flower
clusters (corymbs) are 2-3 inches across. The
short-stalked flowers have a bell-shaped tubular
calyx %6 iiich long, densely hairy and with 5
pointed lobes ; white corolla with short tube and 5
hairy lobes more than 14 inch long, spreading like
a star; 5 stamens %6 i^^ch long, inserted on corolla,
with large yellow anthers opening by pores at
apex ; and pistil with 2-celled ovary more than i/ig
inch in diameter and slender slightly curved style
^/iQ inch long. The berries have calyx at base and
contain many small, rounded, flat, brown seeds Vie
inch in diameter. Flowering and fruiting through
the year.

The whitish wood is soft and brittle.

In open areas, such as roadsides, thickets, plan-
tations, and river banks in the moist coastal, lime-
stone, and mountain forest regions of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Carite, Guajataca, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.

Solarium rugosum Dunal

Range. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe,
Dominica, and Martinique. Also from Guatemala
to Panama and from Colombia to Peru, Bolivia,
Brazil, Guianas, and \^enezuela.

Other common n.\mes. — tabacon aspero, sepi
(Puerto Rico) ; tabacon (Dominican Republic) ;
cucuna (Venezuela); caiucara (Brazil).

Botanical synonym. — Solanum a-sperv/m Vahl,
not L.C.Rich.

The large and widely distributed genus of
nightshades {Solamtm) is represented in Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands by about 15 native
species of mostly spiny herbaceous weeds with
some shrubs and vines. Also, tabacon and the 2
Iwlow become small trees. The cultivated egg-
plant (S. melongena L.), potato {S. tuherosimn
L.), and a few other species planted for orna-
mental fruits belong to the same genus. The
berries of some species are edible and of others
poisonous.

Tabacon afelpado, wild tobacco, or mullein
nightshade {Solanum verhnscifol'mm Li.; S.erimi-
thum D. Don), a spineless shrub and rarely a
small tree, is found in Puerto Rico, Mona, Muer-
tos, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola, also widespread in tropical America, and
naturalized beyond to Florida. It has ovat« to el-
liptic leaves 4—12 inches long, velvety hairy with
minute star-shaped haire, with petioles up to 2V^
inches long and not winged ; smaller white flowers
about 14 inch across; and roimd yellow berries
%-% inch in diameter.

Erubia (Sola7mm drymophilum O. E. Schultz),
known only from mountain forests of Puerto
Rico, is a spiny shrub or small tree with straight,
yellow spines up to % inch long; oblong to lance-
shaped leaves 3-8 inches long with minute star-
shaped hairs denser beneath, with short petioles
less than % inch long; white flowers about % inch
across ; and round black berries less than 14 inch
in diameter.

488

231. Tabac6n

Two-thirds natural size.

Solarium rugosum Dunal

489

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

Key to the 7 species illustrated (Nos. 232-23S)

A. Leaves crowded in clusters of 3-5 or more along the stout twigs, simple, spoon-shaped, 2-7 inches long, broadest
near the rounded or short-pointed apex — 232. Vresccntia cujcte.
AA. Leaves opposite.

B. Leaves simple or digitate (palmately compound) with 2-5 leaflets.
C. Flowers with dark red corolla.

D. Leaves with 5 or 3 elliptic leaflets — 235. Tabcbiiia haciitantha.
DD. Leaves simple, elliptic to ovate — 237. Tabebuia rigiila.
CC. Flowers with pink corolla ; leaves with 5 or fewer (sometimes only 1) unequal elliptic leaflets — 236.
Tabebuia lietero/jiiiiUa.
BB. Leaves pinnate or bipinnate.
E. Leaves once pinnate.

F. Leaflets mostly 11-17, elliptic, not toothed, abruptly short-pointed — 234. Spathodea campanulata.*
FF. Leaflets 5-13, lance-shaped to elliptic, saw-toothed, long-pointed — 238. Tecotna stans.
EE. Leaves bipinnate, femlike — 233. Jacaranda mimosifolia.*

232. Higuero, calabash-tree, common calabash-tree

This familiar small tree, planted and wild, is
easily recognized by: (1) the few long spreading
branches forming a broad open crown; (2) en-
larged nodes on the stout light brown or gray
twigs; (3) the very large, hard, nearly round
(sometimes oval), green to brown fruits 4—12
inches in diameter, resembling gourds; (4) the
spoon-shaped leaves 2-7 inches long and %-2
inches broad, arranged in clusters along the stout
twigs; and (5) the light green bell-shaped flowers
2-214 inches long, borne singly on the trunk and
branches.

A tree 20-30 feet or more in height and 1 foot
or more in trunk diameter, evergreen or deciduous
in areas with dry seasons. Bark on small trunks
is smoothish or slightly scaly, becoming much fis-
sured, light brown or gray, and i/o inch thick. The
inner bark is light brown, fibrous, and slightly
bitter.

The leaves are mostly in clusters of 3-5 or more
(fascicled) on spurs (actually very short lateral
branches) for several feet along the stout twigs
but are also alternate near tips of slender twigs.
Spoon-shaped (spatulate) or reverse lance-shaped
(oblanceolate), the leaves are broadest near the
rounded apex (sometimes abruptly short-pointed)
and gradually narrowed to the stalkless or short-
stalked base, not toothed on edges, slightly thick-
ened and with prominent midrib, green and slight-
ly shiny on upper surface, paler beneath.

Flowers and fruits are unusual in being pro-
duced directly on the trunk as well as on branches,
borne singly on stout stalks i/^-% inch long. The
leathery green calyx 5/^,-1 inch long splits deeply
into usually 2 broad lobes; the large, light green,
often purplish-streaked corolla is 2-21/0 inches
long, slightly thickened and fleshy, with a broad
irregular swollen tube oddly folded on 1 side and
with 5 short, wavy and irregularly toothed lobes
1% inches across; the 4 stamens are inserted in
corolla tube in 2 paii-s with large anthers visible ;
and the pistil on a disk has a 1-celled ovarv, very
slender style, and broad 2-lobed stigma. There is
an unpleasant odor suggesting rotten cabbage.

Tlie giant fmits (berries) have thin hard shells
and whitish pulp and do not split open. The many

Crescentia cujete L.

seeds are dark brown, thin and flat, about 14 inch
long and broad. Flowering and fruiting through
the year.

The sapwood is pinkish to reddish brown, and
the heartwood is light brown. The wood is moder-
ately hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.6-
0.8), strong, and flexible. In Puerto Rico the
timber is cut only for fuel. However, other uses
are for tool handles, ox yokes, saddles, and vehicle
parts.

Widely planted in Puerto Rico and through the
tropics for the fruits, from which bowls, cups, jugs,
water containers, and other utensils, as well as
ornaments and musical instniments, are fashioned,
often with decorations. Also classed as an orna-
mental. P21sewhere blocks of calabash bark and
wood as well as the trees have been used for grow-
ing orchids. The pulp of fruits is poisonous and
has been employed in local medicines. It is said
that the seeds are sometimes cooked and eaten.

Easily propagated from seeds or cuttings but
slow growing. Through cidtivation trees with
larger fruits than the wild trees have been de-
veloped. It is reported that various shapes can be
obtained by tying and training the growing fruits.

Hillsides, pastures, roadsides, and around coun-
try homes in the coastal, limestone, and lower
moimtain regions of Puerto Rico, more commonly
in the drier areas. Probably more frequent as a
planted tree or an escape than wild. Also Mona,
Desecheo, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.

Range. — Widely distributed in tropical Ameri-
ca, native, planted and escaping, propably spread
somewhat throtigh cultivation. Florida Keys,
grown also in southern Florida and California,
and introduced in Bermuda. Throughout West
Indies from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad and
Dutch West Indies. Also from southern Mexico
to Peru and Brazil. Cultivated in the Old World
tropics.

Otiieu common names. — guira, higiiero (Do-
minican Republic) ; giiira, calabasa (Cuba) ; cu-
jete, cirian, tecomate, guaje (Mexico) ; jicaro,
jicara (Central America) ; morro (Guatemala,
Honduras) ; guacal (El Salvador) ; calabacero

490

KJSi'

tfv-'- ■ i-

232. Higiiero, calabash-tree, common calabash-tree

Two-thirds natural size.

Crescentia cujete L.

491

(Costa Eica) ; totumo, totiimbo, calabazo (Pana-
ma, Colombia) ; totumo, taparo, camasa, giiiie,
cucharo (Venezuela); mate, pilche (Ecuador);
huingo, pati, cayiera, tutumo (Peru); common
calabash-tree, calabash-tree, calabash (United
States, English) ; calebasse, calebassier (French) ;
calbas, calbas rondo (Dutch West Indies) ; kale-
bas, kalabassenboom (Surinam); cuite (Brazil).
Higiierito {Crescentia Ivnearifolia Miers) is a

I'elated small tree of di-y coastal areas mainly in
southwestern Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St.
John, and in St. Martin. It has narrow, linear,
shiny, stiff leaves 3/4-21/4 inches long and less than
% inch wide, long-pointed and often spiny-tipped,
crowded ; greenish tubular flowers about I14 inches
long; and round or elliptic fruit 11/4-2 inches long.
The third native species is a vinelike shrub of
western Puerto Rico.

233. Jacaranda

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don*

This handsome introduced tree is occasionally
planted for its large clusters of numerous beauti-
ful blue-violet bell-shaped flowers iy^-l% inches
long and irregularly 5-lobed, borne in spring. The
attractive dark green fernlike leaves are opposite
and twice pinnate (bipinnate), about 9-18 inches
long and 5-8 inches broad, with many small lance-
shaped leaflets %-V2 inch long and bristle-tipped.
Pods are dark brown, nearly round and flattened,
about 2 inches long and % inch thick, bordered by
a narrow wing.

A deciduous meditun-sized tree 25-40 feet high
and 8-12 inches in trunk diameter, with .spreading
crown of thin, delicate foliage. The bark is
smoothish but becoming slightly Assured and
rough, vei-y light brown. Inner bark is light
brown, thin, and bitter. The stout twigs with light
corky dots (lenticels) are green when young, turn-
ing light gray.

Leaves consist of a yellow-green axis and about
20-40 paired lateral axes (pinnae) , each with about
19-45 stalkless leaflets, also paired except for the
larger end one. Leaflets are short-pointed at apex
and oblique at base, not toothed on edges, dull dark
green on upper surface and pale light green
beneath.

The terminal, much branched flower clusters
(panicles) are alx)ut 8-12 inches long and 6-8
inches across, with slender, forking branches. The
spreading flowei-s have short stalks or none and
are only faintly fragrant. Calyx is small, cup-
like, greenish, i/g incli long, and 5-toothed; the
tubular blue-violet corolla is swollen on 1 side and
abruptly narrowed near base, about 11/4-1% inches

long, with 5 unequal spreading wavy-margined
lobes %-l inch across, minutely hairy on outside
and on lobes; 4 whitish curved stamens about V^
inch long in 2 paii-s of dift'erent lengths and 1
longer sterile stamen inserted within corolla tube;
and on a greenish disk the purplish pistil "Yg inch
long, composed of 2-celled ovaiy, slender style,
ancl 2-lobed stigma. One corolla lobe is much
longer than the others and opposite a white spot
mside the tube.

One or 2 pods (capsules) develop from a flower
cluster. They split open along the edges and con-
tain many very thin dark brown seeds, each about
% by %g inch in size, including the 2 transpar-
ent wings. Flowering from early spring to June,
the fruits maturing in spring and early summer.

The sapwood is light brown and soft. The wood
is not used locally.

This species is planted for ornament in Puerto
Rico and St. Croix but is not common. Propa-
gated by cuttings and seeds. It is a honey plant.
\\nien the trees are not in flo\\er, the foliage is
also attractive.

Range.- — Native of northwestern Argentina.
Planted in West Indies, southern Florida and
southern California, and from Mexico to Brazil.

Other common names. — flamboyan azul
(Puerto Rico); fern-tree (Virgin Islands);
jacaranda (Spanish) ; framboyan azul (Cuba) ;
tarco (Bolivia) ; jacaranda, tarco (Argentina) ;
jacaranda (United States, English) ; flamboyant
bleu (Martinique).

Botanical synonym. — Jacaranda acutifoUa
auth., not Hunib. & Bonpl.

492

h^

233. Jacaranda

Two-thirds natural size.

Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don

493

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

234. Tulipan africano, African tuliptree

This handsome, ornamental tree is planted for
its masses of larjie brilliant orange-red to scarlet
flowers. It is easily recofrnized by: (1) the tulip-
like tubular flame-colored tlowers i inches long and
3 inches across, in erect clusters mostly at the top
of the crown; (2) the large erect green to dark
brown pods 5-10 inches long, IV2 inches wide,
and Ys i'lch thick, which point upward at the ends
of the branches; and (3) the opposite large pin-
nate leaves 1-2 feet long with usually 11-17 (some-
times 5-19) opposite elliptic leaflets.

A large exotic tree becoming 50-80 feet high
and 1-1 1^ feet in trunk diameter, with a dense
irregular ci'own of large spreading branches, ever-
green or nearly deciduous. Big trunks develop
tall narrow buttresses at base and are slightly
broadened and grooved. The bark is very light
brown, smoothish but becoming slightly fissured.
Inner bark is about 14 i'^^l^ thick, whitish, and
bitter. The stout grayish-brown twigs are smooth
except for corky warts (lenticels).

The large leaves are opposite or sometimes in
3's, and the leaflets also opposite except for the end
one. These leaflets are .3-6 inches long and IV2-
3 inches broad, on short stalks i/g "''♦^li long?
abruptly short-pointed, rounded and slightly
oblique at base, a little thickened with edges a little
turned under, almost hairless, the upper surface
green to dark green with sunken veins and slightly
shiny, the lower surface paler.

The terminal flower clusters (racemes) are
about 4 inches high and 8 inches across. There are
numerous crowded horn-shaped flower buds 1-2
inches long on stout greenish stalks of the same
length, orange brown, curving inward to the cen-
ter. Those around the outside open a few at a
time and drop oif about 2 days later. The flowers
have a most unusual flattened shape, with light
brown calyx 2-2i/^ inches long, curved and pointed
like a horn, splitting open on the outer side, mi-
nutely hairy and with longitudinal ridges. The
tubular orange-red to scarlet corolla about 4 inches
long and 2 bv 3 inches broad has an enlarged ir-
regular bell-shaped tube 2 inches across and curved
downward and 5 broad unequal lobes with crisp
wavy edges narrowly bordered with gold. There
are 4 pale yellow stamens 2-21,4 inches long, with
dark brown anthers, inserted in corolla tube in 2

Spathodea campanulata Beauv.*

pairs and projecting barely beyond. The pistil on
a disk consists of an oblong 2-celled ovary 1/4 inch
long, a long, slender, curved, pale yellow style
about 3 inches long, and a 2-lobed red stigma.

There are 1 to several large lance-shaped or
boat-shaped, slightly flattened pods (capsules) on
stout stalks, long-pointed, splitting open on 1 side.
The numerous very thin papery seeds, about 57,000
to a pound, have a light brown center bordered by
a transparent wing i/o-l inch across. Flowering
and fruiting throughout the year but particularly
from late winter to early summer.

The soft wood with whitish sapwood is not uti-
lized in Puerto Rico.

This ornamental and shade tree is propagated
by seeds, cuttings, and root cuttings. It grows
very rapidly but requires nearly full light. Meas-
ured trees in Puerto Rico increased in trunk diam-
eter as much as 2 inches a year. As trees are
broken by high winds and frequently become hol-
low and hazardous in age, planting near buildings
or along roads is not advised. Also, the superficial
root system makes this species undesirable for
planting near houses and sidewalks. The trees
produce sprouts from the roots, sometimes becom-
ing like weeds. This species has been tried for cof-
fee shade but is not recommended for that purpose.

Unopened flower buds contain water, ill smell-
ing and tasting, which squirts out when the buds
are squeezed, pinched, or pricked with a pin.
Children play with these buds like water pistols.
Old dry empty pods when widely open make very
realistic toy boats, which, however, close up in
water.

Cultivated for ornament and shade in Puerto
Rico, growing in the coastal, limestone, and lower
mountain regions. Also planted in St. Croix, St.
Thomas, ancl Tortola.

Range.— Native of tropical West Africa.
Widely planted in tropical regions around the
world. Southern Florida, West Indies, Central
America, and South America.

Other common names. — mampolo, amapola
(Dominican Republic) ; espatodea (Cuba) ; tuli-
pan africano (Colombia, Venezuela) ; African
tuliptree (United States) ; African tuliptree,
fountain-tree (English) ; immortel etranger
(Haiti) ; tulpenboom (Dutch West Indies).

494

!(.(»-

234. Tulipdn africano, African tuliptree

Two-thirds natural size.

Spathodea campanulata Beauv.

495'

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

235. Roble cimarron

This handsome small tree native only of Puerto
Rico is characterized by: (1) opposite, digitate or
palmately compound leaves with 5 or 3 elliptic
stiff and leathery leaflets and stout petioles; (2)
showy, dark red or crimson flowers 11/4-2 inches
long, narrowly tubular and irregidarly 5-lobed,
several to many in erect terminal clustere; and
(3) narrow grooved seed pod 2iy4— 4 inches long
and less than 14 i'ld^ in diameter.

Usually a small tree 10-20 feet tall or often
flowering as a shrub, evergreen. The gray bark is
smoothish and slightly Assured, the inner bark
whitish and slightly bitter. The light gray twigs
are slightly flattened below nodes.

The leaves have petioles 1-2 inches long and
leaflet stalks %-l inch long. Leaflet blades are
2-6 inches long and V2-1V^ inches broad, when 5
the lowest 2 much smaller than the others and
nearly stalkless, the apex short-pointed or rounded
and base rounded or slightly heart-shaped, with
edges turned under slightly, hairless or minutely
scaly hairy, the upper surface green and slightly
shiny, and lower surface paler.

Flower clusters (panicles) have several to many
flowei-s on slender spreading branches 3-6 inches
long and broad. The tubular dark red calyx %-
% inch long has 2 or more short and unequal

Tabebuia haemantha (Bert.) DC.

rounded lobes at apex ; the dark red or crimson co-
rolla is 11^-2 inches long with long narrow tube
and % inch or more across the 5 short irregular
lobes; there are 4 stamens in 2 pairs inserted near
base of corolla with the long slender filaments pro-
jecting beyond; and pistil on a disk with conical
2-celled ovary, slender style as long as corolla, and
stigma with 2 flattened lobes.

The seed pod (capsule) retains the calyx at
base and bears many 2-winged seeds % inch long.
Probably flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The light brown, hard wood is little used be-
cause of the small size of the tree.

Perhaps of ornamental value for the showy
flowers, from which the spe<'ific name, meaning
blood flower, was derived. N. L. Britton called
this one of the most elegant of the endemic species
of Puerto Rico.

In di-y forests and thickets in the southern foot-
hills rising into the lower mountain region on the
south slopes of the west end of the Central Cor-
dillera of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Maricao, Susua.

Range. — Known only from Puerto Rico.

Other common name. — roble Colorado (Puerto
Rico).

496

235. Roble eimarr6n

Natural size.

Taieiuia haemantha (Bert.) DC.

497

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

236. Roble bianco, "white-cedar"

This valiuil>le timber tree, is distinguished by:
(1) beautiful masses of showy pink tubuhir 5-
lobed flowers 2-3i/^ inches long, covering the tree
in spring and making it stand out as an attractive
feature of the landscape; (2) opposite palmate
leaves with 5 or fewer (sometimes only 1) unequal
elliptic or oblanceolate leaflets; and (3) dark
brown cigarlike pods 3-8 inches long and y^ inch
in diameter.

Roble bianco is a small to medium-sized, mostly
deciduous ti-ee attaining 60 feet in height and fi/)
feet in diameter, with an erect axis and narrow
columnar crown. The bark is rough and furrowed,
gray to brown, about i/4~% ii^^^li thick. Inner bark
is light brown and slightly bitter. Twigs are
green, turning to brown, covered with tiny brown
dotlike scales, with large nearly round leaf seal's.

The leaves typically are 6-12 inches long, includ-
ing the petioles 2-5 inches long and leaflets witli
slender stalks about i^-l inch long and blades 2-6
inches long and 1-21^4 inches wide. However, in
dry areas the leaves are .smaller, only IV^-S inches
long, including the petioles 1/4-11/4 inches long and
the short -stalked or stalkless leaflets only %-S
inches long and as few as 1. Leaflets are mostly
broadest beyond middle and commonly blunt-
pointed at apex and base, the edges without teeth
and sometimes slightly turned under, slightly
thickened, hairless except for tiny brown dotlike
scales, green and slightly shiny on upper surface
and paler beneath.

The large flowers are abundant over the crown,
few to several together in terminal and lateral
clusters (corymbs or panicles) or sometimes single
on slender stalks i/4-l inch long. Calyx tubulai-,
%-l^ inch long, 3-5-toothed, covei'ed with dot-
like scales; the tubular corolla funnel-shaped,
2-31/4 inches long with 5 slightly unequal broad
lobes l%-3 inches across, deep pink or sometimes
varying from whitish to purplish; stamens 4, in 2
pairs of ditferent lengths inserted on the corolla;
and pistil on a disk, with 2-celled ovary, slender
style, and 2-lobed stigma.

The pod (capsule) splits along 2 lines to shed
the numerous thin light brown seeds i/4-l inch
long with 2 white wings. The fresh seeds average
about 21,000 to the pound. Flowering mainly in
early spring but also sporadically through the
year, and with mature fruits over the year.

The heartwood is light brown with grayish or
golden hue and fine brown lines, not easily sepa-
rated from the similar sapwood. The wood is
moderately hard, moderately heavy (specific grav-
ity 0.58), tough, strong, with medium to coarse
texture, with straight to interlocked grain, and
growth rings. The rate of air-seasoning is rapid,
and amount of degrade is moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows : planing and resist-

498

Tabebuia heterophylla (DC.) Britton

ance to screw splitting are fair; shaping, boring,
inortising, and sanding are excellent ; and turning
is good. The wood takes a high polish. It is mod-
erately dural)le in contact with the ground but
very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.

The wood is important in Puerto Rico, classed as
construction timber, although now cut chiefly for
posts and poles. Other uses mostly elsewhere are
furniture, cabinetwork, interior trim, face veneer,
flooring, paneling, boatbuilding, and ox yokes.

Extensively planted on the more humid public
forest lands because of its adaptability to soils de-
graded by farming. The abundant small trees
found in many areas may in good weather be
pulled up and successfully reestablished by plant-
ing elsewhere. Classed also as a honey plant.

Because of the numerous large pink flowers
which cover the tree, often when nearly leafless,
and which form a carpet on the ground upon fall-
ing, the trees are popidar for ornament and shade.
Unfortunately, some trees in Puerto Rico have
been deformed by a witches'-broom disease. Also,
in long dry jjeriods, leafhoppers feed on these
trees, defoliating them or causing the leaves to
turn yellow. Consequently, some authorities have
suggested that planting of this species for orna-
ment be discontmued and have recommended the
substitution of immune introduced species of the
same genus.

Widespread in forests, abandoned pastures, sec-
ondary forests, forest plantations, and along road-
sides and city streets throughout Puerto Rico, with
the exception of the upper Luquillo and upper
Cordillera forest regions. Also in Mona, Caja de
Muertos, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas,
St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
Guajataca, Guanica, Guilarte, Luquillo, Maricao,
Rio Abajo, Susiia, Toro Xegro, Vega.

MUNICIP.VLITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON. —

13, 17, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 47, 50, 53, 58, 59,
68,74.

R.\NGE. — Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands, and throughout Lesser Antilles to Gre-
nada and Barbados. Also naturalized in Ber-
muda and planted in southern Florida.

Other common names. — roble, roble de yugo,
roble prieto, prieto. roble de costa (Puerto Rico) ;
pink man jack, pink-c«dar, tooshe- flower (Virgin
Islands) ; roble bianco (Spanish) ; roble (com-
merce) ; pink trumpet-tree (United States) ;
white-cedar (Bermuda, St. Kitts to Grenada) ;
poirier (St. Lucia); whitewood (Barbados);
poirier gris, poirier rouge, poirier blanc (Guade-
loupe, French).

Botanical synonyms.— T'aJe^MM! pentaphylla
auth., not (L.) Hemsl., T. pallida (Lindl.) Miers,
T. pallida subsp. heterophylla (DC.) Stehle, T.

236. Roble bianco, "white-cedar"

Two-thirds natural size.

Tabeiuia heterophylla (DC.) Britton

499

heterophylJa subsp. pallida (Miers) Stehle, T.
domlnicemis Urban, T. pallida subsp. domini-
cetisifi (Urban) Stehle, 7'. lucida Britton.

The Spanish name roble bianco, meaning white
oak, refers to the superficial resemblance of the
wood to oak. The local English name "white-
cedar" in the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles
is misleading, because the wood does not resemble
that of the unrelated cedars. White tabebuia
would be a more appropriate name.

This is a variable species whose variations have
been distinguished as species or subspecies by some
authors, as the above synonymy indicates. The
typical variation common through Puerto Rico
except in the drier parts has leaves with 5 large
leaflets. In dry areas and on coastal thickets in
the Lesser Antilles the shorter trees, known as

roble prieto, have smaller leaves with reduced
leaflets as few as 1, fewer and mostly smaller flow-
ers, shorter pods, and smaller seeds. A third var-
iation present in Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Mar-
tinique is a large tree whose leaves generally have
only 1 large broadly elliptic thicker blade or
leaflet.

