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COLOMBIA. 
/"S 


MAP  OF  PERU 


BOTANICAL  SERIES 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

FOUNDED  BY  MARSHALL  FIELD,  1893 

VOLUME  XV 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


D  \ 


THE  LIBr'nv  Cp  TH!r 

JAN  1  1  1937 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


LLEWELYN  WILLIAMS 

ASSISTANT   CURATOR   OF   ECONOMIC  BOTANY 


B.  E.  DAHLGREN 

CURATOR,  DEPARTMENT  OF  BOTANY 
EDITOR 


PUBLICATION  377 


CHICAGO,  U.S.A. 
DECEMBER  31,  1936 


PRINTED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 
BY  FIELD  MUSEUM  PRESS 


v.  15 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

List  of  Illustrations 5 

Introduction 7 

Route 8 

Geography  of  Peru 14 

The  Montana 15 

Formations  and  Associations 15 

Tropical  Lowland 16 

Swamp  Formation 16 

Intermediate  Formation 18 

Flood-free  Formation 20 

Secondary  Formation 22 

Tropical  Upland 24 

Savanna 24 

Grassland 24 

Swamp  Formation .  26 

Low  Rain  Forest 26 

High  Rain  Forest 26 

Subtropical  to  Temperate  Zone 28 

Transition  Stage 28 

Moorland 28 

Inter-Andean  Valleys  and  Slopes 30 

Climate 30 

Inhabitants 34 

Communications 36 

Agriculture 38 

Forest  Products 40 

Descriptions  of  the  Woods 60 

Tables  of  Anatomical  Characters  of  Peruvian  Woods    ....  511 

Vernacular  Names 536 

Bibliography 568 

Index  .  575 


1 056906 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

MAPS 


PAGE 


Peru facing  page  1 

Northern  Peru 9 

TEXT  FIGURES 

1.  Scene  on  Maranon  River 11 

2.  Swamp  formation,  lower   Itaya 17 

3.  Intermediate  formation,  Pebas 19 

4.  Flood-free  formation,  La  Victoria 21 

5.  Tarapoto  and  Guayapurima 25 

6.  Cloud-covered  forest,  middle  Huallaga 27 

7.  Moorland     (jalca    or    puna)     between     Bagasan    and 

Molinobamba 29 

8.  Scene  near  Rio  Utcubamba,  upper  Maranon 31 

9.  Plain  of  Chachapoyas  and  Puma-urcu  in  the  distance  .    .  33 

10.  Climbing  La  Ventana,  on  the  route  from  Moyobamba 

to  Chachapoyas 35 

11.  One  of  the  series  of  rapids  between  Shapaja  and  Chasuta, 

middle  Huallaga 37 

12.  Rafts  of  mahogany  logs  at  Nanay  mills 43 

13.  Nanay  mills,  near  Iquitos 45 

14.  Small  Para  rubber  plantation,  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  .  49 

15.  "Nogal"  or  Peruvian  walnut,  Juglans  neotropica  Diels,  at 

Chachapoyas 69 

16.  "Huitillo,"  Dialium  sp.,  near  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga  201 

17.  "Cedro  Colorado,"  Cedrela  odorata  L.,  at  Fortaleza,  lower 

Huallaga 241 

18.  Stump  and  trunk  of  mahogany,  Swietenia  macrophylla 

King,  at  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga 247 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


LLEWELYN  WILLIAMS 


INTRODUCTION 

For  the  systematic  study  of  its  composition  and  forest  resources, 
the  Amazon  region  may  be  divided  from  east  to  west  into  three  main 
zones:  (1)  lower  Amazon  or  delta  zone;  (2)  upper  Brazilian  Amazon, 
from  Manaos  westward;  and  (3)  Peruvian  Amazon  and  adjacent 
forest-clad  foothills  of  the  Andes,  an  expanse  of  vegetative  growth 
which  may  be  regarded  as  a  continuation  of  the  forests  of  the  Bra- 
zilian Amazon. 

Until  1922,  when  the  first  Field  Museum  expedition  returned 
from  Peru,  herbarium  specimens  from  the  last-named  zone,  popularly 
known  in  Peru  as  the  montana,  were  scantily  represented  in 
botanical  institutions  in  the  United  States. 

All  the  early  botanical  exploration  having  been  done  by  Euro- 
peans, Ruiz  and  Pavon,  Mathews,  Spruce,  Jussieu,  Poeppig,  Ule, 
and  recently  by  Tessmann  and  Weberbauer,  their  collections  were 
distributed  chiefly  among  herbaria  in  Europe.  The  Field  Museum 
collections  made  by  Macbride  and  Featherstone  (1922),  Macbride 
and  Bryan  (1923),  and  subsequently  by  Weberbauer,  those  made  by 
Killip  and  Smith  during  1929,  and  more  recently  by  Mrs.  Ynes 
Mexia,  have  secured  for  the  United  States  a  fair  representation  of 
the  flora  of  Peru.  Owing  to  impediments  of  travel  and  the  diffi- 
culties trees  always  offer  to  the  collector,  no  attempt  had  been  made, 
however,  to  assemble  a  representative  collection  of  the  woods  found 
in  the  montana. 

Through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Marshall  Field,  the  writer  was 
sent  in  1929  by  Field  Museum  to  northeastern  Peru  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  general  collection.  After  twelve  months,  most  of  which 
was  spent  in  the  forest,  his  work  was  brought  to  a  conclusion  in 
May,  1930.  A  large  amount  of  herbarium  material  was  assembled, 
comprising  8,252  field  numbers  and  22,500  specimens,  also  2,500 
samples  of  woods,  study  of  which  forms  the  basis  of  this  publication. 

Each  wood  specimen  was  accompanied  by  herbarium  material 
which  has  been  identified  and  described  by  specialists  in  their  respec- 
tive families,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Paul  C.  Standley  (Ru- 
biaceae,  Nyctaginaceae,  Polygonaceae,  Ficus,  Sapotaceae,  Amaran- 
thaceae,  and  miscellaneous  material) ;  J.  F.  Macbride  (Leguminosae 


8      FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  miscellaneous  specimens);  Ellsworth  P.  Killip  (Urticaceae  and 
Cordia);  Ludwig  Diels  (Anonaceae);  Hermann  Harms  (Meliaceae 
and  Araliaceae);  and  0.  C.  Schmidt  (Lauraceae). 

The  families  are  arranged  according  to  the  classification  of  Engler 
and  Prantl  and  the  genera  and  species  are  listed  alphabetically. 
The  resume"  of  general  characters  for  families  and  genera  is  based 
essentially  on  species  included  in  the  collection  and  applies  mostly  to 
them.  The  descriptions  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  were  compiled  by 
the  writer  from  his  field  notes.  Descriptions  of  the  physical  properties 
and  structure  of  the  woods  also  are  the  work  of  the  author.  No 
species  has  been  included  of  which  complete  herbarium  material, 
sufficient  for  determination,  was  not  obtained. 

The  writer  wishes  to  express  his  indebtedness  to  Samuel  J.  Record, 
Professor  of  Forest  Products  at  Yale  University  School  of  Forestry 
and  Research  Associate  in  Wood  Technology  at  Field  Museum,  for 
many  helpful  suggestions,  his  cooperation  in  checking  over  the 
determinations  of  the  woods,  and  permission  to  study  microscopic 
slides  of  material  prepared  for  the  Yale  collections. 

ROUTE 

After  a  brief  stop  in  Para,  Brazil,  I  proceeded  by  steamer  for 
2,300  miles  along  the  Amazon  River  to  Iquitos,  the  largest  town  in 
Peru  east  of  the  Andes  and  capital  of  the  Department  of  Loreto. 
Situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  main  stream,  some  two  hundred 
miles  within  the  border,  and  in  the  heart  of  the  lowland  forest, 
Iquitos  proved  to  be  most  satisfactory  as  a  base.  The  first  two  weeks 
were  spent  in  collecting  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  town,  adjacent 
to  the  Itaya,  a  small  affluent  of  the  Amazon,  and  along  the  banks  of 
a  small  stream,  the  Masan.  Around  Iquitos  the  land  has  been 
cleared,  but  along  the  right  bank  of  the  Amazon,  opposite  the  town, 
little  cutting  has  been  done  and  good  collecting  is  found  in  the  forest. 

From  Iquitos  I  proceeded  to  the  estuary  of  the  Nanay  River,  which 
has  its  confluence  with  the  Amazon  about  six  miles  below  Iquitos. 
During  two  weeks'  stay  at  Nanay,  I  lived  in  a  house  placed  at  my 
disposal  by  the  Astoria  Manufacturing  and  Importing  Company  of 
Long  Island  City,  New  York,  which  operated  a  saw-mill  at  this  center. 
A  short  distance  inland  there  is  a  large  village  inhabited  by  Iquito 
Indians.  The  forest  growth  surrounding  this  village  is  dense,  the 
terrain  undulating,  and  the  altitude  slightly  higher  than  that  of  the 
lower  Itaya,  but  the  composition  of  the  forest  in  the  two  areas  is 
similar.  Towards  the  end  of  April,  in  the  company  of  a  guide  and 


2        E 

H     - 
O      >» 


§  I- 

W      c 


10    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

porters,  I  journeyed  by  canoe  for  five  days  up  the  Nanay  River 
until  a  suitable  spot  for  botanizing  was  reached.  During  the  several 
weeks  spent  there,  daily  trips  were  made  in  the  direction  of  the  Tigre 
River  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Nanay.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
work  on  the  upper  Nanay,  a  visit  was  paid  to  Pebas,  a  small  Yahua 
Indian  village  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Amazon  below  the  estuary  of 
the  Napo  River.  A  stay  of  two  weeks  at  this  place  provided  an 
opportunity  to  obtain  information  pertaining  to  medicinal  and  other 
uses  made  by  the  Indians  of  various  herbs,  shrubs,  and  resins. 

Thus  far,  most  of  the  collecting  had  been  done  in  the  forest  along 
the  north  bank  of  the  main  stream.  The  first  stop  after  leaving 
Pebas  was  at  Cochiquinas  and  a  few  miles  farther  east  is  the  town  of 
Caballo-cocha,  on  the  south  bank  of  a  stream  flowing  parallel  with 
the  Amazon.  A  short  distance  west  of  the  town  there  is  a  lagoon, 
which  is  one  of  the  largest  permanent  bodies  of  water  in  the  Peruvian 
lowlands.  During  the  rubber  boom,  two  decades  or  more  ago, 
Caballo-cocha  formed  an  important  center  for  the  Javary  region. 

Thanks  to  the  interest  and  hospitality  of  Dr.  E.  Virgil,  of  Iquitos, 
and  Senor  Jorge  Giles,  owner  and  manager  respectively  of  a  sugar 
cane  plantation,  several  trips  were  made  from  La  Victoria,  near  the 
Peruvian-Brazilian  border,  in  the  direction  of  the  Putumayo  River, 
one  of  the  larger  tributaries  of  the  Amazon,  having  its  source  in 
Colombia.  From  here  a  return  was  made  to  Iquitos  and,  before 
undertaking  the  next  prolonged  journey,  a  brief  trip  was  made  up 
the  Itaya  River  to  the  fincas  San  Antonio  and  Paraiso,  where 
excellent  collecting  was  found  in  the  forest  along  the  stream. 

For  the  next  six  months,  from  the  middle  of  September  until  the 
middle  of  March,  collections  were  made  in  the  lower  Huallaga,  a 
territory  known  by  the  earlier  botanists  as  Mainas,  along  the  slopes 
of  the  Andean  foothills,  and  in  the  plains  and  valleys  in  the  depart- 
ments of  San  Martin  and  Amazonas.  The  journey  from  Iquitos  to 
Yurimaguas  takes  about  five  days  by  river  launch.  A  few  miles 
above  the  junction  of  the  Ucayali  with  the  Maranon  is  the  village 
of  Nauta.  Beyond  this  village,  the  river  banks  are  low  and  covered 
with  dense  vegetation,  especially  palms  such  as  Attalea  and 
Astrocaryum,  until  the  village  of  Parinari  is  reached.  A  few  miles 
up  the  Huallaga  River  is  the  village  of  Laguna. 

The  town  of  Yurimaguas,  capital  of  the  District  of  Yurimaguas, 
is  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Huallaga,  at  the  head  of  navigation 
for  launches  plying  between  Iquitos  and  the  Huallaga.  About  half 
a  mile  below  the  town  the  Paranapura  unites  with  the  Huallaga. 


11 


12    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

To  the  west  is  the  village  of  Muniches  and  beyond  this  point  the 
trail  leads  through  Balsapuerto  to  Moyobamba,  thence  to  Chacha- 
poyas,  Cajamarca,  and  the  Pacific  coast.  For  the  successful  results 
attained  in  collecting  along  this  trail  to  Balsapuerto,  the  writer  is 
indebted  to  Senor  Enrique  Pardo,  at  whose  finca,  Fortaleza,  generous 
hospitality  was  received.  Another  locality  where  satisfactory  con- 
ditions for  collecting  were  found  was  a  clearing  made  through  the 
forest  for  a  proposed  railroad  from  Yurimaguas  to  the  coast.  Along 
this  right  of  way  it  was  fairly  easy  to  obtain  complete  specimens  of 
even  the  largest  trees.  Additional  collections  were  assembled  at 
Puerto  Arturo,  a  sugar  cane  plantation  below  Yurimaguas,  and  also 
at  Santa  Rosa  and  Sapote-yaco. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  Senor  Miguel  Acosta,  a  merchant  in 
Yurimaguas,  porters  were  hired  to  carry  the  equipment  on  a  six- 
days'  journey  over  rocky,  muddy  paths,  steep  ascents  and  descents 
to  Tarapoto,  made  famous  by  Richard  Spruce,  who  collected  there 
about  eighty  years  ago.  The  town  is  situated  at  an  altitude  of  1,400 
feet  in  the  center  of  an  extensive  plain  and  almost  completely 
encircled  by  ranges  and  high  spurs  which  are  ramifications  of  the 
eastern  Cordillera  of  the  Andes.  These  ranges  rise  to  2,000  feet  or 
more  above  the  general  level  of  the  plain.  To  the  southeast  and 
south  of  the  town  the  plain  stretches  for  several  miles  towards  the 
Huallaga,  while  towards  the  east  and  northeast  there  is  a  gentle 
rise  in  the  ground  until  it  reaches  the  valley  of  the  Ahuashi-yaco. 
To  the  north  is  the  ridge  of  Cerro  Pelado,  the  summit  of  which  is 
devoid  of  vegetation,  whence  the  name  meaning  "bald  hill." 

Several  trails  lead  from  the  town,  forming  the  only  means  of 
communication  with  other  points.  That  to  Chasuta,  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Huallaga  below  the  rapids,  follows  an  easterly  course  through 
Cumbasa.  Beyond  the  Ahuashi-yaco  it  emerges  on  a  wide  plain, 
extending  as  far  as  Puca-yaco,  and  beyond  this  plain  or  campo  rise 
the  abrupt  ridges  of  Guayapurima,  which  have  to  be  crossed  to  reach 
Chasuta.  In  a  southern  direction,  a  trail  leads  over  a  sandy  plain  to 
Shapaja,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Huallaga  above  the  rapids,  and 
continues  for  a  short  distance  to  Juan  Guerra,  at  the  confluence  of 
the  Mayo  and  Huallaga  rivers.  Beyond  the  Mayo  it  leads  through 
the  forest,  almost  parallel  with  the  Huallaga,  to  Saposoa,  Juanjui, 
Pachisa,  and  other  villages  in  the  upper  reaches  of  the  river.  To 
the  northwest  of  Tarapoto,  a  trail  leads  through  Morales,  Rumisapa, 
Lamas,  Tabalosos,  and  San  Roque  to  Moyobamba  and  the  coast, 
while  farther  north  is  the  overland  route  to  Yurimaguas. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  13 

With  the  completion  of  work  in  the  vicinity  of  Tarapoto  I  moved 
to  Lamas,  originally  known  as  Corrigimiento,  a  village  about  ten 
miles  to  the  north  and  situated  at  an  altitude  of  2,500  feet  near  the 
summit  of  a  dome-like  hill.  Three  days  were  spent  at  this  place  before 
continuing  to  Tabalosos,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mayo,  and  through 
heavily  wooded  gorges  with  rugged  cliffs  to  San  Roque.  This  small 
Indian  village  is  situated  at  an  altitude  of  about  2,700  feet,  at  the 
foot  of  a  round,  barren  hill,  Campana,  with  an  elevation  at  its  sum- 
mit of  approximately  3,800  feet.  Many  excursions  were  made  along 
the  slopes  and  summit  of  this  hill  and  through  the  forest  westward  in 
the  direction  of  Moyobamba,  where  Alexander  Mathews,  the  English 
botanist,  collected  almost  one  hundred  years  ago.  The  town  of 
Moyobamba  is  located  in  the  center  of  a  fertile  plain  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Mayo  River.  The  most  noticeable  feature  of  the  land- 
scape is  a  dome-like  hill,  El  Morro,  which  rises  out  of  the  flat  valley 
extending  alongside  the  Indoche  River.  At  Moyobamba  nuiles  were 
hired  to  carry  the  equipment  on  a  six  days'  journey  over  mountain- 
ous country  to  Chachapoyas. 

Soon  after  leaving  the  town,  the  path  leads  through  a  narrow 
ravine,  emerging  on  a  sandy  stretch  covered  with  low  vegetation  of  a 
shrubby  character.  A  few  miles  farther  on  are  the  Indoche  and 
Tonchiman  rivers,  both  tributaries  of  the  Mayo  which  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year  are  too  deep  to  be  forded.  Approximately  twelve 
miles  beyond  Moyobamba  is  the  village  of  Rioja,  located  on  an  open, 
gently  sloping,  sandstone  plateau  at  an  altitude  of  2,600  feet,  and 
famous  in  northern  Peru  for  the  so-called  "Panama"  hats  manu- 
factured there  from  the  young,  unopened  leaves  of  the  palm-like 
"bombonaje,"  Carludovica  palmata  R.  &  P.  Beyond  Rioja  a  dry, 
fern-covered  plain  is  the  dominating  note  of  the  vegetation,  but  the 
banks  of  the  Uquihua,  Negro,  and  Tambo-yaco  are  fringed  with  dense 
growth  of  low  trees.  Beyond  these  streams  is  the  Ventana,  a  round- 
topped  mountain  clothed  with  dense  forest.  In  places  the  trail 
resembles  a  narrow  ditch,  leading  over  precipitous  ascents  and  down 
steep  declivities,  and  at  times  strewn  with  fallen  trees  and  straggling 
vines.  As  we  progressed  westward,  each  day  brought  a  marked 
lowering  in  temperature  and  the  vegetative  growth  became  more 
stunted.  These  wooded  ridges  are  known  locally  as  ceja  de  la 
montana  (brow  of  the  forest).  At  Bagasan,  an  uninhabited  spot  at 
an  altitude  of  9,750  feet,  the  forest  growth  comes  to  an  abrupt 
termination.  Beyond  this  is  the  puna  or  jalca,  Piscohuanuna,  an 
open,  cold  moor  with  an  average  elevation  of  10,700  feet.  Near 


14    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

its  crest  there  is  a  small  lake,  Cochaconga,  and  at  the  foot  of  the 
descent  is  a  small  grass-covered  pampa  or  plain.  On  the  west  side 
of  this  plain  is  the  dome-like  Ventilla  and  beyond  this  bluff,  as  far 
as  Molinobamba,  the  land  is  moderately  flat  and  covered  with  low 
shrubs  and  grass.  From  Molinobamba  to  Chachapoyas,  a  distance 
of  eighteen  miles,  the  trail  is  wide  and  in  good  condition  for  travel, 
leading  through  broad  valleys  and  along  the  slopes  of  fairly  high 
ridges. 

Chachapoyas,  capital  of  the  Department  of  Amazonas,  is  situated 
at  an  altitude  of  7,580  feet  on  an  undulating  plain  almost  entirely 
surrounded  by  lofty  sierras.  The  principal  objective  of  the  visit  to 
this  region  was  to  secure  specimens  of  a  kind  of  walnut  known  to 
grow  there. 

At  the  end  of  January,  1930, 1  returned  to  Moyobamba,  thence  to 
San  Roque.  The  material  assembled  at  the  various  centers  was 
packed  and  transported  on  the  backs  of  Indians  to  Tarapoto,  and 
from  there  on  muleback  to  Shapaja.  Between  Shapaja  and  Chasuta 
the  Huallaga  is  boxed  in  by  high  cliffs,  and  a  series  of  rapids  and 
whirlpools  between  the  two  villages  renders  traveling  downstream 
perilous.  At  Shapaja  a  raft  was  constructed  of  "topa,"  Ochroma, 
on  which  were  placed  the  collections  and  equipment  for  shipment  to 
Yurimaguas.  Here  all  the  material  had  to  be  redried,  repacked,  and 
loaded  aboard  a  steamer  for  transport  to  Iquitos. 

GEOGRAPHY  OF  PERU 

The  Republic  of  Peru  occupies  territory  on  the  Pacific  coast  and 
is  the  third  largest  of  the  South  American  countries.  Its  coast  line 
extends  for  about  1,400  miles,  almost  from  the  Equator  to  the  Tropic 
of  Capricorn,  and  the  country  has  an  approximate  width  of  from 
200  to  700  miles.  Including  the  territory  of  Tacna,  its  total  area  is 
about  550,000  square  miles  and  the  population  is  estimated  to  be 
between  five  and  six  millions.  For  administrative  purposes,  the 
Republic  is  divided  into  nineteen  departments  and  three  littoral 
provinces.  The  departments  are  subdivided  into  provinces,  and  the 
latter  into  districts.  The  departments  and  littoral  provinces  are 
governed  by  prefects  and  the  provinces  by  subprefects,  both  ap- 
pointed by  the  president,  the  first-named  being  responsible  to  the 
chief  executive,  and  the  last-named  to  the  prefects.  In  the  districts 
there  are  governors  appointed  by  the  prefects. 

The  Republic  has  three  main  physiographic  zones,  characteristic 
of  the  western  countries  of  South  America  within  the  tropics:  namely, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  15 

(1)  a  narrow,  arid,  coastal  plain  with  tributary  mountain  valleys; 

(2)  the  high  Andean  ranges — western,   central,  and  eastern  Cor- 
dilleras— varying  in  width  from  200  to  250  miles;  and  (3)  an  eastern 
region  of  dense  forest,  the  montana,  beginning  at  the  tree  line  upon 
the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Andes  and  extending  eastward  into  the 
tropical  lowlands  of  the  interior.    For  a  discussion  of  the  vegeta- 
tion of  the  zones  and  subzones,  the  reader  is  referred  to  "The  Phyto- 
geography   of  the  Peruvian   Andes"  by   Dr.   A.   Weberbauer  (in 
Macbride,  Flora  of  Peru,  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  1:  13-81.  1936). 

THE  MONTANA 

This  luxuriant  forest  region  constitutes  more  than  half  the  total 
area  of  the  Republic,  equivalent  to  about  300,000  square  miles  or 
approximately  192,000,000  acres.  The  greater  part  of  it  lies  within 
the  departments  of  Loreto,  San  Martin,  Amazonas,  and  Madre  de 
Dios.  It  has  an  approximate  length  of  1,000  miles,  and  a  width  of  from 
300  to  650  miles.  Its  general  outline  is  V-  shaped,  conforming  with 
that  of  the  country,  extending  from  Ecuador  and  Colombia  on  the 
north,  and,  where  it  is  widest,  as  far  south  as  the  southern  limit  of 
Madre  de  Dios,  adjacent  to  the  Peruvian-Bolivian  border.  The 
eastern  limit  is  formed  by  the  Brazilian  forests  and  the  western  is 
on  the  slopes  of  the  Peruvian  Andes  at  altitudes  up  to  about  9,000 
feet  or  more. 

An  approximate  idea  of  the  composition  of  the  forest  may  be 
obtained  from  the  following  data,  expressed  in  terms  of  percentages 
computed  from  the  number  of  species,  so  far  determined,  of  trees 
and  shrubs  in  individual  families  in  relation  to  the  total  number  of 
species  in  the  entire  collection  (omitting  the  Myrtaceae,  only  a  few 
of  which  have  been  determined) : 

%for 
Families  each  family 

Leguminosae,  Melastomaceae,  and  Rubiaceae 9-16 

Anonaceae,  Apocynaceae,  Euphorbiaceae,  Flacourtiaceae,  Lauraceae,  Melia- 

ceae,  and  Moraceae 4-6 

Monimiaceae,  Rosaceae,  Rutaceae,  Sapotaceae,  and  Sterculiaceae 2-3 

Anacardiaceae,  Boraginaceae,  Capparidaceae,  Compositae,  Erythroxylaceae, 

Guttiferae,   Malpighiaceae,   Myrsinaceae,  Olacaceae,  Piperaceae,   Sapin- 

daceae,  Solanaceae,  and  Tiliaceae 1-2 

Caryocaraceae,  Ebenaceae,  Juglandaceae,  Lecythidaceae,  Loganiaceae, 

Malvaceae,   Salicaceae,   and   Simarubaceae less  than  1 

FORMATIONS  AND  ASSOCIATIONS 

The  plant  associations  vary  greatly  within  the  montana  but  in 
no  instance  do  we  find  pure  stands  of  any  particular  species.  Some 
types,  such  as  Hevea,  are  confined  to  the  lowlands,  others,  like  Swie- 


16    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

tenia  macrophylla  King,  are  found  in  both  the  lower  and  higher  alti- 
tudes (up  to  about  3,000  feet).  Certain  other  plants,  Cinchona,  for 
example,  show  affinities  with  the  Andean  flora,  while  walnut,  Juglans 
neotropica  Diels,  may  be  regarded  as  typical  of  the  higher  regions 
with  elevations  of  5,900  feet  or  more.  For  a  discussion  of  the  various 
formations,  the  forest  growth  is  divided  into  the  following  main 
regions:  (1)  tropical  lowland;  (2)  tropical  upland;  (3)  subtropical  to 
temperate  zone. 

TROPICAL  LOWLAND 

In  the  Department  of  Loreto,  the  rubber  and  balata  gatherers 
and  others  familiar  with  the  forest  recognize  two  main  formations, 
tierra  baja  and  altura,  but  in  between  these  there  are  intermediate 
types  of  growth,  the  entire  series  constituting  the  primary  and 
secondary  rain  forests. 

Swamp  formation. — The  tierra  baja  includes  river  banks,  sand 
banks  or  playas,  swampy  land,  and  areas  subject  to  inundations 
during  the  rains.  This  formation  is  poor  in  shade  plants,  especially 
ferns.  Common  aquatic  grasses  include  Panicum  barbinode  Trin. 
and  Oryza  latifolia  Desv.  A  little  farther  in,  the  undergrowth  is 
composed  of  the  giant  grass,  Gynerium;  herbaceous  plants,  such  as 
Desmodium,  Hyptis,  Caladium,  Wedelia,  Cuphea,  and  Aciotis; 
undershrubs  and  erect  shrubs,  among  them  Couepia  Ulei  Pilger, 
Dalbergia  inundata  Benth.,  Rudgea  amazonica  Muell.  Arg.,  and 
Solanum;  and,  reaching  into  the  upper  branches  of  the  trees,  slender- 
stemmed,  woody  climbers,  Cuphea  speciosa  0.  Ktze.,  Banisteria  elegans 
Planch.  &  Triana,  Ipomoea,  Passiflora,  and  Stigmatophyllon  tilii- 
folium  Ndzu.  In  this  thicket  such  palms  as  Astrocaryum,  Bactris, 
and  Euterpe  are  well  represented.  Many  of  the  trees  lose  their 
foliage  when  the  waters  recede  but  others  are  evergreen.  Among 
the  trees  forming  the  lower  story  are  Inga  marginata  HBK.,  a 
tree  from  25  to  55  feet  tall,  with  fragrant  white  flowers;  "canela," 
Endlicheria  anomala  Nees,  a  slender  tree,  up  to  25  or  40  feet  in 
height;  Tocoyena  amazonica  Standl.,  an  unarmed  tree  up  to  30  feet 
tall;  "setico,"  Cecropia  spp.,  small  or  medium-sized  trees  readily 
distinguishable  by  their  smooth,  whitish  trunks,  which  are  hollow 
and  habitually  infested  with  small,  stinging  ants;  Coccoloba  and 
melastomes.  Among  the  tallest  trees  and  perhaps  the  most  prom- 
inent, on  account  of  its  smooth  bark,  which  is  light  green  when  fresh 
and  turns  to  coppery  brown  with  age,  is  the  "capirona,"  Calycophyl- 
lum  Spruceanum  Hook.  f.  It  has  a  straight,  columnar  trunk,  and 
is  typical  of  swampy  patches  along  the  banks  of  the  main  stream 


17 


18    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  its  principal  tributaries.  Its  timber  is  burned  in  enormous 
quantities  by  launches  plying  on  these  rivers.  In  addition,  we  find 
other  large  trees,  such  as  "pashaco,"  Acacia,  often  with  flat  or  almost 
flat  crown  and  bright  yellow,  showy  flowers;  Piptadenia  flava 
(Spreng.)  Benth.,  an  armed  tree  with  wine-red  flowers  and  yellowish 
or  reddish  brown  stamina!  filaments;  Hum  crepitans  L.,  a  medium- 
sized  or  tall  tree  with  a  large-limbed,  wide-spreading  crown  and  with 
numerous  conical  prickles  which  usually  beset  the  lower  part  of 
the  trunk,  particularly  of  young  trees;  and  occasionally  "tangar- 
ana,"  Triplaris,  trees  of  very  rapid  growth  and  of  peculiar  interest 
because  their  hollow  stems  are  occupied  by  hosts  of  venomous  ants, 
known  also  as  "tangarana,"  which  emerge  quickly  and  rain  down 
on  an  intruder  upon  first  contact  with  the  trees. 

Intermediate  formation. — This  type  constitutes  the  transition 
between  the  tierra  baja  and  the  altura,  the  region  not  subject 
to  seasonal  inundations.  The  contour  of  the  land  may  be  flat  or 
slightly  undulating,  the  soil  is  of  a  heavy  loam  or  clay,  has  a  fairly 
good  drainage,  and  is  either  subject  to  floods  during  the  rainy 
period  or  is  situated  beyond  the  reach  of  inundations.  In  this  type 
we  find  dense,  tall  growth  and  some  of  the  timbers  are  of  economic 
importance.  Of  the  species  obtained  here,  some  grow  in  the  non- 
inundated  forests,  others  in  both  the  swamp  and  dry  land  forma- 
tions. The  presence  of  Swietenia  macrophylla  King  and  Hevea  are 
indicative  of  the  type. 

In  association  with  mahogany  are  usually  found  "cedro  Colorado," 
Cedrela  odorata  L.,  often  up  to  80  or  100  feet  or  more  in  height, 
with  timber  noted  for  its  fragrance,  ease  of  working,  durability,  and 
stability;  "almendro,"Car?/ocar  glabrum  (Aubl.)  Pers.,  a  tall  tree,  from 
60  to  120,  occasionally  up  to  150,  feet  in  height,  with  full  spreading 
crown,  straight  columnar  trunk,  and  nuts  containing  edible  kernels; 
and  "caimito,"  Lucuma  Caimito  Roem.  &  Schultes,  one  of  the  most 
highly  esteemed  fruit  trees,  which  has  a  compact,  heavy,  strong 
wood  with  an  attractive  dark  color  and  without  sharp  distinction 
between  the  sap  wood  and  heartwood.  Smaller  trees  include  Matisia 
cordata  Humb.  &  Bonpl.,  a  tree  with  heart-shaped  leaves,  caulescent 
flowers,  and  fruit  which  is  edible  when  green;  Theobroma  subincana 
Mart,  and  T.  Cacao  L.,  the  last  well  known  as  the  source  of  cacao 
seeds  and  often  cultivated;  Coutarea  hexandra  K.  Schum.,  a  slender 
tree  with  bitter  bark  sometimes  employed  as  a  substitute  for  quinine; 
and  "cuchara-caspi"  or  "chicle,"  Malouetia  Tamaquarina  A.  DC., 
a  medium-sized  tree  furnishing  a  copious  quantity  of  latex. 


19 


20    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Rubber  trees,  Hevea,  are  very  well  represented  in  the  Peruvian 
Amazon  region  and  are  esteemed  as  the  source  of  Para  rubber. 
They  are  abundant  in  the  region  of  the  Javary,  middle  and  upper 
Nanay,  Ucayali,  and  their  tributaries,  and  are  usually  encountered 
close  to  the  river  banks.  Incidentally,  they  appear  to  be  more 
common  in  the  forests  along  the  right  banks  of  the  rivers.  Their 
timber  is  white,  soft,  and  liable  to  stain  readily  in  drying.  It  occupies 
a  secondary  place  from  a  commercial  standpoint.  In  association 
with  rubber  trees  grow  equally  tall  trees,  say  from  90  to  140  feet  or 
more,  such  as  Manilkara  bidentata  (A.  DC.)  Chev.,  which  furnishes 
a  latex,  the  balata  of  commerce;  Sideroxylon,  some  of  which  supply 
hard,  heavy  woods  of  a  pale  yellow  or  orange  color;  "naranjo 
podrido,"  Parahancornia  Amapa  Ducke,  the  latex  of  which  is  some- 
times used  to  adulterate  balata;  "itauba  amarilla"  and  "loro- 
micuna,"  Pseudolmedia,  the  bitter,  yellowish  latex  of  which  is  also 
mixed  with  balata;  sapotaceous  trees  of  the  genus  Couma;  Castillo, 
Ulei  Warb.,  the  source  of  castilloa  rubber  of  the  Peruvian  Amazon; 
Bertholletia,  lofty  trees  furnishing  hard,  heavy,  strong,  tenacious, 
and  durable  wood,  well  suited  for  all  kinds  of  construction  and  for 
use  in  exposed  places;  Lecythis,  some  of  which  form  the  most  orna- 
mental trees  of  the  forest,  having  a  copious  foliage,  and  inner  bark 
that  separates  into  numerous,  thin  sheets;  and  "balata  blanca," 
Chrysophyllum  Klugii  Baehni,  a  tree  up  to  150  feet  tall,  with  a  heavy, 
reddish  brown  wood.  Others,  not  so  large,  are  Mabea  subsessilis 
Pax  &  K.  Hoffm.,  a  tree  with  light,  soft  wood  suitable  for 
general  carpentry,  crating,  and  possibly  for  paper  pulp;  "pucuna 
caspi,"  Lucuma  bifera  Molina,  a  tree  with  large,  reddish  flowers  and 
with  wood  that  is  used  by  the  Indians  for  making  blowpipes;  and 
"charichuela,"  Rheedia  macrophylla  Planch.  &  Triana,  which  fur- 
nishes a  resin  used  for  calking  canoes  and  launches. 

Flood-free  formation. — This  type,  beyond  the  reach  of  seasonal 
inundations,  corresponds  to  the  altura,  and  may  be  considered  as 
the  climax  of  the  rain  forest.  The  numerous  dicotyledonous  species 
composing  this  formation  are  disseminated  throughout  the  forest 
without  apparent  order  or  succession,  and  inhabit  both  level  land 
and  slopes.  The  forest  floor  is  covered  with  a  carpet  of  dead  leaves, 
small  herbaceous  plants,  and  low  ferns.  Above  these  are  straggly 
or  erect,  woody  shrubs,  among  them  species  of  Faramea,  Macoubea, 
Clidemia,  Psychotria,  Cephaelis,  Endlicheria,  Miconia,  and  Solatium. 
Among  arborescent  species  there  is  a  gradual  increase  in  stature. 
Those  forming  the  lower  story,  say  up  to  30  feet,  are  straggly 


21 


22    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

or  erect  trees  with  short,  slender  trunks.  Of  these,  mention  may  be 
made  of  species  of  Zschokkea,  Duroia,  Ogcodeia,  Sickingia,  Connarus, 
Zanthoxylum,  Trichilia,  Schoenobiblus,  and  Mauria.  The  middle 
story,  between  30  and  70  feet,  is  composed  of  trees  usually  with 
slender  boles  divided  into  few  leaf-bearing  branches,  the  last  inclined 
to  be  vertically  disposed  and  to  form  dense  crowns.  Along  the 
margins  of  the  forest,  where  the  trees  have  been  cut  for  plantations 
and  where  there  is  more  abundant  light  than  in  the  interior  of 
the  forest,  the  vegetation  of  the  lower  stories  becomes  more  dense 
and  the  vertical  gradation  is  more  pronounced.  Trees  represented 
in  the  middle  story  are  species  of  Theobroma,  Erythrina,  Guarea, 
Iryanthera,  Rinorea,  Warscewiczia,  Sloanea,  Swartzia,  Rheedia,  and 
Prockia. 

Finally,  we  have  the  upper  story  composed  of  large  trees,  ranging 
in  height  up  to  150  feet  or  more,  with  long,  columnar,  or  tapering 
trunks,  undivided  for  the  greater  part  of  their  height,  often  with 
large  buttresses,  in  some  instances,  mahogany,  for  example,  reaching 
to  15  feet  in  height,  and  with  irregular  crowns  of  twisted,  knotted 
branches.  Prominent  among  these  are  mahogany  or  "aguano," 
Swietenia  macrophylla  King;  "estoraque,"  Myroxylon  balsamum 
Harms,  the  bark  of  which  is  the  source  of  an  oleoresin  known  as  tolu 
balsam,  its  timber  being  esteemed  for  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane; 
"azucar  huayo,"  Hymenaea  palustris  Ducke,  in  which  the  seeds  are 
imbedded  in  a  succulent,  edible  pulp,  whence  the  local  name;  Jaca- 
randa;  "tahuari,"  Tabebuia  sp.,  a  conspicuous  tree  in  the  forest 
when  in  flower,  with  dense  heartwood,  which  contains  lapachol  and 
is  esteemed  for  piling  and  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane,  while 
the  inner  bark  separates  into  numerous  thin  sheets;  "copal  caspi/' 
Protium  puncticulatum  Macbr.  and  P.  Carana  March.,  both  of  which 
yield  a  yellow  resin  used  for  calking  canoes  and  launches;  Zanthox- 
ylum; Pterocarpus  Ulei  Harms,  its  cylindrical  trunk  often  clear 
of  limbs  up  to  80  feet;  Coccoloba  Barbeyana  Lindau;  "lagarto  caspi/' 
Calophyllum  brasiliense  Camb.,  its  timber  esteemed  for  dugout  canoes 
and  flooring;  "capinuri"  or  "huariuba,"  Clarisia,  which  also  fur- 
nishes timber  for  dugout  canoes;  "leche-caspi,"  Sapium,  characterized 
by  an  abundance  of  latex  exuding  from  the  bark  when  cut;  and 
"itauba  amarilla"  or  "loro  micuna,"  Pseudolmedia,  which  furnishes 
a  milky  sap  employed  for  adulterating  balata. 

Secondary  formation. — As  pointed  out  in  the  discussion  of  systems 
of  agriculture  practised  in  the  montana,  there  are  two  ways  of  clear- 
ing land  for  tillage:  by  burning  the  forest  growth  without  resorting  to 


23 

cutting,  or,  in  the  more  humid  regions,  by  simply  felling  the  trees, 
which  is  the  more  common  practice.  In  this  manner  much  of  the 
original  vegetation  remains  and,  since  the  land  is  not  permanently 
or  continuously  tilled,  it  is  soon  reoccupied  by  trees  and  shrubs 
not  found  in  the  original  forest. 

Many  of  the  species  found  in  the  initial  stages  of  secondary  growth 
are  fast-growing,  soft-wooded,  short-lived  trees.  Typical  representa- 
tives of  this  type  are  "nina  caspi"  or  "palo  de  candela,"  Crataeva 
Tapia  L.,  the  fresh  wood  of  which  has  a  garlic-like  odor;  "palo 
de  balsa,"  Ochroma,  distinguished  not  only  by  its  extremely 
light  wood,  used  for  rafts,  but  also  by  its  large  simple  leaves,  large 
solitary  flowers,  and  very  distinctive  fruit  with  small  grape-like 
seeds  imbedded  in  a  silky  down;  "machete  vaina,"  Bauhinia,  a 
small  tree  from  20  to  40  feet  in  height;  "shimbillo,"  Inga,  with  rather 
showy  flowers  and  large  pods  in  which  the  seeds  are  imbedded  in  a 
white  edible  pulp;  "retama,"  or  "sapechihua,"  Cassia  reticulata 
Willd.;  "huimba"  or  "punga,"  Bombax,  which  has  pea-like  seeds 
imbedded  in  silk-cotton,  and  flowers  appearing  when  the  trees  are 
bare  of  leaves ;  Bothriospom  corymbosa  Hook,  f.;  "bolaina,"  Guazuma 
crinita  Mart.,  furnishing  timber  for  sugar  boxes  and  crates;  also 
"iumanasi"  or  "lluicho-vainilla,"  G.  ulmifolia  Lam.,  the  inner  bark  of 
which  is  used  for  cordage  and  its  wood  for  tool  handles  and  joinery; 
"pichirina,"  Vismia,  readily  distinguishable  by  the  yellowish  resin 
exuding  when  the  bark  is  cut;  "atadejo,"  Trema  micrantha  (L.) 
Blume,  the  bark  of  which  supplies  a  very  strong  fiber  for  cordage 
while  the  flexible  twigs  are  woven  into  baskets;  and  Clidemia  hirta 
(L.)  D.  Don  and  Oliganthes  discolor  Sch.  Bip.,  belonging  to  the  Com- 
positae  family. 

In  pastures,  thickets,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  abodes  common 
species  are  "achiote,"  Bixa  Orellana  L.,  in  which  the  seeds  are 
covered  .with  a  thin,  soft,  slightly  sticky,  vermilion-colored  pulp 
used  for  coloring  foodstuffs;  "angel  sisa,"  Caesalpinia  pulcherrima 
Sw.,  planted  commonly  for  ornament;  and  such  fruit-bearing  trees 
as  "cashew"  or  "maranon,"  Anacardium  occidentale  L.,  which 
furnishes  the  cashew  nuts  of  commerce;  "guava"  or  "guayaba," 
Psidium  Guajava  L.,  one  of  the  favorite  fruit  trees,  its  fruit  often 
used  for  making  guava  paste;  "palta,"  Per  sea  americana  Mill., 
furnishing  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  fruits  of  tropical 
America;  Inga;  Cassia;  "ciruelo"  or  "ubo,"  Spondias  Mombin  L. 
and  S.  purpurea  L.,  furnishing  fleshy  fruits  suggesting  small  plums 
in  appearance  and  taste;  several  species  of  Citrus;  "arbol  del 


24    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

pan,"  Artocarpus  communis  Forst.,  a  handsome,  medium-sized  or  large 
tree  with  dense  round  crown,  native  of  the  East  Indies  and  Pacific 
islands,  and  planted  plentifully,  especially  in  the  lowland,  for  its  edible 
fruit  and  as  shade;  and  "mango,"  Mangifera  indica  L.,  native  of 
the  East  Indies,  which  furnishes  a  succulent  fruit. 

TROPICAL  UPLAND 

In  the  upland  region  there  is  a  wider  range  of  formations  than 
in  the  tropical  lowland,  comprising  savanna,  grassland,  swamp  for- 
mation, and  low  to  tall  rain  forest.  Near  Rioja,  Moyobamba,  San 
Roque,  Lamas,  and  other  centers  not  far  from  the  Mayo  River, 
there  is  an  alternation  of  swamp  formation,  small  patches  of  ever- 
green savanna,  open  areas  with  rough  grass  and  scant  growth  which 
Dr.  Weberbauer  prefers  to  call  "evergreen  grass  steppe,"  and  tall 
rain  forest.  Around  Tarapoto,  where  the  altitude  is  upwards  of 
1,400  feet,  there  is  a  dry  formation  in  the  plain,  while  the  growth 
along  the  banks  of  the  Huallaga  and  Mayo  rivers  is  of  the  swamp 
type.  The  lower  limits  of  the  slopes  surrounding  the  plain  are 
covered  with  secondary  growth,  but  in  the  upper  part  of  the  slopes 
and  along  the  summit  of  the  ridges  the  forest  growth  consists  of 
species  some  of  which  are  peculiar  to  the  higher  altitudes  but  merge 
without  interruption  with  the  forest  of  the  tropical  lowland.  The 
Peruvians  call  these  sharp  ridges  cuchillos  (knives). 

Savanna. — The  climate  in  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  is  drier  than  on 
the  surrounding  slopes,  and  the  evaporation  under  the  intense  heat 
of  the  afternoon  sun  is  so  rapid  that  the  soil  can  not  retain  sufficient 
moisture  for  extensive  tree  growth.  The  soil,  of  loose  sand,  is 
covered  with  tufts  of  coarse  grasses,  scattered  shrubs,  and  clumps  of 
small  trees,  either  deciduous  or  evergreen,  suggesting  a  subxero- 
phytic  formation.  The  principal  arborescent  species  found  here  are 
Psychotria  viridis  Ruiz  &  Pa  von,  Siparuna  guianensis  Aubl.,  Zan- 
thoxylum,  and  Lippia  virgata  Steud.  Coconut  palms,  Cocos  nucifera 
L.,  doubtless  introduced,  are  also  common.  Among  herbaceous 
plants  are  Oxalis,  Setaria  geniculata  Sieber,  Sida  cordifolia  L., 
Ocimum  americanum  L.,  Lantana  Camara  L.,  Xylopia  aromatica 
Baill.,  Rudgea,  Croton  peruvianus  Briq.,  Helicteres  pentandra  L., 
and  Baccharis. 

Grassland. — This  type  includes  slopes  where  the  soil  varies  from 
sandy  loam  to  heavy  clay.  Streams  are  few  or  wanting,  and  there  is 
no  appreciable  variation  in  the  seasons.  The  flora  in  this  type  is 
poor  in  number  of  species.  Ligneous  plants  are  either  absent  or 
but  scantily  represented  by  straggly  trees  and  shrubs,  such  as 


25 


26    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Bonnetia  paniculata  Spruce  and  Curatella  americana  L.,  which  are 
found  mainly  adjacent  to  the  margins  of  timber  growth.  The  most 
prominent  elements  are  grasses,  up  to  2  feet  or  more  in  height,  and 
Cyperaceae.  These  patches  of  grassland  reach  to  an  altitude  of 
approximately  6,350  feet. 

Swamp  formation. — The  contour  of  the  land  is  of  a  rolling  or 
broken  nature  and  this  type  is  confined  mainly  to  the  margins  of  the 
Huallaga,  Mayo,  and  tributaries  of  the  last-named,  such  as  the 
Negro,  Seco,  and  Uquihua.  The  most  characteristic  species  of 
swampy  patches,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Rioja,  is  the  "bom- 
bonaje,"  Carludovica  palmata  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  the  young,  unopened 
leaves  of  which  furnish  a  fiber  for  the  manufacture  of  hats.  Common 
palms  are  Phytelephas  and  Astrocaryum,  extending  up  to  an  altitude 
of  3,900  feet  or  more.  The  Musaceae  (Heliconia)  and  Zingiberaceae 
(Costus)  are  found  up  to  4,350  feet. 

Low  rain  forest. — This  type  occurs  in  depressions  and  along  the 
lower  limits  of  slopes,  which,  although  not  interrupted  by  water- 
courses, yet  obtain  the  benefit  of  rain  water.  In  such  formation 
are  found  patches  of  grasses,  bright  green  during  the  humid  months 
but  withered  during  the  dry  period.  Epiphytic  vegetation  consists 
of  orchids  and  tillandsias.  Palms  are  absent.  Among  the  shrubs, 
some  of  which  reach  the  size  of  small  trees,  are  Jatropha,  Croton,  Sida, 
Vernonia,  Simaruba,  and  Dictyoloma  peruvianum  Planch.  Among 
the  taller  trees,  most  of  which  are  deciduous,  are  Ochroma  boliviana 
Rowlee,  Ficus  gemina  Ruiz,  Vochysia  Haenkeana  Mart.,  Didymo- 
panax  Morototoni  Decne.  &  Planch.,  Pithecolobium  Mathewsii 
Benth.  and  P.  Saman  Benth.,  and  Cedrela  fissilis  Veil. 

High  rain  forest. — Along  the  slopes  and  exposed  summits  con- 
stant fogs  characterize  the  climate,  heavy  rains  are  frequent,  and 
the  east  winds  temper  the  relatively  low  temperature  of  the  ex- 
posed summits.  The  forest  growth  is  dense,  especially  in  shady 
ravines  and  depressions,  but  in  general  it  is  lower  in  stature  than 
that  of  the  tropical  lowland,  and  has  an  average  height  of  approx- 
imately 50  feet.  Among  the  taller  trees  growing  in  this  region  are: 
Swietenia  macrophylla  King,  Cedrela,  Zanthoxylum  Pterota  HBK., 
Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lam.,  Apeiba  Tibourbou  AubL,  Manilkara  biden- 
tata  (A.  DC.)  Chev.,  Aspidosperma  subincanum  Mart.,  Cespedesia 
Sprucei  V.  Tiegh.,  Aniba,  Banara  nitida  Spruce,  Phoebe  pichisensis 
A.  C.  Smith,  Jacaranda,  and  Sclerolobium  Uleanum  Harms.  In  places 
along  wind-blown  summits  of  the  sharp-edged  ridges  are  patches 
of  coarse  grasses  and  small  trees  such  as  Bonnetia  paniculata  Spruce. 


27 


28    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

SUBTROPICAL  TO  TEMPERATE  ZONE 

Transition  stage. — The  upper  mon tafia,  ranging  from  subtropical 
to  temperate  belts,  extends  from  an  altitude  of  about  5,360  to  10,700 
or  11,700  feet  and  corresponds  to  the  ceja  de  la  montana  (brow  of 
the  forest).  Fogs  are  prevalent  in  this  region  and  the  climate  is 
moist.  As  we  travel  westward,  the  segregation  of  the  various 
formations  becomes  more  evident.  There  is  a  gradual  decrease  in  the 
height  of  the  trees,  which  become  less  frequent  and  finally  disappear. 
There  is  also  a  downward  gradation  in  the  height  of  the  shrubs. 
A  characteristic  feature  of  the  woody  plants  is  their  hard,  leathery 
leaves.  At  certain  intervals  the  timber  growth  is  interrupted  by  huts 
(tambos)  used  by  travelers  for  shelters,  and  surrounded  by  ever- 
green patches  of  grass  and  other  herbaceous  plants  which  provide 
pasture  for  mules.  These  small  areas  are  the  result  of  cutting  the 
woody  growth  to  furnish  fuel  for  cooking.  Prevalent  in  this  type 
are  epiphytic  ferns,  lichens  (Usnea  and  Sticta),  and  mosses  that  form 
a  ground  carpet  and  envelop  the  stems  of  trees  and  shrubs.  Palms, 
Marantaceae,  and  heliconias,  common  in  the  tropical  growth, 
reach  only  as  far  as  the  lower  limits,  but  unlike  the  montana  proper 
there  is  an  abundance  of  handsome  tree  ferns  and  some  species  of 
Ericaceae  and  of  other  families  which  are  but  poorly  represented  in 
the  eastern  forests.  On  the  other  hand,  we  find  Araliaceae,  Laura- 
ceae,  Orchidaceae,  and  Melastomaceae,  and  many  other  groups 
that  contribute  to  the  characteristic  flora  of  the  montana.  This 
woody  formation  covers  vast  areas,  extending  upward  in  ravines, 
and  alternates  with  small  meadows  and  open  grassland. 

Moorland. — Beyond  this  formation  of  low  trees  and  shrubs  is  the 
jalca,  puna,  or  paramo,  a  vast,  bleak  tract  of  land  that  is  partly  broken, 
with  an  altitude  of  upwards  of  10,000  feet.  In  this  region  the 
climate  is  moist,  the  sky  is  continuously  cloudy,  fogs  are  constant 
throughout  the  year,  and  the  exposed  slopes  and  summits  are 
swept  by  heavy  rains,  hailstorms,  and  strong  winds.  This  region 
is  uninhabited  and  the  Peruvians  usually  refer  to  it  as  despoblado. 
At  the  lower  limit  the  soil  is  a  dark  brown  slate,  but  along  the 
summit  this  is  replaced  by  sandstone  and  coarse  granite.  The 
vegetation  is  dominated  by  a  thick  tangle  of  rather  tall  grasses,  such 
as  Festuca,  with  hard,  narrow,  dry  blades,  evidently  adapted 
to  endure  for  a  long  time.  This  density  is  increased  by  dead  blades, 
which  do  not  decay  readily  because  of  the  low  temperature.  Shrubs, 
often  thorny,  are  confined  mostly  to  the  lower  slopes.  On  these  moors 
Sphagnum,  Carex,  and  plants  of  the  genus  Puya  are  common. 


•         ~ 

^r  e 


29 


30    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Inter-Andean  valleys  and  slopes. — After  passing  the  puna  and 
beyond  Molinobamba  one  notices  a  surprising  change  in  the  climate 
as  well  as  in  the  character  of  the  vegetation.  The  climate  is  dry, 
with  an  abundance  of  sunshine,  and  the  soil  is  dry  as  indicated  by  the 
presence  of  columnar  cacti,  Cereus,  CepJialocereus,  and  Fourcroya, 
the  last  being  the  largest  plant  with  succulent  leaves.  These  extend 
high  up  the  slopes  of  the  valleys.  In  this  type  of  vegetation,  trees 
are  rather  scantily  represented  and  herbaceous  growth  is  also  meager. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Chachapoyas  shrubs  and  small  trees  grow 
together,  or  in  patches  shrubs  alone  are  found  on  steep  slopes,  in 
depressions,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  watercourses.  Among  the  low  shrubs 
are  Embothrium  mucronatum  Willd.,  Gaultheria  erecta  Vent.,  Dodo- 
naea  viscosa  Jacq.,  Arcytophyllum  thymifolium  Standl.,  and  A.  setosum 
Schlecht.,  Miconia  crassifolia  Triana,  Rhamnus  pubescens  Tr.  &  PL, 
Baccharis  odorata  HBK.,  and  Brachyotum  Trianaei  Cogn.  Represent- 
atives of  tall  shrubs  are  Psammisia  Ulbrichiana  Horold,  Brachyotum 
lycopodioides  Triana,  and  Cordia  rotundifolia  Ruiz  &  Pa  von. 

The  most  useful  and  esteemed  timber  tree  growing  around 
Chachapoyas,  also  to  the  east  around  Daguas  and  along  the  banks  of 
the  Utcubamba  River,  to  the  west,  is  the  deciduous  walnut  or  "nogal," 
Juglans  neotropica  Diels,  in  some  places  planted  for  its  nuts. 
Exotic  trees  found  here  are  Eucalyptus  and  Olea.  In  the  direction  of 
the  Utcubamba  and  towards  the  upper  Maranon,  we  find  such  ever- 
green trees  as  Sapindus  Saponaria  L.,  Salix  chilensis  Mol.,  Guazuma 
ulmifolia  Lam.,  Triplaris,  and  Ochroma  boliviana  Rowlee,  types 
belonging  to  the  flora  of  the  montana. 

CLIMATE 

Notwithstanding  its  equatorial  location,  the  region  does  not 
deserve  the  evil  reputation  it  has  borne  as  having  an  especially  hot, 
humid,  and  unhealthy  climate,  rendering  it  almost  uninhabitable. 
On  the  contrary,  it  has  a  relatively  pleasant  climate  and  for  the 
most  part  is  free  from  dangerous  diseases  which  usually  prevail  in 
torrid  zones.  At  Iquitos,  for  example,  the  mean  annual  temperature 
is  70°  F.  It  is  true  that  in  some  isolated  swampy  areas  in  the  low- 
lands, such  as  the  Javary  region,  epidemics  sometimes  break  out 
during  the  months  from  May  to  August.  The  most  prevalent  ailments 
are  intermittent  fever,  anemia,  and  isolated  cases  of  yellow  fever. 
There  are  extensive  regions,  however,  entirely  free  from  these 
diseases. 

Among  the  Indians  skin  diseases  are  common  and,  under  the 
general  term  sarna,  include  all  forms  of  eruptions,  discolorations, 


31 


32    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  infections.  Perhaps  the  most  troublesome  pest  is  the  mosquitoes, 
of  which  there  appear  to  be  two  kinds,  zancudo  and  mosco.  They 
are  more  common  from  May  to  July  when  there  is  partial  rise  in  the 
rivers.  Another  insect  pest  in  some  parts  is  the  blood-sucking 
tahano,  which  causes  swellings  and  intense  irritation. 

In  the  tropical  lowland  there  are  two  fairly  distinct  seasons — 
the  rainy  period,  invierno,  extending  from  November  to  April,  and  the 
dry  season,  verano,  from  May  to  October,  the  two  intermediate  months 
of  either  season  being  one  or  the  other  irregularly.  The  annual 
precipitation  at  Iquitos  varies  up  to  100  inches,  the  greatest  rainfall 
being  in  March  and  the  least  in  August.  Because  of  its  open  nature, 
the  Amazon  Valley  as  far  as  the  Andean  foothills  is  swept  by  the 
equatorial  east  winds  rendering  comparatively  temperate  the  broad 
river  channels  that  feel  their  influence.  About  the  third  week  in 
June  there  is  a  sudden  drop  in  temperature  and  this  brief  spell  of 
"cold"  weather  is  known  as  inviernito  de  San  Juan.  During  the 
months  from  July  to  September  fogs  are  common,  but  these  disappear 
soon  after  daybreak.  At  this  period  also  sudden  rain  and  wind 
storms  (turbonadas),  accompanied  by  lightning,  are  frequent  but 
these  are  usually  of  short  duration. 

In  the  upland,  around  Tarapoto,  Lamas,  and  Moyobamba 
(alt.  1,400  to  2,700  ft.),  the  climate  is  drier  than  that  of  the  adjacent 
lowland  to  the  east.  Heavy  rains  are  common  along  the  hills 
surrounding  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  and  the  deficiency  of  rainfall  in 
the  plain  is  compensated  by  heavy  mists  and  fogs  hovering  along  the 
slopes  and  ridges  in  the  early  morning.  The  mean  temperature  at 
Tarapoto  in  the  morning  registers  72-75°  F.,  but  by  the  middle 
of  afternoon  this  rises  to  90°  F.  or  more.  Along  the  summit  of  these 
hills  it  is  much  cooler  because  of  a  constant  strong  breeze  blowing 
from  the  north.  Throughout  the  entire  year  the  upper  limit  of  the 
montana  is  overshadowed  by  thick  mist,  rising  from  streams  in  the 
valleys.  In  the  dry  season  these  mists  are  absorbed  by  the  sun's 
rays,  but  in  winter  they  float  in  thick  clouds  over  the  hills  and  are 
discharged  in  endless  torrential  rains.  The  alpine  air  of  the  puna 
or  jalca  is  preferred  by  some  natives  to  the  vapory  atmosphere  of 
this  region. 

At  Chachapoyas  (alt.  7,200  ft.)  the  annual  temperature  ranges 
between  40°  and  70°  F.  The  climate  here  and  in  the  adjacent  valleys 
is  salubrious  and  epidemics  are  almost  unknown.  Warm  atmospheric 
currents  are  frequent  in  the  valleys  between  Chachapoyas  and 
Molinobamba  and  these  follow  chiefly  the  direction  of  the  Cordillera. 


33 


34    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

INHABITANTS 

As  the  physiographic  character  of  the  country  is  determined  by 
the  influence  of  the  high  Andean  ranges  which  traverse  it,  so  the 
lowland  and  upland  zones  of  the  montana  form  respectively  the 
abodes  of  two  types  of  people. 

Iquitos,  capital  of  the  Department  of  Loreto,  has  a  population  of 
approximately  12,000,  composed  in  the  main  of  Peruvians  of  mixed 
race,  a  few  Chinese,  and  a  sprinkling  of  Europeans.  The  total 
population  of  the  Department,  according  to  the  census  of  1927, 
is  150,000  and  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  belong  to  the  Indian 
tribes  scattered  through  the  territory.  A  few  of  the  more  important 
tribes  are  the  following:  the  Aguarunas  and  Jivaros  inhabit  the 
middle  Maranon  and  its  affluents;  the  Conibos  of  the  upper  Ucayali 
are  probably  an  offshoot  of  the  Inca  race;  the  Campas  occupy  a  vast 
region  of  the  Urubamba  and  Ucayali  rivers  and  form  one  of  the 
largest  tribes  of  the  upper  Amazon  basin;  the  Cocamas  inhabit  the 
area  surrounding  the  estuary  of  the  Ucayali  River,  although  scattered 
groups,  living  in  community  houses,  are  found  also  above  and  below 
Iquitos;  the  Yahuas  form  a  small,  almost  extinct  tribe  inhabiting 
the  village  of  Pebas,  on  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon,  and  the  forest 
extending  towards  the  Putumayo  River;  while  the  Orejones  are 
found  in  the  forests  flanking  the  Napo  and  its  tributaries. 

People  of  pure  Spanish  blood  are  relatively  few  in  the  upland 
region  for,  in  the  course  of  time,  they  have  become  intermingled 
with  the  aborigines  and  now  form  the  cholos  or  mestizos — 
people  of  mixed  race.  Because  of  the  topography  and  inaccessi- 
bility of  this  region,  the  cholo  of  the  Department  of  San  Martin 
is  the  beast  of  burden  and  the  state  of  the  trails  admits  no  other 
means  of  transportation.  These  people,  hailing  mostly  from  Lamas, 
and  known  locally  as  Lamistos,  as  well  as  from  numerous  villages 
along  the  Mayo  and  upper  Huallaga  rivers,  are  accustomed  to 
carry  loads  of  eighty  pounds  or  more  on  long  journeys  between 
Moyobamba,  Tarapoto,  Yurimaguas,  and  other  points.  The 
population  of  the  Department  of  San  Martin,  according  to  the  census 
of  1927,  is  estimated  at  60,000  and  is  congregated  mostly  at  Moyo- 
bamba, Tarapoto,  and  Lamas. 

The  population  of  the  Department  of  Amazonas  is  estimated  to 
be  approximately  80,000.  Most  of  the  people  are  shepherds  or  devote 
their  attention  to  cultivating  small  patches  of  land  for  potatoes, 
wheat,  alfalfa,  and  other  crops  which  afford  them  sufficient  means 
for  subsistence. 


35 


36    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

COMMUNICATIONS 

Overland  routes. — The  montana  possesses  no  railroad  or  improved 
roads.  The  need  of  an  outlet  for  the  forest  resources  to  the  Pacific 
coast  has  long  been  realized  but  the  broken  and  rugged  Andean 
ranges  intervening  render  the  cost  of  construction  prohibitive.  A 
preliminary  survey  has  been  made  for  a  proposed  trans-Andean 
railroad  from  Yurimaguas,  through  Moyobamba  and  Jae"n  to  Paita. 

There  are  three  principal  overland  routes  between  Iquitos  and 
the  Pacific  coast.  The  most  popular  and  least  hazardous  of  these 
is  by  launch  along  the  Ucayali  to  Puerto  Bermudez,  on  muleback 
along  the  Pichis  Trail  to  La  Merced,  in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley, 
from  there  by  automobile  to  Tarma,  thence  by  train  to  Lima.  The 
entire  distance  is  about  1,250  miles.  The  second  route  is  from 
Yurimaguas  to  Moyobamba,  Chachapoyas,  and  Cajamarca.  The 
third,  least  used  and  most  hazardous,  is  by  river  launch  up  the 
Ucayali  River  to  the  junction  of  the  Urubamba  and  Tambo  rivers, 
along  the  last-named  stream  to  Puerto  Ocopa,  followed  by  a  six-day 
journey  through  the  forest  to  the  nearest  station  on  the  southern 
Peruvian  railroad.  The  entire  trip  takes  from  six  to  eight  weeks. 

During  the  last  eight  years  several  airplane  routes,  for  passengers 
and  mail,  have  been  established  by  the  government  to  link  Lima 
with  remote  centers  in  the  montana.  In  January,  1928,  a  regular 
air  service  was  inaugurated  between  Iquitos  and  San  Ramon,  in 
the  Chanchamayo  Valley,  thence  by  motor  and  train  to  Lima. 
By  this  means  of  travel  the  entire  journey  between  Iquitos  and 
Lima  can  be  accomplished  in  three  days  whereas  the  same  journey 
by  water,  by  mules  along  the  Pichis  Trail,  and  thence  by  automobile 
and  train,  takes  from  twenty-one  to  thirty  days,  depending  upon  the 
weather.  Another  service  has  been  established  between  Iquitos  and 
Moyobamba,  with  intermediate  stops  on  the  Huallaga  and  Mayo 
rivers. 

Rivers. — Since  there  is  little  overland  trading  between  Iquitos 
and  the  Pacific  coast,  the  Amazon  River  and  its  tributaries  form 
the  most  convenient  outlet  for  the  forest  products.  The  total 
aggregate  navigable  length  of  the  main  stream  and  its  numerous 
affluents  within  Peruvian  territory  for  craft,  ranging  from  canoes 
to  ocean-going  steamers,  may  be  estimated  to  be  about  12,000  miles 
during  the  rainy  season.  Of  course,  navigation  in  certain  places  on 
these  rivers  depends  upon  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  water  according 
to  the  seasons. 


37 


38    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  tributaries  of  the  Amazon  within  the  montana  may  be  di- 
vided into  two  main  groups.  One  series,  principal  of  which  are 
the  Maranon,  Huallaga,  and  Ucayali,  have  their  sources  in  the 
Andean  highlands  of  central  and  southern  Peru  and  flow  in  a 
northern  or  northwesterly  to  northeasterly  direction.  Along  the 
tablelands  feeding  these  rivers,  the  rainy  season  commences  about 
September  and  the  highest  waters  reach  the  Amazon  towards  the 
end  of  February  or  beginning  of  March.  Another  group  of  affluents, 
of  which  the  chief  are  the  Morona,  Pastasa,  Tigre,  Nanay,  and 
Napo,  have  a  general  southeasterly  course.  The  wet  season  in  the 
northern  Cordilleras  begins  in  February  and  these  rivers  carry  down 
the  floods,  attaining  their  greatest  rise  in  June,  by  which  time  the 
southern  tributaries  have  receded.  In  this  manner  only  one  set  of 
affluents  is  flooded  at  a  time.  At  Iquitos  the  difference  between 
low-water  and  high-water  mark  varies  between  thirty  and  forty  feet. 

On  the  Amazon  and  its  main  tributaries,  ocean-steamers,  with  a 
tonnage  up  to  4,000,  are  able  to  proceed  at  high  water  as  far  as 
Iquitos.  A  regular  weekly  service  is  operated  by  the  Amazon  River 
Navigation  Company  (Ltd.)  between  Iquitos,  Manaos,  and  Para, 
and  connects  with  steamers  for  the  United  States  and  Europe. 
Fortnightly  sailings  are  made  by  launches  operated  by  local  enter- 
prises between  Iquitos  and  Yurimaguas.  Smaller  launches  ply 
between  the  town  and  points  on  the  Maranon,  middle  and  upper 
Ucayali,  Napo,  Javary,  and  Putumayo  rivers. 

AGRICULTURE 

The  agricultural  crops  grown  in  the  montana  range  between 
those  of  the  tropics  and  the  temperate  zone.  At  higher  altitudes, 
in  the  Department  of  Amazonas,  for  example,  this  variation  may 
be  found  within  a  limited  area.  Notwithstanding  the  diversity  of 
crops  and  altitude  there  is  no  marked  division  into  agricultural 
belts.  It  is  true  that  some  crops  are  confined  to  the  higher  elevations, 
others  to  the  lowland,  but  between  these  there  is  an  overlapping 
with  intermediate  crops.  The  native  population  throughout  this 
extensive  region  is  essentially  agricultural,  but  for  want  of  wealth 
the  industry  is  still  in  its  infancy,  especially  in  the  tropical  lowland. 