Some authoi-s have united this "West Indian
species with another species ranging from Mexico
through Central America to Colombia and Vene-
zuela and formerly known as Tahebuia. penta-
phi/lla^ a name now rejected. The mainland
species (T. rosea (Bertol.) DC), called apamate
in Venezuela and pink poui in Trinidad, is a larger
tree readily distinguislied by the 5 larger, long-
pointed, thinner, ovate leaflets.

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

237. Roble de sierra

A small to medium-sized tree confined to the
eastern mountains of Puetro Rico, distinguished
by: (1) opposite, elliptic to ovate, stiff and leath-
ery simple leaves 2-6 inches long and 11/4-21/4
inches wide, with edges curved under; (2) pink
to dark red tubular 5-lobed flowers 11/0-2 inches
long, 1 or few in terminal clusters; (3) dark
brown, cigarlike pods 5-614 inches long and %
inch in diameter; and (4) 4-angled twigs.

Evergreen tree commonly 25-30 feet tall and 8
inches in trunk diameter, sometimes larger or
shrubby. Crown open and spreading. The
smooth, light brown bark is usually covered with
mosses and similar small plants. Inner bark is
whitish and bitter. Twigs becoming gi'ay, with
tiny brown dotlike scales.

Petioles are %-l inch long. Blades are short-
pointed or rounded at apex and base, with tiny
brown dotlike scales, green on upper surface and
paler beneath.

Flowers have slender stalks 1-1 1/2 inches long.
There is a tubular calyx %-i/^ inch'long, covered
with dotlike scales; the tubular corolla 11/^-2

Tabebuia rigida Urban

inches long has 5 spreading lobes 1 inch across and
is pink, turning to dark red ; stamens 4 in 2 pairs
of different lengths, inserted near base of corolla;
and pistil on disk composed of 2-celled ovary,
slender style, and 2-lobed stigma.

The pod (capsule) splitting lengthwise releases
numerous thin light brown seeds 1-11/4 inches long
with 2 white wings. In flower and fruit nearly
through the year.

The sapwood is hard and brown. Because of
the small size and poor form of the trees, the wood
is little used.

Upper mountain forest, including dwarf forest,
in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico.

Public forest. — Luquillo.

Range. — Known only from eastern Puerto Rico.

Roble Colorado {Tabebuia schum^nniana Ur-
ban), known only from mountain forests of west-
ern Puerto Rico, is a related species also with sim-
ple leaves and red flowers. It differs in the leaves
broadest toward apex (obovate or oblanceolate),
3-614 inches long, and the usually longer flower
stalks 1-2 inches long.

500

237. Roble de sierra

Natural size.

Taiebuia rigida Urban

501

BIGNONIA FAMILY (BIGNONIACEAE)

238. Roble amarillo, ginger-thomas

The official flower of the United States Virgin
Ishmds, this oniamental shiiib or small tree is
characterized by: (1) many large, showy, tubular,
bell-shaped, 2-lobed, yellow flowers l^/^-S indies
long; (2) large, narrow, dark brown, cigarlike
pods 4-8 inches long and ^\^ inch in diameter;
and (3) opposite pinnate leaves 4-10 inches long
with 5-13 lance-shaped to elliptic saw-toothed leaf-
lets.

Having a great geographical range, this species
is somewhat variable in shape of leaflets and oth-
er characters and has been divided into varieties.
It is evergreen, 10-25 feet high, and to 3 inches or
moi-e in trimk diameter. The light gray bark is
rough and much furrowed. Inner bark is brown,
fibrous, and bitter. Young twigs are green, turn-
ing brown.

The short-stalked or stalkless leaflets are IV2-
4 inches long and ^-11/4 inches broad, long-
pointed at apex and short-pointed at base, thin,
usually hairless, and green on both surfaces.

Several flowers are borne on short stalks in a
terminal cluster (raceme). Tiie calyx is I/4 inch
long, tubular and 5-toothed ; the bright yellow fun-
nel-shaped or trumpet-shaped corolla 11/2-^
inches long and 11^4 inches across the 2 spreading
lobes; stamens 4, in 2 pairs of diiferent lengths,
inserted on the corolla ; and on a disk the pistil
with 2-celled ovary, long slender style, and 2-lobed
stigma.

The pod (capsule) splits open lengthwise to re-
lease many vei-y thin light brown seeds, which are
nearly 1 inch long including the 2 whitish papery
wings. Flowering and fruiting nearly throughout
the year.

Tlie sapwood is light brown and hard. The
wood is seldom available in size large enough for
use in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands but else-
where has been employed in cabinetmaking, wood
turning, and construction.

Tecoma stans (L.) H. B. K.

The principal local use is as an ornamental for
the showy flowers, such as along roadsides and
fences. The slightly fragrant flowers are a
source of honey. Flower buds will pop wlien
squeezed. Bark, leaves, and roots have been em-
ployed in home medicines.

Planted and on open hillsides in the southern
foothills of Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

RANGE.--Widely distributed in tropical Amer-
ica, including varieties, and perhaps spread and
naturalized from cultivation. Throughout West
Indies from Baliamas and Cuba to Trinidad, and
cultivated in Dutch West Indies. Also Florida
(l^erhaps naturalized) and from southern Texas,
southern New Mexico, and southern Arizona
south through Mexico and Central America to Bo-
livia, northern Argentina, and Brazil.

Other common names. — sauco amarillo, nii-
barba (Puerto Rico); yellow-elder, yellow-cedar
(Virgin Islands) ; sauco amarillo (Dominican Re-
public, Cuba) ; retama, tronadora, gloria (Mex-
ico) ; San Andres, tagualaiste, marchucha, tasto,
tache (El Salvador); sardinillo, San Andres
(Honduras); sardinillo, chilca, flor amarilla
(Nicaragua); candelillo, carboncillo (Costa
Rica) ; copete (Panama) ; fresno americano, roble
aniarillo, chirlobirlos (Colombia) ; fresnillo
(Venezuela) ; cholan, fresno (Ecuador) ; huaran-
hua (Peru); toco-toco (Bolivia); guaranguay
amarillo, guaran amarillo, guaranguay bianco,
guaranguanin (Argentina) ; yellow-trumpet,
Florida yellow-trumpet, yellow trumpet-flower,
yellow-elder (United State's) ; coribee (Antigua) ;
bois caraibe (Grenada) ; Christmas-hope (Trini-
dad) ; chevalier (Haiti) ; bois fleurs javmes
(Guadeloupe, St. Lucia) ; kelki heel, yellow-
blossom (Dutch AVest Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — Stetwlohiwn stans (L.)
Seem., S. incisum Rose & Standi., Tecoma trono-
dora (Loes.) Johnst.

502

238. Roble amarillo, ginger-thomas

Two-thirds natural size.

Tecoma stans (L.) H. B. K.

687-921 O — 64 63

503

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

Key to the 11 species illustrated (Xos. 239-249)

A. Twigs spiny or with persistent bristlelike stipules ; leaves small, mostly less than 2 inches long.

B. Twigs with paired gray spines ; flowers '-j inch long, the white corolla tubular. .5-lobed — 247. Randia aculeata.
BB. Twigs with narrow, bristlelike stipules forming rings back of leaves; flowers about 2 inches long, the corolla
whitish or pale yellowish, with narrow tube and '> very narrnvv spreading lobes — 241. Exostemu carihaeum.
AA. Twigs not spiny.

C. Flowers and fruits many, clustered at nodes, short-stalked.

D. Flowers more than 1 inch across the 5 spreading white corolla lobes ; fruits elliptic red berries (coffee

bean) — 24(1. Coffea arabica.*
DD. Flowers V-; inch long, the corolla with very narrow reddish or pink tube and 4 or 5 short white lobes ;
fruits rounded red or pink berries — 24.5. Ixora ferrea.
CC. Flowers and fruits variously arranged, not clustered at nodes.

E. Flowers few at the end of long, mostly slender stalks.

G. Flowers small, about % inch long, several erect along horizontal forks, the corolla tubular, white.
H. Twigs, buds, and young leaves sticky or resinous ; leaves narrowly elliptic, shiny green — 249.
Tcrebraria rcsinosa.
HH. Twigs and other parts hairless, not resinous ; leaves ovate, rounded to heart-shaped at base,
dull green — 239. Antirhra obtusifolia.
GG. Flowers larger, more than % inch long.

I. Corolla with broad tube and 5 broad lobes, pale yellow ; fruit elliptic, yellow brown, about 4
inches long — 243. Gcnipa americana.
II. Corolla narrowly tubular.

J. Flowers on slender stalk.s, the white corolla with 4 narrow, widely spreading lobes ; leaves
hairless, turning l)lackish upon drying — 242. Fanimca occidctitalis.
JJ. Flowers stalkless, hairy, the white to brown corolla with 6-8 rounded lobes ; leaves very
rough hairy on upper surface — 244. Gnrttarda scabra.
EE. Flowers many, about '-•; inch long, the corolla tubular, white.

K. Flowers crowded in a short-stalked ball-like cluster (head) ; fruit elliptic. 3—4 inches long, from
many flowers, malodorous — 246. Morinda citrifolia.*
KK. Flowers in regularly spreading, branched clusters (panicles) — 248. Hondeletia portoricensis.

239. Quina

Slirul) or tree found only in mountain forests of
eastern Puerto Rico, characterized by: (1) oppo-
site ovate or elliptic dark green leaves, almost
stalkless, rounded to heart-shaped at base and
blunt-pointed at apex; (2) inner bark reddish;
(3) many white, narrow, tubular, 4-lobed flowers
about % inch long, erect and stalkless on upper
side of nearly horizontal curved paired forks of
lateral branches; and (4) black, narrowly elliptic
fruit 1.4-% inch long.

Evergreen shrub or tree 8-40 feet high and to
8 inches in trunk diameter. The gray bark is
smoothish, the inner bark bitter. Twigs gray,
slightly stout, ending in a pointed bud %q inch
long, formed by a pair of scales (stipules) which
soon shed and leave a faint ringed scar at each
node.

Petioles are Vg inch long, and blades 2-f5 inches
long and 1-31/4 inches wide, dtill dark green above
and green beneath.

Flower clusters (cymes) are 3-6 inches long
and broad, the slender axis branching into 2 or
more pairs of forks. The flowers have a tubular
base (hypanthium) i/jg inch long enclosing the
ovary and bearing 4 minute calyx teeth ; white nar-
row corolla tube 14 inch long and 4 spreading
rounded lobes Vs i^ich across; 4 stamens inserted
inside corolla tube ; and pistil of slender style with
2-lobed stigma above the inferior ovary.

The black fruit (drupe) has minute calyx at
apex and contains 2 narrow seeds within the large
2-celled stone. Flowering from May to August
and fruiting from August to December.

The woocl is light brown to reddish brown, hard,
strong, and heavy. Used mostly for posts.

504

Antirhea obtusifolia Urban

Mountain forests, mainly in understory, in east-
em Puerto Rico.

PuBuo FORESTS. — Carite, Luquillo.

Range. — Restricted to eastern Puerto Rico.

Other common names. — quina roja, tortuguillo
( Puerto Rico).

Botanical synonym. — Stenostomum oitusifoU-
um (Urban) Britt on & Wilson.

This genus, whose name is spelled also Anti-
rrhoea, has 5 additional species of small trees or
shrubs in Puerto Rico, known in part as quina.
Quina or boje {Antirhea acutat-a (DC.) Urban;
synonym Stenontomwm acutatxim DC), of dry
forests of southwestern Puerto Rico, Mona, Vie-
ques, Muertos, and other islands, has oblong leaves
smaller than the other species, %-2i4 inches long,
and longer white tubular flowers % inch long.

Antirhea sintenisii Urban (synonym Steno-
stommn sintenisii (Urban) Britton & Wilson),
known only from moist forests of Puerto Rico, has
oblong or lance-shaped leaves 2^1^^ inches long, 3
to 5 times as long as wide, and cream-colored
flowers about % inch long.

The other 3 species have broader, ovate to elliptic
leaves mostly 2-3 times as long as wide. Palo
lloron {Antirhea lucida (Sw.) Benth. & Hook. f. ;
synonym Stenofitomum lucidu7n (Sw.) Gaertn.
f.), rare in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands but
in other West Indian islands and British Hon-
duras, has elliptic leaves li/^-6 inches long, thin
and shiny green above, and yellowish or white
flowere about Va inch long.

Another species of quina or boje {Antirhea
coriaeea (Vahl) Urban; synonym Stenostomum
coriaceum (Vahl) Griseb.), of northern and north-

7

ij'

239. Quina

Antirhea obtusifolia Urban

Natural size.

505

western Puerto Rico and other islands, has elliptic
or ovate leaves 2-5 inches lon^r, slightly thickened,
dull green, with petioles about 14 inch long, and
white flowers about % inch long.
A closely related rare species {Anfirh-ea portori-

cens'iH (Britton & Wilson) Standi.; synonym
Stenoxtonnan portoricense Bi-itton & Wilson), of
northern Puerto Rico, dilTers in its petioles %-%
inch long and 4-celled elliptic fruit % inch long
and Vi inch in diameter.

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

240. Cafe, coffee

Coffea arabica L.*

This familiar cultivated shrub, the source of
one of the world's most popular beverages, some-
times becomes a small tree and is sufficiently com-
mon and important for inclusion here. Cotl'ee is
characterized by : ( 1 ) opposite, elliptic, shiny
dark green leaves, commonly long-pointed at apex
and short-pointed at base, and with undulating
upper surface, the veins sunken, on long slender
spreading and slightly drooping twigs; (2) white
fragrant flowers IVa iriches across the 5 long corolla
lobes, several together and almost stalkless at leaf
bases along a twig; and (3) elliptic red berries
V2~% inch long, containing usually 2 large brown
seeds, the coifee beans.

Generally a compact shrub 5-10 feet high but in
age and if not pruned back becoming a small tree
12-15 feet high and 2-3 inches in trunk diameter,
evergreen with spreading foliage. The bark is
light gray, thin, mucli fissured, and becoming
rough. Inner bark is whitish and tasteless. From
the main axis extend many twigs, green when
young but changing to light brown, with paired
long-pointed scales (stipules) %6 inch long at
nodes.

Petioles are %-!/•> inch long, and blades 3-7
inches long and ^Vo-'^'^A inches broad, the edges
often slightly wavy, a little thickened, hairless,
paler green beneath.

Flowei-s are clustered on short, stalks about Vg
inch long. The calyx consists of 5 minute teeth on
the green tubular base (hypanthium) less than i/g
inch long ; the showy corolla has a narrow cylin-
drical tube %-i/^ inch long and 5 widely spread-
ing, narrow, pointed lobes % inch long; there are
5 white stamens inserted in mouth of corolla tube;
and pistil with 2-celled inferior ovai-y and slender
2- forked white style.

The coffee berries have a thin fleshy pulp and
2 (sometimes 1) elliptic seeds or beans %6-%
inch long, flattened on the side where they join.
There are about 1,000 seeds to a pound. Flower-
ing mainly in spring from March to June and
maturing fruits for harvest from September to
December.

The wood is whitish, hard, heavy, and tough.
It is little used in Puerto Rico.

Coffee is one of the most important agricultur-
al products exported from tropical America.
The shrubs are widely cultivated in tropical
regions for their seeds, which contain cail'ein and
are roasted and ground to produce the drink of
the same name. This is the most widely grown of
several species. There are many varieties. It is
reported that in the New World coffee was intro-
duced first into Surinam by the Dutch in 1714,
into Jamaica in 1718, Martinique in 1720, and
Brazil in 1727.

In the mountainous areas of Puerto Rico, coffee
is one of the principal crops. Coffee plantations
are located in the mountains chiefly at elevations
between 800 and 3,000 feet, on an area of about
175,000 acres. Tlie shrubs are grown under
shade trees, chiefly guaba (Inga vera Willd.) and
guama (Inga Jmirlna (Sw.) Willd.). These
plantations protect the soil and reduce erosion on
mountain slopes. Because of its many large
flowers, coffee is also a honey plant, producing
white honey with a characteristic flavor.

Planted and escaping from cultivation in
Puerto Rico. Also to a limited extent in St.
Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

R.\NGE. — Native of Abyssinia but early intro-
duced into Arabia (14th century) and extensive-
ly planted and escaping through the tropics.
Cultivated and escaping or naturalized in
Bermuda and most of West Indies from Cuba
and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
Mexico and Central America south to Brazil.
Grown as a novelty or ornamental shrub in
southern Florida and southern California.

Other common names. — cafe, cafeto (Span-
ish) ; coffee, Arabian coffee (English) ; cafe,
cafeier (French); koffie (Dutch); cafe (Brazil).

Other species and varieties of coffee have
been introduced experimentally in Puerto Rico.
Dewevre coffee or cafe excelsa {Coffea deioevrei
Wildem. & T. Dur.*), sometimes planted, is a
small tree 20 feet high and 4 inches in trunk
diameter or larger unless pruned. It has large
elliptic leaves 9-14 inches long and 3i^-6 inches
wide, leathery, dark green, and slightly shiny;
white flowers with corolla of 5-7 lobes; and red-
dish-yellow berries.

506

240. CaK, coffee

Two-thirds natural size.

Coftea arabica L.
507

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

241. Albarillo, Caribbean princewood

This shrub or small tree of dry areas is distin-
"fuishedby: (1) slender spreading branches some-
times without a definite crown of foliage; (2)
opposite, small, thin, elliptic or ovate leaves, long-
er short-pointed with minute sharp point at apex
and short-pointed at base, commonly curved up-
ward on both sides of midrib ; (3) large whitish or
pale yellowish flowers 2-2i/o inches long, with nar-
row corolla tube and 5 very narrow spreadinfj
lobes, borne singly at leaf bases; and (4) dark
brown elliptic seed capsules %-% inch long.

Evergreen, 10-25 feet high and to 4 inches in
trunk diameter. The bark is dark gi'ay, smoothish
with dots (lenticels), and thin, or becoming fis-
sured. Inner bark is bitter and yellow, the cut sur-
face turning orange. The slender gray twigs have
leaves commonly crowded and a pair of pointed
bristlelike scales (stipules) % inch long fonning a
ring at each node. The nodes are mostly close to-
gether and bear old fruit stalks as well as scale
rings back of the leaves.

The leaves have slender petioles %-% inch long
and blades 1-3 inches long and V0-I14 inches
broad, the edges not toothed, green to dai-k green
on upper surface, lighter green and slightly hairy
beneath. Sometimes the leaves are yellow spotted,
perhaps from disease.

The lateral flowers, which are slightly fragrant,
have slender stalks about i/i i"ch long and are as
much as 3 inches long in the bud. The naiTow
tubular base (hypanthium) %b inch long bears a
cup-shaped calyx Vie i»ch long with 5 teeth; the
white or pale yellow corolla is composed of a nar-
row tube 114 — IV2 inches long and 5 very narrow
spreading lobes about 11/4 inches long; 5 stamens
united at base and inserted at base of corolla tube
and with very slender yellow anthers extending 1
inch beyond tube; and pistil with 2-celled inferior
ovary and very long slender style about 2V2 inches
long.

The seed capsules split into 2 parts to release
the many brown seeds, which are elliptic, %6 i'^^h
long, thin, and bordered by a narrow ring.
Flowering and fruiting irregularly through the
year.

The sapwood is yellow, and the heartwood is
light brown with yellow streaks. The wood is
hard, very heavy (specific gravity 1.0), and
strong. A durable fencepost. Elsewhere the wood
has been utilized in cabinetmaking, wood turning,
such as for canes, and inlaid work. The wood

Exostema caribaeum (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult.

burns readily and has served for torches, as a few
common names indicate.

Formerly the bitter bark was used for treatment
of fevers and as a substitute for cinchona bark,
the source of quinine, which is obtained from a
closely related genus (Cinchona).

Common in open areas, clearings, thickets, and
cutover dry forests near coasts and at lower and
middle elevations in southern and western Puerto
Rico. Also in Mona, Culebra, Vieques, Muertos,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin
( iorda, and Anegada.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Guanica, Maricao,
Susua.

Municipalities where especially common. —
12, 26, 54.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and through West Indies from Bahamas and
Cuba to Grenada. Also from central Mexico to
Costa Rica.

Other common names. — palo de Jazmin, teilla,
cuero de sapo, quina, palo de quina (Puerto Rico) ;
yellow-torch (Virgin Islands) ; pini-pini, quina
criolla (Dominican Republic) ; cerillo, lirio san-
tana, carey de costa (Cuba) ; copalche (Mexico) ;
hesito (Nicaragua); Caribbean princewood,
princewood (United States) ; princewood (Ba-
hamas) ; Caribbee bark-tree, Jamaica Jesuit-bark
(Jamaica) ; ironwood (Antigua) ; chandelle Aiig-
laise, quinquiiia pays (Haiti) ; tendre en gomme,
quinquina caraibe, bois chandelle (Guadeloupe) ;
quinquina piton (Martinique).

Two other species of this genus have been col-
lected once in Puerto Rico, though present also on
other islands. Plateado (Exostema eJUpticwm
Gi'iseb.), found in tlie mountain forest of the Cen-
tral Cordillera near Villalba, has elliptic leaves
l%-3i/4 inches long and 1-1% inches wide,
rounded or short-pointed at both ends, with
petioles about I/4 inch long; clusters of few smaller
flowers about 1-11/4 inches long, with corolla
white, becoming rose ; and cylindric seed capsules
%-li/4 inches long.

Exostema sanetae-Juciae (Kentish) Britten, ob-
served in the mountain forest near Maricao many
years ago, has larger oblong to elliptic leaves
4—81/^ inches long and about half as wide, short-
pointed, shiny above, dull and with tufts of hairs
in vein angles beneath, with petioles i/^ inch long
or less; flower clusters terminal, flowers l-l^/^
inches long, with red corolla; and cylindric seed
capsules %-% inch long.

508

241. Albarillo, Caribbean princewood

Natural size.

Exostvma caribacum (Jacq. ) Roem. & Schult.

509

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

242. Cafeillo, false-coffee

This shrub or small tree is distinguished by : ( 1 )
very long lateral branches bearing numerous op-
posite leaves; (2) elliptic, shiny dark green leaves,
abruptly long-pointed at apex and short-pointed at
base, and with a pair of bristle-tipped scales
(stipules) 1/4 inch or more in length between each
2 leaves; (3) fragrant white flowers with narix>w
tube about % inch long and 4 widely spreading,
narrow, pointed corolla lobes about % inch long,
in loosely branched terminal and lateral clustere;
and (4) hard black fiiiits about % inch in diam-
eter, rounded but broader than long.

Evergi'een shrub or small tree 10-30 feet or more
in height and 3 inches or more in trunk diameter.
The gray or brown bark is smoothish and slightly
fissured. Inner bark is light brown, almost taste-
less. Twigs are slender and gi-een with rings at
nodes.

The leaves have petioles 14-14 inch long and
blades 3-6 inches long and 1-3 inches broad, not
toothed at edges, slightly thickened, and paler
green beneath. The foliage darkens or becomes
blackish upon di-j'ing.

Flower clusters (panicles) are 1-4 inches long,
with few to several flowers on long slender stalks.
The tubular base (hypanthium) i/ie inc'i ^ong
bears a cup-shaped calyx more than i/iq inch long
with 4 minute teeth ; the white corolla has a narrow
tube % inch or less in length and 4 lobes; the 4
stamens are inserted in the mouth of corolla tube ;
and the pistil has an inferior 1-celled ovai-y, slen-
der style, and 2-forkecl stigma. Often flower buds
are deformed as insect galls, the corolla enlarged
near base and with very short lobes.

Farantea occidentalis (L.) A. Rich.

The fniits (drupes) have calyx remaining at
apex and contain 1 large rounded brown seed with
a depression on 1 side. Flowering in spring and
summer, the fruits maturing in summer and fall.

The wood is light brown or yellow, hard, and
moderately heavy, and takes a good polish. Gen-
erally too small for other than fuelwood use in
Puerto Rico but reported as used m carpentry else-
where.

Understory tree or shrub in forests of moist
limestone and lower mountain regions in Puerto
Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.

Public forests. -^ Luquillo, Guajataca, Rio
Abajo, Susiia.

Range. — Through West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
Also from central Mexico through Central
America to Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and the
Guianas.

Other common names. — palo de toro, cafe ci-
marron (Puerto Rico) ; cafetillo (Dominican Re-
public) ; hiquillo, cafe cimarron, jiicaro, jujano,
nabaco (Cuba) ; hueso (Mexico) ; cafecillo (Mex-
ico, El Salvador); huesito (Panama); cafecillo,
cafecillo de danta, jasmin de estrella (Venezuela) ;
jujamo, cafetillo de monte (Ecuador) ; wild-cof-
fee (. Jamaica, St. Kitts, Montserrat, St. Vincent,
Barbados) ; cafe marron, bois fleche (Guade-
loupe) .

Botanical synonym. — Faramea odoratissima
DC.

510

242. Cafeillo, false-coffee

Two-thirds natural size.

Faramea occidentalis (L.) A. Rich.

511

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

243. Jagua, genipa

Ja^ia or genipa, the source of a sour refreshing
drink, is characterized by : (1) an erect trunk with
leaves concentrated at the ends of the branches;
(2) opposite, hirge, elliptic or obovate leaves, green
or dark green, slightly shiny, 4—12 inches long and
11/^—1: inches broad, short-pointed at apex, long-
pointed at base, and broadest beyond middle; (3)
large pale yellow flowei-s about 1 inch long and
11/2 inches across the 5 lobes, few or several in short
terminal clusters; and (4) large elliptic yellow-
brown fruits 314-414 inches long and 21/0-31/2
inches in diameter, with sour edible flesh, hanging
down singly on long stalks.

This is a medium-sized deciduous tree to 60 feet
high and li/^ feet in diameter or larger, with
spreading crown of dense foliage. The bark is
smooth, gray, and thick. Inner bark is light brown
and almost ta.?teless. The stout twigs are green,
turning brown, with ringed nodes close together,
hairless or hairy.

The short petioles are V4-V2 i'i''b long. Blades
are without teeth on edges, slightly thickened,
the lower surface paler green and hairless and
often hairy. At the base of young leaves are
long-pointed scales (stipules) %-% inch long,
which shed early. Upon drying the leaf blades
turn dark bluish green.

The branched flower clusters (cymes) are short-
stalked, 2-4 inches long and broad, bearing large,
slightly fragrant flowers. The funnel-shaped base
(hypanthium) and cylindrical tubular calyx with-
out lobes are green, together i^ inch long and 1,4
inch in diameter; the corolla has a tube about i/^
inch long with 5 broad lol>es, which are widely
spreading and turned back, pale yellow but brown
at base inside, finely hairy; 5 stamens inserted on
the corolla tube; and pistil with 2-celled inferior
ovary, slender style, and long thicker stigma.

Fruits (berries) are soft when mature, with
strong sour odor, with leathery skin and yellow-
brown pulp Vo inch thick. Within are numerous
flat yellowish seeds %-yo inch long. Flowering
and fruiting from spring to fall.

The sapwood is cream colored, and the heart-
wood vei-y light yellowish brown, occasionally
with slight pinkish- or purplish-blue overcast,
with growth rings marked by narrow darker
bands forming an attractive striped figure. The
wood is hard, heavy ( specific gravity 0.66) , strong,
resilient, fine-textured, and with straight to irreg-
ular grain. Rate of air-seasoning is slow, and
amount of degrade is minor. Machining charac-

Genipa americana L.

teristics are as follows: planing, shaping, turning,
boring, and mortising are excellent; and sanding
and resistance to screw splitting are good. The
wood works easily and with excellent results, bet-
ter than most other Puerto Rican woods. It is
very suscejitible to attack by dry-wood termites,
pinhole borers, and to decay.

l^ses include tool handles, furniture, boxes, and
carts. Elsewhere the wood is employed for shoe
lasts, plow beams, tool handles, barrel hoops,
chests, vehicles, and shipbuilding. It is very suit-
able for cabinetwork, turnery, flooring, interior
trim, and decorative veneer.

The trees are grown for shade and ornament as
well as for the fruit and wood. An intoxicating
beverage has been prepared from the fermented
juice. The fruits sometimes are made into mar-
malade or preserves. Immature fruits contain a
blue-black juice which produces a lasting or indeli-
ble stain. It has been used as a dye and by the
Indians in tattooing and in painting themselves as
a protection against insect bites. A honey plant.
Livestock eat the fruits.

Woodlands and pastures in the coastal, moist
limestone, and lower mountain regions of Puerto
Rico. Planted around houses for the edible fruits.
Also in Vieques, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Pt'BLic FORKSTs. — Cambalache, Carite, Luquillo,
Maricao. Rio Abajo, Susua.

Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles from Guadeloupe
to Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
southern Mexico and Central America south to
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil.

Other common names. — jagua (Spanish, com-
merce) ; maluco (Mexico) ; irayol, irayol de loma
(Guatemala); irayol, tambor, tinadientes (El
Salvador) ; tapaculo, gigualti (Nicaragua) ; guai-
til (Costa Rica) ; guaitil bianco, jagua amarilla,
jagua blanca, jagua Colorado, jagua de montana,
jagua negra (Panama) ; caruto, caruto rebalsero
(Venezuela) ; huito, vaco-huito, vito (Peru) ; bi
(Bolivia); nandipa (Argentina); genipap, mar-
malade-box (British West Indies); rose-marie
(St. Lucia) ; resotu montagne (Dominica) ; juni-
per, genip (Trinidad) ; ibo-ink (Tobago) ; lana,
geniptree, genipa (British Guiana) ; gene-pas,
genipayer (Haiti); genipa (Guadeloupe, French
Guiana) ; taproepa, tapoeripa, arasaloe, sawa
(Surinam) ; genipapo (Brazil).

Botanical synonyms. — Genipa caruto H. B. K.,
G. americana var. caruto (H. B. K.) Schum.

512

■"PI

243. Ja^a, genlpa

Two-thirds natural size.

Oenipa americana L.

513

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

244. Palo de cucubano, "greenheart," roughleaf velvetseed

Guettarda scabra (L.) Vent.

This coiiiiiion small tree with very rough leaves
is recognized by: (1) opposite, small, elliptic or
ovate leaves which are thick and stitT, with edges
turned under, very rough on upper surface, and
finely hairy with very prominent raised network
of small veins on lower surface; ('2) narrow, hairy,
white to brown flowers %-! inch long, tubular and
6-8-lobed, several crowdetl together at end of a
lateral stalk; and (;>) rounded, red, velvety hairy,
fleshy fruits Vi-V2 i'^""!^ i'^ diameter.

An evergreen small tree 10-15 feet or more in
heiglit and to 4 inches in trunk diameter with
open, spreading crown, or shrubby. The bark is
gray, smooth, and thin, on larger trunks peeling
off in small thin flakes and slightly mottled. In-
ner bark is whitish or light brown, almost taste-
less or slightly bitter. The twigs are green and
brown hairy wiien young, becoming gray.

The leaves iiave petioles Vs-% i'^ch long, hairy
when young, and a pair of narrow, pointed, hairy-
scales (stipules) 3/jg inch long at the base. Blades
are 1-31/2 inches long and %-2 inches broad, short-
pointed and with minute sharp point at apex,
rounded or slightly heart-shaped at base. The
upper surface is green, rough hairy (sometimes
nearly smootli), slightly shiny, and with veins a
little sunken, and the lower surface is paler.

Usually several or a few fragrant flowers, hairy
and stalkless, are borne on a headlike cluster
(cyme) at the end of an erect slender hairy flower
stalk %-3 inches long. The short tubular base
(hypanthium) and irregularly i2-lobed calyx tube
together are nearly %e inch long ; the corolla has
a narrow tube al)()ut % inch long and 6-8 spread-
ing lobes % inch across, white (sometimes pink-
ish) but turning to brown: stamens as many as
the corolla lobes, inserted almost stalkless near
mouth of tube ; and pistil consists of inferior ovary
with usually 4-6 cells, slender style, and rounded
stigma. Fruits (drupes) are broader than long,
with a large stone containing a few seeds. Flower-
ing and fruiting irregularly through the year.

The sapwond is light brown and hard. A spe-
cific gravity of about US has been recorded. Used
only for stakes and fuel.

Common in open areas, clearings, and thickets
in the coastal, moist limestone, and lower moun-
tain regions of Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St.
(^roix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin
Gorda. ^

PiBLic FonESTs. — Cambalache, Guajataca,Mari-
cao, Rio Abajo, Susiia, Vega.

MrNiciPALmEs where especially common. —
64, 74.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys and through West Indies from Bahamas and

Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago, Margarita (Vene-
zuela), and other islands off coast of Venezuela.
Also recorded long ago from Jamaica.

Other common names. — palo de dajao, serra-
suela (Puerto Rico) ; "greenheart" (Virgin Is-
lands) ; carapacho, chicharron de monte (Cuba) ;
roughleaf velvetseed, rough velvetseed (United
States); rough velvetseed, velvet-berry (Baha-
mas); craw-wood (Barbuda); candlewoocl (An-
tigua) ; bois madame, bois noire (St. Lucia) ; ju-
niper (Grenada); blue copper (Tobago); bois
madame, goyavier batard (Guadeloupe) ; candle-
wood, wild guave (St. Martin, Saba, St. Eusta-
tius).

Though called "greenheart" in the Virgin Is-
lands, tliis small tree is unrelated to the valuable
timber greenheart or Demerara greenheart {Oco-
iea rodinei ( R. Schomb. ) Mez) , of British Guiana.

Five related species of trees all have the leaves
smooth above. The first 3 below have flowers
about 34 inch long, and the last 2 liave smaller
flowers less than 1/2 "ich long. Cucubano {Giiet-
tarda laevh Urban), known only from mountain
forests of western Puerto Rico, has attractive use-
ful wood described in "Puerto Rican Woods" and
available in small sizes. It has broadly ovate to
elliptic leaves 11/2-5 inches long, slightly thick-
ened, hairless except for minute hairs on veins be-
neath, and petioles hairless or minutely hairy.

Guettaixla oralifolki Urban, of central and west-
ern Puerto Rico, mostly in mountains, and also
Hispaniola, has broadly ovate to elliptic leaves
2^14 inches long, thin, upper surface nearly hair-
less and with veins in prominent network, lower
surface hairy on veins, and petioles haii-y.

Guettarda krugii Urban, of coastal thickets of
southwestern Puerto Rico and also Bahamas, has
ovate to elliptic leaves 114-4 inches long, thick and
leathery, hairless above, the lower surface densely
hairy and with prominent network of veins.

Guettarda parvifoi^a Vahl is found in southern
Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St.
John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda, and Lesser An-
tilles south to northern South America. It has
small oblong to elliptic leaves 3/4-1^/4 inches long,
thin, shiny above, and hairless or nearly so be-
neath.

Guettarda elliptica Sw. grows mostly in coastal
thickets of southern and eastern Puerto Rico, St.
Thomas, Muertos, Desecheo, and Mona, west to
Florida, where known as Everglades dropseed;
also in Mexico and Venezuela. It has small ellip-
tic leaves %-2% inches long, thiii, dull and nearly
hairless above, and beneath with fine, pressed,
silky hairs.

514

244. Palo de cucubano, "greenheart," roughleaf velvetseed

Natural size.

Guettarda scabra (L. ) Vent

515

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

245. Cafeillo

Small tree or shrub characterized by: (1) twigs
with pi-omineiit swollen nodes; (2) opposite nar-
rowly elliptic leaves long-pointed at both ends,
with paired pointed scales (stipules) at base; (3)
flowers 1/2 inch long with very nan-ow reddish or
pink tube and 4 or 5 white lobes, nearly stalkless in
lateral clusters scattered along tlie larger twigs to
14 inch in diameter mostly back of leaves; and
(4) rounded red or pink berries about % inch in
diameter.

An evergreen spreading shrub or small tree to 20
feet high and 3 inches or more in trunk diameter,
hairless throughout. The dark brown bark is
smoothish, slightly fissured, or scaly. Inner bark
is light brown or pinkish and tasteless. Twigs are
gi-een, turning brown, with paired pointed sc^ales
(stipules) %-i/4 inch long at nodes.

Green jjetioles 1/4-^/^ inch long support the blades
which are 3-71/0 inches long and 1-3 inches broad,
slightly thickened, the upper surface green or dark
green and slightly shiny, beneath light green.

Flower clusters (corymbs) are composed of a
few fragrant flowers. The tubidar base (hypan-
thium) about Vie inch long bears a short red calyx
tube with 4 indistinct wavy teeth; the corolla has
a very narrow reddish or pink tube %-V2 inch long
and 1^2 inch in diameter and 4 or 5 broad, widely
spreading, white lobes Y^g inch across; there are 4
or 5 stamens at open end of tube; and the pistil

Ixora ferrea (Jacq.) Benth.

consists of inferior 2-celled ovary with slender
style and 2-Iobed stigma.

The rounded berries are greenish or yellowish,
turning to red or pink, fleshy, and contain 2 dark
brown seeds %6 inch long. In flower and fruit at
dirt'erent times during the year.

Tlie wood with light brown sapwood is hard,
heavy, sti-ong, and tough. Reported as used else-
where for fenceposts and in carpentry, but utiliza-
tion in Puerto Rico is limited to fuelwood by small
size of the trees.

Common in understory of forests in the moist
limestone and lower mountain regions in Puerto
Rico. Also in St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Public forests. — Guajataca, Luquillo, Rio
Abajo.

R.ANGE. — Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands, and through Lesser Antilles from
St. Kitts and Montserrat to Grenada and Bar-
bados. Also reported from Venezuela and British
Guiana.

Other common n.ames. — palo de dajao, palo de
hierro (Puerto Rico) ; dajao (Dominican Repub-
lic) ; cafe cimarron, cafetillo (Cuba) ; black
candlewood (Montserrat) ; bois crapaud (Domini-
ca) ; wild-coifee (St. Vincent) ; cafe marron
(Grenada) ; cafe grand bois (St. Lucia) ; bois de
fer rouge, bois jaune (Guadeloupe, Martinique).

516

245. CafelUo

Two-thirds natural size.

Ixora ferrea (Jacq.) Benth.

517

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

246. Morinda, painkiller

This small tree planted for ornament and natur-
lized on sandy coasts is characterized by: (1)
large, thin, elliptic, dark green leaves with undu-
lating surfaces, short-pointed at both ends, op-
posite on stout 4-angled twigs; (2) twigs with
paired rounded scales (stipules) about 14 inc'i
long at base of each pair of leaves, the scales leav-
ing ring scars upon shedding; (3) white tubular
4r-6-lobed flowers more than 14 inch long, many in
a lateral ball-like cluster on a short stalk; and (4)
whitish, green-tinged, elliptic multiple fniits 3-4
inches long and about 21A inches across, slightly
resembling pineapples, fleshy and malodorous.

Small evergreen tree to 20 feet high and 5 inches
in trunk diameter, or shrubby. Twigs hairless,
light green. The bark is gray or brown, smoothish
and slightly warty or scaly, and soft. Inner bark
is light brown and tasteless or slightly irritating.

The leaves have stout gi'een petioles about 1/0
inch long. Leaf blades are about 5-11 inches long
and 21/2-61/^ inches broad, not toothed on edges,
slightly shiny dark green on upper surface, and
the lower surface light green with small tufts of
hairs in vein angles along midrib.

Flower clusters (heads) about 1 inch across are
mostly single on stalks about 14 inch long and are
composed of many crowded flowers more than 1/0
inch long rising from a light green rounded or
elliptic mass. The light green base (hypanthium)
more than y^ inch long bears a very short light
green calyx rim ; the white corolla nearly I/2 inch
long is tubular with 4—6 lobes %--V2 inch across;
4-6 stamens ^/iq inch long are inserted near mouth
of corolla tube; and the pistil is composed of in-
ferior 2-celled ovai-y with slender light green style
and 2-lobed stigma.

Morinda citrifolia L.*

From the flower head develops a multiple fruit
(syncarp), a compact, soft, juicy mass of fruits
from individual flowere. These fruits, which
liave a cheeselike odor, reportedly are edible.
The surface is irregular and warty, marked by
the 4— 6-sided individual fruits I/2 inch across,
each 2-celled and 2-seeded. The seeds are more
than i/g inch long. Flowering and fruiting near-
ly through the year.

Tlie sap wood is yellow brown and soft.

A red dye has been obtained from the bark.
The edible fruits are eaten also by hogs.

The English name painkiller refers to use of
the leaves in the Vii'gin Islands, Trinidad, British
Guiana, and probably elsewhere in alleviating
pain. According to different directions, a hot
leaf (heated over a fire) or wilted leaf is pressed
against the body on painful swellings, a poultice
of the leaves is applied to wounds or to the head
for headaches, or crushed leaves in lard or
camphor oil are put on the face for treatment of
neuralgia or head colds.

Sometimes grown for ornament in Puerto
Rico. Also planted or naturalized along sandy
coasts of Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, St. John, and Tortola.

Range. — Native of India, Malaya including
East Indies, and tropical Australia and intro-
duced into other tropical areas. Cultivated and
in part naturalized through West Indies from
Cuba and Jamaica to Barbados and Trinidad.
Rarely planted at Key West, Florida, and grown
also in Guianas.

Other common n.\mes. — gardenia hedionda,
noni (Puerto Rico) ; nigua, piiia de puerto
(Dominican Republic) ; Indian-mulberry, pain-
killer (English) ; douleur, fromagier (Haiti) ;
rhubarbe caraibe (Guadeloupe).

518

246. Morinda, painkiller

Natural size.

Morinda cHrifolia L.

687-921 O— 64 34

519

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

247. Tintillo, box-briar

A spiny shrub or small tree, mostly of dry areas,
characterized by : (1) long, slender, still', horizon-
tal branches with 4 rows of many paired short lat-
eral twigs %-2 inches long, usually ending in a
pair of widely forking gray spines 1/4-% inch long ;
(2) leaves varying in shape from elliptic to nearly
round to spoon-shaped (spatulate), %-l% inches
long and Vi-l inch broad, almost stalkless, op-
posite or clustered; (3) fragrant white flowers 14
inch long, with short tube and 5 broad flat corolla
lobes % inch across, single and stalkless on twigs ;
and (4) rounded ben-ies V4~V2 inch in diameter
with calyx remaining at apex, green turning to
white at maturity.

Deciduous shrub 5-10 feet high or small tree
to 20 feet tall and 3 inches in trunk diameter, with
erect axis and thin crown of many nearly hori-
zontal spiny branches. The bark is gray and
smoothisli or slightly fissured. Inner bark is light
brown, slightly gritty and tasteless.

The leaves are opposite or often clustered 4 to-
gether at end of a short lateral twig, almost stalk-
less or with short petioles to % inch long and
brown scales (stipules) 1/1 g inch long at base.
Blades are short-pointed at base, rounded at apex,
not toothed on edges, a little thickened, shiny
green above, and beneath light green and slightly
shiny.

The solitary flowers appearing lateral along the
twigs actually are on very short spur or lateral
twigs about Vie inch long. The light green tubu-
lar base (hypanthium) about Vjg inch long en-
closes the inferior 2-celled ovary and bears a light
green calyx tube about 1/1 g inch long with 5 nar-
row calyx lobes Vig inch long. The white corolla
consists of a broad tube more than i/g inch long
and 5 elliptic lobes Yie inch long, hairy at throat.
At apex of tube are 5 stalkless light brown sta-
mens about Vie inch long, alternating with the
lobes. The pistil with inferior ovaiy has a whitish
style nearly 14 inch long and broader, 2-lobed
stigma. Flowers .sometimes are small and with

Randia aculeate L.

4-lobed corolla. A berry contains several rounded
seeds in blue or black pulp. Flowering and with
green fruits nearly through the year.

The light brown wood is hard and heavy. Fish-
ing rods are made from the rigid stems in the
Virgin Islands.

The names arbol de navidad and Christmas-tree
refer to use of the tree as a Christmas decoration.
A blue dye has been obtained from the berries,
the source of the common names tintillo and ink-
berry. It is reported that the fruits can be eaten
and also have been employed elsewhere in home
remedies.

Thickets and open forests, mostly in dry areas,
in the coastal, limestone, and lower mountain re-
gions of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Icacos,
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola,
and Anegada.

PtrBLic FORESTS. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite,
Guajataca, Guanica, Susua.

Range. — Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bennuda, and throughout West Indies from
Bahamas and Cuba to Grenada and Barbados,
Trinidad and Tobago, and Bonaire and Curagao.
Also in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and
Venezuela.

Other common names. — escambron, cambron,
arbol de navidad, palo de navidad, palo de cotorra,
sota caballo (Puerto Rico); fishing-rod, Christ-
mas-tree, inkberry (Virgin Islands) ; resuelesuele
(Dominican Republic) ; cafe cimarron (Cuba) ;
espino cruz, crucete, crucilla, papachilla (Mexi-
co) ; crucito, tintero (El Salvador) ; cruceto, maiz
tostado, maria angola, corallero (Colombia) ;
cruceto (Venezuela) ; box-briar (Bermuda, Ba-
hamas, Jamaica) ; indigo-berry, inkberry, prickle-
bush (Jamaica) ; fishing-rod (Antigua) ; inkberry
(Barbados) ; peetsch-kitam (British Honduras) ;
croc-a-chien (Haiti) ; petit coco (St. Barthelemy,
Guadeloupe) ; raboe die kabasi, wakoera, leele
(Dutch West Indies).

Botanical synonyms. — Randia miti^ L., R.
aculeata var. mitis (L.) Griseb.

520

247. Tintillo, box-briar

Natural size.

Randia aculeata L.
521

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

248. Juan tomas

A small to mediuni-sized tree or shrub of moun-
tain forests, confined to Puerto Kico, character-
ized by: (1) opposite elliptic leaves 3-7 inches
long and 114-3 inches broad, short-pointed at both
ends, with midrib pink or red on under side and
sometimes also on upper side; (2) 2 broad and
pointed green scales (stipules) %6-Vi: i'l^'li long
at the base of each pair of leaves; (3) tubular
white flowers 14 inch long and with 5 lobes % inch
across, several to many in lateral clusters; and
(4r) gray or brown seed capsules I/4 inch long,
nearly round but broader than long.

Generally a small tree 15-25 feet high and to 6
inches in trunk diameter, sometimes larger, or a
shnib, evergreen. The gray bark is smoothish
and slightly fissured. Inner bark is pinkish out-
side and liglit brown within, slightly bitter. The
twigs are gray and with rings at nodes, greenish
and minutely hairy when young, the nodes partly
ci'owded and partly distant.

Petioles are V^j-l inch long, green or tinged with
pink, minutely hairy. I^eaf blades are slightly
thickened and slightly fleshy, with edges turned
under, green and hairless on upper surface, the
lower surfai'e paler and with prominent minutely
hairy midrib.

Flower clusters (panicles) are branched, l-2Vo
inches long, with several to many fragrant flowers.
The light green, finely hairy tubular base (hy-
panthium) more than y^e inch long bears 5 calyx
teeth nearly as long: the tubular white corolla %
inch long has 5 widely spreading lobes turned

Rondeletia portoricensis Krug & Urban

back, minutely hairy; 5 stamens are inserted with-
in corolla tube; and the pistil is composed of in-
ferior 2-celled ovary witii hairy style and 2-lobed
stigma.

Seed capsules are minutely hairy, splitting open
into 4 parts, containing many tiny winged seeds
1/16 inch long. Flowering in summer, and fruit
maturing in fall.

Sapwood is light brown and hard. This tree is
ordinarily small and not utilized.

Widely distributed usually in the understory of
mountain forests of Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Luquillo, Maricao, Toro
Negro.

Range. — Puerto Rico only.

Two related species are shrubs or small trees.
Cordobancillo (Rondeletia inermk (Spreng.)
Krug & Urban) is widely distributed in Piierto
Rico and also in Muertos but not known elsewhere.
It has opposite, linear to oblong or elliptic leaves
1/2^ inches long and 1/4-2 inches wide and lateral
clusters of 5 or fewer tubular flowers about V^ inch
long with 4-lobed corolla yellow or white, changing
to purple.

Rondeletm pilosa Sw. is found in coastal thickets
of eastern and southeastern Puerto Rico, St. Croix,
St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and
Montserrat. It has the twigs and under surfaces
of leaves densely soft hairy ; opposite elliptic leaves
11/4^ inches long; and lateral clusters of usually
3 tubular flowers about % incli long with 4-lobed
corolla.

522

248. Juan tomfis

Natural size.

Rondeletia portorieensis Krug & Urban

523

MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE)

249. Aquilon

Easily recognized by the sticky or resinous buds,
young twigs, young leaves, and flower clusters, the
buds with a whitish mass of resin about i/i inch
across and 2-pointed. Other distinguishing cliar-
acters are: (1) a dense symmetrical and conical
light green crown; (2) the opposite, narrowly el-
liptic or lance-shaped leaves, shiny green on up-
per surface as if varnished, especially when young;
(3) small tubular white flowers about % inch long,
5- or 4-lobed, stalkless along 2 horizontal forks of
a slender lateral axis; and (4) the elliptic, brown
or black, fleshy fruits Yia inch long.

A small- or medium-sized evergreen tree 20-30
feet high and to 1 foot in trunk diameter, or
shrubby. The gray bark is smoothish, flaky and
scaly, on large trunks becoming mottled as thin
flakes peel off. Inner bark is pink and bitter. The
twigs are green when young, turning light brown
or gray, with hairy ringed scales (stipules) %
inch high at nodes.

Petioles are %-% inch long. Leaf blades are
2-41/2 inches long and %-lV8 inches broad, mostly
long-pointed at both ends, the edges turned under,
slightly thickened and leathery, hairless, paler be-
neath.

Flower clusters (cymes) have a slender green
stalk 11/4-2 inches long with 2 horizontal forks Y^-
1/2 inch long bearing several crowded stalkleas
flowers all on the upper side. Flowers about %
inch long ai'e composed of a short green tubular

Terebraria resinosa (Vahl) Sprague

base (hypanthium) and cup-shaped hairy calyx,
together more than i/ig inch long; white corolla
^16 inch long, with narrow tube and 4 or 5 lobes
3/i6 inch across, minutely haii-y ; 4 or 5 stamens in-
serted on the corolla tube; and pistil of inferior
4- or 5-celled ovary, short style, and 4- or 5-lobed
stigma.

The fruit (drupe) has a 4- or 5-celled stone
and 5 or fewer brown seeds more than i/g inch long.
Flowering in spring and summer and maturing
fruits from smnmer to winter.