With  the  exception  of  the  cultivation  of  sugar  cane,  agriculture 
as  practised  in  the  Department  of  Loreto  is  still  of  a  primitive 
character.  Within  the  last  few  years,  however,  there  have  been  defi- 
nite signs  of  improvement  in  the  methods,  which  can  be  attributed  in 
part  to  the  decline  of  the  rubber  industry.  In  reference  to  the  area  of 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  39 

cultivated  and  uncultivated  land  in  the  department  the  following 
statistics  were  furnished  by  the  Consul  General  of  Peru  in  New  York: 

Acres 

Cultivated  land  (in  Loreto) 13,500 

Uncultivated  but  tillable  land 263,200 

Not  cultivable 185,800 


Total 462,500 

Of  field  crops  the  most  important  are  maize  or  corn,  beans 
(Phaseolus),  rice,  cassava  (Manihot),  sweet  potatoes  (Ipomoea  Batatas 
Poir.),  and  plantains  (Musa  paradisiaca  L.).  Cassava  and  plantains 
are  essentially  the  staple  food  of  the  people  and  are  cultivated  in  small 
pieces  of  land,  chdcaras.  According  to  the  primitive  system  fol- 
lowed, the  land  is  not  continuously  or  permanently  occupied.  The 
simplest  form  of  preparing  land  for  tillage  is  to  burn  a  small  area  of 
forest  growth  without  resorting  to  cutting.  An  alternative  method  is 
to  clear  a  forest  area  by  simply  felling  the  trees.  This  is  done  in  humid 
regions  where  the  trees  do  not  become  sufficiently  dry  to  burn.  The 
humus  layer  remains  undestroyed  and  the  roots  left  in  the  ground 
prevent  erosion.  A  great  portion  of  the  vegetation  survives  cutting 
and  when  cultivation  is  abandoned  it  serves  to  begin  the  process  of 
reforestation. 

In  some  areas  agriculture  of  a  more  advanced  form  is  practised 
and  the  excellent  crops  produced  indicate  the.  fertility  of  the  land. 
At  La  Victoria,  near  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  border,  there  is  a  1,500- 
acre  sugar  cane  plantation.  Another  plantation  is  located  at 
Puerto  Arturo,  a  short  distance  below  Yurimaguas  on  the  Huallaga 
River,  and  several  others  are  along  the  lower  Ucayali.  The  total 
production  of  cane  sugar  in  1929  was  estimated  to  be  28,704  metric 
tons.  Rice  is  grown  on  a  small  scale  in  the  upper  reaches  of  the 
Napo  River  and  the  output  for  1929  was  estimated  at  678  tons.  A 
good  quality  of  cotton,  of  the  Sea  Island  variety,  is  grown  in  the 
Ucayali  basin. 

Of  late  years  much  interest  has  been  taken  in  the  cultivation  of 
coffee  and  the  bulk  of  the  annual  yield  is  exported  to  Europe.  In 
1930  exports  of  coffee  from  Peru  amounted  to  710  tons;  in  1931, 
2,076  tons;  and  in  1932,  2,421  tons.  In  addition,  there  has  been 
a  progressive  interest  in  the  growing  of  fruit  trees  such  as  cacao, 
mango,  lemon,  and  avocado. 

In  the  upland  of  San  Martin  and  Amazonas  the  land  is  very 
fertile,  but  the  rocky  nature  of  these  regions,  together  with  lack  of 
navigable  rivers,  suitable  roads,  and  beasts  of  burden,  has  hampered 


40    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

the  development  of  these  healthy  and  fertile  centers.  In  addition 
to  plantains,  yuca  or  cassava,  and  peanuts  for  local  consumption, 
the  principal  crops  grown  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  are  tobacco,  cotton, 
coffee,  and  small  patches  of  coca.  In  the  vicinity  of  Morales,  a  small 
village  not  far  from  Tarapoto,  there  are  numerous  small  tobacco 
plantations  and  almost  the  entire  annual  crop  is  shipped  to  Iquitos 
and  the  Pacific  coast.  Rumisapa,  a  village  almost  halfway  between 
Tarapoto  and  Lamas,  is  now  noted  throughout  northern  Peru  for 
the  fine  quality  of  coffee  grown  there.  The  town  of  Moyobamba  is 
located  in  the  midst  of  a  fertile  territory  with  an  agreeable  climate 
and  has,  indeed,  the  natural  endowment  of  a  great  agricultural 
center,  but  here,  as  elsewhere  in  the  montana.  means  of  communica- 
tion are  an  indispensable  prerequisite.  The  population  of  that  town 
is  less  today  than  it  was  twenty  years  ago,  and  is  still  decreasing. 
During  the  rubber  boom  a  great  number  of  men  migrated  to  the  forests 
of  the  Ucayali,  Napo,  Purus,  and  Putumayo. 

At  Molinobamba  and  in  the  direction  of  Chachapoyas  the  people 
are  engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  grazing  sheep,  and  in  the  cultivation 
of  potatoes.  In  sheltered  spots  alfalfa  and  wheat  flourish,  but  the 
cost  of  transport  on  muleback  to  the  coast  or  by  water  to  Iquitos 
precludes  any  outside  market.  The  Peruvian  cholo  has  always 
been  a  small  landed  proprietor  for  in  former  times  every  inhabitant 
was  assigned  by  the  government  a  certain  area  of  land  which  he  was 
obliged  to  cultivate,  receiving  in  return  for  his  labor  one-third  of  the 
produce.  Today,  however,  there  is  no  such  restriction  imposed 
upon  him  except  a  nominal  tax,  and  he  cultivates  little  more  than  is 
sufficient  for  his  immediate  needs. 

FOREST  PRODUCTS 

Peru  has  no  forest  service  or  equivalent  organization  to  encourage 
the  study  or  to  control  the  exploitation  of  her  forest  resources.  An 
executive  decree  of  1908  prohibits  the  cutting  of  trees  in  public 
places  except  by  permission  granted  by  local  officials  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Fomento,  and  requires  that  two  trees  shall  be  planted  for 
each  one  cut.  The  forests  contain  a  wide  variety  of  woods,  ranging 
from  light  and  soft  to  exceedingly  heavy  and  hard,  and  of  present 
or  potential  commercial  value.  The  local  demand  for  timber  is 
small  and  limited  to  such  purposes  as  dugout  canoes,  where  con- 
venient size  and  ease  of  working  are  the  principal  requisites,  for 
house  posts  and  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane,  which  must  be  strong 
and  durable,  for  furniture,  general  carpentry,  and  rough  uses,  while 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  41 

a  great  number  of  plants  are  in  demand  on  account  of  their  economic 
value. 

The  exploitation  of  certain  timbers,  while  not  of  large  magnitude 
in  relation  to  the  extent  of  the  forests,  is  progressing  slowly,  although 
handicapped  by  the  isolation  of  the  territory,  the  high  freight  rates, 
and,  unlike  the  conditions  prevailing  in  some  other  tropical  countries, 
the  great  distances  that  have  to  be  traversed  within  the  montafia 
before  finding  timbers  suitable  for  market.  In  some  instances,  logs 
have  to  be  floated  for  several  hundred  miles  to  the  shipping  point. 

In  the  following  pages  are  discussed  the  more  important  economic 
products  of  the  montafia.  The  statistics  of  exports  from  Iquitos 
were  furnished  by  the  Pan  American  Union,  Washington,  D.C. 

MAHOGANY 

From  a  commercial  standpoint,  mahogany  is  the  most  valuable 
tree  found  in  the  forests  of  northeastern  Peru.  The  trees  grow  at 
altitudes  of  from  400  to  3,400  feet  and  appear  to  be  limited  to  a 
belt,  of  varying  width,  extending  from  southern  Ecuador  to  the 
headwaters  of  the  Tambo  and  Urubamba  rivers,  both  affluents  of 
the  Ucayali. 

In  the  lowland  the  trees  are  found  in  low-lying  regions  adjacent 
to  streams,  in  swamps,  or  where  the  forest  is  subject  to  inundations, 
but  they  attain  their  best  development  in  dense  forest  growth  on 
slight  elevations  with  dry,  firm  soil,  away  from  watercourses. 
In  the  upland  forests,  of  the  Huallaga  and  Mayo  rivers,  for  example, 
where  the  altitude  ranges  between  900  and  3,500  feet,  the  trees 
are  found  in  dry  regions  and  are  usually  smaller,  while  the  wood  is 
slightly  lighter  in  color  and  heavier,  is  less  susceptible  to  damage 
by  insects,  and  appears  to  be  of  better  quality  than  that  of  the  low- 
land. No  mahogany  trees  were  seen  between  the  Nanay  River 
and  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  border  and  they  do  not  appear  to  grow 
west  of  Moyobamba,  in  the  Department  of  San  Martin. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  towns  and  villages  along  the  banks  of  the 
Amazon  and  its  tributaries,  the  timber  has  been  employed  over  a 
long  period  for  domestic  uses,  so  that  mahogany  trees  are  now  found 
in  that  region  only  at  great  distances  apart.  Remote  territories  in 
which  mahogany  trees  grow  are  continually  being  found,  and  in 
these  unexpected  and  unexploited  areas  the  occurrence  of  the  trees 
may  be  estimated  to  be  one  tree  in  every  two  or  three  acres.  Other 
sparsely  settled  regions  are  known  to  be  rich  in  mahogany,  but  the 
means  of  communication  are  so  precarious,  owing  to  rapids,  whirl- 


42    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

pools,  and  strong  currents,  that  no  practical  attempts  have  so  far 
been  made  to  exploit  the  timber  in  those  areas. 

The  first  attempt  to  exploit  mahogany  on  a  commercial  scale  was 
made  by  the  Aguna  Mahogany  and  Timber  Company  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  Concerning  this,  Mr.  Georges  H.  Barrel,  formerly 
associated  with  that  concern,  writes:  "A  number  of  years  ago  Mr. 
Arthur  Rushforth  of  Liverpool,  England,  informed  me  of  having 
seen  on  a  deck  in  New  York  some  logs  consigned  as  'South  American 
hardwood.'  Mr.  Rushforth  was  of  the  opinion  that  these  were 
mahogany  logs.  Samples  of  these  were  examined  subsequently  by 
Professor  Record  and  found  to  be  a  species  of  Swietenia. 

"I  therefore  entered  in  relation  with  some  firms  in  Iquitos  and 
received  in  due  time  a  few  boards  labeled  'aguano  de  altura'  and 
'andiroba.' '  Soon  afterwards  twenty  logs  were  bought  from  Cecilio 
Hernandez  y  Hijos  of  Iquitos.  During  the  period  1920-24  it  is 
estimated  that  at  least  2,000  logs,  or  approximately  500,000  log 
feet,  of  mahogany  were  shipped.  In  1925  the  S.S.  Omega  made  two 
voyages  to  Iquitos  and  brought  back  4,000  logs. 

EXPORTS  OF  MAHOGANY  FROM  PERU 

1927  1928  1929 


Destination 

United  States  

Tons 

.  .   2,070 

Value 

$32,908 

Tons 
1,745 

Value 

$19,588 

Tons 

13,548 

Value 

$208,768 

Brazil  

.  .      560 

9,428 

179 

1,973 

178 

2,876 

United  Kingdom 

110 

2,175 

529 

5,367 

81 

2,288 

France  

160 

1,274 

103 

1,948 

Spain  

2 

71 

19 

560 

Netherlands  

22 

356 

Germany          

57 

1,263 

632 

14,280 

Portugal       

3 

60 

Total 2,800       $45,834       3,247       $42,553       13,951       $216,796 

Note:  A  ton=  1,000  kilos  (2,200  lb.).  Values  are  in  dollars  (U.S.A.)  computed 
at  the  following  rates  of  exchange  for  the  Peruvian  pound:  1927,  $3.737;  1928, 
$3.97;  1929,  $4.00. 

In  1926  a  band-mill,  known  as  the  Nanay  Mills  (Aguna),  Ltd., 
was  built  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nanay  River,  six  miles  below  Iquitos. 
The  outlet  of  a  small  stream,  close  to  the  mill,  was  dammed  to  form 
a  log  pond  with  a  minimum  capacity  of  10,000  logs.  In  1928  the 
Aguna  Mahogany  and  Timber  Company  suspended  operations  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  Astoria  Manufacturing  and  Importing  Com- 
pany, Inc.  During  the  three  years,  1926-28,  the  production  rose 
to  from  1,000,000  to  2,000,000  log  feet,  while  during  the  logging 
seasons  of  1929-30  and  1930-31  the  total  output  amounted 
to  6,000,000  log  feet  per  annum.  Each  tree  yields  an  average  of  two 
logs  and  each  log  contains  approximately  400  board  feet  of  lumber. 


43 


44    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  principal  area  where  cutting  is  now  being  done  is  the  central 
part  of  the  montafia,  in  the  basins  of  the  Ucayali  and  Huallaga 
rivers.  The  logs  are  rafted  downstream,  often  for  considerable 
distances,  to  the  Nanay  mills,  either  to  be  sawed  or  to  be  shipped  to 
the  United  States  and  Europe.  Several  thousand  acres  of  con- 
cessions, in  which  mahogany  trees  grow,  have  also  been  granted  by 
the  Peruvian  government  along  the  Tigre,  Pastasa,  and  Morona 
rivers.  A  few  of  the  foreign  concerns  located  in  Iquitos  also  do  some 
cutting  on  a  small  scale. 

A  species  of  mahogany,  resembling  the  Peruvian  and  probably 
of  the  same  species,  although  described  by  Gleason  as  a  new  species, 
Swietenia  Krukovii,  grows  in  the  upper  reaches  of  the  Jurua  and 
Purus  rivers.  The  logs  are  floated  down  these  rivers  as  far  as 
Manaos,  where,  as  in  Peru,  they  are  sold  under  the  name  "aguano." 
According  to  a  reliable  exporter  in  Manaos,  it  is  possible  to  develop 
in  this  region  a  steady  supply  for  several  years  of  from  1,500  to 
2,000  logs  annually. 

A  serious  injury  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Peruvian  mahogany 
logs  is  caused  by  a  species  of  Platypus  belonging  to  the  class  of 
beetles  that  usually  cause  pinhole  defect  in  lumber.  The  female 
insect  bores  through  the  bark  while  the  wood  is  still  green  or  wet 
and  deposits  eggs  beneath  the  bark,  from  which  the  larvae  emerge 
and  later  pupate  within  the  wood.  The  holes  are  small  and  round. 
The  borer  feeds  not  on  the  wood  but  on  the  ambrosia  fungus,  the 
spores  of  which  are  carried  on  the  body  of  the  female  insect.  This 
fungus  growth  causes  a  bluish  gray  stain  extending  along  the  sides 
of  the  pinholes.  Timber  is  attacked  immediately  after  or  within 
a  few  weeks  of  felling.  Butt  logs  often  show  a  large  number  of  pin- 
holes,  whereas  relatively  small  logs,  cut  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
bole,  do  not  appear  to  be  so  heavily  infested. 

Peruvian  mahogany  trees  are  susceptible  also  to  the  attacks  of 
spotworm,  the  larva  of  an  undetermined  beetle,  which  attacks 
standing  trees.  The  tunnels  are  a  quarter  inch  or  more  in  width, 
may  penetrate  to  a  depth  of  several  inches,  and  may  be  straight 
or  U-shaped.  Spotworm  holes  are  found  in  the  heart  of  mahogany  logs 
and  damage  trees  of  all  sizes,  including  saplings.  In  some  instances 
the  insects  return  year  after  year  so  that  a  dozen  tunnels,  formed  at 
different  periods,  may  be  seen  within  a  square  foot  of  lumber. 
Incident  to  the  damage  caused  by  the  spotworms,  a  certain 
amount  of  decay  develops  in  the  surrounding  wood  and  stained  red 
spots  and  streaks  several  inches  long  may  be  found.  The  wood 


45 


46    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

emits  a  gum  as  a  healing  fluid,  which  fills  the  worm  holes  as  a  sticky, 
red  liquid  which  coagulates  and  dries,  giving  the  gum-filled  worm 
holes  the  appearance  of  pin-knots. 

CEDAR 

Spanish  cedar  (Cedrela  odorata  L.)  or  "cedro  Colorado,"  as  it  is 
known  in  Spanish  America,  is  a  very  common  tree  in  the  montana, 
growing  in  both  flood-free  and  inundated  forest,  usually  in  con- 
junction with  mahogany,  to  which  it  is  closely  related.  Its  timber 
is  more  widely  employed  locally  than  any  other  species,  being 
adapted  to  a  wide  range  of  uses.  It  is  pale  reddish  brown  or  pinkish, 
durable,  highly  fragrant,  easily  worked,  finishes  smoothly,  holds  its 
place,  and  is  employed  locally  for  furniture,  dugout  canoes,  crates,  box 
shocks,  and  general  carpentry.  Along  the  Huallaga,  Ucayali,  and 
other  tributaries  of  the  Amazon,  the  loggers  fell  the  trees  near  the 
rivers  and  raft  the  logs  to  the  mills  near  Iquitos  to  be  sawed  into  lumber 
or  for  export.  The  logs  are  well  formed  and  of  good  appearance.  Ship- 
ments of  Peruvian  cedar  from  Iquitos  to  the  United  States  and 
Europe  are  of  regular  occurrence. 

EXPORTS  OF  CEDAR  FROM  IQUITOS 


Destination 

United  States 

1932                          1933                                19 

Tons              Value             Tons              Value                Sq.  Ft. 

307       $2,273.88       102       $    950.00         81,346 

34 

Value 

$1,139.00 

Great  Britain 

.  .     48           392.56        37           347.00       100,167 

1,402.00 

Spain  

11,373 

159.00 

Italy         

1,608 

23.00 

Total 355       $2,666.44       139       $1,297.00       194,494       $2,723.00 

Note:  The  foregoing  figures  were  taken  from  Annuario  del  Commercio  Exterior 
del  Peru  for  1932,  1933,  and  1934. 

"Cedro  bianco"  or  white  cedar  (Cedrela  fissilis  Veil.)  is  a  medium- 
sized  tree  of  limited  distribution,  growing  usually  in  the  uplands. 
Its  wood  is  light  or  moderately  light  in  weight  and  ranks  in  this 
respect  with  our  native  butternut,  cottonwood,  and  yellow  poplar. 
The  heartwood  is  plain  reddish  brown,  straight-grained,  but  does  not 
bear  the  various  types  of  figure  obtained  in  mahogany.  Its  principal 
local  use  is  for  general  carpentry. 

Herrera  (Revista  Sudamericana  de  Botanica  1:  21-27.  Feb.  1934) 
states  that  another  species  of  cedar,  C.  Herrerae  Harms,  forms 
extensive  forests  in  the  Department  of  Cuzco,  in  the  Urubamba 
Valley,  and  is  also  cultivated  commonly  at  altitudes  from  9,100  to 
11,500  feet.  He  describes  the  tree  as  of  slow  growth,  flowering  at 
fifteen  years  or  more.  Two  forms  of  the  tree  are  recognized  locally, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  47 

but  both  forms  probably  represent  a  single  species:  "atoc-cedro," 
which  attains  a  height  of  45  to  60  feet,  with  a  white,  porous,  fibrous 
wood  and  with  but  slight  odor,  growing  in  the  bottoms  of  ravines 
and  along  streams;  and  "cedro-virgen,"  from  80  to  95  feet  tall, 
with  reddish,  compact,  very  resinous  wood,  with  a  pungent  odor, 
growing  on  hillsides.  From  the  former  are  obtained  planks  12  or  15 
feet  long;  from  the  latter,  which  is  more  highly  valued,  the  planks 
range  from  23  to  26  feet  in  length.  The  timber  is  light  in  weight, 
easy  to  work,  and  incorruptible.  It  is  used  for  fine  furniture. 

WALNUT 

The  principal  as  well  as  the  most  esteemed  timber  tree  found  in 
the  vicinity  of  Chachapoyas  and  adjacent  regions  in  the  Department 
of  Amazonas  is  a  species  of  walnut  (Juglans  neotropica  Diels),  known 
locally  as  "nogal."  The  trees  are  scattered  in  ravines  and  valleys  at 
elevations  from  5,800  to  7,200  feet,  and  at  lower  altitudes  along  the 
banks  of  the  Utcubamba  River,  a  tributary  of  the  upper  Maranon. 
Its  wood  is  used  locally  for  furniture,  cabinet-making,  and  musical 
instruments. 

Because  of  the  remoteness  of  the  territory  and  physiographic 
obstacles,  exploitation  of  this  useful  timber  is  handicapped.  One 
method  of  extraction  is  to  raft  the  logs  to  Iquitos,  but  a  series  of 
turbulent  rapids,  like  the  Pongo  de  Manserriche,  must  be"  negotiated 
in  the  Maranon.  Another  means  is  to  transport  small  lots  on  pack 
mules  over  the  western  Cordillera  of  the  Andes  to  Celendin,  a  six 
days'  journey,  and  afterwards  by  road  and  railroad  to  Pacasmayo, 
the  nearest  port  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  entire  distance  from 
Chachapoyas  to  Pacasmayo  is  approximately  210  miles. 

According  to  Mr.  Georges  H.  Barrel  (Trop.  Woods  10:  51. 1927), 
walnut  is  found  on  the  Andean  slopes  bordering  the  upper  reaches  of 
the  Ucayali  River,  and  large  trees  grow  also  in  abundance  in  the 
Chanchamayo  Valley  and  along  the  Pichis  Trail,  the  principal  over- 
land route  between  Iquitos  and  Lima.  "I  had  occasion,"  writes  Mr. 
Barrel,  "to  cross  overland  by  the  Pichis  Trail  from  the  Azupizu 
River  to  the  Chanchamayo  Valley  and  thus  to  make  a  first-hand 
study  of  the  timber  resources  of  that  region.  ...  I  venture  the 
opinion  that  there  are  several  varieties  of  walnut  in  that  region. 
Two  local  names  given  by  the  Indian  intelligentsia  were  'nogal 
bianco'  and  'nogal  negro'  (white  walnut  and  black  walnut),  thus 
differentiating  at  least  two  subspecies.  Many  trees  were  well  over 
36  inches  in  diameter,  not  a  few  very  large,  straight,  and  free  from 


48    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

lateral  branches  for  a  considerable  height.  No  less  than  thirty 
trees  were  counted  along  the  trail  within  a  few  hundred  yards. 
Their  distribution  is  very  erratic.  On  some  slopes  walnut  is  decidedly 
abundant,  on  others  rare,  on  still  others  totally  wanting. 

"Although,  as  a  whole,  large  walnut  trees  are  abundant,  logging 
them  seems  impossible  in  view  of  the  topography  of  that  remote 
land.  While  the  vast  net  of  streams  furrowing  through  these  im- 
mense forests  is  part  of  the  big  Amazon  drainage,  yet  hundreds  of 
miles  of  rapids  have  to  be  negotiated  before  reaching  rivers  of 
sufficient  depth  and  subdued  turbulence  to  permit  rafting.  The 
Pacific  Ocean,  it  is  true,  is  only  300  miles  away,  but  access  to  it  is 
impeded  by  that  most  formidable  of  barriers,  the  Cordillera  of  the 
Andes,  up  to  20,000  feet  or  more  in  altitude." 

RUBBER 

There  was  little  commercial  interest  in  rubber  in  the  montana 
until  about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  Owing  to  increasing 
demand  for  the  commodity,  rubber-gathering  in  Brazil  was  thrust 
farther  and  farther  west  until  it  reached  the  upper  Amazon  tribu- 
taries, such  as  the  Javary,  Napo,  Huallaga,  and  Ucayali.  During 
the  period  1906-1912,  when  the  industry  reached  its  zenith  in  the 
Amazon  Valley,  the  annual  export  from  northeastern  Peru  averaged 
from  2,000  to  2,500  tons,  most  of  which  was  shipped  from 
Iquitos.  After  1912  the  production  of  rubber  from  trees  grown  in 
plantations  in  the  East  Indies  began  to  exceed  the  total  output  of 
the  Amazon  Valley,  but  during  1919-20  exports  from  the  Peruvian 
montana  again  reached  the  old  level.  After  this  brief  recovery, 
however,  they  gradually  declined  until  in  1928  the  total  value  of 
rubber  exported  from  Iquitos  did  not  exceed  $50,000. 

EXPORTS  OF  RUBBER  FROM  THE  MONTANA 

1930  1931  1932 

Destination  Tons  Value          Tons          Value  Tons         Value 

United  Kingdom 26       $  6,233       22       $  6,653      22       $2,664 

Germany 46         11,760       10          2,333         7  766 

United  States 55         15,520         5  1,750       


Total 127       $33,513       37       $10,736       29       $3,430 

Like  other  species,  rubber  trees  are  not  distributed  uniformly 
throughout  the  lowland  forests  and  are  rarely  found  in  any  extensive 
stands.  In  some  regions,  the  Javary  and  upper  Nanay,  for  example, 
they  are  more  common  than  other  species  and  usually  are  found  in 
swampy  areas  or  on  slightly  undulating  land.  Three  species  of 
rubber-yielding  trees  are  recognized  by  the  natives:  "siringa  mapa," 


49 


50    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY—BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

"jebe  fino,"  or  "jebe  de"bil  muerto"  (Hevea  brasiliensis  and  H.  brasi- 
liensis  var.  janeirensis)',  "siringa"  (H.  membranacea  and  H.  micro- 
phylla);  and  "caucho"  (Castillo,  Ulei).  The  last  named  furnishes  a 
latex  inferior  in  quality  to  that  of  Hevea  and  is  tapped  by  felling 
the  trees  and  making  incisions  in  the  bark. 

The  season  for  tapping  latex  commences  in  November  or  Decem- 
ber and  lasts  through  May  or  June,  but  the  best  flowing  period 
varies  with  local  conditions.  Having  selected  his  trees,  the  "cau- 
chero"  proceeds  at  daybreak  to  tap  the  trees  by  making  incisions 
in  the  bark  with  a  bush-knife,  machete,  or  with  a  special  implement 
with  a  hook,  known  as  rasqueta.  There  are  several  methods 
of  tapping,  such  as  making  oblique  grooves  leading  into  a  central 
one  in  herringbone  arrangement,  by  cutting  channels  around  the 
trunk,  or  by  making  simple  cuts  as  shown  in  figure  14.  The  latex 
exuding  from  the  incisions  is  collected  in  tin  cups  placed  below  the 
cuts.  Around  noon  the  latex  obtained  from  several  trees  is  poured 
into  an  empty  kerosene  can  and  taken  to  camp.  The  quantity 
tapped  from  each  tree  varies  with  its  age  and  condition  but  an 
average  yield  would  amount  to  about  half  a  gallon  for  the  tapping 
season  and  a  tree  may  furnish  latex  for  twenty  years  or  more. 
Trunks  of  old  trees  become  scarred  from  successive  tappings  and 
cuts  must  be  made  farther  up  the  bole. 

The  latex  is  cured  at  the  central  camp.  Two  posts,  set  six  or 
eight  feet  apart,  support  a  horizontal  pole  and,  underneath,  a  fire 
of  palm  nuts  and  leaves  is  kindled.  The  latex  is  poured  on  the 
horizontal  pole,  which  is  continually  revolved,  and  on  contact  with 
heat  the  latex  coagulates  readily,  additional  milk  being  added  until 
a  ball  or  "loaf"  of  rubber,  one  foot  or  more  in  diameter  and  weighing 
upwards  of  ten  pounds,  is  formed.  The  "loaves"  are  transported 
from  the  central  camp  to  the  nearest  river  landing,  loaded  on  canoe 
or  raft,  and  floated  to  a  point  where  the  cargo  is  transferred  to  a  river 
launch  for  shipment  to  Iquitos. 

BALATA 

As  already  observed,  many  of  the  rubber  gatherers  in  the  mon- 
tana  are  now  unable  to  eke  a  livelihood  because  of  the  low  prices 
obtained  for  rubber  and  their  inability  to  compete  with  the  product 
produced  in  scientifically  managed  plantations  in  the  Far  East, 
where  labor  is  cheaper.  Consequently,  some  of  these  people  have 
turned  their  attention  to  collecting  balata.  In  1919  exports  of  this 
commodity  from  Iquitos  amounted  to  3,000  pounds'  weight,  but  by 
1929  this  had  increased  to  well  over  1,000,000  pounds, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  51 

The  most  important  areas  where  balata  trees  grow  are  the  basins 
of  the  Putumayo,  Maranon,  Napo,  Ucayali,  Nanay,  Huallaga,  and 
Amazon.  The  trees  are  scattered  through  the  forest,  but  nowhere  are 
they  found  in  any  extensive  stands.  The  natives  distinguish  three 
varieties  of  balata-yielding  trees,  all  of  the  genus  Manilkara:  "balata 
quebradiza"  or  "balata  rosada,"  so-called  because  of  the  tendency 
of  the  latex  to  turn  pink  on  exposure  to  air  and  sunlight;  "balata 
blanca  de  altura;"  and  "balata  mapa"  or  "balata  zapotina." 

EXPORTS  OF  BALATA  FROM  IQUITOS 

1930  1931  1932 

Destination  Tons  Value  Tons  Value  Tons          Value 

United  States 340  $98,339  366  $127,324  71  $20,534 

France 178  40,885  28  10,735  48  10,426 

United  Kingdom. ..  82  22,975  24  6,066  12  2,921 

Germany 4  1,332  36  10,936  7  1,289 


Total 604       $163,531       454       $155,061       138       $35,170 

Unfortunately,  the  prevailing  method  of  felling  the  trees  for 
tapping  destroys  future  supply.  After  the  tree  is  felled  the  bleeder  cuts 
incisions  about  one-half  inch  deep,  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet 
apart,  and  around  the  trunk.  The  latex  exuding  from  the  channels 
is  collected  in  calabash  bowls  or  other  utensils.  The  milk  gathered 
from  several  trees  is  poured  into  kerosene  tins  and  transported  to 
the  central  camp.  The  latex  is  then  poured  into  shallow  trays  and 
exposed  to  the  sun  and  air  to  dry. 

The  more  common  and  rapid  process  is  to  coagulate  the  latex  in 
the  smoke  of  a  fire  and  then  run  it  into  rectangular  molds.  In  this 
manner  the  balata  becomes  dark  bluish  gray  or  black  in  color,  and  the 
rectangular  blocks,  planchas,  weighing  about  eleven  pounds,  are  kept 
immersed  in  water  for  preservation  until  they  may  be  shipped  by 
canoe  or  launch  to  Iquitos.  Frequently,  the  latex  of  other  trees  is 
tapped,  especially  of  "naranjo-podrido"  (Parahancornia  Amapa),  and 
used  for  adulterating  the  balata.  This  is  claimed  to  improve  its 
consistency. 

TAGUA  OR  VEGETABLE  IVORY 

Vegetable  ivory  is  obtained  from  the  fruit  of  the  tagua  palm 
(Phytelephas  sp.),  common  throughout  the  lowland  and  in  parts  of 
the  upland,  usually  in  swampy  patches  or  in  the  vicinity  of  streams. 
The  palm  is  low  in  growth,  seldom  attaining  a  height  of  more  than 
twenty-five  feet,  and  with  large,  feather-like  leaves.  The  trunk  is 
very  short,  stout,  and  marked  by  scars  left  by  fallen  leaves. 

The  staminate  palm  bears  no  fruit  and  its  leaves  extend  from  the 
base  upward.  The  flowers  of  the  pistillate  palm  are  slightly  fragrant 


52    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  are  situated  at  the  base  of  the  lower  leaves,  at  which  point  the 
round  clusters  of  tagua  nuts  appear  later. 

In  the  early  stages  of  formation  the  kernel  of  the  seed  is  soft, 
sweet,  and  edible,  but  when  ripe  it  is  hard,  white,  and  fine-grained. 
Tagua  palm  bears  fruit  at  all  seasons  of  the  year  and  there  is  no 
special  harvest  period.  During  the  dry  season  the  natives  pick  the 
seeds  from  the  ground  when  the  fruits  split  and  fall  apart  at  maturity. 
The  number  of  fruits  depends  upon  the  age  and  condition  of  the  trees, 
but  from  ten  to  fifteen  per  tree  would  be  a  conservative  average 
and  as  many  seeds  within  each  fruit. 

EXPORTS  OF  TAGUA  FROM  IQUITOS 

1930  1931  1932 

Destination  Tons  Value  Tons  Value  Tons  Value 

Brazil 81   $   884    753   $  7,255    999   $  9,382 

France 747    10,840    147     1,413    233    2,265 

Portugal 232    3,567    146    2,070    209    2,131 


Total 1,060   $15,291   1,046   $10,738   1,441   $13,778 

The  thoroughly  dried  seed  can  be  sawed,  carved,  or  polished,  and 
readily  absorbs  coloring  matter.  The  product  is  used  for  the  manu- 
facture of  buttons,  dice,  ornaments,  and  other  articles. 

COCA 

One  of  the  most  interesting  shrubs  peculiar  to  the  foothills  of  the 
eastern  and  central  Cordilleras  of  the  Andes  is  coca  (Erythroxylon 
Coca),  from  the  leaves  of  which  the  alkaloid,  cocaine,  is  obtained. 
The  original  home  of  the  coca  plant  includes  chiefly  the  Andean 
regions  of  Colombia,  Ecuador,  Peru,  and  Bolivia.  This  is  one  of 
the  chief  products  of  the  Sierras  and  in  some  regions  the  coca 
plantations,  cocales,  form  a  profitable  industry. 

Cultivation  of  the  shrub  is  best  carried  out  in  the  warm  valleys 
of  the  eastern  foothills  and  along  their  slopes  where  there  is  a  certain 
amount  of  precipitation  throughout  the  year.  Beginning  in  the  low 
tropical  forest,  coca  shrubs,  cultivated  in  small  or  fairly  large  clear- 
ings, are  found  at  altitudes  up  to  6,000  feet  or  more.  The  seeds  are 
sown  in  December  and  January  and  the  seedlings  are  transplanted 
in  the  following  year.  When  fully  grown  the  shrub  measures  from 
four  to  six  feet  in  height  and  may  be  productive  for  several  years. 
The  leaves  are  picked,  sun  dried,  and  packed  in  bales.  Transpor- 
tation of  coca  leaves  from  the  plantations  to  the  coast  is  slow  and 
expensive,  for  the  product  must  be  carried  on  the  backs  of  natives, 
mules,  or  llamas  over  long  and  rough  trails.  Since  the  bulk  of  the 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  53 

annual  crop  is  consumed  by  the  native  laborers  of  the  upland, 
only  a  small  percentage  of  it  is  exported. 

EXPORTS  OF  COCA  LEAVES  FROM  PERU 

1930  1931  1932 

Destination  Tons         Value  Tons  Value  Tons         Value 

United  States 105  $21,293  137  $27,606  70       $14,004 

France 17  7,742  12  2,817  15          2,666 

Germany 25  7,820  17  3,484  12           1,947 

Chile 32  15,213  3  767 


Total 179       $52,068       169       $34,674       97       $18,617 

CUBE-BARBASCO 

Several  species  of  trees,  shrubs,  and  herbs  of  common  occurrence 
in  the  montana  contain  substances  suitable  for  use  by  the 
natives  as  fish  poisons.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  irritat- 
ing latex  from  the  incised  bark  and  sapwood  of  "catahua,"  Hura 
crepitans  L. ;  the  ground  leaves,  and  often  the  whole  plant,  of  Tephro- 
sia,  Jacquinia,  and  Serjania;  the  fruit  of  Gustavia;  leaves  and  fruit  of 
Thevetia  peruviana  (Pers.)  K.  Schum.  and  Clibadium  silvestre  (Aubl.) 
Baill.;  and  the  fruit  of  Randia  spinosa  (Jacq.)  Karst.  But  the  one  re- 
garded as  the  most  powerful  and  most  generally  used  by  the  natives 
of  the  montana  is  Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC.,  an  evergreen  le- 
guminous shrub  which  has  recently  attracted  attention  due  to  its  active 
crystalline  principle,  rotenone,  of  value  in  the  manufacture  of  insecti- 
cides. (For  further  notes  see  page  215.)  The  roots,  measuring  in  old 
plants  up  to  10  feet  or  more  in  length,  contain  a  large  quantity  of 
milky  latex  of  a  highly  poisonous  nature.  Its  use  as  a  fish  poison  is 
prohibited  by  law,  but  in  little-known  forest  regions,  far  removed  from 
administrative  authorities,  it  has  been  found  difficult  to  eradicate 
this  primitive  custom. 

This  scandent  shrub  is  commonly  known  as  barbasco,  a  general 
term  in  Hispanic  America  for  plant  fish  poisons,  but  other  vernacular 
names  are  applied  to  it  in  various  localities  of  northeastern  Peru, 
namely,  "barbasco  legitimo,"  "huasca-barbasco,"  "sacha-barbasco," 
and  "rumu  barbasco."  Along  the  Ucayali  River  and  adjacent  ter- 
ritories the  terms  "conapi"  or  "conape"  are  in  use,  while  in  the 
highlands  in  the  central  region  of  the  Republic,  the  shrub  is  variously 
known  as  "cube,"  "cume,"  or  "cubi." 

The  shrub  is  encountered  in  northeastern  Peru  at  altitudes  ranging 
from  400  to  3,000  feet  or  more,  in  thickets,  deserted  overgrown 
clearings,  and,  less  frequently,  in  dense  forest  growth,  generally 
close  to  the  margin.  For  propagation  it  thrives  best  in  .open,  sandy 


54    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

or  medium  loam,  not  subject  to  seasonal  inundations.  In  the  low- 
land it  is  planted  rather  abundantly  for  use  as  fish  poison  in  the 
vicinity  of  Iquitos,  also  at  Yurimaguas,  above  the  confluence  of  the 
Paranapura  with  the  Huallaga  River,  while  in  the  upland  of  San 
Martin,  Tarapoto  is  the  center  of  its  propagation,  where  it  is  grown 
on  small  patches  of  cleared  land  mostly  on  hillslopes  surrounding 
the  town.  It  is  propagated  by  cutting  a  piece  of  the  main  trunk 
and  planting  it  in  the  soil  a  few  inches  below  the  surface. 

For  several  years  an  intensive  search  has  been  conducted  for 
new  insecticides  of  plant  origin.  Mclndoo  and  Sievers  (U.  S.  Dept. 
Agr.  Dept.  Bull.  1201,  p.  54,  Mar.  19, 1924)  state  that  of  260  speci- 
mens of  plants  investigated  for  this  purpose  "only  about  5  per  cent 
furnish  material  for  efficient  insecticides,  and  of  these  only  about 
half  may  be  regarded  as  satisfactorily  efficient.  Among  the  latter  is 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC.  Extracts  of  this,  combined  with 
soap,  proved  to  be  promising  contact  insecticides.  ..."  It  appears 
that  the  use  of  "cube-barbasco"  as  a  vermifuge  and  insecticide 
has  been  registered  in  the  United  States  Patent  Office  (U.  S.  No. 
1621240). 

Samples  of  cube-barbasco  roots  collected  by  the  writer  were  sub- 
mitted to  Howard  A.  Jones,  Bureau  of  Chemistry  and  Soils,  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture,  for  chemical  analysis.  Using  the 
carbon  tetrachloride  method  of  extraction,  he  found  that  the  rotenone 
content  of  air-dried  material  submitted  by  Field  Museum  was  6.8  per 
cent  and  total  extract  20  per  cent  (see  Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  23. 
No.  1:  36-45.  1933). 

Furthermore,  he  reports  that  of  23  samples  of  "cube"  or  "bar- 
basco"  root  tested  the  rotenone  content  ranged  from  less  than  1  to 
about  11  per  cent,  whereas  that  of  45  samples  of  derris  root  ranged 
from  none  to  about  7  per  cent.  The  average  of  22  samples  of  "bar- 
basco"  root  analyzed  by  the  carbon  tetrachloride  method  was  5.4 
per  cent  rotenone,  and  the  average  for  31  samples  of  derris  root  was 
2.5  per  cent. 

Other  chemists  have  found  that  rotenone  is  a  white  crystalline 
compound  having  the  formula  C23H2206.  It  is  insoluble  in  water, 
but  soluble  in  chloroform,  alcohol,  and  other  organic  solvents. 
Rotenone  is  extremely  toxic  to  fish,  1  part  in  20,000,000  parts  of 
water  being  sufficient  to  kill  goldfish  in  three  hours.  It  is  also  highly 
poisonous  to  insects  and  is  effective  both  as  a  contact  and  as  a 
stomach  insecticide.  Apparently,  judging  from  many  investigations, 
it  has  no  effect  on  human  beings  either  when  taken  by  mouth,  dust- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  55 

ing,  or  by  intravenous  injections.  These  results  indicate  the  suita- 
bility of  cube-barbasco  roots  as  a  source  of  this  valuable  insecticide 
principle  and  the  desirability  of  more  extensive  cultivation  of  the 
species. 

The  statistics  of  shipments  from  Iquitos  show  that  in  1931 
approximately  1.5  tons  were  exported;  1932,  8.5  tons;  1933,  14.5 
tons;  1934,  245  tons;  and  during  the  first  half  of  1935,  400  tons. 

OTHER  FOREST  PRODUCTS  MOSTLY  OF  LOCAL  VALUE 
TIMBERS  FOR  CARPENTRY,  JOINERY,  AND  GENERAL  CONSTRUCTION 

Name  Uses 

Aniba  spp. 

(Moena) General  carpentry. 

Aspidosperma  subiricanum 

(Pinshi  caspi,  Quillo  bordon) General  carpentry,  furniture. 

Byrsonima  spicata 

(Indano) General  carpentry,  door  frames. 

Calophyllum  brasiliense 

(Lagarto  caspi) House  beams,  flooring,  joinery. 

Calycophyllum  Spruceanum 

(Capirona) Furniture,  general  construction,  more  espe- 
cially firewood  for  launches. 
Carapa  sp. 

(Andiroba) House  beams,  joinery. 

Caryocar  spp. 

(Almendro) House  beams  and  posts;  nuts  with  edible 

kernel. 

Casearia  spp House  construction,  furniture. 

Chimarrhis  Williamsii 

(Tuwarra,  Yaco  caspi) General  carpentry. 

Chlorophora  tinctoria 

(Insira,  Limulana) Heartwood  for  furniture,  general  carpen- 
try; yields  a  dye. 
Clarisia  nitida 

(Capinuri,  Guariuba) General  carpentry. 

Cor dia  alliodora Lining  of  furniture. 

Coussarea  hirticalyx Rough  carpentry. 

Coutarea  hexandra 

(Huacamayo  caspi) Furniture. 

Crataeva  Tapia 

(Nina  caspi,  Palo  de  candela, 

Tamara) Rough  carpentry. 

Duroia  longifolia 

(Pampa  remo  caspi) General  carpentry. 

Endlicheria  Williamsii 

(Isma  moena,  Moena  blanca) Furniture,  crating. 

Guazuma  ulmifolia 

(Lluicho  vainilla,  lumanasi) Carpentry,  joinery. 

Hura  crepitans 

(Catahua) General  carpentry,  crating. 

Isertia  hypoleuca 

(Asar  quiro) General  carpentry. 


56    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Name  Uses 

Ixora  Killipii 

(Chimicua) General  carpentry,  house  construction 

Leonia  glycycarpa 

(Nina  caspi.  Urcu  tamara) General  carpentry,  house  construction. 

Lucuma  dolichophylla 

(Quina-quina) General  carpentry,  house  construction. 

Miconia  spp. 

(Rifari) ....'. General  construction,  carpentry. 

Nectandra  Pichurim 

(Moena) Doors  and  door  frames. 

Ocotea  opifera 

(Moena  blanca) Flooring,  house  construction. 

Ocotea  tarapotana 

(Moena  aguaras,  Canela  moena, 

Turpentina  moena) Door  frames,  flooring. 

Ogcodeia  Ulei General  carpentry. 

Phoebe  pichisensis General  carpentry. 

Pithecolobiwm  Mathewsii 

(Algarrobo) General  carpentry. 

Pithecolobium  Saman 

(Huacamayo  chico) Rough  carpentry,  joinery. 

Poraqueiba  sericea 

(Umari) Interior  construction. 

Sickingia  spp. 

(Puca  quiro) Furniture. 

Symphonia  glob  ulif era 

(Brea  caspi) Carpentry,  furniture. 

Tapirira  guianensis 

(Isaparitsi) Interior  trim. 

Trichilia  tocacheana 

(Lupuna,  Rifari) . General  construction. 

Trichilia  Uleana General  construction. 

Trichilia  Williamsii General  construction. 

Xylopia  spp House  frames. 

Zanthoxylum  spp General  carpentry,  furniture. 

TIMBERS  FOR  HOUSE  POSTS,  PILING,  AND  ROLLERS  FOR  CRUSHING  SUGAR  CANE 

Name  Uses 

Caryocar  spp. 

(Almendro) House  posts. 

Carpolroche  parvifolia 

(Casha  huayo) Piling,  house  beams. 

Cordia  alliodora Piling. 

Coutarea  hexandra 

(Huacamayo  caspi) House  posts. 

Dialium  acuminatum 

(Huitillo) House  and  fence  posts. 

Duroia  hirsuta 

(Supai  quinilla) Piling. 

Erythroxylon  spp House  and  fence  posts. 

Lindackeria  maynensis 

(Huacapu,  Lluicho  caspi,  Quinilla 
colorada) House  posts. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  57 

Name  Uses 

Lucuma  Caimito 

(Caimito) House  posts  and  beams. 

Lucuma  huallagae 

(Huangana  caspi) .  House  posts. 

Manilkara  bidentata 

(Pamashto,  Quinilla) Piling. 

Miconia  dichrophylla 

(Caracha  caspi) Piling. 

Miconia  parviflora 

(Sinchi  mullaca) Piling. 

Myroxylon  balsamum 

(Estoraque) Rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Ocotea  tarapotana 

(Moena  aguaras,  Canela  moena, 

Turpentina  moena) Piling. 

Pithecolobium  Mathewsii 

(Algarrobo) House  posts. 

Roupala  Dielsii House  posts. 

Sclerolobium  sp. 

(Ucsha  quiro) House  posts. 

Swartzia  myrtiflora 

(Shatona  blanca) Rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Symphonia  globulifera 

(Brea  caspi) House  posts. 

Tabebuia  (Tecoma)  sp. 

(Tahuari) Rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane,  piling. 

Tachigalia  paniculata 

(Caracha  caspi,  Erpes) Piling. 

Terminalia  spp. 

(Rifari,  Shapana) Piling,  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Vitex  sp Piling. 

TIMBERS  FOR  CANOES  AND  RAFTS 

Name  Uses 

Anonocarpus  amazonicus 

(Mashunasti) Dugout  canoes. 

Calophyllum  brasiliense 

(Lagarto  caspi) Dugout    canoes,    also    for    joinery,    house 

beams  and  flooring. 
Clarisia  nitida 

(Capinuri,  Guariuba) Canoes. 

Endlicheria  Williamsii 

(Isma  moena,  Moena  blanca) Canoes. 

Manilkara  bidentata 

(Pamashto,  Quinilla) Canoes. 

Ochroma  boliviano 

(Palo  de  balsa) Rafts. 

Symphonia  globulifera 

(Brea  caspi) Boat  keels. 

SPECIAL  APPLICATIONS 

Name  Uses 

A  jouca  Jelskii 

(Moena  del  agua) Crates,  sugar  boxes. 

Astronium  spp. 

(Palo  de  cruz) Walking  sticks. 


58    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Name  Uses 

Banara  guianensis 

(Machin-mangua,  Raya-caspi) Sugar  boxes,  crates. 

Bombax  spp. 

(Huimba  caspi,  Punga) Bark  for  cordage;  silk   cotton   fiber  from 

fruits  for  stuffing  pillows,  mattresses,  etc. 
Carludovica  palmata 

(Bombonaje) Fiber  from  young  leaves  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  "Panama"  hats. 
Cecropia  spp. 

(Setico) Inner  bark  for  cordage. 

Cinchona  spp. 

(Quin-quina) Quinine  from  bark. 

Clibadium  remotiflorum 

(Huaca,  Llama  huasca) Crushed  leaves  used  as  fish  poison. 

Cochlospermum  spp. 

(Huimba,  Huina  caspi) Silk  cotton  from  fruits. 

Duroia  longifolia 

(Pampa  remo  caspi) Canoe  paddles. 

Genipa  americana 

(Jagua,  Yaco  huito) Fruit  yields  a  blue-black  dye  used  by  the 

Indians  for  painting  their  bodies;  timber 
for  boxes,  chests,  and  barrel  hoops. 
Guarea  trichilioides 

(Latapi) Cooperage. 

Guazuma  crinita 

(Bolaina) Boxes,  crating. 

Guazuma  ulmifolia 

(Lluicho  vainilla,  lumanasi) Inner  bark  for  cordage;  tool  handles. 

Jacaranda  sp. 

(Ishpingo) Boxes,  crates,  barrels. 

Lonchocarpus  Nicou 

(Cube-barbasco) Crushed  roots  used  as  fish  poison;  contain 

rotenone,  an  ingredient  of  insecticides. 
Lucuma  bifera 

(Pucuna  caspi,  Urcu  cumala) Blowpipes. 

Lucuma  Caimito 

(Caimito) Tool  handles;  fruit  edible. 

Mauritia  flexuosa 

(Aguaje) Fiber  from  young  leaves  for  hammocks; 

leaves  for  thatch. 
Muntingia  Calabura 

(lumanasa) Rafting  poles. 

Pithecolobium  laetum 

(Remo  caspi) Canoe  paddles,  tool  handles. 

Salix  chilensis 

(Pajarobobo,  Sauce) Twigs  for  basketry;  inner  bark  for  cordage. 

Sickingia  spp. 

(Puca  quiro) Spoons,  utensils. 

Tabebuia  (Tecoma)  sp. 

(Tahuari) Handles  for  bush  knives,  blowpipes. 

Trema  micrantha 

(Atadejo) Bark  for  cordage. 

Trophis  racemosa Leaves  for  fodder. 

Xylopia  spp Fish  spears,  canoe  and  raft  poles. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  59 

LATEX-  OR  RESIN- YIELDING  TREES 

Name  Uses 

Copaifera  reticulate 

(Copaiba) Copaiba  balsam,  used  locally  for  anointing 

the  hair  and  medicinally. 
Cow  mo  spp. 

(Leche  caspi) Latex  similar  to  chicle,  for  calking  canoes 

and  launches. 
Castillo,  Ulei 

(Caucho  negro) Caucho  rubber. 

Lucuma  spp For  adulterating  balata. 

Manilkara  bidentata 

(Pamashto,  Quinilla) Balata. 

Myroxylon  balsamum 

(Estoraque) Oleoresin-tolu  balsam. 

Parahancornia  Amapa 

(Naranjo-podrido) Latex  mixed  with  balata. 

Protium  spp. 

(Copal  caspi) Resin  for  calking  canoes  and  launches. 

Pseudolmedia  spp. 

(Itauba  amarilla,  Loro  micuna) ....  Latex  for  adulterating  balata. 

Rheedia  macrophylla 

(Charichuela) Resin  for  calking  canoes. 

Sapium  spp. 

(Caucho  mashan) Latex  mixed  with  balata. 

TREES  CULTIVATED  FOR  THEIR  FRUITS 

Name  Special  uses  Remarks 

Anacardium  occidentale 

(Maranon) Cashew  nut  of  commerce. 

Anona  spp. 

(Chirimoya,  Guanabana) 

Artocarpus  communis 

(Arbol  del  pan) Native  of  East  Indies  and 

Pacific  Islands. 

Bixa  Orellana 

(Achiote;  A.-blanco;  A.- 

colorado) Vegetable  dye  from  pulp 

in    fruit    for    coloring 
foodstuffs. 
Carica  Papaya 

(Papaya) Native  of  East  Indies. 

Citrus  spp. 

(Limon,  Naranja) Native     of     Old     World 

tropics. 
Coffea  arabica 

(Cafe) Native  of  tropical  Africa. 

Crescentia  Cujete 

(Huingo) Drinking      vessels      and 

dishes  from  the  cala- 
bash   Native  of  West  Indies. 

Inga  spp. 
(Shimbillo) 

Jatropha  Curcas 

(Pinon) Oil  from  seeds  used  as  an 

illuminant . .  . .  Native  of  Central  America. 


60    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Name  _  Remarks 

Mangifera  indica 

(Mango) Native  of  East  Indies. 

Persea  americana 

(Palta,  Huira  palta) ....  Apparently   the   West   In- 

dian avocado  introduced 
by  way  of  the  Amazon. 
Psidium  Guajava 

(Guava,  Guayaba) 
Spondias  spp. 

(Ciruela,  Ubo) 
Terminalia  Catappa 

(Almendro,  Castana) . .  .  Native  of  East  Indies. 

Theobroma  Cacao 

(Cacao) 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  WOODS 

The  sequence  of  the  families  is  according  to  the  classification  of 
Engler  and  Prantl,  and  the  genera  and  species  within  the  families 
are  arranged  alphabetically.  The  general  plan  followed  is  to  describe 
each  family  on  the  basis  of  material  collected,  giving  the  principal 
characters  of  the  leaves,  flowers,  and  fruits.  This  is  followed  by 
a  summary  of  the  salient  structural  features  of  the  dried  woods, 
including  descriptions  of  the  physical  properties,  the  macroscopic 
characters  discernible  without  any  other  mechanical  aids  than  a 
sharp  knife  and  a  simple  lens  magnifying  fourteen  diameters,  and 
the  main  microscopic  features— type  of  vessel  perforations  and  vessel 
pitting,  type  of  rays,  fiber  pitting,  and  extraordinary  structure — which 
can  be  used  as  bases  for  identification.  This  is  repeated  for  the 
genera.  In  the  case  of  the  species,  consideration  is  given  to  the 
dimensions  of  the  tree  or  shrub,  its  habitat,  local  uses,  physical 
properties,  and  structure  of  its  wood,  and  the  place  where  collected, 
indicated  according  to  department  and  locality,  followed  by  the 
collector's  number. 

The  following  are  the  principal  regions  in  the  montana  and  the 
respective  altitudes  where  collections  were  assembled.  They  are  listed 
together  with  the  corresponding  field  numbers  (inclusive)  for  those 
regions: 

Department  of  Loreto 

Middle  Peruvian  Amazon;  alt.  350-550  ft.  Field numbers 

Lower  Itaya;  alt.  400  ft 1-252 

Upper  Itaya;  alt.  450-500  ft. 

Paraiso 3203-3388 

San  Antonio . .                                                  ...  3389-3524 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  61 

Department  of  Loreto  (Continued) 

Middle  Peruvian  Amazon  Field  numbers 

Lower  Nanay  ;  alt.  400-450  ft  ..................       253-726 

[       797— 

Middle  Nanay;  alt.  450-500  ft  .................  ]  Q1  * 

olo<— 


Upper  Nanay;  alt.  450-550  ft  ..................     888-1301 

[1302-1566 
Vicinity  of  Iquitos;  alt.  400  ft  ..................  \  3525-3795 

[7893-8252 
Lower  Peruvian  Amazon;  alt.  350-400  ft. 

Pebas  .......................................   1567-2006 

Caballo-cocha  ................................  2007-2508 

La  Victoria,  near  Peruvian-Brazilian  boundary.  .  .  2509-3186 

Lower  Huallaga;  alt.  450-550  ft. 

v    .  (3796-4180 

Yunmaguas  ........  ..............  J7815-7891 

Fortaleza  ....................................  4181-4543 

San  Ramon  and  along  Paranapura  ..............  4544-4752 

Santa  Rosa  ................  .  .................  4753-4964 

Puerto  Arturo:  ...............................  4965-5374 

Department  of  San  Martin  ivor^  rr* 

5375-5644 

Plain  of  Tarapoto;  alt.  1,400  ft  ...................  \  6285-6325 

[6493-6750 
Morales,  near  Tarapoto  .........................  5645-5726 

Cumbasa,  near  Tarapoto  ........................   5727-5788 

Slopes  of  Guayapurima,  above  Tarapoto;  alt.  1,400- 

2,600  ft  ....................................   5789-6189 

Juan  Guerra,  near  junction  of  Mayo  (CIOA  coo  A 

j    TT       n  •  ij_     i    ot\f\  JM.  OiyU—  O^o4 

and  Huallaga  rivers;  alt.  1,800  ft  .............  <  6836-6923 

Rumisapa,  between  Tarapoto  and  Lamas  ..........   6751-6835 

Lamas;  alt.  1,800-2,400  ft  .......................   6326-6492 

San  Roque-Campana-Moyobamba;  i  aQOA  ^oo 

lj_     o  rrf\r\     o    t-r\f\  tj.  byZ4—  <OOO 

alt.  2,700-3,500  ft  ..........................  j  7615-7814 

Department  of  Amazonas 

Chachapoyas-Rio  Utcubamba;  alt.  7,000-8,000  ft.  .  .   7534-7614 

In  the  following  pages  are  described  660  species,  representing  307 
genera  of  75  families  of  Dicotyledons. 


62    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

PIPERACEAE.     Pepper  Family 
1.    PIPER  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  sometimes  wholly  herbaceous,  rarely 
scandent.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  the  stipules  adnate  to  the  base 
of  the  petiole.  Flowers  minute,  green,  densely  crowded  in  slender 
spikes,  which  resemble  catkins.  A  vast  group,  probably  with  a 
greater  number  of  species  than  any  other  genus  of  tropical  American 
plants.  The  leaves  are  more  or  less  aromatic  and  the  fruit  of 
some  species  is  edible.  The  common  name  applied  in  northern 
Peru,  as  in  other  tropical  American  countries,  to  all  or  most  species 
of  Piper  is  "cordoncillo." 

Wood  yellowish  or  of  various  shades  of  brown  and  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined  and  darker  brown;  sometimes  slightly  fra- 
grant or  has  a  fetid  odor;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  to  fairly 
heavy;  easy  to  cut  and  at  times  takes  a  moderately  or  highly 
lustrous  finish;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  fairly 
distinct  or  distinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  small;  numerous  or 
fairly  numerous;  usually  arranged  in  radial  rows  of  1  or  2  pores 
between  each  pair  of  rays;  solitary  or,  less  frequently,  in  multiples; 
open  or  closed.  Rays  fairly  broad  or  very  broad  on  cross  section; 
usually  distinct  on  tangential;  conspicuous  and  often  very  high  on 
radial  surface;  distinctly  heterogeneous;  multiseriate  and  numerous 
cells  high. 

Piper  arrectispicum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  137.  1936. 

Shrub,  12  feet  tall.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  and  unbranched  for 
3  feet.  Bark  up  to  0.25  inch  thick,  pale  brown,  with  numerous, 
rather  coarse  fissures. — Uncommon;  in  open  dry  medium  loam 
(alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  with  slaty  gray  streaks  caused  probably  by 
stain;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  fairly  coarse-tex- 
tured; of  medium  weight.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  distributed;  solitary  or,  less  frequently,  in  radial,  oblique,  or 
tangential  multiples  of  2.  Vessel  lines  indistinct  or  barely  visible 
without  lens.  Rays  yellowish  and  broad  on  cross  section;  visible  or 
indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6993. 

Piper  fortalezanum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  166.  1936. 

Small,  straggly  tree  or  tall  shrub,  15  feet  in  height.    Trunk  slender 

and   branching  1  or  2  feet  from  the  base.     Bark  pale  yellowish 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  63 

brown  with  long,  vertical,  fairly  coarse  fissures  and  small  lenticels. 
Fruit  yellowish  white;  July-August. — In  thickets  (alt.  350-500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  and  fairly  lustrous;  slightly  fragrant;  straight- 
grained;  coarse- textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm.  Pores  of  small  or 
medium  size;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples  and 
in  small  clusters.  Rays  broad  or  fairly  broad,  lighter-colored  than 
ground  mass,  and  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  not  distinct,  but 
visible  on  other  surfaces.  Pith  medium  brown  with  lustrous  deposit 
of  calcium  oxalate. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2120;  Fortaleza.  lower  Huallaga,  4351. 

Piper  granuligerum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  169.  1936. 

Shrub,  16  feet  tall.  Crown  flat  and  with  few  branches.  Trunk  long 
and  somewhat  contorted.  Bark  medium  brown  or  pale  gray  with 
long  and  fairly  deep  fissures. — In  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark 
chocolate  brown  and  susceptible  to  insects.  Wood  light  in  weight, 
but  firm.  Pores  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ;  mostly  solitary. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3459. 

Piper  nanayanum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  196.  1936. 

Small  tree,  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Bark  medium  choco- 
late brown.  Fruit  yellowish  white;  April-May.— Of  limited  dis- 
tribution; in  the  vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  brown;  heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown. 
Wood  has  a  slightly  fetid  odor  when  fresh ;  straight-  or  wavy-grained ; 
coarse-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-3  or  more,  or  in  small  clusters.  Rays  distinct  or  conspicuous 
on  cross  and  radial  surfaces.  Pith  deep  pinkish  brown;  large  gum 
ducts  (?)  present. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  516. 

Piper  pebasense  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  206.  1936. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
slender  and  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  brown 
with  small  scales  and  rather  coarse  lenticels.- — In  sandy  loam,  among 
shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second  growth  or  along  margin  of  forest 
(alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown  with  broad,  long,  darker  brown 
markings  of  rays;  wavy-grained;  coarse-textured.  Pores  fairly 


64    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

small;  rather  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2-4,  seldom  in  tangential  alinement;  open  or  closed.    Rays 
broad;  very  conspicuous  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces.     Pith 
medium  brown  or  grayish  white. 
Loreto:  Pebas,  1746. 

Piper  Sellertianum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  231.  1936. 

Shrub,  11  feet  in  height.  Bark  chocolate  brown,  with  numerous, 
fine  fissures. — Not  common;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense,  flood- 
free  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sap  wood  pale  brown;  heartwood  grayish  brown.  Wood  fairly 
straight-grained;  coarse- textured.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  barely 
visible  with  lens.  Pores  arranged  mostly  in  one  radial  row  between 
each  pair  of  rays.  Rays  broad,  whitish,  and  prominent  on  cross 
section ;  visible  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  4$4- 

Piper  sericeonervosum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2: 233. 1936. 

Small  tree,  about  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  bent, 
round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  half  the  height.  Bark  purplish 
or  rufous  brown  and  moderately  smooth. — In  open,  dry  loam  in 
scant  growth  or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sap  wood  pale  purplish  brown;  heartwood  not  sharply  defined, 
light  brown.  Wood  straight-grained ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm.  Pores 
fairly  small ;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  or  oblique  multiples.  Rays  dis- 
tinct or  conspicuous  on  all  surfaces.  Numerous  small  specks  of 
dark  brown  gum  distinct  under  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2928. 

Piper  Stuebelii  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  238.  1936. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  21  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  14  feet.  Bark 
pale  grayish  or  medium  brown,  with  numerous,  short,  rather  coarse 
ridges  and  small,  darker  brown  lenticels.  Flowers  yellow;  Decem- 
ber-January.— Uncommon;  in  slightly  humid  loam  in  fairly  dense 
growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  The  sap  obtained  from  the  crushed  leaves 
is  used  as  a  remedy  for  eye  ailments. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  grayish;  has  a  faintly  spicy  odor;  mod- 
erately light  in  weight;  slightly  fibrous.  Pores  of  medium  size  and 
mostly  solitary.  Rays  broad,  uniformly  spaced,  yellowish  brown, 
and  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  lighter-colored  than  the  surround- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  65 

ing  elements  and  at  limit  of  vision  in  proper  light  on  radial.    Pith 
pale  yellowish  brown,  septate. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5622. 

Piper  yurimaguasanum  Trel.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2 : 253. 1936. 

Tree,  35  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  bifurcating  from 
base.  Bark  medium  brown,  with  small,  indistinct  lenticels.  Flow- 
ers yellow;  October-November. — In  dry  loam  in  pasture  and  old 
clearings  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sap  wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  chocolate  brown. 
Wood  moderately  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  coarse- textured ;  light 
in  weight,  firm;  easy  to  cut,  but  does  not  take  a  smooth  polish; 
checks  in  drying;  not  durable.  Pores  of  medium  size;  in  single  rows 
between  each  pair  of  rays;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  also 
in  small  oblique  or  tangential  multiples  and  in  small  clusters.  Rays 
apparently  of  two  sizes,  the  larger  ones  conspicuous  on  cross  section; 
visible  without  lens  on  tangential ;  grayish  brown,  high  and  distinct 
in  proper  light  on  radial;  numerous  small  globules  of  dark  brown 
gum  present  in  cells  on  tangential  and  radial  sections  and  sometimes 
on  transverse. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5184. 

LACISTEMACEAE.     Lacistema  Family 
1.    LACISTEMA  Swartz 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  entire,  glabrous  or  nearly  so. 
Flowers  in  spikes  in  the  leaf  axils.  Fruit  baccate  or  capsular.  Tim- 
ber is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  yellowish  or  pinkish  to  reddish  brown  and  moderately 
lustrous;  medium-  or  fairly  coarse- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  den- 
sity; inclined  to  be  fibrous,  splintery,  or  brittle;  checks  in  drying; 
fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in  very  fine  tangential 
lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium 
size;  moderately  numerous  or  numerous;  solitary,  less  frequently  in 
multiples  or  small  clusters;  seldom  closed.  Rays  fairly  fine  or  fine, 
numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  occasionally  distinct 
on  radial. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations,  with  up  to  20  bars;  inter- 
vascular  pits  small  and  in  horizontal  alinement;  vessel -ray  pits  small, 
simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  and  with  coarse 
upright  cells;  uni-  or  biseriate,  occasionally  triseriate, 


66    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Lacistema  aggregatum  (Berg)  Rusby,  Bull.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Gard. 
4:  447.  1907.  Palo  metahuayo,  Huacapurana,  Trompohuayo. 

Small,  slender,  glabrous  tree,  seldom  exceeding  25  or  30  feet  high. 
Crown  conical  or  open.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  clear  of 
branches  up  to  four-fifths  the  entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  dark 
grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  deep  pinkish  brown. 
Leaves  alternate,  short-stalked,  oblong  or  elliptic-oblong,  acuminate, 
entire  or  nearly  so.  Flowers  minute,  in  very  short,  dense,  clustered 
spikes;  June-October.  Fruit  a  small  3-valved  capsule,  red  when 
mature. — Common  throughout  northeastern  Peru  (alt.  400-4,800 
ft.);  most  abundant  in  the  lowland  in  thickets  and  old  clearings 
along  the  Amazon,  Putumayo,  and  Huallaga  rivers,  while  in  the 
highland  the  species  has  been  reported  from  Tarapoto,  San  Roque, 
San  Ramon,  along  the  Pichis  Trail,  and  at  La  Merced. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  brown,  in  some  specimens  with  a  pale 
grayish  cast;  heartwood  indistinctly  defined,  light  brown.  Wood  has 
no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  or  fairly  fine- 
textured  ;  of  light  or  medium  weight,  tenacious,  and  suggests  willow 
(Salix);  easy  to  work  and  saws  slightly  woolly;  checks  in  drying;  not 
durable.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma 
indistinct  under  lens.  Pores  visible  only  with  lens;  numerous  and 
inclined  to  be  crowded;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-6  or  more,  less 
frequently  solitary;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color 
as  background,  and  barely  visible  without  lens. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2154,  2413;  near  Iquitos,  3703;  lower 
Huallaga,  4680. 

Lacistema  Nena  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  392.  1934.     Nena. 

Tree,  about  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  slender, 
straight,  columnar,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  about  half  the  entire 
height.  Bark  reddish  brown  and  fairly  smooth ;  inner  bark  coarsely 
fibrous. — Not  common;  in  open  patches  in  forest  free  from  periodical 
inundations  or  in  thickets  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  used  only  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  indis- 
tinctly defined,  pinkish  brown.  Wood  straight-  or  interlocked- 
grained;  fine- textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to 
cut,  saws  slightly  woolly,  and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  color.  Pores  smaller  and  not  as 
numerous  as  in  L.  aggregation;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-4  or  more.  Vessel  lines  short  and  very  fine. 

Loreto :  Pebas,  1 876. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  67 

Lacistema  rosidiscum  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  392.  1934. 

Forest  tree,  20  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  one-third  to 
one-half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  or  dark  brown,  rough, 
and  with  low,  vertical  ridges;  inner  bark  not  as  fibrous  as  in  the 
other  species. — In  dense  forest  (alt.  1,300-4,500  ft.).  The  strong, 
durable  timber  is  esteemed  for  use  in  general  construction  and 
carpentry. 

Wood  pinkish  or  light  brown,  with  no  sharp  distinction  between 
sap  wood  and  heart;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  polish.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible  at  times.  Pores  small 
or  minute;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  mostly  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2-6;  open.  Rays  slightly  more  distinct  on  radial  surface 
than  in  the  other  species. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6721;  San  Roque,  7216. 