The wood is hard and light brown, the sapwood
with specific gravity 0.8. Used only as a post.
Wood susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites.
The resinous buds can be chewed but are tasteless.

In forests and openings in the moist limestone
region and ascending into the lower mountain
forests on the north side of the Cordillera in west-
ern Puerto Rico.

Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Mar-
icao, Rio Aba jo, Susua, Vega.

Municipalities where especially common. —
14,24,31,34,45,60.

Range. — Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico, Lesser Antilles to St. Vincent, and Trinidad.

Botanical synonyms. — Laugeria resinosa
Vahl, L. densiflora (Griseb.) Hitchc, Antirhea
resinosa (Vahl) Cook & Collins, Stenostomwm
densiflorum Griseb.

524

249. Aquil6n

Terebraria resinosa (Vahl) Sprague

Natural size.

525

CX3MPOSITE FAMILY (COMPOSITAE)

250. Carruzo

Shrub or small tree with bristly hairy twigs
easily recognized by the opposite long-stalked
leaves with thin broadly ovate blades long-pointed
at both ends, the edges irregularly and doubly
toothed with long and short teeth, green and i-ough
hairy above, and gray green and soft hairy be-
neath. Other characters are: (1) bristly hairy
stout green to brown twigs; and (2) large terminal
clusters with numerous greenish and white
rounded flower heads about i/4 inch long and
broad, each with many crowded tubular white
flowers.

A widely spreading and much branched ever-
green shrub or small tree 10-20 feet or more in
height and to 3 inches or more in trunk diameter.
The bark is gray and smoothish to slightly fissured.
Inner bark is yellowish and slightly bitter. The
twigs are ringed at the nodes by 2 S-lobed light-
brown leaf scars.

Petioles are 1-4 inches long, finely hairy, light
green or purplish tinged, stout, at base broad and
slightly 3-lobed. Blades are 3-8 inches long and
2-6 inches wide.

The much branched clusters (corymbs) of nu-
merous flower heads are -1-6 inches broad and have
a slightly liitter odor. On the outside of each
flower head are a few overlapping, hairy mar-
gined, greenish scales about %6 i'lch long with
whitish points, enclosing many narrow flowers
^10-1/4 inch long and smaller light green scales.
The marginal flowers are fertile and female, con-
sisting of elliptic, flattened, green inferior ovary
bearing tubular white corolla minutely 5-toothed
at apex and the protruding 2-forked white style.
The o*her flowers are sterile and male, consisting
of rudimentary pistil of narrow inferior ovary
bearing unbranched style and the tubular white
corolla, which is 5-toothed at apex and which has
inside the tube 5 stamens united by the nari-ow
dark brown anthers.

Several black seedlike fruits (akenes) about Vs
inch long, elliptic and flattened, are produced
within the flower head, which also turns blackish.

Clibadium erosum (Sw.) DC.

Probably flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.

The whitish wood is soft, and there is a large
white pith.

In openings, cutover areas, and roadsides in for-
ests of the lower and upper mountain regions of
Puerto Rico including dwarf forest of the peaks.
It is a light-requiring species mainly of disturbed
areas. Also recorded from St. Thomas more than
a century ago but not found there since.

Prr.Lic KORESTS. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro.

Range. — Puerto Rico and in the Lesser Antilles
on Saba, St. Kitts, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Do-
minica, Martinique, and St. Vincent.

Otiiek cosimox names. — cachimbo, tuchima
(Puerto Rico); bois enivrant (Guadeloupe).

The composite family (Compositae), to which
this small tree belongs, is easily recognized by the
flowers crowded together in heads. What appears
to be a single flower is found upon inspection to
contain many small flowei-s, some frequently with
strap-shaped corolla resembling a single petal and
others in the center or disk with tubular corolla of
a different color. The seedlike fruits (akenes)
usually bear long hairs or .scales at apex. The
family is a very large one containing numerous
species of herbs and some shrubs and in the tropics
a few species of small trees.

Guerrero {Eiipaforiiim poi'toricense Urban:
synonym Critonia portoricensis (Urban) Britton
& Wilson) is the only other species of this family
i-eaching tree size in Puerto Rico. This is a small
tree or shrub 10-20 feet high, known only from
northern, central, and western Puerto Rico and
from Vieques but sometimes planted for its fra-
grant foliage. It lias opposite elliptic leaves with
petioles less than % inch long and blades 3-6
inches long and 1-2 inches wide, thin, toothed on
edges, hairless, with many gland dots and lines,
and fragrant. The large terminal flower clusters
contain many stalkless heads, each with about 5
tubular white flowers. The seedlike fruits have
long hairs at apex.

526

250. Camizo

Two-thirds natural size.

Clibadium erosum (Sw.) DC.

527

INDEX OF COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES

The preferred common names iidopted in headings for the 250 tree species ilhistrated and the page
numbei-s where these descriptions begin are in heavy (boldface) type. Other common names appear
in ordinary (roman) type. Common names in the English language are indexed under the last word.

Accepted scientific names of the tree species illustrated are shown in heavy (boldface) italics,
and the page numbers where these descriptions begin ;ire in heavy (l)oldface) type. Other scientific
names, including synonyms, are in italics. Family names, common and scientific, are shown in capitals.

abacate. 128

abacateiro. 12S

abey. 160. 240

abey heuilira. 160, 240

abeyuelo, 316

abrico do Parrt, 354

abrieot, .354

abricot de Saint-Doniingue, 3.54

abrieot des Antilles. 354

abricot pays. 354

abrieoteiro, 354

abricotier, 354

abricotier d'Ameriqiie. 3.54

abricotier uiaudit, 3.52

aeaeia. 144. 148, 1.50. 156. 176, 180

acacia amarilla, 146, 148

acacia, Anegada, 144

Acacia aiicnaifensix, 144

acacia de agiiijote, ISO

acacia de Catarina. 168

acacia de los masones. ISO

Acacia farnesiana, 142

Acacia niacracaittlia. 144

Acacia macracantltoides, 144

Acacia muricata, 144

Acacia nilotica. 144

acacia niulosa, 144

acacia odorant, 144

acacia palida, 1.56

acacia rosada. 172

acacia, spineless, 144

acacia, steel, 144

Acacia sintia. 144

acacia, sweet, 142, 144

Acacia tortuosa, 144

acacia, twiisted, 144

acajou, 244, 250, 288

acajou a muebles, 244

acajou i pomme, 288

acajou amer, 244

acajou Anierique, 250

acajou de Saint Domingue. 2.52

acajou du Honduras, 250

acajou pays, 244

acajou rouge, 244

acajou senti, 244

acajfi, 244

aoand, 444

aceite de uiaria, 350

aceitillo, 13, 228

aceituna blanca, 456

aceituna cimarrona, 456

aceitunillo, 110, 456

acero, 320

achetillo, 118

achiot, 358

achiote, 358

achiotillo, 262, 264

achote, 358

Achras cmarginata, 446

Achras zapota, 446

acoma, 454

acoma batard, 454

acoma blanc, 872

acoma franc, 372, 454

acoma hetre, 372

acomat, 372, 454

acomat batard, 282, 442

acomat cOte-lette, 466

acomat rouge, 442

Acroconiia actilcata, 34

Acrocom'a media, 13, 34

acrocomia, Puerto Rico, 34

Acrodirliiiium jaiiiaiccnac. 114

Acrodicliilium tialicifolium, 112

Acrodiclidiiim triandruin. 114

acuapar, 278

acurutu, 200

Adenanthera pavonina, 142, 144

advocaat, 128

afta eolorada, 58

agati, 208

Af/aii grandiflora. 208

agati sesbania, 208

aguacate, 128

aguacate cimarron, 110

aguacatillo, 110, 116. 130, 264, 314

aguano, 250

aguedita, 234

agiiijote, 160

ahuejote, 194

aliuijote, 194

AILAXTHUS FAMILY, 234

Aiphanes acanthophylla, 13, 34, 36

aisegerina, 58

ait(^, 272

njo, 468

ajuela ciruelo, 296

ajunado, 190

akira, 392

Aklema petiolare, 270

fllamo, 330

Alamo bianco, 330

Alamo extranjero, 72

alas de Angel. 170

albarillo, 508

albizia, 148

albizia, lebbek, 148

Albizia lebbek, 15, 142, 146

Albizia procera, 142, 148

albizia, tall, 148, 150

Alibizzia, see Albizia, 146

albopan, 62

Alchornea latifolia. 14, 262, 264

Alchorneopsis portoricensis, 14, 262,

264
alciba, 94
iilcornoque, 394
alelaila, 246, 248, 460
aleli, 248, 460, 462
aleli bianco, 460
alell eimarrfin, 460
aleli rojo, 462
alfiler, 228

algarrobo, 164, 168, 178, 180
algarrobo de las Antlllas, 180
algarrobo de olor, 148
algarrobo del Brasil, 168
algarrobo del pais, 164
algodon, 336
algoddn de monte, 330
algodonciUo, 326

alilaila, 248

alligator-pear, 128

allspice, 414

almacigo, 236

almaeigo bianco, 236

almAcigo Colorado, 236

almendra, 15, 394

almendrillo, 254, 256, 442

almeudro, 190, 254, 394

almendro americano, 394

almendro eimarrfin, 190

almendro de la India, 394

almendro de rio, 190

almendro macho, 190

almendro months, 190

almendro real, 190

almendro silvestre, 442

almendr6n, 290, 394, 442

almond, 394

AUophila,2S

amacey, 240

amancayo, 462

amanda, 394

amandelboom, 394

amandier, 394

amandier de Cayenne, 394

amandier des Indes, 394

amandier-pays, 394

amandier tropical, 394

amapola, 196, 328, 462, 492

amarillo, 386

amarillo boj, 386

amasisa, 194, 196

amate, 68

amatillo, 4.32

ambarella, 292

ambay-guazii, 428

amendoeira, 394

Atnoinis caryophyUata, 414

Amomis caryophyllata var. grisca, 414

Amomis grisea, 414

amor plat6nico. 148

amortigiiado, 282

Amyris balsamifera, 216

Amyris elemifera, 13, 216

amyris, sea, 216

amyris-wood, 216

anacagUita, 340

anachahulta, 340

ANACARDIACEAE, 286

Anacardium occidentale, 286

anaconda, 470

Anamtmiis fragrans, 400

anatto, 358

ANATTO FAMILY, 358

anatto-tree, 358

anauca, 196

anauca immortelle, 196

anauco, 194

Andira inermis, 13, 14, 188

Andira jammcensis, 190

anesita, 248

angela, 134

angelica-tree, 426

angelLm, 190

angelim da varzea, 190

529

angelim morcequeira, 190

angelin, 190

angelin, cabbage, 188, 190

angelin palmiste, 190

angonchi des sables, 386

ansiiilla,400

anisillo, 50

annatto, 358

AXXOXA FAMILY. 98

Annona f/lahra, 98

Annona montana, 98

Artnona muricata, 98. 100

Annona reticulata, 98, 102

Annona squamosa, 98, 104

ANNONACEAE,98

anon, 102, 104

anon de aziicar, 104

an6n dom^stico, 104

an6n pel6n, 102

Anona, see Annona, 98

anona. 102

anona colorada, 102

anona de Guatemala. 104

anona de redecilla, 102

anonillo, 94, 100, 428

Antirhea acutata, 504

Antirhea coriacea. 504

Atitirhea liiciila, 504

Antirhea obtusifolia, 504

Antirhea portoriccnsis. 506

Antirhea resinosa,o'2-l

Antirhea sintenisii, 504

Antirrlioea, see Antirhea, 504

anttree, 86

anttree, long-john, 86

apamate, 500

aperta ru,^o, 50

apes-earring, 162

APOCYXACEAE. 462

apomo panaco. 360

apijelroos, 402

apple-bush, 104

apra, 438

apricot. 128. 354

aquey del chiquito, 410

aquilon, 524

arabo, 210

arabo carbonero, 210

arabo jiba, 210

arabo real, 210

ARALIACEAE, 42^

aralie. 352

aralie grande feuille, 352

arasaloe, 512

araticum ap4, 98

araz'i-puitii,416

Arbol de ajo, 468

arbol de fuego. 176

drbol de navidad, .520

arbol de pan, 62

drbol de sal, 478

arbol de violeta, 260

arbol del fuego. 176

drbol del hule. 64

arbre h graines r6glisse. 146

arbrea pain, 62

arbre a pluie. 166

arbre & r^glisse. 146

arbre au diable. 278

arbre de Saint-.Jean, 428

arbre veritable. 62

Ardisia glauciflora, 430

Ardisia guadaliipen.tis, 4.30

Ardisia obovata, 430

areeiro. 278

arenillo, 138. 190

aroma, 142, 144, 148

aroma amarilla, 144

aroma aniericana, 168

aroma blanca, 1.56

aroma boba, 156

aroma francesa, 148

aroma mansa, 156

aromo, 144. 168

arraijan. 412

arra.van. 406, 432

arrayan bobo, 432

arrdte-boeuf, 180

arriero. 428

arroyo. 314

Artocarpus altilis, 60

Artocarpus coininunis, 62

Artocarpus heterophyllus, 62

ArlocarpKS incimis, 62

Artocarpus integer, 62

Artocarpus integrifolius, 62

assacii, 278

assacu-rana, 194

Asterandra' grand if oUa, 280

astromelia.382

asubillo, 336

ata. 104

atadijo, 58

ataiba rosada. 462

atapio. 246

atauba. 246

ateje cimarron, 472. 474

ateje de costa, 466. 472

ateje macbo, 474

atejillo. 472

atta. 358

Australian-pine. 48

ausu. 414

ausubo, 12. 444

avati-timbati, 370

Aricennia gcrminans, 478

Avicennia nitida, 12, 476

avispillo, 116, 282, 4.58

avocado, 128

avocado, fal.se. 122

avocado-pear. 128

avocat, 128

avocatier. 128

awacati. 128

axemaster. 320

ayua. 230

ayua amarilla. 230

azafran, 52

azeitona brava. 432

azeitona do matto. 432

azufaito, 322

azulejo. 282

bacona, 264

Bactris acanthophylla, 36

baculo, 208

badana. 428

badula, 430. 432. 434

bala. 198

balata, 444

balata chien. 436

balata franc. 4-14

balata rouge, 444

balate. 444

balo. 198

balsa, 66, 334, 336

balsa-wood, 336

balsam-tree, 238. 352

balsamo. 480

balso. 336

bamboe. 34

bamboo. 32. 34

bamboo, common, 32, 34

bamboo, feathery. 34

Bambos, see Bamhusa, 34

bambou, 34

bambu, 32, 34

bambua. 34

bambulo, 206

Bambusa vulgaris, 32

banyan, wild. 70

barba de caballero. 148

barba de Jolote, 160

barba de leon, 156

barba di junkuman, 148

barba jolote. 160

barbasco, 362

baria, 350

bariaco, 254, 320

barillo, 350

bark-tree, Caribee, .508

bark, whitewood, 362

barka-locust 256

barredera, 370

barrehomo, 92

barril, 298

bastard-cedar, 340

batseed, 190

bauhinia. 168, 170

bauhinia, Buddhist, 170

bauhinia, butterny, 168, 170

tiauhinia kappieri, 170

Bauhinia monandra, 168

bauhinia. pink. 170

Bauhinia variegata, 170

baujinia, 170

bay boom, 414

bay-cedar. 340

bay-cedar, wild. 58

bayahon. 168

bayahonda, 15, 166, 168

bayarone. 168

bayberry-tree, 414

bayberry. West Indian. 414

bayito. 458

bayleaf, 414

bay-rum-tree, 414

bayfia, 230

bead-tree. 248

beadtree. sandal. 146

beauty-leaf, Brazil, 350

beb^, 206

beb^ hoedoe, 206

beefwood, 48, 92

beefwood, Australian, 48

beefwood, horsetail, 48

beera. 214

beetwood. 298

Beilschmiedia pendula, 14, 110

bejuco ingles, 132

bella. 96

bellota. 840

ben. 134

ben oleifere. 134

benboom. 134

benzolivier, 134

Bequia-plum, 294

berraco. 58, 136

Beureria, see Bourreria, 466

bi. 512

bien vestida, 198

bietahoedoe, 372

bigi boesie. 428

BIGNONIA FAMILY, 490

BIGXONIACEAE, 490

bija, 358

bijdguara, 316

bijote, 118

bilibili, 246

binorama, 144

birch. 238

birch-gum, 238

birchberry, 412

530

liir(lseecl,47S

hirijasnn, 316

biriji.400

l)ii'itac, 50

liiscuitwodil. 3(3(3

bitter-ash, 464

bitterbush, 234, 464

bitterbush, Florida, 234

bitters. 316

Bixa orellana, 358

BIXACEAE. S58

black-birch, 412

black-cedar. 122

black -ebony. 148

black-ironwood. 320

black-mangrove, 476, 478

black-olive, 388

black-plum. 190

black-willow. 132

blackbead. 162

blackhead, catclaw, 162

blackhead-tree. 316

hlackwood, Bomba.v, 174

blackwood-bush, 478

BLADDERXUT FAMILY. 300

hloodwood. 206, 298

bloodwood, swamp, 206

blueberry. 456

bohbie. maiija. 290

bocare. 194

hoeloebarie, 214

bohun, 468

hois. 448

hois a agouti. 486

bills arada. 254

hois bale. 246

bois bleu. 456

hois blanc. 456

bois bouis. 436

bois hr4. 474

bois caca. 132

bois caf4. 268

Imiscanelle. 362

tiois canon. 68

liois capri batard, 466

bois caraibe. 502

iKjischandelle. 216, ,508

bois chandelle blanc. 216

bois chique. 112

liois cochon. 240

bois coton. 331

bois couch^. 298

l)ois crapaud. 264. 516

bois Creole. 412

bois d'argent. 132

liois d'Inde, 414

bois d'Inde Frangais, 414

liois d'oranger. 220

bois d'orme. 340

bois d'ortie. 482

bois de fer. 316. 318. 320

bois de fer rouge. 516

bois de hCtre. 340, 372

bois de I'eau, .52

bois de liege, 326

bois de Rhodes, 468

bois de rose, 468

bois de satanier. 302

bois de soie. 58

bois diable. 282

bois doux. 120

bois doux .iaune, 122

bois doux n^gresse. 116

bois doux noir. 116

bois doux piment. 122

hois du diable. 278

liois ^nivrant. .526

bois ferblanc, 316

bois flambeau. 216

bois ti^che, 510

bois tleurs jaunes, 502

bois flot, 326, 336

bois fourmi, 112

bois fragile. 52

bois galle. 158

bois gli-gli. 386, 388

bois glu, 436

bois gri-gri, 386. 388

bois gris-gris. 386, 388

bois immortel. 194. 196

bois jaune. 366, 516

hois kaki, 436

bois lait femelle, 464

hois laylay, 474

hois I'dcorce, 158

bois lizard, 486

bois Ui'ge. 336

bois lievre. 336

hois-lolo, 156

bois mabel. 136

hois mabi, 316, 318

bois madame, 514

bois niarhre, 272

bois margot, 386

bois mausseux, 308

bois montagne, 234

bois myrte, 406

bois n^gresse. 426

bois uoir. 108, 132, 148, 444

bois noire, 514

bois noyer. 228, 232

bois olive. 190

bois Olivier. 386

bois pale. 206

bois ijalmiste. 190

hois paupit, 472

bois peld. 316

hois pine. 230

bois pini. 216

bois pistolet, 246

bois plomh, 432

bois poison. 234

bois pouiJ^e. 472

bois priprl. 336

hois rouge. 78, 246

bois saint, 212

bois savanne. 432

bois savonette. 308

bois .Senegal. 132

hois senti. 52

hois siffleur. 1.38

liols soumis. 468

bills tan. 256

hois tan rouge, 138

hois trompette, 68

hois vache, 2(>4

bois violet, 314

bois violon. 116

hoje. 504

bojon, 468

bolletrie, 444

BOMBACACEAE, 332

ROMBAX FAMILY, 332

Boinbax prntaiiflnim. 334

borabilla, 62

lionihdn, 196, 360

bon gargon, 270

honga. 334

bongo. 334

honiate. 116

honiato. 122

boniato laurel. 120

hoonchi strena. 180

BORAGE FAMILY. 466

BORAGINACEAE, 466

hosehkasjoe, 288

boschkatoen, 330

boskoffie, 282

bospapaja, 68

bossoea, 232

bosii, 232

bosua, 232

boszuurzak, 98

hotija, 360

botoncillo, 390

bototillo, .360

hototito, 360

bototo, 360

hotulo, 360

Bourrerin (lomiiigcnsis. 466

Bourreria succulenta, 466

Bourrei-ia succulenta var. canescens,

466
Bourreria virgata, 466
box-briar, 520
Brazilian-rose, 360
brazilleto, bastard, 1.38
brazilletto. wild. 138
bread-and-cheese. 162
breadfruit, 60, 62, 404
breadnut, 62
brenolli. 134
hr^sillette. 410
brihri. 152
brignolle, 400
brojo, 458
broodhoom. 62
broomstick, 252
hroomwood. 254
browngum, .398
hrucal. 192. 196
brucayo. 196

Brunellia comocladifolia, 14. 136
BRINELLIA FAMILY, 136
BRVXELTJACEAE, 136
bucar. 196

bucare, 192, 194, 196
bucare enano, 190
bucare gigante, 196
biicaro. 194
bucayo, 192
hucayo enano, 192
bucayo gigante, 15, 194
hucayo sin espinas, 192
Buceras biicida, 388
Buchenavia capitata, 14. 386
bucida. 3.S8

Bucida buceras, 13, 388
Biicifia capitata, 386
bucida, oxhorn, 388
buckhead, 146

BUCKTHORN FAMILY, 316
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY. 76
huen pan. 62
bullet. 444
bullet-tree. .388
hulletwoiid. 14. 444
huUetwood, white. 442
bullock-heart. 102
buUtyre. 46
buUv-mastic. 454
bully-tree. 388. 442, 444, 452
bully-ti-ee. savannah, 452
hullywood, 388
humatell. 196
buriogre amarillo, 472
buriogre de niontana, 472
Burma-rosewood, 204
burro. 132
burro bianco, 132
burro mauricio. 94
burro prieto, 132
BURSERA FAMILY, 236

531

Biirsera gummifera, 238
Biirscra oinlifolia, 238
Bursera simaruba, 13, 236
HI RSERACEAE, 23C)
bustif. 442
bustic, willow, 442
butter-pear. 128
butterfly-fldwer. 170
button-mangrove, 390
buttonbush. 300
buttonwood, 39tl
buttonwood, white. 302
Byrsonima coriacea, 14, 256
Bi/rso»inia coriaeca var. s/iirata. 2.56
Byrsonima crassifolia, 2.j6, 258
Byrsonima cuncata, 256
Byrsoniina horncana, 2.56
Byrsonima lucida. 2.56
Byrsonima opiiilieola. 2.56
Byrsonima spicata, 2,56
Byrsonima iradsirortliii, 256

cabbage-bark, 100

cabellos de iingel, 148

cabimbo, 246

cabimo, 246, 302

cabirnja. 246

cabirma santa, 246

cabo de hacha, 254

cabra. 58. 136

cabrilla, 56

caca rat, 456

cacagua. 108

cacaguance, 108

caeaguillo, 340

cacahuaiiance. 108

cacahuananche, 108

cacaillo, 122, 314, 324

cacaito, 340

cacalojoche, 462

cacalosuchil, 462

cacaloxochitl, 462

cacao, 104, 108, 342

cacao bobo, 314

cacao Cimarron, 314, 324

cacao motillo. 324

cacao rojo, 322

cacao roseta, 324

cacaotillo. 324

cacaoyer. 342

cacateiro, 342

cacliicamo. 350

cacliiman cannelle, 104

caehiman coeur boeuf, 102

cachiman coeur-de-boeiif, 102

cachimbo, 106, 464, .526

cachito de aromo, 144

CACTACEAE. 376

cactus, 376

CACTUS FAMILY, 376

cactus, pipe-organ, 376

cactus, tree, 378

cacfi, 206

cadmia, 106

Caesalpinia fcrruginea. 182

Cacsalpinia incrmis. 1.82

CAEf!ALPiyiACEAE. 168

CAESALPIXWWEAE, 168

cafe, 506

cafe Cimarron, 368, 478, 480, 510, 516,

520
cafe de gallina, 368
cafe excelsa, 506
caf^ grand bois, 268. 516
cafe marron, 466, 478, 510, 516
caf6 silvestre, 370
cafecillo, 510
cafeeillo de danta, 510

caf^ier, 506

cafeillo, 268, 368. 370, 516
cafeillo ciniarr6n, 370
cafetillo, 368, 510, 516
cafetillo de monte, 510
cafeto, 506
caguairan. 180
caguani. 454
cairaite, 438, 448
caLmite acoma, 454
oaimite marron, 440
caimitier, 438
cairaitier bois, 436, 448
caimitillo, 436, 440, 448, 450
caimitillo cimarron, 450
caimitillo de perro, 440
caimitillo verde, 450
caimito, 438, 440
caimito bianco cimarr6n, 436
caimito cimarron, 440
caimito cocuyo, 436
caimito de perro, 440
caimito verde, 436
caimo, 438
caimo morado, 438
cainit, 438
cainit, wild, 440
cainito, 438
caituco, 358
caiucflra, 488
caja, 204, 206
cajS manga, 202
caja-mirim, 294
caja seira, 294
cajeta, 300
cajeto, 336
cajet6n, 264
cajoba, 160
caju, 288
eajueiro, 288
cajuil, 288

cajuilito suliman. 404
calaba. 350
calabacero, 490
calabasa, 490
calabash, 492
calabash-tree, 490, 492
calabash-tree, common, 490, 492
calabazo, 492
calambreiia, 84
calbas, 492
calbas rondo. 492
calebasse, 492
calebassier, 402
Cnlophyllum antillanum, 3.50
Calophyllum brasiliense, 12, 13, 348
Valophyllum brasiliense var. antil-
lanum, 350
Calophyllum calaba, 350
Calopliylhnn jacquinil. 3.50
Caloplu/llum lucidum, 350
CALTROP FAMILY, 212
Calycogonium squamulosum, 14, 418
Calyptracordia alba, 470
Calyptrantlics kiaerskov-ii, 396
Calyptranthes krugii, 14, 396
Calyptrantlics pallcns. 396
Calyptranthes portoricensis, 398
Calyptranthes sintenisii, 396
Calyptranthes thomasiana, 398
camagiiilla, 432. 434
camajonduro, 340
camajuru, 340
camaron, 28
camaroncillo, 28
camaruca, 340
camasa, 492
eamasey, 422

camasey bianco, 422

eamasey cenizo, 424

eamasey de paloma, 420

camasey jusillo, 418

camasey negro, 418

camasey peludo, 420

camba-acd, 340

cambagui, 370

cambron, 144, 168, 180, 520

cdmbulo, 194, 196

came-marie, 350

camoruco, 340

campano, 164

canalete, 254, 468

canalete de humo, 468

cananga, 106

Cananga blainii, 108

Cananga caribaea, 108

Cananga odorata, 106

Canangium odoratum, 106

candeliUo, 502

candlewood, 216, 240, 456, 514

candlewood, blacli, 120, 516

candlewood-tree, 302

cancel, 362

caneflce, 172

can^fleier, 172

canela, 112, 118, 128, 362

canela blanca, 362

canela de la tierra, 362

canela del pais, 112

canelilla, 112, 362

canelillo, 112, 118, 126, 414

canelito, 264

canella, 362

Canella alba, 362

canella, cinnamon, 362

CANELLA FAMILY, 362

Canella winterana, 13, 362

CAXELLACEAE, 362

canelle polvr^e. 362

canellier batard, 362

canellier blanc, 362

canelon, 118, 434

canelon-puita, 432

caney, 458

canilla de muerte, 50

canilla de venado, 480

canjuro, 148

cantagallo, 194

cana brava, 34

cana India, 34

canafistola, 170

caiiafistula, 170

caiiafistula cimarrona, 172

caiiambu, 34

cafiaza, 34

caoba, 250, 252

caoba americana, 250

caoba de Honduras, 250

caoba de Santo Domingo, 252

caoba del pais, 30

caoba dominicana, 250

caoba hondurena, 248, 250

caoba venezolana, 250

caobilla, 14, 30, 252

caoutchouc, 68

capa, 468, 470

eapd amarillo, 482

capa bianco, 482

capA cimarron, 470

capa Colorado, 472

capa de olor, 468

capiS de sabana. 468, 482

capa prieto, 468

capiV rosado, 482

capS. sabanero, 482

capd, wild, 472

532

cape, 352

caper, 132

caper, broadleaf, 132

CAPER FAMILY, 132

caper, Jamaica, 132

caper, limber, 132

capertree, 132

VAPPARIDACEAE, 132

Capparis haciucoa. 132

Capparix corroldhifolia. 132

Capparis cynophallophora, 13, 132

Capparis flcxiiosa, 132

Capparis indica, 1.32

Capparis jamaiccnsis, 132

Capparis portoricriisis, 132

capuli clmarrdn, 56, 58

capulin, 58

capulin bianco, 58

capulin macho, 58

capulin montes, 58

capulin negro, 58

capulin, white, 58

capulincillo, 58

carabali, 164

carabana. 436

carachuche, 462

caracoli. 254

caracolillo, 254, 372

caractere des hommes, 170

caracucha. 462

caraicillo, 304

caramacate, 372

carana, 236

carapacho, 514

cararueha blanca, 462

carate, 236

caratero, 236

carbon, 168, 190

carboncillo, 502

carbonero. 132. 246. 318

carbonero de costa, 318

carbonero de sombrio, 148

carey de costa. 320, ,508

Carica papaya, 374

CARICAVEAB.?rii

carillo, 282

came asada, 190

carnestolendas, 360

carob, 180

I arolina, 442

carrapeta, 254

carreto. 164

carreton, 264

carruzo, 526

cartahar, 62

carubio, 232

caruto, 512

caruto rebalsero, 512

CariiophiiHiis jamhos. 402

cascalata. 316

cascarilla. 322

cascarita. .364

cascarroya, 322

casco de mulo, 170

Casearia aculeala. 364

Casearia arborea, 14. 364

Cds-rarin hicolor. 364

Casearia decandra. 364. 366

Casearia guianensis, 364, 368

Casearia parriflara, 370

Casearia ramiflora. 36,8

Casearia sylvestris, 364. 370

<asha, 144

ca.sha\v, 144, 168

cashew, 286, 288

cashew-apple, 288

CASHEW FAMILY, 286

cashew-nut, 288

cashia, 144

cashu, 288

casia, 174

easia aniarilla, 148, 174

casia de Siam, 174

casia rosada, 172

casia siamea, 174

casita, 308

Caspareopsis monandra, 170

ca.ssada, 442

ca.ssada. wild, 442

cassada-wood, 442

cassavehout, 428

cas.se, 172

casse de Siam, 174

casse-habitant, 172

cassia, 144

cassia, apple-blossom, 172

Cassia fistula. 168, 170

Cassia (/raiidis, 172

cassia, Javanese, 172

Cassia javanica, 168, 172

cassia, nodding, 172

Cassia nodosa. 172

cassia, pink, 172

cassia, pinkshower, 172

cassia, purging, 172

Cassia siamea, 168, 174

cassia, Siamese, 174

CASSIA SUBFAMILY, 168

cassia-stick-tree, 172

cassia, yellow, 174

cassie, 144

cassie-flower, 144

castana, 62, 394

castaneto, 278

castauo, 62. 340

castano del Malabar, 62

castanola, 394

Castilla elastica. 64

Ca.'ililla lactiflua. 64

Castilla panamensis. 64

Castilloa. see Castilla. 64

casu, 288

casuarina, 48

Casuarina equisetifolia, 48

CASUARINA FAMILY, 48

casuarina, horsetail, 48

CASVARIXACEAE. 48

casuarine, 48

catahua, 278

catalpa. 330

catamericuche, 360

catauM, 278

catclaw, 162

catoche, 100

catuche, 100

eatzimee, 168

cauchera, 64

caucho, 64, 68

cauebo de la India. 68

caucho negro, 64

caulote, 340

caya amarilla, 4.")4

caya colorada. 442

eayepon, 458

cayiera, 492

cazabito, 254

cazuarina, 48

ceboruquillo, 312

Cccropia asperrima. 68

Cecropia peltata, 14, 66

ceda, 108

cedar, 244

ceder, 244

c^dre, 244

cedre espagnol, 244

cedrela, eigarbox, 244

Ccdrela tncxicana. 244

Cedrela odorata, 13, 14, 242

Cedrela siiitcnisii. 244

cedrillo. 240, 2.54, 300

cedro, 244, 290

cedro amargo, 244

cedro amarillo, 244

cedro bianco, 244

cedro caoba, 244

cedro clavel. 244

cedro Colorado, 244, 254

cedro de Castilla, 244

cedro del pais, 244

cedro dulce, 244, 246

cedro espaiiol, 244

cedro espino, 254

cedro hembra, 242, 244, 300

cedro hembra del pais, 244,

cedro macho, 110, 244, 246. 278

cedro mexicano, 244

cedro oloroso, 244

cedro prieto, 290

cedro real, 244

cedro vermelho, 244

cedrohy. 246

cedr6n, 246

ceiba, 278, 332, 334

Ceiba anfractiiosa, 3.34

ceiba blanca, 278

Ceiba earibaea. 334

ceiba de Garz6n, 334

ceiba de lana, 334, 3.36

ceiba de leche, 278

ceiba habillo, 278

Ceiba occidentalis, 334

Ceiba pentandra, 13, 332

Ceiba pentandra var. earibaea. 334

ceibo, 194, 196, 334

ceibo amarillo, 278

ceibon botija, 336

cenlcero, 164

cenizo, 230, 424

cenizoso, 422

Central-American-cedar, 244

Cephalocereus royenii, 13, 376

Ceratonia siligiia. 180

Cerdana alliodora. 468

cerecillo, 466

Cereiis royenii. 376

cereza,280, 372

cereza amarilla, 280

cerezas blancas, 470

cerezo, 386, 472

cerezo agrio, 280

cerezo de Cayena, 400

cerezo del pais, 472

cerillo, 508

ceriuva, 58

cerrillo, 314

ceuf de poule, 158

chabark, 160

chaca, 236, 238

chacalte, 250

chachA, 148

chSchiga, 442

chad&que, 224

chagualito, 434

chajada amarilla, 206

chancAn, 162

chancaro bianco, 428

chandelle anglaise, 508

changugo, 258

chaparro, 258

chaparro de chinche, 256

chaparro de sabana, 258

chaparro manteca, 258

chaparro manteco, 258

533

chap^o de sol, 394

chapeniiUo, 150

chaperno, 190

chaquira, 316

chaquirillo, 282

chaquirio. 316

chataigne, 62

chataignier, 62, 824

chataignier du pa.vs. 62

chataignier petit coco, 324

cliaya, 358

checker-grape, 84

chene calebassier, 482

chene caparo, 468

chene Guadeloupe, 394, 478

chenet. 306

cherry, 288

cherry-grape, 84

chevalier, 502

chi, 258

chic-chica, 236

chicha,340

chicharro, 386

chieharr6n, 340

chicharron de monte, 514

chicle, 446

chicory-grape, 84

chicozapote, 446

chilca, 502

chilillo, 216

china, 220, 226

china dulce, 226

chinaberry, 246, 248

china berry, umbrella, 248

chinacahnite, 236

chiuaeuite, 236

chinatree, 248

ehininango, 162

chinkswood, 466

chino, 236

chi no dulce, 226

chiou4, 238

chirai, 190

chirimoya, 102, 104

chirlobirlos, .502

chirmova, 104

CHLORAyTHACEAE, 52

CHLORANTHUS FAMILY, 52

cho, 360

chocho, 308

CHOCOLATE FAMILY, 338

chocolate-tree, 342

choky-apple, 4.52

choian, 502

choncho, 208

chorao, 54

chorote, 308

(bote, 264

chou palmiste, 42

Christmas-hope, 502

Christmas-tree, 48, 520

Chrysophyllum argenteum, 436

ChfyHophylliiin bicolor. 440

Chrysophyllum cainito, 436, 438

(liri/soiiliyllKm cgycrsii, 440

f'lin/sopIniUuni glahnim, 436

Chrysophyllum oliviforme, 43('>, 440

('hnjsophijlhnn pauciftonim, 436

chuchi copei, 332

chumbimbo, 308

ohumbino, 308

churrusco, 58

chuun, 360

Cicca acida, 280

Cicca (Usticha,2S0

cidra, 218, 222

cieneguillo, 400, 410

cigarbox-cedar, 244

cigua, 116

eigua amarilla, 110, 116

cigua blanca, 116

eigua boba, 122

cigua laurel, 122

cigua prieta, 114

ciguamo, 320

ciguarayo, 132

cillament. pepper, 116

cilllment-bush, 362

cilliment, wild, 414

cina-ciua, 180

eincahuite, 392

cincho, 200

Cinchona, 508

cinnamomo, 248

cinnamon, 414

cinnamon-bark, 362

cinnamon, pepper, 362

cinnamon, wild, 362, 414

cipr^s, 48

ciralillo, 314

Circassian-bean, 146

Circassian-seed, 146

ciridn, 490

ciroela, 294, 296

cirouelle, 296

ciruela, 296

ciruela amarilla, 294

ciruela campechana, 296

ciruela colorada, 296

ciruela de jobo, 294

ciruela de monte. 294

ciruela del pais, 296

ciruela dulce, 292

ciruela morada, 296

ciruela sanjuanera, 296

ciruelillo, 386

ciruelo, 296

eiruelo Colorado, 296

citara, 292

Citharexylum caudatum, 476, 478

Citharexylum fruticosum, 13, 476, 478.

480
CHharexylnm xpinomtm, 480
citron, 218
citron commun. 218
citron doux. 218
citronnier, 222
citrus, 218

Citrus aurantifolia, 216, 218
Citrus aurantium, 216, 220, 226
Citrus liif/aradia. 220
Citrus (litumana. 224
Citrus (J run (I is. 218, 222, 224
Citrus lima. 218
Citrus limetta. 218
Citrus limon, 216, 222
Citrus limonia, 222
Citrus limonum. 222
Citrus ma.rima. 222, 224
Citrus nicrlica. 218
Citrus iiobilis. 218
Citrus paradisi, 210, 224
Citrus reticulata. 218
Citrus sinensis, 216, 226
Citrus vulr/aris. 220
clammy-cherry, wild, 474
clamor, 330
clavellina, 298
clavellino, 176
clawberry, 282
demon, 330
Clibadium erosum, 526
clusia, copey, 352
Clusin f/undlacli a. 3.50
Clusia krugiana, 14, 348, 350
Ctusia minor. 3.50

Clusia rosea, 13, 348, 352

coabanilla, 184

cobana, 184

cobana negra, 184

eobano, 244

cobreque, 208

coca, 210, 344

COCA FAMILY, 210

cocaina falsa, 210

Coccoloia borinquensis. 80

Coccoloba costata. 78

Coccoloba diversifolia, 13, 76

Coccoloba grandifolia, 78

Coccoloba krugii, 80

Coccoloba laurifolia, 76

Coccoloba microstachya, 80

Coccoloba nivea. 84

Coccoloba obtusifolia. ,S0

Coccoloba pubescens, 13, 76, 78

Coccoloba pyrifoUa, 80

Coccoloba rugosa, 78

Coccoloba rupicola, 78

Coccoloba sintcnisii, 76

Coccoloba swartzii, 76, 80

Coccoloba uvifera, 12, 76, 82

Coccoloba venosa, 13, 76, 84

COCHLOSPERilACEAE. 360

cochlospermum, 360

COCHLOSPERMUM FAMILY, 360

Cochlospermum hibiscoidcs, 360

Cochlospermum vitifolium, 360

cocito, 360

cock-tree, 194

coco, 40, 340

coco da India, 40

coco de agua, 40

coco de Bahia, 40

cocoa, 342

cocoa-mamma, 196

cocoa-shade, Nicaragua, 19s

cocoa, wild, 314

cocoite, 198

cocojoro, 130

coconut, 38, 40

coconut-palm, 40

cocos, 40

Cocos nucifera, 34, 38

cocospalm, 40

cocotero, 40

cocotier, 40

cocoyer, 324

cocu, 190

cocuyo, 320

coeur de boeuf, 102

Coftea arabica, 506

Coffca dewcrrei, 506

coffee, 196, 198, 506

coffee, Arabian, .506

coffee. Dewevre. 506

coffee-mamma, 196

cohoba, 1.58

coil, 392

cojoba, 158, 160

Cojoba arhorca. 160

cojobana, 158, 160

cojobanilla, 160

cojobillo, 158

cojobo, 1.58

cojon, 3.50

cola de pavo, 254

colibri vegetal, 208

collarete, 478

collier, 160

Colorado, 298

Colubrina arborescens, 13, 316

colubrina, coffee, 316

Colubrina colubrina. 316

Colubrina ferruginosa, 316

534

Colubrina reclinata, 316, 318

c()Miiia:rACEAE,3m

COMIlUETrM FAMILY, 386

oomefani, 400, 412

eomiaa tie culebra, 370

C0MP0S1TAE.-,2G

COMPOSITE FAMILY, 526

concha de paneque, 232

Congo. 100

congo-pnnip, 68

Conocarpus erectus, 12, 390

Coiiaoha riihcscciis.S'iS

contamal, 340

copal. 180

copalche, 508

copete, 502

copey, 352

copinol, 180

copon, 236

copper, blue. 514

coqueiro de Bahia. 40

coquelicot, 146

eoquemolle, 322

coragao de bol, 102

coragao de negro, 148

coragao de rainlia, 100

corail v^g^tal, 146

coral, 146

coralbean. 192

coralbean, common, 192

coralillo, 146. 192. 370

coralin, 146

coralitos, 146

corallero. .520

coraltree, 192

corazon, 102

corazon cimarron. 98

corazon de paloma, 316, 372

corcho, 88. 90. 92, 336

corcho bianco, 88. 90

corcho bobo, 88

Cordia nihil, 470

Cordia alliodora, 14. 466. 468

Cordia borinquensis. 14, 466, 470

Cordia collococca, 472

Cordia dcntata.i'O

Ciirdin iilahrn. 472

Cordia nitida, 13, 466, 472

cordia, onion. 468

Cordia rickseckeri. 470

Cordia xrhrxtrnn, 470

Cordia sulcata, 14, 466, 474

cordoban. 428

cordobancillo, 522

cordonoillo, 50

cordoncillo bianco. .50

coribee, .502

cork-tree, 330

cork-tree, fal.se, 336

corkwood, 206. 336

corkwood-tree. Australian, 208

cornwood, 190

corobore, 180

coronel. 320

corossol. 100

corossol zombi. 98

corossolier. 100

corozo, 34

corta lingua, 370

costex. 316

costilla de danto, 428

coto. 200

coton fleurs, 336

coton niarron, 326

cotorrelillo. 366

cotton-tree. 334, 336

cotton, wild, 326

courbaril, 178, 180

courida. 478

cow-tamarind, 164

cowbush. 156

CO wee. 206

cows-foot, 50

coxt(^, 316

coyora, 36

eoyore, 36

coyur, 98

coyure, 36

crabo, 258

craboo, 258

craboo, wild, 258

crabwood. 272

crack-open, 370

crapemyrtle, common, 382

crapemyrtle, queen, 382

crai)emyrtle, tree, 382

crapoo, 258

craw-wood, 514

cremon, 330

Crescentia cujete, 490

Cresccntia linearifolia, 492

cresta de gallo, 208

Critonia portoricoi.sis, .526

croc-a-chien. .520

Croton poecUanthus, 14, 262, 266

crucete, 520

eruceto, 520

crucilla, .520

crucito. 520

cruda. 478

cuaba de costa, 216

cuabilla. 216

cuajachote, 358

cuajo, 294

cuapaste, 200

cuapinol. 180

cucharo, 352, 434, 492

cucheme, 236

cuchiu, 352

cucubano, 514

eucuna. 4S8

eueriduro, 268

cuerno de buey. 316

cuero de sapo, 508

cuida. 168

cullimbuca. 190

cuit^. 492

cujete. 490

cuji, 168

cuji aromo, 144

cuji carora. 168

cuji cimarrdn. 144

cuji extranjero, 180

cuji negro, 168

cuji yaque, 168

cujinicuil, 150

culclie, 244

culumate. 478

CUXOMA BWMILY, 138

CUyOXIACEAE,13S

cuntich. 144

Cupania americana, 14, 302

Cuiiania triqiietra, S02

cupeillo, 350

cupeillo de altura, 350

cupey, 352

eupey de altura, 350

cui)ey trepador, 350

cura, 128

curabara, 122

curaboca, 466

curavara, 110

eurbana. 362

curbaril. 180

curtidor, 138

687-921 0—64-

-35

curuba. 158

custard-apple, 102

cutla.ss, 466

cuyd, 442

cuyus, 308

Cyathea arborea, 14, 28

Cyatlica hrittimiana. 28

Cyathea pubescens, 28

CYATHEACEAE, 28

cyp, 468

cypre, 468

cypress, 468

cyrilla, American, 298

Cyrilla antiUaiia. 298

CYRILLA FAMILY, 298

Cyrilla racemiflora, 14, 298

cyrilla, swamp, 298

CYRILLACEAE, 298

cyyba, 334

Dacryodes excelsa, 14. 238

Dacryodcs hcraiidra. 240

dajao, 516

dakara. 434

dalemarie. 350

dam machu, 352

dama, 478

damage. 350

damajagua. 326

Daylinoysis americana, 380

DapJnwpsis atnericana subsp. cari-

haea, 380
Daphnopsis earibaea, 380
Dapliiiopsi.i helieriana, 380
Daphnopsis philippiana, 380
deux jumelles, 170
Delonix regia, 168, 176
Dendropanax arboreus, 14, 426
Dcirdnipunii.v laiirifoIiUK, 426
Didymopanax morototoni, 14, 68, 426,

428
dildo, 376
dilenia, 344
dillenia. 344

DILLBXIA FAMILY, 344
dillenia, India, 344
Dillenia indica, 344
DILLEXIACEAE, 344
dilly, 446

dinner-bell, monkey. 278
DiphoUs bellonis, 442
Dipholis cubrnsis, 442
DiphoUs salicifolia, 13. 442
Dipholis sinteni^iana, 442
doctor-bar, 234
dog-almond. 190
dog-plum. 190
DOGBANE FAMILY, 460
dogwood, 200
dogwood, swamp. 200
doifiesirie. 246
dombou, 254
doncela, 258
doncella. 2.56, 304, 466
dondequiera. 370
dormilon. 148. 164
double-coconut. 38
douleur. 518
dove-wood, 264
doveplum, 76
downtree, 336
drago, 200
dreifi, 82

dreifi di laman, 82
druif, 82

drumstick-tree. 134
Driipcics alba, 268
Drypetes glauca, 14, 262, 268

535

Drypefes ilicifolia. 268
DnjiK'tes lateriflora. 268
flnckwood. 122

East-Indian-walnut, 148

ebony, mountain, 316

ebonv, wild, 316

ELAEOCARPACEAE. 324

ELAEOCARPUS FAMILY, 324

Elaphrium simaruba. 238

elder, 50

elder, Spanish. 50

elerjueme, 192

ella, Spanish, 50

ELM FAMILY, 56

ells, 50

emajagua, 15. 92, 326

emajagua brava, 3S0

emajagua de sierra, 380

emajagiiilla, 330

emperatriz de la selva. .360

eneinilla, 268

encinillo, 138

endurece maiz, 132

enrubio, 232

Entcrolohium saman, 166

equipal, 58

erubia. .58. 488

Erythrina berteroana, 188, 190

EriitliriiKi riirnUoil end ruin. 192

Eri/tJiriiia cggcrsii. 192

Erythrina giauca, 188, 192

EriitliriiKi horrida. 192

Eri/tlirhia microptenjx. 196

Erythrina poeppigiana, 15, 188, 194

ERYTHROXYLACEAE. 210

Erythroxylon areolatum, 13, 210

Eriithroxtjlon brevipes, 210

Er!itliro.rylon coca. 210

Eriithroxylon rotiiDdifoliinii. 210

Erythroxylon riifiim. 210

erythroxylon, thin-leaf, 210

esoambr6n. 520

escambron Colorado. 162

escanjocote, 306

escoba, 304

espadero, 432

espatodea, 494

espe.iuelo, 320, 442

espinal, 144

espinillo, 144, 180, 228

espino, 144, 162, 230, 232

espino bianco. 144, 232

espino cruz. 520

espino rubial, 228, 230, 232

espino ruco, 144

espinosa, 230

esponjeira, 144

estribo. 92

eucalipto, 398

eucalipto achatado. 398

eucalipto eomun, 398

eucalipto de pantano, 398

eucalipto del alcanfor, 398

eucalypt, 398

eucalyptus, 398

eucalyptus, beakpod, 398

Eucalyptus multiflorn. 398

Eucalyptus robusta, 396, 398

eugenia, 400

Eugenia aeruginea, 396, 400

Eugenia nxiUari.^, 400

Eugenia bellonis, 400

Eugenia biflora. 400

Eugenia borjueronen.'iis. 400

Eugenia borinquensis, 14, 400

eugenia, boxleaf, 400

Eugenia buxifolia, 400

Eugenia confusa, 400
Eugenia cordata, 400
Eugenia corozalensis, 400
Eugenia domingcnsis, 400
Eugenia eggersii, 400
Eugenia floribunda, 400
Eugenia fragrans. 400
Eugenia jambos. 15, 396, 402
Eugenia lancea. 400
Eugenia ligu.^trina. 400
Eugenia malaccensis, 396, 404
Eugniia niontieola, 400
Eugenia myrtoides, 400
Eugenia procera. -IW
Eugenia pseudopsidium. 400
eugenia, redbery, 4tK)
Eugenia rhombea, 396, 406
Eugenia serrasucla. 400
Eugenia .lessHifloru. 400
Eugenia sintenixii. 400
eugenia, spiceberry, 406
Eugenia stahlii, 396, 408
Eugenia stcicard.'ionii, 400
Eugenia underu-oodii, 400
Eugenia uniflora, 400
eugenia, white-stopper. 400
Eugenia xeropliytica, 400
eugenic. 300

Eupatoriuni portoricense, 526
Euphorbia petiolaris, 262. 270
EVPHORBIACEAE. 262
Euterpe globosa, 14. 34, 40
Exostema caribaeum, .504, 508
Exo.iteina ellipticuni. .508
Exostema sanetae-luciae. .508
Eyscniiardtia polystaehya, 204