CHLORANTHACEAE.     Chloranth  Family 

1.    HEDYOSMUM  Sw. 

Hedyosmum  racemosum  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  G.  Don,  Gen.  Syst. 
3:  434. 1834;  ex  Solms  in  DC.  Prodr.  16,  pt.  1:  483. 1869.  Asar-quiro. 

Straggly  tree,  25  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  bent,  round, 
8  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  5  feet.  Bark  choco- 
late brown  and  deeply  fissured.  Leaves  short-petiolate,  subcoria- 
ceous,  glabrous,  ovate  or  ovate-lanceolate. — Uncommon;  in  dense 
forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  hue  and  dark  brown  markings 
of  rays;  odorless  and  tasteless;  wavy-grained;  coarse- textured; 
fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  fairly 
smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  not  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small  or  of  medium 
size;  moderately  numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2-4,  and  less  frequently  in  diagonal  or  tangential  pairs,  in 
small  clusters  or  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  of  same  color  as 
background,  and  faintly  visible  without  lens.  Rays  broad,  of  a  light 
brown  color,  and  readily  visible  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
high  and  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform.  Rays  heterogeneous;  decidedly 
multiseriate  and  very  high. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7006. 


68    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

SALICACEAE.     Willow  Family 
1.    SALIX  L. 

Salix  chilensis  Molina,  Sagg.  Chil.  137.  1782.  Pajarobobo 
(lowland),  Sauce  (upland). 

Small,  deciduous  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical  or 
spreading;  branches  long,  drooping.  Trunk  often  bent,  12  inches 
or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  21  feet.  Bark  reddish  or 
dark  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  fairly  smooth  or  with  long,  coarse 
fissures ;  inner  bark  fibrous  and  is  used  for  cordage.  Leaves  lanceolate ; 
foliage  much  lighter  and  brighter  green  than  is  usual  in  tropical 
trees.  Capsule  ovoid  or  elliptic,  dark  brown  when  mature, 
fruiting  before  or  when  the  leaves  are  borne. — Widely  distributed ; 
at  Florida  on  the  Putumayo  River,  in  the  lower  Nanay,  lower 
Huallaga,  and  in  the  Andean  uplands  (alt.  380-6,000  ft.).  The 
species  is  widely  dispersed  in  tropical  America  and  is  the  only  repre- 
sentative of  the  genus  south  of  Guatemala.  The  flexible  twigs 
are  employed  in  the  Andean  regions  for  basketry. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  light  pinkish  brown  with  a  pale  grayish 
tinge  and  lustrous;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste ;  straight-grained ;  moderately  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  saws  woolly, 
easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  not  durable;  resembles 
willow  (Salix}.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision; 
numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  infre- 
quently in  small  oblique  or  tangential  multiples;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  but  faintly  discernible  without  lens.  Rays  fairly 
fine,  numerous,  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential ;  of  lighter  color  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  visible 
on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  rather  large,  half- 
bordered  ;  vessel -parenchyma  pits  simple  and  of  about  the  same  size 
as  intervascular.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  460;  near  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga, 
4447. 

JUGLANDACEAE.     Walnut  Family 

1.    JUGLANS  L. 

Juglans  neotropica  Diels,  Bot.  Jahrb.  37:  398.  1906.     Nogal 

Tree,  up  to  50  feet  tall,  although  said  to  attain  a  height  of  95 

feet.   Crown  spreading  or  irregularly  round.   Trunk  straight,  colum- 


69 


70    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

nar,  up  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and  divided  10  or  15  feet  above 
the  ground,  infrequently  free  of  branches  for  half  the  height. 
Fruit  reddish  brown,  round,  with  a  grayish  brown,  velvety  layer, 
turning  black  at  maturity;  seeds  black  when  ripe  and  the  sweet, 
brown  kernel  is  edible;  January-February. — In  sandy  or  dry 
medium  loam  (alt.  varying  between  5,000  and  7,200  ft.),  mostly  in 
ravines  and  valleys  below  the  general  level  of  the  country,  and  often 
cultivated  in  the  vicinity  of  Chachapoyas  in  association  with  Euca- 
lyptus; common  also  along  the  banks  of  the  Utcubamba,  an  affluent 
of  the  Maranon,  and  scattered  irregularly  from  Daguas,  east  of 
Chachapoyas,  through  to  the  Pacific  coast.  Peruvian  walnut  is 
reported  to  grow  also  along  the  western  Andean  slopes  bordering 
the  upper  reaches  of  the  Ucayali,  in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley,  and 
along  the  Pichis  Trail.  (For  further  notes  on  its  distribution  see 
page  47.)  Its  timber  is  highly  prized  locally  for  furniture,  cabinet- 
making,  and  musical  instruments,  but  due  to  the  remoteness  of 
the  territory  and  physiographic  obstacles  exploitation  of  this  useful 
wood  is  hampered.  A  decoction  of  the  leaves,  fruit,  and  bark  is 
used  for  dyeing. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  light  brown  with  a  grayish  or  pale 
pinkish  cast  and  occasional  darker  striping;  heartwood  dark  pur- 
plish brown.  Wood  when  fresh  has  a  faint  odor  suggesting  vinegar; 
straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  rather 
heavy,  firm,  compact,  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
and  fairly  lustrous  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well ;  durable.  Growth 
rings  visible  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  abundance  of 
elements.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  evenly  spaced,  broken  or  continu- 
ous, tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays,  and  sometimes  in 
broad,  concentric,  unevenly  spaced  bands,  which  appear  to  indicate 
growth  rings.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large;  few,  ring-porous; 
solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  short  or  fairly  long  and  discernible  to  unaided  eye; 
lustrous  tyloses  frequently  present  and  deposits  of  calcium  also 
visible  on  all  surfaces.  Rays  fine  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  low  and  barely  discernible 
with  lens  or  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforation  plates;  vessel -ray  pits  numerous, 
but  not  crowded,  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
1-3  cells  wide  and  few  to  about  30  cells  high.  Crystals  sometimes 
present  in  parenchyma  strands. 

Amazonas:  Chachapoyas,  7563. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  71 

ULMACEAE.     Elm  Family 
1.    TREMA  Lour. 

Trema  micrantha  (L.)  Blume,  Mus.  Bot.  Lugd.  Bat.  2:  58. 
1853.  Atadejo,  Atadijo,  Yana-caspi. 

Slender  shrub  or  small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  30  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading  or  conical.  Trunk  usually  straight,  round,  up  to 
10  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  about  15  feet.  Bark 
variable  in  color  from  light  to  dark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth; 
on  account  of  its  toughness  and  strength  it  is  used  for  cordage  and 
for  binding  tobacco.  Leaves  alternate,  in  two  rows,  ovate  or  lanceo- 
late, finely  serrate,  rough,  especially  on  the  upper  surface.  Drupe 
round. — Very  common  throughout  the  lowland  and  upland  (alt. 
400-3,500  ft.);  in  dry  or  slightly  humid  loam  in  old  clearings  and 
thickets;  reported  also  from  San  Ramon,  in  the  Chanchamayo 
Valley,  near  the  Perene  Colony,  Department  of  Junin  (alt.  4,600 
ft.),  and  Pampayaco,  Department  of  Huanuco. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm  and  strong;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across 
grain  and  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  fairly  high  luster;  not  durable 
in  contact  with  the  ground.  Its  structure  is  different  in  many  respects 
from  Celtis  and  Ulmus,  which  belong  to  the  same  family.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  scantily  developed,  and  indistinct  with  lens. 
Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  large;  moderately  numerous  or  numer- 
ous, diffuse;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  darker  than 
background.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine,  numerous,  curving  at  point  of 
contact  with  the  pores  on  cross  section ;  fairly  distinct  or  distinct  on 
radial. 

Vessels  do  not  have  spirals  and  have  simple  perforations;  pits  into 
the  vessels  irregular,  often  much  elongated  horizontally,  simple 
to  half -bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous.  Wood  fibers  thin- walled  and 
have  simple  pits. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  80,  194;  lower  Nanay,  366,  368;  Pebas, 
1759;  La  Victoria,  2591;  lower  Huallaga,  4225,  5152.— San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  5765;  San  Roque,  7376. 

MORACEAE.     Mulberry  Family 

One  of  the  larger  families  of  Peruvian  plants,  consisting  chiefly 
of  trees  or  shrubs,  some  of  them  epiphytic,  and  characterized  by  the 
presence  of  latex  contained  mostly  in  the  secondary  cortex  or  phloem 


72    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  which  in  some  instances,  especially  Castillo,  and  some  Ficus 
species,  is  the  source  of  commercial  rubber.  Leaves  usually  alternate 
and  provided  with  large,  mostly  deciduous  stipules.  Flowers  minute 
or  very  small,  green,  of  two  sexes;  they  have  no  petals,  and  are 
arranged  in  heads,  spikes,  or  racemes,  frequently  conspicuous.  Fruit 
variable  as  to  form,  but  always  more  or  less  juicy. 

The  woods  are  of  two  main  kinds:  (1)  light  and  soft,  approaching 
balsa  wood  (Ochroma);  (2)  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy  and 
hard.  Sapwood  oatmeal -colored,  whitish,  or  creamy  yellow  to 
light  brown,  sometimes  pinkish,  and  often  with  a  light  or  dark  gray 
stain;  heartwood  often  sharply  defined,  deep  yellow  to  dark 
chocolate  brown.  Wood  medium-  to  coarse-textured;  sometimes 
fibrous,  in  others  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  and  highly  lustrous 
polish;  perishable  or  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in 
fine  or  distinct,  tangential  or  concentric  bands,  often  uniting  the 
pores,  suggesting  that  of  some  of  the  Leguminosae.  Pores  of  medium 
size  to  large;  few  or  numerous  and  usually  diffuse,  seldom  with  a 
tendency  to  ring-porous;  predominantly  solitary,  also  in  multiples; 
often  filled  with  tyloses,  calcium,  or  dark  gum.  Rays  moderately 
fine  or  rather  distinct  on  cross  section;  sometimes  visible  on  tangen- 
tial; most  frequently  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple.  Tyloses  mostly  thin- 
walled.  Intervascular  pits  numerous,  small  or  large,  often  screw- 
head  type;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  usually 
heterogeneous;  from  1-6  cells  wide  and  few  to  many  cells  high; 
often  gummy.  Wood  fibers  thin-  or  thick-walled;  often  septate  in 
Ficus  and  Castilla;  pits  small  or  very  small,  numerous,  and  simple; 
the  cavities  sometimes  filled  with  gum. 

1.    ANONOCARPUS  Ducke 

Anonocarpus  amazonicus  Ducke,  Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio 
Jan.  3:  39.  1922.  Mashunasti. 

Tall  tree,  often  up  to  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  with  small  buttresses,  and  free  of 
limbs  up  to  65  feet.  Bark  fairly  thick,  reddish  brown,  and  exudes 
when  cut  a  plentiful  supply  of  slightly  sweet  latex.  Leaves  entire, 
ovate,  leathery  or  subleathery,  acuminate,  rounded  at  base,  and  gla- 
brous or  nearly  so.  Fruit  globose,  light  green,  and  succulent;  Novem- 
ber-December.— Of  limited  distribution;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest 
(alt.  500  ft.).  The  fairly  dense  wood  is  employed  for  canoes. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  73 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored,  sometimes  with  dark  streaks,  and 
turning  to  a  pinkish  or  russet  color  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood 
thin,  pale  or  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  irregular-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  medium 
weight  and  fairly  hard;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth 
polish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  fairly  durable,  although  liable  to 
stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  poorly  defined.  Paren- 
chyma abundantly  developed;  paratracheal  and  in  fine  or  con- 
spicuous, broken  or  continuous,  fairly  evenly  spaced,  concentric 
bands.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  large;  not  numerous,  diffuse; 
solitary  or  less  often  in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  small 
clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  distinct  and  darker  than  back- 
ground. Rays  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  tangential; 
inconspicuous  or  fairly  prominent  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5334. 

2.    ARTOCARPUS  Forst. 

Handsome,  medium-sized  or  rather  large,  evergreen  trees  native 
of  the  East  Indies  and  the  Pacific  Islands.  Crown  round  or  spread- 
ing, very  dense.  Leaves  deeply  lobed.  The  trees  are  planted  in 
the  lowland  for  their  large,  rough,  edible  fruits  and  for  shade. 

Wood  white  or  silvery  gray  to  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  and 
with  a  high  luster;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- 
or  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight  and  fairly  soft  to  firm;  requires  a 
sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  but  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  not  distinct.  Parenchyma  in  narrow 
bands  surrounding  the  pores.  Pores  fairly  large  and  readily  visible 
without  lens;  fairly  numerous  and  evenly  scattered;  solitary,  less 
frequently  in  radial,  seldom  tangential,  multiples  of  2  or  more;  open. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  dark  brown  scratches.  Rays  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  producing  a  character- 
istic figure  on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Artocarpus  communis  Forst.  Char.  Gen.  100.  1776.  Arbol 
del  pan. 

Tree,  up  to  70  feet  in  height.  Trunk  sometimes  appressed, 
bifurcating  near  the  base  or  free  of  limbs  up  to  18  feet,  from  8  to 
14  inches  in  diameter,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  light  to  dark 
chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth,  with  fibrous  inner  bark,  and  yields 
a  viscid,  insipid  latex.  Leaves  about  18  inches  long  and  16  inches 
wide,  pubescent  on  both  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2151;  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  3989. 


74    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.  BROSIMUM  Swartz 

Large  trees.  Leaves  short-stalked,  ovate  or  oblong,  more  or  less 
leathery,  glabrous,  entire  except  sometimes  on  young  shoots.  Recep- 
tacles globose,  many-flowered.  Fruit  rather  large,  globose,  with 
abundant  flesh. 

The  trees  measure  up  to  130  or  150  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading,  round,  or  almost  flat.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  17-30 
inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  85  feet.  Bark  pale  gray, 
rufous,  or  dark  chocolate-colored,  scaly  or  fissured,  and  secretes 
a  fairly  copious  quantity  of  slightly  sweet  latex  when  cut.  Fruit 
ovoid;  April- June. — Fairly  common  in  limited  localities,  usually  in 
sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  in  dense  tall  forest  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 
The  dense  heartwood  is  employed  locally  for  handles  for  axes,  bush- 
knives,  and  other  purposes  requiring  durability. 

The  "palo  de  sangre"  of  the  Peruvian  Amazon  is  distinguished 
by  having  a  large  core  of  beautiful  red  heartwood  which  suggests  the 
"muirapiranga"  (Brosimum  paraense  Huber);  sapwood  well  defined, 
oatmeal-colored,  white,  yellowish,  or  pale  brown.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  takes  a  smooth  and  fairly  or  highly  lustrous  polish; 
durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  fine,  tangential  lines  or 
bands,  often  confluent.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  mostly  solitary. 
Rays  usually  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
slightly  darker  than  background,  discernible  in  proper  light  or  fairly 
distinct  on  radial  surface.  Latex  tubes  are  sometimes  present  in  rays. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  681,  683,  725. 

4.  GASTILLA  Cervantes 

The  generic  name  is  often  written  Castilloa,  without  justification. 

Castilla  Ulei  Warb.  Bot.  Jahrb.  35:  674.  1905.    Caucho  negro. 

Tree,  about  75  feet  in  height,  although  said  to  attain  greater 
stature.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  12  to  20 
inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for  55  feet.  Twigs  and 
petioles  with  fairly  dense  light  brown  pubescence.  Bark  moderately 
thick,  pale  brown.  Leaves  deciduous,  entire,  oblongate,  sharply 
acuminate,  cordate  at  the  base. — Fairly  abundant;  in  dense  forest 
(alt.  380  ft.).  Castilla  trees  are  the  source  of  caucho  or  rubber,  which 
is  tapped  by  making  oblique  incisions  on  the  trunks.  The  amount  of 
caucho  gathered  in  the  Amazon  basin  during  1910-11  was  esti- 
mated to  be  approximately  20  per  cent  of  the  total  rubber  produced 
during  that  period.  Attempts  at  cultivation  of  the  trees  on  a  large 
scale  have  not  proved  profitable.  Timber  is  not  utilized  locally. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  75 

Wood  brown  or  oatmeal-colored,  lustrous,  and  with  no  clear 
demarcation  between  sap  wood  and  heartwood.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive taste,  but  is  slightly  fragrant  when  fresh;  straight-grained; 
medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  light  and  soft,  but  firm;  saws  woolly; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  sometimes  aliform.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large; 
not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  distinct.  Rays 
fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  radial,  appearing  darker 
than  background. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Tyloses  thin-walled.  Rays 
somewhat  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide  and  up  to  50  cells  high;  pits 
into  vessels  fairly  large,  often  elongated,  simple  to  half-bordered. 
Fibers  thin-walled;  often  septate. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1802. 

5.    CECROPIA  L. 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees  with  hollow,  whitish,  smooth,  and 
slender  trunks.  Leaves  very  large,  peltate,  deeply  lobed,  usually 
whitish  beneath  and  tomentose,  and  clustered  at  the  ends  of  the 
few  stout  branches;  stipules  large  and  deciduous.  Flowers  dioecious, 
in  dense  spikes,  these  clustered  at  the  end  of  short  or  long  peduncles. 
The  trees  are  short-lived,  rapid-growing,  of  distinctive  appearance, 
often  forming  almost  pure  stands  along  river  banks,  on  sand  bars, 
and  in  flood  plains;  they  also  quickly  invade  clearings  in  the  forest 
and  stand  out  conspicuously  among  all  other  trees.  Their  stems 
are  hollow,  with  thin,  widely  separated  partitions,  and  are  habitually 
infested  with  small  ants  that  inflict  severe  bites  when  the  tree  is 
molested.  The  light,  perishable  wood  has  no  local  uses  except  for 
kindling,  but  has  potential  value  for  paper  pulp.  The  fibrous  bark 
is  useful  for  cordage.  The  local  name  "setico"  is  given  to  all  or 
most  of  the  trees. 

Wood  whitish  or  oatmeal-colored  to  pale,  seldom  dark,  brown; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  coarse- textured ;  light  and  soft;  fibrous  and 
often  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  fairly  or 
highly  lustrous;  perishable.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed 
about  pores  and  connecting  some  of  them  into  short  or  long,  mostly 
irregular,  tangential  or  diagonal  chains;  usually  distinct.  Pores 
rather  large  and  distinct;  few  to  fairly  numerous  and  not  crowded; 
solitary  or  in  multiples;  open.  Rays  moderately  fine  or  rather  broad 


76    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

on  cross  section;  sometimes  faintly  visible  on  tangential;  conspicu- 
ous on  radial  surface,  appearing  darker  than  background. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  large,  bor- 
dered; vessel-ray  pits  also  large,  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous, 
or  at  times  showing  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  up  to  5  cells  wide 
and  few  to  40  cells  high.  Fibers  thin-walled,  arranged  in  radial 
rows;  often  septate;  pits  small,  numerous,  simple.  Pith  about  the 
size  of  a  lead  pencil  or  very  large. 

Cecropia  latifolia  Miq.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  4,  pt.  1: 147.  1853. 

Tree,  50  to  70  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  long,  slender, 
and  free  of  limbs  up  to  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  thick,  dark 
brown,  and  moderately  smooth ;  inner  bark  finely  fibrous. — Common 
throughout  the  Peruvian  Amazon;  most  frequently  in  the  vicinity 
of  streams. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  or  grayish  brown,  with  occasional  dark 
streaks;  saws  woolly.  Rays  not  so  prominent  on  radial  surface  as  in 
C.  Tessmannii.  Pith  small. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  96. 

Cecropia  leucocoma  Miq.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  4,  pt.  1: 142.  1853. 

Tree,  up  to  75  feet  tall.  Crown  flat  or  open.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  three-fifths  the 
height. — Common;  along  banks  of  streams  and  in  secondary  growth. 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  pinkish  brown  and  highly  lustrous. 
Rays  readily  visible,  but  not  prominent.    Pith  dark  chocolate  brown. 
Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  1+173. 

Cecropia  obtusa  Trecul,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  8:  79.  1847. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  from  35  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  flat 
or  round.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  cylindrical,  and  free  of  limbs  for 
three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  greenish  gray;  inner  bark  coarsely 
fibrous.-  Flowers  chocolate  brown. — Common;  along  banks  of 
streams  and  in  secondary  growth  (alt.  400-3,500  ft.).  Timber  used 
mostly  for  kindling. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  and  has  a  golden  luster  when 
held  to  proper  light;  saws  woolly.  Rays  of  same  color  as  background, 
but  readily  visible  on  radial  surface.  Pith  narrow  or  broad  and 
with  thick  septa. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2068;  La  Victoria,  2557. — San  Martin: 
San  Roque,  7372(1). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  77 

Cecropia  sciadophylla  Mart.  Flora  24,  pt.  2:  Beibl.  93.  1841. 

Tree,  up  to  85  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  17  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  more 
than  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  large  surface  roots  or  small 
buttresses. — Common;  in  dry  or  slightly  humid  loam,  most  fre- 
quently adjacent  to  watercourses  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  occasional  purplish  or  dark  streaks; 
firmer  than  the  other  Cecropia  species.  Rays  not  readily  distinguish- 
able to  unaided  eye.  Pith  reddish  or  chocolate  brown;  septa  thick. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2130. 

Cecropia  Tessmannii  Mildbr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
260.  1925.  Pungara,  Setico  de  oyada. 

Tree,  from  35  to  65  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  or  round. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  11  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs 
for  upwards  of  half  the  height.  Bark  grayish  or  pale  brown,  thin, 
and  smooth;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous  and  is  used  for  cordage  and 
mats.  Sapwood  secretes  a  small  quantity  of  viscid  resin  when  cut. 
Leaves  dark  reddish  brown  above  and  pale  brown  on  the  under 
surface.  Flowers  yellow,  with  long,  stout  peduncle;  October- 
November. — Common;  in  swamps  or  in  the  vicinity  of  streams 
(alt.  450  ft.).  In  some  regions  of  the  lower  Amazon  the  timber  is 
used  to  some  extent  as  a  source  of  paper  pulp  and  for  rafts,  also 
for  troughs. 

Wood  not  clearly  defined  into  sap  and  heart,  oatmeal-colored,  and 
with  a  high  silvery  luster;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
coarse-textured;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  indistinct  or  present,  owing  to  slight  variation  in  color.  Pa- 
renchyma paratracheal.  Pores  large;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly 
scattered;  solitary  and  circular  or  oval  in  outline,  also  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse  and  of 
darker  color  than  background.  Rays  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  readily  discernible  on 
radial  surface  where  they  are  of  darker  color  than  background. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4313,  4949. 

6.    CHLOROPHORA  Gaud. 

Chlorophora  tinctoria  (L.)  Gaud,  in  Freyc.  Voy.  Bot.  508. 
1826.  Insira,  Limulana. 

Deciduous  forest  tree,  up  to  60  feet  in  height,  with  an  extensive 
range  in  tropical  America  (see  Timbers  of  Tropical  America,  118-122). 


78    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  up  to  19  inches  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  20  feet  or  so.  Bark  pale  or  dark 
brownish  gray,  with  shallow  fissures  and  lighter  brown  lenticels, 
and  secretes  when  cut  a  tasteless,  yellowish  resin.  Branches  often 
armed  with  long,  stout  spines.  Leaves  glabrous,  entire  or  serrate; 
those  of  young  branches  frequently  lobed  and  suggesting  mulberry 
(Morus).  Flowers  of  two  sexes  on  separate  trees,  the  staminate  in 
long  catkins,  the  pistillate  in  dense  heads.  Fruit  rounded,  with 
numerous  brown  seeds. — Common;  in  well-drained  soil  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  400-1,600  ft.).  The  tree  is  of  economic 
importance  as  the  source  of  fustic,  one  of  the  most  important  dye- 
woods  of  commerce,  and  is  employed  for  brown,  yellow,  and  green 
dyes,  especially  for  the  olive-drab  of  khaki.  Its  use  dates  back  to  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  heartwood  is  esteemed 
locally  for  house  construction,  furniture,  and  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  pale  yellowish  white,  often  with  darker 
streaks  or  grayish  cast;  heartwood  sharply  defined,  bright  yellow  or 
pinkish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven- 
grained ;  medium-  or  fairly  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  weight,  more 
or  less  horn-like;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  strong  and 
durable;  resembles  Osage  orange  (Madura  aurantiaca  Nutt.)  in  color, 
texture,  and  density.  Growth  rings  sometimes  distinct  owing  to 
alinement  of  elements,  parenchyma  lines,  or  to  poreless  zones. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  confluent,  infrequently  terminal; 
distinct  on  cross  section  and  visible  on  tangential  in  proper  light; 
some  specimens  have  considerably  more  parenchyma  than  others. 
Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  large  and  distinct  owing  to  paren- 
chyma; few  to  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed  or  showing  a 
slight  tendency  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-5.  Vessel  lines  visible,  but  not  conspicuous,  alternately  short  and 
long,  darker  than  background;  tyloses  abundant  in  vessels.  Rays 
fine  or  faintly  visible  on  cross  section;  sometimes  discernible  on 
tangential;  fairly  distinct  to  distinct  on  radial. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Tyloses  thin-walled.  Vessel- 
ray  pits  medium-sized  or  rather  large,  half-bordered  to  simple.  Rays 
mostly  homogeneous;  1-5  cells  wide  and  few  to  40  cells  high.  Fibers 
in  definite  radial  rows,  thick-walled,  with  small,  simple  pits.  Crystals 
of  calcium  oxalate  common  in  chambered  parenchyma.  Latex  tubes 
occasionally  present  in  rays. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  501,  672;  Caballo-cocha,  2441 ',  Yurimaguas, 
4598;  Iquitos,  8040,  8217.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5435,  6254- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  79 

7.    CLARISIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Clarisia  nitida  (Allem.)  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  15.  1931. 
Capinuri,  Guariuba,  Huariuba. 

Glabrous  tree  of  the  lowland,  up  to  140  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  20  to  50  inches  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  limbs  for  90  feet.  Bark  pale  brown  or  almost  black, 
scaly;  sapwood  and  bark  yield  a  copious  quantity  of  bitter  yellow- 
ish resin,  said  to  be  used  for  healing  fractures.  Leaves  entire, 
ovate  or  oblong-ovate,  leathery,  acuminate,  rounded  or  acute  at  base 
and  glabrous. — Not  common;  in  dry  loam,  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  streams,  and  forming  the  upper  story  of  the  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 
Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  canoes  and  for  general 
carpentry. 

Wood  yellowish  or  light  brown,  at  times  with  a  pale  vermilion 
cast;  heartwood  dark  yellowish  or  chocolate  brown;  has  a  slightly 
unpleasant  odor;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  medium-  or  fairly 
coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  strong,  but  brittle;  saws 
slightly  woolly,  but  fairly  easy  to  work;  durable.  Growth  rings 
visible  at  times  owing  to  alinement  of  the  elements.  Parenchyma 
abundantly  developed;  paratracheal  and  in  broken,  irregularly 
spaced,  tangential  lines  or  bands,  invisible  or  visible  to  unaided  eye. 
Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  large;  fairly  numerous  and  well  dis- 
tributed; solitary  and,  less  often,  in  radial  or  tangential  multiples  of 
2-4;  open  or  closed.  Rays  moderately  fine  or  fairly  broad  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Tyloses  thin-walled.  Rays 
homogeneous  or  inclined  to  heterogeneous;  1-6  cells  wide  and  few 
to  50  cells  high;  pits  into  vessels  half-bordered,  often  elongated. 
Wood  fibers  thin-walled  and  with  very  small,  simple  pits. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  268^.,  3079. 

8.    COUSSAPOA  Aubl. 

Coussapoa  grandiceps  Killip,  ined.    Renaco-caspi. 

Tree,  about  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
slender,  cylindrical,  and  clear  of  branches  for  about  9  feet.  Bark 
light  gray  or  pale  brown;  inner  bark  fibrous;  bark  and  fruit  secrete 
a  small  amount  of  astringent  resin.  Leaves  ovate,  leathery,  slightly 
emarginate  or  rounded  at  apex,  subcordate  at  base,  and  long- 
stalked.  Flowering  in  October -November. — Fairly  common;  in  dry 
loam  in  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 


80    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  almost  white,  turning  to  pink  on  exposure  to  air,  lustrous; 
has  a  slightly  fragrant  odor  when  freshly  cut,  absent  or  not  distinct 
in  dried  material;  straight-grained;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  tenacious;  somewhat  fibrous  and 
splintery,  but  easy  to  work ;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing 
to  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal,  confluent,  and  in  irregularly  spaced  terminal 
bands.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision ;  not  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered ; 
solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines 
long  and  conspicuous  owing  to  dark  brown  or  grayish  white  de- 
posits. Rays  fairly  fine  or  moderately  broad  on  cross  section; 
fairly  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  1-6  cells  wide,  few  to  40  cells  high.  Vessel- 
ray  pits  large,  irregular,  half -bordered.  Wood  fibers  with  numerous, 
small,  simple  pits.  Pith  fairly  large,  grayish  brown,  chambered. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4179;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5349. 

9.    FICUS  L. 

Shrubs  or  medium-sized  to  tall  trees.  Leaves  alternate.  Flow- 
ers minute,  borne  on  the  inside  of  a  small  or  large,  hollow  receptacle, 
this  usually  globose,  with  a  small  opening  at  the  apex,  and  covered  by 
a  few  overlapping  bracts,  the  whole  receptacle  in  age  becoming  fleshy. 
Fruit  (receptacle)  similar  to  that  of  the  cultivated  fig  (Ficus  Carica 
L.).  There  are  three  types  of  Ficus  plants:  (1)  lianes,  very  common 
in  the  forests;  (2)  trees  which  usually  begin  growth  as  epiphytes, 
germinating  on  the  branches  of  trees,  and  as  they  develop  sending 
down  cord-like  roots  that  ultimately  enwrap  and  strangle  the  host; 
(3)  forest  trees  of  normal  growth. 

Wood  whitish  to  light  brown,  sometimes  with  a  pinkish  tinge,  and 
often  stained  dark  gray;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  light  and  soft, 
some  sappy  and  likely  to  rot  before  they  can  be  dried,  and  liable  to 
be  damaged  by  insects,  while  a  few  species  are  fairly  heavy,  tenacious, 
and  durable.  The  structure  is  laminated,  composed  of  alternate 
bands  of  soft  and  hard  tissue.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in 
numerous,  irregularly  spaced,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric 
bands;  often  conspicuous.  Pores  fairly  small  or  large;  few  to  numer- 
ous and  scattered  irregularly;  solitary  and,  less  often,  in  multiples; 
often  filled  with  calcium  or  dark  gum.  Rays  moderately  fine  to 
rather  broad  on  cross  section;  sometimes  visible  on  tangential; 
moderately  distinct  on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  81 

Ficus  anthelminthica  Mart,  Syst.  Mat.  Med.  Bras.  88.  1854; 
Reise  Bras.  3:  1128.  1831.  Huitoc. 

Tree,  75  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  moderately  straight, 
slightly  compressed,  14  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  30  feet, 
and  with  large  surface  roots.  Bark  light  tan-colored,  fairly  smooth; 
when  incised,  bark  and  wood  yield  a  copious  quantity  of  bitter,  creamy 
latex,  used  in  native  medicine  as  a  remedy  for  anemia.  Fruit  borne 
on  the  main  branches;  June- July. — Uncommon;  in  scanty  growth 
in  slightly  humid  loam  and  near  banks  of  streams  (alt.  400  ft.)» 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  almost  white,  with  dark  gum  striping 
and  extensive  pale  or  dark  gray  areas  caused  probably  by  stain; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  coarse- textured;  light  in 
weight;  saws  woolly,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish,  and  is  fairly 
lustrous  in  proper  light.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal,  aliform,  and  sometimes  confluent.  Pores  readily  visible; 
fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse  and  much  darker  than  background 
owing  to  black  gum  present.  Rays  lighter-colored  than  adjacent 
elements  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Ampi-yaco,  near  Pebas,  1867. 

Ficus  caballina  Standl.,  ined.    Renaquillo. 

Rather  straggly  tree,  30  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  bent, 
slightly  compressed,  slender,  unbranched  for  6  feet.  Bark  yellowish 
or  medium  brown  with  coarse  ridges  and,  when  cut,  exudes  a  fair 
quantity  of  insipid  latex  which  coagulates  readily  and  is  used  locally 
to  heal  wounds  and  skin  infection.  Fruit  pale  red  when  mature, 
sweet,  and  edible. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon 
(alt.  380  ft.) ;  in  dry  medium  loam. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  with  pale  gray  areas  caused  by  stain;  has 
no  distinctive  odor,  but  is  sometimes  slightly  bitter;  straight-  or 
slightly  wavy-grained;  coarse-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  fairly 
firm;  easy  to  cut;  checks  slightly  in  drying.  Parenchyma  in  rather 
widely  and  uniformly  spaced  concentric  bands;  at  limit  of  vision 
and  more  distinct  than  in  the  preceding  species.  Pores  of  medium 
size  or  fairly  large;  solitary  and  in  small  radial  or  oblique  multiples. 
Rays  fairly  prominent;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  section; 
sometimes  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  discernible  without 
lens  on  radial  surface.  Pith  grayish  white,  with  specks  of  reddish 
brown  gum. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2075. 


82    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Ficus  gemina  Ruiz  ex  Miq.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  4,  pt.  1:  98.  1853. 
Renaco. 

Tree,  55  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
14  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for  15  feet.  Bark  pinkish 
brown,  with  fairly  small  lenticels,  and  exudes  a  sweet,  viscid  latex 
in  copious  quantity.  Fruit  rounded,  pale  yellow  when  ripe  and 
edible;  December-January. — Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  among 
medium-sized  trees  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown,  in  dried  material 
becoming  dark  gray  because  of  stain;  straight-  or  slightly  wavy- 
grained;  coarse-textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to 
work  and  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish.  Parenchyma  in  light- 
colored,  concentric,  slightly  wavy  bands,  at  limit  of  vision.  Pores 
readily  visible;  often  filled  with  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  distinct. 
Rays  indistinct  without  lens. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5502. 

Ficus  glabrata  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2: 47. 1817.   Oje,  Renaco. 

Tree,  55  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  up  to  27  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching  from 
1  to  10  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  brown  and  inner  bark  finely 
fibrous  or  woolly;  bark  and  fruit  furnish  an  abundance  of  astringent 
latex,  highly  esteemed  locally  as  a  vermifuge.  Fruit  rounded, 
smooth,  and  lustrous  green;  July-September. — Widely  distributed 
throughout  the  montana  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.);  in  sandy  or  dry  loam 
in  open  patches,  in  old  clearings,  and  along  margin  of  forest. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  when  fresh,  dried  material  with  light  or  dark 
gray  streaks  and  patches  caused  by  stain;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  slightly  wavy-grained;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  of 
light  or  medium  weight;  saws  woolly,  splinters  easily,  easy  to  cut, 
and  takes  a  moderately  high  luster;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Parenchyma  in  broad,  evenly  spaced,  concentric  bands,  often  uniting 
the  pores;  readily  visible  without  lens.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision, 
but  not  large;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples;  open  or  closed. 
Vessel  lines  coarse  and  darker  than  background  owing  to  dark  gum 
contents.  Rays  sometimes  faintly  discernible  without  lens  in  proper 
light  on  radial  section.  Pith  dark  gray. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  100;  San  Antonio,  upper 
Itaya,  3458;  San  Juan,  near  Iquitos,  3747. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
5463. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  83 

Ficus  Mathewsii  Miq.  Ann.  Mus.  Bot.  Lugd.  Bat.  3:  298.  1867. 
Caucho-renaco,  Renaco,  Renaquillo. 

Small,  straggly  or  epiphytic  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of 
60  or  80  feet.  Crown  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so, 
round  or  compressed,  up  to  19  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  from  6  to  18  feet.  Bark  light  tan  or  reddish  brown,  scaly  or  with 
rather  coarse  ridges  and  small  to  coarse,  dark  lenticels.  When  cut, 
bark  secretes  a  fairly  copious  quantity  of  slightly  sweet  latex,  white 
when  freshly  tapped,  but  soon  turning  to  pale  pink  on  exposure  to 
sunlight.  This  latex  is  known  locally  as  "ule"  or  "mile"  and  is  mixed 
with  balata  to  improve  the  consistency  of  the  latter.  The  name 
"caucho-renaco"  is  derived  from  the  fact  that  the  latex  coagulates 
readily  when  worked  between  the  palms  of  the  hands.  Fruit  round, 
reddish  pink  and  mottled  yellow;  September-December. — Common 
in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  dry  loam  along  edge  of 
paths  or  margin  of  forest. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown,  with  extensive  grayish 
patches,  and  in  some  specimens  with  dark  gum  striping;  heartwood 
reddish  brown  and  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
moderately  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured; 
inclined  to  be  fibrous;  easy  to  work.  Growth  rings  sometimes  indi- 
cated by  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma,  which  is  in  concen- 
tric bands  of  lighter  color  than  adjacent  elements  and  at  limit  of 
vision.  Pores  not  visible  without  lens;  open  or  closed.  Rays  numer- 
ous; faintly  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  sometimes 
darker  than  background  and  visible  on  radial.  Pith  dark  chocolate 
brown. 

Loreto:  Timbuchi,  upper  Nanay,  927;  near  Iquitos,  3691*,  3737, 
8012,  8079. 

Ficus  paraensis  Miq.  Ann.  Mus.  Bot.  Lugd.  Bat.  3:  298.  1867. 
Renaco. 

Tree,  15  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  moderately  flat;  branches  tortu- 
ous. Trunk  contorted  and  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  pur- 
plish or  medium  brown  with  a  pale  greenish  tinge,  and  exudes  a  small 
quantity  of  astringent  latex;  inner  bark  finely  fibrous.  Flowers 
small,  white,  and  borne  on  the  older  branches;  May- June.  Fruit 
round,  pale  brown  when  mature. — Nowhere  common,  but  widely 
scattered  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  500  ft.);  in  slightly  humid 
loam  in  dense  forest. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  almost  white  to  pale  pinkish  brown,  in 
some  specimens  with  long,  irregular,  dark  brown  gum  streaks;  with- 


84    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

out  distinctive  odor  and  taste;  moderately  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured  ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm ;  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  easy  to  work, 
and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish.  Parenchyma  in  broken  or  contin- 
uous concentric  bands;  barely  visible.  Pores  of  medium  size;  not 
numerous;  mostly  closed.  Vessel  lines  visible,  but  not  prominent. 
Rays  of  about  same  thickness  as  parenchyma  lines  on  cross  section. 
Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1141;  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  3803. 

Ficus  Ruiziana  Standl.,  ined.    Rena.co. 

Tree,  up  to  75  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  usually 
bent,  round  or  fairly  so,  9  to  24  inches  in  diameter  above  the  strong, 
medium-sized  buttresses,  and  either  bifurcating  near  the  base  or  un- 
branched  up  to  18  feet.  Bark  pale  or  medium  brown  with  alternately 
short  and  long,  rather  low  ridges,  and  in  old  trees  with  coarse  lenticels; 
inner  bark  finely  or  coarsely  fibrous;  furnishes  a  copious  quantity  of 
bitter  latex  when  cut.  Fruit  round  or  subround,  borne  on  the  main 
branches;  August-September. — Widely  distributed  in  the  lowland 
(alt.  400-500  ft.) ;  in  either  alluvial  or  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and 
low  trees  or  in  moderately  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  reddish  brown. 
Wood  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste;  is  straight-  or  fairly  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut  and  holds  its  place  well ;  liable  to  stain  in  drying.  Parenchyma 
readily  distinguishable  as  light-colored,  concentric  bands;  visible  also 
on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces.  Vessel  lines  moderately  fine  or 
coarse,  of  dark  color  owing  to  gummy  contents.  Pith  dark  reddish 
brown. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2114;  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga, 
4877;  near  Iquitos,  7998. 

Ficus  Weberbaueri  Standl.,  ined.    Renaco. 

Straggly,  aquatic  tree,  45  or  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
contorted  and  up  to  approximately  30  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  me- 
dium or  chocolate  brown  and  exudes  a  fair  quantity  of  whitish  or 
pale  yellow,  slightly  astringent  latex.  Fruit  small,  rounded ;  March- 
April. — Not  common;  in  alluvial  loam  and  in  patches  subject  to 
periodical  floods  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure 
to  air;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained; 
medium-  to  fairly  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish;  liable  to  stain  in  drying. 
Parenchyma  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section,  readily  dis- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  85 

cernible  on  tangential.  Pores  of  medium  size;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  up  to  4.  Vessel  lines  visible  owing  to  parenchyma 
sheaths  and  their  color,  which  is  darker  than  background.  Rays 
faintly  distinguishable  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 
Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  8138. 

Ficus  sp.  Capinuri.  Tree,  approximately  80  feet  tall.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  and  12  inches  or  more  in  diam- 
eter. Bark  pale  green  and  with  fairly  coarse  lenticels;  inner  bark 
almost  white  when  fresh.  Fruit  round  and  fairly  large;  April-May. 
—Not  common;  near  bank  of  Amazon  River,  in  fairly  dense  forest 
(alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  whitish,  dried  material  with  extensive 
dark  gray  areas  caused  by  stain;  straight-grained;  coarse- textured ; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  often  filled  with  dark  brown 
gum.  Vessel  lines  coarse.  Rays  numerous  and  fairly  fine ;  indistinct 
without  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  darker  than  adjacent 
elements  and  barely  visible  on  moistened  tangential. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  500. 

10.    OGCODEIA  Bur. 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees.  Wood  of  variegated  color,  ranging 
from  yellowish  or  grayish  green  to  pinkish  brown,  and  heartwood 
sometimes  sharply  defined,  pale  to  dark  brown;  fairly  fine-textured; 
of  light  or  medium  density;  tending  to  saw  slightly  fibrous,  brittle, 
sometimes  takes  a  moderately  lustrous  finish ;  fairly  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal,  aliform,  or  confluent,  rarely  terminal.  Pores 
fairly  small;  numerous  or  moderately  numerous  and  diffuse;  solitary 
or  in  multiples;  open  or,  less  frequently,  closed.  Rays  moderately 
fine  on  cross  section;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial. 

Ogcodeia   Tamamuri  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.   11:  64.  1931. 

Tamamuri. 

Tree,  up  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading;  branches  break 
off  easily,  leaving  deep  scars.  Trunk  round,  bent,  and  approximately 
12  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  pale  brown,  fairly  smooth;  wood  and 
bark  secrete  when  cut  a  fair  quantity  of  bitter,  pale  yellow  resin. 
Fruit  small,  round,  red  and  soft  when  mature;  seeds  light  brown; 
April-May.— Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  free  from  periodical 
inundations  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 


86    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sap  wood  creamy  yellow;  heartwood  sharply  defined,  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine- 
textured;  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores  and  in  very  fine,  short,  irregu- 
larly spaced,  tangential  lines.  Pores  very  small;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples.  Vessel  lines 
fine  and  barely  visible  in  proper  light.  Rays  faintly  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  moistened  cross  section. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  992. 

Ogcodeia  Tessmannii  Mildbr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10: 
189.  1927.  Naccho-huasca. 

Tree,  approximately  35  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  25  feet;  often 
with  deep  scars  of  old  branches  which  have  fallen  off.  Bark  pale 
yellow  or  pinkish  brown  with  small  lenticels,  and  exudes  when  incised 
a  fair  amount  of  extremely  bitter,  brownish  resin.  The  spiny 
fruit  is  borne  on  the  under  side  of  the  branches;  July-  August.  —  Not 
common;  in  dense  forest  free  from  periodical  inundations  (alt.  500 
ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  construction. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  throughout;  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter  to 
taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when 
finished.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible  owing  to  alinement  of  paren- 
chyma which  surrounds  the  pores,  and  is  also  in  fine,  short,  tan- 
gential bands  extending  between  the  rays,  at  times  in  continuous, 
concentric  bands  which  appear  to  indicate  limitation  of  growth 
rings.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  less 
frequently  in  radial,  seldom  tangential,  multiples  of  2-3;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background  or  slightly 
darker,  and  visible  in  proper  light.  Rays  fairly  fine  and  evenly 
spaced;  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaj^a,  351  1. 


Ogcodeia  Ulei  (Warb.)  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  16.  1931. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  18  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk 
erect,  round,  slender,  and  branching  3  or  4  feet  from  the  ground. 
Bark  pale  gray  or  reddish  brown  and  exudes  a  fair  quantity  of  insipid, 
yellowish  brown  resin.  Fruit  round,  borne  in  clusters  on  branches; 
October-November.  —  Not  common;  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  87 

and  pastures   (alt.  450  ft.)-    Timber  sometimes  used  for  general 
construction. 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  pale  yellowish  brown  and 
darkening  slightly  on  exposure;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  straight-  or  slightly  wavy-grained ;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  cuts  easily,  takes  a  smooth 
finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible  owing  to 
slight  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  arrangement  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores,  sometimes  in  fine,  concentric 
bands  which  appear  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or,  less  frequently, 
in  small  radial  multiples;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely 
visible  without  lens.  Rays  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5194. 

11.    OLMEDIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Olmedia  aspera  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Syst.  Veg.  257.  1798.  Muichi- 
pata. 

Straggly  tree,  seldom  more  than  40  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  7  to  10  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  free  of  branches  up  to  18  feet.  Twigs  dark  chocolate 
brown,  glabrous.  Bark  pale  pinkish  or  reddish  brown;  inner  bark 
woolly.  Flowers  white;  January-February. — Common  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Tarapoto  in  fairly  dense  growth  (alt.  1,400  ft.),  and  moderately 
abundant  around  San  Roque  (alt.  3,500  ft.)  in  dense  forest. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown,  with  extensive  grayish 
areas  caused  by  stain,  and  sometimes  with  dark  purplish  or  brown 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fairly  coarse-  or 
decidedly  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut; 
checks  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present 
owing  to  tendency  of  pores  to  be  arranged  in  concentric  zones. 
Parenchyma  in  continuous  or  broken,  coarse  or  fine,  whitish,  con- 
centric bands,  sometimes  irregularly  spaced.  Pores  of  fairly  small 
or  medium  size  and  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous,  diffuse-  or 
ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  seldom  in  small 
clusters.  Rays  fairly  fine  or  moderately  broad  on  cross  section; 
fairly  distinct  at  times  on  tangential;  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6019,  6022,  6544;  San  Roque,  7082. 


88    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

12.    PEREBEA  Aubl. 

Perebea  Ghimiqua  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  63.  1931. 
Chimiqua,  Siparuna. 

Tree,  approximately  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  round,  slender,  and  branching  almost  from  the  base.  Bark 
pale  grayish  brown,  with  numerous  small  brown  lenticels.  Fruit 
round,  small,  red  when  mature,  and  edible;  September-October.— 
Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of  forest  and  in  old  clearings 
(alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  has  no  local  application. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pale  reddish  brown;  heartwood  darker 
pinkish  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
wavy-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
fairly  easy  to  cut;  checks  in  drying;  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying; 
fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  aliform,  or  sometimes  confluent;  of  lighter  color  than 
background  and  readily  visible  on  moistened  cross  surface.  Pores 
barely  visible  without  lens;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary 
and  infrequently  in  small  radial  multiples  or  clusters;  open.  Vessel 
lines  appear  as  fine  scratches  and  are  distinguishable  owing  to 
parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  fairly  broad;  visible  without  lens  on 
cross  and  tangential  sections;  of  darker  color  than  background  and 
rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  3-5  cells  wide  and  few  to  100  cells  high. 
Wood  fibers  thin-walled,  often  septate. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3412. 

13.    POUROUMA  Aubl. 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees,  fairly  common  in  some  localities  in 
old  clearings.  The  foliage  is  similar  to  that  of  Cecropia,  but  the  leaves 
are  grayish  rather  than  white  beneath.  Wood  white  with  pale  gray 
or  brownish  streaks;  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal, sometimes  aliform  or  confluent,  and  occasionally  termi- 
nal. Pores  large;  few,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  infrequently  in 
radial  or  diagonal  multiples  of  2;  open.  Rays  fairly  broad  on  cross 
section;  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Timber  is  not  used  locally  except 
for  kindling. 

Pourouma  cecropiaefolia  Mart.  Reise  Bras.  3: 1130. 1831;  Miq. 
in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  4,  pt.  1: 123. 1853.  Uvilla. 

Tree,  about  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  bifurcated 
near  the  base;  the  larger  limb  straight,  round,  and  about  8  inches  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  89 

diameter.     Fruit  ovoid,  in  clusters,  black  when  mature;  October- 
November. — Not  common;  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  (alt.  550  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  white  throughout  with  occasional  fine  veining  of 
the  dark  vessel  lines;  straight-grained;  not  as  fibrous  as  P.  Ulei. 
Growth  rings  sometimes  present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  ali- 
form, sometimes  uniting  the  pores,  and  in  fairly  continuous,  con- 
centric bands  indicating  limitation  of  growth  rings;  more  prominent 
than  in  P.  Ulei.  Pores  somewhat  larger  than  in  the  last-named 
species;  mostly  solitary,  also  in  small  radial  or  diagonal  multiples. 
Vessel  lines  coarse  and  long.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision,  but  not  promi- 
nent, on  cross  section;  visible  also  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 
Pith  white,  about  0.5  inch  in  diameter. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3347. 

Pourouma  Ulei  Warb.  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  132.  1907.  Sacha-uvilla, 
Uvilla. 

Tree,  35  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  open,  almost  flat,  or  round. 
Trunk  cylindrical,  straight  or  moderately  straight,  up  to  12  inches  in 
diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  12  to  15  feet.  Bark  very  thin,  grayish 
brown,  with  coarse,  shallow,  rounded  ridges,  occasionally  horizontally 
disposed;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Fruit  round,  black  when  mature,  and 
edible;  October-November. — Not  common;  in  dry  loam  in  clearings 
or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  550  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  throughout  with  occasional  dark  brown 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  saws  woolly  and 
takes  a  lustrous  finish.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing  to 
some  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores 
and  at  times  in  short,  tangential  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  multiples.  Vessel  lines  appear  as 
long  scratches;  at  times  filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  numerous  and 
rather  fine  on  cross  section;  barely  visible  without  lens  on  radial 
surface;  distinctly  heterogeneous.  Pith  white,  up  to  0.75  inch  in 
diameter,  and  septate. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  3984,  4627. 

14.    PSEUDOLMEDIA  Tre"cul 

Small  or  large  trees.  Leaves  leathery,  oblong  or  lanceolate, 
entire,  glabrous  or  nearly  so.  Flowers  dioecious,  the  staminate  in 
sessile,  axillary  heads,  the  pistillate  solitary.  Fruit  small,  ovoid, 
subtended  by  the  broad  persistent  bracts.  Timber  is  used  for  canoes 
and  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 


90    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sap  wood  whitish  or  pale  pink  with  grayish  cast;  heartwood  deep 
pinkish  or  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or 
taste;  coarse- textured;  fairly  light  or  moderately  heavy;  does  not 
take  a  very  smooth  finish;  fairly  durable  or  durable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  aliform,  and  in  broken  tangential  bands  uniting  the  pores. 
Pores  of  medium  size  or  large;  not  numerous  to  numerous  and  diffuse; 
solitary  or  less  frequently  in  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  fairly 
fine  and  sometimes  wavy  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Pseudolmedia  multinervis  Mildbr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
10:  189.  1927.  Itauba  amarilla. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  140  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  round,  15  to  32  inches  in  diameter,  clear 
of  limbs  for  two-thirds  the  entire  height  and  with  large  surface  roots. 
Bark  and  heartwood  yield  a  copious  quantity  of  bitter,  yellowish 
resin. — Not  common;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  550  ft.).  Tim- 
ber is  esteemed  for  canoes  and  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Sap  wood  yellowish  brown  with  extensive  grayish  tinge;  heart- 
wood  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  sometimes  perishable.  Wood  straight- 
or  slightly  wavy-grained ;  of  medium  weight  and  strong;  not  difficult  to 
work  and  holds  its  place  well;  susceptible  to  stain.  Growth  rings 
present,  but  poorly  defined ;  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth 
of  color.  Parenchyma  paratracheal.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly 
numerous,  well-scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse,  of  light  brown 
color;  often  filled  with  black  gummy  deposit.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  section;  sometimes  slightly  darker  than  background  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  1*379. 

Pseudolmedia  sp.  Loro-micunan.  Tree,  up  to  60  feet  in  height. 
Crown  round.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  up  to  45  inches  in  diameter, 
unbranched  for  20  feet,  and  with  low  buttresses.  Bark  up  to  0.5 
inch  thick,  dark  brown,  scaly,  and  yields  a  copious  quantity  of  slightly 
bitter,  pale  yellow  latex,  known  locally  as  "caucho-mashan,"  which 
is  used  to  adulterate  balata.  The  balata  gatherers  maintain 
that  by  the  addition  of  this  latex  the  consistency  of  balata  is  im- 
proved. Flowers  small,  yellow.  Fruit  small,  round,  green  when 
mature;  June- July. — Not  common;  in  dense  forest  in  "alturas" 
(alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  grayish  or  black  streaks;  straight-grained; 
of  medium  weight ;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  dull  finish.  Growth 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  91 

rings  sometimes  present.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores  and 
in  fine,  irregular,  tangential  bands  uniting  them.  Pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  in  short  radial 
multiples,  or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fairly  coarse, 
but  not  conspicuous;  often  filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  moderately 
fine;  sometimes  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  of  light  brown  color  and  distinct  on  radial. 

Loreto :  upper  Nanay,  91 4. 

15.    SOROCEA  A.  St.  Hil. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  fairly  common  in  both  the  lowland  and 
upland  in  second  growth  or  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest. 
Timber  is  not  used  locally.  Wood  pale  white  or  yellowish  to  pinkish 
or  dark  brown,  often  with  pale  or  dark  gray  areas,  caused  by  stain; 
fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight; 
brittle,  not  difficult  to  work;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
indistinct,  and  in  fairly  fine  or  broad,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of 
medium  size;  not  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  less 
frequently  in  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Rays  moderately  fine  on 
cross  section;  occasionally  visible  without  lens  on  radial. 

Sorocea  Briquetii  Macbr.  Candollea  4:  311.  1931. 

Tall  shrub.  Crown  dense  and  open.  Trunk  slender  and  un- 
branched  for  about  3  feet.  Bark  grayish  or  light  brown,  scaly,  and 
with  lighter  brown  lenticels;  wood  beneath  bark  dark  brown.  Fruit 
ovoid,  green,  and  clustered;  January-February. — Fairly  common;  in 
sandy  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  secondary  growth  (alt. 
1,500  ft.). 

Sap  wood  white  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown,  perish- 
able. Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-tex- 
tured; of  light  or  medium  weight,  strong,  and  tough;  susceptible  to 
insects.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  sur- 
rounding the  pores  and  in  wavy,  continuous,  concentric  bands; 
readily  visible  on  moistened  cross  section.  Pores  small;  not  numer- 
ous, have  a  tendency  to  concentric  arrangement;  in  radial  multiples 
or  solitary;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  discernible  to 
unaided  eye  on  account  of  brown  gum  frequently  present.  Rays 
numerous,  fine,  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangen- 
tial sections;  slightly  darker  than  background  and  discernible  to 
unaided  eye  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto,  6803. 


92    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sorocea  hirtella  Mildbr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10:  183. 
1927. 

Shrub,  about  12  feet  tall,  with  many  branches.  Trunk  dividing 
from  the  base.  Bark  yellow  or  pale  brown  and  with  coarse  lenticels. 
Flowers  small,  paniculate.  Drupe  subround  or  ovoid,  and  clustered. 
—Not  common;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
400  ft.). 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  yellowish  brown  with  extensive  grayish 
areas;  heartwood  dark  brown  and  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-textured;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  not  difficult  to  cut  and  takes  a  fairly 
smooth  finish;  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  visible  to  aided  eye  on  moistened 
cross  section  as  irregular,  white,  concentric  bands.  Pores  small;  few 
and  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  small  radial  multiples,  and  less  fre- 
quently in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine,  rather  long,  and  of  darker 
color  than  background.  Rays  fine,  of  lighter  color  than  fibers,  and 
faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  distinguishable  to 
aided  eye  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2092. 

Sorocea  muriculata  Miq.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  4,  pt.  1 : 113.  1853. 

Small  shrub,  4  or  5  feet  in  height.  Bark  yellowish  or  pale 
brown  and  with  small  lenticels.  Fruit  small,  round,  brown,  with  a 
bluish  cast;  March- April. — Not  common;  along  edge  of  path  and 
forming  undergrowth  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  yellow,  with  extensive  grayish  streaks; 
straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm.  Growth 
rings  absent.  Parenchyma  visible  to  unaided  eye.  Pores  small; 
few  and  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5.  Vessel  lines 
fine,  long,  and  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements.  Rays  slightly 
darker  than  background  and  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  8010. 

Sorocea  opima  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  64.  1931. 

Shrub,  about  12  feet  tall,  with  many  branches.  Trunk  short 
and  slender.  Bark  yellowish  or  pale  brown  with  a  light  greenish  cast, 
and  small,  scattered  lenticels;  secretes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of 
bitter,  light  brown  resin.  Fruit  pale  red,  clustered;  June-July.— 
Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  93 

Sapwood  white  or  pale  yellow  when  fresh,  yellowish  brown  or 
light  gray  when  dried;  heartwood  pale  brown,  thin,  and  not 
distinctly  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  light  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  but  not 
difficult  to  cut.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abun- 
dance of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  readily  discernible  to  unaided 
eye  as  broad  concentric  bands.  Pores  small,  but  visible  with  lens; 
few.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  fairly  discernible  to  unaided  eye.  Rays 
of  light  color  on  transverse  section;  faintly  distinguishable  without 
lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2357. 

16.    TROPHIS  L. 

Unarmed  trees.  Leaves  entire  or  dentate  and  deciduous  or 
persistent;  sometimes  used  for  fodder.  Flowers  dioecious,  the 
staminate  in  long,  slender  catkins,  the  pistillate  in  spikes  or  racemes. 
Fruit  a  small  drupe  with  scant  flesh  and  containing  a  single  seed. 

Sapwood  white  to  pinkish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown 
or  almost  black.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured;  of  medium  density  to  heavy;  inclined  at  times  to  be  fibrous, 
not  difficult  to  work;  fairly  durable  to  durable.  Parenchyma  in 
continuous  or  broken,  tangential  or  oblique  bands,  rather  few  to 
numerous,  and  irregularly  spaced,  uniting  the  pores  and  often  sur- 
rounding them.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  to  fairly  numer- 
ous and  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  multiples; 
open  or  closed.  Rays  moderately  fine  to  rather  broad  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  3-5  cells 
wide;  gum  abundant  in  ray  cells. 

Trophis  americana  L.,  var.  meridionalis  Bur.,  ined. 

Forest  tree,  from  36  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  a  few  feet  from  the 
base.  Bark  grayish  and  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  short-stalked,  sub- 
leathery,  smooth,  entire  or  finely  dentate,  long-acuminate  at  apex. 
Fruit  small,  subround;  October-November. — Not  common;  in  fairly 
dense  growth  free  from  periodical  inundations  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  white  throughout  when  fresh,  in  dried  material  light  brown 
with  pale  yellowish  streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless,  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  harder,  firmer,  and  more  brittle  than  T.  racemosa; 
not  difficult  to  work,  capable  of  taking  a  fairly  smooth  finish  with  a 


94    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

moderate  luster;  checks  in  drying;  appears  to  be  durable  and  immune 
to  stain.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  uniting  the  pores  in  numerous,  broken 
or  continuous,  concentric  bands,  of  lighter  color  than  background, 
and  readily  distinguishable  on  moistened  surface.  Pores  of  medium 
size;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-5,  seldom  tangentially  disposed;  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as 
fairly  long,  distinct  scratches  of  same  color  as  background,  but  visible 
when  held  to  proper  light.  Rays  numerous,  of  same  color  as  but  finer 
than  parenchyma  bands,  and  readily  discernible  with  lens  on  cross  sec- 
tion; faintly  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  tangential 
and  radial. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5243. 

Trophis  racemosa  (L.)  Urb.  Symb.  Antill.  4:  195.  1905.  Cu- 
chara-caspi,  Sinchi-caspi,  Urpai-manchinga. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  undivided  up  to  7  feet.  Bark 
grayish  or  lavender-colored,  with  deep  yellowish  brown  incrustations, 
and  secretes  when  cut  a  fair  quantity  of  viscid,  insipid  latex. 
Leaves  alternate,  entire  or  slightly  serrate,  smooth,  and  leathery  or 
moderately  so.  Flowers  dioecious,  in  small  heads,  and  axillary. 
Fruit  a  small  achene,  deep  brown  when  mature.— Widely  distributed 
in  the  lowland  and  sometimes  encountered  in  the  highland  (up  to 
1,300  ft.  alt.);  usually  in  dry  medium  loam  along  edge  of  paths 
and  in  fairly  dense  growth. 

Sap  wood  variable  in  color  from  pale  yellow  to  deep  brown, 
usually  streaked,  and  with  extensive  grayish  areas  caused  by  sap- 
stain;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  fairly  straight-grained;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured ;  light 
to  fairly  heavy;  slightly  fibrous,  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish  with  a 
moderate  to  high  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma, 
which  is  in  numerous,  wavy,  broken  or  continuous,  closely  spaced, 
concentric  bands,  almost  white  in  color  and  readily  discernible. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  few;  solitary  or  in  radial  rows  of  2-4. 
Vessel  lines  fairly  fine  and  slightly  darker  than  background.  Rays 
fine,  numerous,  of  same  color  as  parenchyma  bands,  and  visible  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  dark  or  almost  black  and  distinguishable  to 
aided  eye  on  tangential;  indistinct  on  radial.  Pith  canary  yellow, 
narrow. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  95 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  201;  Caballo-cocha,  2086(1);  lower  Hua- 
llaga,  4658. — San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  6573. 

17.    TRYMATOCOCCUS  Poepp.  &  Endl. 

Trymatococcus  amazonicus  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp. 
2:  30.  pi  142.  1838. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  from  20  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading;  lateral  branches  elongate  and  pendent.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  either  branching  from  the 
base  or  undivided  up  to  12  feet.  Bark  grayish  brown  or  chocolate- 
colored,  with  small  excrescences  or  numerous  small  fissures. — Common 
throughout  the  lowland;  in  dry  medium  loam  along  margin  of 
dense  growth  and  in  open  patches  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400-500 
ft). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  when  fresh,  turning  to  pale  or  medium  brown 
after  long  exposure;  some  specimens  have  pinkish  red  or  grayish 
streaks;  heartwood  dark  purple  and  perishable.  Wood  sometimes 
slightly  fragrant,  but  tasteless;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
finish ;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present 
owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in  association  with 
and  filling  the  pores,  also  aliform,  and  sometimes  confluent  (in  No. 
2965,  labeled  T.  amazonicus,  but  which  is  doubtful,  parenchyma  is  in 
conspicuous,  pale  yellow,  broken  or  continuous,  wavy,  concentric 
bands).  Pores  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous,  well  scattered; 
solitary;  closed.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  slightly  darker  than 
background  on  account  of  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  fine,  numerous, 
and  visible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces.  Pith  yellowish  or  grayish 
white  and  narrow. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1882;  La  Victoria,  2965(1};  near  Iquitos,  3735, 
3767;  near  Yurimaguas,  3875,  4525. 

URTICACEAE.     Nettle  Family 

Small  trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs,  often  armed  with  stinging  hairs. 
Leaves  alternate  or  opposite,  entire  or  toothed,  often  with  pale, 
linear  or  dot-like  cystoliths.  Flowers  small,  greenish,  usually  of 
separate  sexes,  without  petals.  Fruit  small,  1-seeded,  dry  or 
fleshy.  Their  timbers  have  no  local  value. 

Woods  pale  white  or  cream-colored,  darkening  on  exposure,  and 
stain  readily  in  drying;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  reddish 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  or  coarse-textured; 


96    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

light  in  weight  and  soft  or  moderately  firm ;  often  fibrous  and  requires 
a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Some  of  the 
woods  are  of  unusual  interest  because  of  the  presence  of  island  type  of 
included  phloem,  for  example,  in  Myriocarpa  and  Urera.  Paren- 
chyma sparsely  developed;  paratracheal  and  indistinct  with  lens. 
Pores  fairly  small  or  large;  not  numerous  and  usually  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Rays  broad  on  cross 
section;  most  often  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  to  con- 
spicuous on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  often 
large,  elongated,  irregularly  disposed,  and  bordered;  vessel-ray  pits 
simple  or  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  up  to  15  cells  wide 
and  few  to  50  cells  or  more  high;  cells  often  elongated  vertically. 
Wood  fibers  fairly  thin-walled. 

1.    BOEHMERIA  Jacq. 

Boehmeria  pallida  (Rusby)  Killip,  Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci. 
21:  347.  1931. 

Small  tree,  seldom  more  than  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  slender,  cylindrical,  often  inclined,  and  branching  from  near 
the  base.  Leaves  petiolate,  narrowly  ovate  or  lanceolate,  dentate, 
acuminate,  acute  at  base.  Flowers  greenish.  Fruit  a  small  achene. 
— Abundant;  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  and  in  abandoned  land 
(alt.  1,400  ft.);  reported  in  the  highland  at  La  Merced,  Department 
of  Junin  (alt.  2,200  ft.),  among  thickets,  and  in  the  Department  of 
Ayacucho  (alt.  3,000  ft.),  in  open  woods. 

Sap  wood  highly  lustrous,  variable  from  pale  pink  to  grayish 
owing  to  sapstain,  and  darkening  to  pale  brown  on  exposure;  heart- 
wood  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  taste- 
less; straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  light,  but  firm;  fibrous,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  moderately 
smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  variation  in  color  and  arrangement  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  not  numerous 
and  show  a  tendency  to  crowd;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3,  rarely  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  short  or  fairly 
short,  dark  scratches.  Rays  fairly  broad  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross 
section;  distinguishable  on  tangential;  producing  a  silver  grain 
on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous;  3-4  cells  wide;  cells  elongated 
vertically. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5772. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  97 

2.    MYRIOCARPA  Benth. 

Myriocarpa  densiflora  Benth.  Bot.  Voy.  Sulph.  169.  1844. 
Ishanga. 

Tree,  about  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  slender,  and  branching  from  near  the  base  or  clear  of 
limbs  up  to  15  feet.  Bark  dark  purplish  brown,  with  low,  short 
ridges.  Leaves  armed  with  grayish,  stinging  hairs.  Flowers  white 
or  greenish  white,  minute,  long-pedicellate,  and  axillary;  December- 
January.  Fruit  a  small  achene. — Fairly  common;  in  humid  loam  in 
clearings  and  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.);  reported 
also  in  dense  forest  in  the  Paucartambo  Valley  (alt.  2,300  ft.),  at 
La  Merced,  and  near  Pampayaco,  Department  of  Huanuco.  Tim- 
ber is  employed  for  kindling. 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  yellowish  brown  to  dark  gray,  often 
with  lighter-colored  to  dark  purplish  brown  streaks,  caused  by  sap- 
stain;  heartwood  pinkish  brown,  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  very  coarse- textured ;  light 
or  moderately  light  in  weight,  firm,  and  brittle;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small  to  large;  not  numerous,  well  distrib- 
uted; solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom 
tangentially  disposed;  open  or  sometimes  closed.  Vessel  lines  long 
and  conspicuous  owing  to  their  darker  color  than  background.  Rays 
broad  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  on 
radial.  Included  phloem,  of  island  type,  comprises  about  half  the 
area  on  cross  section. 

Intervascular  pits  large,  irregularly  disposed;  vessel-ray  pits 
bordered  or  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  414- — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6145;  6576. 