EABACEAE. 1.S8

Fagara caribaea, 228

Fagara flaia. 228

Fagara niurtiniecnsis, 230

Fagara inunopliylla, 232

Fagara trifoliata. 228

false-coffee, 510

false-grape. 84

false-mahogany, 190

false-mamey, 3.50, 3.52

false-mastic, 454

Faramea occidentalis, 504, 510

Faraniea odoratissima, 510

fern-tree, 492

feuille dort^e, 448

Fieus brcrifolia. 70

Ficus citrifolia. 70

Firus crassinervia. 70

Ficus elastica, 68

Ficus laevigata, 70

Fieus laevigata var. brevifolia, 70

Ficus laerigata var. lentiginosa. 70

Fieus lentiginosa, 70

Fieus nit id a. 72

Ficus obtusifolia, 72

Ficus perforata, 74

Ficus populnca, 70

Ficus populnca var. brevifolia, 70

Ficus retusa, 72

ficus sintenisii, 74

Ficus stahlii, 70

Ficus trigonata, 70

Ficus urbaniana, 72

tiddlewood. 478. 4.80. 482. 486

fiddlewood. black. 486

fiddlewood, Florida, 480

fiddlewood, pasture, 480

tiddlewood, racemose, 478

tiddlewood, spicate, 480

fiddlewood, timber. 486

fiddlewood, white, 486

fig. 72

fig, India-laurel, 72
fig. India-rubber, 68
fig, shortleaf, 70

fig, shortleaf, wild, 70

flg, white, 70

fig, wild, 70

figuier, 70

flguier banian, 70

figuier blanc, 70

figuier marron, 352

figuier uiaudit. 70. 352

figuier maudit ciniarron, 352

filao. 48

fishing-rod, 520

Fislilockia anegadensis. 144

FLACOURTIA FAMILY, 364

FLACOVRTIACEAE, 364

flamboUan amarillo, 174

flamboyan, 176

flamboyan amarillo, 182

flamboyan azul, 492

flamboyan bianco, 170

flamboyfln Colorado, 176

flamboyan eubano, 170

flamboyiin extranjero, 170

flamboyAn rojo, 176

flamboyant, 176

flamboyant bleu, 492

flamboyant-tree, 176

flamboyant, yellow, 182

flame-tree, 176

flamingo-bill. 208

fleur-papillon. 208

flor amarilla. 502

flor blanca. 462

flor de Cuervo, 462

flor de en.sarta, 462

flor de fuego, 176

flor de la cruz, 462

flor de la reina, 382

flor de mayo, 180, 462

flor de paraiso, 248

flor de pavo, 176

flor de rayo, 180

flor de toro, 462

forestina. 148

forteventura. 200

fortuga. caspi. 366

fountain-tree, 494

FOUR-O'CLOCK FAMILY, 88

framboyfln, 176

framboyi^n azul, 492

frangepane, red, 462

frangepane, white, 460

frangijaponie, 462

frangipi\n, 462

frangipani, 460, 462

frangipani, Mexican, 462

frangipani, nosegay, 462

frangipani, red, 462

frangipani, white, 462

frangipanier, 462

frangipanier blanc, 462

frangipanier rose, 462

frangipanier rouge, 462

frangipanier sauvage, 460

fransi mope, 292

French-cashew, 404

frescura, 330

fresnillo. 502

fresno, 502

fresno amerlcano, 502

frijol, 132

ff ijolillo amarillo, 200

fromager, 334

fromager mapou, 336

fromagier, 518

536

fnicta pao, 62

fruit a pain, 62

f ruta de conde, 104

fnita bomba, 376

fruta de oatey, 466

fnita de loro, 246

fruta de palnma, 76, 210

fruta de pan, 62

f uego. 316

fuelle oauelle, 434

fustic 202

gaeta, 254

gaiac, 212

gaiac blanc. 214

gaiae femelle. 214

gaiae franc, 212

gale male, 212

gajigua, 254

galba, 3.50

galba odorant. 350

galipee, 426

gallinero. 162

ga into. 192, 194,208

gallito bianco, 208

gallito Colorado, 208

game de costa, 280

gaque, 352

garbancillo, 2.54

gardenia hedionda. 518

gargordn, 428

garrocho, 336

gatillo. 336

Gaussia attenuata, 13, 34, 42

gavilan. 428

Geiger-tree, 470

gemberhout, 386

gene-pas, 512

genip, 306, 512

genipa, 512

Genipa americana, 13, .504, 512

Genipa anicrwana var. caruto, 512

Genipa caruto, 512

genipap, 512

genlpapo, 512

g^nipayer, 512

geniptree, 512

genizaro, 164

geno, 200

genogeno, 200

geo, 122

geo-geo. 122

Geoffroya inermis, 190

gia mausa, 366

giant. 176

giant-tree, 176

gigualti, 512

Gilihcrfia arborea, 426

ginep, 306

ginger-thomas, 502

GINSENG FAMILY, 426

git6. 246

gliceridia, 198

glirifidia. 198

Gliricidia maciilata, 19S

GUricidia sepium, 188, 196

gloria, 502

goajiro, 180

gobiabiera. 416

goeaana, 466

gneaazoema, 340

goea.iaaba, 416

goejaba, 416

goesberie, 280

goiaba, 416

golden-apple, 292

golden-shower, 170

goldenleaf , 438

goma, 64

goma arSbiga, 144

goma elSstica, 68

goma elemi, 238

gombo-limbo, red, 238

gomme mouibin, 238

gomniier, 236, 23S, 240

gomniier i\ canot, 240

gommier barriere, 238

gommier blanc, 238, 240

gommier. dr.v-land, 238

gommier encens, 240

gomjiiier maudit. 238

gommier montagne, 240

gommier. peeling-bark. 238

gommier rouge. 238

gongoli. 426

gooseberry. 280, 282, 444

gooseberry, false. 282

gooseberr.v-tree. 280

gooseberry-tree, Otaheite, 280

gooseberry, wild. 2S0

gouannegoul. 166

goyave. 416

go.yavier, 410. 416

goyavier a fruits. 416

goyavier batard. 514

goyavier queue-de-rat. 410

graine canique. 308

graines bleues. 4.56

graines vertes, 314

graines violettes, 314

grains de lin pays, 156

grajo, 400

GRAMIXEAE. 32

granadillo, 386

granadillo bobo, 156. 422

granadillo de clavo, 372

granadino, 1.56

granado. 298

grand mahot. .326

grand niapou. 474

grape. 82

grapefruit, 224

GRASS FAMILY, .32

graviola, 100

grayumo bembra, 68

greenheart, 316, 514

greenheart, Demerara, 514

gregre, 388

greifruta, 224

gri-gri. 386, 388

grignon. 388

grijze mangel. 390

gris-gris des montagnes, 388

gros maliaut, 3.30

grosella, 280

grosella blanca, 280

grosella de Nicaragua. 280

gross grain, 314

guaba, 154, 312. .506

guaba del pais, 154

guaba nativa, 154

guacal. 490

guacamaya, 176

guacamayo, 176. 190

guacbaraco. 302

guachimol. 162

guacima, 338

gudcima cimarrona. 3.38

guaeima de caballo. 338

guacimilla, 58, 468

guaeimilla boba. .58

guacimilla cimarrona. .58

guacimillo. 340

guaclmo. 338

guitcimo bianco, 340

guacimo de temero, 340

guaconejo, 216

guaguasi, 364

guaiaco, .50, 212

Gnaiacum yuatemaicnse. 214

Guaiacum officinale, 13, 212

Guaiacum sanctum, 13, 214

guaicaje, 2.S2

guairaje, 406

guaita, 254

guaitil. 512

guaitil bianco, 512

Guajacuiii, see Guaiacum, 212

guajanilla, 372

guaje. 1.56. 490

guajon, 110

guama, 150, 154, 506

guama americano, 162

guama de costa. 200

guam;'> de Puerto Rico, 150

guam«i macho, 200

guama peludo, 1.52

guama venezolano, 152

guamfi zapatero, 294

guamacho, 162

guamo bianco, 162

guamo guard, 302

guamo matias, 302

guamucbe, 162

guamuchil, 162

guanaba, 100

guanabana, 98, 100

guanabana cimarrona, 98

guandbana de loma, 98

guandbana de jjerro, 98

guanabano, 100

guanandi, 350

guaney. 458

guango, 164. 166

guano, 334, 336

guao de costa, 290

guapaste, 200

guapinal, 180

guapinol. 180

guara, 302, 304

guara blanca, 302

guara comfm, 302

guaraguaillo, 246

guaraguao, 244, 386, 388

guaraguao macho, 246

guard n amarillo, .502

gudrana. 302

gudrana hembra, 302

gudrana macho. 302

guaranguardn, 502

guaranguay amarillo, 502

guaranguay bianco, 502

guarano, 302

guarapo, 84

guarataro, 282

guarda-sol, 394

Guarea guara, 246

Guarca ramiflora. 246

Guarea tricfiilioides 14, 242, 244

guarema, 234

guarmuche, 148

guarumo, 68

guasabara, 400

gud.sara, 400

gudsima de pinares, 136

guasimilla, .56, 364

guassatunga, 370

guatafer, 320

guatapand, 168

Guatteria blainii, 14, 108

Guatteria caribaen, 108

guava, 272, 416

guava, common, 416

guava, serrette, 400

537

guava, wild. 412, 416. 514

guave, 416

guavo. 150

guayaba, 274, 416

gua.vaba perulera, 416

guayabacoa, 356

guayabacon, 254, 400, 410

guayabilla de costa, 406

gnayabillo, 316, 370

guayabito, 370

guayabo, 416

giiayabo dulce, 416

giiayab6u, 76

guayabota, 400, 408

guayarote, 314

guayacan, 212, 214

guayacan bianco, 162, 212, 214

gii lyacan colombiano, 212

guayaeiin congo, 190

guayacAn de playa. 212

guayan'm de vera. 214

guayacdn negro. 212

guayacancillo. 214

guayacanejo, 76

guayaco, 212

guayava. 416

guayo bianco, 480

guayo prieto, 482

guayuyo. 50

guayuyo bianco, 50

guazatuniba. 370

guaznma. 340

Giia~uina gna~inna. 340

Giiaxuma tomentosa. 338. 340

Guazuma ulmifoVa. 13. 338

Ovazuma ulmifolia var. tomcntosa,

340
gn^-gu^. 388
giierrero. 526
Oncttnrda eUiptica. 514
OiH'ttarda kruQii, 514
Giicltarda lactns, 514
Gucltarda oraUfoUa, 514
CliicUariln parviflora, 514
Guettarda scabra, 13. 504, 514
Giiianaplum. 268
guiliqueme. 194
guinda.280
giiira, 490
giiire, 492
gii iri 1.308
guitarrero, 428
gnmarabie, 144
gum-elemi, 238
gumbo-limbo, 236, 238
gumtree, 23S
Ot'TTI FERAE, 348
giiyaba. 416
Gymnanthes lucida. 13, 262. 272

haba.278

babilla, 278

habillo. 278

lltieniocharis portoricenMs, 346

haiti-liaiti, 330

haiti-haiti, purple, 328

harklis, yellow, 232

bat-palm, Puerto Rico, 46

haya, 108

baya lilanca, 108

haya minga, 108

bediondilla, 156

flrdiriiiia haUamifcra, 240

Hedyosmum arborescens, 52

belecho, 28

belecbo iirbol, 28

helecho arboreo, 28

helecho gigante, 28

Hcmitclia, 2S

Hercules, yellow, 230

HERNANDIA FAMILY, 130

Hcniaiiftia (jiiiaiicnsis, 130

Hernandia sonora, 13, 130

HERXANDIACEAE, 130

hesito, 508

Heterotrichum cymosum, 14, 418. 420

hetre gris. 340

betre vert, 340

Hcvca, 64, 68

hibiseu.s, Chinese, 328

Hibiscus elatus, 326

Hibiscus csculciitus. 328

bibiscus, linden. 326

Hibiscus rosa-siricnsis, 328

hibiscus, sea, 326

Hibiscus tiliaceus, 15, 326

hibiscus, tree, 326

hicaquillo, 140

hicba, 256

Hicronynia. see Hycronima, 278

hierro negro, 210

higuera. 68

higuerete, 428

higiierillo, 486

higiierito, 492

higiiero, 490

higuillo, 50, 70, 282

higuillo hoja menuda, .50

biffiiillo prieto, 74

Hippomane mancinella, 262, 274

hiiiuillo, 510

Hirtella rugosa, 14, 140

Hirtclla triinulra. 140

boba. 204

hobo. 296

hobo Colorado, 296

hoe-stick-wood, 84

hogberry, 256

hog-berry, bastard. 282

hogplnni,294. 298

hoja taiual. 130

hoia menuda, 400. 406, 412

hojancha, 78. 122

hojita larga. 432

holla, 256

hollyhock. 256

Homalium hcmisttiiuiti. 372

Hoiunlium Iciogynum, 372

Homiiliuni piciaiidruiu. 372

Homalium racemosum, 14, 364, 372

Honduras-cedar, 244

honey-mangrove, 478

honey-tree, wild, 366

hooboo. 294

hoop-tree, 248

hori, 258

hormiguero, 468

horsebean, 180

horseradish-tree, 134

HORSERADISH-TREE FAMILY, 134

hor.setail-tree, 48

huacaruayo-chico, 164

buanipo. .336

huaranga, 144

huaranhua, 502

hubu, 294

huesillo, 458

huesito, 368, 510

hueso, 234, 268, 458, 510

hueso bianco, 458

hueso de tortuga, 320

huevo de gallo, 464

Hufclandia pendula, 110

huiniba, 360

huingo, 492

huira-palto, 128

huiril, 308

huisache, 144

huito, 512

hukup, 238

hule. 64. 68

hura. 276,278

Hura crepitans. 262, 276

Hura polijaudra, 278

hiira-wood, 278

huria, 258

Hycronima caribaca, 278

Hyeronima clusioides. 13, 262, 278

Hyfrduiina j<iuiaiccusis. 278

Hymenaea courbaril, 13, 168, 178

ibbi-banaru, 412

ibo-ink, 512

Icacorca ylauciflora. 430

[cucorca (juadalupcnsis. 430

icaquillo, 140

igarata. 68

iguanero, 478

ilan-ilan, 106

ilang-ilang, 106

imbuzeiro, 292, 296

imniortel blane, 194

imuiortel et ranger, 494

imniortel jaune, 196

immortelle, bocare. 194

immortelle, bois, 194, 196

immortelle, mountain, 194, 196

immortelle, swamp, 192

immortelle, water, 194

incense-tree, 238

indano, 256

indano Colorado, 256

Indian-almond, 394

Indian-laurel, 72

Indian-mulberry, 518

indien nue. 238

indigo-berry, 520

indio, 210

indio desnudo, 236, 270

indju, 168

inga dulce, 162

lu(ja fastuosn, 152

lupa inya. 1.54

Inga laurina, 14, 142, 150, 50(!

Inga quaternata, 142, 152

Inya niussoriana. 152

7)170 spccidsissima, 152

Inga vera. 142, 154, 506

inkbeiTy, 520

irayol, 512

irayol de loma, .512

ironberry, 320

ironwood, 320, 458, 508

ironwood. pine-ridge. 458

istaten. 478

iumanasi, 340

Ixora ferrea, 504, 516

jabilla. 278
.iabillo. 278
.iabon-cb^. 308
.iaboncillal. 308
jaboncillo, 308
jaca, 62
jacana, 452
jacaranda, 492
Jacarnuda acutifolia. 492
Jacaranda mimosifolia. 492
.iacare-fiba, 350
jacatirao, 422
Jacinto, 134, 248

538

Jack. 62

jackfruit, 62

jnok-in-the-beanstalk, 208

jack-in-the-box, 130

jacocalalu, 338, 340

jacocalalu, false, 58

jagua, 512

.iagua amarilla, 512

jagua blanca. 512

jasua Colorado, 512

jasiia de montana, 512

jaijua negra, 512

jaguay, 102

jagiieicillo, 70

jagiieillo, 70

jagiierillo, 280

jagiiey. 70, 72, 74

jagiiey bianco, 70

jagiiey Colorado, 74

jagiiey macho. 70

jagiiey prieto, 74

jagiiilla, 94

Jamaica-plum, 296

Jamaican-cedar, 244

jambeiro, 402, 404

jambo amarello, 402

jambo encamado, 404

Jambos jamhon, 402

Jambosa nialaccciisis, 404

Jambosa riiJoaris. 402

jambosier, 402

j 'melac, 404

jnqueca, 3.30

jaqueira, 62

jaquier, 62

ja.sniln de e.strella, 62, 510

ja.smine, 460

ji.smine, red. 462

ja.smine. Spanish, 462

jatobd, 180

javilla. 278

jayajabico, 318

jazmin francos, 184

jebe. 200

jele, 390

jenequite, 236

jereton. 428

Jerusalem, 180

JerusTlem-date, 170

Jerusalem-thorn, 180

jessamine, 462

Jesuit-bark, Jamaica, 508

jia amarilla, 368

iia colorada, 370

jiba, 210

jicaquillo, 140

jicara, 490

jicarillo. 360

jicaro, 490

jigiierillo, 70

jimbay. 1.56

jimbling, 280

jina, 150

jinicuite. 236

jinocuTbo. 236

jiiiocuavo. 236

jinote, 236

jiote, 236

jique, 364

jisotoubo, 308

jobillo, 294, 296

jobito, 296

jobo, 294, 296

jobo bianco, 294

jobo Colorado, 294

jobo de castilla, 294

jobo de indio, 292

jobo de la India, 292

jobo de perro, 294

jobo de puerco, 294

jobo francos, 296

jobo gusanero, 294

jobo hembra, 294

jobo jocote, 294

jobo macho de tierra fria, 136

jobopelon, 236

jobo vano, 294

jobobfln, 294

jocote, 294, 296

jocote comuu, 296

jocote de invierno, 296

jocote de jobo, 294

jocote jobo, 296

jocote maranon, 288

jocote montanero, 294

jocotillo, 254

jncuma, 386, 454

jocuma amarilla, 454

jocuma blanca, 454

jocuma lechera, 454

John-BuU-tree, 330

jointwood, 172

jo job An, 254

joseflna, 176

juan tomas, 522

jiianilla, 140

juba ronipehueso, 370

jubabfln, 254

iubilla, 442

jucarillo, 386, 388

jiiearo, 388, 510

jiicaro amarillo, 386

jflcaro mastelero, 386

jiicaro negro, 388

juche, 462

juco, 58

judio, 122

jiijamo, 510

jiijano, 510

jujul, 336

July-tree, 176

jumay, 254

jumbie-apple, 366

jumbie-bead, 144, 146

jumbie-bean, 156

junco marino, 180

jungleplum, mastic, 454

juniper, 512, 514

jurupe, 308

jusillo, 418

jutahy, ISO

kaddo bakkoe, 334
kaimit, 438
kaimit, wild. 436
kajanna raanja, 290
kalabarie, 228
kalabassenboom, 492
kalebas, 492
kanakuehiballi, 360
kaneelappel, 104
kankantrie, 334
kapok, .3.34
kapokboom, 334
kapokler. 334
karaba-balli, 246
karohoro, 428
kasabahoedoe, 428
kasjoe, 288
ka.sjoenia, 102
kassod-tree, 174
katoelima, 386
katoenboom, 334
katunbom, 3.34
kaubaati, 232
kaway, 206

kaway, swamp, 206

kayuwa, 326

kelki heel, 502

kenepa, 306

kenepier, 306

kibihidan, 368

kidneywood, 204

kinep, 306

king-of-flowers, 382

kinnup-tree, 306

klapperboom, 40

knlppen, 306

koelarie, 350

koerahara, 350

koesoewee, 358

koffie, 506

koko, 148

konaparan, 434

konorr^pie, 422

kopijk, 352

koraro, 190

kre-kre, 424

Krugiodendron ferreum, 316, 320

kufa, 352

kuigi, 168

kumaka, 334

kurana. 244

laburnum, Indian, 170

lagarto, 232

lagarto amarillo, 232

lagarto-caspi bianco, 350

lagarto negro, 232

Lagerstroemia flos-reginae. 382

Lagerstroemia indica. 382

Lagerstroemia speciosa, 382

Laguncularia racemosa, 12, 386, 392,

476
lagunero, 206
lamoentsji, 222
lamunchi, 218
lamunchi dushi, 222
lana, 336, 512
lancewood, 116, 200
landi, 350
lanero, 336
lanilla, 336

Laplacea portoricensis, 346
lara, 164
laraha, 220
laraha zier, 220
laranja amarga, 220
laranja da terra, 220
latapi, 246
latapi-caspi, 246
Laugeria densiflora, 524
Lauqcria resinosa, 524
LAI R AC E A E. 110
laurel, 72, 116, 118, 120, 122, 468
laurel amarillo, 116
laurel avispillo, 116, 118
laurel bianco, 114, 120, 468
laurel canelon, 116, 118
laurel cigua, 116
laurel de la India, 72
laurel de loma, 114
laurel de paloma, 118
laurel espada, 120
LAUREL FAMILY. 110
laurel geo, 122
laurel geo-geo, 122
laurel macho, 116, 468
laurel negro, 468
laurel prieto, 116, 468
laurel roseta, 116
laurel sabino, 94, 96
laurelillo, 116
laurier, 122

539

laurier blanc, 116

laurier cypre, 468

laurier fine, 122

laurier jaune, 114

laurier uiadame, 110, 122

laurier marbr<>, 116

laurier noir, 122

laurier puant, 120

laurier-rose, 30

lavap^n, 62

laylay, 474

laylay, hairy, 474

leadtree, 156

leadwood, 320

leather-coat-tree. 78

leatherwood, 298

leatherwood. southern, 298

lebbek, 146, 148

lebisa, 114, 116, 120

leche prieta, 448

lechecillo, 284, 436, 440

lechosa, 374, 376

leele, .520

l'e?lise, 146

LEGUME FAMILY, 142

LEGVMIN08AE. 142

leli, 244

lemoen, 218

lemon, 222

lemon. Canton, 222

lengua de mujer, 148

lengua de vaca, 426

lengua viperina, 148

repine, 230

repine gommier, 230

l(^pin^ jaune, 230, 232

l'iH>inet, 230

l^pineux jaune, 230

l(ipuni jaune, 230, 232

Leucaena glauca, 156

Lcuracna Icucoccphala, 156

leviza, 114

libertad, 134

licaria. Gulf, 114

Liraria jainaicoisis, 114

L'caria salicifolia, 13. 110, 112

Licaria triandra, 110, 114

licorice, 164

lidflower, 396

lidflower, pale, 396

liginim nephriticum, 204

lignumvitae, 212. 214

lignumvitae, common, 212

lignumvitae, fal.se, 272

lignumvitae, holywood, 214

lignumvitae, roughhark, 214

lila, 248

lilac, 248

lilaila, 248

lilas, 248

lilas des Indes, 248

lilas du pays, 248

lilas ^traneer, 248

lilayo, 248, 30O

lima, 218

lima agria, 218

lima boba, 218

lima chica, 218

lime, 21S

lime-leaf-plant, 218

lime, sweet, 218

lime. West Indian, 218

liinewood, 478

Union, 218, 222

limon agrio, 218, 222

lim6n criollo, 218, 222

lim6n comtin, 222

limon de cabro, 222

540

Union dulce. 218

Union france, 222

limdn francos, 222

lim6n real, 222

lim6n sutil, 218

limoncaspi, 366

limoncillo, 210, 276, 306, 308, 368, 396,

414
limouclUo del monte, 396, 410
limonero, 222
linguam, 132
lino, 156
lino criollo, 156
Linocicra axilliflora, 4.58
Lhtocifra caribaca, 4.58
Linociera domingensis, 14, 458
Liiwciera hoJdridgii, 4.58
lirio, 458, 462
lirio santana, 508
lirio tricolor, 462
llagrumo, 68
UaJAS, 364
llor6n, 282
Uorona, 298

Uume-palm, Puerto Rico, 42
Uuvia de oro, 180
loblolly, 90
locus, 180
locust, 178. 180
locust-berry, 256
locust-tree, 256
Lodoicea maldivica, 38
loksi, 180

Lonchocarpus domingensis, 13, 200
Louchocarinis glnucifoUus, 200
Lonchocarpus latifolius, 188, 198
long-torn, 480

LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY, 382
lorito, 138
loro, 138

LOTOIDEAE. 188
louro, 468
louro amarello. 468
Lucuma inultiflora. 452
LYTHRACEAE. 3S2

mabi, 318

maca Colorado, 190

macanabo, 436, 440

macaprein, 294

macata, 136

macata blanca, 156

macayo, 190

machacomo, 366

machete, 192

machette, 190

machetiUos, 192

macoi, 330

macoutouca, 42

macurije, 304

madam nalz, 180

madam yass, 180

MADDER FAMILY, 504

madera negra, 198

madiera, 252

Madras-thorn, 162

madre de cacao, 194, 198

madre de fiecha, 162

madriado, 198

madrial, 198

madura, 198

maduraverde, 438

maga, 130, 328

maga colorada, 328

Maga grandifiora, 328

mageniel, black, 270

MAGXOLIA FAMILY, 94

Magnolia portoricensis, 14, 94

Magnolia splendens, 14, 94, 96
MAGXOLIACEAE, 94
mago, 130

mahajo, 370

mahaudeme, 336

mahault de Londres, 330

mahaut franc, 326

mahaut piment, 56

maho, 326, 330

maho, beach, 330

mahoe, 326

mahoe, bombast, 336

mahoe, seaside, 326, 330

mahogany, 13, 248, 2.50, 252

mahogany, bigleaf, 250

mahogany, Brazilian, 250

mahogany, Briti.sh Honduras, 250

mahogany, broadleaf , 250

mahogany. Central American, 250

mahogany, Dominican, 17, 250

mahogany du pays, 252

MAHOGANY FAMILY. 242

mahogany, Honduras, 248, 250

mahogany, mediumleaf, 250

mahogany, Peruvian, 250

mahogany petites feuilles, 2.52

mahogany, small-leaf, 252

mahogany, Spanish, 252

mahogany, Venezuelan, 250

mahogany. West Indies, 250, 2.52

mahogany, West-Indian, 252

mahok, 252

mahomo, 200

mahoni, 252

raahot, 326

mahot bord-de-mer, 330

mahot gombo, 326

mahot grandes feuilles, 474

mahot-hetre. 340

mahout, 380

mai das arvores, 334

maiz tostado, 520

majagua.56, 92, 326

majagua brava, 380

majagua colorada, 58

majagua de Florida, 330

majagua de mona, 92

majagua de sierra, 380

majagua de toro, 340

majagua gallina, 190

majagua hembra, 326

majagua quemadora,380

majagiiilla, 330

majao, 326

majoe, seaside, 326

makka pruim, 296

malagueta, 414

malambo, 362

Malay-apple, 404

malcaconier, 202

MALLOW FAMILY, 326

maloko, 134

MALPIGHIA FAMILY, 250

MALPIOHIACEAE, 256

maluco, 512

MALVACEAE. 326

mamaja, 354

mamao. 376

mamaya. 354

mambee, 318

mamee, 354

mamey, 354

mamey amarillo, 354

mamey de Cartagena, 354

mamey de Santo Domingo, 354

mameycillo, 434

mameyuelo, 430, 434, 444

mami, 354

mamie, 354

niamieboom, 354

Mammea americana, 13, 348, 354

mammee-apple, 354

mammi, 354

mamoeiro, 376

mamon, 102, 300. 376

mamon de Cartagena, 300

maiuoncillo, 306

mampolo, 4&4

mampoo, 90

mampoo, black, 92

mampoo, water, 90

manacla, 42

nianca-eaballo. 168

mancenillier, 290

manchineel, 274, 276

mancliioneel, 276

mancinillier, 276

mandarina, 218

mandioqueira, 428

manero, 258

manga, 290

mangab^. 428

mangel, 390, 392

mangel blancu, 390, 478

mangel tan, 384

mangeniel, 276

manggaboom, 290

manggel cora, 320

manggo, 290

Mangifera indica, 286, 288

mangle, 384, 390, 392

mangle amarUlo, 392

mangle blanc. 392, 478

mangle bianco, 12, 392, 478

mangle bobo, 392, 478

mangle boton, 12, 390

mangle botoncillo, 390

mangle caballero. 384

mangle Colorado, 12, 384

mangle de chifle. 384

mangle garbancillo. 390

mangle gateador, 384

mangle gris, 390

mangle i?uanero, 478

mangle injerto. 384

mangle jeli, 390

mangle lloroso, 390

mangle marequita, 390, 392

mangle mMaille, 206

mangle negro. 12. 390. 478

mangle noir, 384

mangle pifiuelo. 390

mangle prieto. ,390. 392. 476, 478

mangle rojo. 384

manile rosado. 478

mangle rouge, 384

mangle salado. 384. 478

mangle torcido. 390

mangle zapatero, 384

manglecito. 478

manglier. 384. 390

manglier blanc. 392

manglier chandelle, 384

manglier gris. 390

manslier noir. 478

manglier rouge. 384

manglillo. 432

mango, 288, 290

mango, wild. 448

MANGOSTEEX FAMILY, 348

mangot, 290

mangotine. 290

mangro. 384

mangrove, 384, 476

mangrove, black. 384

MANGROVE FAMILY, 384

mangrove, red. 384

mangue, 290. 390, 392

mangue braneo, 390, 392

mangue de botfio, 300

mangue sapateiro, 384

mangue vermelho. 384

mangueira, 290

manguel. 394

manguier. 290

mani kwaha. 350

Manila-tamarind, 162

Manilkarii baUita. 444

Manilkara bidentata, 12, 13, 14, 436,

444
Manilkara cmarginnta. 446
Manilkara (liii)Iicata. 444
Manilkara jaimiqui, 446
Manilkara nitida, 444
Manilkai-a piecana, 444
Manilkara rirdlcana, 444
Manilkara zapota, 436, 446
Manilkara xapotilla, 446
raanja. 290
manjack. 472. 474
manjack, mucilage. 474
manjack. jiink, 498
manjack, red, 472
manjack, white, 474
mannie botieie. 434
mano de le6n, 1.30, 426
mano de o.so, 426
manteco, 256. 258, 432
manteco bianco, 432, 434
manteco de agua, 256
manteco nierey. 258
manteco sabanero, 2.56
mantequero, 432, 434
mantequito. 432
manu. 246
manzalinja. 276
manzana. 402. 404
manziina de Falti, 404
manzana de oro, 292
manzana de Otahiti. 292
manzana malaya, 404
manzana rosa. 402
manzanilla. 276
manzanillo, 274, 284
manzanillo de eosta, 276
manzanillo de playa. 276
manzanita de rosa, 402
mapahuite, 254
mai)en, 62
mapola. 196
mapoo. 92
mapou. 90, ,334, 474
mapou gris, 90, 466
mappoo. 90
mapurito. 232
mara. 236, 350
maranga calalu, 134
marantjiiey. 30
maran6n, 288
maraS^n de Curagao, 404
marafion japon^s. 404
maraquil. 302
marchucha, 502
marequito, 390
marfil, 372

Margaritaria nobilis, 282
Margaritaria nohilis var. antillana,

282
maria, 12. 348. 3.50
maria angola. 520
marlberry. Guadeloupe, 430
maricao, 256, 346
maricao cimarron, 258
maricao verde, 258. 346

Marie-Jeanne, 254

mario, 350

mariposa, 168

marmalade-box, 512

marup^, 428

masa, 240

masaquilla, 58

mastate bianco, 64

mastic, 454

mastic-bully, 454

mastic-tree, 238

Mnstichodendron foetidissimum, 454

niastwood. 4.54

mata caiman, 192

mata de chivo. 308

mata piojo, 254

mata-raton, 196, 198

mata-serrano, 354

mataboy, 200

mataburro, 180

matakki. 386

matapal, 352

matatauba. 428

Matayba domingensis, 14, 304

Mataijha opposiiifoHa, 304

matchwood, 428

mate, 492

matieo falso, 50

matillo. 202

mato, 202

mato Colorado, 146

matuhna, 462

mauricef, 256

Ma.rimilianca intifolia, 360

maxlmilier, 276

}ra!)epca axilli flora, 458

Maycpca caribaea, 458

Mayepca domingensis, 458

mazapAn, 62

meerilang. 412

MELASTOMATACEAE, 418

MELASTOME FAMILY, 418

Melia azedarach, 242, 246

MELIACEAE, 242

Mchcocca bijuga, 306

Melicoccus bijugatus, 302. 306

Meliosma herbertii, 14. 314

Meliosma obtusifolia, 314

melon, 216

mel6n zapote, 376

niemiso. 58

memiso de paloma, 58

memizo cimarron, 56, 58

memizo de majagua, 56

mereke, 288

merey, 258, 288

merisier. 406

merisier petites feuilles, 412

merisier rouge, 406

mesa, 448

mespel, 446

mespel, wild. 442

mesquit-tree, 168

mesquite. 166, 168

mestizo. 246

Metopium toxiferum, 286, 290

Mexican-cedar, 244

MEZEREON FAMILY, 380

mezquite, 168

miehe, 192

Miconia foreolata, 422

Miconia impetiolaris, 422

Miconia laevigata, 422

Miconia lanata, 422

Miconia rnicrocarpa. 422

Miconia ottoschulxii, 422

Miconia pachyphylla, 422

Miconia prasina, 418, 422

541

Miconia pxtnctata, 422
Mirniiia iij/CHOncura. 422
Miconia racetnosa. 422
Miconia rubiginosa, 422
Miconia sintenisii, 422
Miconia subcorymbosa, 422
Miconia tctrandra, 422
Miconia thonmsiana. 422
Micropholis chrysophylloides, 14, 448
Microphoiix ciinata. 448
Micropholis garciniaefolia, 14, 450
Micropholis portoricen-sis var. curvata.

448
mije, 406
mijico, 442
milkbush, 464
milktree, 460

MILKWORT FAMILY, 260
milky-bush. 460
milky-iron, 436
mille branches, 282
millerwood, 336
millo, 2S2
mimbre, 54
mimosa, 156

MIMOSA SUBFAMILY. 142
mimosa. West Indies, 156
mimosa, wild, 156
MIMOSACEAE. 142
MIMOSOIDEAE. 142
Miniiisops baJata. 444
Mimusops bidentata. 444
Mimusops doniingctisis, 444
Mimusops ricdlcana. 444
Mimusops sicheri, 444
misanteca. Gulf, 114
Misantcca triandra, 114
misanteco, 114
mi.spel, 446
mispelboom, 446
mispu, 446
moca, 188, 190
moea blanoa, 190
mochi^iiste, 162
mocmayn. .334
moeleri. 256
moho. blue. 326
moHnillo, 276, 336
mombin, 294
mombin batard. 254
mombin espagnol, 292
mombin franc. 294
mombin fruits .iaunes, 294
mombin, purple, 294, 296
mombin, red. 296
mombin rou?e. 296
mombin. yellow, 294
monbe, 294
monbin, 294
monbinier, 294
mondururu preto, 422
mon?ollano, 162
monke.v-apple, 352
monkey-soblet. .352
monkey-pistol, 278
raonkeypod, 166
Montezuma tirandiflora. 328
Montezuma speciosissima, 13, 326, 328
monval. 1.56
mop^. 2<M
nioppe. 294
MORACEAE. 60
moral, 474
moral de paz. 474
moralon, 78
moriengo, 134
morinda, 518
Morinda citrifolia, 50-». SI8

moringa. 134
Moringa moringa, 134
Moringa oleifera, 134
Moringa ptcryr/osperma, 134
MORIXGACEAE, 134
morototo, 428
morro. 490
moruro, 160
moruro prieto. 160
moruro rojo, 160
mostacilla, 13
mother-of-cocoa, 196
motillo, 324
moton, 190
mountain-cabbage, 44
mountain-palm, 42
moutouchi de savane, 206
muche, 148
muchichilan, .58
mucutena. 206
muerto, 210
mulato. 110, 236
MULBERRY FAMILY, 60
muUaca Colorado, 422
muUu caspi. 422
mulungu. 196
muneco, 470, 472
murta, 400
miisico, 148

muskwood, American, 244
mutamba. 340
mututy. 206
muyozaixit. 446
Myrcia bcrbcris, 410
Myrcia citrifolia, 410
Myrcia deflexa, 14. 396, 410
Myrcia ferruginca, 410
Myrcia leptoclada, 410
Myrcia paganii, 410
Myrcia splendens, 412
myrobalane. 294
MYRfflXACEAE, 430
mvrsine. 434

MYRSIXE FAMILY. 430
MYRTACEAE, 396
mvrte. 406
MYRTLE FAMILY, 396

nabaco. 510

nacascol, 168

Nagcia coriacea, 30

naked-boy, 238

naked-Indian. 238

naked-wood. 316. 318

nance. 2.58

nance agrio. 258

nance verde. 258

nanche. 258

nancite. 258

nancito. 258

iiandipfl. 512

naranga. 220

naranja. 226

naranja .icida. 220

narania agrla, 220

naran,ia cajera. 220

naranja de China. 226

naran.1a dulce, 226

naranjo. 226

naranjo amargo. 220

naranjo comun, 226

naseberry, 446

nazareno, 180

Xectandra antillana. 116

Nectandra coriacea, 13, 110, 116

nectandra, Jamaica, 116

Nectandra krugii, 116

Xectandra membranacea, 116

Nectandra patens. 116

Nectandra sintenisii, 116

negra lora, 108, 304

Neltiima juHflora, 168

nemoca, 124

nemoca cimarrou, 126

nemoca macho, 126

nettle-tree, Jamaican, 58

nicte de monte, 462

nightshade, 488

XIGHTSHADE FAMILY, 488

nightshade, mullein, 488

nigua, 518

niiio de cota, 346

niopa, 158

Niopa peregrina, 158

niopo, 158

nispero, 446

nlspero cimarr<5n, 456

nistamal. 282

njoe fodoe, 360

noba, 296

noix d'acajou, 288

noix de coco, 40

noni, 518

noro, 258

nosegay, 462

noyer, 228

nuez moscada, 124

nuez mo.scada cimarrona, 124

nuez moscada del pais, 124

nuez moscada macho, 124, 126

nune, 278

NYCTAOINACEAE, 88

iiandipd, 512

ochoho, 278

Ocliroma bicolor, 336

Ochroma boliviana, 336

Ochroma grandifiora, 336

Ochroma lagopus, 336

Ochroma lagopus var. bicolor, 336

Ochroma limonensis, 336

Ocliroma obtiisa, 336

Ochroma peruiHana, 336

Ochroma pyram-'dale. 13, 14, 334

Ochroma tomentosa, 336

Ochro)na velutina, 336

Ocotea catesbyana, 116

Ocotea coriaeea, 116

Ocotea cuneata, 110, 118

Ocotea floribunda, 110, 120

Ocotea foeniciilacea, 118

(x;otea. Jamaica, 116

Ocotea leucoxylon, 14, 110. 122

Ocotea moschata, 14. 110, 124

Ocotea portoricensis, 118

Ocotea rodiaei, 514

Ocotea spathulata, 14. 110, 126

Ocotea Wright a, 118

ocuje, 350

ocuje Colorado, 350

ofou crioUo, 486

ohia, 404

okra, 326

ocuje, 350

OLEACEAE, 458

olive-bark-tree, 388

OLIVE FAMILY, 458

olive, wild, 386, 414

Olivier grand bois, 386

Olivier montagne, 298

Olivier, yellow, 386

olivo, 132

onotillo, 358

onoto, 358

opoponax. 144

Opuntia rubescens, 13, 378

542

orange, 226
orange amere, 220
orange, bigarade, 220
orange, bitter, 220
orange douce, 226
orange grosse-jiean, 220
orange, mandarin, 218
orange, Seville, 220
orange, sour, 220, 226
orange sfire, 220
orange, sweet, 220, 226
orchid, poor man's 170
orchidtree. pink, 170
oreganillo, 138
orengga, 134
orme d'Amerique, 340
orme jietites feuilles, 50
Ormosia krugii, 14. 188, 200
oronoque, 194
or.selll, 134
ortegon, 78, 80, 94
orumo macho. 428
orvi. 288
otaheita, 330
Otaheite-apple, 292, 404
Otaheite-gooseberry, 280
Otaheite-plum. 292
oysterwood, 272
oy.sterwood, shiny, 272
ozua, 414

paaloe sie.ia doesji, 238
paaloe siej i maatsjoe, 238
pabito, 370
pacay. 190

Ptichiilobiis Itcxandrus, 240
paeon, 308
paeon cu.vus, 308
paciin, 308
padauk. 204

padank, Burma-coast, 204
padauk, India, 204
padero, 428
pain d'epice, 4.')2
pain-in-back, 56
painkiller, 518
pajarobobo, 54
pajuil, 286
palal, 1.50

paletuvier. 206, 390, .392, 478
paletuvier blanc. 478
paletuvier gris, 3!K)
paletuvier rouge, 3.S4
palinguan, 132
palissandre. 182
PALM FAMILY, .34
palm, prickly, 34
palm, sierra, 14, 40
palma boba, 42
palma de abanico, 46
palma de coco, 38, 40
palma de cogoUo, 46
palma de corozo, 34
palma decosta, 44
palma de coyor, 36
palma de Iluvia, 42
palma de manacla, 42
palma de sierra, 40
palma de sombrero, 46
palma de yaguas. 44
pnlnia .iusta. 42
palma real, 34, 44
PALMAE.Zi
palniera de coco, 40
palmera sin espinas. 28
palmetto. Bermuda. 46
palmetto, Puerto Rico, 46
palmilla, 28

palmiste h chapelet. 42

palmiste blanc. 42

palmiste franc. 42

])almiste montagne, 42

palo amargo, 2i54, 282, 308, 318,

jialo amarillo, 368

palo bianco, 2(!S, 366, 368, 370

palo hobo, 90, 136, 194, 360, 466

palo chino, 236, 238

palo Colorado, 298

palo de abejas, 134

palo de aceite, 240

palo de aceituna, 268

palo de anastasio. 254

palo de balsa. .336

palo de boya, 196

palo de burro, 190, 426

palo de cabra, 58, 456

palo de cabrilla, 56

palo de cachumba. 426

palo de corcho, 92

palo de cotona, 370

palo de cotorra. 264. 520

palo de cruz, 356, 462

palo de cucubano, 514

palo de da.iao. 514. 516

palode danta. 426

palo de doneella, 256

palo de gallina, 264

palo de garrocha. 336

palo de goma, (U. 68, 472

palo de guitarra. 480

palo de hierro. 198. 210, 320, 516

palo de hueso, 272, 458

palo de incienso. 236

palo de jaqueca, ,330

palo de .lazmin, 508

palo de la cruz, 368, 462

palo de lana, 336

palo de leche, 270. 464

palo de maria. 350

palo de inato. 146

palo de matos, 200

palo de millo, 282

palo de misanteco, 114

palo de muleta. 400

palo de muiieca, 472

palo de muneco, 464

palo de navidad, .520

palo de orquideas, 170

palo de pan, 62

palo de peje, 234

palo de perico, 92

l)alo de peronia. 202

palo de peronias, 202

palo de pez, 234

palo de polio, 206, 426

palo de polio negro, 426

palo de quina, 508

palo de rayo, 180

palo de sabana, 432

palo de sable. 428

palo de sal, 392, 47S

palo de seca, 190

palo de tea, 216

palo de tore, 510

palo de tortnga, 260

palo de vaca, 268, 426, 466

palo de violeta, 260

palo de yagua, 364

palo de ynca. 270

palo diablo, 132, .320

palo guitaro, 426

palo hediondo, 200

palo-jal)6n, 308

palo jeringa, 134

palo jiote, 238

palo Uoron, 504

461

palo maria, .3.50

palo misanteco, 114

palo niujer, 264

palo mulato. 236

palo-p<')lvora, 58

palo i>ulato, 236

palo i)rieto, 194

palo rajador, 370

palo retinto, 236

palo rubio, 232

palo salvaje, 364

palo santo, 118, 194. 212. 214, 426

palo seco, 200

palo tabaco, 474

I>aloma. 208

paloverde. 180

paloverde, Mexican, 180

palta. 128

palto. 128

palu di cashupete. 288

palu di frut'i pan, 62

palu santu, 330

pama, 426

pamasbto, 444

pamplemousse, 224

pan, 62

pan de f ruta, 62

pan de trigo, 2.54

pan mango, 448

pana, 02

pana cimarrona, 62, 428

pana de pepitas, 60

pana forastera, 62

Panama, 310

panama-tree, 340

panapen, 60

panelo. 156

paneque, 232

papachilla, 520

papjjahoedoe, 428

papao, 376

papaturro, 82

papaturro extranjero. 82

papaw, 376

papaw, wild, 68

pa pay, 376

papaya, 374, 376

PAPAYA FAMILY, 374

papaye, 376

papayer, 376

papayillo, 340

papayo, 290, 376

papayo calentano, 376

papayon. 428

papayote, 360

papelite. 370

papillon. 208

paradise-tree. 248

paraiso. 134, 248

paraiso bianco, 134

paraiso de Espana, 134

paraiso frances, 134

Paralabatia portoricensis, 452

paraparo, 308

pa rata, 444

pardillo, 468

paresol. 474

paricd, 158

pariti, 326

Paritiiiiii tUiarcinn, 326

Parkinsonia aculeata, 168. 180

parrot-apple, 352

parwa, 478

pasilla, 248

pata de danta, 340

pata de vaca, 170, 254

patabiiu, 392

patabdn de monte, 122

543

paternilln. 150

pati,4!t2

patillo. 302

Itatte laiiin, 3:^6

pan de eortume. 256

pan saiitd, 212

pan tento. 146

paucipaii, red, 462

paiiji, 144, 180

pava. 428

pavilla. 428

pawpaw, 376

PEA SUBFAMILY, 188

pea-tree, 12, 198

pear, 128

pear-tree. 128

peetscli-kitam, 520

pel;'i,144

pellejo de indio, 236

peloto, 190

peltophoruiu, 182

Pfltoiihnriim fcrruginciim, 182

Peltophorum inerme, 168, 182

Pritoiihonim nixhunjltii, 182

pel via, 420

penda. 478, 480

l)endare, 444

pendula, 478, 480, 486

peiidula lilanca, 486

pendula de sierra, 478

penny-piece, 452

peonia, 146

peperwortelboom, 134

pepo, 308

PEPPER FAMILY, 50

pera, 404

peraleja, 258

peralejo, 256, 258

peralej > bianco, 258

peraleJT de pinar, 256

peralej:i de sabana. 258

perico, 92

perlas. 134

pernilla de easa, 192

lieronia, 202

peronias, 144

peronlas cbatas, 146

peronilla, 192

peronio, 192

Persea americana, 110, 128

Pcrsca r/ratissiiiia, 128

Persea kriigii, 128

Persea persea. 128

pessegueiro bravo, 256

petit bonis, 436

l>etit cainiite, 436

petit cf)Co, 324, 520

petit merisier, 412

I>etite-fenille, 410

petites raquettes, 378

petitia, 482

Petitia domingensis, 13, 476. 482

penplier, 54

Plunirra viirieijata, 170

Phh'hotaeiiia emrellii, 260

Pliaebe cirmgala. 116

Phyllanthus acidus. 262, 280

PlujUantliiis antillaniis, 282

Ph'yUanthns ilistirlnix. 280

Plnillaiitli iix !;ruii(Jifolius, 280

Ph till a II thus jiiiilanflifdliiis. 280

Phyllanthus nobilis, 262, 282

PhyUaiitlnis nobilis var. antillanus,

282
pica-pica, 362
piehones, 62
pico de Hamenco, 208
Picramnia pentandra, 234

Pictetia aculeata, 13, 202
pigeon-berry, 466

pigeon-feed, 478

pigeou-phun. 76

pigeon-wood, 340, 460, 4(i6

piginio, 2.")6

pij, 272

piUhe, 492

Pilocerciis royeiiii, 376

pilon. 190

Pimento aeris, 414

Pimcnta arris var. grisea, 414

Piincnta ilioica. 414

Pimcnta officinalis, 414

Pimcnta iiinicnta. 414

Pimento racemosa, 396, 414

Piincnta raecinosa var. grisea, 414

piniienta, 216, 2.80, 414

piniienta de Tabasco, 414

pin d'Australie, 48

pine, wild, 30

pine, wild pitch, 30

pinha, 104

pinipiniclie, 276

liink-cedar. 498

pino. 48

pino anstraliano, 48

pino de Australia, 48

pino macho, 2.30. 232

pintjo. 422

l)inturero. 282

piiia de pnerto. 518

piiii-pini. .")08

pinon. 192

pinon amoroso, 198

pinon de cerca. 192

pinon de Cuba. 198

pinon de pito, 192

pinon de sombra, 196

piiion del canto, 194

pinon espinoso, 192

pinon florido, 198

piiion francos, 194

pififin vlolento. 198

piojillo. 298

pid.iito. 298

Piper aduncum, 50

PIPERACEAE.m

piiiewood. 366.368

Piptadenia peregrina, 158

piragua, 210

pisamo, 194, 196

pisamo crJentado, 194

Pisonia albida. 13, 88

Pisnnia frn'iraiix. 92

Pisonia subcordata, 90

pisquin, 148

pistache des Indes, 340

pitanga, 400

pitangueira, 400

pitarrillo, 296

liitcli-annle. 3.52

PitheceVob'um arboreum, 14. 142. 160

P'thecellob'um dulce. 142. 162

Pithecellobium soman, 142. 164

Pitlicecllotiiiim iingiiis-cati. 162

Pithccolobiiim, see Pithecellobium, 160

pito. .34, 192, 194

pito de iieronilla. 192

pito extranjero, 196

pito gigante. 196

piton, 192

pivijay, 72

pixoy, 340

plateado, .508

platinillo de Cuba, 50

plum-bush, 294

pliun-rose, 402

plum, St. Vincent, 198

plume. Napoleon's, 170

Pliimcria aciitifolia, 462

Plumeria alba, 13. 460, 462

Pliimcria krugii. 460

Plumeria rjbtusa, 460

Pliimcria portoriccnsis. 460

Plumeria rubra, 460, 462

Plumeria tricolor, 462

Plumiera, see Plumeria. 460

Pliiniicria. nee Plumeria, 460

plumillo, 160

pochote, 264, 3.34, 360

podocarp, 30

podocarpus, 30

Podocarpus coriaceus, 14. 30

poinciana. 176

Piiineiana regia, 176

poinciana. royal, 176

poinciana, yellow, 182

poirier, 210, 498

poirier blanc, 498

poirier gris, 498

lioirier rouge, 498

pciis doux, 150. 154

pois (loux ri paille. 154

pois doux blanc. 1.50

pois doux poilu, 154

poissucrin, 154

pois vallier, 208

poison-guava, 276

poison lasinette. 160

poison-ivy. 290

poison-oak, 290

poisontree, 290

poisontree, Florida, 290

poisontree. West Indies. 290

poisonwood, 290

pokhout, 212

polak, .336

polisandro, 184

polio, 426

Polygala cowellii, 13, 260

POLYGALACEAE. 260

POLYGOyACEAE, 76

pomagada, 404

pomagas, 404

pomarrosa, 15, 402

pomarrosa de Malaca, 404

pomarrosa malaya, 404

pomelo, 218, 224

pomerac, 404

pomme ca.iou, 288

pomme canuelle, 104

pomme cyth^re. 292

pomme d'acajou, 288

pomme de Cythere, 292

pomme de Malaisie, 404

pomme de Tahiti, 404

pomme malac, 404

lioniniepain, 4.52

pomme rose, 402

pomme surelle, 280

ponuuerak, 404

pommeroos, 402

pommier d'acajou, 288

pommier rose, 402

pomo, 402

pomshock, 150

pond-apple, 98

pop-a-gun, 68

popinae, white, 1.56

Poponax macracanthoides, 144

Poponax tortuosa. 144

por6. 194

poroporo, .360

portiatree, 330

544

possentrie, 278

fxissumtree, 278

possumwood, 278

pMii, pink, 500

Poiitcria chriisoptnilloides, 448

Poiitcria (lictiioiieura. 452

Poutcria parciiiiaefolia. 450

Pouteria multifiora, 452

priokle-liiish. 520

prickly-ash, Martinique, 230

prickly-ash, yellow, 232

jiricklyash, yellowheart, 228

pric-kly-yellow, 230

pricklypear, 378

pride-of China, 248

pride-oMndia, 248, 382

prieto. 290

princewood, 508

princewood, Caribbean, 508

probudo, 42.S

Prosopix cliilensifi. 168

Prosopis juUnora, 15, 166

prune cythere, 292

prune d'Espagne, 296

prune du Chili, 296

prune jaune, 296

prune niombin. 294

prune Myrobolan, 294

prune rouge, 296

prunier monibin. 294

Psidium guajava, 13, 396, 416

pterocarpus, 204

Ptcrocarpus draco, 206

Pterocarpus indicus. 188. 204

Pterocarpus ofRcinalis, 13, 188. 206

pucte, 388

pudding-pipe-tree, 170

punnnelo, 21,'?, 224

pumpo, 360

pumpumjuche, 360

punipwood, 68

punchberry. 412

punta de ral, 368

punteral, 370

purguo, 444

purio fangar. 108

purio prieto. 108

purple-plum. 296

puyeque. 478

pyinma, 382

Quararibaea turbinata, 336

quebracha, 312
quebracho, 310, 320
queen-flower, 382
queen-of-flowers, 382
quenepa, 306
qu^nepe, 306
quenette, 306
quenettier, 306
qui, 168