3.    URERA  Gaud. 

Urera  caracasana  (Jacq.)  Gaud,  ex  Griseb.  Fl.  Brit.  W.  Ind. 
154.  1859.  Ishanga  blanca,  Ishanga  del  agua. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  up  to  10  inches  in  diameter, 
and  unbranched  for  10  feet.  Bark  purplish  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  wood  beneath  bark  has  a  reddish  pink  cast.  Leaves  alter- 
nate, long-stalked,  toothed;  an  infusion  obtained  by  boiling  the 
leaves  is  said  to  be  used  in  native  medicine.  Flowers  small,  greenish, 


98    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

in  axillary  panicles.  Achene  surrounded  by  the  fleshy,  enlarged 
calyx,  the  whole  resembling  a  juicy  fruit,  bright  red  when  mature. 
— Very  common  throughout  the  lowland;  in  sandy  or  dry  medium 
loam  in  thickets  or  along  margin  of  forest. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  with  purplish  and  dark  gray  patches; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium  -  textured ;  very 
light  or  fairly  light  in  weight;  very  difficult  to  cut  smoothly  across 
grain  and  does  not  take  a  smooth  finish;  perishable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size;  not 
numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3, 
less  often  tangentially  disposed  and  in  small  clusters;  open  or  filled 
with  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  coarse  and  long.  Rays  fairly  broad 
and  slightly  lighter-colored  than  fibers  on  cross  section;  fairly  dis- 
tinct on  radial  and  sometimes  on  tangential;  up  to  15  cells  wide 
and  50  cells  or  more  high.  Ripple  marks  present,  not  very  distinct; 
not  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  112. 

Intervascular  pits  large,  with  ellipsoid  margins;  vessel-ray  pits 
simple.  Rays  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4288,  4796,  4945;  herbarium  material 
collected  also  in  the  lower,  middle,  and  upper  Nanay,  at  Pebas,  and 
La  Victoria. 

Urera  caracasana  var.  Miquelii  Wedd.  ex  DC.  Prodr.  16, 
pt.  1:  90.  1869.  Ishanga. 

Small  tree,  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  3  feet.  An  in- 
fusion obtained  by  boiling  the  leaves  is  said  to  be  used  as  a  remedy 
for  fevers. — In  dry  loam  in  abandoned  land  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Loreto:  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4308. 

PROTEACEAE.    Protea  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate,  opposite  or  verticillate,  simple 
or  compound,  entire  or  dentate,  and  without  stipules.  Flowers  in 
axillary  or  terminal  racemes,  spikes,  or  heads.  Fruit  a  capsule  or 
drupe,  dehiscent  or  indehiscent. 

The  woods  are  oatmeal-colored,  yellowish  to  pale  pinkish  brown 
with  a  grayish  hue,  often  with  darker  markings  of  rays;  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined  and  darker  brown ;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly 
fine-  to  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy;  not  very 
easy  to  work;  mostly  durable,  often  exhibiting  considerable  beauty. 


99 

The  woods  are  characterized  by  conspicuously  broad  oak-like  rays 
which  show  on  the  tangential  surface  as  spindle-shaped  masses. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed ;  in  tangential  lines  extending  in 
hammock-like  arrangement  between  the  rays,  also  paratracheal, 
aliform,  or  confluent.  Pores  fairly  small  to  rather  large;  not  numer- 
ous, diffuse-  or  in  Panopsis  showing  a  tendency  to  ring-porous,  and 
often  associated  with  parenchyma  in  concentric  bands  or  in  scallops; 
solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in  rows  or  small  clusters;  lustrous 
ty loses  common.  Oil  cells  appear  to  be  present  in  the  rays  in  Em- 
bothrium  and  Roupala.  The  woods  of  this  family  suggest  the 
Dilleniaceae,  but  differ  from  this  group  in  the  characteristic  arrange- 
ment of  the  parenchyma  and  pores. 

Vessel  perforations  are  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits 
often  small,  crowded,  with  anastomosing  apertures;  vessel-paren- 
chyma pits  very  small,  half-bordered.  Rays  mostly  homogeneous; 
up  to  10  cells  or  more  wide.  Wood  fibers  thick- walled ;  pits  with 
circular  borders  and  slit-like  apertures. 

1.    EMBOTHRIUM  Forst. 

Embothrium  Weberbaueri  Perk.  Bot.  Jahrb.  45:  434.  1911. 

Shrub,  12  or  15  feet  in  height.  Bark  thin  or  moderately  so,  dark 
greenish  brown,  and  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  simple,  alternate,  ovate 
or  elliptic,  acute  at  base,  blunt  or  acuminate  at  apex,  nearly  glabrous, 
and  with  slender  petiole.  Flowers  racemose,  long,  and  slender. 
Fruit  dark  brown  or  almost  black;  February-March. — Fairly  com- 
mon; in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  pink,  with  darker  markings  of 
rays;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-  and 
uniform-textured;  moderately  light  in  weight,  but  strong;  fairly 
or  highly  lustrous  when  held  to  proper  light.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous, 
undulating,  fairly  fine,  evenly  spaced  lines  or  bands  extending 
hammock-like  between  the  rays  and  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  fairly 
small  or  medium-sized ;  not  numerous  and  show  tendency  to  tangen- 
tial alinement;  solitary,  but  mostly  in  tangential  multiples  or  rows 
of  2-5,  infrequently  in  small  diagonal  or  radial  multiples  or  in  small 
clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  short  or  long,  visible,  but  not 
distinct,  to  unaided  eye,  and  slightly  darker  than  background.  Rays 
very  distinct  or  conspicuous  on  all  surfaces;  heterogeneous.  Oil 
cells  appear  to  be  present  in  rays. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7320. 


100  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

2.  PANOPSIS  Salisb. 

Panopsis  rubescens  Ducke,  var.  simulates  Macbr.  Field  Mus. 
Bot.  11:  67.  1931. 

Straggly  tree,  about  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
fairly  round  and  5  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  about  0.25  inch 
thick,  pinkish  or  reddish  brown,  scaly,  and  when  cut  exudes  an 
abundance  of  insipid,  red  resin.  Leaves  simple,  entire,  coriaceous, 
pinnate-nerved.  Flowers  golden  brown,  in  racemes;  May- June. 
Fruit  nut-like,  with  a  thick,  woody  pericarp,  1-seeded. — Uncommon; 
aquatic  or  in  dense  forest  in  the  vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  reddish  brown,  sometimes  with  short 
black  streaks,  and  not  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  straight-grained;  medium-  or  moder- 
ately coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight;  harsh,  rather  fibrous,  not 
easy  to  cut,  and  does  not  take  a  smooth  finish ;  very  durable.  Growth 
rings  apparently  absent.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous, 
wavy  lines  extending  hammock-like  from  ray  to  ray.  Pores  of 
medium  size  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens,  or  large  and  readily 
visible  to  unaided  eye;  not  numerous,  well  scattered  or  showing 
tendency  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  tangential  multiples.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  but  discernible  without 
lens;  tyloses  sometimes  present.  Rays  large  and  conspicuous  on 
all  sections;  lighter  in  color  than  fibers  on  cross  section,  but  darker 
on  other  surfaces,  producing  an  oak-like  figure  on  radial  surface; 
homogeneous;  10  cells  or  more  wide. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  Timbuchi,  1044;  Manfinfa,  1121. 

3.  ROUPALA  Aubl. 

Leaves  alternate,  simple  or  pinnate,  entire  or  dentate,  petiolate. 
Flowers  hermaphrodite.  Capsule  2-seeded. 

Wood  white  when  fresh,  but  turns  to  pinkish  brown,  with  a 
grayish  cast,  on  exposure  to  sunlight;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- 
textured;  very  heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  not  easy  to  work;  highly 
durable  and  is  employed  for  exposed  construction.  Parenchyma 
abundantly  developed  and  distinct;  in  tangential  lines  or  fine  bands 
between  the  rays  and  often  enveloping  the  pores.  Pores  fairly  small 
to  medium-sized;  moderately  numerous;  in  tangential  multiples, 
rarely  solitary  or  in  clusters,  attached  to  the  "under"  side  of  the 
parenchyma  lines;  mostly  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses.  Rays  con- 
spicuous on  all  surfaces;  oil  cells  common  in  ray  cells  on  radial 
surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  101 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  minute, 
crowded,  and  with  anastomosing  apertures.  Fibers  thick-walled; 
pits  small,  with  slit-like  apertures. 

Roupala  complicata  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  153.  1817. 
Ingaina. 

Glabrous  tree,  about  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  17  feet.  Bark  reddish 
brown  and  scaly.  Leaves  ovate,  long-attenuate  or  -acuminate, 
glabrous.  Flowers  with  greenish  white  sepals  and  white  petals; 
January-February. — Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  among  low  trees 
and  shrubs  of  secondary  growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

San  Martin:  Morales,  near  Tarapoto,  5703. 

Roupala  Dielsii  Macbr.  Field  Mas.  Bot.  11:  65.  1931. 

Tall  forest  tree,  from  70  to  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading 
or  pyramidal.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  12  to  18  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  unbranched  for  15  feet.  Bark  about  0.25  inch  thick, 
pinkish  or  reddish  brown,  and  scaly;  inner  bark  with  numerous, 
short,  sharp  ridges,  with  corresponding  depressions  on  the  wood 
surface  beneath  the  bark.  Leaves  membranaceous  and  serrate. 
Flowers  small,  in  slender  lateral  spikes;  April-May. — Uncommon; 
in  dense,  periodically  inundated  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  em- 
ployed for  general  carpentry  and  uses  requiring  durability  and 
strength. 

Wood  when  freshly  cut  almost  white,  when  dried  pinkish  brown 
with  grayish  cast  and  brown  markings  of  rays  and  occasional  pur- 
plish brown  areas,  and  with  no  clear  demarcation  between  sap 
and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  wavy-grained; 
medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  very  heavy,  hard,  and  compact; 
difficult  to  work  and  does  not  take  a  smooth  finish ;  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  fairly  regularly 
spaced,  wavy  lines  or  bands  extending  between  the  rays  and  some- 
times enveloping  the  pores;  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  longitudi- 
nal surfaces.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized;  fairly  numerous  and  at 
times  crowded ;  mostly  in  tangential  multiples  of  2-4,  less  frequently 
solitary;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  visible  on  account  of  grayish 
white  or  pale  yellow  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  broad  and  con- 
spicuous on  cross  section;  prominent  on  tangential;  high  and  pro- 
ducing a  conspicuous  and  characteristic  oak-like  figure  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  114- 


102  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

OLACACEAE.     Olax  Family 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small  or  medium-sized,  borne  singly  or  in  clusters  in  the 
leaf  axils.  Fruit  a  drupe.  The  timbers  are  of  little  economic 
importance. 

Woods  white  or  pale  yellowish,  often  with  a  bluish  gray  stain,  to 
variegated  pale  brown;  heartwood  light  to  dark  brown.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  to  fairly  coarse- textured ;  mostly  of 
medium  density  to  fairly  heavy  or  heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  inclined 
to  be  fibrous,  but  easy  to  cut;  some  of  the  Heisteria  species  are  durable. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  broken  or  continuous,  tangential  or  con- 
centric bands  or  lines;  in  Aptandra  and  Liriosma  producing  a  hoary 
effect  when  seen  under  lens.  Pores  fairly  small  or  rather  large; 
moderately  numerous  or  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary,  in 
multiples,  or  in  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fairly  fine  (seldom  moder- 
ately broad  in  Liriosma),  numerous,  and  wavy  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface 
in  Heisteria;  brown  specks  of  gum  abundant  in  ray  cells,  especially 
on  radial  surface,  and  also  in  pith. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple  or  scalariform;  vessel-ray  pits 
often  very  large,  rounded  or  elongated,  simple  to  half-bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  multiseriate.  Wood  fibers  often  thick-walled 
and  with  inconspicuous,  simple  pits. 

1.    APTANDRA  Miers 

Aptandra  Spruceana  Miers,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  II.  7: 
202.  1851.  Pamashto,  Trompo-huayo. 

Tree,  40  to  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round  or  moderately  so,  10  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  either 
branching  a  few  feet  from  the  ground  or  undivided  up  to  40  feet. 
Bark  pale  gray  or  dark  brown  with  small,  darker-colored  lenticels. 
Flowers  small,  pale  yellow  or  white;  July-September.  Fruit  ovoid, 
yellow  and  edible  when  mature. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt. 
400-500  ft.);  in  open  dry  loam  or  among  trees  of  second  growth, 
occasionally  in  forest  in  humid  loam  or  adjacent  to  streams. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  with  extensive  dark  gray  areas;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  fairly  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-textured; 
of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a 
smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  short  lines,  extending 
tangentially  or  diagonally  between  the  rays;  of  lighter  color  than 


103 

adjacent  elements  and  producing  a  hoary  effect  when  seen  under 
lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous,  well 
distributed;  solitary,  but  more  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples 
or  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct  to  readily  discernible  owing  to 
black  gum  present.  Rays  fairly  fine,  numerous,  closely  spaced,  and 
sinuous  on  cross  section;  visible  also  with  lens  on  other  surfaces; 
heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  -4550,  4798. 

2.    HEISTERIA  Jacq. 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees  or  shrubs  in  which  the  calyx  is 
enlarged  and  red  in  fruit.  Very  common  throughout  the  lowland 
and  occasionally  in  the  upland.  Timber  is  little  used  locally  except 
for  kindling. 

Sapwood  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  pale  brown,  often  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  heartwood  pale  to  dark  brown  and  often  susceptible  to  termite 
attacks.  Wood  fairly  fine-textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  very  heavy, 
hard,  compact,  and  durable;  fairly  easy  to  work.  Parenchyma 
metatracheal ;  in  evenly  or  unevenly  spaced,  broken  or  continuous, 
concentric  bands  and  in  fine,  often  indistinct,  irregular,  tangential  or 
oblique  lines.  Rays  fairly  fine,  numerous,  and  sinuous  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial 
surface. 

Heisteria  cauliflora  Smith  in  Rees,  Cycl.  17.  No.  2.  1802-20. 
Huangana-caspi,  Huapapa-caspi,  Platina-caspi. 

Small  tree,  10  to  25,  at  times  up  to  40  or  50,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  slender, 
and  unbranched  for  6  to  22  feet.  Bark  light  tan,  dark  chocolate 
brown,  or  almost  black,  and  with  rather  coarse  lenticels.  Flowers 
pale  red  with  white  stamens;  March-May.  Fruit  round  or  sub- 
round,  pale  yellow;  October-December. — Very  common  throughout 
the  lowland  (alt.  400  ft.) ;  in  old  clearings,  sometimes  forming  under- 
growth in  dense  forest,  and  often  in  humid,  heavy  loam  adjacent  to 
streams. 

Sapwood  pale  brown;  heartwood  medium  or  dark  brown.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy;  moderately  easy  to 
work  and  holds  its  color  well ;  immune  to  stain,  but  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  some  differences 
in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in  extremely  numerous,  fine,  tangen- 


104  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

tial  or  diagonal  lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  barely  visible 
with  lens  on  moistened  surface.  Pores  fairly  small;  numerous, 
uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  sinuous, 
and  discernible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
barely  distinguishable  to  aided  eye  on  radial  surface;  small  brown 
specks  of  gum  common  in  cells,  especially  on  radial  section.  Pith 
yellowish  brown  and  with  scarlet  globules  of  gum. 

Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous;  multiseriate  and  very  high. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya  18,  25,  26;  lower  Nanay,  834,  836;  upper 
Nanay,  996,  1034;  La  Victoria,  2957;  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga> 
4161;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5191;  near  Iquitos,  8058. 

Heisteria  cyanocarpa  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  35. 
pi.  240.  1845. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  10  to  15,  at  times  up  to  30,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched 
up  to  8  feet.  Bark  muddy  gray  or  almost  black  and  fairly  smooth. 
Flowers  small,  white;  July-September.  Fruit  small,  round  or  ovoid, 
with  red,  persistent  calyx  cup. — Common  in  the  lower  Peruvian 
Amazon  region  (alt.  380  ft.) ;  in  open  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  low 
trees,  sometimes  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  or  medium  brown;  heartwood  dull  medium 
brown.  Wood  without  distinctive  odor,  but  sometimes  faintly 
bitter;  fairly  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  moderately  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  easy  to  cut;  checks  in  drying;  appears  to  be 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  variation  in 
abundance  of  parenchyma,  the  last  barely  visible  with  lens.  Pores 
small;  rather  numerous;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2-3  or  more.  Rays  of  lighter  color  than  background  and 
sometimes  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section; 
indistinct  or  visible  with  lens  on  moistened  radial  surface;  small 
dark  brown  specks  of  gum  present  in  cells  and  discernible  under  lens 
on  radial  section.  Pith  yellowish  brown  and  with  abundant  globules 
of  dark  brown  gum. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  86;  Pebas,  1572;  Caballo-cocha,  2038;  La 
Victoria,  2745,  2808,  2949,  3169. 

Heisteria  densifrons  Engler  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2:  17. 
1872.  Parinari. 

Tree,  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
slender,  and  unbranched  for  10  feet.  Bark  pale  chocolate  brown, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  105 

fairly  thin,  and  smooth.  Fruit  ovoid,  moderately  small;  July- 
August. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dry  loam  in  fairly  dense  forest 
clear  of  seasonal  floods  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pinkish  or  light  brown;  odorless,  but  has  a  slightly 
sweet  taste;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
heavy,  hard,  and  flinty;  inclined  to  be  splintery,  but  takes  a  fairly 
smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  immune  to  insects  and  stain  and  is 
probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  distinct;  visible 
owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma.  Pores  small ;  not 
numerous;  mostly  solitary.  Rays  discernible  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  faintly  visible  without  lens  in  proper  light  on  radial  sur- 
face; small,  pale  to  dark  brown  specks  of  gum  present  in  cells  on 
radial  section  and  distinguishable  with  lens. 

Loreto:  Paraiso,  upper  Itaya,  3379. 

Heisteria  pallida  Engler  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2:  16.  1872. 
Chuchuhuasha. 

Tree,  30  or  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  spreading.  Trunk 
straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  7  or  8  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  4  to  25  feet.  Bark  variable  in  color  from  pale  gray 
to  pinkish  or  medium  brown;  inner  bark  chocolate  brown.  Flowers 
small,  white;  December- January. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower 
Huallaga  and  most  abundant  in  the  region  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  400- 
1,500  ft.);  usually  in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  among  low  trees. 
The  bark  pared  from  the  roots  and  lower  part  of  the  trunk  is 
pulverized,  boiled  in  water,  and  the  resulting  infusion  is  reputed 
to  be  esteemed  locally  as  a  remedy  for  rheumatism  and  other 
muscular  pains. 

Sap  wood  pale  brown  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure;  heart- 
wood  medium  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
interwoven-grained ;  fine-  to  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy, 
rather  hard,  and  brittle;  not  very  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks,  but 
immune  to  stain,  and  appears  to  be  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
present  owing  to  alinement  of  parenchyma.  In  some  specimens, 
the  parenchyma  appears  as  fine,  broken  or  fairly  continuous,  con- 
centric bands,  of  lighter  color  than  the  adjacent  elements  and  faintly 
visible  without  lens,  in  others  as  numerous,  fine,  tangential  lines 
extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small ;  not  very  numerous;  mostly 
solitary.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  visible  to  aided  eye  on  cross  and 
radial  sections. 


106  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4924..— San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  5813,  5966,  6719. 

3.    LIRIOSMA  Poepp.  &  Endl. 

Tall  shrubs  with  whitish  or  pale  brown  wood,  often  stained 
dark  gray.  Wood  fine-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight; 
easy  to  cut;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  in  concentric  or  broken, 
tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  producing  a  hoary 
effect  when  seen  under  lens.  Pores  minute  or  small;  not  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  solitary;  open  or  closed.  Rays  moderately  fine 
or  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Liriosma  gracilis  A.  C.  Smith,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  91.  1931. 

Straggly  shrub,  up  to  10  feet  tall.  Bark  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Flowers  bright  yellow.  Fruit  ovoid, 
orange-yellow;  May-June. — In  sandy  loam  along  margin  of  dense 
forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  grayish  brown  with  long,  yellowish  white  streaks;  inter- 
locked-grained ;  fine-  and  uniform-textured;  dense  and  firm.  Growth 
rings  distinguishable  owing  to  some  variation  in  abundance  of 
parenchyma.  The  last  in  numerous,  fine,  irregular  lines,  produc- 
ing a  hoary  effect  on  cross  section.  Pores  minute.  Vessel  lines  in- 
distinguishable to  unaided  eye.  Rays  faintly  visible  without  lens 
on  cross  section ;  indistinguishable  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  659. 

Liriosma  Spruceana  Engler  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2:  24. 
1872. 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  open.  Trunk 
straight  and  slender. — Not  common ;  in  forest  free  from  seasonal  floods 
(alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  white  with  extensive  dark  gray  streaks 
caused  by  stain;  of  medium  weight;  slightly  coarser- textured  than 
L.  gracilis,  and  rays  somewhat  more  pronounced  on  cross  section 
than  in  the  last-named  species. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2532;  collected  also  in  the  lower  Huallaga. 

POLYGONACEAE.     Buckwheat  Family 

Trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  and  usually 
provided  with  sheathing  stipules  (ocreae).  Flowers  mostly  very 
small,  with  a  green  or  colored  perianth  of  4-6  segments.  Fruit  a 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  107 

compressed  or  3-angled  achene.  The  timbers  are  of  no  economic 
importance  and  are  little  used  locally. 

Sapwood  variegated  in  color  from  oatmeal  or  yellowish  to  pale 
pinkish  brown;  heartwood  pinkish,  reddish,  or  chocolate  brown. 
Wood  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  light  weight  to  rather  heavy; 
the  wood  of  Coccoloba  and  Triplaris  is  inclined  to  be  fibrous  or 
splintery,  easy  to  work,  not  durable,  and  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks,  while  that  of  Symmeria  is  very  durable,  not  easy  to  work,  and 
takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in 
fine  or  broad  and  distinct,  irregularly  spaced,  tangential  or  concentric 
bands,  sometimes  enveloping  the  pores.  Pores  small  to  rather  large; 
few  to  fairly  numerous  and  mostly  diffuse;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples,  infrequently  in  small  radial  rows  or  in  clusters.  Rays  on 
cross  section  fine  and  numerous  in  Coccoloba  and  Triplaris,  moderately 
broad  in  Symmeria  and  visible  also  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  to 
distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  com- 
paratively large,  elongate  or  screwhead  type;  vessel-ray  pits  half- 
bordered  with  transitions  to  simple.  Rays  mostly  homogeneous; 
1  or  2  cells  wide;  cells  sometimes  coarse  and  gummy.  Wood  fibers 
with  numerous  simple  or  indistinctly  bordered  pits;  in  Triplaris  often 
chambered  and  containing  small  rhombohedral  crystals.  Chambered 
parenchyma  strands  with  large  crystals  also  common. 

1.    COCGOLOBA  L. 

Trees  or  shrubs  with  persistent,  usually  thick  and  leathery 
leaves.  Flowers  small,  green  or  pinkish,  in  long  racemes  or  spikes ;  the 
calyx  becoming  enlarged  and  fleshy  in  fruit,  resembling  a  berry.  The 
mature  fruit  is  juicy  and  has  a  rather  agreeable  flavor. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  pale  pinkish  brown,  often  with  dark  gum 
striping  and  gray  streaks  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  darker 
brown.  Wood  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  fairly  light  to  medium 
weight;  inclined  to  be  splintery,  but  easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  high 
polish;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks,  but  fairly  durable  in  contact 
with  moisture.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in  broad,  irregularly 
spaced,  concentric  bands  of  grayish  white  color.  Pores  mostly  of 
medium  size;  few  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  small  radial  rows  or  small  clusters; 
often  filled  with  dark  gum.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine  and  numerous 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  moderately  distinct  on 
radial. 


108  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  usually  of 
screwhead  type,  rather  large  and  crowded;  vessel-ray  pits  half- 
bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  to  homogeneous;  uniseriate  or  less 
often  biseriate.  Wood  fibers  with  minute,  simple  or  indistinctly 
bordered  pits.  Chambered  parenchyma  strands  with  large  crystals 
common. 

Goccoloba  Barbeyana  Lindau,  Bot.  Jahrb.  13:  185.  1890. 

Tree,  up  to  90  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  fluted,  14  to  26  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for 
about  36  feet.  Bark  moderately  thick,  coarse,  and  dark  reddish  brown. 
Fruit  globular,  black  when  mature. — Of  limited  distribution;  in 
clearings  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  general  carpentry. 

Wood  light  brown  or  pale  purplish  brown  with  dark  streaks; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained; 
medium-textured ;  moderately  heavy  and  strong;  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
finish;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  absent.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  small  or  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly 
numerous,  not  crowded;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infre- 
quently in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  faintly 
discernible  owing  to  dark  gum  often  present.  Rays  indistinct  or  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  barely  at  limit  of 
vision  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5138. 

Coccoloba  gracilis  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  176.  1817. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  15  feet  tall.  Trunk  stout.  Bark  dark  choco- 
late brown.  Fruit  small,  rounded,  pale  red  when  mature. — Fairly 
abundant;  in  humid  loam  and  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  380  ft.). 
Wood  is  used  mainly  for  kindling. 

Sapwood  distinctly  defined,  lustrous  pinkish  brown,  and  darkening 
to  reddish  brown  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  dull  brown. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2482. 

Coccoloba  peruviana  Lindau,  Bot.  Jahrb.  13:  213.  1890. 
Cunchu-caspi. 

Shrub,  up  to  12  feet  in  height.  Bark  thin,  fairly  smooth,  and 
pinkish  brown.  Fruit  small,  ovoid,  pale  yellow  when  mature; 
January- February. — Common  in  the  middle  Huallaga;  in  dense 
forest  (alt.  1,600  ft.).  Wood  is  used  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  grayish  brown,  and  darken- 
ing considerably  to  uniform  brown  when  exposed  to  air;  heartwood 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  109 

dull  brown.    Wood  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  finer-textured  than  C. 
Barbeyana.    Growth  rings  present. 

San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  6852. 

Coccoloba  Williamsii  Standl.,  ined.  Palometa  caspi,  Tanga- 
rana  mashan. 

Forest  tree,  40  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  dense,  open  or  round. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  8  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching 
from  near  the  base.  Bark  grayish  or  dark  brown  to  black,  rough. 
Fruit  purplish  when  mature;  June-July. — Common  in  the  lowland; 
most  often  in  open  patches  (alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  is  used  extensively 
for  fuel. 

Sapwood  variegated  yellowish  brown  with  extensive  grayish 
cast  or  dark  streaks;  heartwood  dull  light  brown  or  pale  grayish 
purple.  Wood  lighter  in  weight  than  C.  Barbeyana,  not  as  durable, 
and  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  673;  Caballo-cocha,  2^23;  lower  Huallaga, 
4597. 

2.    SYMMERIA  Benth. 

Symmeria  paniculata  Benth.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  4:  630.  1845. 
Tangarana. 

Shrub,  but  said  to  attain  the  dimensions  of  a  medium-sized  tree. 
Bark  light  brown  and  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  alternate,  the  petioles 
lined  with  2  membranous,  wing-like,  overlapping  margins.  Inflores- 
cence panicled;  flowers  in  clusters. — Not  common;  in  fairly  dense 
forest  subject  to  seasonal  floods  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  indistinctly  demarcated,  yellowish  or  light  brown  with  a 
pale  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  pinkish,  reddish,  or  chocolate  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  fine-  or 
fairly  fine-textured;  of  light  weight  to  fairly  heavy;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster.  Growth  rings  present, 
but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  not 
very  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  less  often  in  radial  mul- 
tiples of  2-3,  infrequently  diagonally  or  tangentially  disposed.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  but  visible  without 
lens.  Rays  broad,  widely  spaced,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers, 
and  prominent  on  transverse  section;  discernible  on  tangential;  con- 
spicuous and  producing  a  characteristic  figure  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  101. 


110  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    TRIPLARIS  Loefl. 

Medium-sized  or  fairly  tall  trees  of  rapid  growth,  often  grow- 
ing in  old  clearings,  and  of  unusual  interest  because  their  hollow 
trunks  and  branches  are  occupied  by  venomous  ants,  known 
locally  as  "tangarana,"  which  rain  down  on  an  intruder  upon  con- 
tact with  the  tree.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  penninerved;  stipules 
deciduous,  leaving  ring-like  scars.  Flowers  dioecious;  calyces 
shuttlecock-like,  usually  pinkish,  and  conspicuous  from  afar. 

Sap  wood  oatmeal-colored  or  yellowish  brown  and  rather  lustrous; 
heartwood  yellowish  with  a  reddish  tinge.  Wood  rather  fine-  to 
medium-textured;  fairly  light  but  firm  to  medium  in  weight;  fibrous, 
easy  to  work,  finishes  smoothly,  takes  a  good  polish;  not  durable. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  metatracheal  and  usually  sparingly 
developed ;  concentric  lines  or  bands  of  crystal-bearing  wood  fibers 
are  visible  under  lens  on  moistened  cross  section  and  resemble  paren- 
chyma lines.  Pores  small  to  rather  large;  fairly  numerous;  diffuse-  or 
inclined  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples,  less  often  in 
radial  rows  or  small  clusters;  sometimes  filled  with  deposits  of 
calcium  or  black  gum.  Rays  fine;  not  visible  without  lens  on  cross 
and  tangential  sections;  visible,  but  inconspicuous,  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  large,  often  elongate 
and  with  large  apertures;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  large,  half-bordered. 
Rays  homogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate.  Wood  fibers  with  numerous, 
simple  pits;  septate,  and  often  containing  small,  rhombohedral 
crystals  of  calcium  oxalate. 

Triplaris  Pavonii  Meisn.  in  DC.  Prod.  14:  172.  1857. 
Tangarana. 

Tree,  75  feet  tall.  Crown  irregular  or  conical.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  60  feet.  Bark  yellowish  or 
dark  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  thin.  Flowers  rose  or  pale 
pink  and  attractive;  October-November. — Fairly  common;  in  dry 
loam  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  pink  with  dark,  irregular  striping  caused  by  stain;  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight, 
but  strong;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  easy 
to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size; 
not  numerous,  evenly  scattered ;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  or  rows 
of  2-3,  infrequently  in  tangential  pairs  or  small  clusters;  open  or 
filled  with  black  gum  or  calcium  deposit.  Vessel  lines  long.  Rays 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  111 

numerous,  fine,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  reddish  brown  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  radial. 
Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  b!76b. 

Triplaris  peruviana  Fisch.  &  Mey.  ex  C.  A.  Mey.  Me"m.  Acad. 
Pe"tersb.  VI.  Sci.  Nat.  4:  149.  1845.  Tangarana  blanca. 

Medium-sized  tree,  about  60  feet  in  height.  Branches  few  and 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  up  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  40  or  50  feet.  Bark  pale  grayish  brown;  inner  bark 
scarlet  brown.  Leaves  entire,  narrow-ovate,  glabrous  on  both 
surfaces.  Flowers  small,  white;  May-June.  Fruit  3-winged  and 
containing  1  lustrous  black  seed.  Common  along  the  Nanay 
River  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  humid  land  or  in  the  vicinity  of  watercourses. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  with  an  occasional  scarlet 
streak;  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  straight-grained;  rather 
coarse-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to 
cut;  susceptible  to  insects.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well 
defined.  Pores  of  medium  size;  not  numerous,  evenly  dis- 
tributed ;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-6,  infrequently  in 
diagonal  or  tangential  pairs  or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines 
prominent  against  the  lighter  background;  vessels  frequently  filled 
with  reddish  or  dark  brown  gum.  Rays  very  fine;  visible  only  with 
lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1008. 

Triplaris  Poeppigiana  Wedd.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  13:  265.  1849. 
Tangarana. 

Tree,  about  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  slender,  and  undivided  for  18  feet.  Bark  light  gray, 
pinkish,  or  reddish  brown,  very  thin,  and  smooth.  Leaves  up  to  12 
inches  long,  and  4.5-5  inches  in  width,  glabrous  above,  pubescent 
beneath  especially  along  costal  vein.  Flowers  racemose;  calyx 
scarlet-colored;  April-May. — Common  in  the  lower  Nanay  region 
(alt.  400  ft.) ;  in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  in  abandoned  land  or  along 
margin  of  forest;  reported  also  from  La  Merced  (alt.  2,000  ft.). 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dull 
medium  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  fibrous, 
easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  and  fairly  lustrous  finish;  susceptible 
to  insects.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Pores  moderately  small  to 
medium-sized;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 


112  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY—  BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

multiples  of  2-6;  open.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine  and  slightly  darker 
than  adjacent  elements.  Rays  moderately  fine,  numerous,  evenly 
and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  slightly 
darker  than  background  and  faintly  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on 
moistened  radial  surface. 
Loreto:  lower  Nanay, 


NYCTAGINACEAE.     Four-o'clock  Family 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees,  shrubs,  or  mostly  herbs,  sometimes 
climbing.  Leaves  opposite  or  alternate,  entire,  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small  or  large  and  showy.  Fruit  an  anthocarp,  composed 
of  the  persistent  base  of  the  perianth  and  an  indehiscent  utricle, 
either  dry  or  resembling  a  seed  or  fleshy  and  drupe-like.  The  timbers 
are  not  commercially  important. 

Woods  whitish,  yellowish,  or  brown;  fine-  textured  ;  of  light  weight 
to  heavy;  require  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  mostly 
perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal;  sparingly  developed  and  in- 
distinct. Pores  small  or  medium-sized;  solitary,  in  multiples,  rows, 
or  clusters;  open  or  less  often  closed.  Rays  fine.  The  woods  of  this 
family  are  of  interest  in  that  they  are  characterized  by  anomalous 
structure,  with  included  phloem,  of  the  island  type,  sometimes  form- 
ing more  or  less  definite,  concentric  bands,  and  often  just  outside  of 
each  row  of  pores,  producing  a  mushroom  design  on  cross  section. 

Vessel-parenchyma  pits  very  small,  bordered.  Rays  hetero- 
geneous; uniseriate  or  biseriate.  Numerous,  large  crystal  bundles  of 
raphides,  often  readily  visible  with  lens,  are  present  in  parenchyma 
associated  with  included  phloem. 

1.    NEEA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  opposite  or 
whorled.  Flowers  small,  greenish,  arranged  in  cymes  or  small 
panicles,  the  two  sexes  on  separate  plants.  Fruit  an  elongated  drupe 
with  scant  flesh.  Wood  is  sometimes  used  locally  for  tool  handles 
and  bowls  for  crushing  rice. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  brownish,  usually  with  a  grayish  stain  ;  heart- 
wood  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly 
lustrous;  fine-  or  fairly  fine-textured;  moderately  light;  requires  a 
sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  does  not  take  a  smooth 
polish;  not  durable.  The  most  characteristic  feature  of  the  wood 
is  the  presence  of  included  phloem  of  the  island  type.  Parenchyma 
sparsely  developed;  paratracheal.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized; 
fairly  numerous  or  numerous;  mostly  in  small  radial  multiples,  less 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  113 

frequently  in  radial  rows  or  small  clusters,  seldom  solitary;  those  in 
association  with  the  phloem  producing  a  mushroom  design.  Rays 
fine  or  very  fine  on  cross  section;  not  visible  without  lens  on  other 
surfaces.  Large  crystal  bundles  of  raphides  usually  present  in 
abundance. 

Neea  divaricata  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  45.  1838. 
Cumala,  Shula. 

Small  tree,  18  to  25,  seldom  up  to  40,  feet  in  height.  Crown  round 
or  spreading.  Trunk  usually  bent,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of 
branches  for  from  2  to  12  feet.  Bark  light  or  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  small  lenticels,  and  scaly.  Fruit  ovoid,  bluish  black 
when  mature;  June- July. — Fairly  common  and  widely  distributed; 
in  dense  forest,  often  in  humid  loam  or  in  the  vicinity  of  streams 
(alt.  380-1,800  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  tool  handles,  house  con- 
struction, and  utensils  for  pounding  rice. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  creamy  yellow  to  dark  grayish  brown, 
often  with  pinkish  red  or  dark  brown  streaks;  straight-grained; 
light  or  rather  heavy,  firm,  and  strong.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
indistinct.  Pores  small;  few;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows 
of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  fine;  invisible 
without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2527,  2948;  Recreo,  lower  Huallaga,  3998. 
—San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto,  6830;  Juan  Guerra,  6906. 

Neea  floribunda  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  46.  1838. 
Mullo-caspi. 

Small  tree,  15  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  moderately  round,  about  13  inches  in  diameter,  branching 
2  or  3  feet  above  the  base,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  very 
thin,  light  gray  to  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  small  lenti- 
cels. Fruit  round,  pale  pink  or  red;  September-October. — Fairly 
common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  450  ft.);  in  medio-open  dry  loam. or 
along  margin  of  forest.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown  with  extensive  dark  gray  or 
grayish  brown  areas;  has  a  fetid  odor  when  fresh;  straight-grained; 
light  in  weight  and  rather  soft. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4535,  4708,  5023. 

Neea  laxa  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  45.  pi.  162.  1838. 

Common  shrub  or  small  tree,  3  to  20  feet  tall.  Flowers  yellowish. 
Fruit  ovoid,  dark  violet;  November. — Forming  undergrowth  in  dense 
forest  (alt.  380-1,600  ft.). 


114  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  583;  Caballo-cocha,  2025;  lower  Huallaga, 
4554,  4691,  5089,  5370.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5876,  6108. 

Neea  parviflora  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  46.  1838. 
Yana-muco. 

Tall  shrub,  up  to  15  feet  tall.  Bark  thin,  pinkish  or  dark 
brown,  and  fairly  smooth.  Flower-bearing  branchlets  reddish, 
pendent.  Fruit  purplish  brown,  turning  black  at  maturity;  October- 
November.— Forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 
The  leaves  are  masticated  by  the  Indians  for  whitening  and 
preserving  their  teeth. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  occasional  darker  brown  bands.  Raphides 
very  common  in  the  strands  of  included  phloem. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4108. 

Neea  Spruceana  Heimerl,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  6:  131. 
1914.  Topamaka  blanca. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  seldom  exceeding  40  feet  in  height. 
Crown  open.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  free  of  branches 
for  1  to  6  feet,  not  buttressed.  Bark  pinkish  brown,  yellowish  or 
grayish  brown,  with  small  scales.  Flowers  greenish,  with  a  pale 
pinkish  tinge:  January-March. — Fairly  common;  in  dry  loam  among 
shrubs  and  low  trees  (alt.  400-1,600  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  with  pale  brown  striping  of  bast  strands, 
turning  to  yellowish  or  dark  grayish  brown  on  exposure;  of  light 
or  medium  weight;  soft,  but  tenacious  and  strong;  straight-grained; 
holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  poorly  defined.  Rays  visible  only  with  lens,  lighter-colored 
than  background,  and  irregularly  spaced  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  623. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5885. 

Neea  subpubescens  Heimerl,  Jahresb.  Staats-Oberrealsch. 
Funfhaus,  Wien  23:  (Reprint  36).  1897.  Intuto-caspi. 

Tree,  from  20  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  5  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
up  to  three-fifths  the  entire  height.  Bark  purplish  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  scaly. — Common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  in  second 
growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  whitish  throughout  when  fresh,  turning  to  oatmeal-colored 
or  yellowish  brown  after  long  exposure;  of  medium  weight  to  rather 
heavy,  brittle  or  fairly  tough;  straight-grained;  finer-textured  than 
N.  Spruceana;  somewhat  fibrous,  capable  of  taking  a  moderately 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  115 

smooth  finish;  liable  to  stain  in  drying.  Pores  small;  in  small  radial 
multiples  or  rows  or  in  small  clusters. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6267,  6802,  6815. 

The  following  numbers  of  the  genus  Neea  have  been  determined 
provisionally  on  the  basis  of  wood  specimens: 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  3857,  38? %,  5086. 

2.    TORRUBIA  Veil. 

Torrubia  myrtiflora  Standl.   Field  Mus.   Bot.   8:  307.   1931. 

Clavo-caspi. 

Tall  tree,  up  to  60  feet  or  more  in  height,  with  narrow  crown  and 
few  branches.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  9  to  12  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  40  or  45  feet.  Bark  papyraceous, 
pale  gray  or  reddish  brown,  and  smooth.  Flowers  small,  white; 
June- July. — Rare;  in  open  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  or  along 
margin  of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  or  dark  grayish  brown,  occasionally  with  a  yellowish 
tinge;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  light  in  weight;  does  not  take  a  smooth  finish;  perish- 
able. Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small; 
solitary,  in  radial  multiples  or  rows,  or  in  small  clusters.  Bast 
strands  compose  about  two-thirds  of  the  surface  area.  Vessel  lines 
indistinct.  Rays  indistinct  on  all  surfaces.  Pith  dark  chocolate 
brown. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5162. 

MENISPERMACEAE.     Moonseed  Family 
1.    ABUTA  Aubl. 

Abuta  concolor  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  2:  64.  pi.  188. 
1838.  Caimitillo,  Sanango. 

Tree,  from  15  to  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight  or  fairly  so,  round,  5  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  up 
to  half  the  entire  height,  and  sometimes  with  fairly  large  surface 
roots.  Bark  variable  in  color  from  pale  grayish  white  to  dark  green 
or  almost  black,  rough ;  bark  of  roots  is  reputed  to  be  used  for  medi- 
cinal purposes.  Leaves  alternate,  stalked,  and  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small,  greenish,  dioecious.  Drupe  ovoid,  yellow  when 
mature;  August  to  beginning  of  October. — Fairly  common  in  the 
lowland;  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest 
(alt.  400  ft.). 


116  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  light  chocolate  brown;  odorless,  but  has 
a  very  bitter  taste;  roey-  or  irregular-grained;  coarse- textured ; 
very  heavy  and  not  easy  to  work;  takes  a  smooth  finish;  durable 
and  is  immune  to  stain  and  insects.  Growth  rings  present.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  and  indistinct,  also  in  very  fine,  uniformly 
spaced,  tangential  or  concentric  lines.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size;  not  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines 
indistinct.  Rays  fine,  of  light  color,  interrupted  by  parenchyma  lines, 
and  forming  a  characteristic  arrangement  on  cross  section;  darker 
than  adjacent  elements  and  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial  sur- 
faces. Wood  is  distinctive  because  of  its  anomalous  structure.  The 
cross  section  shows  a  characteristic  pattern,  the  radially  disposed, 
wedge-shaped  bundles  of  xylem  and  phloem  being  surrounded  by 
prominent  bands  of  conjunctive  tissue  in  concentric  laminations 
connected  by  the  rays. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  of 
medium  size,  alternate,  rather  numerous,  but  not  crowded,  with 
apertures  slit-like  and  barely  included.  Rays  heterogeneous  and 
showing  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  multiseriate,  very  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  indistinctly  bordered  pits. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2435;  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3500; 
Yurimaguas,  4713;  Punchana,  near  Iquitos,  8013. 

ANONACEAE.    Custard  Apple  Family 

A  large  group  of  trees,  shrubs,  or  climbers,  widely  distributed  in 
the  tropics  and  subtropics.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  without 
stipules.  Flowers  solitary  or  clustered,  usually  perfect;  stamens 
numerous.  Fruit  consists  of  1  or  more  carpels,  these  sessile  or 
stalked,  usually  fleshy,  free  or  united  to  form  a  many-celled  fruit. 
The  members  of  this  family  are  often  aromatic. 

Woods  range  from  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  to  greenish,  dark 
brown,  or  nearly  black;  rather  fine-textured;  light  and  soft  to  very 
heavy  and  hard.  Growth  rings  usually  present  and  more  or  less 
distinct;  delimited  by  variation  in  the  thickness  of  the  fiber  walls  and 
supplemented  by  regular  parenchyma  lines.  Pores  are  well  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  wood,  except  for  the  ring-porous  Asimina; 
solitary  or  in  multiples  of  2-4,  rarely  up  to  8.  Parenchyma  abun- 
dantly developed;  in  fine  but  definite  metatracheal  lines  or  bands 
that  are  numerous,  closely  and  uniformly  spaced,  and  interrupted 
by,  and  forming  a  spiderweb  pattern  with,  the  rays;  paratracheal 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  117 

parenchyma  also  present  in  many  species.     Rays  usually  distinct 
on  all  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pit-pairs 
extremely  small,  very  numerous,  more  or  less  crowded,  or 
alternate,  with  slit-like  to  broadly  lenticular  apertures;  vessel-ray 
pits  distinctly  bordered  and  similar  to  the  intervascular,  small  or 
of  medium  size.  Rays  variable  from  homogeneous  to  distinctly 
heterogeneous;  from  1-14,  mostly  5-10,  cells  wide.  Sac-like  oil  cells 
often  in  association  with  rays.  Wood  fibers  with  small  to  minute 
and  indistinctly  bordered  pits. 

1.    ANAXAGOREA  A.  St.  Hil. 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees,  widely  distributed  in 
the  lowland.  Their  woods  are  uniform  pale  brown;  have  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste;  are  straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight,  of  firm  to  medium  density,  and  tenacious;  usually 
durable  and  easy  to  work.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  closely  spaced  tan- 
gential lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision; 
fairly  numerous  or  numerous,  uniformly  distributed ;  solitary  or  less 
often  in  radially  disposed  multiples.  Vessel  lines  fine.  Rays  broad 
on  cross  section;  distinct  on  tangential  and  usually  on  radial;  homo- 
geneous; 4  or  more  cells  wide. 

Anaxagorea  minor  Diels,  ex  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg.  12: 
22.  fig.  2.  1934. 

Small,  forest  tree,  from  17  to  20  feet  high.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
slender  and  clear  of  limbs  for  10  feet.  Bark  pale  green  or  chocolate 
brown  and  fissured.  Flowers  yellow;  April-May. — In  old  clearings 
or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  hue;  straight-  or  slightly  wavy- 
grained;  medium-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Parenchyma  visible  with  lens  as 
numerous,  fine,  closely  and  evenly  spaced,  tangential  lines  extending 
between  the  rays.  Pores  small;  not  numerous;  solitary;  often  sur- 
rounded by  dark  brown  gum  stains.  Rays  distinct  or  conspicuous 
on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  middle  Nanay,  849,  854,  855. 

Anaxagorea  pachypetala  (Diels)  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort. 
Berg.  12:  10.  1934.  Espintana. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  slender  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height 
of  50  feet.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  not  buttressed.  Bark 


118  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

moderately  thick,  dark  gray. — Common  in  some  localities;  in  fairly 
dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  employed  locally  for  house 
construction  and  fuel. 

Wood  uniform  light  brown  throughout;  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured;  moderately  hard  and  heavy;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  fairly 
numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  4;  open. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  19. 

Anaxagorea  pallida  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11:  79. 
1931.  Espintana. 

Small,  slender,  forest  tree  or  tall  shrub,  approximately  15  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  and  free  of 
branches  for  8  feet.  Bark  pale  purplish  brown;  inner  bark  coarsely 
fibrous.  Leaves  papyraceous,  glabrous,  oblong,  long-acuminate  at 
tip,  short-angustate  at  base,  and  costa  prominent  on  the  under 
surface.  Fruiting  in  October-November. 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown;  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight  and  firm ;  easy  to  work. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4873. 

2.    ANONA  L. 

Small  trees  or  shrubs  with  persistent  or  deciduous  leaves, 
confined  almost  exclusively  to  tropical  and  subtropical  America, 
although  the  range  of  many  species  has  been  extended  through  cul- 
tivation. Flowers  usually  solitary  and  lateral  on  the  branches. 
Fruit  composed  of  numerous,  fleshy  carpels  united  at  maturity  to 
form  a  many-celled  fruit.  The  bark  of  some  species  yields  a  fiber 
suitable  for  cordage,  but  the  principal  value  of  the  trees  lies  in  their 
edible  fruits,  some  of  which  are  large  and  succulent.  The  timber 
is  not  durable  and  is  rarely  used  except  for  fuel. 

Wood  varies  from  light  and  soft  to  medium  weight  and  firm; 
medium-  to  coarse-textured;  often  fibrous  or  splintery;  not  durable. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  to  numerous,  solitary  or 
less  often  in  small  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  broad  on  cross 
section;  distinct  or  fairly  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces; 
4-6  cells  or  more  wide  and  up  to  24  cells  high. 

Anona  montana  Macfad.  Fl.  Jamaica  1:  7.  1837.  Chirimoya, 
Guan&bana,  Huanabana. 

Small  tree,  from  15  to  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or 
round.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  slender,  and  branching  from  the  base 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  119 

or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  10  feet.  Leaves  oblong-elliptical,  short- 
acuminate.  Flowers  with  olive  green  petals.  Fruit  about  2  inches 
in  diameter,  round,  with  small,  fleshy,  straight  spinules,  and  an 
edible,  succulent  pulp;  seeds  brown. — In  second  growth  and  often 
cultivated  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown,  turning  to  dark  grayish  brown  on  exposure, 
and  with  dark  or  almost  black  areas;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
light  in  weight  and  moderately  soft. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  3687;  lower  Huallaga,  3818,  4450. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  5545. 

Anona  muricata  L.  Sp.  PI.  536.  1753.  Chirimoya,  Guandbana, 
Huanabana. 

Small,  glabrous,  evergreen  tree,  20,  sometimes  up  to  30,  feet  in 
height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  branching  from  base,  slender.  Bark 
grayish  or  pinkish  brown,  with  shallow  longitudinal  ridges.  Leaves 
obovate,  ovate  or  elliptic,  lustrous,  and  have  a  rather  offensive  odor. 
Flowers  yellow;  July-August.  Fruit  ovoid,  with  numerous  recurved, 
fleshy  spines;  the  succulent  flesh  is  eaten  fresh,  made  into  preserves, 
or  the  juice  is  used  for  preparing  a  refreshing  beverage. — Often 
cultivated. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark  grayish.  Wood 
light  in  weight  and  moderately  soft;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  lustrous  finish. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2399. 

Anona  scandens  Diels,  var.  polychyla  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart. 
Berlin  11:  86.  1931.  Chirimoya,  Huasca-anona. 

Shrub,  from  5  to  7  feet  tall.  Bark  moderately  thick,  grayish 
brown  with  rather  coarse  scales.  Branches  densely  tomentose. 
Flowering  in  October-November. — In  thickets  (alt.  500-700  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  brown  with  darker  markings  of  rays;  heartwood 
thin  and  slightly  darker  than  the  sap.  Wood  of  medium  weight, 
rather  tenacious,  and  strong;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-  or 
coarse- textured ;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4757. 

Anona  Tessmannii  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9:  140. 
1924.  Sacha-anona. 

Small,  often  straggly,  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  32  feet. 
Crown  dense  and  spreading.  Trunk  slender,  branching  from  near 
the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  dark 


120  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

brown,  with  shallow,  vertical  ridges.  Leaves  leathery,  glabrous 
above,  ovate-elliptic,  short-obtuse  or  acuminate  at  apex,  and  acute 
or  subrounded  at  base.  Flowering  in  June-July. — Abundant  through- 
out the  lowland  (alt.  380-500  ft.);  in  thickets,  usually  near  streams. 

Sapwood  grayish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  thin,  dark  brown. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-  to 
coarse- textured ;  fairly  light  in  weight  and  soft;  easy  to  cut  and 
capable  of  taking  a  lustrous  finish.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  barely  visible 
with  lens.  Pores  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-4,  seldom  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  prominent 
owing  to  their  color,  which  is  darker  than  adjacent  elements.  Rays 
distinct  or  conspicuous  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1842;  Caballo-cocha,  2418;  La  Victoria,  2853, 
3048. 

3.    CREMASTOSPERMA  R.  E.  Fries 

Cremastosperma  gracilipes  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg.  10: 
325.  pi.  26.  1931. 

Shrub,  from  6  to  15  feet  tall.  Branchlets  glabrous.  Leaf  blades 
papyraceous,  oblong  or  oblanceolate-oblong,  acuminate  at  tip, 
rounded  or  obtuse  at  base.  Flowers  axillary,  solitary;  October- 
November. — Common;  forming  understory  in  dense  forest  and 
sometimes  in  open  patches;  reported  also  at  Puerto  Melendez, 
below  the  Pongo  de  Manserriche,  middle  Maranon. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5296 — herbarium  material 
only. 

4.    CYMBOPETALUM  Benth. 

Shrubs  or  small,  slender  trees.  Leaves  membranaceous  or  papy- 
raceous. Wood  light-colored,  ranging  from  pale  grayish  brown  to 
pale  yellow,  sometimes  with  a  faint  greenish  tinge;  fine-  or  fairly  fine- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
polish;  liable  to  check  in  drying,  but  appears  to  be  durable.  Paren- 
chyma visible  only  with  lens.  Pores  few  to  fairly  numerous,  uni- 
formly distributed ;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples.  Rays  faintly 
visible  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  usually  promi- 
nent on  radial. 

Cymbopetalum  longipes  Diels,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb. 
47:  132.  1905. 

Slender  shrub,  5  to  15  feet  tall,  sometimes  scandent.  Pilger, 
however,  describes  the  species  as  a  small  tree,  10  to  30  feet  high. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  121 

Bark  pale  brown  with  short  horizontal  fissures.  Leaf  blades  short- 
petiolate,  ovate-elliptic,  cuspidate,  papyraceous,  glabrous  above. 
Flowers  greenish.  Fruit  light  green,  borne  in  clusters;  October- 
November. 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  yellowish  to  greenish  brown;  straight- 
grained;  moderately  fine-textured;  fairly  heavy,  tough,  and  hard; 
capable  of  taking  a  moderately  lustrous  polish;  appears  to  be  dura- 
ble. Pores  more  numerous  and  larger  and  rays  slightly  more  pro- 
nounced on  cross  section  than  in  C.  Tessmannii. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6512;  Juan  Guerra,  6875,  6876. — Loreto: 
Yurimaguas,  7831. 

Cymbopetalum  Tessmannii  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg.  10: 
188.  pi.  7.  1931.  Espintana. 

Tree,  30  feet  high.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
slender,  and  free  of  limbs  for  18  feet.  Bark  light  brown,  moderately 
smooth  or  rough.  Leaves  membranaceous,  oblong-elliptic,  lanceolate 
or  oblanceolate,  long-acuminate  at  apex,  acute,  rounded,  or  obtuse 
at  base. — In  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  not  sharply  defined,  white  or  pale  yellowish;  heartwood 
grayish  or  yellowish  and  darkening  on  exposure.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  and  uniform-textured; 
hard,  heavy,  and  tough;  takes  a  fairly  smooth  polish;  durable. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  visible  with  lens  as  numerous, 
evenly  spaced  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  barely  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens  or  small;  few,  evenly  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  small  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  indistinct  or  faintly 
visible.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  darker  than  the  ground  mass  and  prominent  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3513. 

5.    DICLINANONA  Diels 

Diclinanona  calycina  (Diels)  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg. 
12:4.  1934. 

Tree  of  the  lowland,  often  attaining  a  height  of  110  feet  or  more. 
Crown  flat.  Trunk  cylindrical,  erect,  15  to  25  inches  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  42  feet.  Bark  moderately  thick, 
light  brown,  sculptured;  inner  bark  brown  and  slightly  fibrous.— 
Rare;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  360  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a 
small  extent  for  the  construction  of  huts. 


122  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  grayish  brown  and  variegated  on  account  of  the  promi- 
nent rays;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  when  freshly  cut 
has  a  sweet  odor  suggesting  honey,  not  perceptible  in  dried  material; 
straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-  or  fairly  coarse-textured;  heavy, 
hard,  and  fairly  compact,  but  rather  splintery;  easy  to  work,  takes 
a  smooth  and  highly  lustrous  polish;  liable  to  check  in  drying; 
probably  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  faintly  visible  owing 
to  slight  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  very  fine,  closely  and  evenly  spaced  lines  or  bands 
extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  moderately 
large;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-4,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  less  often  filled 
with  tyloses  or  dark  gum.  Rays  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  mod- 
erately distinct  on  tangential;  conspicuous  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2756. 

6.    DUGUETIA  A.  St.  Hil. 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Wood  yellowish  or  pale  to  fairly 
dark  brown;  has  a  slightly  fragrant  or  fetid  odor  when  fresh;  light 
and  soft  to  rather  heavy  and  hard;  fine- textured ;  easy  to  work; 
usually  durable.  Parenchyma  lines  closely  spaced  and  usually  wavy. 
Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  infrequently  in 
multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  broad  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or 
fairly  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial;  3-5  cells  wide  and  low. 

Duguetia  quitarensis  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  2: 
361.  1843.  Aberemoa  quitarensis  (Benth.)  Fries,  Svensk.  Vet.  Akad. 
Handl.  34,  no.  5:  20.  1900.  Tortuga  caspi. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  forest  tree.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  6  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  approximately  one-fifth  the  height.  Flowers  yellow;  November- 
December.  Fruit  globular,  spiny. — Uncommon.  Timber  is  used 
to  a  limited  extent  for  pillars  and  house  construction. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pale  brown;  heartwood 
slightly  darker  brown,  thin.  Wood  straight-grained;  fine- textured ; 
fairly  heavy  and  hard ;  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderately  high 
luster  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished ;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed. 
Pores  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed ;  solitary  or  infrequently 
in  radially  or  tangentially  disposed  multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel  lines 
short,  fine,  and  slightly  darker  than  the  background.  Rays  at  limit 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  123 

of  vision  and  lighter  in  color  than  the  surrounding  elements  on 
cross  section. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4907. 

Duguetia  Spixiana  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1:  23.  1841.  Abere- 
moa  Spixiana  (Mart.)  Fries,  Svensk.  Vet.  Akad.  Handl.  34,  no.  5: 
22.  1900.  Anona,  Espintana  blanca. 

Small,  forest  tree,  seldom  exceeding  26  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  slender,  straight,  moderately  round,  and  clear  of 
limbs  for  one-third  the  height.  Leaves  smooth  above,  pilose  beneath. 
Fruit  spiny;  October-November. — Common  along  banks  of  streams 
(alt.  450-500  ft.);  previously  reported  from  near  the  Rio  Negro, 
State  of  Amazonas,  Brazil. 

Sapwood  indistinctly  denned,  pale  or  medium  brown;  heartwood 
yellowish  brown.  Wood  has  a  characteristic  fetid  odor  when  freshly 
cut;  light  and  rather  soft;  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3292,  3455;  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4348. 

1.    GUATTERIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Flowers  solitary  or  clustered,  in  the  leaf  axils 
or  on  naked  branches.  Fruit  a  cluster  of  1-seeded,  stalked  berries. 

Wood  varies  in  color  from  pale  brown  to  reddish  or  dark  brown; 
often  has  a  spicy  odor;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured;  light  in 
weight  to  heavy;  usually  lustrous;  sometimes  durable.  Pores  fairly 
numerous;  mostly  solitary;  open.  Rays  distinct  on  cross  and  tan- 
gential sections;  usually  conspicuous  on  radial;  up  to  9  cells  wide 
and  high. 

Guatteria  hyposericea  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11: 
76.  1931.  Yana-huasca. 

Tree,  from  30  to  36  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading;  branches 
drooping.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  straight,  round  or  com- 
pressed, 7  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  about 
18  feet.  Bark  very  dark  brown  or  almost  black;  inner  bark  finely 
fibrous.  Flowers  yellowish  brown;  December-January.  Fruit  ovoid, 
green. — Fairly  common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.); 
in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  along  sides  of  paths  or  among  shrubs 
and  low  trees  of  second  growth. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
dull  medium  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained ;  medium-  to  rather  coarse-textured ; 
of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight,  firm,  brittle;  easy  to  work,  takes 


124  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

a  smooth  polish  with  a  high  luster  which  disappears  after  long 
exposure,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  durable.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  fine,  slightly  wavy  bands  extending  tangentially 
between  the  rays.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well 
distributed;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial,  seldom  tangential, 
multiples  of  up  to  6.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fairly  coarse  scratches  of 
darker  color  than  background.  Rays  of  lavender  brown  color  and 
conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6323,  6671. 

Guatteria  microcarpa  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Fl.  Peruv.  5.  pi.  J^.79. 
1802.  Tortuga-caspi. 

Small  tree,  22  feet  tall,  although  said  to  attain  greater  height. 
Crown  open.  Trunk  slender.  Bark  dark  brown,  with  fairly  coarse, 
purplish  or  lighter  brown  fissures  and  small,  dark  lenticels;  inner 
bark  pale  chocolate-colored  and  slightly  fibrous.  Flowers  pale  yellow, 
pendent  from  the  main  branches;  April-May. — Uncommon;  in 
heavy  loam  in  dense,  tall  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
brown.  Wood  at  times  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste;  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  work. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  not  distinct.  Parenchyma  lines  not  as 
distinct  with  lens  as  in  G.  hyposericea.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size;  not  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel 
lines  fairly  fine.  Small  dark  brown  globules  of  gum  common  in 
ray  cells  and  especially  common  on  tangential  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  573. 

Guatteria  phanerocampta  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
11:  76.  1931.  Cara-huasca. 

Tree,  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  6  feet.  Bark  dark  brown  or 
almost  black;  inner  bark  separates  into  long,  narrow  flakes.  Flowers 
pale  yellow;  July- August.  Fruit  round,  yellow  when  mature. 
—Not  abundant;  adjacent  to  streams  and  in  areas  subject  to  in- 
undations during  the  rainy  season  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  brown,  streaked;  heartwood  pale  to  very 
dark  brown  or  almost  black,  thin.  Wood  has  a  faint  spicy  odor; 
moderately  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm ;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish ;  does  not  appear 
to  be  durable.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size ;  not  numerous ; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  125 

solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial,  seldom  in  tangential,  multiples 
of  2-3.  Small  dark  brown  specks  of  gum  frequently  present  in  ray 
cells  and  readily  discernible  with  lens  on  tangential  and  radial 
sections. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3436. 

8.    MALMEA  R.  E.  Fries 

Tall,  forest  trees.  Wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown;  medium- 
to  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous 
and  fairly  lustrous.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  fairly  numer- 
ous; solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in  clusters;  mostly  open. 
Rays  broad  on  cross  section  and  distinct  on  radial.  Timber  is  used 
to  a  small  extent  for  the  construction  of  huts  and  houses,  but  mostly 
for  fuel. 

Malmea  cuspidata  Diels,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11:  78. 
1931.  Espintana. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  attaining  a  height  of  up  to  110  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  14  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and 
undivided  for  about  a  third  of  the  entire  height.  Bark  about  0.25 
inch  thick,  dark  grayish  brown  or  almost  black,  fairly  smooth;  inner 
bark  finely  fibrous.  Leaves  coriaceous,  obovate-elliptic,  cuspidate. 
Flowers  short-stalked  and  with  fleshy  petals.  Fruit  subround, 
1-seeded;  June. — Uncommon;  in  fairly  dense  growth  subject  to 
inundations  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  heartwood 
pale  brown  and  occasionally  with  dark  streaks,  not  sharply  defined. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  of  light  or  medium  weight; 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  some 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  lines  very  fine,  either 
extending  from  ray  to  ray  or  at  times  inclined  to  be  continuous  and 
concentric.  Pores  barely  discernible  without  lens;  not  numerous, 
well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4, 
seldom  tangentially  disposed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short;  black  gum 
and  translucent  deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  widely  spaced  on 
cross  section. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  113. 

Malmea  sp.  Cara-huasca.  Tree,  90  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  16  to  22  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided 
for  60  feet.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  pale  gray  to  dark  purplish,  fairly 


126  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

smooth;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Fruit  ovoid,  small,  and  borne  in  clusters; 
November. — Not  common;  in  dense  forest  subject  to  periodical 
inundations  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  straight-grained;  fairly  coarse- 
textured;  of  light  weight,  firm;  easy  to  cut  and  capable  of  taking  a 
smooth  finish;  not  durable.  Pores  are  larger,  vessel  lines  more 
pronounced,  and  parenchyma  lines  more  regular  and  distinct  than 
in  M.  cuspidata. 

Loreto:  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga,  4896. 

9.    ROLLINIA  A.  St.  Hil. 

Small,  slender  trees  or  shrubs,  sometimes  cultivated.  Flowers 
with  connate  petals,  forming  a  3-6-lobed  tube,  the  outer  ones  with 
broad  wings. 

The  Peruvian  species  range  in  height  from  15  to  25  feet.  Crown 
round  or  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  straight,  round 
or  slightly  compressed,  6  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  from  2  to  9  feet.  Bark  dark  purplish  to  almost  black;  inner  bark 
slightly  fibrous.  Fruit  large,  ovoid,  with  soft,  fleshy  spines;  July- 
August. — In  dry  or  slightly  humid  loam  in  open  patches  or  along 
margin  of  forest  growth  (alt.  350-400  ft.). 

Wood  yellowish  or  pinkish,  often  with  purplish  streaks;  light 
and  soft  or  of  medium  weight;  medium-textured;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain.  Parenchyma  in  indistinct  bands. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  solitary 
or  less  frequently  in  multiples;  usually  open.  Rays  broad  on  cross 
section;  occasionally  visible  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces;  3-5 
cells  wide  and  low. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1965;  Caballo-cocha,  2407;  La  Victoria,  2940. 

10.    UNONOPSIS  R.  E.  Fries 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  trees,  often  with  fibrous  inner  bark  which 
is  used  locally  for  cordage.  Flowers  with  numerous,  densely 
crowded  stamens. 

Wood  varies  from  oatmeal-colored  or  yellowish  to  pale  or  dark 
brown;  sometimes  slightly  fragrant;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous  and  splintery;  not  durable. 
Parenchyma  in  indistinct  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size;  few  or 
fairly  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  in  multiples;  mostty  open.  Rays 
prominent  on  all  surfaces;  6-8  cells  wide  and  mostly  high. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  127 

Unonopsis  floribunda  Diels(?),  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
137.  1924.  Icoja,  Icoje. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing. Trunk  bent  and  approximately  7  inches  in  diameter.  Bark 
up  to  0.5  inch  thick,  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  scaly;  inner 
bark  dark  reddish  brown  and  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  chartaceous 
and  glabrous.  Flowers  minutely  pubescent;  October. — Not  com- 
mon; in  slightly  humid  loam  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.); 
reported  also  by  Tessmann  at  Cashibo  Playa,  middle  Ucayali. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  throughout;  odorless  or  faintly  fragrant 
and  slightly  bitter;  roey-grained ;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured; 
of  light  or  medium  weight,  brittle,  and  fibrous;  easy  to  work;  does 
not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  some 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Pores  not  numerous;  solitary,  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  or  in  small  clusters.  Rays  widely  spaced  and 
pale  yellow  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1204. 

Unonopsis  spp.  Cara-caspi,  Yana-varas.  Forest  tree,  30  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  un- 
branched  up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  greenish  yellow,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  few  long,  shallow,  vertical  fissures;  inner  bark  pur- 
plish brown,  fibrous,  and  useful  for  cordage.  Flowers  small,  white; 
April-May.  Fruit  ellipsoid,  brown  when  mature. — In  fairly  dense, 
flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  darker  brown  markings  of  rays; 
has  an  agreeable  odor  and  a  slightly  bitter  taste  when  freshly  cut; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  of  fairly  light 
or  medium  weight,  firm,  and  strong;  slightly  fibrous,  takes  a  smooth 
polish  with  a  moderate  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  inconspicuous.  Parenchyma  lines  very 
fine,  numerous,  evenly  spaced,  wavy,  and  extending  from  ray  to  ray. 
Pores  fairly  small;  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  or 
tangential  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  fine;  vessel  seg- 
ments visible  with  lens  and  grayish  deposits  frequently  present. 
Rays  conspicuous,  especially  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  841,  1184;  Caballo-cocha,  2320. 

11.    XYLOPIA  L. 

Shrubs  or  small,  sometimes  straggly,  trees,  common  in  thickets 
and  forest  growth.  Leaves  leathery  or  chartaceous.  Fruit  usually  a 
cluster  of  red  berries,  these  splitting  open  when  ripe. 


128  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  yellow,  grayish,  or  medium  to  reddish  brown;  fine- 
or  medium-textured;  light  and  soft  to  heavy  and  hard;  easy  to  work; 
mostly  durable.  Pores  fairly  numerous;  solitary  or  in  multiples, 
seldom  in  clusters;  usually  open.  Rays  broad  on  cross  section; 
occasionally  distinguishable  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial 
surfaces;  from  2-5  cells  wide. 