quick-stick. 198
quiebra-hacha, 312, 320
quiebrahaca, 400
quillo-sisa, 360
quina, 504, 508
quina criolla. .508
quina del pais. 234
quina roja, .504
quinilla, 444
quinilla colorada, 444
quinquina caraibe, 508
quinquina pays, .508
quinquina piton, 508
quira, 190
quisache, 144

rabo raton, 364

rabo junco. 364

raljoe die kabasi, 520

raintree, 164

raisin bord-de-mer, 82

raisin la mer, 82

raisin niarron. 76

raisinier bord-de-nier. 82

raisinier grandes-feuilles, 78

raisinier niontague. 30

rama nienuda. 412

ranion. 272

ramon de caballo, 426

ranion de costa, 426

ramon de vaca. 426

ranion macho, 282

ramoncillo, 254

Randia aculeata, 13, 504, 520

Ixaudia aculeata var. mitis, 520

ly'aiKlia niitis. 520

Rapanea ferruginea, 430, 432

rapanea, Guiana, 434

Rapanea guianensis, 430. 434

rascaso, 270

raspador. 58

rat-bean. 1.32

raton. 210. 304

ratonera, 198

Rail vol fia laiiiarckii, 464

Rauvolfia nitida, 13. 460. 464

rauvolfia, smooth, 464

Rauvolfia tetraphylla.i&i

Rauvolfia viriilis, 464

Rauwolfla. see Rauvolfia. 464

red-birch, 238

redcedar, 244. 254

reddle. 190

redplum. 296

redwood. 210. 246

redwood, ridge, 210

redwood, swamp, 210

r^glisse. 146

reina de las flores, 382

requia, 246

resbalo mono, 236

reseda, 134

resotu montagne, 512

resuelesuele, 520

retama, 180. 198, 502

retamo. 254

RRAMKACEAE,Zm

Rhcedia acuminata, 356

Rhcedia hessii, 356

Rheedia portoricensis, 348. 356

Rhizophora mangle, 12. 384

Rhi:ophora mangle var. samoensis,

384
Rhizophora samoensis, 384
RHIZOPHORACEAE, 384
rhubarbe caraiTie, 518
Rhus, 290

Ribes grosaiilaria, 280
rima. 62
robe, 292
rohle. 12. 498
roble agalla, 234
roble amarillo, 478, 502
roble bianco, 428, 498
roble Cimarron, 496
roble Colorado, 496, 500
roble de costa, 498
roble de guayo, 466
roble de olor, 486
roble de sierra, 500
roble de yugo, 498
roble guayo, 466, 482, 486
roble giiira. 300

roble prieto. 500

rode kabbes. 190

rode locus, 180

rodwoo<l. 406

rodwood. red. 412

roldan, 216

rol6n, 162

Rondelctia incrmis, 522

Rondcletia pilosa, 522

Rondeletia portoricensis, 504, 522

rosa aniarilla, 360

rosa china, 360

rosa de Maxitniliano, 360

rosa imperial, 360

ROSACEAE, 140

rose-apple, 402

ROSE FAMILY, 140

rose-niarie, 512

rose-of-Peru, 360

rose-of-Sharon, 360

roselle, 280

ro.';eta, 324

rosewood, 204, 256

rosewood, white, 458

roucou, 358

roucouyer. 358

royalpalm, 44

royalpalm, Cuban. 44

royalpalm, Puerto Rico, 44

Roystonea borinquena, 34. 44

Riiiistonca rcgiu, 44

rubber. 64

rubber, castilla, 64

rubber, eastilloa, 64

rubber, Central American, 64

rubber. Para. 64. 68

rubber-plant. 68

rubber-plant, India, 68

rubber-tree, India, 68

rubia, 232

RVBIACEAE,ZM

rucu, 358

RUE FAMILY, 216

ruffle-palm, coyure, 36

ruibarba. 502

ruri. 354

RnTACEAE.2\&

Sabal bermudana, 46

Sabal hlackburnianum. 46

Sabal causiarum, 34. 46

sabana kwari moeleidan, 258

sabana kwarie, 256

sabana mango, 258

SABIA FAMILY, 314

SABIACEAE.m

sabicu, 160

sabicii de pinares, 138

sabicu niaran6n, 138

sabicu moruro, 160

sabina macho. 298

sabino. 96

sabinon, 266

sablier. 278

sabllto. 428

saboeiro. 308

saboneteiro.308

sabroso, 206

sacha-uva. 428

sackysac, 150

sacmuda, 370

saeuanjoche, 462

saffron-tree. 440

saibo. 196

saijhan, 134

Saint John, 134

545

saisai, 138

saivo, 196

.salaam, 468

salado, 478

salaster, 134

salsueiro, 54

SALICACEAE, 54

Salix chUciisis, 54

Salix humboldtiana, 54

salmwood, 468

salso, 54

saltbnsh, 478

saltpond-tree, 478

salvadera, 278

samaguare. 164

saman, 148, 164, 166

saraana, 166

Samaiica arborea, 160

Sainanca saman, 166

Son. 4 Hdrds, 502

San BartoUfmi, 470

sandalwood, red, 146

sandbox, 276, 278

sandbox-tree, 278

sandcoker, 194

Sanders, yellow, 386

sang dragon, 206

sangre, 206

sangre de drago, 206

sangregado, 206

sangrillo, 206

sangrito, 206

sanguinaria, 442

santa maria, 330, 3.50

santa-maria, 348, 350

santo, 422

saona cimarrona, 322

saona de puerco, 322

sapatija, 446

8AI'iyDACEAE.Z0-i

Sapindus saponaria, 302, 308

Sapium laurocerasus, 13, 14, 262, 284

sapo, 182

sapodilla, 446

SAl'ODILLA FAMILY, 436

sapodille, 446

Sapota acliras, 446

HAPOTACEAE.43^

sapote, 446

sapoti, 446

sapotilha, 446

sapotille, 446

sapotillier, 446

sapotillier marron, 442, 444

sapotillier noir, 444

saramuya, 104

Sarcomplialiis (Imninacnsis. 322

Sarcomphalus reticulatus, 13, 316, 322

Sarcoinphaliis taylorii, 322

sardine, 422

sardinillo, 502

sarnilla,370

sasafnls, 118

satinleaf, 440

satinwood, 228

satinwood, Jamaican, 228

satinwood, West Indian, 228

sauce, 48, 54, 180

sauce amargo, .54

sauce bianco, .54

sauce chileno, 54

sauce Colorado, 54

sauce criollo, 54

sauce espino, 180

sauce amarillo, .502

sauco Cimarron, 300

saule, 54

sauquillo, 300

savonetapel, 308

savonette, 200

savonette grand bois, 20t>

savonette Jaune, 200

savonette montagne, 308

savonette mousseuse, 308

savonette pays, .308

savonette. white, 200

savonettier, 308

savonier, .308

savonnette grandes feuilles, 200

savonnette rivifere, 200

sawa, 512

Seiacassia siamea, 174

scopappel, 104

Scotch-attorney, 352

Scotchman, .352

seagrape, 82

seagrape, grandleaf, 78

seagrape, pigeon, 76

seaside-grape, 82

Sebesten rickseckeri. 470

Scbesteti sehestena, 470

sebucan, 376, 470

selele b^l^t(^re, 422

senna, apple-blossom, 172

senna, golden-shower, 170

senna, jointwood, 172

senna. Siamese, 174

sepi, 488

seriba, 478

seplina, 170

serrasuela, 310, 312, .514

serrazuelii, 400

serrette, 256

serrette, savanna, 258

serrueho, 300

Seshan, see Svsbania, 208

Sesbania grandiflora, 188, 208

shack-shack. 148, 1.56

shaddock, 218, 224

shahuay, 162

shannbu, 358

shellseed, 360

shimbillo, 152

shower-of-gold, 170

shower, pinli-and-white, 172

shower. Siamese, 174

shupfirai, 246

Sideroxylon foetidissimum, 12, 13, 436,

454
Sideroxylon mastichodcndron, 454
Sideroj-ylon portoricense. 454
Sidcroxyliim, see Sideroxylon, 454
sie.1a blanko, 238
sieiii|ire-viva, 180
siete-cueros. 282. 478
siiruaraya, 116, 254
silk-cotton-tree, 332, 334
silverballi, brown, 468
SlilAROlBACEAE. 234
siniiri, 180
sinaasapi)els. 226
singer-tree, 148
siris-tree, 148
siris, white, 1.50
siriuba, 478

SJoanea amygdaUna, 324
Sloanea berteriana, 14, 324
slog-wood, 110
slug-wood, 110
small-leaf, 412
small-leaf-grape, 84
snake-bark, common, 316
snake-bark, smooth, 31S
snake-wood, 68, 316
soap-tree, 308
soapberry, 308

SOAPBERRY FAMILY, 302
soapberry, wingleaf, 308

soapseed, 308

soapseed-tree, 308

S0L.1A'AC'B.4.E7, 488

Solanum aspenim, 488

Solarium drymophilum, 488

Solanum erianthum. 488

Solanum, melongena, 488

Solanum rugosum, 488

Solanum tuberosum. 488

SoUinuin vcrliascifolium, 488

soldierwood, 318

solera, 468

sombra de armado, 370

sombra de conejo, 370

sombra de ternero, 472

sopaipo, 322

sopo sirie, 308

sorsaka, 100

sota caballo, .520

soursap, 100

soursop, 100

soursop, mountain, 98

soursop, wild, 98

South- American-cedar, 244

Spanish-cedar, 242, 244

Spanish-cork, 330

Spanish-elm, 468

Spanish-lime, 306

Spanish-oak, 150

Spanish-plum, 296

Spathodea campanulata, 15, 490, 494

Spondias eirouclla, 296

Spondias cyiherca, 292

Spondias dulcis, 286, 292

Spondias lutca, 294

Spondias mombin, 286. 294, 296

Spondias purpurea, 286, 294, 296

Spo7>dias purpurea forma lutea, 296

six)on-tree, 466

spruce, 468

spurge, bro.idleaf, 270

SPURGE FAMILY, 262

Stahlia maritima, 184

Stahlia monosperma, 13, 168, 184

STAPHYLEACEAE, 300

star -apple, 436, 438

star-apple, wild, 448

star-goo.seberry, 280

Stenolobium incisum, 502

Stenolobinm stans, 502

Stenostomum acutatum, 504

Stenostomum coriaceum, 504

Stenostomum, densiflonim, 524

Stenostomum lucidum, .504

Stenostomum obtusifolium, 504

Stenostomum portoricense, 506

Stenostomum sintenisii, 504

sterapiiel, 438

Sterculia apetala, 338, 340

Sterculia carthaqinensis, 340

STERCULIACEAE, 338

stinking-toe, 180

stopper, 400, 406

stopper, bastard, 482

stopper, red, 406

strangler-fig, 352

subin. 144

.subinche, 144

such 11, 462

sucrier, 154

sucrin, 154

sugar-apple, 104

sugary-grape, 84

suina, 194

sulfatUlo, 180

546

sulfato, 180

suUuco, 308

siima-catechii, 144

sumauma, 334

sun-sun, 340, 428

sureau, 50

surelle, 280

Surinam-cherry, 400, 412

susana, 4.80

susanalei'he, 480

swamp-mahogany, 398

SWEETLEAF FAMILY, 456

sweetleaf, Martinique, 456

sweetpea, 150

sweetsop, 104

Bweetwood, 114, 116, 442

sweetwood, black, 120

sweetwood, cap-berry. 116

sweetwood, loblolly. 122

sweetwood, small-le-.ived, 116

Sivictcnia beUzcnsis, 250

f^wictcnia candollri, 250

Sirictcnia krukorii. 250

Swietenia macrophijlla, 242, 248

Swicteititi marropliylla X mahagoni,

250
Swietenia mahagoni, 13, 15, 17, 242,

250
Swietenia tessmannii, 250
swizzle-stick-tree, 3.36
svbilline, 2.S0
SY3IPL0CACEAE. 4.56
Siimploros lanata, 456
Symplocos martinicensis, 456
Siimphtcos inicra)itlia, 456
Sifiiiijlocos poliiaiitlKi, 4.56
S)izjip'">n jamhos, 402
Syzygiiixt ntalaccciise, 404

tabaco, 272

tabacon, 272, 488

tabacon afelpado, 488

tabacon aspero, 488

tabaiba, 2S4

Tabihiiin rlomiiiicrihiis, .500

Tabebuia haemantha. 490. 496

Tabebuia heterophylla, 12, 13, 14, 490,

498
Tabeiuia heterophylla subsp. pallida,

498
Tabebuia lucida, .500
Tabrhuid pallida, 498
Tabebuia pallida subsp. dominicensis,

50O
Tabebuia pallida subsp. heterophylla.
498

Tahrbiiia pcntaplnilla. 498. 5(X)

Tabebuia rigida, 14. 490, 500

Tabebuia rosea. 50(>

Tabebuia scliumaiuiia)ia, 500

tabebuia, white, 500

tabloncillo, 442

tablote, 33.8

tabonuco, 238

tabuehin, 176

tacasito, 370

tache, 502

tachuelo, 202

tacurai, 468

tagualaiste, 502

talantrdn, 364

Talaiinia splendens, 96

taman, 186

taman, wild, 156

tamarandillo, 160

tamarijn, 186

tamarin. 186

tamarind, 186

tamarind, black, 160

tamarind, French, 166

tamarind, red, 160

tamarind, wild, 156, 160

tamarindade, 186

tamarinde, 186

tamarindier, 186

taraarindillo, 156

tamarindo, 160, 186

tamarindo de loma, 138

tamarindo silvestre, 144

Tamarindus indica, 168, 186

tamarinier, 186

tarabor, 130. 264, 468, 512

tambor hormiguero, 468

tampaco, 352

tangerine, 218

tantan, 156

tapaculo, .340, 366. 512

tapal, 208

taparo, 492

taray, 216

tapoeripa, 512

taproepa, 512

tarana, 458

tarco, 492

tasto, 502

TAXACEAE.^a

tcha-teha, 148

tea, 216

tea cimarrona, 304

TEA FAMILY, .346

teak, 484

teberinto, 134

teca, 484

teck, 484

Tecoma stans, 502

Teeoma tronodora, 502
tecomasuche, 360
tecomasuchil, 360
tecoraate, 490
tecomatillo, 360

Teclona grandis, 476, 484
teilla, 216, .508
tendre en gomme, 508

tento Carolina. 146

terciopelo, 420

terebinto, 134

Terebraria resinosa, 13, 504, 524

Trrminalia buceras. 3s6. 388

Terminalia catappa, 15, 386, 394

Tetragastris balsamifera, 14, 240

Tetraqastri-'i balsamifera var. lancei-
folia, 240

TclraztKjia anf/ustifitlia. 424

Tetrazygia elaeagnoides, 13, 418, 424

THEACEAE.SiC,

Theobroma cacao, 338, 342

Thespesia (/ ran di flora. 328

Thespesia populnea, 326, 330

Thouinia portoricensis, 13, 310

Thouinia striata, 13, 310, 312

Thyana portoricensis, 302, 310

Thy ana striata, 302, 312

THYMELAEACEAE. 380

ti eai'mite, 436

ti feuilles, 412

tibet, 15, 146

tibet, giant, 164

tibet-tree, 148

tie-tongue, 80

tiger-tongue, 208

tinacio, 252

tinajero, 412, 428

tinta. 300

tintero, 520

tintillo, 520

tiiladientes, 512

tira-jala, 64

tiraco, 160

titi, 298

titi, white. 298

tobacco, wild, 488

tobillo, 280

toco-toco, 502

toekoeli, 386

too.she-tiower, 498

topa, 336

toporite, 130

ton-h, black, 116

torch, white. 216

torchwood, 216, 236

torchwood, sweet, 116

torito, 462

toronja, 224

Torruhin discolor, 92

Torrubia fragrans, 92

tortolero, .58

tnrtolito, 370

tortugo amarillo, 12, 454

tortugo Colorado, 4.54

tortuguero. 260

tortuguillo 504

tostado, 366, 372

totumbo, 492

totumillo, 486

totumo, 492

Toxicodendron, 290

tree-fern, 28

TREE-FERX FAMILY, 28

trema, Florida, 58

trema. Lamarck, .56

Trema lamarckiana, 56

Trema micrantha, 58

trema. West Indies. 56

trible-grape. 84
Trichilia hirta, 242, 252
Trichilia pallida, 14, 242, 254

Trichilia spondioides, 254

Trichilia Iriacantha, 2.54

triplaris, 86

Triplaris americana, 76, 86

Triplaris caracasana, 86

Triplaris cumingiana, 86

trompeto, 246

trompillo, 190, 246, 2.54

tronador. 278

tronadora, 502

tropical-almond, .394

trumpet-flower, yellow, 502

trumpet, mountain, 428

trumpet-tree, 66, 68

trumpet-tree, pink. 498

trumi)et-tree. shield-shaped, 68

trumpet-wood. 68

trupillo. 168

tuchima, .526

tucumo, 3.36

tulipan africano, 15, 494

tulipan del .lapon, 328

tuliptree, 330

tuliptree, African, 494

tulpenboom, 494

tumbarabu, 156

tuna. 378

tuna de petate, 378

tuna de yagua, 378

turagua, 98

turpentine-tree, 236, 238

Turpinia paniculata, 14, 300

turtle-bough, green, 392

tutiuno, 492

uaxim, 156
I'lcar, 388

ucariviro, 282

547

ule. (yi
ule-ule. 64
ULMACEAE.bQ
umbrella-tree. 248
ufui de cabra, 144
uiia de gato, 162
urape. 170
urero. 164
uruazeiro, 468
urueu, 358
uva, 76, 82
uva caleta, 82
uva cimarrdiia, 76
uva de mar, 82
xiva de palonia, 76
uva de playa, 12, 82
uvera, 80
uverillo, 76. 80
uvern, 82

uvero de monte. 76
uvilla, 76, 80
uvilla de sierra, 76
uvill6n, 80

VachelUa farncsiaiia, 144

vaillant gargon, 234

vaquero, 426

vara blanca, 58

varia, 468

varia colorada, 468

varia Colorado, 468

varia prieta, 468

vario, 350

varital, 268

varital variable, 170

velvet-berr.v, 514

velvet, black, 316

velvetseed, rough, 514

velvetseed, roughleaf, 514

venaco, 58

vencedor, 118

vera, 214

VERBENA FAMILY, 476

VERBEXACEAE. 476

verdecito, 372

verdiseco, 424

vi-apple, 292

vibona, 426

vibora, 426

vicho caspi. 412

vieille fllle, 148

violet-tree, 260

violet-tree, Puerto Rican, 260

violeta, 248. 260

Vitex divaricata. 14, 476, 486

vito, 512

vlinderbloem, 170

vomit, buck, 246

waata gwe-gwe, 206
waiki-pine, 216
wajakaa maatsjoe, 214
wakoera, 520
wana.soro, 68
waraia, 422

warimiri. 298

watakeeli, 466

watrabebe, 206

wayaca, 212

wayaka shimardn, 214

weedee, 30

Weinmannitt pinnata. 14, 138

West-Iudian-abuond, 334

West-Indian-birch, 235

West-Indian-cherry, 472

West-Indian-elnj, 340

West-Indian-gooseberry, 280

West-Indian-lilac, 248

West-Indian-Iocust, 178, 180

West-Indian-sumac, 136

West-Indies-cedar, 244

West-Indies-ebony, 148

wbistling-bean, 148

whistling-pine, 48

white-beech, 456

white-box, 456

white-cedar, 498

white-chank, 466

white-grape, 84

white-mangrove, 392, 476, 478

white-prickle, 230

whitewood, 122, 4.56, 498

Wickstroeniia portoricohiis, 346

wild-cherrv. 258. 366

wild-coffee, 234, 316, 368, 370, 510, 516

wild-cotton, 360

wild-dilly, 446

wlld-flg, 352

wild guave, 514

wild-mamee, 350

wild-mammee, 352

wild-plum, 280, 294, 296

wild-sage, 370

"ilde amandel, 394

willow, 54

WILLOW FAMILY, 54

willow, Humboldt, 54

willow, weeping, 48

Wiiitcrana cniirlla, 362

witte mangel, 390

woman's-tongue. 148

wonder-tree. 180

xac-chum, 442

XaiithoxyUim, see Zanthoxylum, 228

xayau. 358

yaba, 190

yaba colorada, 190

yabo, 180

yaco de cuero, 58

yaco-huito, 512

.vacure, 162

yagruma, 68

yagruma hem bra, 68

yagrume, 428

yagrumo, 68

yagrumo hembra, 66, 68

yagrumo macho, 68, 428

yaiti, 272

yamagua, 246

yamao, 246

yana, 390

yana-caspi, 58

yanilla, 298

.vaque, 168

yarey, 46

yarumero, 428

,vaya, 108

yayo, 282

.vellow-blossom, .502

yellow-cedar, 502

yellow-elder, 502

yellowheart, 228

yellow-plum, 294

yellow-prickle, 2.30, 232

yellow-prickly, 232

yellow-sanders, 228

yellow-torch. 508

yellow-trumpet, 502

yellow-trumpet. Florida. 502

yellowwood, 228

yequiti. 308

.verba di tonka, 198

YEW FAMILY, 30

ylang-ylang, 106

yoke, savannah, 158

yopo, 158 1

yuco, 258 '

yuco rifion. 1.36

yuquillo. 282

zaboca. 128

zambo cedro, 246

Zamia.^O

zandkokerboom. 278

zanmande, .394

Zantho.njhim raribain/ii, 228

Zanthoxylum Havum, 13. 216, 228

Zanthoxylum martinicense, 13, 216.

230
Zanthoxylum monophyllum, 216, 232
/jdnthoxyium punctatvm. 228
zapatero. 182. 302
zapaton. 428
zapaton bianco. 208
zapaton rojo. 208
zaix)te. 446
zapote bianco. 208
zapote chico, 446
zaix)te Colorado, 446
zapote mamey. 354
zapote de costa. 444
zapote de nifio. .3.54
zapote de Santo Domingo, 354
zapote morado. 446
zaiwtillo. 446
ziragosa. 390
zarcilla, 156
zebrawood. 132
zeedreifi. 82
zeedrulf, 82
zic. 132
zopilote. 160
zorra. 164
zuurzak. 100
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. 214

548

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; 1964 O 687-921