Xylopia  aromatica  (Lam.)  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1:  43.  1841; 
R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg.  10:  106.  1930.  Matdro,  Omechuai- 
caspi. 

Tree,  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  12  feet.  Bark  light  gray 
or  dark  reddish  brown,  scaly  or  with  long,  rather  coarse  fissures  and 
fairly  small  lenticels;  inner  bark  separates  into  long  flakes.  Leaves 
oblong,  acute  or  short-cuspidate  at  apex,  and  glabrous.  Fruit  reddish 
brown  and  borne  only  at  the  summit;  December-January. — Not 
common;  in  sandy  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second 
growth  (alt.  1,400  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  usually  well  defined,  varying  in  color  from  yellowish 
or  grayish  to  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  pale  or  reddish  brown. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  of  fairly  light  to  medium 
weight,  firm;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  inclined 
to  be  fibrous,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  not  very 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  evenly  spaced,  tangential  bands.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision ; 
few  or  fairly  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4. 
Vessel  lines  indistinct  to  readily  visible  owing  to  dark  brown  gum 
present.  Rays  fairly  numerous  and  of  lighter  color  than  the  sur- 
rounding elements  on  cross  section;  distinct  against  the  lighter 
background  on  radial.  Pith  pale  grayish  brown;  globules  of  dark 
brown  gum  abundant. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5378,  5850. 

Xylopia  peruviana  R.  E.  Fries,  Acta  Hort.  Berg.  10:  117.  fig. 
10.  1930.  Pichi-varilla. 

Straggly  tree  or  shrub,  12  to  15  feet  high.  Crown  dense,  spread- 
ing. Trunk  branching  from  base.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  small  scales.  Leaves  chartaceous,  elliptic,  up  to 
5  inches  long  and  2  inches  broad.  Flowers  solitary,  axillary; 
January-February. — Uncommon;  forming  understory  in  dense, 
flood-free  forest  (alt.  1,600  ft.). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  129 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  with  grayish  streaks  and  turning  to  pale 
yellowish  brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  medium  grayish  brown. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor,  but  is  slightly  astringent  to  taste; 
heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  takes  a  smooth,  but  rather  dull  finish; 
straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  fine-textured;  probably  durable. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  lines  numerous,  fine,  evenly 
spaced,  wavy,  and  lighter  in  color  than  background.  Pores  minute 
or  small.  Vessels  often  filled  with  specks  of  brown  gum.  Rays 
sinuous  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct 
without  lens  on  tangential. 

San  Martin:  Mayo  River,  middle  Huallaga,  6225. 

MYRISTICACEAE.    Nutmeg  Family 

Trees,  or  rarely  shrubs,  widely  distributed  in  the  American, 
African,  and  Asiatic  tropics.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  stalked,  and 
without  stipules.  Flowers  small,  of  2  sexes  on  separate  plants, 
often  umbellate  or  panicled,  regular.  Fruit  nutmeg-like,  resinous, 
fleshy,  opening  by  valves,  and  the  single  seed  is  covered  by  an  aril, 
which,  in  the  case  of  nutmeg,  is  the  mace  of  commerce. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  in  color,  often  with  a  pronounced  grayish 
or  pinkish  cast;  heartwood  in  some  species  not  sharply  defined,  in 
others  dark  red  to  chocolate  brown;  not  highly  lustrous.  The  woods 
of  this  family  are  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy  and  hard. 
Growth  rings  at  times  absent;  when  present  indicated  either  by 
concentric  lines  of  wood  parenchyma  or,  less  often,  by  rows  of 
flattened  wood  fibers.  Pores  vary  from  very  small  to  fairly  large; 
few  and  uniformly  scattered;  chiefly  solitary  or  in  radial  pairs, 
occasionally  in  multiples  of  3-5. 

Vessel  perforation  plates  variable  from  predominantly  simple  to 
exclusively  scalariform;  intervascular  pit-pairs  rather  small  to 
fairly  large,  numerous,  somewhat  crowded;  vessel-ray  pits  of  two 
principal  types:  (a)  large  and  radially  elongated,  often  extending 
almost  the  width  of  cross-field  in  scalariform  arrangement;  and 
(6)  relatively  small  and  similar  to  intervascular  type.  Wood  fibers 
septate  and  with  small,  simple  or  inconspicuously  bordered  pits. 
Wood  parenchyma  usually  abundantly  developed,  of  three  types: 
(a)  metatracheal,  infrequently  terminal;  (&)  paratracheal ;  and 
(c)  diffuse.  Rays  most  frequently  heterogeneous;  predominantly 
uniseriate  and  biseriate,  occasionally  triseriate,  or  seldom  3-6  cells 
wide.  Tanniniferous  tubes,  present  in  both  uniseriate  and  wider 


130  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

portions  of  the  rays,  provide  a  diagnostic  feature  of  the  Myristicaceae, 
setting  apart  the  nutmegs  from  all  other  woods. 

1.    COMPSONEURA  Warb. 

Compsoneura  capitellata  (Poepp.)  Warb.  Nova  Acta  Acad. 
Caes.  Leop.  Nat.  Cur.  68:  146.  1897.  Huarmi-huarmi. 

Tree,  25  or  30  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  slender,  straight, 
round,  and  free  of  branches  for  6  feet.  Bark  grayish  brown.  Leaves 
entire,  alternate.  Flowers  very  small.  Fruit  ellipsoid.  —  Abundant; 
in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  light  to  dark  reddish  brown,  streaked; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  light  to 
medium  weight,  firm;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across 
grain;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  indicated 
by  terminal  parenchyma,  the  last  widely  and  unevenly  spaced.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  few,  well  distributed  ;  mostly  in  small  radial  multiples 
or  rows,  occasionally  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  readily  visible, 
owing  to  dark  brown  gum  and  white  calcium  deposits  present.  Rays 
broad  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  on 
tangential;  indistinct  to  distinct  on  radial  surface;  uniseriate  or 
biseriate  in  part. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga, 


2.    IRYANTHERA  Warb. 

Small  to  tall  trees.  Leaves  often  leathery,  entire,  alternate. 
Flowers  in  small  fascicles,  axillary  or  on  leafless  branches.  Fruit 
ellipsoidal,  often  with  woody  pericarp;  seeds  transverse-ellipsoid. 

Sapwood  of  various  shades  of  pinkish  to  reddish  brown,  often  with 
a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  light  to  dark  purplish  brown  or  almost 
black,  often  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to 
rather  coarse-textured;  light  and  fairly  soft  or  firm  to  moderately 
heavy;  sometimes  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and  capable  of  taking  a 
smooth  and  highly  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  terminal;  widely  or 
irregularly  spaced,  darker  than  background,  and  sometimes  distinct. 
Pores  moderately  small  to  large;  rather  few,  well  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  multiples;  often  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses  or  dark  gum. 
Rays  fine  and  indistinct  or  rather  broad  and  closely  or  widely  spaced 
on  cross  section  ;  sometimes  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangen- 
tial; darker  than  background  and  distinct  on  radial  surface; 
uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part.  Tanniniferous  tubes  often  present. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  131 

Iryanthera  juruensis  Warb.(?),  Verb.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  47: 
137. 1905.  Cumala  del  altura. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  7  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches 
for  about  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  brown,  smooth,  and 
yields  a  small  amount  of  thin,  translucent  resin  when  cut. — Of 
limited  occurrence;  in  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal  floods  (alt. 
400-800  ft.). 

Sapwood  thick,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark  reddish 
brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight-grained ;  fine-  or  medium-textured ; 
heavy,  hard,  and  tough;  takes  a  smooth  and  fairly  lustrous  finish; 
liable  to  check  in  drying.  Parenchyma  in  widely  spaced,  concentric 
lines,  appearing  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  small  and 
visible  only  with  lens.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  or  slightly  darker 
than  background  and  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  barely  distinguishable 
with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  slightly  darker  than 
adjacent  elements  on  radial. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  3461. 

Iryanthera  leptoclada  Markgr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
965.  1926. 

Forest  tree,  often  up  to  60  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  10  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
up  to  27  feet.  When  incised  the  bark  yields  a  moderate  quantity  of 
bitter,  reddish  brown  resin.  Fruit  in  clusters  attached  to  trunk; 
October-November. — Not  common; in  dense,  tall  growth  (alt.  500  ft.). 
Timber  is  used  to  some  extent  for  general  carpentry  and  construction. 

Sapwood  deep  pinkish  brown,  sometimes  with  a  grayish  cast, 
and  well  defined;  heartwood  thin,  dull  reddish  brown.  Wood 
straight-  or  roey-grained ;  fine-textured;  rather  heavy  and  strong; 
takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished ; 
durable.  Vessels  often  filled  with  highly  lustrous  deposit. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4824. 

Iryanthera  macrophylla  (Benth.)  Warb.  Nova  Acta  Acad. 
Caes.  Leop.  Nat.  Cur.  68: 155. 1897. 

Forest  tree,  30  to  100  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical  or  round; 
branches  arranged  in  whorls  about  2  feet  apart.  Trunk  erect,  cylin- 
drical or  somewhat  compressed,  9  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear 
of  limbs  up  to  four-fifths  its  height.  Bark  grayish  or  dark  reddish 
brown,  fairly  smooth,  with  short,  low,  vertical  fissures,  or  scaly, 
and  exudes  a  fair  amount  of  thin,  astringent,  pale  brown  resin. 


132  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Flowers  light  brown.  Fruit  in  clusters  attached  to  branches; 
October-November. — Widely  scattered,  but  not  common;  in  dense 
growth  free  from  seasonal  inundations  (alt.  380-450  ft.).  Wood  is 
employed  for  fuel  and  for  general  construction. 

Sapwood  yellowish  brown  with  occasional  darker  brown  streaks; 
heartwood  deep  pinkish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to 
heavy  and  compact;  saws  slightly  woolly,  fairly  easy  to  work,  and 
takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster;  probably  durable. 
Growth  rings  faintly  distinguishable  owing  to  alinement  of  elements. 
Pores  small;  numerous  to  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  mostly 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  seldom  more,  less  frequently  soli- 
tary ;  open.  Vessel  lines  visible,  but  not  distinct ;  dark  gum  frequently 
present  in  vessels.  Rays  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  darker  than  background  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1744;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4817. 

Iryanthera  paraensis  Huber,  Bol.  Mus.  Goeldi  5:  358.  1909. 
Cumala. 

Forest  tree,  35  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  open  or  conical.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  8  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
for  more  than  two-thirds  the  height.  Bark  thin,  smooth,  slightly 
sweet,  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  and  yields,  when  cut,  a  small 
amount  of  dark  reddish  brown  resin.  Leaves  subcoriaceous,  acute 
at  base,  narrow-oblong.  Flowers  very  small,  in  fascicles.  Fruit 
with  a  vertical  groove,  attached  to  trunk;  October-November. 
In  alturas  (alt.  400-500  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  for  fuel. 

Wood  variable  from  pale  yellowish  to  russet  brown  with  pale 
grayish  cast;  straight-grained;  fine-  and  uniform-textured;  of  medium 
weight;  takes  a  smooth  finish;  durable.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible 
owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  barely 
discernible  with  lens  as  broken,  tangential  or  continuous,  concentric 
lines.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  mostly  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  tangen- 
tial pairs;  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine;  lustrous  tyloses  common. 
Rays  indistinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  and  tangential 
surfaces;  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2869;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4823. 

Iryanthera  sessilis  Markgr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10: 
236.  1928. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  133 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  27  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading, 
densely  branched.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  7  to  10  inches  in 
diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  about  one-third  the  entire  height. 
Bark  dark  chocolate  brown,  smooth,  and  exudes,  when  incised,  a  fair 
amount  of  watery,  translucent,  insipid  sap.  Leaves  entire,  simple, 
narrowly  oblong,  acuminate,  acute  at  base;  petiole  short,  stout. 
Flowers  very  small,  subracemose;  April-May. — Uncommon;  in  dense 
forest  not  subject  to  inundations  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to 
a  limited  extent  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  defined,  pale  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
brown,  perishable.  Wood  of  medium  weight,  firm;  easy  to  work  and 
takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish;  susceptible  to  insects.  Parenchyma 
lines  evenly  spaced.  Vessel  lines  rather  fine  and  at  limit  of  vision; 
pale  gray  and  iridescent  deposits  frequently  present  in  vessels. 
Rays  produce  a  rich  golden  figure  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1613. 

Iryanthera  Tessmannii  Markgr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10: 
236.  1928.  Cumala. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  12  to  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  5  to  10  feet. 
Bark  in  young  trees  light  brown,  in  older  trees  dark  purplish  or 
chocolate  brown,  with  small  lenticels,  and  scaly.  Flowers  small, 
with  yellowish  green  corolla;  May- June. — Common  throughout  the 
lowland,  especially  near  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  boundary  (alt. 
380  ft.);  in  dry  or  humid  loam  in  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  pinkish  brown,  occasionally  with 
grayish  streaks  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  dark  purplish  brown. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  taste,  but  odor  slightly  spicy;  straight- 
grained;  medium- textured ;  easy  to  cut,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
susceptible  to  insect  attacks;  not  durable.  Pores  small;  few  and  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples.  Rays  fine,  faintly 
visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces;  darker  than  ad- 
jacent elements  and  distinguishable  to  naked  eye  on  moistened  radial; 
cells  frequently  filled  with  minute,  dark  brown  globules  of  gum. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  58;  Caballo-cocha,  2403;  La  Victoria,  2677, 
2815,  2820,  2902,  2952;  lower  Huallaga,  4815. 

3.    OSTEOPHLOEUM  Warb. 

Osteophloeum  platyspermum  (A.  DC.)  Warb.  Bericht. 
Deutsch.  Bot.  Ges.  13:  General-Vers.  (89).  1895. 


134  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tall  tree,  up  to  125  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  30  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches 
up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  about  1  inch  thick,  dark  reddish 
brown,  and  with  long,  coarse  scales;  inner  bark  separates  into  large 
and  fairly  thin  flakes. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  free  from  peri- 
odical inundations  or  in  slightly  humid  loam  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  throughout  when  fresh,  turning  to  pale 
brown  when  exposed,  with  darker  brown  striping  of  vessel  lines;  heart- 
wood  of  dark  chocolate  color.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained  ;  medium-textured ;  not  very  easy  to  work,  takes  a  moderately 
lustrous  finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine,  irregularly  spaced,  continuous, 
concentric  lines;  indistinct  or  visible  with  lens.  Pores  appear  as  fine 
pinpoints;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  long,  coarse,  and  of  darker  color  than 
adjacent  elements;  lustrous  or  pale  brown  deposits  frequently 
present  in  vessels.  Rays  rather  fine,  wavy,  and  visible  with  lens  on 
cross  section;  at  limit  of  vision  on  tangential;  of  darker  color  than 
background  and  rather  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel-ray  pits  bordered  or  half-bordered;  intervascular  pits 
large,  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3140. 

4.  VIROLA  Aubl. 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  to  large  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  entire, 
short-stalked,  oblong,  acute  or  acuminate,  and  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small  and  inconspicuous,  arranged  in  small,  stalked,  axillary 
panicles.  Fruits  similar  in  size  and  appearance  to  nutmeg  (Myristica 
fragrans  Houtt.)  of  the  East  Indies,  to  which  they  are  closely  related. 
The  better  quality  timber  appears  to  be  suited  for  purposes  for  which 
we  use  birch  (Betuld). 

Sapwood  variegated  light  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  cast; 
heartwood  pinkish  to  dark  purplish  brown.  Wood,  when  fresh, 
sometimes  slightly  fragrant;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
moderately  light  to  rather  heavy;  sometimes  inclined  to  be  fibrous 
or  splintery,  takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish;  checks  in  drying;  fairly 
durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed  and  not  visible  with  lens. 
Pores  fairly  small  to  moderately  large;  not  numerous  to  numerous, 
diffuse-  or  showing  a  tendency  to  ring-porous;  predominantly  solitary, 
also  in  radial  multiples,  infrequently  in  rows  or  clusters;  black  gum 
or  lustrous  calcium  deposits  common.  Rays  fairly  fine  to  moderately 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  135 

distinct,  numerous,  and  unevenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  numerous 
and  at  times  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  distinct 
on  radial  surface,  sometimes  producing  silver  grain. 

Vessel  perforations  simple  to  scalariform  with  a  few  distinct  bars. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part. 

Virola  calophylla  (Spruce)  Warb.  Nova  Acta  Acad.  Caes.  Leop. 
Nat.  Cur.  68:  231.  1897.  Cumala  blanca. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  unbranched  for  40  or  50  feet,  and  with 
small  buttresses.  Bark  dark  reddish  brown  with  small  scales.  Leaves 
coriaceous,  oblongate  or  oblong-ovate,  cordate  at  base,  acute  or 
abruptly  acuminate  at  tip.  Inflorescence  paniculate;  flowers  brown. 
Fruit  round,  bivalvate,  dark  brown,  and  dehiscent;  seeds  inclosed 
in  a  pulp  which  is  used  locally  as  a  substitute  for  soap;  maturing 
in  July. — Not  common;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sap  wood  distinctly  demarcated,  lustrous  pinkish  brown;  heart- 
wood  dull  reddish  brown.  Wood  has  a  faintly  spicy  odor,  but  taste 
absent  or  not  distinctive;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  saws  rather  woolly,  easy  to  work,  takes  a 
smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  absent.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  at  limit  of  vision;  not 
numerous  or  numerous  and  well  distributed ;  mostly  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3,  sometimes  5,  also  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as 
fine,  fairly  long  scratches;  lustrous  deposits  sometimes  present. 
Rays  numerous,  closely  spaced,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  or  faintly  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  tangential; 
sometimes  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  978;  upper  Itaya,  3291. 

Virola  cuspidata  (Benth.)  Warb.  op.  cit.  176.    Cumala. 

Tree,  at  times  up  to  130  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  spreading; 
branches  sometimes  arranged  in  whorls.  Trunk  straight  or  slightly 
bent,  round  or  moderately  round,  up  to  19  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  brown  with 
a  grayish  tinge  and  numerous  short  fissures;  inner  bark  coarsely 
fibrous  or  separates  into  long  flakes;  when  cut  exudes  a  bitter, 
pale  brown  resin.  Flowers  small,  yellowish  brown,  and  fragrant. 
Fruit  ovoid,  about  1  inch  long,  brown  when  mature;  June- July.— 
Common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest 
(alt.  400  ft.). 


136  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  tan  or  light  brown  throughout;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or 
taste;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine- textured ;  of  fairly  light  or 
medium  weight;  easy  to  work,  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  takes  a  moder- 
ately smooth  finish;  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  absent. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  not  very  numerous,  well  dis- 
tributed; mostly  solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in 
tangential  pairs  or  small  clusters;  open  or  infrequently  filled  with 
white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  moderately  fine  or  rather  coarse  and  of 
darker  color  than  background.  Rays  rather  fine,  numerous,  and 
visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  indistinct  or  at 
limit  of  vision  on  radial.  Pith  dark  reddish  brown;  grayish  white 
deposit  common. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2409;  La  Victoria,  2526,  2552,  2660, 
2839,  2875. 

Virola  cuspidata  var.  membranacea  (DC.)  Warb.  op.  cit.  177. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  21  feet  in  height.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  slender,  branching  about  2  feet  from  the  base  or  undivided 
up  to  9  feet.  Bark  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  and  rather 
coarse,  short  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous;  when  incised  exudes  a  small 
amount  of  bitter,  brown  resin.  Flowers  small,  reddish  with  a  yellow 
tinge;  June- July. — Not  common;  in  dry  or  humid  loam  along  margin 
of  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sap  wood  well  defined,  yellowish  or  light  brown  with  a  pale  grayish 
cast;  heartwood  dark  purplish  or  chocolate  brown.  Wood  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine-textured; 
light  in  weight  and  easy  to  cut.  Growth  rings  absent  or  inconspicuous. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous, 
well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel  lines 
fairly  fine,  of  darker  color  than  background,  and  at  limit  of  vision. 
Rays  numerous,  fine,  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  visible  with 
lens  on  tangential  section;  not  discernible  without  lens  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2404;  La  Victoria,  2626. 

Virola  loretensis  A.  C.  Smith,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  95.  1931. 
Cumala. 

Tree,  20  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  or  pyramidal.  Trunk 
straight  or  moderately  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for 
15  or  18  feet.  Bark  dark  brown,  fissured  or  with  small  scales,  and 
secretes  a  small  amount  of  bitter,  red  resin;  inner  bark  slightly 
fibrous.  Flowers  greenish  yellow.  Fruit  small  and  the  pulp  is  rich  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  137 

oil  and  edible;  seeds  employed  as  a  substitute  for  soap;  maturing  in 
June-July. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  dense  forest  not 
subject  to  seasonal  floods  (alt.  380-400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  fresh  wood  slightly  fragrant,  but 
tasteless;  straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  light  or 
medium  weight;  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish 
with  a  moderate  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  small ;  rather  few,  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  moderately  fine,  darker  than  background,  and  at 
limit  of  vision.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  distinguishable  with  lens 
on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  slightly  darker  than  adjacent 
elements  and  visible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2264;  upper  Itaya,  3289,  3447. 

Virola  Mocoa  (DC.)  Warb.  Nova  Acta  Acad.  Caes.  Leop.  Nat. 
Cur.  68: 183. 1897. 

Small  tree,  about  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  wide-spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  round,  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  20 
feet.  Bark  reddish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  and  exudes  when 
incised  a  small  amount  of  bitter,  brown  resin;  inner  bark  fibrous. 
Fruit  subround,  reddish  brown;  February-March. — Rare;  in  old 
clearings  or  along  margin  of  dense  forest  free  from  periodical  floods 
(alt.  3,500ft.). 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight;  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  inconspicuous;  visible  owing  to  arrange- 
ment of  elements.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size 
and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  show  a  tendency 
to  zonate  arrangement;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  sometimes  more, 
less  frequently  solitary  or  in  diagonal  or  tangential  pairs;  open  or 
filled  with  pale  yellowish  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  numerous, 
fairly  fine,  and  at  limit  of  vision;  iridescent  deposits  frequently 
present.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  closely  spaced,  slightly  wavy  on  cross 
section;  discernible  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces.  Pith 
medium  brown;  pale  white  deposit  common. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7634. 

Virola  mollissima  (DC.)  Warb.  op.  cit.  167.    Cumala. 
Tree,  80  feet  tall.    Crown  spreading.    Trunk  erect,  columnar,  12 
inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  three-fourths  the  entire 


138  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

height.  Bark  chocolate  brown,  with  narrow,  light  gray  scales;  inner 
bark  separates  into  long  flakes;  bark  and  pith  when  cut  exude  a  fair 
quantity  of  insipid,  red  resin.  Leaves  densely  pubescent.  Flowers 
brown;  June-July. — Not  common;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
400  ft). 

Wood  pale  brown;  has  a  rather  fetid  odor,  but  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  inclined  to  be  fibrous, 
easy  to  work,  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  fairly  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement  of  elements  and  variation  in 
depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision; 
fairly  numerous  and  show  a  tendency  to  zonate  arrangement;  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3,  less  frequently  solitary,  seldom  in  small 
clusters;  open  or  filled  with  dark  brown  gum.  Vessel  lines  long  and 
distinct  owing  to  gum  present.  Rays  numerous,  fairly  fine,  and 
discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections:  reddish 
brown  and  visible  without  lens  against  the  lighter  background  on 
radial.  Pith  dark  reddish  brown. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3077. 

Virola  officinalis  (Mart.)  Warb.  op.  cit.  228. 

Tree  of  the  lowland,  up  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  28  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
up  to  90  feet.  Bark  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  moderately 
smooth;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Leaves  glabrous  above,  light 
brown  and  pubescent  beneath,  up  to  3.5  inches  long  and  1.5  inches 
in  width.  Fruit  subround,  in  small  clusters;  October-November. 
—Uncommon;  in  fairly  dense  forest  not  subject  to  periodical  floods 
(alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  the  construction 
of  houses. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pale  yellowish  brown  and  darkening  on 
exposure;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  slightly  fragrant,  but 
tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- textured  or  moderately  so; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  not  difficult  to  work,  holds  its 
place  well  when  finished ;  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly 
defined;  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  abundance  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous, 
well  scattered  or  show  a  tendency  to  zonate  arrangement;  mostly 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  also  solitary,  seldom  in  small  clusters; 
open  or  filled  with  pale  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  moderately  fine, 
darker  than  adjacent  elements,  and  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  numer- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  139 

ous,  fine,  and  visible  with  lens  on  moistened  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 
Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4423. 

Virola  sebifera  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  2:  904.  pi.  345.  1775.    Cumala. 

Tree,  50  to  75  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  round.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for 
20  to  55  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  cast  and 
rather  coarse,  broad,  low  ridges;  inner  bark  separates  into  coarse 
flakes;  exudes  when  cut  a  fair  quantity  of  bitter,  turbid  resin. 
Leaves  subcoriaceous,  ovate  or  oblong,  acute  or  acuminate  at  tip, 
often  shiny.  Flowers  in  axillary  or  terminal  panicles.  Fruit  ovoid, 
smooth,  and  reddish  brown  when  mature;  January-February. — 
Not  common;  in  sandy  or  dry,  medium  loam  among  low  trees  of 
second  growth  or  in  open  patches  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  1,500- 
3,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  medium 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured  or  moderately  so;  of  medium  weight;  not  difficult  to  work, 
holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  susceptible  to  stain  and  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  variation  in  abun- 
dance of  pores.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  and 
at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed ;  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-4,  infrequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines 
numerous,  of  darker  color  than  background  and  distinct;  grayish  or 
reddish  to  dark  brown  deposits  common.  Rays  moderately  fine, 
numerous,  closely  spaced,  slightly  wavy,  and  discernible  only  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  to  aided  eye  on  tan- 
gential ;  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6615;  San  Roque,  6953. 

Virola  Weberbaueri  Markgr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
965.  1926.  Caupuri. 

Tree,  up  to  90  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  28  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  four-fifths 
the  entire  height,  and  with  several  tall  surface  roots.  Bark  grayish 
or  dark  reddish  brown;  inner  bark  yellowish  or  pale  brown  and 
separates  into  coarse  flakes;  wood  and  bark,  when  cut,  yield  a  small 
quantity  of  reddish  resin.  Fruit  small,  round;  seeds  black,  ovoid; 
May- June. — Uncommon;  in  humid  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  or  creamy  yellow  with  long  grayish  brown 
streaks;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste ;  straight-grained ;  medium- 


140  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

textured;  light,  but  strong  for  its  weight;  inclined  to  be  splintery, 
easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  absent. 
Parenchyma  in  association  with  pores,  inconspicuous.  Pores  barely 
at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-3  and  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  rather  prominent 
against  the  lighter  background.  Rays  fairly  numerous,  evenly 
spaced,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers,  and  readily  distinguish- 
able to  aided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable 
with  lens  and  reddish  brown  on  tangential;  visible  without 
lens  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light ;  small  brown  globules 
of  gum  present  in  the  rays  and  discernible  with  lens.  Pith  grayish 
brown  with  reddish  brown  streaks;  lustrous  deposit  common. 
Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1166. 

MONIMIACEAE.     Monimia  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs,  rarely  climbers,  often  aromatic  and  confined 
chiefly  to  the  tropics  and  subtropics  of  the  southern  hemisphere. 
Leaves  opposite,  short-stalked,  toothed  or  entire,  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small,  greenish,  axillary,  in  small  panicles  or  fascicles,  with 
4  sepals,  no  petals,  and  usually  with  numerous  stamens.  Fruit 
composed  of  numerous  small  fleshy  carpels. 

Woods  range  in  color  from  white  or  pale  yellow  to  light  or  choco- 
late brown  or  almost  black;  fairly  light  and  soft  to  moderately 
heavy  and  hard;  those  from  Peru  are  fairly  fine-textured;  easy  to 
work;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  usually  more  or  less  distinct,  being 
delimited  by  narrow  zones  of  denser  wood,  sometimes  supplemented 
by  more  or  less  broken  parenchyma  lines  or  diffuse  parenchyma 
strands.  Pores  solitary  or  in  multiples  of  2-3,  at  times  4-5  or  more. 

Vessel  perforations  predominantly  simple  to  almost  exclusively 
scalariform;  intervascular  pit-pairs  of  two  types:  (a)  fairly  small 
to  large,  and  transitional  from  opposite  to  scalariform ;  (6)  of  small  to 
medium  size  or  rather  large  and  distinctly  alternate  in  arrangement; 
vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  bordered,  also  of  two  types:  (a)  large,  ellip- 
tical, and  in  scalariform  arrangement;  (6)  rather  small  and  resem- 
bling the  intervascular  pit-pairs.  Wood  fibers  often  septate  and  with 
simple  or  bordered  pits.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous;  uniseriate 
or  multiseriate,  up  to  16  cells  wide. 

1.    MOLLINEDIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  entire  or  dentate.  Flowers 
pedicellate,  in  axillary  cymes.  Fruit  consists  of  numerous  small  drupes. 


WOODS  QF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  141 

Sap  wood  whitish  or  yellowish  brown;  heartwood  pinkish  to  dark 
brown.  Wood  tasteless  and  odorless;  fine-  or  very  fine- textured ;  of 
light  to  medium  weight;  easy  to  work;  not  very  durable.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  small  or  very  small;  fairly  numerous  and 
well  scattered;  predominantly  solitary,  also  in  small  multiples;  open. 
Rays  fine  or  rather  distinct  on  cross  section;  occasionally  visible  to 
unaided  eye  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform  and  with  many  bars;  vessel-ray 
pits  large,  elliptical,  half-bordered.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous; 
3-4  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  pits. 

Mollinedia  casca  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  352. 1934. 

Small  tree,  approximately  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  about  10  feet. 
Bark  pinkish  or  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Not  abundant;  in 
open  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  or  along  edge  of  dense 
forest  (alt.  550  ft.).  Wood  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  yellowish  brown  with  characteristic 
darker  markings  of  rays;  heartwood  pale  purplish  brown.  Wood  with 
no  characteristic  taste,  but  slightly  fragrant;  roey-  or  wavy- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
splinters  readily,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish  with  an 
attractive  figure;  liable  to  stain  and  to  be  damaged  by  insects. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  minute  or  small;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infrequently  in  diagonal  pairs;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  distinguishable  only  with  lens;  vessels  frequently 
filled  with  lustrous  deposit.  Rays  prominent  on  all  surfaces, 
especially  on  cross  and  radial  sections.  Pith  yellowish  brown. 

Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous;  3-4  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  San  Ramon,  lower  Huallaga,  4585. 

Mollinedia  caudata  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  351. 1934. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  15  feet  in  height.  Trunk  slender, 
bent,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  6  feet.  Bark  pale  pinkish  brown. 
Fruit  ovoid,  dark  blue;  June-July. — Fairly  common  in  lower  Peru- 
vian Amazon  region;  forms  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  yellowish;  heartwood  pinkish  brown. 
Wood  uniformly  fine- textured ;  takes  a  smooth  and  fairly  lustrous 
finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  and  pores  indistinct 
with  lens.  Rays  fine,  wavy,  at  times  invisible. 

Loreto :  Pebas,  i  602. 


142  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Mollinedia  simulans  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  352. 1934. 

Shrub,  about  9  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  slender  and 
branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  light  brown  or  deep 
purple  and  fairly  smooth.  Fruit  ovoid,  clustered;  February- 
March. — Uncommon;  forming  understory  in  fairly  dense  forest 
(alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  yellow  with  a  grayish  tinge  of  the  distinct  rays; 
wavy-grained;  medium- textured ; light  in  weight,  but  firm;  cuts  easily 
and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Pores 
small  and  visible  only  with  lens;  mostly  solitary;  open  or  closed. 
Rays  white,  broad,  and  prominent  on  cross  section;  distinguishable, 
but  not  conspicuous,  on  tangential ;  pale  grayish  brown  and  produc- 
ing a  characteristic  figure  on  radial  surface.  Pith  pale  brown. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6977. 

2.    SIPARUNA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  with  entire,  glabrous  leaves.  Flowers  in  short 
axillary  cymes  or  racemes  and  usually  short-pedicelled.  Fruit  con- 
sists of  numerous  small  drupes. 

Sapwood  creamy  white  to  pale  or  fairly  dark  brown;  heartwood 
dark  brown  or  almost  black.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  or 
moderately  fine- textured ;  light  and  soft  to  fairly  hard  and  firm; 
takes  a  lustrous  finish.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  exceedingly  fine 
lines  extending  between  the  rays  or  in  short  tangential  bands.  Pores 
of  small  or  medium  size;  few  to  numerous  and  well  distributed;  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows,  less  frequently  solitary;  mostly  open. 
Rays  fine  to  fairly  distinct  and  often  sinuous  on  cross  section; 
occasionally  high  and  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforation  plates;  vessel-ray  pits  half- 
bordered.  Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous. 

Siparuna  bifida  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  A.  DC.  Prodr.  16,  pt.  2: 
652.  1864. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  27  feet  in  height. 
Crown  open  or  almost  flat.  Trunk  stout  and  branching  12  feet  or 
so  from  the  base.  Bark  dark  rufous  brown,  scaly  or  with  numerous, 
short,  coarse  depressions. — Fairly  common  in  some  localities;  in 
thickets,  in  dense  forest,  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  creamy  yellow  with  a  grayish  cast,  not  sharply  demar- 
cated into  sap  and  heart;  tasteless,  but  has  a  faintly  fragrant  odor; 
straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  143 

not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish;  checks  in  drying; 
fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth 
of  color.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine,  short  lines  extending 
between  the  rays  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous,  well  distributed ;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3, 
less  frequently  tangentially  disposed  or  solitary.  Vessel  lines 
fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  and  faintly  at  limit  of  vision. 
Rays  lighter-colored  than  fibers  and  barely  discernible  without  lens 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  624;  upper  Itaya,  3539. 

Siparuna  cervicornis  Perk.  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  47: 
145.  1905. 

Slender  tree,  about  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  round,  and  free  of  branches  for  about  half  the  entire  height. 
Fruit  small,  yellowish  brown  when  mature;  August-September. — 
Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  light  brown,  not  sharply  demarcated 
into  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained ;  of  moderately  fine  texture;  of  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut,  takes  a  dull  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  prob- 
ably durable.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous,  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples 
or  rows.  Vessel  lines  fine;  often  filled  with  grayish  white  and  lus- 
trous deposits.  Rays  moderately  fine,  wavy,  and  faintly  discernible 
to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 
Pith  pale  brown. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2706. 

Siparuna  Gilgiana  Perk.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10:  161. 
1927.  Pampa-oregano-mashan. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  bent,  somewhat  compressed,  slender,  and  unbranched  for 
about  a  third  of  the  entire  height.  Bark  grayish  white  to  dark  brown, 
with  rounded,  shallow  ridges.  Leaves  opposite,  membranaceous. 
Flowers  in  short,  axillary  cymes.  Fruit  a  small  drupe;  July.— 
Fairly  common;  in  dense,  flood-free  or  periodically  inundated  forest 
of  the  lower  Itaya  and  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 

Sapwood  sharply  demarcated,  light  brown  and  at  times  with  a 
pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  cast;  heartwood  dark  brown,  perishable. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  interwoven-grained ;  fine- textured ;  of 
light  weight;  rather  fibrous,  but  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings 


144  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous.  Vessel 
lines  fine;  often  containing  lustrous  deposits.  Rays  barely  at  limit 
of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  slightly  darker  than  back- 
ground and  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  1405. 

Siparuna  guianensis  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  2:  865.  pi.  333.  1775. 
Curuinsi-sacha,  Isula-micunan. 

Shrub,  8  to  18  feet  tall.  Trunk  round,  fairly  straight,  and  un- 
divided for  one-third  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  to  dark  chocolate 
brown,  with  long,  straight  or  undulating,  low  but  prominent  ridges. 
Young  leaves  and  twigs  yellow,  stellate-hairy;  adult  glabrous.  Flow- 
ers in  cymes  or  racemes.  Fruit  round,  pale  red  when  mature; 
March-April. — Fairly  common;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  for- 
est (alt.  400-3,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  brown;  heartwood  darker  brown.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained;  moderately  fine-tex- 
tured; heavy,  tough,  and  strong;  of  medium  weight;  rather  splintery, 
fairly  easy  to  work,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  present 
or  poorly  defined.  Pores  small  or  fairly  small;  rather  numerous,  well 
scattered;  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  less  frequently  solitary 
or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine;  often  containing  lustrous 
deposits.  Rays  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  cross  and  radial 
surfaces.  Pith  light  brown,  with  specks  of  black  gum. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  1510. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6674; 
herbarium  material  collected  also  at  Lamas  and  San  Roque. 

Siparuna  magnifica  Perk.  Bot.  Jahrb.  28:  699.  1901. 

Shrub,  about  10  feet  tall,  with  few  branches  confined  to  the 
summit.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown  with  long,  low,  rounded  ridges. 
Fruit  round  and  red  when  mature;  June- July. — Uncommon;  in  sandy 
loam  in  thickets  and  old  clearings  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  light  brown  with  pale  pinkish  tinge;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  moderately  fine-textured;  light  in  weight  and 
rather  soft;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered ;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  up  to  5  or  more,  less 
frequently  solitary.  Vessel  lines  fine ;  vessels  often  filled  with  lustrous 
deposits.  Rays  fairly  fine  and  evenly  spaced ;  sometimes  discernible 
without  lens  on  moistened  cross  and  radial  sections;  dark  brown 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  145 

specks  of  gum  often  visible  with  lens  in  cells  on  radial  section.    Pith 
light  to  dark  brown. 

Loreto:  near  Pebas,  1783. 

Siparuna  plana  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  355. 1934.   Isula-micunan. 

Shrub,  about  8  feet  tall.  Flowers  small,  yellow;  November- 
December. — Uncommon;  in  open  dry  loam  or  along  margin  of  forest 
(alt.  500  ft.). 

Loreto:  San  Ramon,  lower  Huallaga,  4584- 

Siparuna  Poeppigii  (Tul.)  A.  DC.  Prodr.  16,  pt.  2:  653.  1864. 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  tall,  with  many  branches  and  short,  slender 
trunk.  Bark  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  cast  and  undulating,  long 
or  short  ridges.  Flowers  small,  yellow.  Fruit  round  and  red  when 
mature;  October-November. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dry  medium 
loam  along  edge  of  dense  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained;  fine-textured; 
of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight,  firm  and  strong,  but  rather  splin- 
tery; takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to 
alinement  or  absence  of  parenchyma.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size; 
not  very  numerous,  well  distributed ;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of 
2-6,  less  frequently  in  tangential  pairs  or  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine ;  vessels  often  filled  with  pale  white  or  bluish  deposits.  Rays  rather 
fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  faintly  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  mois- 
tened cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  slightly  darker  than 
background  and  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened  radial 
surface;  cells  on  radial  section  often  filled  with  small,  dark  brown 
globules  of  gum. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  3833. 

Siparuna  thecaphora  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  A.  DC.  Prodr.  16, 
pt.  2:  657.  1864.  Curuinsi-sacha,  Isula-caspi,  Limdn  del  monte, 
Macusaro,  Sacha-limon. 

Tall,  often  straggly,  shrub,  attaining  a  height  of  18  feet.  Trunk 
unbranched  up  to  9  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  dark  rufous  to  chocolate 
brown,  fissured;  wood  beneath  bark  usually  dark  brown.  Flowers 
small,  in  axillary  cymes.  Drupe  indehiscent,  reddish  pink.  Leaves, 
fruit,  and  fresh  wood  have  a  distinct  and  characteristic  spicy  odor. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  pink,  often  becoming  dark  brown  when 
dried;  variable  in  weight  from  light  to  moderately  heavy;  straight- 
or  interwoven-grained;  fine- textured ;  easy  to  cut;  not  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  absence  of  parenchyma. 


146  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Pores  small;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  occurring  in  radial 
rows  of  2-7,  and  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and 
of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  visible  without  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  visible  in  some  specimens  with- 
out lens  on  radial  surface.  Pith  almost  white  or  pale  brown,  with 
abundant  lustrous  white  or  iridescent  deposit  suggesting  raphides. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  639;  Caballo-cocha,  2024,  2094,  2142; 
upper  Itaya,  3283,  3411. 

Siparuna  Williamsii  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  353.  1934. 

Tree,  about  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moder- 
ately straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  half  the  entire 
height.  Bark  yellowish  or  light  brown  and  fairly  smooth.  Flowers 
pale  yellow;  July-August. — Uncommon;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest 
(alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  with  occasional  broad  and  slightly  darker  brown 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  interwoven-grained;  fine-  to  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy;  not  easy  to  work, 
inclined  to  be  fibrous,  and  takes  a  dull  polish;  appears  to  be  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma. 
Pores  mostly  small;  not  very  numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and 
indistinct.  Rays  of  lighter  color  than  fibers  and  barely  at  limit  of 
vision  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  occasionally  dis- 
cernible without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3371. 

LAURACEAE.    Laurel  Family 

Aromatic  trees  or  shrubs,  rarely  epiphytic  herbs,  of  which  there 
are  approximately  39  genera  and  more  than  1,000  species  distributed 
mainly  in  tropical  and  subtropical  regions,  and  with  a  few  repre- 
sentatives in  the  temperate  zone.  To  this  family  belongs  our 
common  sassafras  (Sassafras  officinale  Nees  &  Eber.).  Leaves  alter- 
nate, entire,  usually  leathery,  and  without  stipules.  Flowers  small, 
white,  greenish,  or  yellowish.  Fruit  drupe-like,  1-seeded,  sur- 
rounded at  the  base  by  the  persistent  cup-like  calyx  tube,  the  whole 
often  resembling  an  acorn  with  its  cup.  Many  of  the  members  are 
large  and  important  timber  trees,  others  are  the  source  of  such 
well-known  aromatic  products  as  camphor,  cinnamon,  and  cloves. 

The  Peruvian  species  are  oatmeal-colored  to  light  brown,  often 
with  a  grayish  cast  or  streaked ;  heartwood  ranging  from  pale  brown 
to  dark  purplish  brown  or  nearly  black,  and  often  fragrant.  Woods 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  147 

variable  from  fairly  light  and  soft  to  very  heavy  and  hard.  Growth 
rings  absent,  poorly  defined,  or  distinct;  when  present,  usually 
indicated  by  thick-walled  fibers,  or  in  some  cases  by  terminal  paren- 
chyma. Wood  parenchyma  usually  abundantly  developed ;  paratra- 
cheal  and  diffuse.  Pores  diffuse  except  in  Sassafras  where  they  are 
distinctly  ring-porous. 

Vessel  perforations  usually  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pit- 
pairs  mostly  large,  more  or  less  crowded,  and  alternate,  with  narrow 
lenticular  or  oval  to  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  completely 
bordered  to  simple.  Rays  variable  from  homogeneous  to  distinctly 
heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide,  sometimes  up  to  8  cells,  but  mostly 
biseriate  or  triseriate.  Wood  fibers  with  small  and  rather  indistinct, 
simple  pits;  septate  fibers  often  present.  Oil  cells  frequently  present 
in  wood  parenchyma  strands  or  in  rays. 

1.    ACRODICLIDIUM  Nees 

Acrodiclidium  armeniacum  (Nees)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart. 
Berlin  5:  85.  1889.  Moena,  Moena  colorada. 

Tree,  up  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  slender 
and  unbranched  for  10  feet.  Bark  grayish  brown  or  almost  black 
and  with  coarse  lenticels.  Fruit  edible;  April-May. — Common  in 
the  lowland;  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure  to 
air;  heartwood  medium  to  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  has  a 
strong  spicy  odor  and  a  bitter  taste;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly 
heavy;  moderately  straight-grained;  medium- textured ;  not  difficult 
to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  liable  to  check,  but  does  not  stain, 
in  drying;  immune  to  insects;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing 
to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements  and  slight  difference  in  depth 
of  color.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  indistinct  or  visible  on  moistened 
surface.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  dis- 
tributed; in  radial  multiples  of  2-4  and  less  frequently  solitary; 
mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as  background,  fine,  and 
barely  visible.  Rays  moderately  fine,  fairly  numerous,  and  evenly 
spaced  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  without  lens  on  other 
surfaces  when  moistened. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  64- 

2.    AJOUEA  Aubl. 

Ajouea  Jelskii  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5:  33.  1889. 
Moena  del  agua,  Yaco-moena. 


148  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tree,  45  or  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for 
30  feet.  Bark  rufous  brown  and  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small, 
white,  with  persistent  calyx;  May-June.  Fruit  yellowish  when 
mature. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  open  sandy  or  light 
loam,  usually  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
for  sugar  boxes  and  crates. 

Sapwood  lustrous  light  brown  with  pale  grayish  streaks  caused 
by  sapstain ;  heartwood  reddish  brown  and  susceptible  to  ant  attacks. 
Wood  odorless  or  very  slightly  fragrant,  tasteless;  of  moderately 
light  to  medium  weight,  firm;  straight-  or  moderately  straight- 
grained;  medium- textured;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish, 
and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma 
surrounding  the  pores;  not  distinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly 
numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in 
small  radial  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  darker  than 
adjacent  elements;  lustrous  tyloses  common  in  vessels.  Rays 
moderately  fine,  numerous,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  barely  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on 
moistened  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1090. 

3.    ANIBA  Aubl. 

Medium-sized  or  small  trees,  common  in  the  lowland  and  less 
abundant  in  the  upland  (at  alt.  of  380-3,500  ft.).  Wood  yellow- 
ish or  pale  brown,  often  with  grayish  cast  or  black  streaks;  has 
a  spicy  odor  characteristic  of  the  laurels;  of  light  weight  to  mod- 
erately heavy;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  easy  to  work,  takes 
a  lustrous  finish;  moderately  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous;  predominantly 
solitary;  open.  Rays  rather  fine  or  fairly  distinct  on  cross  section; 
occasionally  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential ;  moder- 
ately distinct  or  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  fairly  large, 
with  round  or  angularly  round  apertures.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
mostly  2-3  cells  wide,  and  few  to  20  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  with 
simple  pits;  sometimes  septate.  Thin-walled  oil  cells  have  been 
observed  in  the  rays  and  parenchyma  strands  of  some  species. 

Aniba  aniazonica  (Meisn.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5: 
69.  1889.  Moena  amarilla,  Pushiri,  Quillo  moena. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  149 

Tree  of  the  lowland  forest,  about  20  feet  tall,  although  reported 
to  attain  greater  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  slender,  straight, 
round,  and  free  of  branches  for  3  or  4  feet.  Bark  reddish  or 
dark  purplish  brown. — Usually  in  sandy  loam  or  in  the  vicinity  of 
watercourses  (alt.  500  ft.);  previously  reported  by  Poeppig  in  the 
lower  Huallaga  and  by  Rusby  in  Bolivia,  at  the  junction  of  Madre  de 
Dios  and  Beni  rivers.  Timber  has  no  local  application  except  for 
kindling. 

Sap  wood  sharply  defined,  yellowish  brown,  and  highly  lustrous; 
heartwood  thin,  dark  brown.  Wood  tasteless,  but  has  a  fragrant  odor 
suggesting  camphor;  moderately  straight-grained;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  moderately  heavy  and  firm;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in 
depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small  and  distin- 
guishable only  with  lens;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but 
discernible  without  lens;  lustrous  deposits  frequently  present.  Rays 
barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
prominent  against  the  lighter-colored  background  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  724(1);  lower  Huallaga,  4287(1),  5297. 

Aniba  Williamsii  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Repert.  Sp.  Nov.  31:  169. 
1933.  Moena  amarilla. 

Tree,  about  40  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  7  to  10  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  about  15  feet.  Bark  thick,  yellowish  brown. — Uncommon;  in 
flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sap  wood  yellowish  brown  with  occasional  dark  patches;  heart- 
wood  reddish  brown.  Wood  rather  heavy,  strong;  saws  slightly 
woolly;  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3495. 

4.    ENDLICHERIA  Nees 

Small  or  medium-sized  to  fairly  tall  forest  trees,  very  common  in 
some  localities  in  the  lowland.  Sap  wood  variable  in  color  from 
whitish  or  yellowish  to  pink  or  dull  brown,  usually  with  a  grayish 
cast;  heartwood  pale  to  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  sometimes 
slightly  fragrant;  medium-textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight; 
inclined  to  be  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  polish; 
moderately  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal.  Pores  of  medium 
size;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or 


150  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

in  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  on 
cross  section;  sometimes  moderately  distinct  on  tangential;  at 
times  producing  silver  grain  on  radial  surface.  Oil  cells  present 
in  the  rays,  appearing  on  cross  section  as  intercellular  canals. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforation  plates.  Rays  heterogeneous  and 
show  some  tendency  to  homogeneous;  mostly  from  2-3  cells  wide. 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  5,  pt.  2:  283. 
1866.  Canela-moena,  Moena  del  agua. 

Slender  tree,  up  to  25,  at  times  40,  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing. Trunk  straight  or  inclined,  round  or  moderately  so,  5  to 
10  inches  in  diameter,  either  branching  from  the  base  or  clear  of 
limbs  for  approximately  6  feet.  Bark  pale  to  dark  chocolate  brown, 
with  numerous  shallow  ridges  and  small  lenticels;  yields  a  small 
quantity  of  sweet,  brown  resin  when  incised. — Common  in  the  low- 
land; in  humid  loam  in  old  clearings  or  along  banks  of  streams 
(alt.  400-500  ft.);  the  species  has  a  wide  distribution  in  northern 
South  America  and  has  been  reported  previously  from  the  state  of 
Ceara,  Brazil,  and  British  Guiana.  Timber  is  used  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown  and  fairly  lustrous;  heart- 
wood  light  or  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  characteristic  taste 
or  odor;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  light 
in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  does  not 
appear  tto  be  durable.  Growth  rings  sometimes  visible  owing  to 
difference  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  numer- 
ous, uniformly  scattered  or  with  a  tendency  to  crowding;  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  less  often  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine 
and  short;  frequently  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses.  Rays  not  distin- 
guishable without  lens  on  cross  section;  faintly  discernible  to  un- 
aided eye  on  tangential;  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  fairly 
distinct  on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  15,  176;  lower  Nanay,  609;  near  Iquitos, 
1494, 1500,  3670;  upper  Itaya,  3307. 

Endlicheria  Williamsii  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Repert.  Sp.  Nov.  31: 
177.  1933.  Isma-moena,  Moena  blanca,  Pampa-moena. 

Tree,  25  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  wide-spreading.  Trunk  cylindri- 
cal, usually  slightly  inclined,  up  to  25  inches  in  diameter,  free  of 
branches  up  to  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  small  to  medium- 
sized  buttresses.  Bark  up  to  1  inch  thick,  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth;  that  of  young  trees  and  branches  with  long,  shallow  ridges; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  151 

secretes  a  small  quantity  of  sweet,  translucent  sap  when  cut.  Flowers 
small,  yellowish.  Fruit  ovoid,  with  adhering,  red  calyx. — Common 
in  the  lowland,  especially  in  the  upper  Nanay  (alt.  500  ft.) ;  in  dense 
forest  in  humid  loam  or  adjacent  to  streams.  Timber  is  sometimes 
employed  for  canoes,  crating,  and  furniture. 

Sapwood  grayish  white  or  pale  yellowish  brown,  well  defined; 
heartwood  dull  brown.  Fresh  wood  has  a  strong,  spicy  odor.  Timber 
not  as  heavy  as  E.  anomala  and  brittle;  saws  slightly  woolly;  checks 
in  drying.  Pores  of  medium  size;  mostly  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples.  Rays  slightly  more  pronounced  on  cross  section  than  in 
the  preceding  species. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1002,  1003,  1004,  1193,  1203. 

5.    HUFELANDIA  Nees 

Hufelandia  sp.(?)  Ushun  moena.  Tree,  ranging  up  to  80  feet 
tall.  Crown  round  to  moderately  so.  Trunk  straight,  columnar, 
17  inches  in  diameter,  with  low  buttresses,  and  free  of  branches 
up  to  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  yellowish  or  violet  to  red- 
dish brown,  about  0.5  inch  thick,  rough,  and  exudes  a  small 
quantity  of  viscid,  translucent  resin  when  cut.  Fruit  ovoid,  bluish 
black  when  ripe;  January. — Fairly  common;  in  moderately  dense 
growth  (alt.  3,200  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pale  brown  or  grayish  with 
dark  streaks  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwoocl  dull  brown.  Wood 
tasteless  and  odorless;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured;  light  in  weight  and  fairly  soft;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth 
finish,  holds  its  place  well ;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible 
owing  to  arrangement  of  elements  and  slight  variation  in  depth  of 
color.  Parenchyma  indistinct;  in  widely  spaced  terminal  lines. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered  or  at  times 
with  a  tendency  to  group  in  concentric  zones;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  infrequently  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  short  or  long,  readily  distinguishable  to  the  unaided  eye  on 
account  of  the  dark  brown  gum  and  calcium  deposits  present.  Rays 
indistinct  or  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  fairly  distinct  on  radial 
surface;  small  globules  of  brown  gum  abundant  in  the  cells  on 
radial  section. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7077. 


152  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

6.    NECTANDRA  Roland 

Trees  or  shrubs,  with  more  or  less  leathery  leaves.  Flowers  small, 
in  axillary  or  terminal,  panicled  cymes. 

Sap  wood  light-colored,  varying  from  yellowish  to  light  brown, 
often  with  a  grayish  or  pinkish  gray  hue;  heartwood  pale  to  dark 
brown.  Wood  usually  has  a  faintly  spicy  odor  when  fresh;  medium- 
textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight;  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  takes 
a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  or  highly  lustrous  polish;  moderately  dur- 
able. Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
moderately  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently 
in  multiples,  seldom  in  clusters;  open.  Rays  fine  and  curving  at 
point  of  contact  with  rays  on  cross  section;  occasionally  barely 
discernible  on  tangential;  often  darker  than  background  and  pro- 
ducing a  silver  grain  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  elongated  and 
bordered;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays 
heterogeneous,  with  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  mostly  2-3  cells 
wide  and  few  to  about  40  cells  high;  cells  coarse,  often  short,  the 
marginal  ones  larger  and  sometimes  upright. 

Nectandra  acutifolia  (Pavon)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
5:409.1889.  Moena  amarilla. 

Forest  tree,  about  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  columnar,  9  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  up  to  28 
feet,  and  with  1  or  2'  small  buttresses.  Bark  dark  purplish  brown 
and  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small,  white,  and  slightly  fragrant. 
—Fairly  common;  in  flood-free  areas  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
for  fuel. 

Sapwood  lustrous  light  brown;  heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown, 
thin.  Wood  when  fresh  has  a  spicy  odor,  but  absent  or  not  distinctive 
in  dried  material;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight  and  strong;  easy  to  cut,  splits  easily,  saws  slightly 
woolly,  takes  a  smooth  polish;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Pores  not  numerous,  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4, 
seldom  tangentially  disposed;  open.  Vessel  lines  readily  distinguish- 
able against  the  lighter  background.  Rays  visible  with  lens  on 
cross  and  tangential  sections;  indistinct  or  discernible  without  lens 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2088;  reported  also  from  the  Department 
of  Huanuco. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  153 

Nectandra  globosa  (Aubl.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5: 
415.  1889.  Moena  amarilla,  Moena  blanca. 

Tree,  50  to  90  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or  spreading,  dense.  Trunk 
straight,  round  or  moderately  so,  9  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  free  of 
branches  for  half  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height,  and  occasionally 
with  narrow  buttresses  up  to  5  or  6  feet  high.  Bark  dark  pinkish 
or  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  small  excrescences.  Flowers 
small,  white,  rather  showy,  and  fragrant;  June-July. — Common  in 
the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  region;  in  dense  forest,  often  near 
streams  (alt.  380  ft.);  reported  also  from  the  upland  (alt.  4,000 
ft.).  Wood  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  construction,  but 
mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  yellow  when  fresh,  turning  to  light 
brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  on  exposure.  Wood  when  freshly  cut 
very  fragrant,  but  odor  not  perceptible  in  dried  material;  straight-  or 
roey-grained ;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  light  or  medium 
weight;  splinters  readily,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous 
polish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2268;  La  Victoria,  2863;  Leticia,  Peru- 
vian-Brazilian border,  3045. 

Nectandra  maranonensis  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart. 
Berlin  10:  229.  1928.  Moena  amarilla. 

Tree,  45  to  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  fairly 
straight,  appressed,  15  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  branching  a 
few  feet  above  the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  half  the  entire  height, 
and  with  buttresses  about  4  feet  high.  Bark  dark  brown  or  almost 
black,  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small,  white;  June- July. — Fairly 
common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  region;  in  dense  forest  near 
lagoons  or  streams  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  utilized  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  distinctly  defined,  yellow  when  fresh,  turning  to  light 
brown  on  exposure  and  often  with  a  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  dark 
chocolate  brown.  Wood  when  fresh  slightly  fragrant,  but  odor 
not  distinctive  in  dried  material ;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  splinters  easily,  takes  a  smooth 
polish  with  a  fairly  high  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Rays  fine,  sometimes  barely  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section; 
producing  a  distinctive  figure  against  the  lighter-colored  background 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2447;  La  Victoria,  2858. 


154  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Nectandra  Pichurim  (HBK.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
5:  449. 1889.  Muina,  Pishco-nahui-muina. 

Tree,  up  to  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  12  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of 
branches  up  to  40  feet.  Bark  light  gray  or  dark  purplish  brown, 
moderately  smooth.  Flowers  with  creamy  white  petals  and  fragrant ; 
February-March.  Fruit  globose. — Nowhere  common,  but  widely 
distributed;  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380-3,500  ft.).  The  timber  is 
employed  in  the  highland  for  doors  and  door  frames  and  in  the 
lowland  mostly  for  kindling. 

Sap  wood  fairly  well  demarcated,  pale  cream-colored  or  light 
brown,  occasionally  with  pale  grayish  or  pinkish  areas;  heartwood 
light  or  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  thin.  Wood  slightly  fra- 
grant, but  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  holds  its  place 
well;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  barely  visible.  Pores 
faintly  visible  without  lens. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1705. — San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7730. 

Nectandra  pulverulenta  Nees,  Syst.  Laur.  283.  1836.  Moena 
amarilla,  Moena  blanca. 

Medium-sized  forest  tree,  45  to  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense, 
round  or  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  9 
to  15  inches  in  diameter,  either  branching  a  few  feet  above  the  base 
or  undivided  up  to  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  buttresses  about 
2  feet  high.  Bark  grayish  white,  moderately  smooth;  inner  bark 
purplish  brown.  Flowers  pale  brown  or  white.  October-November. 
Fruit  ovoid,  speckled. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt. 
600  ft.) ;  in  flood-free  areas.  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for 
door  frames  and  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  yellowish  brown  when  fresh,  becoming  pale  brown  on 
exposure;  heartwood  dark  brown  and  perishable.  Wood  has  a  faintly 
fragrant  odor;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured; 
of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  and  highly 
lustrous  finish;  checks  in  drying. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  3814,  4015,  4913. 

7.    OCOTEA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs  with  leathery  leaves.  Flowers  whitish,  in  axillary 
or  subterminal  panicles.  Fruit  at  first  included  in  the  thickened 
perianth  tube,  later  exserted. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  155 

Sapwood  grayish  white  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  light  to  dark 
purplish  brown.  Wood  of  some  species  has  a  spicy  odor,  suggesting 
turpentine;  of  medium  texture;  light  and  soft  to  heavy,  hard,  and 
compact;  sometimes  fibrous,  but  takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal,  infrequently  aliform;  often  indistinct. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary, 
less  frequently  in  multiples;  open.  Rays  fairly  fine  on  cross  section; 
occasionally  barely  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential; 
distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  moder- 
ately large  or  very  large  and  in  scalariform  arrangement.  Rays 
heterogeneous,  showing  tendency  to  homogeneous;  mostly  biseriate, 
seldom  triseriate. 

Ocotea  cuprea  (Meisn.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5:  299. 
1889. 

Uncommon  tree,  about  55  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  about  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up 
to  36  feet.  Bark  purplish  brown;  inner  bark  separates  into  coarse, 
bristly  fibers.  Flowers  fragrant  and  with  pale  yellowish  white  corolla ; 
June- July. — In  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  and  thickets  (alt.  400  ft.). 
Timber  used  by  the  Yahua  Indians  of  Pebas  for  the  construction 
of  huts. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  with  dark  purplish  or  almost  black  streaks; 
straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured;  of  medium 
weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster; 
fairly  durable.  Pores  appear  as  small  pinpoints;  fairly  numerous, 
well  scattered;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  multiples;  open. 
Pith  yellowish  or  dull  brown. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1884- 

Ocotea  grandifolia  (Nees)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5: 
290.  1889.  Moena  blanca,  Sipra-moena. 

Tall  shrub,  at  times  attaining  the  size  of  a  small  tree,  about  28 
feet  high.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  free 
of  limbs  up  to  10  feet.  Bark  dark  purplish  or  chocolate  brown,  with 
few  long,  coarse  ridges,  at  times  united  by  cross  ridges,  which  appear 
to  be  characteristic  of  this  species.  Flowers  with  creamy  white  corolla. 
Fruit  light  green. — Fairly  abundant  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  500ft.) ; 
in  forest  flanking  the  Paranapura,  also  among  low  trees  and  shrubs 
on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  used  for  fuel 
only. 


156  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  yellow,  darkening  slightly  to  pinkish 
brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  brown,  thin.  Wood  tasteless,  has  a 
slightly  fragrant  odor ;  straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  of  medium 
weight  to  rather  heavy,  compact,  and  strong;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a 
smooth  polish ;  likely  to  check  in  drying ;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Pores  small  and 
invisible  to  unaided  eye;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infrequently  in  small  clusters; 
open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  barely  discernible  when  held  to 
proper  light;  tyloses  frequently  present.  Rays  fine  and  irregularly 
spaced  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  without  lens  on  cross 
and  tangential  sections.  Pith  yellowish  brown,  star-shaped. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4609;  near  Yurimaguas,  7883. — San 
Martin:  Tarapoto,  6618. 

Ocotea  laxiflora  (Meisn.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5:  371. 
1889.  Canela-moena. 

Tree,  25  feet  tall,  but  said  to  attain  a  height  of  up  to  90  feet. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  moderately  round,  slender,  and 
branching  a  few  feet  above  the  base.  Bark  pinkish  to  dark  chocolate 
brown,  with  short  and  fairly  coarse  ridges.  Fruit  round;  October- 
November. — Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  along  edge  of  dense  forest 
(alt.  550  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed  for  furniture  and  sometimes  for 
canoes. 

Wood  lustrous  yellowish  or  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight; 
splinters  easily,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well. 
Growth  rings  present.  Pores  rather  numerous  and  uniformly  scat- 
tered; solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2;  open.  Pith  light  brown, 
star-shaped. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4004-- 

Ocotea  licanioides  A.  C.  Smith,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  107. 
1931.  Moena  negra. 

Small  tree,  about  25  feet  tall,  but  said  to  attain  greater  height. 
Branches  elongated  and  drooping.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height. 
Bark  dark  purplish  brown  or  almost  black  and  fairly  smooth.  Flow- 
ers creamy  yellow.  Fruit  ovoid,  brown  when  ripe;  April-May. — In 
dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.).  Timber  used  to  a  small  extent  for  the 
construction  of  huts. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  157 

Wood  lustrous  yellowish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure  to 
air;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  some- 
times visible  with  lens  as  fine,  unevenly  spaced,  concentric  lines. 
Pores  small;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  mostly  solitary.  Vessel 
lines  fine  and  barely  visible  when  held  to  proper  light;  lustrous 
deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  fine  and  distinguishable  with 
lens  on  cross  surface;  indistinct  on  tangential;  visible  to  unaided 
eye  on  moistened  radial  surface.  Pith  light  brown. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1118. 

Ocotea  maynensis  (Meisn.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5: 
359.  1889.  Moena. 

Shrub,  about  13  feet  tall.  Trunk  slender  and  branching  from 
near  the  base.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown  and  fairly  smooth. 
Flowers  with  bright  red  calyx  and  yellowish  white  corolla;  Septem- 
ber-October. Fruit  light  green. — Uncommon;  in  thickets  or  along 
margin  of  forest  (alt.  600  ft.). 

Sap  wood  distinctly  demarcated,  lustrous  pale  brown;  heartwood 
dark  brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4043- 

Ocotea  minutiflora  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
10:  231.  1928.  Urcu-moena. 

Tree,  19  to  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or 
fairly  straight,  round,  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for 
3  or  6  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  dark  purplish  brown,  with  minute  ex- 
crescences. Flowers  red;  July-August.  Fruit  small,  ovoid,  green; 
January-February. — Limited  in  its  distribution;  in  dry,  medium 
loam  on  edge  of  path  in  forest  (alt.  1,600  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for 
fuel  only. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  lustrous  golden  yellow,  turning 
to  dull  pale  brown  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  chocolate 
brown.  Wood  has  a  fragrant  odor,  but  is  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy  and  compact; 
not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well. 
Growth  rings  present.  Pores  barely  visible  without  lens;  mostly  in 
small  radial  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  readily  visible,  but  not 
conspicuous.  Rays  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
surfaces;  visible  without  lens  against  the  lighter  background  on 
radial  surface. 


158  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3667.  —  San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  middle 
Huallaga, 


Ocotea  opifera  Mart,  in  Reise  Bras.  3:  1128.  1831.  Moena  blanca. 

Tree,  up  to  70  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  or  moderately  flat. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  17  to  25  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
branches  for  one-third  the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish  to  dark 
brown  with  coarse  excrescences.  —  Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  along 
hill  slopes  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  used  to  a  small  extent  for  flooring 
and  house  construction. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  lustrous  white  with  a  pale  pink- 
ish tinge  when  held  to  proper  light,  and  turning  to  a  dull  oatmeal 
color  after  long  exposure;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  fairly  light  in  weight  but  firm;  easy  to 
cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish;  likely  to  check  in  drying. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  61$. 

Ocotea  rubrinervis  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5:  351. 
1889.  Moena  blanca,  Yurac-moena. 

Tree,  about  25  feet  tall.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  unbranched  for  about  4  feet.  Bark  yellowish  brown, 
smooth;  inner  bark  dark  chocolate  brown.  —  Uncommon;  in  sandy 
loam  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  of  second  growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 
Timber  used  to  some  extent  for  general  carpentry  and  kindling. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  uniform  yellowish  brown;  heartwood  thin, 
dark  brown.  Wood  odorless,  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  textured  ;  takes  a  smooth  polish,  with  a  golden 
luster  when  held  to  proper  light,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  fin- 
ished. Growth  rings  present.  Rays  visible,  but  not  conspicuous,  to 
unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6102. 

Ocotea  tarapotana  (Meisn.)  Mez,  Jahrb.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  5: 
304.  1889.  Moena-aguaras,  Canela  moena,  Turpentina  moena. 

Forest  tree,  in  the  lowland  up  to  100  feet  in  height,  whereas  in 
the  upland  it  seldom  exceeds  40  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar  or  moderately  so,  5  to  20  inches  or  more  in  diam- 
eter, and  undivided  up  to  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  about 
1  inch  thick,  dark  reddish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow- 
ish or  white.  —  In  areas  subject  to  seasonal  inundations  (alt.  400- 
1,500  ft.).  The  dense,  durable  wood  is  greatly  esteemed  for  flooring, 
door  frames,  and  house  posts. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  159 

Sap  wood  thin  and  well  demarcated,  pale  brown;  heartwood  dark 
brown.  Wood  has  a  strong  and  distinctive  odor  suggesting  turpen- 
tine, whence  the  local  name  "turpentia  moena";  heavy,  moderately 
hard,  and  strong;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured; 
requires  a  sharp  plane  to  work,  inclined  to  be  splintery,  but  takes  a 
lustrous  finish  and  holds  its  place  well;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  barely  visible; 
solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2  or  3;  open  or  closed. 
Vessels  often  filled  with  white  deposit.  Rays  fine;  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  905. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5866. 

Ocotea  Tessmannii  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
10:233.1928.  Moena. 

Tree,  20  to  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading  or  flat;  branches  ar- 
ranged in  whorls  at  regular  intervals.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  clear  of  branches  for  9  or  10  feet.  Bark  thin,  purplish 
or  chocolate  brown,  and  moderately  smooth. — Not  common;  in 
forest  in  dry  heavy  loam  (alt.  600-1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  employed 
for  fuel  only. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  and  highly  lustrous;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  light  and 
fairly  soft,  but  strong  for  its  weight;  saws  woolly,  easy  to  cut,  splinters 
easily,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  not  durable.  Pith  light  brown, 
star-shaped. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4728. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6594. 

Ocotea  Trianae  Rusby,  Bull.  N.  Y.  Bot.  Card.  6:  506.  1910. 
Maena  blanca,  Pampa  moena. 

Medium-sized  tree,  from  45  to  65  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading 
or  at  times  almost  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round,  11  to  16  inches  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  10  feet.  Bark  deep  pink  or  pur- 
plish brown  and  moderately  smooth.— Fairly  common  in  the  low- 
land (alt.  400  ft.);  along  margin  of  forest  and  especially  near  streams 
and  lagoons;  reported  also  from  the  region  of  the  Rio  Chiarra, 
Bolivia  (alt.  4,000  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed  locally  for  furniture, 
house  posts,  and  canoes. 

Sap  wood  almost  white  or  pale  brown,  occasionally  with  yellow- 
ish areas;  heartwood  dark  brown  and  perishable.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy,  firm,  and  strong; 


160  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  not  difficult  to 
work,  takes  a  lustrous  finish,  and  holds  its  place  fairly  well.  Growth 
rings  indistinct  or  visible  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Ves- 
sels often  filled  with  brown  or  almost  black  deposit  and  tyloses 
sometimes  present.  Pith  pale  pinkish  brown,  narrow. 
Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2153;  near  Iquitos,  7947,  8083. 

8.    PERSEA  Gaertn.  f. 

Persea  americana  Mill.  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  1768.  Avocado, 
Huira-palto,  Palto. 

This  is  one  of  the  common  fruit  trees  cultivated  in  the  lowland, 
and  in  places  apparently  growing  spontaneously.  It  is  an  attractive 
tree,  up  to  30  or  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  irregular.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  10  to  18  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches 
for  about  a  third  of  the  entire  height.  Bark  yellowish  to  purplish 
brown,  rough.  Young  leaves  pubescent.  Flowers  panicled,  yellowish 
green  or  white.  Fruit  pear-shaped,  smooth,  light  green  in  color,  and 
resembles  the  West  Indian  variety;  the  pulp  has  a  pleasant  flavor 
and  the  large  seeds  furnish  a  dark  brown,  indelible  dye  which  is  em- 
ployed for  marking  linen;  fruiting  in  April- June.  Wood  is  seldom 
used  locally. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  grayish  white  to  yellowish  or  pale 
brown,  often  with  dark  brown  or  black  streaks  caused  probably  by 
stain;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  moderately  light  in  weight, 
but  firm;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather 
coarse-textured;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain, 
takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish ;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  present;  visible  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores;  not  distinct.  Pores  faintly  dis- 
cernible to  unaided  eye;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  soli- 
tary, infrequently  in  radial  or  tangential  multiples  or  rows  of  2; 
open.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine,  of  darker  color  than  background; 
calcium  deposit  frequently  present.  Rays  fairly  fine;  visible  with 
lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  of  slightly  darker  color  than 
the  surrounding  elements  and  sometimes  distinct  on  radial  surface; 
heterogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  324,  325. 

9.    PHOEBE  Nees 

Phoebe  pichisensis  A.  C.  Smith,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  103. 
1931.    Pishco-moena. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  161 

Tree,  approximately  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  moderately  round. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  9  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  21  feet.  Bark  very  thin,  reddish  brown,  and  smooth.  Flowers 
small,  pale  yellow,  in  axillary  panicles;  January-February. 
—Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  not  subject  to  periodical  inundations 
(alt.  3,500  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed  for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  almost  white  when  fresh,  with 
a  light  brown  tinge  when  dried;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood 
fragrant  when  fresh,  but  odor  and  taste  absent  in  dried  material; 
light  and  fairly  soft;  straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  requires  a 
sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  saws  slightly  woolly, 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish;  is  strong  for  its  weight. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Pores 
small;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  less  fre- 
quently in  radial  rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  very  fine, 
short  scratches  of  slightly  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements. 
Rays  fine  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces; 
indistinct  on  radial. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  mostly  very 
large  and  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous  or  nearly  homogeneous;  uni- 
or  biseriate,  infrequently  triseriate.  Wood  fibers  sometimes  in  definite 
radial  arrangement,  moderately  thick- walled,  and  with  simple  pits. 

San  Martin :  San  Roque,  7085. 

10.    PLEUROTHYRIUM  Nees 

Small  or  large  trees,  fairly  common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon 
region .  Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  yellow  to  copper ;  heartwood 
very  dark  brown.  Wood  sometimes  slightly  fragrant ;  fine-  to  medium- 
textured;  light,  but  firm,  to  medium  in  weight;  often  saws  woolly  and 
takes  a  fairly  or  highly  lustrous  finish;  not  very  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal;  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small  or  of  medium 
size;  few  and  irregularly  scattered;  solitary  or  infrequently  in  small 
multiples;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential ;  often  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Pleurothyrium  densiflorum  A.  C.  Smith,  Bull.  Torrey  Club 
58:  109.  1931. 

Tree,  approximately  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
bifurcating  from  the  base  (diameter  of  larger  limb  11  inches),  and  with 
large  surface  roots.  Bark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge  and  numerous,  fairly  coarse  lenticels;  wood  beneath  bark 


162  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

also  chocolate  brown.  Flowers  small,  greenish  white;  June- July. 
—Uncommon;  in  slightly  humid  loam  near  lagoon  among  shrubs  and 
medium-sized  trees  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  and  occasionally  with  slightly  darker  brown 
streaks  or  light  gray  patches,  and  with  no  sharp  distinction  between 
sap  and  heart;  has  a  faintly  pleasant  odor,  but  no  distinctive 
taste;  fairly  light,  but  firm  and  strong;  straight-  or  moderately 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  lustrous  when  freshly  cut,  easy 
to  work,  does  not  take  a  very  smooth  finish;  checks  and  liable 
to  stain  slightly  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent.  Pores  barely  at 
limit  of  vision;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  less  fre- 
quently in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  or  fairly 
long,  rather  fine,  slightly  darker  than  background,  and  at  limit  of 
vision;  lustrous  tyloses  common  in  vessels.  Rays  moderately  fine, 
fairly  numerous;  visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
slightly  darker  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  discernible  to 
unaided  eye  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 
Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2273. 

Pleurothyrium  Williamsii  0.  C.  Schmidt,  Repert.  Sp.  Nov. 
31:  189.  1933. 

Tree,  approximately  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  or  flat  and 
with  few  branches.  Trunk  moderately  straight,  round,  about  17 
inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  65  feet.  Bark  greenish 
or  reddish  brown,  scaly;  inner  bark  fibrous. — Fairly  common  in  the 
lowland;  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  small 
extent  for  the  construction  of  huts. 

Wood  deep  lustrous  yellow,  turning  on  exposure  to  yellowish 
brown,  and  not  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart;  slightly 
fragrant,  but  without  distinctive  taste;  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured;  moderately  heavy  and  rather  tenacious;  rather  fibrous,  not 
difficult  to  work,  holds  its  place  well ;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings 
present,  but  not  distinct;  indicated  by  variation  in  abundance  of 
elements.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  in  fine  terminal  lines,  and  in 
indistinct,  broad,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size  and 
sometimes  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  infrequently  diagonally  disposed;  open. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine  scratches  of  darker  color  than  background. 
Rays  fine,  wavy,  and  discernible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  faintly 
distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  tangential;  of  darker 
color  and  visible  without  lens,  but  not  conspicuous,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1766. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  163 

CAPPARIDACEAE.     Caper  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  simple  or  com- 
pound, with  or  without  stipules.  Flowers  axillary  or  in  racemes  or 
corymbs;  stamens  elongate,  few  or  many.  Fruit  a  berry  or  capsule. 

Woods  whitish  or  yellowish,  often  with  pinkish  or  reddish  brown 
streaks;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  reddish  brown;  variable 
from  light  and  rather  soft  to  heavy  and  compact;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  easy  to  work;  perishable  or  durable.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal  and  in  fine,  broken,  tangential  lines,  confluent,  or  in 
concentric  bands  which  are  sometimes  conspicuous  and  appear 
to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized; 
fairly  numerous  or  numerous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples, 
occasionally  in  radial  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  broad ; 
sometimes  visible  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  half- 
bordered.  Rays  homogeneous  or  with  a  tendency  to  heterogeneous; 
1-3  cells  wide  and  few  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  have  simple  or  indis- 
tinctly bordered  pits. 

1.    CAPPARIS  L. 

Small  trees  or  shrubs,  glabrous  or  variously  pubescent.  Leaves 
alternate,  simple,  stalked,  and  often  leathery.  Flowers  small  or 
large,  with  white  petals  and  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  variable  as 
to  form,  but  technically  a  berry.  The  members  of  this  genus  are 
common  in  low  forest  and  especially  in  arid  areas. 

Wood  light-colored,  whitish  or  yellowish,  often  with  pinkish  or 
reddish  streaks  and  blue  stain;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined, 
reddish  brown;  sometimes  with  a  slightly  fetid  odor;  variable  in 
weight  from  light  to  heavy;  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  perishable  or 
durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  fine,  broken,  tangential 
lines,  also  in  closely  or  widely  spaced  concentric  bands;  often  con- 
spicuous. Pores  small  to  medium-sized;  fairly  numerous  to  numer- 
ous; in  multiples  of  2-5,  less  often  solitary  or  in  small  clusters; 
open  or  filled  with  yellowish  or  dark  gum.  Rays  fine  or  barely 
visible;  sometimes  distinguishable  on  tangential;  distinct  in  some 
specimens  on  radial. 

Capparis  nitida  Ruiz  &  Pavon  in  DC.  Prodr.  1:  252.  1824. 
Intuto-caspi. 

Medium-sized,  slender  tree,  35  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  8  inches  in  diam- 


164  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

eter,  and  either  branching  from  near  the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  for 
upwards  of  21  feet.  Bark  greenish  or  light  grayish  to  dark  brown, 
fairly  smooth  or  with  low  ridges.  Leaf  blades  entire,  ovate,  rounded 
at  base,  acuminate  at  apex,  lustrous  above,  glabrous,  subcoriaceous, 
petiolate.  Flowers  white  and  somewhat  large.  Fruit  globular,  dark 
or  almost  black;  January-February. — Common  in  rocky  land  or 
among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second  growth,  also  along  banks  of 
streams  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  or  almost  white,  with  extensive 
grayish  areas  and  no  distinct  demarcation  between  sap  and  heart; 
has  no  particular  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ; 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight,  tough,  and  strong; 
fairly  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish ;  does  not  appear 
to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  distinct,  owing  to 
variation  in  color  and  abundance  of  elements.  Pores  not  numer- 
ous; either  solitary  or  in  radial  rows  of  2-5,  sometimes  in  diagonal 
pairs.  Rays  not  as  prominent  as  in  C.  Schunkei. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4683. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5567, 
5725. 

Capparis  petiolaris  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  5:  91.  1821.  Nina- 
caspi,  Mango-micunan. 

Tree,  25  to  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or 
moderately  straight,  columnar,  8  to  12  inches  in  diameter  and 
clear  of  branches  for  about  7  feet.  Bark  greenish  to  pale  or  dark 
brown,  almost  black,  astringent,  and  is  reputed  to  possess  medicinal 
properties.  Leaves  long-petiolate,  oblong  or  oblong-ovate,  mem- 
branaceous,  rounded  or  abruptly  acute  at  apex,  obtuse  to  round  at 
base,  glabrous.  Inflorescence  in  terminal  racemes;  flowers  white, 
rather  large,  and  conspicuous.  Fruit  light  brown,  torrulose,  oblong- 
obovate,  indehiscent. — In  dense  forest  around  the  estuary  of  the 
Mayo  River,  also  in  second  growth  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,400-1,800  ft.).  Wood  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  general 
carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  brown  or  white,  often  with  dark  veining; 
heartwood  thin,  pale  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  interlocked-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  moderately  heavy, 
hard,  and  tenacious;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  liable  to 
check  and  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  arrange- 
ment of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  readily  visible  in  some  spec- 
imens. Pores  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  165 

multiples;  open  or  closed.  Rays  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background,  but 
discernible,  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Mayo  River,  6281;  Rumisapa,  6786;  Juan  Guerra, 
6889,  6903. 

Capparis  Qiiina  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  357.  1934.    Quina-quina. 

Forest  tree  of  the  upland,  about  35  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  somewhat  compressed,  7  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and 
free  of  limbs  for  about  6  feet.  Twigs  rather  compressed.  Leaves 
elliptic,  rounded  at  base,  slightly  emarginate  at  apex.  Calyx  lobes 
round  and  petals  round-obovate.  Fruit  grayish  green. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  grayish  or  dark  streaks;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy,  strong,  and  tough; 
takes  a  fairly  smooth,  lustrous  finish. 

San  Martin:  Cumbasa,  near  Tarapoto,  5753. 

Capparis  Schunkei  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4:  170.  1929. 

Tree,  30  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  7  to  10  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up 
to  10  feet  or  branching  from  base.  Twigs  glabrous.  Leaves  sub- 
membranaceous  or  coriaceous,  elliptic  or  oblong-elliptic,  abruptly 
acuminate  at  apex,  subcuneate  at  base,  petiolate,  glabrous  above. 
Inflorescence  stellate-pubescent;  flowers  pale  greenish  or  grayish 
yellow.  Fruit  light  brown,  globular  or  pear-shaped. 

Wood  white  to  pale  yellowish  with  a  gray  cast  and  dark  veining, 
and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  to  air;  tasteless,  but  has  a  slightly 
pungent  odor;  straight-grained  or  fairly  so;  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured;  moderately  heavy,  tough,  and  firm;  works  easily,  holds  its 
place  well,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster;  fairly 
durable. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4118,  4820. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
6692. 

Capparis  tarapotensis  Eichl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1: 
284.  1865. 

Shrub,  10  to  15  feet  tall.  Leaves  ovate,  coriaceous,  obtuse  or 
rounded  at  apex,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  and  with  short,  stout 
petiole.  Flowers  yellowish.  Fruit  dark  reddish  brown  and  up  to  5 
inches  long. — In  sandy  soil  in  second  growth  around  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,300  ft.). 


166  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  fairly  clearly  demarcated,  yellowish  with  pale  violet 
striping,  and  fairly  lustrous;  heartwood  dull  slaty  gray,  thin.  Wood 
straight-grained;  fine- textured ;  moderately  heavy,  strong. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6654- 

2.    CRATAEVA  L. 

Crataeva  Tapia  L.  Sp.  PL  444.  1753.  Nina-caspi,  Palo  de 
candela,  Tamara. 

Small,  glabrous  tree,  up  to  30,  infrequently  45,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  usually  bent,  moderately  round,  either 
branching  from  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  10  feet,  and  about  16 
inches  in  diameter.  Bark  light  gray  to  brown  with  small  excrescences. 
Leaves  long-stalked,  the  3  leaflets  oblong  or  elliptic,  entire,  acute  or 
acuminate,  pale  beneath.  Flowers  purplish  or  greenish,  corymbose 
or  racemose.  Fruit  globose,  green  or  yellow,  and  has  a  faint  odor 
suggesting  garlic.  The  roots  secrete  an  acrid,  irritating  resin. — Com- 
mon in  the  lowland;  in  forest  or  thickets,  often  in  humid  loam  or 
in  the  vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  400-500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a 
small  extent  for  general  carpentry. 

Wood  white  or  creamy  yellow  to  pale  yellowish  brown,  often  with 
grayish  stain  streaks;  has  a  rather  disagreeable  odor  when  fresh, 
absent  or  indistinct  in  dried  material,  tasteless;  straight-  or  inter- 
locked-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight  to 
moderately  heavy,  hard,  brittle;  fairly  easy  to  work;  does  not  appear 
to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  fairly  distinct  in  some  specimens. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal,  sometimes  confluent,  or  in  concentric  lines 
limiting  growth  rings.  Pores  small  to  medium-sized  and  distinct 
because  of  parenchyma  sheaths;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered  or, 
in  some  samples,  showing  a  tendency  to  crowd;  solitary  or  in  radial 
rows  of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  short,  often  readily  distinguishable  against 
the  lighter-colored  background  due  to  dark  brown  gum  present. 
Rays  visible  to  unaided  eye,  but  not  prominent,  on  cross  and  radial 
sections;  indistinct  on  tangential  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  Rio  Morona,  near  Iquitos,  90,  93;  Pebas,  1578;  Caballo- 
cocha,  2219,  2270,  2411,  2443,  2450;  La  Victoria,  2665,  2854,  3122; 
Yurimaguas,  4655. 

3.    STERIPHOMA  Spreng. 

Steriphoma  peruvianum  Spruce  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1: 
267.  1865. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  167 

Shrub  or  small,  straggly  tree,  sometimes  scandent,  seldom  more 
than  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  slender  and  unbranched 
for  4  or  5  feet.  Bark  pale  brown  or  very  dark  brown  to  almost 
black,  fairly  smooth  or  with  few,  rather  coarse  ridges;  inner  bark 
pinkish  or  grayish  brown;  wood  beneath  bark  pink  with  a  grayish 
cast.  Leaves  alternate,  glabrous  above,  and  puberulent  beneath. 
Flowers  with  brown  calyx  and  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  about  12 
inches  long  and  tomentose. — Not  common;  in  fairly  dense  forest, 
often  close  to  banks  of  streams  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  yellow  with  pinkish  or  light  gray 
streaks,  and  darkening  slightly  to  yellowish  brown  on  exposure; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine- textured ;  variable 
in  weight  from  light  to  rather  heavy  and  fairly  tenacious;  not  difficult 
to  work,  takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  fairly 
durable  although  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in  numer- 
ous, irregular,  broken,  or  sometimes  continuous,  concentric  bands; 
lighter-colored  than  background  and  faintly  or  distinctly  discernible 
to  unaided  eye.  Pores  small;  not  numerous,  scattered;  in  radial 
multiples  of  up  to  7,  less  frequently  solitary,  in  diagonal  or  tangential 
pairs,  or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short  or  long;  sometimes 
filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  very  fine,  numerous;  distinguishable 
with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

San  Martin:  Cumbasa,  near  Tarapoto,  5647,  5732;  herbarium 
material  collected  also  at  Juan  Guerra. 

ROSACEAE.     Rose  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate,  stalked,  entire  or  nearly  so, 
with  small  stipules.  Flowers  small  or  large  and  showy,  perfect, 
with  or  without  petals;  stamens  few  or  numerous;  calyx  5-lobed. 
Fruit  a  drupe.  The  best-known  representatives  of  this  family  are 
fruit  trees;  namely,  cherry,  peach,  plum,  almond,  and  apricot.  The 
tropical  species  have  little  superficial  resemblance  to  the  temperate 
plants  of  the  group.  The  timbers  of  any  local  importance  in  the  mon- 
tana  are  those  of  Hirtella  and  Licania,  although  they  are  little  used 
because  of  their  poor  dimensions. 

The  woods  are  of  various  shades  of  pale  brown,  grayish,  or  red- 
dish, and  show  little  or  no  distinction  between  sap  and  heart; 
have  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  medium-  or  coarse-textured; 
of  medium  weight  to  heavy,  hard,  and  strong,  but  not  resistant  to 
decay.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  wavy  lines,  often  forming 


168  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

network  with  rays  and  suggesting  Lecythidaceae.  Pores  fairly  small 
to  large;  rather  few  and  well  scattered;  solitary,  seldom  in  small 
multiples  or  rows;  often  filled  with  black  gum,  calcium  deposit,  or 
lustrous  tyloses.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine,  numerous,  and  wavy  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  visible,  but  not  distinct,  on 
radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple  (in  Peruvian  genera)  to  scalari- 
form;  vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered  or  simple,  the  latter  often 
elongated  and  scalariform  in  arrangement.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
uniseriate  in  Hirtella,  Licania,  and  Parinarium.  Wood  fibers  have 
numerous,  conspicuous,  bordered  pits. 

1.    COUEPIA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  short-stalked,  leathery.  Flowers  small, 
paniculate.  Fruit  often  large,  1-seeded.  Their  timber  is  esteemed 
for  carpentry,  and  a  reddish  brown  resin,  furnished  by  the  bark, 
sapwood,  and  seeds  of  some  species,  is  used  for  painting  canoe  paddles. 

Sap  wood  variegated  pale  or  chocolate  brown,  often  with  a  gray- 
ish tinge,  and  darkening  on  exposure  to  sunlight;  heartwood  darker 
brown.  Wood  sometimes  has  a  pleasant  odor  when  fresh,  but  no 
distinctive  taste;  fairly  lustrous;  coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight 
to  heavy,  strong,  and  durable;  not  difficult  to  work;  liable  to  check 
in  drying.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  wavy,  irregularly  spaced, 
broken,  tangential  or  concentric  lines,  often  forming  a  network 
with  the  rays,  also  diffuse.  Pores  large;  few;  solitary;  open  or  filled 
with  black  gum  or  grayish  white  deposit  of  calcium.  Rays  fine, 
numerous,  and  often  wavy  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
fairly  distinct  or  distinct  on  radial  surface;  small  specks  of  brown 
gum  common  in  ray  cells. 

Couepia  canomensis  (Mart.)  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2: 
215.  1840. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree  of  the  lowland,  seldom  more  than 
45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  16  inches 
or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  from  one-fourth  to  one- 
half  its  height.  Bark  thin  or  moderately  thick,  dark  brown  or  almost 
black.  Leaf  blades  subcoriaceous,  entire,  alternate,  short-stalked, 
acute  at  base,  acuminate  at  apex,  glabrous  above  and  tomentose 
beneath  especially  along  the  costa.  Flowers  small,  white  or  cream- 
colored,  paniculate.  Fruit  obovate,  light  brown,  velvety. — Attains 
its  best  development  in  open  dry  loam  in  rough  pastures  (alt.  400  ft.). 
Timber  is  sometimes  used  for  carpentry. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  169 

Wood  pinkish  to  dark  brown  throughout,  with  no  sharp  distinc- 
tion between  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  fairly 
straight-grained;  rather  coarse- textured ;  heavy,  compact,  hard, 
strong,  but  brittle  and  splintery;  not  easy  to  work;  resistant  to  in- 
sect attacks  and  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed;  in  numerous,  fine,  wavy,  fairly 
evenly  spaced,  concentric  lines,  anastomosing  with  the  rays.  Pores 
of  medium  size  and  visible  without  lens;  few,  scattered;  solitary, 
infrequently  in  radial  or  tangential  multiples  of  2;  open.  Vessel 
lines  appear  as  short,  fine  scratches.  Rays  indistinct  or  visible  on 
cross  and  tangential  sections; barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3780. 

Couepia  chrysocalyx  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  Benth.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  14,  pt.  2:  42.  1867.  Parinari,  Sacha-umari. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  12  or  15  feet  in  height. 
Crown  dense,  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  and  branching 
from  near  the  base.  Bark  dark  reddish  brown,  smooth,  and 
yields  a  thin,  insipid,  reddish  brown  sap.  Flowers  with  yellowish 
white  petals  and  pinkish  white  staminal  filaments;  October-Novem- 
ber. Fruit  large,  ovoid,  green,  and  yields  a  dye  employed  locally 
as  a  substitute  for  ink. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga;  in 
dense  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  throughout,  darkening  slightly  on 
exposure;  tasteless,  but  has  a  slightly  fragrant  odor  when  fresh; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy  and  hard; 
easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings 
visible  owing  to  absence  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  numerous, 
fine,  wavy,  short,  tangential  lines.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  at 
limit  of  vision;  few,  evenly  distributed;  solitary  or  infrequently  in 
radial  multiples  of  2;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  dark,  and 
rather  prominent;  often  filled  with  dark  brown  gum.  Rays  indis- 
tinct or  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5012. 

Couepia  paraensis  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  216.  1840. 

Slender,  forest  tree  of  the  lowland,  about  35  feet  tall.  Crown 
conical.  Trunk  straight,  round,  clear  of  branches  for  15  feet.  Bark 
up  to  0.5  inch  thick,  light  brown,  sculptured,  and  secretes  a  small 
amount  of  reddish  brown  resin. — Uncommon;  aquatic  or  along 
banks  of  streams  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  used  locally  for  general 
carpentry. 


170  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sap  wood  not  sharply  defined,  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  slightly 
darker  brown.  Wood  somewhat  harder,  heavier,  and  more  compact 
than  that  of  C.  chrysocalyx. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  1490. 

Gouepia  racemosa  Benth.  var.    Machusacha. 

Straggly,  slender  tree,  about  22  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Bark  pale  grayish  or  dark  chocolate  brown  and  yields  a  small  amount 
of  pinkish  red  resin.  Flowers  small,  white.  Fruit  ovoid,  yellow 
when  mature;  seeds  imbedded  in  a  white,  succulent,  and  edible  pulp. 
—In  humid  areas,  especially  along  margin  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown;  moderately  heavy,  and  hard.  Pores 
of  medium  size,  readily  visible;  more  numerous  than  in  C.  chrysocalyx. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1161. 

Couepia  speciosa  Pilger,  Bot.  Jahrb.  37:  539.  1906.  Capri- 
cornia,  Chibo-runtu-caspi. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  erect,  cylin- 
drical, 10  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  more  than 
half  the  height.  Bark  up  to  2  inches  thick,  pale  pinkish  brown, 
scaly;  inner  bark  yellowish  brown  and  fibrous.  Leaves  light  brown 
beneath.  Flowers  large,  yellowish  brown.  Fruit  ovoid,  about  4 
inches  long,  dark  brown  when  mature;  May- June. — Nowhere 
abundant;  in  areas  free  from  floods  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed 
locally  for  general  carpentry  and  to  a  limited  extent  for  furniture. 

Sap  wood  uniform  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  thin,  dark 
brown.  Wood  hard,  heavy,  and  durable,  but  liable  to  check  in 
drying.  Vessel  lines  short  and  conspicuous  on  account  of  dark  gum 
and  white  deposits  occasionally  present.  Rays  not  distinct,  but 
more  readily  visible  on  radial  surface  than  in  C.  chrysocalyx. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  888. 

Couepia  subcordata  Benth.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  2:  46. 
1867. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  90  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
straight,  moderately  round,  14  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of 
branches  up  to  50  feet.  Bark  light  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  yellow; 
May- June. — Not  common;  in  dense  growth  near  the  Peruvian- 
Brazilian  frontier  (alt.  380  ft.).  Wood  is  used  mostly  for  fuel. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  171 

Sapwood  not  well  defined,  pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  with 
extensive  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  brown.  Wood  moderately  heavy 
and  hard;  not  easy  to  work;  appears  to  be  durable. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3173. 

Couepia  Ulei  Pilger,  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  142.  1907.  Parinari, 
Sinchi-parinari. 

Common  tree  of  the  lowland  forest,  up  to  40  or  50  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  fairly  straight,  cylindrical,  8  to  14  inches 
in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  9  to  35  feet.  Bark  about  0.75 
inch  thick,  grayish,  purplish,  or  dark  chocolate  brown;  inner  bark 
coarsely  fibrous;  bark  and  sapwood,  when  cut,  secrete  a  small  amount 
of  reddish  brown  resin. — In  humid  loam  close  to  streams,  but  more 
often  in  flood-free  areas  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed  for 
carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  purplish  or  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
dark  reddish  brown.  Wood  moderately  heavy  to  heavy,  dense,  hard, 
and  resilient;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate 
luster;  appears  to  be  durable,  but  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  63,  88. 

Couepia  Williams!!  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  366.  1934. 

Uncommon  tree,  up  to  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  slender.  Bark  light  or  dark  brown,  with  small 
incrustations.  Flowers  brown.  Fruit  small,  ovoid;  June-July. 
—In  flood-free  forest  (alt.  380  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  to  a  limited 
extent  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pinkish  brown  and  fairly  well  demarcated;  heartwood 
brown.  Wood  heavy,  hard,  and  denser  than  most  Couepia  species. 
Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2975. 

2.     HIRTELLA  L. 

Small  trees  or  shrubs  with  abundant  pubescence.  Leaves  simple. 
Flowers  small,  but  often  rather  showy,  with  long-exserted  stamens. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  and  with  little  or  no  dis- 
tinction between  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained  ;  fine-  to  rather  coarse-textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  rather 
heavy;  hard,  strong,  tenacious,  and  durable;  not  always  easy  to 
work  and  capable  of  taking  a  fairly  smooth  and  lustrous  polish. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  often  wavy,  concentric  lines  forming 


172  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

a  network  pattern  with  the  rays.  Pores  moderately  small  to  rather 
large;  few;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial,  diagonal,  or 
tangential  multiples;  often  filled  with  lustrous  deposit.  Rays  fine 
or  very  fine,  numerous,  straight  or  slightly  wavy  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface; 
uniseriate. 

Hirtella  americana  L.  Sp.  PL  34.  1753. 

Shrub,  9  to  12  feet  tall.  Crown  dense,  open.  Trunk  erect, 
round,  slender,  and  branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark  dark  brown, 
with  small  lenticels.  Flowers  purplish,  in  long  racemes.  Fruit 
violet  black,  succulent;  June-July. — Of  limited  distribution,  usually 
in  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  in  clearings  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  of  medium  weight,  hard,  and  com- 
pact. Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  ele- 
ments. Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  concentric  lines.  Pores  small 
or  fairly  small;  rather  few,  well  scattered;  solitary;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  invisible  without  lens  on  all  sections. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2358. 

Hirtella  americana  var.  hexandra  (Willd.)  Hook,  in  Mart. 
Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  2:  33.  1867. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  ranging  up  to  20  feet  in  height.  Trunk 
moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  limbs  up  to  6 
feet.  Bark  pale  to  violet  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  with  minute 
lenticels.  Flowers  small,  pinkish  or  scarlet;  September-October. 
Fruit  small,  ovoid. — Common  in  the  lower  Huallaga,  in  dry  loam 
in  open  patches  among  tall  trees,  also  in  sandy  loam  among  shrubs 
and  low  trees  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  450-1,500  ft.).  Timber 
is  employed  for  fuel,  occasionally  for  house  construction. 

Wood  pale  or  pinkish  brown  throughout  with  a  grayish  cast; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  interlocked-  or  straight-grained;  uniformly 
fine- textured ;  moderately  heavy,  hard,  tough,  and  compact;  dura- 
ble. Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing  to  slight  variation 
in  color.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  evenly  spaced,  concentric 
lines,  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size,  some- 
times at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  mostly 
solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  or  diagonal  multiples  or  rows; 
open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  but  distinguishable  without  lens; 
lustrous  and  pale  grayish  deposits  occasionally  present.  Rays  nu- 
merous, evenly  spaced,  and  of  same  thickness  as  parenchyma 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  173 

lines  on  cross  section;  barely  discernible  with  lens  on  tangential; 
slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements  on  radial  surface  and  cells 
often  filled  with  minute  globules  of  brown  gum. 
Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  3829,  7832. 

Hirtella  americana  var.  latifolia  Macbr.,  ined. 

Shrub,  about  14  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base. 
Bark  thin,  exfoliating.  Flowers  violet;  June-July. — Not  common; 
in  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal  floods  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  when  freshly  cut,  turning  to  pale  or  pinkish 
brown  on  exposure;  heavy,  compact,  and  tenacious,  but  inclined  to 
be  splintery.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small 
or  at  limit  of  vision;  solitary,  also  in  small  radial  or  tangential 
multiples.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  faintly  visible  without  lens  when 
held  to  proper  light;  often  filled  with  pale  grayish  deposits.  Rays 
occasionally  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2765. 

Hirtella  americana  var.  oblongifolia  (DC.)  Hook,  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  14,  pt.  2:  34.  1867. 

Uncommon  shrub,  about  9  feet  in  height.  Crown  full,  open. 
Trunk  bent,  compressed,  and  slender.  Bark  reddish  to  dark  choco- 
late brown.  In  dry  medium  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  pale  or  reddish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  moderately 
heavy,  hard,  and  compact,  but  splintery;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Growth  rings  faintly  distinguishable  owing  to  variation  in  abundance 
of  parenchyma.  Pores  mostly  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  tangential  multiples  of  2; 
open  or  closed.  Brown  and  grayish  deposits  common  in  vessels. 
Rays  finer  than  parenchyma  lines  on  cross  section;  slightly  darker 
than  background  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2990. 

Hirtella  pilosissima  Mart.  &  Zucc.  Abh.  Akad.  Muench.  1: 
373.  1832.  Yaco-shimbillo. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  seldom  exceeding  35  feet  in  height. 
Crown  dense,  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  6  to  10  inches 
in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  approximately  one- third  the 
height.  Bark  up  to  0.5  inch  thick,  greenish  or  light  brown,  scaly. 
Flowers  with  pinkish  or  reddish  pink  corolla;  May-June. — Limited 


174  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

in  distribution;  usually  in  humid  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 
Timber  has  no  local  application. 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  with  occasional  grayish  brown 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ; 
medium-textured;  heavy,  hard,  and  strong;  rather  difficult  to  work, 
takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster  when  held  to  proper 
light;  liable  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  sometimes  present 
owing  to  variation  in  abundance  and  arrangement  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  evenly  spaced,  concentric  lines, 
forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision; 
fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed ;  mostly  solitary,  infrequently 
in  tangential  multiples  of  2;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  or  fairly  long 
and  moderately  fine,  but  discernible  without  lens;  pale  grayish  or 
reddish  brown  deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  slightly  thinner 
than  parenchyma  lines  and  fairly  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  80^,  1183. 

3.    LICANIA  Aubl. 

Small  or  large  trees,  glabrous  or  pubescent,  with  small  or  large, 
simple,  short-stalked  leaves.  Flowers  small,  paniculate,  with  minute 
petals  or  none.  Fruit  often  very  large. 

Wood  pale  or  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  sometimes 
darkening  on  exposure,  and  with  long,  broad,  prominent,  dark  reddish 
brown  gum  streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- 
or  coarse- textured ;  heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  durable,  and  should  be 
suitable  for  heavy  construction;  easy  to  split  and  takes  a  smooth, 
fairly  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  slightly  wavy, 
concentric  bands,  sometimes  in  irregular,  fine  lines  grouped  in  con- 
centric bands  of  2,  3,  or  more  lines  and  producing  a  hoary  effect 
when  viewed  under  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large ;  rather  few, 
diffuse-  or  inclined  to  ring-porous;  predominantly  solitary,  also  in 
small  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multiples;  open  or  filled  with 
gum,  lustrous  tyloses,  or  calcium  deposit.  Rays  fine,  numerous, 
and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  tangential ;  barely 
visible  at  times  on  radial  surface;  uniseriate. 

Licania  elata  Pilger,  ined. 

Uncommon  tree,  up  to  95  feet  tall.  Crown  moderately  round. 
Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  approximately  30  inches  in  diameter,  un- 
branched  for  48  feet,  and  with  buttresses  2  or  3  feet  high.  Bark  1 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  175 

inch  thick,  light  gray,  and  with  short,  coarse,  vertical  ridges;  inner 
bark  purplish  brown,  and  when  cut  exudes  an  abundance  of  insipid, 
dark  reddish  brown  resin.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellowish  white;  Octo- 
ber-November.— In  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal  inundations 
(alt.  450  ft.).  Timber  is  employed  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  light  brown  with  darker  streaks  and  turning  to  darker 
brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown,  susceptible  to 
termite  attacks.  Wood  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter  to  taste; 
straight-grained;  rather  coarse-textured;  moderately  heavy,  firm, 
and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  occasionally  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  ele- 
ments. Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine  lines  connecting  the  rays, 
also  in  slightly  wavy,  concentric  bands  indicating  growth  rings. 
Pores  large  and  readily  distinguishable  without  lens;  not  numerous, 
well  scattered ;  solitary  or  infrequently  in  small  radial,  diagonal,  or 
tangential  multiples;  open  or  filled  with  yellowish  white  deposits. 
Vessel  lines  short  and  conspicuous  on  account  of  the  grayish  white 
or  light  brown  deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  barely  at  limit  of 
vision  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5064- 

Licania  octandra  0.  Ktze.  Rev.  Gen.  1:  217.  1891. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the 
base.  Bark  very  thin,  dark  grayish  brown,  and  fairly  smooth. 
—Not  common;  in  dry  medium  loam  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  of 
second  growth  (alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  for  fuel. 

Wood  uniform  light  brown;  interlocked-grained ;  fine-  and  uni- 
form-textured; slightly  heavier  than  L.  data;  fairly  easy  to  work, 
takes  a  smooth  finish  suggesting  pearwood  (Prunus);  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  wavy,  closely  spaced,  concentric  lines  or 
bands.  Pores  rather  small  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  and  faintly  discernible  without  lens.  Rays  dis- 
tinguishable without  lens  on  moistened  radial  surface  only. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1331. 

4.    PARINARIUM  Aubl. 

Parinarium  parile  Macbr.  Candollea  5: 367. 1934.    Uchpaumari. 

Tree,  up  to  75  feet  in  height.    Crown  spreading.    Trunk  erect, 

columnar,  from  20  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  branches  for 


176  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

about  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  gray- 
ish white,  yellow,  or  reddish  brown,  and  scaly;  inner  bark  coarsely 
fibrous.  Flowers  pale  yellow;  May-June.  Edible  fruit  with  large 
seeds. — Limited  in  its  distribution;  in  humid  areas  or  close  to  streams 
in  dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown  and  darkening  somewhat  on  ex- 
posure; heartwood  reddish  or  purplish  brown.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-  or 
rather  coarse-textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy,  strong,  and  firm ; 
moderately  easy  to  work,  does  not  take  a  very  smooth  finish,  inclined 
to  be  splintery;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  present;  visible  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  in  fairly  numerous  or  numerous,  fine  or  moderately 
distinct,  evenly  spaced,  wavy,  tangential  or  concentric  lines.  Pores 
visible  to  unaided  eye  as  fine  pinpoints;  rather  few,  diffuse-  or  ring- 
porous;  solitary,  seldom  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  rather  coarse,  and  readily  distinguishable,  but  not  con- 
spicuous, to  unaided  eye.  Rays  numerous,  finer  than  parenchyma 
lines,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  barely  distinguish- 
able to  aided  eye  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1113,  1140. 

CONNARACEAE.     Connarus  Family 

Small  trees,  shrubs,  or  woody  vines.  Leaves  alternate,  odd- 
pinnate,  the  leaflets  leathery,  entire,  narrow,  and  long-pointed. 
Flowers  small,  whitish,  in  racemes  or  panicles,  with  5  petals  and 
10  or  fewer  stamens.  Fruit  a  leathery  or  woody  follicle,  its  solitary 
seed  subtended  by  a  fleshy  aril. 

1.    CONNARUS  L. 

Small  trees,  shrubs,  or  large  woody  vines.  Leaves  long-stalked; 
the  leaflets  acuminate,  glabrous  or  nearly  so.  Flowers  small,  whitish, 
in  panicles.  Fruit  large,  conspicuously  stalked,  striate-nerved. 

Sapwood  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  reddish 
or  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  medium-textured;  moderately 
heavy;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  durable.  Parenchyma 
metatracheal ;  in  widely  and  irregularly  spaced  concentric  lines  or 
bands.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  or  fairly  numerous, 
diffuse-  or  showing  a  tendency  at  times  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or 
in  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  infrequently 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  177 

filled  with  calcium  deposit.    Rays  fine  on  cross  section;  indistinct 
on  tangential;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  vessel-parenchyma  pits 
simple  or  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly  uni-  or  biseriate, 
infrequently  triseriate. 

Connarus  Patrisii  (DC.)  Planch.  Linnaea  23:  432.  1850. 
SkUari-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  15  to  18  feet  in  height,  with  wide-spread- 
ing branches.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  undivided  for 
7  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown,  with  small,  dark  brown  or  black  len- 
ticels.  Flowers  yellow;  December-January.  Fruit  subround  and 
depressed  above. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  sandy  loam  along  hill 
slopes  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  (alt.  1,600  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  when  fresh,  turning  to  deep  pinkish  or  red- 
dish brown  on  exposure;  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter  when  freshly 
cut;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  rather  heavy; 
not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish;  often  damaged  by  insects. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma  in  indis- 
tinct, concentric  bands  or  lines,  which  at  times  appear  to  indicate 
limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  fairly  small  or  of  medium  size;  few  and 
well  scattered;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  pairs,  seldom 
in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  slightly  darker  than 
background.  Rays  numerous,  closely  spaced,  slightly  sinuous,  and 
visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  slightly  darker  than  adjacent 
elements  and  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened  radial. 

San  Martin:  Guaypurima,  near  Tarapoto,  6209,  6641. 

Connarus  Sprucei  Baker  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  2: 187. 1871. 
Paujil-sacha,  Paujil-singa. 

Shrub,  sometimes  scandent,  8  to  13  feet  in  height.  Bark  reddish 
brown  with  rather  large  lenticels;  yields  when  incised  a  small  amount 
of  brown  resin.  Twigs  glabrous.  Leaves  trifoliolate;  leaflets  coria- 
ceous, glabrous  on  both  sides,  oblong,  acute  or  acuminate  at  apex, 
narrowly  rounded  at  base.  Inflorescence  in  dense  terminal  or 
axillary  panicles;  flowers  white,  sessile  or  short-pedunculate,  fra- 
grant. Fruit  rather  appressed-ovoid  and  red  when  mature. — Fairly 
common  in  the  lowland ;  in  thickets  or  along  border  of  forest  in  dry 
loam  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  deep  pinkish  brown  with  occasional  pale  grayish  streaks; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  poorly 


178  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

defined.  Parenchyma  not  visible  or  in  very  fine,  broken,  concentric 
lines.  Pores  small  or  moderately  large  and  at  limit  of  vision ;  have  a 
tendency  to  ring-porous  arrangement;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples.  Rays  barely  visible  to  aided  eye  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial. 
Loreto:  Iquitos,  3664. 

LEGUMINOSAE.     Bean  Family 

This  enormous  and  highly  important  family  consists  of  about 
550  genera  and  15,000  species  of  trees,  shrubs,  herbs,  often  vines, 
frequently  armed  with  spines  or  prickles.  Leaves  chiefly  alternate, 
nearly  always  compound,  and  provided  with  stipules.  Flowers 
usually  resembling  those  of  the  bean  or  pea,  but  sometimes  almost 
regular;  the  5  petals  often  very  unlike,  one  of  them,  the  "standard," 
being  larger  than  the  others,  the  two  lateral  ones,  "wings,"  narrower, 
the  two  lowest,  "keel,"  often  still  smaller  and  frequently  united; 
sepals  more  or  less  united;  stamens  commonly  10,  sometimes  5  or 
9,  and  occasionally  very  numerous.  The  typical  fruit  is  a  pod,  often 
resembling  a  bean  pod,  but  frequently  shows  great  variation  in  size 
and  form.  The  family  is  one  of  the  most  important  from  an  eco- 
nomic standpoint.  Many  of  the  tropical  timbers  are  among  the 
most  valuable  for  cabinetwork,  inlay,  carving,  and  musical  instru- 
ments, also  for  purposes  requiring  strength  and  durability;  other 
species  are  sources  of  food  and  forage,  gums  and  resins,  dyes,  drugs, 
and  medicines,  and  some  are  cultivated  for  their  fruits,  for  shading, 
ornament,  or  fences. 

The  woods  of  this  family  exhibit  almost  every  conceivable  varia- 
tion. Sap  wood  is  oatmeal-colored,  white,  or  yellowish  to  various 
shades  of  pale  brown;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  variable 
from  pale  brown  to  dark  purple  or  chocolate.  In  density  they  range 
from  as  light  as  cork  to  as  heavy  as  "quebracho"  (Schinopsis).  Very 
few  of  the  Peruvian  species  have  distinctive  odor  or  taste.  Texture 
varies  from  fine  or  moderately  fine  to  very  coarse;  the  grain  from 
straight  to  irregular.  The  parenchyma  is  usually  the  most  charac- 
teristic feature  of  the  woods  and  is  developed  in  abundance  around 
the  pores,  aliform,  also  in  tangential  and  concentric  lines  or  bands, 
often  uniting  the  pores  or  indicating  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores 
mostly  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  and  well  scattered  to  numerous 
and  inclined  to  be  crowded;  most  frequently  diffuse-porous;  solitary 
or  in  multiples,  less  frequently  in  rows  or  clusters;  often  filled  with 
lustrous  tyloses,  calcium,  or  dark  gum.  Rays  vary  from  exceedingly 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  179 

fine  to  broad  and  distinct  on  cross  section;  usually  indistinct  without 
lens  on  tangential;  moderately  distinct  to  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Ripple  marks  are  very  common  and  provide  a  valuable  diagnostic 
feature.  Vertical  canals,  normal  or  of  the  gummosis  type,  are  char- 
acteristic of  several  genera. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations  and  occasionally  provided 
with  spiral  thickenings;  with  the  exception  of  the  Bauhineae,  the 
bordered  pits  are  vestured,  a  feature  found  also  in  some  of  the 
other  families;  vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered.  Rays  homogeneous  or 
heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  multiseriate.  Fibers  thin-  or  thick- 
walled,  have  simple  pits,  sometimes  septate,  and  may  have  a  muci- 
laginous inner  layer. 

The  Leguminosae  are  divided  into  three  groups  and  these  are 
treated  by  some  botanists  as  separate  families,  though  the  differences 
between  them  are  not  well  marked.  These  three  families  or  sub- 
families are:  (1)  Mimoseae  (Mimosaceae) ;  (2)  Caesalpinieae  (Caesal- 
piniaceae);  and  (3)  Papilionatae  (Fabaceae). 

I.    MIMOSEAE  (Mimosaceae) 

Generally  trees  or  shrubs  with  bipinnate  leaves,  except  in  Inga. 
Flowers  small,  regular,  the  petals  all  alike  and  equal  or  nearly  so; 
petals  valvate  in  bud  and  usually  united  below  the  middle;  stamens 
distinct  or  united. 

1.    ACACIA  Willd. 

Shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees,  armed  with  spines  or 
prickles.  Leaves  bipinnate,  with  few  or  numerous  leaflets,  and 
provided  with  glands.  Flowers  small,  in  heads  or  spikes,  and  with 
very  numerous  stamens.  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  white  with  extensive  pale  or  dark  gray  patches  caused  by 
stain;  fairly  lustrous;  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  work; 
strong  for  its  weight.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  sometimes  aliform; 
indistinct  or  distinct  without  lens.  Pores  large;  few  to  moderately 
numerous  and  without  definite  arrangement;  solitary,  less  frequently 
in  radial  multiples;  sometimes  closed  by  parenchyma  or  filled  with 
gum.  Rays  fine  and  unevenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  usually 
invisible  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Acacia  Farnesiana  (L.)  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  4: 1083.  1806.    Huaranga. 

Low  tree  or  tall  shrub,  armed  with  stout  spines.     Crown  flat, 

with  wide-spreading  branches.    Flowers  fragrant,  with  showy  pink- 


180  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

ish  corolla  and  bright  yellow  stamens.     In  thickets,  pastures,  or 
dense  forest,  and  sometimes  cultivated  (alt.  500-1,800  ft.). 

Loreto:  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga,  4914;  near  Rio  Mayo,  6274; 
collected  also  at  La  Merced,  Department  of  Junin  (alt.  2,000  ft.). 

Acacia  paniculata  Willd.(?),  Sp.  PI.  4:  1074.  1806.     Pashaco. 

Medium-sized  tree,  often  up  to  50  feet  in  height  but  said  to 
attain  greater  stature.  Crown  flat  or  irregular.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  22  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  branches  for  upwards  of 
half  the  height,  and  with  small  buttresses.  The  tree  is  readily  dis- 
tinguishable on  account  of  its  bright  yellow  and  showy  flowers. 
— Rather  common  in  the  lowland ;  usually  in  old  clearings  or  along 
margin  of  forest  (alt.  450  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  fence  posts  and  fuel. 

Sap  wood  sharply  defined,  variable  from  white  to  grayish  and  fairly 
lustrous;  heartwood  dull,  dark  chocolate  brown,  thin.  Wood  light 
in  weight  and  soft.  Parenchyma  fairly  abundantly  developed;  para- 
tracheal.  Pores  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  660. 

Acacia  polyphylla  DC.  Cat.  Hort.  Monsp.  74.  1813;  Prodr.  2: 
469.  1825.  Pashaco. 

Small  tree,  about  18,  occasionally  up  to  30,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  columnar,  and  free  of  branches  up  to 
7  feet. — Common;  in  second  growth  along  the  banks  of  the  Itaya 
River,  also  at  Caballo-cocha,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Putumayo 
(alt.  350-400  ft.);  the  species  has  a  wide  distribution  in  tropical 
America  and  is  known  to  occur  in  Brazil,  the  Guianas,  Paraguay, 
and  Colombia.  The  timber  has  no  local  application. 

Wood  pale  brown  or  yellowish,  with  a  grayish  cast  caused 
by  stain;  fairly  lustrous;  slightly  harder  and  heavier  than  A. 
paniculata.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible.  Parenchyma  more  abun- 
dantly developed  around  the  pores  than  in  the  other  species.  Dark 
gum  present  in  vessels.  Rays  barely  discernible  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2097. 

Additional  numbers  determined  provisionally: 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  553;  lower  Huallaga,  4309;  near  Iquitos, 
8023. 

2.    CALLIANDRA  Benth. 

Calliandra  angustifolia  Spruce  ex  Benth.  Trans.  Linn.  Soc. 
30:  539.  1875.  Bobensana. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  181 

Unarmed  tree,  15  to  36  feet  high.  Crown  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  branching  from  base  or  clear  of  limbs 
up  to  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  thin,  light  to  purplish  brown. 
Leaves  twice-pinnate.  Flowers  pinkish  red,  showy.  Pods  linear, 
flat,  reddish  brown;  February-March. — In  open  patches  in  forest, 
more  frequently  along  gravelly  banks  of  streams  (alt.  400-3,500  ft.). 
Timber  is  used  for  house  construction. 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  yellow  to  light  brown,  usually  with 
extensive  grayish  areas  or  dark  brown  streaks  caused  by  stain;  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- textured;  heavy  or 
moderately  so,  tenacious,  and  strong;  moderately  easy  to  work  and 
takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  probably  durable.  Growth 
rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  broad,  broken, 
irregularly  spaced,  concentric  bands;  readily  visible  to  unaided  eye. 
Pores  distinguishable  only  with  lens;  not  numerous  and  well  dis- 
tributed; solitary,  in  multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or 
closed.  Vessel  lines  barely  discernible  without  lens;  often  filled  with 
dark  reddish  brown  gum.  Rays  fine,  undulating,  and  visible  only 
under  lens  on  moistened  cross  section;  at  limit  of  vision  on  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  1-2-3  cells  wide.  Strands  of  calcium  oxalate 
common. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  412. — San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6930, 
7719. 

3.    ENTADA  Adans. 

Entada  polyphylla  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  133.  1840. 
Pashaco. 

Slender  tree  or  shrub,  sometimes  scandent,  up  to  22  feet  tall. 
Crown  open;  branches  armed  with  small  spines.  Trunk  straight  or 
inclined  and  free  of  limbs  up  to  8  feet.  Bark  pale  to  dark  brown,  with 
coarse,  vertical  fissures;  yields  a  slightly  sweet,  pale  yellow  resin 
which  is  sometimes  used  for  dyeing  leather  black.  Petals  greenish 
yellow,  anthers  green,  and  staminal  filaments  creamy  white;  flowering 
in  December-January. — Common  in  thickets  or  along  edge  of 
savanna  (alt.  1,400  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  yellowish  white,  darkening  to  yellowish  brown  on 
exposure  to  sunlight;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained ; 
medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  compact  and  firm;  slightly 
fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish ;  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  arrangement  of  pores. 


182  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Larger  pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  rather  numerous,  occasionally  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in 
radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  or  slightly  darker  than 
background;  lustrous  tyloses  occasionally  present.  Rays  fairly  fine 
or  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  distinguishable  on  radial  surface. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5576. 

4.    INGA  Scop. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  unarmed  trees.  Leaves  once-pinnate, 
with  few  large  leaflets;  petiole  often  winged.  Flowers  large,  white  or 
greenish,  in  spikes,  racemes,  heads,  or  umbels;  stamens  numerous, 
very  long,  and  hair-like.  Fruit  a  large  pod,  variable  as  to  form, 
containing  few  large  seeds  surrounded  by  a  sweet  white  edible  pulp. 
The  trees  are  most  abundant  in  northeastern  Peru,  particularly 
in  the  lowland,  and  are  much  planted  for  their  fruits  and  for  shade. 
The  timber  is  not  of  commercial  importance  and  is  used  locally  only 
for  fuel  and  miscellaneous  minor  purposes. 

The  vernacular  name  "shimbillo"  is  applied  in  northeastern  Peru 
to  almost  all  species  of  Inga. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white  to  pinkish,  lavender,  or  dark  grayish 
brown,  often  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  pale  to  dark  reddish 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ; 
light  and  soft  to  heavy  and  hard;  often  highly  lustrous;  sometimes 
fibrous  or  splintery,  at  other  times  compact  and  capable  of  taking  a 
smooth  polish;  often  durable.  Parenchyma  is  developed  in  varying 
amount;  in  some  species  it  occurs  in  distinct  patches  about  the 
pores  and  in  grayish  white  tangential  bands  connecting  them 
irregularly,  in  others  it  is  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  fairly 
large;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  sometimes  filled  with  calcium  or  black  gum. 
Rays  numerous,  fine,  indistinct  or  distinct  on  cross  section ;  sometimes 
visible  without  lens  on  tangential,  where  they  are  numerous  and 
darker  than  background  owing  to  dark  gum  present  in  the  cells; 
usually  very  distinct  on  radial  surface  where  they  appear  darker 
than  background.  Ripple  marks  are  absent,  although  the  rays  often 
produce  a  very  irregular  wavy  pattern  on  tangential  surface  which 
at  times  approaches  the  formation  of  ripple  marks. 

Rays  homogeneous;  2-5  cells  wide;  dark  gum  present  in  abun- 
dance in  ray  cells.  Fiber  pits  large.  Strands  of  calcium  oxalate 
also  common. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  183 

Inga  edulis  Mart.  Flora  20,  pt.  2:  Beibl.  113.  1837.   Guava. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  broad  and 
almost  flat.  Trunk  usually  contorted,  cylindrical,  12  inches  or  more 
in  diameter,  and  branching  a  few  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  thin, 
pale  grayish  or  pinkish  brown,  with  short,  horizontal,  low  ridges  of 
lighter  color  than  the  bark.  Leaflets  in  4-6  pairs,  variable  in  form 
from  oblongate  to  elliptic,  acuminate  and  often  twisted. — Common; 
in  thickets  and  wooded  swamps  (alt.  380-1,800  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  almost  white  to  light  brown  throughout, 
often  with  black  or  pale  violet  streaks  caused  probably  by  stain ;  has 
no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  coarse-textured;  light 
to  heavy,  hard  or  moderately  hard,  and  firm;  saws  slightly  woolly, 
easy  to  cut;  liable  to  split  in  drying;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  rather  prominent 
sheaths  encircling  the  pores  and  infrequently  uniting  them.  Pores 
moderately  large  and  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  in  radially  disposed  multiples  of  2-3,  infre- 
quently in  tangential  pairs;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  prominent, 
short  or  long,  and  frequently  filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  distin- 
guishable only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  273;  Pebas,  1997;  Caballo-cocha,  2690; 
Yurimaguas,  4223;  near  Iquitos,  7893.— San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra, 
6896;  San  Roque,  7354. 

Inga  graciliflora  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  4:  582. 1845. 

Medium-sized  tree,  about  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  round,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for 
about  half  the  height.  Bark  thin,  yellowish  to  dark  brown;  inner 
bark  slightly  fibrous.  Leaflets  usually  in  3  pairs,  ovate  or  slightly 
oblique,  lustrous  above,  glabrous  or  minutely  pubescent  on  both  sur- 
faces. Inflorescence  capitate;  staminal  filaments  white;  flowering  in 
April-May. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  in  dry  loam  along  the 
banks  of  the  Itaya  and  Nanay  rivers  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  pinkish  brown  with  grayish  markings 
of  vessel  lines;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  hard, 
rather  heavy,  and  compact ;  not  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished;  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible 
at  times,  owing  to  slight  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  and  more  prominent  than  in  I.  edulis,  also 
confluent  and  in  broken  or  fairly  continuous,  slightly  wavy,  con- 


184  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

centric  lines  or  bands.    Rays  very  fine  and  barely  visible  with  lens 
on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  684. 

Inga  ingoides  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  4: 1012.  1806. 

Tree,  30  to  65  feet  tall.  Crown  flat  or  fairly  round.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  approximately  13  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear 
of  limbs  for  3  to  25  feet.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  with 
short,  horizontal,  dark  fissures.  Flowers  pale  yellow;  May-June. — 
Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  clearings  and  thickets  (alt.  380- 
600  ft.). 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  with  dark  brown  or  black  streaks; 
heartwood  dull  brown,  thin.  Wood  of  medium  density  to  moder- 
ately heavy;  splintery  and  liable  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings 
visible  on  account  of  some  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Paren- 
chyma surrounding  the  pores  and  aliform.  Pores  distinguishable 
without  lens,  but  not  prominent;  mostly  solitary,  also  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-4,  less  frequently  tangentially  disposed.  Vessel  lines 
of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements.  Rays  faintly  visible  on 
moistened  tangential  section;  distinguishable  against  the  lighter 
background  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2694;  upper  Itaya,  3293. 

Inga  marginata  Willd.  Sp.  PL  4: 1015. 1806.   Shimbillo  Colorado. 

Tree,  25  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk  slightly 
contorted,  fairly  round,  10  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching 
from  near  the  base.  Bark  pale  or  purplish  brown,  about  0.5 
inch  thick,  with  short,  horizontal  ridges.  Flowers  white,  fragrant; 
May-June.  Fruiting  in  September-October. — Common  throughout 
the  lowland;  in  dry  clearings  or  close  to  streams  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 
Timber  is  not  employed  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  pinkish  brown  with  darker  brown  striping 
of  vessel  lines;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  light  and 
soft  to  moderately  heavy,  compact,  and  tenacious;  fairly  easy  to 
work  and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish ;  probably  durable,  although 
liable  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined. 
Vessel  lines  rather  prominent  against  the  lighter-colored  background. 
Rays  not  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  barely  discernible 
on  tangential ;  visible,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  9  (I.  aff.  marginata),  92;  lower  Nanay,  499; 
La  Victoria,  3184;  Fortaleza,  4217;  and  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Hua- 
llaga,  4927. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  185 

Inga  pilosiuscula  Desv.(?),  Journ.  Bot.  3:  71.  1814.  Shim- 
billo-rujinti. 

Tree,  20  to  35  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  slender,  often 
contorted,  and  clear  of  branches  up  to  8  feet.  Bark  pale  yellowish 
or  pinkish  brown,  with  numerous,  small,  dark  brown  lenticels; 
inner  bark  rather  fibrous.  Flowers  white;  May-June.  Pods  about 
6  inches  long,  with  dark  brown  seeds. — Limited  in  its  distribution; 
usually  near  banks  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  is  not  employed 
locally. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
dull  brown.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  arrangement  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  in  broad  bands  surrounding  the  pores  and  in  broken 
or  fairly  continuous,  broad,  concentric  bands  uniting  the  pores; 
readily  visible  without  lens.  Vessel  lines  prominent  on  account  of 
parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  indistinct  or  faintly  visible  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  distinguishable  against  the  lighter-colored 
background  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  939,  1143. 

Inga  plumifera  Spruce  ex  Benth.  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  30:  621. 
1875.  Cotochupa. 

Uncommon  tree,  up  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  round,  bent,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to 
about  18  feet.  Bark  pale  brown  with  small,  darker  brown  lenticels. 
Pods  approximately  12  inches  long  and  1  inch  thick,  with  round 
seeds;  fruiting  in  June- July. — In  dense  forest  not  subject  to  inun- 
dations (alt.  500  ft.);  said  to  be  common  along  the  Rio  Uaupes  in 
Brazil . 

Wood  pale  brown  with  pale  violet  or  dark  grayish  streaks;  of  me- 
dium weight,  hard,  and  compact;  splinters  easily;  probably  durable. 
Growth  rings  faintly  visible  owing  to  alinement  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma abundantly  developed  and  distinct;  in  broad  sheaths  sur- 
rounding the  pores  and  in  short,  fairly  continuous,  concentric  bands 
(as  in  /.  pilosiuscula).  Pores  open  or  filled  with  pale  yellowish 
deposit.  Vessel  lines  long  and  prominent  on  account  of  dark  contents. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  958. 

Inga  punctata  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  4:  1016.  1806.    Rufindi. 

Tree,  20  to  40,  at  times  up  to  60,  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing and  broad.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  12  inches  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  25  feet.  Bark  about  0.75  inch 
thick,  pale  yellow  or  grayish  to  light  brown,  and  fairly  smooth. 


186  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Leaflets  in  two  pairs,  ovate  or  ellipsoid,  acuminate,  acute  at  base, 
lustrous  on  upper  surface.  Flowers  in  short  spikes,  with  pale  green 
petals  and  white  filaments.  Pods  compressed  or  round  on  cross 
section  and  often  curved,  deep  green  when  mature. — Common  in 
both  the  lowland  and  upland  (alt.  400-4,500  ft.);  in  dry  loam  in 
clearings,  along  margin  of  forest,  and  occasionally  along  steep  grass- 
covered  hill  slopes.  Reported  also  from  Rio  Santo  Domingo,  upper 
Huallaga  (alt.  4,000  ft.),  at  La  Merced,  in  the  Colonia  Perene,  and 
near  the  estuary  of  the  Tigre,  middle  Maranon. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  white  with  long,  narrow,  grayish  or  pale 
brown  streaks  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  brown  and  perishable. 
Wood  of  medium  weight  or  fairly  heavy;  liable  to  check  in  drying; 
does  not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  some 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  distinct  to  aided  eye;  in 
rather  broad  bands  surrounding  the  pores,  at  times  in  short,  tangen- 
tial bands  uniting  the  pores,  infrequently  in  fine,  slightly  wavy, 
concentric  lines.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision.  Vessel  lines  readily 
distinguishable  against  the  lighter-colored  background. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2446;  upper  Itaya,  3512;  Iquitos,  3662; 
Yurimaguas,  4599. — San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7394- 

Inga  quaternata  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  et  Sp.  3:  79.  1845. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  branching  from 
the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  about  half  the  height.  Bark  thin, 
reddish,  or  violet  to  dark  brown,  with  small,  short,  horizontal 
ridges.  Flowers  with  green  petals  and  pinkish  white  filaments; 
June- July. — Widely  scattered,  but  nowhere  common  (alt.  380-500 
ft.);  in  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  yellowish  brown  with  slaty  gray  areas 
caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  brown.  Wood  straight-grained; 
medium-  or  coarse-textured ;  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy  and 
compact.  Growth  rings  absent  or  visible  owing  to  some  variation 
in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  distinct.  Vessel  lines 
readily  visible  owing  to  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  darker  brown  than 
adjacent  elements  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3185;  Yurimaguas,  3944- 

Inga  Ruiziana  G.  Don,  Gen.  Syst.  2:  391.  1832. 
Tree,  up  to  40  or  50  feet  in  height.    Crown  spreading.    Trunk 
moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  and  up  to  15  inches  in  diameter. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  187 

Bark  pale  grayish  green  or  yellow,  smooth  or  fairly  rough.  Leaflets 
in  3  or  4  pairs,  ellipsoid,  acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  finely 
pubescent  on  both  surfaces;  petiole  not  winged.  Flowers  white; 
June-July. — Abundant  in  the  lowland,  especially  in  the  lower 
Peruvian  Amazon  region  (alt.  380  ft.);  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings 
or  along  margin  of  forest;  collected  also  near  the  estuary  of  the 
Santiago  River,  an  affluent  of  the  Maranon. 

Sapwood  with  creamy  yellow  or  pinkish  brown  streaks  and 
fine  dark  gray  lines;  heartwood  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  mod- 
erately heavy  to  heavy,  firm,  and  compact;  appears  to  be  durable. 
Growth  rings  visible.  Parenchyma  paratracheal.  Pores  open  or 
filled  with  yellowish  deposit.  Vessel  lines  fine  or  readily  distinguish- 
able owing  to  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  visible  to  unaided  eye  on 
radial  surface  only. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1753;  Caballo-cocha,  2288. 

Inga  sertulifera  DC.  Prodr.  2: 436. 1825. 

Tall  shrub  or 'straggly  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for 
about  one-fourth  the  height.  Bark  reddish  or  yellowish  to  dull 
grayish  brown,  with  short,  horizontal  ridges  and  numerous  lenticels. 
—Not  common;  in  thickets  or  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal  floods 
(alt.  450-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  dull  pale  brown,  with  a  faint  yellowish  cast  and  occa- 
sionally with  dark  striping;  moderately  heavy,  firm,  and  compact; 
fairly  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  probably 
durable.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  abun- 
dance of  elements.  Parenchyma  in  broad  bands  surrounding  the 
pores  and  in  irregular,  broken,  concentric  bands  uniting  the  latter; 
visible  to  unaided  eye.  Pores  not  distinguishable  without  lens; 
open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  mostly  long;  frequently  containing 
dark  gum.  Rays  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  846.— San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near 
Tarapoto,  6800. 

Inga  stenoptera  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  143.  1840. 

Tree,  up  to  80  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
columnar,  12  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  up  to 
24  feet.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  dark  brown,  rough;  inner  bark  slightly 
fibrous;  exudes  when  incised  an  abundance  of  bitter,  dark  brown 
resin.— Not  common;  in  dense  forest  subject  to  seasonal  inundations 
(alt.  380  ft.). 


188  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sap  wood  pale  yellow,  with  violet  brown  and  grayish  areas; 
heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  moderately  heavy  and  splinters 
rather  easily;  liable  to  check  in  drying  and  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  color. 
Parenchyma  in  association  with  pores  and  sometimes  confluent. 
Pores  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  rather  fine,  short  or  long,  and 
usually  discernible  owing  to  dark  gum  frequently  present.  Rays 
distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2158. 

Inga  strigillosa  Spruce  ex  Benth.  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  30:  612. 1875. 

Tree,  approximately  50  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
branching  a  few  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  yellowish  or  reddish 
brown;  inner  bark  reddish  brown  and  slightly  fibrous.  Flowers 
white;  May-June. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dense  forest  free 
from  floods  (alt.  400ft.). 

Wood  uniform  light  brown;  of  medium  weight;  saws  rather  woolly 
and  is  splintery;  checks  in  drying.  Growth  rings  visible.  Paren- 
chyma in  association  with  the  pores;  discernible  only  with  lens. 
Pores  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines 
short  and  rather  prominent  owing  to  the  parenchyma  sheaths. 
Rays  faintly  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2483. 

Inga  velutina  Willd.(?),  Sp.  PI.  4:  1014.  1806.    Rosca-shimbillo. 

Medium-sized  tree,  60  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  13  to  18  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching 
a  few  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  gray,  with  short,  low, 
horizontal  ridges;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous. — Uncommon;  in  old 
clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest  free  from  periodical  floods  (alt. 
500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  small  extent  for  general  carpentry. 

Sap  wood  pale  grayish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown, 
thin.  Wood  saws  slightly  woolly,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its 
place  well ;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible  owing  to 
some  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  not  distinct.  Pores  visible  to  unaided  eye; 
open.  Vessel  lines  short  or  long  and  prominent  against  the  lighter- 
colored  background.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened 
tangential  section;  of  darker  color  than  background  and  visible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto :  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  .4777. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  189 

The  following  numbers  of  the  genus  Inga  remain  to  be  deter- 
mined specifically: 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  551,  727,  754,  755,  770;  upper  Nanay, 
838,  843,  981, 1013, 1138;  near  Iquitos,  97,  1549,  3736;  Pebas,  1612, 
1755,  1768,  1883;  Caballo-cocha,  2206,  2410,  2437;  La  Victoria, 
2647,  2958,  3107;  lower  Huallaga,  3835,  3982,  4238,  4531,  4783.— 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5465,  6180,  6575;  Juan  Guerra,  6866,  6885, 
6897;  San  Roque,  7057. 

5.    PIPTADENIA  Mart. 

Piptadenia  flava  (Spreng.)  Benth.(?),  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  30:  371. 
1875.  Pashaco,  Pashaquillo,  Una  de  gato. 

Prickly  shrub,  at  times  attaining  the  size  of  a  medium-sized 
tree,  from  50  to  60  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or  open.  Trunk  usually 
branching  from  base.  Bark  yellowish  to  dark  brown,  scaly,  and 
with  small  lenticels;  inner  bark  reddish  brown.  Flowers  wine  red 
and  filaments  yellow  or  reddish  brown;  June-July. — Not  common; 
in  slightly  humid  loam  in  brushwood  (alt.  400-450  ft.).  Wood  not 
used  locally  except  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  almost  white  with  fine  brown  markings 
of  vessel  lines  and  frequently  with  black  veining  and  grayish  areas 
caused  probably  by  sapstain;  heartwood  reddish  brown,  well  de- 
marcated. Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained; 
coarse- textured;  moderately  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  easy  to  work, 
saws  slightly  woolly,  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish;  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform, 
and  in  short,  irregular,  tangential  bands  uniting  the  pores;  clearly 
visible  with  lens.  Pores  rather  large  and  at  limit  of  vision;  few,  well 
scattered  or  showing  tendency  to  alinement  in  concentric  rows; 
mostly  solitary,  also  in  small  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multi- 
ples; open  or  filled  with  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  long,  coarse,  and 
darker  than  background  on  account  of  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays 
moderately  fine,  lighter-colored  than  fibers  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential;  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface 
when  held  to  proper  light. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  514;  Paraiso,  upper  Itaya,  3311. 

6.    PITHECOLOBIUM  Mart. 

Shrubs  or  trees,  armed  or  unarmed.  Leaves  twice  pinnate,  the 
few  or  numerous  leaflets  large  or  small.  Flowers  rather  small  but 
often  showy,  in  heads,  spikes,  or  umbels;  stamens  numerous,  united 


190  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

below  into  a  tube.  Fruit  very  variable,  the  valves  often  thickened 
and  coiled  or  twisted.  Timber  is  esteemed  locally  for  tool  handles, 
canoe  paddles,  made  mostly  from  the  narrow  buttresses,  also  for 
house  posts  and  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  yellowish  to  pale  brown,  usually  with  a  gray- 
ish tinge;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
medium-  to  fairly  coarse- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  some- 
times saws  woolly,  but  is  capable  of  taking  a  smooth,  moderately  or 
highly  lustrous  polish;  fairly  durable  or  durable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  less  often  confluent;  distinct  with  lens.  Pores  large; 
few  and  well  scattered ;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  or  diag- 
onal multiples;  sometimes  filled  with  dark  gum.  Rays  fine  or  fairly 
fine  on  cross  section ;  sometimes  visible  without  lens  on  tangential ;  of 
lighter  color  than  background  and  at  times  barely  visible  without 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Rays  homogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide.  Long  strands  of  calcium 
oxalate  common. 

Pithecolobium  laetum  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  3: 
203.  1844.  Remo-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading ; 
branches  elongated.  Trunk  erect,  fluted,  13  inches  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  25  feet.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown 
with  a  grayish  cast,  and  fairly  smooth;  an  infusion  prepared  by 
boiling  the  bark  in  water  is  reputed  to  be  used  as  a  remedy  for 
tertiary  fever.  Flowers  white,  with  greenish  white  petals  and 
pale  pink  filaments;  September-October. — Fairly  common  in  the 
lowland  forest,  especially  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 
Timber  esteemed  locally  for  tool  handles  and  more  particularly  for 
canoe  paddles,  hence  the  local  name  "remo"= paddle,  "caspi"= 
wood. 

Sapwood  fairly  well  defined,  pale  yellow  with  a  faint  pinkish 
cast  and  long  dark  brown  striping  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood 
light  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless ;  straight-grained ;  medium- 
or  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  requires  a 
sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  takes  a  dull  finish;  fairly 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal;  of  darker  brown  color  than  adjacent  elements  and 
visible  only  with  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size,  sometimes  at  limit  of 
vision ;  few  and  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  rows  or  multiples  of  up  to 
4,  infrequently  in  diagonal  pairs;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  con- 
spicuous on  account  of  parenchyma  sheaths;  grayish  white  and 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  191 

black  gum  deposits  frequently  present.    Rays  very  fine,  numerous, 
closely  spaced,  and  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct with  lens  on  tangential ;  sometimes  distinguishable  without  lens 
on  moistened  radial  surface. 
Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4444- 

Pithecolobium  Mathewsi  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  3: 
222.  1844.  Algarrobo. 

Tree,  25  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  fairly  straight 
or  contorted,  fluted,  from  10  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
limbs  for  from  1  to  18  feet.  Bark  extremely  thin,  yellowish  or  red- 
dish brown,  bitter  to  taste,  fairly  smooth  or  slightly  rough,  and  exudes 
a  bitter,  translucent,  viscid  resin;  an  infusion  obtained  by  boiling 
the  bark  in  water  is  said  to  be  efficacious  in  the  treatment  of  malarial 
fever.  Flowers  yellowish  white;  January-February . — Common;  in 
open,  sandy  loam  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.).  Timber 
is  highly  esteemed  locally  for  house  posts  and  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  pale  or  bright  yellow,  fairly  well  defined;  heartwood 
greenish  yellow  when  fresh,  turning  on  exposure  to  pale  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy,  strong;  rather  fibrous, 
easy  to  work,  takes  a  lustrous  polish;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  and  in  irregular,  short,  tangential  bands  uniting 
the  pores,  infrequently  in  fine,  concentric  lines;  distinct  under  lens. 
Pores  of  rather  small  or  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  infrequently  in  small  radial  or  diagonal  multiples, 
often  united  into  tangential  chains  by  the  parenchyma.  Vessel 
lines  appear  as  fine  scratches,  sometimes  of  light  brown  color  and 
visible  on  account  of  parenchyma  sheaths.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine, 
and  faintly  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
lighter  colored  than  background  and  barely  visible  with  lens  on  radial 
surface. 

San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  5532,  5967(1};  Lamas,  6463. 

Pithecolobium  Saman  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  3: 
216.  1844.  Huacamayo-chico. 

Small  tree,  about  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  round.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  approximately  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of 
branches  for  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  pale 
yellow  or  greenish,  spongy,  and  with  long,  coarse  fissures ;  inner  bark 
light  brown  and  fibrous. — Not  common;  in  open,  sandy  loam  among 


192  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

low  trees  and  shrubs  of  second  growth  (alt.  1,300  ft.) ;  the  species  is 
said  to  be  indigenous  in  the  West  Indies,  and  is  reported  also  from 
eastern  Brazil,  Colombia,  and  Ecuador.  Timber  is  employed  for 
general  carpentry  and  to  a  less  extent  for  house  construction. 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  yellow  with  dark  veining  of  vessel 
lines;  tasteless,  but  slightly  fragrant;  straight-grained ;  rather  coarse- 
textured;  moderately  light  in  weight,  firm,  strong;  slightly  fibrous, 
but  inclined  to  be  tenacious,  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish; 
likely  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement 
of  pores  in  concentric  zones.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores 
and  in  short  bands  uniting  them.  Pores  not  numerous,  have  a 
tendency  to  zonal  arrangement;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  small 
radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse 
and  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements.  Rays  rather  fine  and 
discernible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  occasionally  distinguishable  to 
aided  eye  on  tangential ;  of  lighter  color  than  adjacent  elements  and 
barely  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper 
light.  Pith  brown,  narrow,  round. 

San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  5495. 

II.    CAESALPINIEAE  (Caesalpiniaceae) 

Trees  or  shrubs,  rarely  herbs,  with  pinnate  or  bipinnate,  seldom 
simple,  leaves.  Flowers  various,  sometimes  large  and  brightly 
colored,  at  other  times  small  and  inconspicuous,  generally  in  racemes, 
less  often  spicate;  the  uppermost  petals  in  bud  within  the  others; 
stamens  usually  distinct.  The  fruit  is  a  flat  pod  which  opens 
elastically. 

1.    BAUHINIA  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  sometimes  climbing,  frequently  armed 
with  spines  and  the  stems  often  compressed.  Leaves  simple  and 
palmately  nerved,  bilobate,  or  sometimes  composed  of  2  leaflets. 
Flowers  mostly  large  and  showy,  in  racemes.  Fruit  flat,  indehiscent 
or  bivalvate.  Timber  is  used  locally  to  a  limited  extent  for  crating 
and  general  carpentry. 

Sap  wood  yellowish  or  grayish  brown;  heartwood  dark  chocolate 
brown.  Wood  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight 
to  heavy;  easy  to  work;  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal 
and  in  rather  distinct,  continuous,  less  often  broken,  concentric 
bands,  sometimes  diagonally  disposed.  Pores  rather  small  to 
medium-sized;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine,  rather  numer- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  193 

ous,  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
at  times  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present; 
all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  120. 

Rays  homogeneous;  mostly  uni-  or  biseriate.  Pits  not  vestured 
in  Bauhinieae. 

Bauhinia  tarapotensis  Benth.,  ined.     Vaina  de  machete. 

Tree,  40  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar, 
12  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  one-third  the  height. 
Bark  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous. — 
Common  in  clearings  in  the  lower  Itaya  (alt.  400  ft.) ;  collected  also  in 
dense  forest  at  Puerto  Bermudez  (alt.  1,200  ft.),  and  by  Spruce  at 
Tarapoto.  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  light  brown,  lustrous;  heartwood  dull  brown,  thin. 
Wood  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  irregular- 
grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  and  tenacious;  mod- 
erately easy  to  work,  saws  rather  woolly;  probably  durable.  Growth 
rings  indistinct  or  present.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed; 
paratracheal  and  in  broad,  evenly  spaced,  concentric  bands,  readily 
discernible  without  lens.  Pores  small;  not  numerous,  uniformly 
scattered;  solitary  and  round  in  outline,  less  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  rarely  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  long,  and 
distinguishable  without  lens  on  account  of  the  pale  yellowish  white 
deposit  usually  present.  Rays  fine ;  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  186. 

The  following  numbers  have  been  determined  provisionally  on 
the  basis  of  wood  specimens : 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  156;  upper  Itaya,  3385;  lower  Huallaga,  5035, 
5250. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5512. 

2.    CAESALPINIA  L. 

Caesalpinia  pulcherrima  (L.)  Sw.  Obs.  Bot.  166.  1791.  Angel- 
sisa,  Flor  del  angel,  Frijol. 

Glabrous  shrub  or  small,  prickly  tree,  up  to  20  feet  in  height, 
and  frequently  planted  for  ornament.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  3  feet  or  more. 
Bark  light  brown,  moderately  thin,  almost  smooth;  inner  bark  pale 
pinkish  brown.  Leaves  bipinnate,  with  numerous,  small,  narrow 
leaflets  suggesting  honey  locust  (Gleditsia).  Flowers  large,  red  or 
yellow,  fragrant.  Fruit  a  compressed,  dehiscent  pod. 


194  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sap  wood  well  defined,  yellowish  white,  thin;  heartwood  pale 
pink  or  lustrous  golden  brown  to  dull  brown.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive taste,  but  has  a  faint  rancid  odor;  straight-grained;  fine- 
textured;  heavy,  strong,  compact;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Growth  rings  distinct  in  some  specimens  owing  to  alinement  of  pores. 
Parenchyma  fairly  abundantly  developed;  surrounding  the  pores. 
Pores  small;  numerous,  not  crowded;  solitary,  less  often  in  radial 
rows  of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  varying  length. 
Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine,  numerous,  and  barely  discernible  with  lens 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  faintly  distinguishable  in 
proper  light  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present,  but  usually 
very  indistinct;  all  elements  storied;  number  of  "marks"  per  inch 
length,  about  100. 

Intervascular  pits  fairly  large;  vessel-ray  pits  of  same  size  as 
intervascular.  Rays  heterogeneous ;  mostly  2  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  214;  lower  Nanay,  1+11. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  5-475. 

3.    CAMPSIANDRA  Benth. 

Campsiandra  laurifolia  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  93. 
1840.  Huacapurana,  Pampa-huacapurana. 

Forest  tree,  65  to  90  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight 
or  fairly  so,  cylindrical,  8  to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of 
branches  up  to  40  feet.  Bark  grayish  black,  moderately  thick,  with 
small  excrescences.  Flowers  small,  yellow  or  red;  June-July.  Pod 
up  to  9  inches  long,  with  large,  round  seeds. — Widely  distributed  in 
the  lowland  (alt.  380  ft.);  often  encountered  in  semi-humid  areas. 
Timber  is  highly  esteemed  for  general  construction  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  not  well  defined,  light  brown  with  occasional  yellowish 
areas  or  dark  streaks;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown.  Wood  taste- 
less; fairly  straight-grained;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  hard,  heavy, 
and  strong;  not  easy  to  work;  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or 
absent.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed  and  distinct;  paratra- 
cheal,  confluent,  sometimes  aliform.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large; 
not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  long  and  prominent; 
often  filled  with  grayish  white  deposits.  Rays  closely  and  irregularly 
spaced,  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible 
or  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  tangential ;  darker  than  background 
and  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface;  homogeneous;  2-4  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  111$;  Caballo-cocha,  2345;  La  Victoria, 
2871, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  195 

4.    CASSIA  L. 

Unarmed  trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  pinnate,  the  leaflets  large  or 
small.  Flowers  usually  yellow,  commonly  large  and  showy,  race- 
mose, paniculate,  or  solitary.  Pods  flat  and  thin,  linear,  dehiscent 
or  indehiscent.  Timber  is  little  used  locally. 

Sapwood  yellowish  to  pale  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  tinge  and 
sometimes  with  dark  brown  patches;  heartwood  chocolate  brown  or 
almost  black.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  or  rather 
coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to  medium  density  and  firm;  usually 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  but  easy  to  plane; 
stains  in  drying  and  is  not  very  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
aliform,  and  in  indistinct  or  distinct,  broad,  tangential  bands 
between  the  rays  and  sometimes  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  of  medium 
size  to  rather  large;  moderately  numerous,  diffuse-  or  inclined  to 
ring-porous;  infrequently  filled  with  deposit  of  calcium.  Rays  fine 
or  moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  some- 
times discernible,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial  surface. 

Rays  homogeneous;  sometimes  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate,  in 
others  up  to  5  cells  wide.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in 
parenchyma  strands. 

Cassia  chrysocarpa  Desv.  Journ.  Bot.  3:  72.  1814.  Amargo- 
caspi,  Flor  de  cana. 

Slender  tree  or  tall  shrub,  up  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing. Trunk  clear  of  branches  up  to  6  feet.  Bark  light  brown, 
fairly  smooth.  The  leaves  are  bitter  to  taste,  whence  the  local 
name  "amargo-caspi."  Flowers  yellow;  July-August. — Fairly  com- 
mon in  thickets  and  clearings  along  the  banks  of  the  Itaya,  Nanay, 
and  Amazon,  also  in  the  middle  Huallaga  region  (alt.  400-1,600  ft.). 

Sapwood  variegated  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  and  susceptible 
to  insect  attacks;  heartwood  dark  brown  or  almost  black. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  89;  lower  Nanay,  566;  Pebas,  1762. 

Cassia  marginata  Willd.  Enum.  Hort.  Berol.  443.  1809.  Re- 
tama,  Sapechihua. 

Uncommon,  slender  tree,  about  40  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  branching  from  base.  Bark  light  gray,  dark  brown,  or  almost 
black.  Leaflets  oblongate,  slightly  pubescent  above  and  below, 
emarginate,  rounded  at  base.  Flowers  with  pale  yellow  petals. 
Fruit  pinkish,  bivalvate. — In  thickets  or  dense  forest  near  bank  of 
Nanay  River  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  used  locally  for  fuel.  An 


196  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

infusion  prepared  by  boiling  the  roots  in  water  is  said  to  be  effi- 
cacious for  fevers. 

Sapwood  lustrous  grayish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dull 
light  or  dark  brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured  ;  splits  readily  and  takes  a  smooth  finish ;  not  durable. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  367. 

Cassia  multijuga  Rich.  Act.  Soc.  Hist.  Nat.  Par.  1:  108.  1792. 
Pashaco  sin  espina,  Quillo-sisa. 

Unarmed  tree,  22  to  45,  at  times  up  to  60,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
round  or  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round  or  moderately  so,  up 
to  13  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  more  than  half  the 
height.  Bark  light  gray  or  brown.— Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere 
abundant,  in  the  lowland  (alt.  350  ft.)  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Lamas 
(alt.  1,600  ft.);  in  non-inundated  clearings  and  thickets;  the  species 
is  reported  also  from  the  Guianas,  Colombia,  and  Central  America. 
Wood  is  not  employed  locally. 

Sapwood  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  wood,  oatmeal-colored, 
pale  yellowish,  or  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast  or  dark  streaks, 
and  has  a  silvery  luster;  heartwood  dull  dark  reddish  brown.  Wood 
straight-grained;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  fairly  light  in  weight 
and  rather  soft  or  firm;  saws  woolly,  but  takes  a  smooth  finish. 
Growth  rings  distinguishable  in  some  specimens.  Parenchyma  in 
narrow  bands  surrounding  the  pores,  also  in  short,  fine,  tangential 
bands  which,  at  times,  appear  to  be  terminal.  Pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  numerous,  well  distributed  or  with  a  tendency  to  concentric 
arrangement;  solitary  and  round  or  oval  in  outline,  less  frequently 
in  small  radial  multiples,  rarely  tangentially  disposed ;  open.  Vessel 
lines  coarse,  dark,  and  conspicuous.  Rays  fine  and  indistinct  on 
cross  section;  visible  only  with  lens  on  tangential  surface;  readily 
discernible,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1754, 1980.— San  Martin:  Lamas,  6458. 

Cassia  occidentalis  L.  Sp.  PI.  377.  1753.  Aya-poroto,  Ayak- 
poroto,  Aya-parotillo,  Retama,  Retamilla. 

Small  shrub,  very  abundant  throughout  the  lowland;  in  clear- 
ings and  sometimes  cultivated.  Flowers  yellowish. 

Herbarium  material  only. 

Cassia  racemosa  Mill.  Gard.  Diet.  ed.  8.  No.  19. 1768.  Quillo-sisa. 

Tree,  up  to  50  feet  in  height.    Crown  spreading  or  almost  round. 

Trunk  moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  about  12  inches  in  diam- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  197 

eter,  and  either  branching  from  the  base  or  free  of  limbs  up  to  10 
feet.  Bark  grayish,  bright  red,  or  dark  chocolate  brown,  with 
small  lenticels.  Leaflets  oblong  to  oval-elliptic,  acuminate  at  apex, 
acute  or  rounded  at  base,  glabrous  above,  and  pubescent  beneath. 
Flowers  with  yellow  petals;  July- August. — Common  in  the  low- 
land; in  second  growth  or  along  margin  of  forest  in  non-inundated 
areas  (alt.  400-500  ft.).  Wood  used  mainly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  thick,  varying  in  color  from  grayish  or  yellowish  to 
pale  brown  and  with  a  fairly  high  luster;  heartwood  dull  dark  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained; 
medium-textured;  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy,  hard,  and 
compact;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  infre- 
quently in  narrow,  tangential  bands,  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  visible 
to  unaided  eye;  fairly  numerous  and  evenly  distributed;  solitary  or 
in  small  radial  rows  or  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  or  long, 
dark,  and  conspicuous;  sometimes  filled  with  lustrous,  gummy  con- 
tents. Rays  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  of  same  color  as  or  darker  than  background  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2070,  2199;  La  Victoria,  2608,  2897; 
Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  3863,  784.9. 

Cassia  reticulata  Willd.  Enum.  Hort.  Berol.  443. 1809.  Retama, 
Sapechihua. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  free  of  limbs  for  3  to  8  feet. 
Bark  dark  brown  or  almost  black,  moderately  thin.  Leaflets  ob- 
longate  or  obovate,  rounded  or  slightly  cuspidate  at  apex,  finely 
pubescent  on  both  surfaces.  Flowers  yellow,  rather  large,  and  showy. 
Pod  dark  brown,  with  thin  flat  valves. — Common  in  clearings  or 
thickets  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  grayish  to  pale  yellowish  brown; 
heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown,  with  a  deep  golden  luster.  Wood 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight  or  moderately 
so,  firm,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
finish, 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  116,  134,  288;  Iquitos,  1475,  7899;  Pebas, 
1735;  Caballo-cocha,  2145;  upper  Itaya,  3264,  3349;  Yurimaguas, 

3822. 


198  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Cassia  Ruiziana  Vog.(?),  Syn.  Cass.  40.  1837.  Cornesuelo, 
Mataro. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  and  slender.  Bark  thin,  grayish  or  dark  brown. — 
In  second  growth  (alt.  400-3,500  ft.).  Wood  is  esteemed  locally  for 
general  carpentry. 

Wood  variegated  light  brown  throughout  and  darkening  slightly 
on  exposure;  has  a  slightly  offensive  odor  when  fresh;  straight-  or 
interlocked-grained ;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight, 
strong,  and  compact;  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  golden  luster; 
probably  durable. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7067. 

Cassia  viminea  L.  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  10.  2:  1016.  1759;  Amoen. 
Acad.  5:  397.  1760.  Yana-huira. 

Slender  tree,  sometimes  scandent,  up  to  22  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Bark  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  with  minute 
lenticels.  Leaflets  ovate-oblong,  acuminate,  lustrous  and  glabrous 
above  except  along  mid-vein,  pubescent  beneath.  Flowers  yellow, 
rather  prominent;  May-June.  Fruit  sculptured,  light  brown  when 
mature;  valves  fairly  thick  and  woody. — Abundant  throughout  the 
Department  of  Loreto  and  occasionally  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto 
(alt.  400-1,300  ft.),  in  open  loam  in  second  growth;  reported  also 
from  near  Manaos,  Brazilian  Amazon. 

Sapwood  pale  grayish  or  pinkish  brown.  Occasionally  with  darker 
streaks;  heartwood  dull  dark  reddish  brown.  Wood  moderately  light, 
firm;  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  luster;  resembles  C.  racemosa. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  50;  lower  Nanay,  365,  392,  532. 

5.    COPAIFERA  L. 

Copaifera  reticulata  Ducke,  Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio  Janeiro  1: 
22.  1915.  Copaiba. 

One  of  the  tallest  trees  in  the  flood-free  forest  of  the  lower  Hua- 
llaga,  up  to  120  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  31  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  free  of  branches  up  to  75 
feet,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  up  to  1  inch  thick,  reddish  or 
purplish  brown.  Wood  when  cut  exudes  a  copious  quantity  of 
sweet,  translucent  gum,  the  commercial  product  known  as  copaiba 
balsam  or  "balsamo  de  copaiba,"  that  collects  in  cavities  in  the  heart 
of  the  tree  and  is  gathered  by  tapping.  It  is  used  in  a  crude  state 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  199 

by  the  natives  for  medicinal  purposes  and  for  anointing  the  hair 
and  body. 

Sapwood  fairly  distinctly  defined,  pale  brown  with  dark  brown 
streaks;  heartwood  russet  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  heavy,  strong,  and  firm;  easy 
to  work,  finishes  smoothly,  takes  a  good  polish,  and  holds  its  place 
well  when  finished;  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma 
in  narrow,  irregularly  spaced,  tangential  or  concentric  bands,  also 
paratracheal  and  terminal.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  and 
tangential  multiples;  open  or  filled  with  dark  gum  and  calcium 
deposits.  Vessel  lines  long,  coarse,  and  darker  than  background. 
Rays  fine  and  visible  only  with  lens  or  fairly  broad  on  cross  section; 
barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  tangential;  darker  than  adjacent  elements 
and  distinct  on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Normal  vertical  canals  are  present  in  terminal  parenchyma  lay- 
ers, sometimes  very  numerous,  at  other  times  few;  small  and  indistinct 
with  lens;  their  presence  indicated  by  exudations  of  small  amounts 
of  oil  showing  as  streaks  on  longitudinal  surface  and  as  light-colored 
or  dark  spots  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4884- 

6.    CRUDIA  Schreb. 

Crudia  parivoa  (Rich.)  DC.  Prodr.  2:  520.  1825.    Pisho. 

Tree,  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight,  round,  9 
inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  up  to  25  feet.  Bark  pinkish 
or  purplish  brown,  moderately  smooth. — Common  in  the  lower 
Huallaga  (alt.  600  ft.) ;  in  dense  forest.  Timber  employed  for  making 
furniture  and  spinning  tops. 

Wood  light  or  pinkish  brown  throughout,  with  long,  dark  streaks 
or  brown  areas  caused  probably  by  stain;  tasteless  and  odorless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly 
heavy  and  hard;  moderately  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish, 
and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  not  durable  and  susceptible 
to  insects.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing  to  slight  varia- 
tion in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed ; 
discernible  at  limit  of  vision  as  broad,  evenly  spaced,  short  or 
continuous,  concentric  bands  uniting  the  pores,  also  terminal. 
Pores  barely  distinguishable  without  lens;  not  numerous  and  well 
distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3.  Vessel 
lines  rather  short  and  readily  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  account 


200  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

of  light  or  dark  brown  gum  present.     Rays  barely  distinguishable 
with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces ;  light  brown  and  discernible, 
but  not  prominent,  on  radial  section. 
Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4176a. 

1.    GYNOMETRA  L. 

Cynometra  bauhiniaefolia  Benth.(?),  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2: 
99.  1840.  Herairo. 

Uncommon  tree,  25  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  10  feet. 
Bark  dark  brown  with  small,  light  brown  lenticels. — In  slightly 
humid  soil  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  380  ft.).  Wood  has  no 
local  application  except  for  charcoal. 

Wood  pinkish  brown  throughout;  straight-grained;  fine-  or  mod- 
erately fine- textured ;  moderately  heavy  and  hard;  liable  to  check 
in  drying.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  faintly  visible.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  evenly  spaced,  continuous,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of 
small  or  medium  size;  rather  few,  well  distributed;  solitary,  also  in 
small  multiples  or  radial  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  visible. 
Rays  finer  than  parenchyma  lines;  indistinct  without  lens  on  cross 
and  tangential  sections;  sometimes  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pro,  near  Pebas,  1984'  ^ 

8.    DIALIUM  L. 

Medium-sized  or  tall  trees,  usually  with  smooth  bark  which, 
when  cut,  exudes  a  reddish  brown  resin.  Leaves  once-pinnate. 
Calyx  lobes  open  in  bud;  stamens  numerous.  Fruit  globose  or 
ovoid,  smooth,  not  opening;  the  pulp  surrounding  the  seeds  is  edible. 
Timber  is  esteemed  for  house  posts. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pale  brown,  with  light  or  dark  gray  streaks; 
heartwood  slightly  darker  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
fairly  lustrous;  coarse-textured;  heavy  or  very  heavy  and  durable; 
not  very  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  distinct,  tangential  lines,  forming  network  with  the  rays. 
Pores  large;  fairly  numerous  and  diffuse;  solitary,  infrequently  in 
small  radial  multiples;  often  filled  with  dark  gum  or  lustrous  tyloses. 
Rays  fairly  broad  and  of  about  the  same  thickness  as  parenchyma 
lines  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces.  Ripple  marks 
present;  all  elements  storied ;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  100. 

Intervascular  pits  screwhead  type.  Rays  homogeneous;  some- 
times uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part,  or  up  to  3  cells  wide. 


WOODS  OP  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


201 


FIG.  16.    "Huitillo,"  Dialium  sp.,  near  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga. 

Dialium  acuminatum  Spruce,  ined.    Huitillo. 

Tree,  frequently  60  to  70  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  12  to  15  inches  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height.  Bark  grayish 
or  reddish  brown;  secretes  a  small  quantity  of  insipid  reddish  brown 
resin  when  cut.  Flowers  small,  white.  Fruit  dark  brown  when 
mature,  pulp  light  brown;  August-September. — Of  limited  distri- 


202  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

bution,  but  rather  common  along  the  banks  of  the  Morona,  a  small 
stream  near  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  esteemed  for  house 
posts  and  purposes  requiring  resistance  to  dampness. 

Sap  wood  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish,  not 
sharply  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained  or 
fairly  so;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  heavy,  rather  brittle,  but  firm 
and  compact;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when 
finished.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible  at  times  on  account  of  slight 
variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  numerous, 
fine,  but  distinct,  tangential  or  concentric  lines  forming  a  network 
with  the  rays.  Pores  occasionally  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye; 
well  distributed;  solitary  and  oval  in  outline,  less  frequently  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3,  rarely  more,  seldom  tangentially  disposed; 
open  or  filled  with  dark  gum.  Vessel  lines  vary  in  length  and  of  same 
color  as  background.  Rays  finer  than  parenchyma  lines  or  fairly 
broad  on  cross  section ;  sometimes  visible  on  tangential.  Ripple  marks 
present;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  80-100. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3699;  upper  Nanay,  1181(1}. 

9.    HYMENAEAL. 

Hymenaea  palustris  Ducke,  Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio  Janeiro  1: 
24.  1916.  Azucar-huayo. 

Forest  tree,  60  to  120  feet  tall.  Crown  almost  flat.  Trunk  straight, 
columnar,  about  25  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  for  more  than 
two- thirds  the  height,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  0.5  to  1 
inch  thick,  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  and  with  rather  coarse  lenticels; 
a  pale  yellow,  resin-like  gum  exudes  from  the  trunk  when  incised. 
Leaflets  2.  Flowers  large,  in  terminal  panicles.  Pods  smooth, 
subovoid,  compressed;  the  brown  bean-like  seeds  imbedded  in  a 
mealy,  sweet,  edible  pulp,  whence  the  Spanish-Quechua  name 
("azucar"= sugar;  "huayo"= fruit). — Limited  in  its  distribution;  in 
dense  forest  in  humid  loam  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  550  ft.); 
reported  also  from  the  lower  Brazilian  Amazon.  Although  sus- 
ceptible to  termite  attacks,  the  timber  is  of  good  quality  and  is 
employed  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  construction. 

Sap  wood  not  distinctly  defined,  pale  grayish  brown  with  dark 
brown  streaks;  heartwood  pale  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  rather  coarse- textured ;  heavy  and 
hard;  not  easy  to  work;  appears  .to  be  durable,  although  liable  to 
check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  occasionally  visible  owing  to  slight 
variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  203 

aliform,  and  in  short,  tangential  or  continuous,  unevenly  spaced, 
concentric  bands;  visible  to  unaided  eye.  Pores  of  uneven  size 
to  fairly  large;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-4;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  rather  prominent, 
of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements;  usually  filled  with  pale 
grayish  or  brown  deposits.  Rays  fairly  broad  and  sometimes  dis- 
tinguishable without  lens  on  cross  section;  discernible  also  without 
lens  on  moistened  tangential  and  radial  surfaces.  Vertical  canals, 
gummosis  type,  present. 

Rays  homogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate.  Strands  of  calcium  oxalate 
common. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3453. 

10.     MAGROLOBIUM  Schreb. 

Forest  trees,  from  50  to  60  feet  in  height  with  small,  white 
flowers.  Timber  is  not  used  locally  except  for  fuel. 

Sap  wood  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish  or  dark  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  of  medium  texture;  medium  density; 
inclined  to  be  fibrous,  but  easy  to  cut.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
sometimes  aliform  or  terminal.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numer- 
ous and  well  scattered;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  multiples; 
often  filled  with  black  gum  or  grayish  white  calcium.  Rays  fine, 
numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  slightly  darker  than  background  and  visible,  but  not 
distinct,  on  radial  surface;  uniseriate.  Vertical  canals,  of  the  gum- 
mosis type,  present. 

Macrolobium  acaciaefolium  Benth.  in  Mart.  FI.  Bras.  15, 
pt.  2:  224.  1870.  Pashaco,  Pashaquilla. 

Tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  50  feet.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  moderately  round,  14  inches  in  diameter,  and  un- 
branched  for  5  feet.  Bark  0.75  inch  thick,  dark  brown;  inner  bark 
purplish  brown.  Flowers  small,  corolla  white  with  violet  margin. 
Fruit  compressed;  July. — Not  common;  in  dense  forest  and  occa- 
sionally along  margin  of  clearings  (alt.  380  ft.);  reported  also  from 
the  Rio  Negro,  upper  Brazilian  Amazon,  and  British  Guiana.  Wood 
is  employed  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  and  well  defined;  heartwood  reddish  or 
dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  me- 
dium- or  rather  coarse-textured;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and 
strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  subject 


204  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

to  stain.  Growth  rings  faintly  visible.  Parenchyma  surrounding 
the  pores,  aliform,  confluent,  or  in  more  or  less  continuous,  concen- 
tric lines  which  appear  to  indicate  growth  rings.  Pores  visible  to 
unaided  eye;  not  numerous,  evenly  scattered;  solitary  or  less  fre- 
quently in  radial  multiples  of  2;  open  or  filled  with  calcium  or 
black  gum  deposits.  Vessel  lines  rather  coarse  and  readily  dis- 
tinguishable on  account  of  parenchyma  sheaths;  yellowish  white 
deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  numerous  and  closely  spaced; 
discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces;  slightly 
darker-colored  than  adjacent  elements  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2420. 

Macrolobium  taxifolium  Spruce  ex  Benth.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
15,  pt.  2:  224.  1870.  Aripari. 

Tree,  about  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  erect,  colum- 
nar, tapering  to  the  summit,  28  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  from  25  to  30  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  chocolate  brown,  with 
small  lenticels;  sometimes  used  for  binding  balata  blocks  and  to  tie 
balsa  rafts.  Flowers  small,  white;  May- June. — Not  common;  in 
humid  areas  in  dense  forest  (alt.  600  ft.).  Wood  has  no  local 
application. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white  when  fresh,  darkening  on  exposure  to 
pinkish  brown,  not  sharply  defined;  heartwood  dark  pinkish  brown. 
Wood  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured;  light, 
but  firm;  easy  to  work;  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  checks  in 
drying.  Pores  mostly  solitary;  smaller  than  in  M.  acaciaefolium. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1098. 

11.    POEPPIGIA  Presl 

Poeppigia  procera  Presl,  Symb.  Bot.  1 : 16. 1832.  Cedro-pa-shaco. 

Tree,  up  to  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight  or 
moderately  so,  round,  16  inches  in  diameter,  with  low  buttresses, 
and  unbranched  for  one-third  the  entire  height.  Bark  yellowish  or 
pinkish  brown,  very  thin,  rough.  Flowers  paniculate,  yellow,  and 
showy;  January-February.  Fruit  flat,  thin,  and  narrowly  winged. 
—Fairly  common  in  the  upland  (alt.  1,500  ft.);  in  fairly  dense 
forest.  The  durable  heartwood  is  much  esteemed  for  beams  for 
house  construction. 

Sapwood  about  2  inches  thick,  almost  white;  heartwood  pinkish 
or  pale  chocolate  brown,  well  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  taste- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  205 

less;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  or 
rather  heavy,  strong,  and  tenacious:  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a 
smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement  of  elements.  Parenchyma 
in  closely  or  unevenly  spaced,  short,  broken,  tangential  lines,  some- 
times in  fine,  fairly  continuous,  concentric  lines,  also  terminal.  Pores 
of  medium  size  or  fairly  large;  not  very  numerous  and  fairly  well 
distributed;  solitary  or  more  often  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  in- 
frequently filled  with  calcium.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine  scratches 
of  same  color  as  background,  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  numerous, 
fairly  fine,  closely  spaced,  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  background 
and  barely  discernible  when  held  to  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 
Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length, 
about  70. 

San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  5817. 

12.    SCHIZOLOBIUM  Vog. 

Schizolobium  excelsum  Vog.,  var.  amazonicum  Ducke(?), 
ined.  Pashaco. 

Tall,  handsome  tree,  up  to  100  or  120  feet  in  height,  espe- 
cially conspicuous  in  the  forest  when  in  blossom,  on  account  of  the 
profusion  of  brightly  colored  flowers.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  erect, 
cylindrical,  27  inches  or  more  in  diameter  above  the  large  buttresses, 
and  clear  of  branches  for  70  feet.  Bark  grayish  or  pinkish  brown,  and 
fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Leaves  large  and  bipinnate. 
Flowers  large,  bright  yellow,  showy,  in  long-panicled  racemes. 
Pods  flat  and  thin. — Widely  scattered  in  the  lowland,  but  nowhere 
abundant  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  almost  white  with  slaty  gray  streaks 
caused  by  stain;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  coarse- 
textured;  light  and  fairly  soft,  but  strong;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to 
cut  smoothly  across  the  grain,  inclined  to  saw  woolly,  and  holds 
its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores;  at  limit  of  vision.  Pores  fairly 
large;  not  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  diagonally  or  tangentially  disposed;  open 
or  occasionally  filled  with  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  coarse,  of  darker 
color  than  background,  often  filled  with  grayish  white  calcium  and 
dark  brown  or  black  gum.  Rays  barely  discernible  without  lens 
on  cross  section;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  tangential;  of 
lighter  color  than  background  and  sometimes  distinguishable  to 


206  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

unaided  eye  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light.    Pith  light 
brown,  with  specks  of  reddish  or  dark  brown  gum. 
Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  705. 

13.    SCLEROLOBIUM  Vog. 

Medium-sized  trees,  45  or  50  feet  tall.  The  durable  timber  is 
used  in  the  vicinity  of  Tarapoto  and  Lamas  for  house  posts  and 
general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  pinkish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  darker  pinkish  or 
reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  rather  coarse-textured; 
of  medium  weight  to  very  heavy  and  strong;  not  difficult  to  work  and 
takes  a  fairly  lustrous  polish;  checks  in  drying.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  moderately  numerous, 
diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom 
in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  barely  discernible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Sclerolobium  paniculatum  Vog.  Linnaea  11:  397.  1837. 
Ucsha-quiro. 

Uncommon  tree,  about  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  7  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  15  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown,  about  0.25  inch  thick,  and 
fairly  smooth. — In  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
in  the  vicinity  of  Tarapoto  for  house  posts  and  in  the  construction 
of  huts. 

Sapwood  not  sharply  defined,  pale  pinkish  with  darker  brown 
veining  of  vessel  lines;  heartwood  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained; 
rather  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  weight,  rather  tough,  and  strong; 
slightly  fibrous,  not  difficult  to  work,  and  holds  its  place  fairly  well ; 
probably  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Paren- 
chyma surrounding  the  pores;  not  very  distinct  with  lens.  Pores 
of  medium  size  and  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous,  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4 ;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse  and 
readily  distinguishable  against  the  lighter-colored  background.  Rays 
numerous  and  moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  discernible  with 
lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential  section. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5701. 

Sclerolobium  Uleanum  Harms,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  48: 
168.  1907.  Ucsha-quiro. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  207 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  50  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  13  inches  in  diameter,  and  free 
of  limbs  for  18  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
with  few,  coarse  ridges.  Flowers  small,  yellow;  January-February. 
—Not  common ;  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  of  second  growth  (alt. 
1,600  ft.).  Timber  is  used  by  the  natives  of  Lamas  for  house  posts 
and  rough  carpentry. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish  brown,  thin. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured  or  fairly  so;  very  heavy ,  hard,  and  compact;  not  easy  to 
work,  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  surrounding 
the  pores;  readily  discernible  with  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
not  very  numerous,  inclined  at  times  to  be  crowded;  solitary,  less 
frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  infrequently  diagonally  dis- 
posed or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  moderately 
fine,  but  visible  without  lens.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on 
radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light. 

San  Martin:  Lamas,  6467. 

14.    SWARTZIA  Schreb. 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  once-pinnate;  leaflets  1  or 
few,  entire.  Flowers  large,  white  or  yellow,  showy,  in  short  or  long 
racemes;  stamens  numerous.  Pods  long-beaked.  Some  of  the  tim- 
bers are  used  for  house  posts  and  for  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Wood  white,  yellowish,  pinkish  gray,  or  grayish  brown,  often  with 
purplish  streaks;  fine-  or  moderately  fine- textured ;  light  to  heavy  and 
brittle  or  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish; 
durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform,  and  in  numerous,  con- 
centric bands  or  lines,  often  uniting  the  pores,  also  terminal ;  sometimes 
distinct.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  or  numer- 
ous; diffuse-  or  inclined  to  ring-porous;  solitary,  less  often  in  small 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Rays  fine  and  numerous  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces;  homogeneous,  with  a 
tendency  to  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide.  Ripple  marks  present 
and  distinct;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  85-100. 

Swartzia  amplifolia  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
970.1926.  Icoje. 

Tree,  15  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical  or  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  up  to  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  either  branching  a 
few  feet  from  the  base  or  undivided  for  three-fourths  the  entire  height. 


208  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Bark  light  or  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
numerous  small  ridges,  and  exudes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of 
insipid,  reddish  brown  resin.  Fruit  brown,  in  clusters  attached  to 
trunk;  September-October. — In  open  dry  patches  or  along  margin 
of  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  with  violet  or  dark  brown  streaks,  in 
some  specimens  turning  to  light  grayish  brown  on  exposure;  heart- 
wood  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  not  difficult  to 
work,  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth 
rings  present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  wavy,  broken  or 
continuous,  concentric  bands;  lighter  than  background,  and  readily 
visible  to  unaided  eye.  Pores  of  medium  size;  not  numerous,  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small 
clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  long,  moderately  fine;  often  filled 
with  dark  brown  gum.  Rays  very  fine,  numerous;  visible  only  with 
lens  on  all  surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied; 
number  per  inch  length,  about  100. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4540,  4965. 

Swartzia  calophylla  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  61. 
pi.  267.  1845. 

Shrub,  from  4  to  15  feet  tall.  Bark  dark  purple,  with  numerous 
small  ridges,  and  very  thin.  Fruit  red  when  mature,  with  rounded, 
black  seeds  imbedded  in  a  white,  edible  pulp. — Of  limited  distri- 
bution; in  open  dry  patches  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  550  ft.). 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  white  or  pale  yellow;  heartwood 
dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  a  slightly  fetid  odor  when  freshly  cut; 
straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  very  fine-textured ;  heavy,  hard,  com- 
pact, and  strong;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  and  fairly 
lustrous  finish;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation 
in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  wavy,  broken  or 
continuous,  concentric  lines  and  surrounding  the  pores;  visible  with 
lens.  Pores  small  and  indistinct  even  with  lens.  Vessel  lines  very 
fine  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  very  fine  and  barely 
discernible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto :  lower  Huallaga,  401 7,  5295. 

Swartzia  myrtifolia  Smith,  in  Rees,  Cycl.  34:  No.  5. 1819;  DC. 
Prodr.  2:  423.  1825.  Shatona  blanca. 

Tree,  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  and  narrow.  Trunk 
straight,  somewhat  compressed,  9  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  209 

unbranched  for  one-fourth  the  entire  height,  and  with  low  buttresses. 
Bark  about  0.25  inch  thick,  light  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
shallow  fissures. — In  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.);  the  species 
is  reported  also  from  the  state  of  Bahia  and  near  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in 
Brazil,  also  in  Colombia  and  Central  America.  The  dense  timber  is 
esteemed  in  the  vicinity  of  Yurimaguas  for  pillars  and  for  rollers 
for  crushing  sugar  cane. 

Sapwood  distinctly  defined,  creamy  yellow  to  pale  pinkish  brown 
and  subject  to  sapstain;  heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown  and 
perishable.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven- 
grained;  fine-textured;  rather  heavy,  hard,  and  strong;  not  easy  to 
work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores  and  in  numerous, 
closely  spaced,  irregular,  short,  tangential  lines  uniting  the  pores, 
sometimes  in  continuous,  concentric  lines,  of  lighter  color  than 
background,  and  visible  without  lens.  Pores  small;  not  very  numer- 
ous, well  scattered ;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  radial  or  diagonal 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and 
barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  spaced, 
lighter-colored  than  background  on  cross  section;  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5313. 

Swartzia  pendula  Spruce  ex  Benth.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  15,  pt. 
2: 19. 1870.  Itauba,  Nina-caspi. 

Small  glabrous  tree,  up  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  and 
branches  pendent.  Trunk  straight  or  contorted,  round,  slender, 
and  unbranched  for  from  1  to  10  feet.  Bark  greenish  or  light  brown  to 
dark  purplish  or  almost  black,  fairly  smooth  or  with  numerous  small 
fissures.  Fruit  bright  yellow,  turning  red  at  maturity;  seeds  large, 
black. — Fairly  common;  usually  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  380- 
1,400ft). 

Sapwood  variable  in  color  from  clear  yellow  to  light  brown  with 
purplish  streaks;  heartwood  purplish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fine-textured;  moderately 
heavy  to  heavy,  tough,  and  strong ;  not  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth 
polish ;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  ; 
when  present  visible  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous  or  fairly  numerous,  fine,  tangential,  and 
broken  or  continuous,  concentric  lines;  visible  with  lens.  Pores 
minute  or  small;  few  and  scattered.  Vessel  lines  invisible  or  visible 


210  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

without  lens.  Rays  very  fine,  numerous  or  moderately  so,  and 
discernible  with  lens  on  cross  section ;  sometimes  distinguishable  to 
aided  eye  on  other  surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present,  but  not  distinct. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  694;  Pebas,  1875;  Caballo-cocha,  2175. 
—San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6550(1). 

Swartzia  triphylla  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  2:  1220.  1800. 

Small  tree,  from  16  to  28  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown  flat  or  open. 
Trunk  straight,  round  or  slightly  compressed,  slender,  and  un- 
branched  for  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  yellowish  green  to 
pinkish  or  very  dark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  numerous 
small  ridges,  and  thin.  Flowers  small,  yellow;  July-August.  Fruit 
ovoid  or  round,  small. — Widely  distributed  in  the  lowland,  but 
nowhere  common;  in  open  patches  in  fairly  dense,  flood-free  forest 
(alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  almost  white  or  pale  yellow,  in  some  specimens  with 
pale  brown  or  grayish  streaks;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained;  fine-textured; 
moderately  heavy  to  heavy  and  tenacious;  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  not 
easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  probably  durable.  Growth 
rings  present.  Parenchyma  visible  to  unaided  eye.  Pores  small 
or  fairly  small;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  diagonal  pairs;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background,  but  discernible  without 
lens.  Rays  very  fine  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  or  faintly  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  other  sur- 
faces. Ripple  marks  present;  number  per  inch  length,  about  85. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3174;  upper  Itaya,  3516;  near  Iquitos, 
3768,  8007;  lower  Huallaga,  3873. 

15.    TACHIGALIA  Aubl. 

Tachigalia  paniculata  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  372.  pi.  143.  1775. 
Caracha-caspi,  Erpes. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  up  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  round. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  up  to  28  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
unbranched  for  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  strong  buttresses. 
Bark  reddish  brown  and  scaly;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Tips  of 
branchlets  yellow  and  twigs  covered  with  numerous  gray  scales. 
Pod  1-seeded;  seeds  black  when  mature;  fruiting  in  July- August. 
—Uncommon;  in  dense  growth  free  from  periodical  floods  (alt. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  211 

450  ft.).  The  durable  timber  is  used  for  posts  in  the  construction 
of  huts. 

Sapwood  fairly  well  defined,  lustrous  yellowish  brown;  heart- 
wood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-  or  fairly  coarse- textured ;  heavy,  hard,  and  tough;  takes  a 
smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  resistant  to  insect  attacks  and 
stain.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores; 
discernible  without  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  sometimes  fairly 
large;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  less  frequently 
in  radial  or  diagonal  multiples  of  2-5;  often  filled  with  pale  yellow 
or  grayish  white  deposits.  Vessel  lines  rather  coarse  and  prominent. 
Rays  fairly  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  and  evenly  spaced ;  distin- 
guishable with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  indistinct  or 
sometimes  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface  when  held  to 
proper  light. 

Loreto:  Palta-cocha,  middle  Nanay,  3192. 

III.    PAPILIONATAE  (Fabaceae) 

Trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs,  with  simple  or  compound  leaves,  but 
never  bipinnate.  Flowers  various,  mostly  of  moderate  size  and 
brightly  colored,  sometimes  very  small  and  inconspicuous,  solitary 
or  in  spikes,  racemes,  or  heads,  rarely  cymose;  uppermost  petals  in 
bud  outside  the  others;  stamens  frequently  united  into  a  sheath. 

1.    DALBERGIA  L.  f. 

Dalbergia  inundata  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  4:  Suppl.  49. 
1860;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  15,  pt.  1:  227. 1862.  Meradiu. 

Shrub,  12  feet  tall.  Bark  thin,  pale  grayish  brown,  and  fairly 
smooth;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaflets  alternate.  Flowers 
small,  with  purplish  petals;  April-May . — Fairly  common  along  the 
banks  of  lower  Itaya  and  Nanay  rivers  (alt.  400  ft.);  previously 
reported  in  Brazil  near  Santarem  on  the  Tapajos,  along  the  Negro, 
Panure,  and  Uaupes  rivers. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  pinkish  brown  with  fine,  darker  brown 
streaks;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown  or  almost  black,  thin.  Wood 
light  in  weight;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  some  variation  in  color.  Parenchyma 
in  fairly  numerous,  wavy,  evenly  and  rather  closely  spaced,  concentric 
lines,  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large 
and  prominent;  not  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or 


212  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

less  frequently  in  radial,  seldom  diagonal,  multiples  of  2-4;  open. 
Vessel  lines  long,  coarse,  and  often  with  brown,  gummy  deposit. 
Rays  fairly  fine  on  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct 
or  indistinct  on  radial  surface;  homogeneous;  uniseriate  or  biseriate. 
Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied ;  number  of  marks  per 
inch  length,  about  120. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  525. 

2.    ERYTHRINA  L. 

Trees  or  large  shrubs,  often  armed  with  stout  spines.  Leaves 
have  3  large  leaflets.  Flowers  large  and  showy,  and  arranged  in 
racemes;  the  standard  petal  is  either  much  longer  or  else  much 
broader  than  the  other  petals.  Pods  linear,  scarcely  or  not  at  all 
compressed,  and  more  or  less  constricted  between  the  scarlet  seeds. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored,  occasionally  with  purplish  or  reddish 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  very  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain  and  saws  woolly; 
perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous,  broad, 
distinct,  tangential  bands,  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores 
large;  few,  ring-porous  or  inclined  to  diffuse-porous;  solitary  or 
seldom  in  small  radial  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  broad,  widely 
spaced,  and  distinct  on  cross  section ;  sometimes  readily  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  tangential;  distinct  on  radial  surface;  homogeneous; 
up  to  13  cells  wide.  Ripple  marks  present;  only  parenchyma  strands 
and  vessel  segments  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  100-140. 
Strands  of  calcium  oxalate  common. 

Erythrina  esculenta  Sprague(?),  Bull.  Herb.  Boiss.  II.  5:  1167. 
1905.  Amasisa. 

Handsome,  well-formed  tree,  approximately  60  feet  high,  with 
attractive  red  flowers  and  edible  fruit.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  columnar,  14  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  up 
to  21  feet;  trunk  and  branches  armed  with  short  spines.  Bark 
grayish  or  purplish  brown;  an  infusion  prepared  by  boiling  the  bark 
in  water  is  reputed  to  be  beneficial  for  treating  skin  ailments. 

Wood  yellowish  white  or  pinkish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
coarse- textured ;  very  light,  soft,  and  perishable;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  should  be  suitable  for  paper  pulp. 
Rays  faintly  discernible  on  all  surfaces.  Pith  large,  reddish  brown. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4178. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  213 

Erythrina  glauca  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  3:  915.  1803;  Ges.  Naturf. 
Freunde  Neue  Schr.  3:  428.  1801.  Amasisa. 

Medium-sized  or  fairly  tall  tree,  from  55  to  70  feet  or  more  in 
height.  Crown  dense,  round.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical  or  moderately 
so,  35  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  for  almost  one-half  the  height, 
and  armed  with  strong,  stout  spines.  Bark  pinkish  or  reddish  brown, 
with  coarse,  sinuous  fissures;  bark  and  sap  wood  exude  a  slightly 
sweet,  light  brown  resin  reputed  to  be  efficacious  for  skin  irritations. 
Leaflets  assume  a  vertical  position  after  sunset.  Flowers  orange- 
yellow,  hence  the  local  Quechua  name  ("ama"= yellow;  "sisa"= 
flower). — Common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  region  (alt.  400 
ft.);  in  open  patches,  in  scant  forest,  often  in  the  vicinity  of  streams; 
said  to  be  abundant  in  the  eastern  region  of  the  Brazilian  Amazon, 
also  in  the  Guianas  and  Central  America.  Timber  is  not  used  except 
to  a  limited  extent  for  fuel. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  often  with  extensive  grayish 
areas;  heartwood  dark  brown  or  almost  black,  perishable.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  rather  coarse- textured ; 
moderately  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  indis- 
tinct. Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous,  evenly  spaced, 
continuous,  concentric  bands.  Vessel  lines  of  variable  length 
and  darker  than  background.  Rays  prominent  on  all  surfaces; 
heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1614,  I960;  Caballo-cocha,  2314;  La  Victoria, 
8142. 

Erythrina  Ulei  Harms,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  48: 172.  1907. 
Amasisa. 

Attractive  tree,  from  40  to  55  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  13  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  brown ;  inner  bark  separates  into 
long,  coarse  flakes.  Flowers  pale  pink  or  bright  red  and  handsome; 
October-November. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  450 
ft.);  in  thickets,  old  clearings,  or  along  banks  of  streams. 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  dark  streaks  or  pale  brown  areas;  light, 
but  firm  and  strong.  Parenchyma  visible,  but  not  prominent,  as 
numerous,  short,  tangential  bands.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on 
cross  section;  of  same  color  as  background,  but  discernible  without 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4767. 


214  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    LONCHOCARPUS  HBK. 

Trees  or  large  shrubs,  sometimes  scandent.  Leaves  pinnate,  the 
few  or  numerous  leaflets  opposite.  Flowers  large  and  showy,  pink 
or  purple,  in  panicled  racemes.  Fruit  flat,  usually  thin,  oblong  or 
linear,  indehiscent. 

Wood  grayish  white  or  yellowish,  subject  to  stain  in  drying; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  heavy,  tena- 
cious, and  strong;  not  difficult  to  work;  durable.  Parenchyma  in 
broad,  irregularly  spaced,  concentric  bands,  forming  a  network  with 
the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  or  fairly  numerous, 
diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  or  tangential 
multiples;  open.  Rays  fine  to  broad  on  cross  section;  sometimes 
faintly  distinguishable  on  tangential ;  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length, 
up  to  110. 

Vessel-ray  pits  elongated,  simple.  Rays  homogeneous;  2-5  cells 
wide.  Strands  of  calcium  oxalate  common. 

Lonchocarpus  confertiflorus  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  4: 
Suppl.  96.  1860. 

Tree,  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  erect,  columnar, 
16  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  with  small  buttresses,  and  unbranched 
up  to  50  feet.  Bark  light  gray  or  pinkish  to  chocolate  brown,  rough, 
and  exudes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of  viscid,  bitter,  reddish  resin. 
Flowers  pale  violet;  January-February. — Rare;  in  moderately  dense 
forest  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Wood  not  used  locally  except  for  fuel. 

Wood  yellowish  brown  when  fresh,  turning  after  long  exposure 
to  pale  gray  or  grayish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  roey-grained ;  medium-  or  coarse-textured ;  of  medium  weight,  firm, 
and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  and 
lustrous  finish;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Paren- 
chyma surrounding  the  pores  and  in  broad,  wavy,  evenly  spaced, 
concentric  bands.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous,  uniformly 
distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial,  infrequently  tangential,  multiples 
of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  or  long,  fairly  prominent  on  account 
of  parenchyma  sheaths  and  dark  contents.  Rays  fine  and  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  faintly  discernible 
without  lens  and  slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial  surface. 
Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length, 
approximately  110. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6711. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  215 

Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC.  Prodr.  2:  261.  1825;  Journ. 
Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  20:  75-79.  1930.  Barbasco,  Barbasco  legitimo, 
Cube-barbasco,  Cube,  Conapi,  Huasca-barbasco,  Pacai. 

Shrub,  up  to  about  12  feet  tall,  with  a  stem  about  3  inches  in 
diameter,  becoming  scandent  with  age,  the  stem  climbing  upon 
adjacent  shrubs  and  trees  up  to  a  height  of  40  feet  or  more  (one 
specimen  observed  measured  60  feet  in  length).  Bark  dark  red  or 
chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth,  often  with  lighter  brown  lenticels; 
inner  bark  fibrous. — Scattered  throughout  the  lowland  and  upland 
(up  to  an  alt.  of  2,000  ft.  or  more),  and  sometimes  cultivated  in 
small  clearings,  chhcaras.  The  crushed  roots  yield  a  pulp  re- 
sembling buttermilk  in  appearance,  which  is  used  extensively  by  the 
Indians  and  others  as  fish  poison.  Chemical  analysis  of  the  pulp 
indicates  that  it  contains  rotenone,  a  substance  of  value  in  the 
manufacture  of  insecticides.  (For  further  notes  see  page  53.) 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  with  dark  grayish  areas;  heartwood  dark 
brown,  thin.  Wood  when  fresh  has  a  pleasant  odor  and  is  slightly 
bitter;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  rather  coarse- textured ;  of 
light  or  medium  weight,  but  firm.  Growth  rings  absent  or  in- 
distinct. Parenchyma  conspicuous;  in  broad,  irregularly  and  closely 
spaced,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric  bands,  producing  a  hoary 
effect  on  cross  section.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  not  numerous  and 
evenly  scattered;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial  or  tangen- 
tial multiples;  often  filled  with  dark  gum.  Vessel  lines  short  and 
readily  distinguishable  owing  to  dark  contents;  white  deposits  also 
frequently  present.  Rays  discernible,  but  not  prominent,  to  un- 
aided eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3740;  lower  Huallaga,  4143,  4841- — San 
Martin:  Tarapoto,  6080. 

4.    MACHAERIUM  Pers. 

Machaerium  sp.  Slender  shrub,  3  feet  or  more  tall.  Bark 
grayish  brown  and  fairly  smooth.  Wood  when  cut  secretes  an 
abundance  of  bitter,  reddish  brown  resin.  Leaflets  alternate.  Flowers 
small,  pinkish,  in  racemes.  Fruit  samara-like,  compressed;  April- 
May. — Uncommon;  among  shrubs  near  bank  of  Amazon  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  pale  brown,  and  distinctly 
demarcated;  heartwood  reddish  or  purplish  brown.  Parenchyma  in 
fine,  wavy,  broken,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size  and  at  limit  of  vision;  few  and  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small 


216  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

radial  multiples.     Rays  numerous,  fine;  barely  discernible  with  lens 
on  cross  and  radial  sections. 
Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  563. 

5.    MYROXYLON  L.  f. 

Myroxylon  balsamum  (L.)  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
5:  94.  1908.  Estoraque. 

Tall,  handsome  tree,  from  80  to  180  feet  in  height.  Crown 
flat.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  14  to  36  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  limbs  for  one-half  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height. 
Bark  dark  brown,  with  coarse  scales.  By  tapping  the  trunk  there 
is  obtained  an  aromatic,  yellowish  brown  or  translucent  oleoresin, 
the  balsam  of  Peru,  an  official  drug  of  the  United  States  Pharma- 
copoeia and  reputed  to  be  used  in  domestic  medicine,  also  for  the 
manufacture  of  poison  applied  on  blowgun  darts. — Fairly  common; 
forming  the  upper  story  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  380-1,800 
ft.).  The  dense,  durable  heartwood  is  much  esteemed  locally  for 
rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane,  also  for  house  posts,  general  carpentry, 
and  other  uses  requiring  durability,  strength,  and  resistance  to 
moisture. 

Sapwood  about  4  inches  thick  at  base  of  trunk,  yellow  when 
fresh,  creamy  yellow  or  light  brown  when  dried,  with  grayish  cast 
caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  reddish  or  purplish  brown  and 
darkening  somewhat  on  exposure.  Wood  when  fresh  has  a  pro- 
nounced spicy  odor,  but  is  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ; 
medium-  or  coarse-textured;  hard  and  heavy;  not  easy  to  work  and 
takes  a  smooth  polish;  liable  to  check  in  drying  and  sapwood  sus- 
ceptible to  insects.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  narrow,  pore- 
less  zones.  Parenchyma  surrounding  the  pores  and  sometimes  in 
indistinct,  short,  tangential  lines.  Pores  rather  small  or  of  medium 
size  to  large  and  distinct  owing  to  parenchyma  sheaths;  numerous 
and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  of  2-3; 
open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  inconspicuous;  lustrous  tyloses 
and  localized  black  gum  deposits  sometimes  present.  Rays  fine  and 
barely  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  sometimes 
faintly  discernible  on  tangential;  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on 
radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present,  very  uniform  and  visible  with- 
out lens;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  80-120. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1805;  near  Yurimaguas,  4454  (specimen  from 
log  on  forest  floor) ;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4882. — San  Martin : 
Rio  Mayo,  middle  Huallaga,  6230. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  ,     217 

6.  PTEROCARPUS  L. 

Pterocarpus  Ulei  Harms,  Bot.  Jahrb.  37:  346.  1906;  Verh. 
Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  48: 171.  1907. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  100  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  bent,  and  appressed,  especially  near  the  base, 
14  or  more  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  for  21  feet,  and 
sometimes  unbranched  above  the  first  branch  for  about  80  feet.  Bark 
yellowish  or  dark  reddish  brown  and  scaly. — Fairly  common  in  the 
lower  Peruvian  Amazon  region;  in  flood-free  areas  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure,  and  with 
extensive  grayish  areas;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown,  perishable. 
Wood  tasteless,  but  has  a  slightly  fetid  odor;  straight-grained; 
medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm 
and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  dull  finish;  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks  and  to  stain.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma 
surrounding  the  pores  and  in  numerous,  broken  or  fairly  continuous, 
irregular,  wavy,  tangential  or  diagonal  bands  uniting  the  pores. 
Pores  visible  to  unaided  eye;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  up  to  4,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open 
or  filled  with  calcium  or  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  visible,  but  not 
distinct.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section; 
barely  visible  with  lens  on  other  surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present; 
all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  about  110. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2821;  herbarium  material  collected  also 
at  Pebas. 

7.  TEPHROSIA  Pers. 

Tephrosia  toxicaria  (L.)  Pers.  Syn.  PI.  2:  329.  1807. 

Slender,  fast-growing  shrub,  4  or  5  feet  tall.  Bark  light  brown, 
smooth.  Petals  yellowish  green,  pale  purple  within  at  base,  and 
filaments  pale  yellow. — Common  throughout  the  lowland;  some- 
times cultivated  for  its  leaves  and  roots,  which  are  crushed 
and  used  as  fish  poison;  reported  also  from  the  Pichis  Trail  (alt. 
400-4,000  ft.). 

Wood  white  or  light  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  fine- textured.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  in- 
distinct. Pores  small;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  small  radial  multiples.  Vessel  lines  very  fine,  slightly  darker  than 
background,  and  barely  visible  without  lens  on  moistened  surface. 
Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 


218  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  441,'  herbarium  material  collected  also  at 
Palta-cocha,  middle  Nanay,  and  at  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga. 

ERYTHROXYLACEAE.    Coca  Family 

1.    ERYTHROXYLON  L. 

Glabrous  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  thin, 
stalked,  and  stipulate.  Flowers  small,  solitary  or  fasciculate  in 
the  leaf  axils.  Fruit  a  small  drupe. 

Sapwood  pale  brown,  occasionally  yellowish,  usually  with  a 
grayish  or  pinkish  tinge  or  streaked;  heartwood  reddish  brown. 
Wood  fine-  or  medium-textured;  heavy  or  fairly  heavy;  easy  to 
work;  sometimes  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects,  but  mostly  durable. 
Pores  small  or  very  small;  very  numerous  and  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples;  often  closed.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal,  confluent,  and  in  numerous,  fine,  tangential 
lines,  producing  a  hoary  effect  when  seen  under  lens.  Rays  fine 
or  very  fine  on  cross  section;  usually  invisible  on  tangential; 
occasionally  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple  to  scalariform;  intervascular 
pits  numerous  and  small;  vessel-ray  pits  either  elliptical  or  much 
elongated  and  simple  to  small,  circular,  and  half-bordered.  Rays 
decidedly  heterogeneous;  mostly  1-2,  sometimes  3,  cells  wide,  the 
cells  small  and  gummy.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in 
parenchyma  strands.  Wood  fibers  have  thick  walls  and  the  pits 
are  indistinctly  bordered. 

The  best-known  and  most  important  member  of  this  genus  is 
Erythroxylon  Coca  Lam.,  a  shrub,  up  to  6  or  8  feet  high,  growing 
in  wooded  regions  along  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Andes  where  it  is 
often  cultivated  for  its  leaves,  commercially  important  as  the  source 
of  cocaine.  Beginning  in  the  low  forest,  the  shrubs  are  to  be  seen 
here  and  there  in  clearings  up  to  an  altitude  of  5,000  or  6,000  feet. 
The  leaves  are  bright  green,  thin,  opaque,  and  acuminate.  The 
flowers  are  borne  in  clusters  on  short  stalks;  the  corolla  is  yellowish 
white.  The  drupe  is  pinkish  red  when  mature.  The  leaves  have 
the  property  when  masticated  of  imparting  a  remarkable  sustaining 
power,  due  to  the  alkaloid,  cocaine,  present.  Coca  is  to  the  Indian 
and  mestizo  laborers  of  the  Andean  highlands  what  betel  is  to  the 
Hindu,  or  tobacco  to  the  rest  of  mankind.  In  fact,  the  dried  leaves 
sometimes  take  the  place  of  currency.  Not  only  is  coca  a  narcotic 
and  a  sedative,  but  it  is  an  absolute  necessity  to  the  many  toiling 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  219 

inhabitants  who  are  addicted  to  its  use.  In  the  Peruvian  Andes, 
the  natives  are  able  to  travel  for  several  days  with  little  sleep  and 
with  practically  no  sustenance  other  than  coca  leaves  and  cassava. 
(For  further  notes  on  coca  see  page  52.) 

Erythroxylon  amplum  Benth.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  2: 
372.  1843. 

Slender  shrub,  approximately  12  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  grayish, 
yellowish,  or  reddish  brown.  Leaflets  fairly  long-stalked,  oblong- 
elliptic,  short-acuminate,  acute  or  obtuse  at  base,  subcoriaceous, 
bluish  gray  beneath.  Flowers  axillary,  short-pedicellate,  with  green- 
ish white  corolla;  July-August. — Abundant  in  some  localities  in  the 
lowland;  in  second  growth  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  pinkish  brown ;  heartwood  reddish  brown, 
thin.  Wood  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- 
textured;  rather  heavy  and  tenacious.  Growth  rings  fairly  distinct 
or  readily  visible  owing  to  alinement  of  elements.  Pores  not  nu- 
merous. Rays  slightly  more  pronounced  on  cross  section  than  in 
E.  Mamacova. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3759. 

Erythroxylon  lucidum  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  5:  179.  1822. 
Murcuvarilla  colorada. 

Tall,  slender  shrub  or  small  tree,  from  10  to  30  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  round,  and  free  of  limbs  up  to 
half  the  height.  Bark  dark  gray  or  chocolate  brown,  often  with 
short,  shallow,  horizontal  fissures.  Leaves  elliptic  or  elliptic-oblong, 
coriaceous,  short-stalked,  short-acuminate,  acute  at  base.  Flowers 
borne  on  the  trunk,  with  yellowish  white  petals,  white  staminal 
filaments,  and  brown  anthers.  Drupe  ovoid-oblong,  green.  Wood 
used  for  rafters  in  house  construction. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  brown,  thin.  Wood  of 
medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy  and  tenacious;  takes  a  smooth,  lus- 
trous finish;  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Pores  slightly  larger  than  in  E.  Mamacova. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  3796.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5865,  6668. 

Erythroxylon  macrocnemium  Mart.  Abh.  Akad.  Muench. 
3,  pt.  2:  402.  1840. 

Shrub,  about  18  feet  tall.  Crown  tapering.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  and  slender.  Bark  yellowish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with 


220  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

shallow,  vertical  ridges.  Leaves  short-petiolate,  oblong  or  obovate- 
oblong,  cuneate,  subcoriaceous,  short-acuminate  at  apex,  obtuse  at 
base.  Flowers  pale  yellow,  attached  to  trunk  and  branches;  October. 
—Common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  400-600  ft.);  in  dry  loam.  Wood 
not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  indistinctly  demarcated,  light  brown  with  a  pale  grayish 
tinge;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Growth  rings  indistinct  in  some  speci- 
mens. Pores  rather  numerous,  especially  in  sap  wood.  Lustrous 
tyloses  common  in  vessels. 

Loreto:  Santa  Ana,  upper  Nanay,  1230;  Recreo,  4149;  For- 
taleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4356. 

Erythroxylon  macrophyllum  Cav.  Diss.  8:  401.  pi.  227.  1789. 
Yutobanco. 

Small,  forest  tree,  from  20  to  25  feet  tall,  but  said  to  attain  greater 
stature.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  9  inches  or  more 
in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  two-thirds  the  height.  Bark 
pinkish  brown  and  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  oblong  or  oblong-obovate, 
subleathery,  acute  at  base,  short-acuminate,  costa  rather  prominent 
beneath.  Flowers  pale  yellow.  Drupe  ovate;  December-January. 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  pale  pinkish  brown,  occa- 
sionally with  darker  streaks;  heartwood  dull  light  to  dark  brown. 
Wood  of  medium  weight.  Pores  fairly  numerous;  slightly  larger  than 
those  of  E.  Mamacova.  Rays  faintly  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye 
on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6591. 

Erythroxylon  Mamacova  Mart.  Abh.  Akad.  Muench.  3,  pt. 
2:  365.  1840.  Motelo-caspi. 

Small,  forest  tree,  from  28  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  6  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
for  10  to  16  feet.  Leaves  oblong-elliptic,  membranaceous,  acumi- 
nate, acute  at  base.  Drupe  oblong,  conical;  October-December. 
—Confined  to  the  foothills  of  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  600  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  brown  with  long,  slightly  darker  brown  or  grayish 
streaks;  heartwood  dull  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  tasteless  and 
odorless;  straight-,  roey-,  or  irregular-grained;  uniformly  fine-tex- 
tured; moderately  heavy,  firm;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  some  variation  in 
depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  or  small,  but 
discernible  with  lens;  numerous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  rows; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  221 

mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  visible  only  to  aided  eye;  lustrous 
deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  fine  and  barely  distinguishable 
with  lens  on  the  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4639,  4664. 

Erythroxylon  paraense  Peyr.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  1:  164. 
1878.  Catahua,  Pucallaja. 

Tall  shrub,  or  small,  forest  tree,  occasionally  attaining  a  height 
of  30  feet.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  bent,  round  or 
appressed,  slender,  and  either  branching  from  base  or  clear  of  limbs 
up  to  two-thirds  the  height.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  grayish,  yellowish, 
or  reddish  brown,  with  short,  fine  fissures  and  minute  lenticels.  Leaves 
elliptic,  short-stalked,  membranaceous,  acute  at  apex,  and  costa 
prominent  beneath.  Flowers  white  or  yellow;  December- January.— 
Wood  used  for  rafters  in  house  construction. 

Sap  wood  fairly  well  defined  or  indistinctly  demarcated,  pinkish 
brown,  in  some  specimens  with  a  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  pale 
yellow  when  fresh,  darkening  on  exposure  to  pale  brown.  Wood 
heavier  and  tougher  than  E.  Mamacova;  not  resistant  to  insects. 
Pores  fewer  and  slightly  larger  than  in  E.  Mamacova;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3,  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  distinguishable 
to  unaided  eye;  often  with  grayish  deposit.  Rays  barely  visible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6319,  6325,  6614,  6672. 

Erythroxylon  Shatona  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  371.  1934.  Sha- 
tona  colorada. 

Slender,  glabrous  tree,  seldom  exceeding  30  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  clear  of  limbs  for  3  feet  or  so, 
not  buttressed.  Leaves  ovate-elliptic,  abruptly  acute,  short-stalked, 
coriaceous,  lustrous  deep  green.  Drupe  oblong-elliptic;  fruiting  in 
January-February. — Common  in  dense  forest  near  the  estuary  of 
the  Rio  Mayo  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  employed  for  rafters  in  the 
construction  of  houses  and  huts. 

Sapwood  indistinctly  demarcated,  pale  yellowish  brown  with  a 
greenish  cast;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood  moderately  or  decid- 
edly heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  straight-  or  irregular-grained; 
uniformly  fine-textured;  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying. 
Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  absence  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  in  fine,  slightly  wavy,  tangential  or  concentric 


222  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

lines,  more  uniform  than  in  the  other  species  described.  Pores 
minute  or  small;  numerous.  Rays  barely  distinguishable  to  aided 
eye  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  faintly  discernible  without 
lens  on  radial  section. 

San  Martin:  Rio  Mayo,  near  Tarapoto,  6212. 

RUTACEAE.    Rue  Family 

Trees,  often  armed  with  spines  or  prickles,  and  usually  furnished 
with  glands  on  the  bark,  leaves,  and  fruit.  Leaves  opposite  or  alter- 
nate, simple  or  compound,  without  stipules,  and  dotted  with  trans- 
parent oil  glands.  Flowers  small  or  large,  the  inferior  calyx  with 
3-5  lobes  or  sepals;  petals  3-5;  stamens  as  many  or  twice  as  many  as 
the  petals.  Fruit  of  1-5  or  more  free  or  united  carpels,  dry  or  fleshy. 
The  best-known  commercial  timbers  of  the  family  are  the  satin- 
woods  of  Ceylon  and  the  West  Indies,  while  trees  of  the  genus 
Citrus  are  cultivated  extensively  in  tropical  and  subtropical  regions 
for  their  fruits. 

The  Peruvian  woods  are  white,  yellowish,  or  pale  brown;  usually 
without  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  fine-  to  medium-textured;  rather 
light  and  soft  to  heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious;  easy  to  work  and 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish.  Growth  rings  usually  distinct, 
due  to  terminal  parenchyma,  differences  in  density,  or  to  abundance 
of  pores.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  also  in  unevenly  spaced  con- 
centric lines  or  fine  bands,  and  terminal.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size;  few  to  numerous,  diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary,  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays 
fine  or  moderately  fine  and  numerous  on  cross  section;  inconspicuous 
on  all  surfaces.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  are  present  in 
association  with  parenchyma  in  Citrus  and  Zanthoxylum. 

Vessel  perforations  are  typically  simple;  intervascular  pits 
bordered,  rather  small,  and  numerous;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  half- 
bordered.  Rays  usually  homogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide  and  few  to 
40  or  more  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  or  indistinctly 
bordered  pits. 

1.    CITRUS  L. 

To  this  genus,  the  best  known  of  the  family,  belong  such  edible 
fruits  as  the  orange,  lemon,  lime,  grapefruit,  etc.,  all  of  which  are 
natives  of  the  Old  World  tropics  and  are  now  cultivated  widely 
in  tropical  and  subtropical  regions.  The  wood  of  the  various  species 
enters  the  market  in  small  quantity  in  the  form  of  sticks  under  the 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  223 

name  of  orange  wood,  which  is  used  in  the  United  States  for  manicure 
sets,  small  carved  and  turned  articles,  and  novelties. 

Wood  white,  yellowish,  or  pale  brown;  has  no  characteristic 
odor  or  taste;  fine-  or  fairly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  to 
moderately  heavy  and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  high 
polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  in  confluent  wings,  and  in  con- 
centric bands  which  appear  to  limit  seasonal  growth  or  at  times 
may  be  crowded  and  run  together.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size; 
fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows,  and  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Rays  fine  or  barely  visible 
without  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial 
surfaces.  Ripple  marks  are  absent.  Vertical  ducts,  gummosis  type, 
are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Citrus  aurantifolia  (Christm.)  Swingle,  Journ.  Wash.  Acad. 
Sci.  3:  465.  1913.  Limon  agrio. 

Small,  armed  tree,  seldom  exceeding  25  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  up  to  14  inches  in  diameter  and  either  branching 
from  base  or  clear  of  limbs  for  2  feet  or  more.  Leaves  ovate,  acute 
or  rounded  at  apex,  and  rounded  at  base.  Flowers  with  white  petals. 
Fruit  dark  green. — Often  planted;  in  places  appears  to  grow 
without  cultivation. 

Wood  pale  satiny  yellow,  occasionally  with  brown  streaks; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained;  uniformly 
fine-textured;  moderately  heavy  to  heavy,  strong  and  compact; 
takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  durable.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  arrangement  of  elements.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and 
confluent.  Pores  small;  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  sometimes  tangentially  disposed; 
mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  readily  distinguishable  as  fine  scratches 
of  varying  length  and  slightly  darker  than  background;  lustrous 
tyloses  sometimes  present.  Rays  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye 
on  cross  and  radial  sections;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on 
tangential. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  177;  lower  Nanay,  285,  471;  Pebas,  1800; 
upper  Itaya,  3268. 

Citrus  Aurantium  L.  Sp.  PI.  782.  1753.  Naranjo,  Naranja 
dcida. 

Small,  armed  tree,  not  more  than  30  feet  tall.  Crown  densely 
branched,  round  or  conical.  Trunk  straight,  fairly  cylindrical, 
stout,  and  free  of  branches  for  3  or  4  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  dark 


224  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

brown  with  numerous  yellowish  ridges.     Flowers  white,  fragrant; 
June-July.    Fruit  bitter  to  taste  and  is  little  used  locally. — Some- 
times cultivated  in  the  lowland. 
Loreto:  Pebas,  177 '4- 

Citrus  Limetta  Risso,  Ann.  Mus.  Par.  20:  195.  pi.  2,  f.  1. 
1813.  Limon  duke. 

Tree,  20  to  30  feet  in  height,  often  planted  in  the  lowland. 
Crown  dense,  round.  Trunk  straight,  round,  10  to  13  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  branching  from  near  the  base;  trunk  and  branches  armed 
with  short,  stout  spines.  Bark  yellowish  or  dark  brown,  with 
shallow  fissures.  Leaves  ovate,  glabrate,  short-petiolate,  rounded  or 
acute  at  apex,  rounded  at  base.  Fruit  about  the  size  of  an  orange. 

Sap  wood  satiny  yellow  or  grayish  white;  heartwood  dull  light 
brown.  Wood  has  a  slightly  unpleasant  odor,  but  is  tasteless;  slightly 
coarser-textured  than  C.  aurantifolium;  moderately  heavy  to  heavy. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  266;  La  Victoria,  2933. 

Citrus  medica  L.  Sp.  PI.  782.  1753.    Limdn  cidra. 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  tall.  Bark  thin,  yellowish  or  purplish 
brown.  Leaves  alternate,  distinctly  serrate,  elliptic  or  ovate,  acute 
at  apex  and  base,  and  midrib  prominent  beneath.  Flowers  large, 
pinkish,  and  with  yellow  stamens.  Fruit  about  the  size  of  a  grape- 
fruit and  contains  a  scant  pulp  which  is  employed  for  making  a 
beverage.  The  rind  is  used  in  confectionery. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  1464. — San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7211. 

2.    DICTYOLOMA  A.  Juss. 

Dictyoloma  peruvianum  Planch,  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  5: 
583.  1846.  Huaman-samana. 

Unarmed  shrub,  from  7  to  9  feet  tall.  Bark  greenish  or  yellowish 
brown.  Leaves  compound,  pinnate;  leaflets  alternate,  oblongate  or 
elliptic,  of  a  lighter  green  color  beneath,  mucronate  at  apex,  acute  or 
often  oblique  at  base,  pubescent  above  and  below;  the  crushed  leaves 
are  used  locally  as  a  substitute  for  soap.  Leaves  and  inflorescence 
confined  to  the  summit.  Fruiting  in  November- January . — Common  ; 
in  sandy  loam  in  pastures  or  thickets  (alt.  600-1,400  ft.);  reported 
also  near  La  Merced,  Department  of  Junin,  and  in  the  Department 
of  Cajamarca  (alt.  2,800  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  pale  yellowish  white;  has  a  faintly  pleasant  odor 
and  a  slightly  bitter  taste  when  freshly  cut;  straight-grained;  fairly 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  225 

fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  or  moderately  light  in  weight. 
Growth  rings  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  ter- 
minal; not  distinct.  Pores  fairly  small  or  medium-sized;  moderately 
numerous,  inclined  to  ring-porous;  solitary,  but  more  often  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  2-5,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines 
short,  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements,  and  indistinct.  Rays 
discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on 
tangential  section. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4296(1).— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5530. 

3.    ERYTHROGHITON  Nees  &  Mart. 

Erythrochiton  brasiliense  Nees  Mart.  Nov.  Act.  Nat.  Cur. 
11:  170.  pi.  25.  1823. 

Small  tree  or  shrub,  from  10  to  15  feet  tall,  with  leaves  and  inflores- 
cence confined  to  the  summit.  Trunk  erect  or  inclined,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  simple.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  grayish  brown,  fairly 
smooth ;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Leaves  lustrous  green.  Calyx  scarlet  and 
corolla  white;  flowering  in  February. — Uncommon;  in  sandy  loam 
among  shrubs  and  low  trees  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Wood  has  no  local 
application  except  for  fuel. 

Wood  white  throughout  when  fresh,  turning  to  light  or  reddish 
brown  on  exposure,  and  with  dark  or  almost  black  streaks;  odorless, 
but  has  a  slightly  astringent  taste;  interlocked-grained ;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  of  medium  weight,  compact,  and  tough;  inclined  to  be 
splintery,  moderately  easy  to  cut,  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
finish.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  arrangement  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed ;  paratracheal  and  in  fine,  closely 
or  widely  spaced,  concentric  lines  or  bands,  sometimes  terminal. 
Pores  minute  or  small ;  numerous,  inclined  to  be  in  concentric  bands 
or  zones;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly  closed. 
Vessel  lines  of  same  color  or  slightly  darker  than  background  and 
distinguishable  only  with  lens.  Rays  wavy,  fine  or  fairly  fine,  and 
faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangen- 
tial and  radial  surfaces. 

San  Martin :  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto,  6761 . 

4.    ZANTHOXYLUM  L. 

Shrubs  or  trees,  the  trunk  and  branches  often  armed  with  spines. 
Leaves  alternate,  rarely  unifoliolate,  deciduous  or  persistent;  the 
leaflets  entire  or  crenulate,  gland-dotted.  Flowers  small,  greenish  or 


226  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

yellowish.    Fruit  dry,  composed  of  1-5  small  pods  containing  shining 
black  seeds. 

Sapwood  whitish,  yellowish,  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  light  to 
dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-textured;  of 
light  weight  to  heavy;  easy  to  work  and  of  good  quality  for  cabinet 
work.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  indistinct,  also  in  numerous, 
distinct,  irregular  bands,  sometimes  uniting  the  pores,  at  other  times 
widely  spaced  and  indicating  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  of  fairly 
small  or  medium  size;  few  to  numerous;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows, 
less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays  fine,  fairly 
numerous,  and  unevenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  sometimes  faintly 
distinguishable  without  lens  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  in  some 
specimens  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  absent.  Vertical  ducts, 
gummosis  type,  are  of  common  occurrence. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  small,  numerous, 
and  bordered;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  half-bordered  and  often 
elongated.  Rays  mostly  homogeneous.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  or 
indistinctly  bordered  pits. 

Zanthoxylum  juniperinum  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp. 
3:  77.  1845.  Hualaja. 

Tree,  from  55  to  70  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  pyramidal. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  up  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for 
30  to  55  feet,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  pale  gray  or  medium  to 
purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small,  white;  October- 
November. — Not  widely  distributed ;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
500  ft.). 

Sapwood  white  or  pale  grayish  brown,  streaked ;  heartwood  pale 
yellow  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure,  sometimes  not  well 
defined.  Wood  odorless,  but  has  a  slightly  bland  taste;  straight-  or 
roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and  strong; 
inclined  to  be  splintery,  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a 
high  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  indicated  by  ter- 
minal parenchyma  and  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
in  widely  and  unevenly  spaced  concentric  lines.  Pores  small  or  fairly 
so;  moderately  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2,  seldom  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short  or  long,  of 
same  color  as  or  slightly  darker  than  background,  and  at  limit  of 
vision  when  held  to  proper  light.  Rays  fine,  unevenly  spaced,  lighter- 
colored  than  adjacent  fibers,  and  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on 
cross  section;  invisible  or  barely  distinguishable  on  moistened  tan- 


227 

gential;  visible  without  lens  against  the  lustrous  background  on 
radial  surface.    Pith  medium  brown. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  1+911;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga, 
5205. 

Zanthoxylum  Pterota  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  6:  3.  1823. 
Shapillejo. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  slender  tree,  from  15  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open.  Trunk  short,  branching  a  few  feet  from  the  base,  and  armed 
with  stout  spines  about  0.5  inch  long.  Bark  pinkish  or  dark  purplish 
brown  with  pale  gray  patches,  and  moderately  smooth.  Flowers 
small,  yellowish  green;  December  -January.  —  Not  common;  in  open 
sandy  or  dry  loam  in  clearings  or  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of 
second  growth  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white,  pale  yellow,  or  light  brown;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained  ;  medium-textured;  fairly  light 
in  weight,  but  firm  and  rather  tough  for  its  weight;  saws  slightly 
woolly,  easy  to  work,  capable  of  taking  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish,  and 
holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to 
terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  small;  numerous  or  very  numerous, 
inclined  at  times  to  be  crowded;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-3,  seldom  tangentially  disposed  ;  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and 
visible  without  lens  in  proper  light.  Rays  fine,  fairly  numerous, 
lighter-colored  than  background,  and  faintly  discernible  without 
lens  on  moistened  cross  section;  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Pith  pale  brown,  narrow. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4751.  —  San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 


Zanthoxylum  Ruizianum  Kl.  ex  Engl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12, 
pt.  2:  170.  1874.  Quillo-casha. 

Tree,  from  22  to  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  slender,  unbranched  for  9  to  12  feet,  and  armed  with  stout 
spines  about  0.25  inch  long.  Bark  pale  gray  or  medium  brown 
and  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small,  yellow;  December-  January. 
—Fairly  common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,500  ft.),  among 
low  trees  and  shrubs  of  second  growth,  also  at  San  Roque  (alt. 
3,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  greenish  yellow,  lustrous;  odorless,  but  has  a  slightly 
bitter  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
inclined  to  be  splintery  and  saws  woolly,  easy  to  work,  takes  a 
smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  indicated  by  terminal  parenchyma. 
Pores  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 


228  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

small  radial  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  in- 
distinct. Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  and 
radial  sections. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6500,  6669. 

Zanthoxylum  Sprucei  Engl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2: 
167.  1874.  Espina. 

Tree,  approximately  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  unbranched  for  15  feet,  and  armed  with 
stout  spines.  Bark  pale  gray,  pinkish  or  medium  brown,  and  fairly 
smooth;  inner  bark  somewhat  fibrous.  Seeds  rounded  and  lustrous 
black. — Not  common;  in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  in  scant  or 
fairly  dense  growth  (alt.  500-1,400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  white  throughout  with  extensive 
grayish  areas  and  brown  striping  caused  by  stain;  has  no  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  fairly  light  or 
moderately  heavy;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  moderately  smooth,  dull 
finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to 
variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma,  which  is  in  irregular,  broken 
or  fairly  continuous,  concentric  bands,  of  lighter  color  than  back- 
ground, and  visible  without  lens.  Pores  small  or  fairly  small;  not 
numerous  or  moderately  numerous  and  well  distributed;  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  less  frequently  solitary.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine 
and  darker  than  background.  Rays  fine,  of  same  color  as  paren- 
chyma bands,  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  in- 
distinct or  visible  only  with  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4006. — San  Martin:  Morales,  near  Tara- 
poto, 5681. 

Zanthoxylum  valens  Macbr.,  comb.  nov.  Fagara  valens 
Macbr.,  Candollea  5:  373.  1934. 

One  of  the  tallest  trees  encountered  in  the  forest  of  the  lower 
Peruvian  Amazon,  attaining  a  height  of  approximately  140  feet, 
and  very  conspicuous  when  in  blossom.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  22  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  60  feet,  with 
small  buttresses,  and  armed  with  few  strong  spines  on  the  bole  and 
older  branches.  Bark  deep  pink  or  rufous  brown  and  fairly  smooth ; 
inner  bark  pinkish  brown.  Flowers  small  but  showy,  pale  yellowish 
white,  and  slightly  fragrant;  May- June. — Uncommon;  in  dense 
growth  in  dry  medium  loam  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  yellow  with  extensive  grayish 
areas  caused  by  stain;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  229 

grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight,  but 
firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut,  but  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain,  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish;  not  very  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  inconspicuous.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in 
broken  or  fairly  continuous,  concentric  bands  uniting  the  pores. 
Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision ;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed ; 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  less  frequently  solitary;  open  or  filled 
with  black  or  white  deposits.  Vessel  lines  either  of  same  color  as 
background  and  indistinct  or  much  darker  than  the  surrounding 
elements  owing  to  black  gum  present.  Rays  fine  and  discernible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  sometimes 
distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface.  Pith  yellowish 
brown. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1962. 

SIMARUBACEAE.     Simaruba  Family 

1.    PICRAMNIA  Swartz 

Slender  trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  persistent,  pinnate;  the  leaflets 
entire,  opposite  or  alternate,  petiolulate.  Flowers  very  small, 
greenish,  dioecious,  in  spike-like  or  branched  panicles.  Fruit  baccate. 

Sapwood  yellowish,  pale  grayish,  or  purplish  brown;  heartwood 
reddish  or  purplish.  Wood  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight  and  brittle;  easy  to  work;  not  very  durable.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  rather  few  to  fairly 
numerous  and  well  scattered;  in  multiples  or  less  often  solitary, 
in  small  radial  rows,  or  in  clusters;  infrequently  filled  with  lustrous 
tyloses.  Rays  rather  broad  on  cross  section;  sometimes  distinct  on 
moistened  tangential ;  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  segments  long  and  narrow;  vessel  perforations  simple; 
intervascular  pits  elongated  and  sometimes  coalescing,  or  round 
and  with  slit-like  apertures.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate. 
Wood  fibers  thin-walled. 

Picramnia  lineata  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  373.  1934.    Sanipanga. 

Tree,  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  from  7  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  18  feet. 
The  crushed  leaves  yield  a  violet  dye. — Not  common;  in  open  dry 
loam  (alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  used  occasionally  for  fuel. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4629. 


230  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Picramnia  macrostachys  (Kl.)  Engl.(?),  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12, 
pt.  2:  238.  1874. 

Tree,  about  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  from  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  18 
feet.  Bark  pale  pinkish  brown,  with  small,  darker  brown  lenticels; 
inner  bark  dark  brown.  Fruit  small,  ovoid,  and  pale  pink  when 
mature;  June- July. — In  fairly  dense  forest  free  from  floods  (alt. 
380  ft.).  Wood  used  for  general  construction  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white  and  well  demarcated,  turning  to  yel- 
lowish brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  purplish  brown  with  a  grayish 
cast.  Wood  odorless,  but  has  a  very  bitter  taste;  straight-grained; 
uniformly  fine- textured ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  rather  tenacious; 
not  difficult  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  very  small ;  not 
numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples,  seldom 
rows,  of  2-3,  infrequently  in  diagonal  pairs  or  small  clusters;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  very  fine,  sometimes  faintly  discernible  in  heart- 
wood  on  account  of  pale  brown  deposit.  Rays  moderately  fine  and 
readily  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential ;  infrequently  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2929. 

Picramnia  magnifolia  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  376.  1934. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  12  feet  in  height,  with  pendent 
branches.  Trunk  branching  4  or  5  feet  above  the  ground.  Bark 
pale  or  dark  reddish  brown,  with  small,  darker  brown  lenticels; 
wood  beneath  bark  purplish  brown.  The  crushed  leaves  yield  a  sap 
reputed  to  be  used  by  the  natives  for  healing  wounds.  Flowers 
orange  yellow.  Fruit  ovoid,  yellow;  June-July. — Of  limited  dis- 
tribution; in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  when  fresh,  with  pinkish  or  violet  brown 
streaks  and  extensive  grayish  brown  areas  when  dried;  heartwood 
deep  pinkish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
moderately  straight-grained;  rather  fine-textured;  of  light  weight. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  minute  and  barely 
visible  with  lens.  Rays  very  fine  and  numerous  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements  on 
radial  surface  and  sometimes  visible  without  lens  along  the  outer 
margin  of  sapwood ;  upright  cells  distinguishable  with  lens. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1737,  1879. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  231 

Picramnia  martini  ana  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  374.  1934. 

Slender  shrub,  from  15  to  18  feet  tall.  Crown  fairly  dense.  Trunk 
branching  6  or  7  feet  from  the  ground.  Bark  pale  yellow  to  dark 
brown,  fairly  smooth;  wood  beneath  bark  reddish  or  purplish  brown. 
—Common  in  some  localities;  in  dense  forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.).  Wood 
not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  and  composing  most  of  the  wood ;  heartwood 
purplish,  well  denned.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
wavy-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  or  moderately  light 
in  weight,  but  fairly  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  finish ;  moderately  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct. 
Parenchyma  not  visible  with  lens.  Pores  small  or  moderately  small ; 
fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows  of  2-4,  seldom  more,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters; 
mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  lighter-colored 
than  fibers  and  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  moistened  cross  sec- 
tion; indistinct  on  tangential;  at  limit  of  vision,  but  not  distinct,  on 
moistened  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6943,  6975. 

BURSERACEAE.     Torchwood  Family 

Unarmed  trees  or  shrubs,  often  with  aromatic  sap.  Leaves 
alternate,  estipulate,  usually  deciduous,  pinnate;  the  leaflets  entire, 
narrow,  and  long-pointed.  Flowers  small,  greenish  white,  perfect 
or  unisexual,  usually  paniculate.  Fruit  a  capsule  or  somewhat 
fleshy,  containing  1  to  5  stones.  The  members  of  this  group  are 
mostly  aromatic  or  resiniferous  and  are  better  known  for  the  gum- 
resins  which  exude  from  the  bark  than  for  their  timbers. 

Sapwood  pinkish  or  variegated  light  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
or  dark  brown.  Wood  fine-  to  medium-textured ;  light  to  heavy ;  dura- 
ble and  of  good  quality.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed  and  indis- 
tinct; paratracheal  and  in  very  fine,  broken,  tangential  or  concentric 
lines  or  bands.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized;  numerous,  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine; 
sometimes  distinguishable  on  radial  surface.  Small  radial  canals 
have  been  observed  in  the  bark  in  Protium. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  large,  often 
crowded,  bordered;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  elongated,  simple  or  half- 
bordered.  Rays  typically  heterogeneous,  cells  large;  uniseriate. 
Wood  fibers  thin-walled  and  often  septate. 


232  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

1.    CREPIDOSPERMUM  Hook.  f. 

Crepidospermum  Goudotianum  Triana  &  Planch.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  V.  14:  300.  1872.  Trompetero-caspi,  Isula-micuna, 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  12  feet  in  height.  Bark 
pale  gray  to  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  shallow  ridges. 
Leaves  alternate;  leaflets  petiolulate,  ovate-oblongate,  acuminate, 
serrate.  Inflorescence  in  axillary  panicles.  Drupe  unevenly  round, 
green;  December-January. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  open  sandy 
loam  or  in  scant  forest  (alt.  1,400-3,500  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  pinkish  brown,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained;  fine- textured ; 
heavy,  strong,  and  tenacious;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish ; 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  visible  without  lens;  fairly  numerous, 
evenly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  some- 
times more,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  filled  with  dark  gum. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  and  of  darker  color  than  background.  Rays 
very  fine;  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  slightly  darker  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  visible 
to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5869. 

2.    PROTIUM  Burm. 

Shrubs  or  small  to  large  trees,  widely  distributed  in  tropical 
America  and  with  a  few  representatives  in  the  eastern  tropics. 
They  are  glabrous  or  nearly  so.  Leaflets  few,  large,  entire.  Flowers 
small,  whitish,  in  small  or  large  panicles.  Fruit  rather  large  and 
somewhat  fleshy  at  maturity.  The  woods  in  general  resemble  birch 
(Betula  lenta  L.)  and  are  used  for  general  construction  and  other 
purposes  to  which  we  apply  birch.  They  are  more  valued,  however, 
for  the  whitish  and  fragrant  resin  (suggesting  incense)  exuding  freely 
from  the  bark,  which  hardens  on  exposure  to  the  air. 

Sap  wood  whitish  or  pinkish  to  pale  brown;  heartwood  reddish  or 
dark  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured  ;  fibrous  or  splintery  to  hard,  compact,  and  capable  of  taking 
a  smooth,  lustrous  polish;  often  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct; 
paratracheal  and  in  broken  tangential  lines  or  concentric  bands. 
Pores  of  small  to  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  to  numerous;  solitary 
or  in  short  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  on  cross  section; 
sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  233 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 
Small  radial  canals  present  in  the  rays  and  sometimes  in  the  bark. 

Protium  Carana  March,  in  Baill.  Adansonia  8:  51.  1867-68; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2:  277.  1874.  Copal-caspi. 

Shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  10  to  15  feet  in  height.  Bark 
tan-colored  or  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Leaflets  membra- 
naceous,  nearly  glabrous,  and  long-stalked.  Fruit  ovoid,  attenuate 
at  base,  acute  at  top,  tri-partite,  with  fleshy,  juicy  pericarp,  deep 
red  when  mature,  and  borne  in  clusters  on  the  trunk. — Fairly 
common  in  some  localities;  in  slightly  humid  or  dry  loam  (alt. 
500  ft.). 

Sapwood  pinkish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  slightly  darker  brown. 
Wood  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of 
medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy  and  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work 
and  takes  a  fairly  smooth  polish ;  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but 
indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  not  distinct  with  lens.  Pores 
fairly  small;  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  solitary,  less  fre- 
quently in  radial  multiples  of  2-5  or  in  small  clusters.  Rays  evenly 
spaced  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on 
radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4766(1),  5056,  5356(1}. 

Protium  crassifolium  (Rich.)  Engl.(?),  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12, 
pt.  2:  270.  1874.  Copal-caspi. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  up  to  95  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  and 
with  dense  foliage.  Trunk  straight,  round,  21  inches  in  diameter, 
and  free  of  branches  up  to  32  feet.  Bark  pale  or  pinkish  brown, 
fairly  smooth.  Twigs  dark  puberulous.  Leaflets  subleathery,  nearly 
glabrous.  Fruit  a  glabrous,  round  or  ovoid  drupe. — Of  limited 
distribution.  Timber  is  sometimes  used  for  general  construction. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  deep  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark 
reddish  brown.  Wood  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured; 
heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  compact;  not  difficult  to  work  and  capable 
of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  durable. 

Loreto:  San  Ramon,  lower  Huallaga,  4564- 

Protium  glaucum  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  379.  1934. 

Uncommon,  glabrous  tree,  seldom  exceeding  30  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  about  8  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  3  or  4  feet.  Bark  pale  gray  or  dark 
purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaflets 


234  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

membranaceous.  Flowering  in  October-November. — In  thickets 
or  along  margin  of  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
only  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  light  pinkish  brown  and  darkening 
on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  straight-grained; 
medium- textured ;  of  medium  weight;  saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to 
cut,  and  capable  of  taking  a  moderately  smooth  polish ;  fairly  durable. 
Pores  frequently  filled  with  whitish  or  dark  brown  deposits.  Rays 
slightly  wavy  and  of  lighter  color  than  fibers  on  cross  section; 
darker  than  background  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4772. 

Protium  Llewelyni  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  378.  1934. 

Tree  of  small  stature,  not  exceeding  30  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open.  Trunk  erect,  round,  about  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  un- 
branched  for  12  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth;  inner 
bark  fibrous.  Leaflets  subleathery,  glabrous,  opaque.  Flowers  yel- 
lowish; July-August.  Drupe  glabrous. — Uncommon;  along  margin 
of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Wood  not  used  locally  except  for  fuel. 

Wood  lustrous  pinkish  brown  throughout,  occasionally  with 
long,  darker  brown  striping;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight,  strong;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
polish;  durable.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined.  Pores  sometimes 
filled  with  yellowish  white  or  pale  brown  deposit. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3704. 

Protium  medianum  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  377.  1934. 

Medium-sized  tree,  about  55  feet  in  height.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for 
approximately  15  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth; 
inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Leaflets  leathery,  nearly  glabrous. 
Flowers  yellowish  brown;  September-October. — Not  common;  in 
second  growth  or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber 
is  used  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  slightly 
darker  brown,  thin.  Wood  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  lustrous  polish;  fairly  durable. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly  defined.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
not  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  and  oval  in  outline, 
also  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4;  open. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3792. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  235 

Protium  puncticulatum  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  377.  1934. 
Copal-caspi. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  glabrous  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height 
of  45  feet.  Crown  round  or  spreading.  Trunk  columnar,  moderately 
straight,  from  6  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  from  3 
to  10  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish  brown,  with  broad,  low  ridges. 
Leaflets  membranaceous-chartaceous  and  have  a  strong  odor  sug- 
gesting gum  arabic.  Drupe  subround. — Not  common;  in  fairly 
dense  forest  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is 
sometimes  used  for  general  construction.  Bark  and  fruit  furnish 
a  yellow  resin  employed  for  calking  canoes. 

Wood  light  pinkish  brown  with  a  pale  grayish  cast  and  occasion- 
ally with  darker  brown  streaks;  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
of  medium  weight;  sometimes  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain,  easy  to  work,  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish 
with  a  moderate  luster;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or 
present  on  account  of  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  small;  not  very  numerous, 
inclined  to  be  grouped  in  zones;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  oblique  or  tangential  pairs;  open  or 
closed.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  very  fine  scratches  of  same  color  as 
background.  Rays  fine;  indistinct  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangen- 
tial sections;  slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Paranapura,  lower  Huallaga,  4625;  Santa  Rosa,  lower 
Huallaga,  486L 

Protium  subserratum  Engler,  in  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  4:  89. 

1883. 

Medium-sized,  forest  tree,  about  50  feet  in  height.  Crown 
round.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  about  12  inches  in  diameter,  un- 
branched for  36  feet,  and  with  low  buttresses.  Bark  greenish 
yellow  or  reddish  brown;  inner  bark  dark  chocolate  brown  and 
fibrous.  Twigs  dusky  pilose.  Leaflets  membranaceous.  Drupe 
ovate-cordiform;  October-November. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest 
not  subject  to  periodical  inundations  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  some- 
times used  for  general  construction. 

Sap  wood  well  defined,  light  pinkish  brown  and  with  fine,  slightly 
darker  brown  veining;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight;  fibrous,  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish;  checks  in  drying,  but  fairly  durable. 
Growth  rings  present.  Pores  of  medium  size;  not  numerous,  well 


236  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

scattered;  solitary  and  angularly  round  in  outline,  less  frequently  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-5  or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  distinct 
against  the  lighter-colored  background ;  lustrous  tyloses  and  whitish 
calcium  deposit  common.  Rays  faintly  visible  without  lens  on 
moistened  tangential  section;  readily  distinguishable  but  not 
prominent  to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4417. 

Protium  tenuifolium  Engler,  in  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  4: 76. 1883. 

Slender  tree,  from  18  to  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round  or  moderately  so,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  6 
to  12  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown  or  dark  purple,  fairly  smooth  or  rough. 
Leaflets  membranaceous.  Fruit  round,  reddish  pink  when  mature, 
and  yields  an  abundance  of  white,  astringent  resin  with  a  strong 
odor  suggesting  turpentine;  December-January. — Very  common  on 
the  plain  of  Tarapoto  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Lamas  (alt.  1,400- 
1,800  ft.) ;  in  second  growth  or  in  moderately  dense  forest.  Timber 
used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pinkish  brown  and  with  fine,  darker  brown 
streaks;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  straight-  or  irregular- 
grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  rather  heavy,  dense,  and  tough; 
not  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish ;  durable.  Growth 
rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  very  small;  fairly 
numerous  and  evenly  distributed ;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  radial 
multiples;  open  or  closed.  Rays  faintly  visible  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5708,  6138,  6289. 

MELIACEAE.    Mahogany  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate,  pinnate,  without  stipules. 
Flowers  small,  in  panicles;  the  calyx  4-5-lobed,  petals  4-5,  stamens 
5,  8,  or  10.  Fruit  a  capsule  or  drupe.  The  family  comprises  more 
than  600  species,  widely  distributed  in  tropical  and  subtropical 
regions  of  both  hemispheres,  and  is  important  as  the  source  of 
such  valuable  timbers  as  the  mahoganies  of  tropical  America  and 
Africa,  the  American  cedars,  andiroba  or  crab  wood,  and  the  cedar- 
like  toon  of  Australia. 

The  woods  of  the  different  genera  exhibit  considerable  variation 
in  their  properties.  Sapwood  pinkish  to  pale  yellowish  white  or 
frequently  light  or  pinkish  brown,  often  streaked  or  with  a  grayish 
cast  when  dried;  heartwood  pinkish,  reddish,  purplish,  or  dark 
chocolate  brown,  and  usually  well  defined.  Wood  often  fragrant ; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  237 

fairly  fine-  to  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to  heavy,  firm,  and 
compact;  often  fibrous  or  splintery,  easy  to  work,  capable  of  taking 
a  smooth  and  fairly  or  highly  lustrous  polish;  moderately  durable 
to  highly  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  often  indistinct, 
also  in  fine  or  very  distinct,  sometimes  wavy,  usually  single,  con- 
centric lines  or  bands,  mostly  widely  spaced  or  of  variable  spacing, 
but  sometimes  wide  enough  apart  to  appear  as  limiting  growth 
rings;  lighter  or  darker  than  background.  Pores  fairly  small  or 
large;  few  to  moderately  numerous  and  diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  pre- 
dominantly solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples  or  small  clusters;  light 
to  dark  brown  gum,  calcium  deposit,  or  lustrous  tyloses  often 
present.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  to  visible,  but  not  very  dis- 
tinct, on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  scarcely  visible  to  rather  dis- 
tinct on  tangential;  distinct  and  may  be  conspicuous  on  radial,  where 
they  sometimes  add  materially  to  the  figure  on  quarter-sawed 
lumber,  appearing  lighter  or  darker  than  background.  Ripple 
marks  observed  in  Carapa  (occ.),  Cedrela  (occ.)  and  Swietenia;  all 
elements  storied ;  uniform  or  irregular.  Vertical  canals,  of  gummosis 
type,  are  present  in  Carapa,  Cedrela,  Melia,  and  Swietenia. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  segments  sometimes  barrel- 
shaped;  intervascular  pits  minute  or  small,  numerous,  and  crowded, 
the  apertures  slit-like  and  often  coalescing;  vessel-ray  pits  small, 
half-bordered.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous,  in  some  species 
showing  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  often  coarse-celled  and  gummy; 
uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part  to  multiseriate  (2-5  cells  wide)  and  few 
to  30  or  more  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  sometimes  septate;  pits  simple, 
small,  and  inconspicuous  or  with  slit-like  orifices  extending  beyond 
the  borders. 

1.    CARAPA  Aubl. 

Carapa,  aff.  guianensis  Aubl.  PL  Guian.  2:  Suppl.  32.  1775. 
Andiroba. 

Tree,  from  95  to  100  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  20  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  branches  for 
about  55  feet,  and  with  low  buttresses.  Bark  dark  reddish  brown; 
inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Leaflets  very  large  and  leathery.  Flowers 
white,  showy,  in  axillary  panicles.  Fruit  a  woody,  4-angled  capsule; 
the  seeds  are  rich  in  oil  used  as  an  illuminant  and  for  making  soap. 
—Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  (alt.  400-450  ft.) ; 
in  alturas  in  dense,  tall  forest.  Timber  is  employed  for  carpentry 
and  general  construction. 


238  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  constitutes  the  greater  part  of  the  wood  and  is  sharply 
defined,  lustrous  pale  brown  with  darker  brown  markings  of  rays  and 
occasionally  with  long,  dark  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark  reddish 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  roey-  or  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  heavy  or  fairly  heavy;  easy  to  work,  capable  of 
taking  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished; 
does  not  stain  in  drying  and  is  durable.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  arrangement  of  elements.  Parenchyma  in  unevenly  spaced, 
concentric  lines.  Pores  visible  as  fine  pinpoints;  fairly  numerous 
and  have  a  tendency  to  zonate  arrangement;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  or  diagonal  multiples;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  darker 
color  than  background,  and  at  limit  of  vision  in  proper  light.  Rays 
numerous,  fine  or  moderately  fine,  slightly  wavy,  and  visible  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  faintly  distinguishable  without  lens  on  tangen- 
tial; darker  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  rather  prominent 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1808;  Caballo-cocha,  2256. 

2.    CEDRELA  L. 

Small  or  large  trees.  Leaves  large  and  pinnately  compound; 
the  leaflets  entire.  Flowers  inconspicuous.  Fruit  a  capsule  which, 
upon  opening,  liberates  great  quantities  of  small,  winged  seeds. 
Next  to  mahogany  (Swietenia  macrophylla  King),  "cedro  Colorado" 
is  the  most  important  timber  exported  from  northeastern  Peru. 
On  account  of  its  abundance,  fragrance,  stability,  durability,  strength, 
and  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  worked,  cedar  is  much  esteemed 
locally  for  canoes,  furniture,  house  construction,  utensils,  chests,  and 
other  miscellaneous  uses. 

The  classification  of  the  Peruvian  cedars  is  still  uncertain.  In 
their  Flora  Peruviana  et  Chilensis,  Ruiz  and  Pavon  (1802)  described 
Cedrela  odorata  from  the  following  regions  in  Peru:  Posuso,  Panao, 
Chinchao,  and  the  neighborhood  of  Lima,  where  it  is  cultivated. 
In  his  discussion  of  C.  Herrerae  Harms  (Revista  Sudamericana  de 
Botanica  1,  No.  1:  21.  February,  1934),  Herrera  lists  the  following 
four  species  as  ascribed  to  Peru:  C.  fissilis  Veil.;  C.  odorata  R.  &  P.; 
C.  Herrerae  Harms;  and  C.  angustifolia  DC.  Of  these,  he  maintains 
that  only  two  have  been  properly  determined:  namely,  C.  fissilis 
Veil.,  collected  by  Weberbauer  (Pflanzenw.  der  Per.  And.  285.  1911) 
in  the  Monzon  Valley,  Department  of  Huanuco;  and  C.  Herrerae 
Harms,  collected  near  Urquillos,  Urubamba  Valley.  He  considers 
that  the  other  two  species  should  be  eliminated  from  the  flora  of  Peru. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  239 

It  is  not  clear  that  C.  odorata  of  Ruiz  and  Pavon  is  the  C.  odorata  L. 
of  the  West  Indies.  Harms  (Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10:  180. 1927) 
lists,  however,  C.  odorata  L.  from  the  upper  Marafi6n  and  cites 
C.  DeCandolle  (1917)  and  Ducke  (1922)  in  support  of  its  existence 
in  the  Amazon. 

The  following  description  of  the  wood  of  the  genus  is  based 
only  on  material  of  C.  fissilis  and  of  the  species  which  is  here  listed 
as  C.  odorata. 

Sapwood  whitish,  pinkish,  or  yellowish  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
or  dark  chocolate  brown,  well  defined.  Wood  coarse-textured; 
light  and  soft  to  fairly  heavy  and  durable;  sometimes  fibrous,  easy 
to  work;  at  times  susceptible  to  sap  and  gum  stain  and  liable  to 
be  damaged  by  insects.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  sometimes  ali- 
form and  terminal;  often  darker  than  background  and  distinct. 
Pores  fairly  small  or  large;  few,  diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary, 
less  often  in  multiples,  seldom  in  clusters;  often  filled  with  light 
brown  gum.  Rays  fairly  fine  to  moderately  distinct  on  cross  section; 
visible  and  at  times  distinct  on  tangential;  lighter  or  darker  than 
background  and  often  very  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Vertical 
canals,  gummosis  type,  occasionally  present  and  filled  with  dark  gum. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  segments  barrel-shaped;  inter- 
vascular  pits  small,  numerous,  and  with  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray 
pits  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  and  show  a  tendency  to 
homogeneous;  mostly  3-5  cells  wide  and  few  to  about  40  cells  high; 
gum  and  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  frequently  present.  Wood 
fibers  often  in  definite  radial  arrangement  and  with  small,  simple  pits. 

Cedrela  fissilis  Veil.  Flor.  Flumin.  Text  75.  1825;  Icones  2: 
pi  68.  1825;  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  741.  1878.  Cedro,  Cedro  bianco. 

Tree,  45  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  limbs  for  about 
half  the  height.  Bark  thick,  grayish  or  purplish  brown,  and  fairly 
smooth.  Leaves  petiolate,  the  leaflets  entire,  subsessile,  oblongate 
or  lanceolate,  acuminate  or  abruptly  acuminate  at  apex,  rounded 
or  acute  at  base,  glabrous  above.  Flowers  in  panicles.  Fruit  a 
5-valved  capsule;  seeds  with  a  terminal  wing. — Of  limited  distribu- 
tion; in  thickets,  old  clearings,  or  along  margin  of  fairly  dense 
forest  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally  except  for  fuel. 

Wood  variable  from  oatmeal-colored  to  light  brown  and  with 
long,  grayish  streaks;  light  and  soft;  saws  rather  woolly,  easy  to  cut, 


240  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable. 
Pith  fairly  large  and  pinkish  brown. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5825. 

Cedrela  odorata  L.  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  10.  940.  1759;  ex  Harms, 
Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10:  180.  1927.  Cedro  Colorado. 

A  dominant  species  of  the  forests  of  northeastern  Peru,  deter- 
mined provisionally  as  Cedrela  odorata  L.  The  tree  frequently 
attains  a  height  of  80  and  at  times  up  to  120  feet  or  more.  Crown 
almost  flat,  round,  or  open.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  up  to  40 
inches  in  diameter  above  the  moderately  large  buttresses,  and  clear 
of  limbs  for  about  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  thick,  dark  reddish 
brown,  and  with  coarse  scales  suggesting  mahogany.  Leaves  long- 
petiolate;  the  leaflets  usually  in  10  pairs,  opposite,  short-stalked, 
oblongate,  lance-oblong,  or  ovate,  acuminate  or  acute  at  apex, 
obliquely  rounded  at  base,  lustrous  above,  pale  brown  beneath,  gla- 
brous. Capsule  ellipsoidal,  pale  brown  when  ripe  and  covered  with 
small,  light  brown,  scale-like  markings;  fruiting  in  October-Novem- 
ber.— Abundant  in  both  the  lowland  and  upland  forests  (alt.  400- 
4,500  ft.).  Cedar  and  mahogany  are  the  most  highly  esteemed 
timbers  for  export  and  local  applications.  At  the  present  time 
logging  is  confined  mostly  to  the  lower  Ucayali  and  Huallaga  regions. 
The  logs  are  floated  down  river  to  the  Nanay  mills  to  be  sawed  into 
lumber  or  to  be  shipped  to  the  United  States  or  Europe.  Locally,  the 
wood  is  used  for  launches,  canoes,  house  construction,  furniture, 
chests,  crates  for  shipping  rubber  and  balata,  carpentry,  and  miscel- 
laneous purposes.  (For  further  notes  see  page  46.) 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  white,  sharply  defined ;  heartwood  variable 
in  color  from  pinkish  to  dark  brown  and  highly  lustrous.  Wood 
distinctly  fragrant  and  slightly  bitter  when  freshly  cut;  usually 
straight-grained;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to 
moderately  heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished ;  durable.  The  wood  of 
young  trees,  especially  those  located  in  the  open  and  of  rapid 
growth,  appears  to  be  less  fragrant,  lighter-colored,  and  softer  than 
that  of  old  forest  trees.  Growth  rings  visible  on  account  of  zonate 
arrangement  of  pores.  Parenchyma  readily  visible  in  some  speci- 
mens as  widely  and  evenly  spaced,  concentric  rings  separating  the 
growth  rings,  also  in  inconspicuous  bands  surrounding  the  pores. 
Pores  variable  from  small  to  rather  large  and  distinguishable  to 
unaided  eye;  not  numerous,  diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


241 


FIG.  17.    "Ccdro  Colorado,"  Cedrela  odorata  L.,  at  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga. 

radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  conspicuous, 
short  or  long,  and  darker  than  background.  Rays  fine  and  dis- 
cernible only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  lighter  or  darker  than 
background  and  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces.  Gum 
ducts  occasionally  present  in  peripheral  rows  and  filled  with 
dark  red  deposit;  distinct  on  longitudinal  surfaces,  especially  on 
tangential. 

Loreto:   lower   Itaya,   150,   200;   lower   Huallaga,   4211. — San 
Martin:  San  Roque,  7397. 


242  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    GUAREA  Allem. 

Trees  or  large  shrubs.  Leaflets  few  or  numerous,  entire.  Flowers 
small,  greenish,  chiefly  in  axillary  panicles.  Capsule  3-5-celled,  with 
1  or  2  seeds  in  each  cell.  The  timber  is  of  good  quality  and  is  used 
locally  for  miscellaneous  purposes. 

Sapwood  whitish,  pale  yellowish,  or  pinkish  to  light  brown,  usually 
with  a  grayish  cast  when  dried;  heartwood  pinkish,  reddish,  or 
purplish  brown.  Wood  sometimes  has  a  fragrant  odor;  fairly  fine- 
to  coarse- textured ;  moderately  light  and  firm  to  heavy  and  compact; 
sometimes  brittle  or  splintery,  easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish  with  a  moderate  or  high  luster;  usually  durable  and  suitable 
for  joinery,  carpentry,  and  particularly  for  interior  work  of  houses. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed  and  often  distinct;  paratracheal, 
aliform,  and  in  tangential,  diagonal,  or  concentric  bands,  frequently 
uniting  the  pores.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  rather  few;  pre- 
dominantly solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples,  less  often  in  clusters; 
open  or  at  times  filled  with  dark  gum,  calcium  deposit,  or  lustrous 
tyloses.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  and  rather  numerous  on  cross 
section;  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct  on  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  small,  with 
slit-like  apertures,  sometimes  extending  beyond  the  margins;  vessel- 
ray  pits  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  to  homogeneous;  uni- 
seriate  or  biseriate  in  part  and  few  to  about  40  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  sometimes  septate;  pits  small  and  with  slit-like  orifices. 

Guarea  aligera  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10:  181. 
1927. 

Small  tree.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight, 
round,  6  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  18  feet.  Bark  light 
brown,  fairly  thin,  and  with  long,  narrow  scales. — Not  widely  dis- 
tributed; in  rather  dense  forest  free  from  periodical  floods  (alt. 
500  ft.). 

Sapwood  fairly  sharply  demarcated,  uniform  pale  brown  with  a 
gray  cast;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-  to  fairly  coarse-textured;  rather  heavy 
and  strong,  but  inclined  to  be  splintery;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster;  checks  in  drying;  appears  to 
be  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of 
color.  Parenchyma  in  association  with  pores,  indistinct  with  lens, 
also  in  numerous,  irregularly  spaced,  broken,  tangential  lines  or 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  243 

fine  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  not 
very  numerous;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-5  or  solitary;  open  or 
closed.  Vessel  lines  numerous  and  rather  coarse;  lustrous  deposit 
commonly  present.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  barely  visible  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  slightly  darker  than  background  and  at  limit 
of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5333. 

Guarea  filiformis  C.  DC.(?),  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  566.  1878. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  50  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  28  feet.  Bark 
pale  pinkish  brown,  fairly  thin,  and  moderately  smooth.: — In  dry 
medium  loam  along  margin  of  forest  or  in  open  patches  among  low 
or  medium-sized  trees  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  light  brown,  well  demarcated;  heart- 
wood  pinkish  or  purplish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
moderately  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  medium-textured ;  of 
medium  weight;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth 
finish,  and  holds  its  color  and  place  well;  probably  durable.  Growth 
rings  present.  Parenchyma  visible  with  lens  as  numerous,  broken 
or  continuous,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size;  solitary  or 
in  radial  pairs;  often  filled  with  white  or  yellowish  brown  deposit. 
Vessel  lines  fairly  fine  or  coarse.  Rays  fine  and  numerous  on  cross 
section;  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4668. 

Guarea  fissicalyx  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11:  383. 
1932.  Paujil-ruru. 

Tree,  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  irregular.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
8  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for  half  the  entire  height. 
Bark  reddish  brown  or  chocolate-colored,  and  rough;  inner  bark 
rather  coarsely  fibrous.  Flowers  small,  creamy  white;  May-June. 
Fruit  khaki-colored  when  mature. — Not  common;  in  dense  forest 
clear  of  periodical  floods  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown  with  light 
gray  streaks  or  patches  caused  probably  by  sapstain;  heartwood 
reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  straight-  or 
interwoven-grained;  medium-textured;  heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious; 
not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish,  and  holds 
its  place  fairly  well;  durable.  Parenchyma  in  fairly  continuous  or 


244  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

broken,  wavy,  light-colored,  concentric  bands;  barely  at  limit  of 
vision.  Pores  of  medium  size;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  also  in 
diagonal  pairs  or  solitary;  mostly  closed.  Vessel  lines  visible  with- 
out lens,  but  not  prominent.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  lighter-colored 
than  adjacent  elements  on  cross  section;  visible  only  with  lens  on 
cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1232. 

Guarea  grandifolia  DC.(?),  Prodr.  1:  624.  1824. 

Tree,  approximately  36  feet  tall,  Crown  open  and  with  few 
branches.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  18 
feet.  Bark  light  tan-  or  medium  chocolate-colored  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous  or  separates  into  long,  thin  flakes. 
Flowers  pale  yellow.  Fruit  round,  depressed  above,  reddish  brown 
when  mature,  with  woody  pedicel,  and  borne  high  on  the  trunk; 
June- July. — Fairly  common  near  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  border;  in 
dry  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown,  with  no  distinction  between 
sap  and  heart;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  fairly  heavy  and 
hard;  not  very  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  moderately  smooth 
finish;  checks  in  drying;  appears  to  be  durable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  in  numerous,  fine,  tangential  bands  uniting  the 
pores.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3  or  solitary;  open  or 
closed.  Vessel  lines  darker  than  background  and  appear  as  long, 
fairly  coarse  scratches.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  light-colored  on  cross 
section;  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2771. 

Guarea  maynasiana  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  550.  1878. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  from  15  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  slightly  inclined,  round,  slender,  and 
unbranched  for  from  4  to  9  feet.  Bark  light  tan  or  medium  reddish 
brown  and  moderately  smooth.  Fruit  ovoid,  dark  brown,  with  small 
red  seeds;  July-October. — Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere  common; 
in  light  or  medium  loam  along  roadsides  or  among  shrubs  and  low 
trees  of  second  growth  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  brown;  heartwood  slightly  darker  brown.  Wood 
straight-grained  or  moderately  so;  medium-textured;  of  medium 
weight;  easy  to  cut.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in 
concentration  of  parenchyma,  which  is  in  numerous,  broken  or  con- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  245 

tinuous,  concentric  bands;  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements 
and  at  limit  of  vision.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  tangentially  disposed  pairs. 
Vessel  lines  moderately  fine.  Rays  visible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
Loreto:  Pebas,  1740,  1 752.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6537(1). 

Guarea  trichilioides  L.  Mant.  2:  228.  1771.  Latapi,  Latapi- 
caspi  (lowland),  Requia  (upland). 

Tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  130  feet.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  cylindrical,  up  to  28  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  about  half  the  entire  height.  Bark 
dark  chocolate  brown,  occasionally  with  short,  fairly  coarse  ridges; 
inner  bark  sometimes  fibrous.  Flowers  white ;  June- July.  Fruit 
subround,  brown  when  mature;  December-January. — Widely  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  montana,  but  nowhere  very  common;  in 
dry  medium  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second  growth, 
sometimes  found  in  the  vicinity  of  streams  or  in  dense,  flood-free 
forest  (alt.  up  to  3,500  ft.).  Timber  is  employed  in  Tarapoto  for 
cooperage. 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  oatmeal-colored  to  light 
brown;  heartwood  reddish  or  dark  brown.  Wood  when  fresh  has  an 
agreeable  odor  suggesting  Cedrela  odorata  L.;  straight-grained  or 
moderately  so;  coarse-textured;  of  fairly  light  to  medium  weight; 
easy  to  work;  checks  in  drying;  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects  and 
is  not  very  durable.  Parenchyma  surrounds  the  pores  and  in  rather 
broad  tangential  or  diagonal  bands,  often  confluent.  Pores  at  limit 
of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  long,  coarse,  and  darker  than 
background.  Rays  fairly  numerous  and  moderately  fine,  slightly 
wavy,  unevenly  spaced,  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section ;  invisible  or  visible  to  aided  eye  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3160;  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4722. 
—San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  61 84;  San  Roque,  7314. 

4.    SWIETENIA  Jacq. 

Swietenia  macrophylla  King  in  Hook.  Icon.  PI.  16:  pi.  1550. 
1886.  S.  Tessmannii  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart,  Berlin  10:  180. 
1027.  Aguano,  Caobo. 

Tall,  stately  tree,  from  90  to  160  feet  or  more  in  height,  forming 
with  other  species  the  upper  story  of  the  forest.  Crown  full,  spread- 
ing, or  approaching  umbrella-shape.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from 


246  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3  to  5  feet  or  more  in  diameter  above  the  strong,  narrow  buttresses 
which  reach  up  to  15  feet  high,  and  unbranched  for  from  one- third 
to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  about  2  inches  thick,  scaly,  deeply 
furrowed,  of  a  reddish  brown  color,  has  a  bitter  taste  suggesting 
quinine,  and  exudes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of  slightly  bitter, 
light  brown  sap.  Leaves  alternate;  leaflets  in  4  or  5  pairs,  glabrous. 
Flowers  with  small  calyx,  pale  yellowish  green  petals  and  staminal 
tube,  and  brown  anthers;  September  to  beginning  of  October.  Fruit 
elongate-ovoid,  about  6  inches  long  and  3.5  inches  in  greatest  width, 
the  thick  woody  exocarp  light  brown,  and  the  central  pentagonal 
axis  about  4.5  inches  in  height;  seeds  winged,  lustrous  reddish  brown, 
of  a  bitter  taste. 

Although  of  common  occurrence  in  the  Department  of  Loreto 
in  low-lying  regions,  adjacent  to  streams  and  rivers,  where  the  forest 
is  subject  to  seasonal  inundations,  or  where  the  soil  is  wet  the  year 
round,  tierra  baja,  mahogany  trees  attain  their  best  development 
in  dense  forest  growth  on  slight  elevations  with  dry,  firm  soil  away 
from  watercourses,  alturas,  but  nowhere  are  they  found  in  extensive 
or  pure  stands.  In  the  upland  forests,  at  altitudes  of  1,000  to  3,500 
feet,  for  example,  the  trees  are  generally  smaller,  the  timber  is  slightly 
harder  and  heavier,  apparently  less  susceptible  to  insect  attacks,  and 
is  believed  to  be  of  better  quality  than  that  of  the  lowland.  Ma- 
hogany trees  are  not  found  between  the  Nanay  River  and  the  Peru- 
vian-Brazilian border  and  they  do  not  grow  west  of  Moyobamba, 
capital  of  the  Department  of  San  Martin. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos,  especially  along  the  banks  of  the 
Amazon  and  its  tributaries,  mahogany  trees  have  been  cut  for 
general  rough  uses  and  domestic  purposes.  In  unexplored  territories 
along  the  Ucayali,  Huallaga,  and  Maranon  and  their  tributaries, 
where  little  or  no  cutting  has  been  done,  the  average  occurrence  of 
mahogany  trees  may  be  estimated  to  be  approximately  one  tree  per 
acre.  (For  further  notes  on  Peruvian  Mahogany  see  page  41; 
also  Tropical  Woods  6:  1.  June,  1926;  14:  33.  June,  1928;  16:  49. 
Dec.,  1928;  and  31:  30.  Sept.,  1932.) 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  when  freshly  cut,  turning  to  yellowish  brown 
on  exposure,  and  from  2  to  6  inches  thick;  heartwood  dark  reddish 
brown,  in  dried  material  becoming  pinkish  brown  with  occasional 
darker  striping,  or  in  some  instances  turning  to  a  uniform  rich 
brown.  Wood  rather  fragrant  when  fresh,  but  has  no  distinctive  taste ; 
straight-  or  ribbon-grained,  suggesting  Honduras  mahogany,  but  not 
so  highly  figured ;  medium-  to  coarse-textured ;  of  medium  density  to 


247 


248  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

heavy  and  firm;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  high 
luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  susceptible  to  the 
attacks  of  spotworms  and  a  beetle  of  the  genus  Platypus  which 
causes  pinhole  defects  accompanied  by  pale  grayish  stain  produced 
by  ambrosia  fungus.  Seasonal  growth  rings  indicated  by  alinement 
of  wood  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  continuous, 
unevenly  spaced,  concentric  lines,  which  appear  to  indicate  limits 
of  growth  rings,  and  of  lighter  or  darker  color  than  background; 
distinct  on  cross  section,  especially  when  moistened.  Pores  of 
medium  size  to  large;  numerous  or  moderately  numerous,  fairly  well 
distributed  or  showing  a  distinct  tendency  to  zonate  arrangement; 
solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infrequently 
diagonally  disposed  or  in  small  clusters;  sometimes  filled  with 
dark  reddish  brown  gum  or  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  of  variable 
length  and  producing  fine  markings,  of  darker  color  than  background. 
Rays  fine,  uniform,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers,  and  barely 
discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  sometimes  visible  to 
unaided  eye  on  tangential;  of  darker  color  than  background  and 
distinct,  but  not  conspicuous,  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present 
and  distinct;  all  elements  storied;  number  per  inch  length,  about 
62.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  present  and  sometimes  distinct 
on  tangential  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  segments  barrel -shaped ;  inter- 
vascular  pits  numerous,  minute,  with  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray 
pits  small,  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-5  cells  wide  and 
few  to  about  30  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  often  in  definite  radial 
arrangement,  rather  thin-walled,  often  septate,  and  with  small, 
indistinct,  simple  pits. 

Although  Peruvian  mahogany  was  described  by  Harms  (I.e.) 
as  Swietenia  Tessmannii,  examination  of  the  woods  shows  close 
resemblance  between  the  Peruvian  and  the  Honduran  species  (S. 
macrophylla  King)  and  this  is  substantiated  by  the  similarity  of  the 
floral  characters.  In  1925,  Dr.  Tessmann,  at  the  time  associated 
with  the  Standard  Oil  Company,  secured  herbarium  specimens  of 
Swietenia  at  Yarina-cocha  on  the  Ucayali  River.  This  material 
was  described  by  Dr.  Harms  as  Swiettnia  Tessmannii.  In  early  1926, 
fruit  and  leaf  specimens  were  gathered  along  the  left  bank  of  the 
Itaya  River,  some  fifty  miles  from  its  confluence  with  the  Amazon, 
by  Mr.  Georges  H.  Barrel,  president  of  the  former  Aguna  Mahogany 
and  Timber  Company,  Boston,  Massachusetts.  These  were  sent 
to  Professor  Record  (see  Tropical  Woods  6:  1-2.  June,  1926)  and 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  249 

forwarded  by  him  for  identification  to  Dr.  S.  F.  Blake,  United  States 
Bureau  of  Plant  Industry,  Washington,  who  reported  as  follows: 
"The  leaf  specimens  of  the  Peruvian  Mahogany  are  not  distinguish- 
able from  Swietenia  macrophylla  King,  and  can  be  referred  to  that 
species  temporarily  with  the  reservation  that  flowering  specimens 
may  show  differences.  On  geographical  grounds,  that  species  is  the 
most  likely  to  occur  there.  ..."  The  forests  along  the  Ucayali  and 
Itaya  rivers  are  of  the  same  character,  with  little  or  no  difference 
in  altitude,  so  that,  in  all  likelihood,  the  specimens  collected  from 
trees  observed  by  Tessmann  and  Barrel  represent  the  same  species. 

In  his  notes  on  the  "Identity  of  the  Peruvian  Mahogany" 
(Tropical  Woods  16:  49-50.  Dec.,  1928),  Macbride  observes:  "S. 
Tessmannii  is  distinguishable  by  its  author  from  S.  macrophylla  by 
the  longer  leaf-petioles  (5-12  mm.  long)  and  the  looser  inflorescence. 
The  latter  species,  according  to  Harms,  also  generally  has  larger  but 
narrower  leaflets  with  somewhat  broader  acumen.  He  also  com- 
pares S.  Tessmannii  with  S.  Candollei  Pittier  of  Venezuela  to  which 
he  thinks  it  may  be  most  nearly  related  and  remarks  that  it  may 
be  separated  by  the  shorter  leaflet  petioles.  According  to  the 
original  descriptions,  though,  there  seems  to  be  no  essential  difference 
in  this  respect  between  the  Peruvian  and  Venezuelan  trees.  There 
is  a  possibility,  of  course,  that  their  pods  may  differ  so  greatly, 
particularly  in  proportionate  measurements,  that  the  two  trees  may 
indeed  represent  distinct  species.  On  the  other  hand,  S.  Tessmannii 
is  certainly  very  closely  related  to  S.  macrophylla  of  Colombia, 
Panama,  and  Honduras — the  species  to  which  Dr.  Blake  referred  it, 
apparently  with  confidence."  It  appears  that  the  characters  relied 
upon  at  present  to  separate  these  species  are  not  convincing  and  may 
prove  to  be  relative  only  and  valueless  for  purposes  of  classification. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4868;  herbarium  material 
collected  also  at  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  and  near  Iquitos. — San 
Martin:  Rio  Mayo,  near  its  junction  with  the  Huallaga,  6221; 
San  Roque,  7725. 

5.    TRICHILIA  L. 

Large  shrubs  or  trees.  Leaflets  pinnate,  sometimes  reduced  to  a 
single  leaflet.  Flowers  small,  greenish  or  yellowish,  panicled,  with 
4-5  petals.  Fruit  normally  a  small  3-valved,  3-seeded  capsule, 
which  splits  open  at  maturity;  seeds  not  winged,  1  in  each  cell,  and 
surrounded  by  a  red  and  showy  aril.  The  timbers  serve  locally  for 
miscellaneous  purposes,  but  are  not  commercially  important. 


250  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  yellowish,  whitish,  or  pinkish  to  light  brown,  often 
streaked  or  with  a  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  purplish  to  dark  or 
chocolate  brown.  Wood  slightly  bitter;  fairly  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  light  but  firm  to  heavy  and  hard;  usually  capable  of 
taking  a  smooth  and  fairly  lustrous  to  highly  lustrous  polish ;  often 
durable  and  has  good  possibilities  for  flooring.  Parenchyma  abun- 
dantly developed;  paratracheal  and  in  numerous,  fine,  much  broken 
or  continuous,  tangential  or  concentric  lines  in  contact  with  the 
edge  of  the  pores  or  independent  of  them,  and  sometimes  appear 
to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings;  spacing  very  uneven.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ;  solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom 
in  small  clusters;  sometimes  filled  with  yellowish  or  whitish  deposit. 
Rays  very  fine  on  cross  section;  distinct  and  usually  darker  than 
background  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  small, 
crowded,  with  lenticular  orifices;  vessel-ray  pits  small,  half-bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate,  few  to  30  cells  high;  cells  large  and 
gummy.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled;  pits  numerous,  with  elongated 
slit-like  apertures  extending  beyond  the  round  margins. 

Trichilia  flava  C.  DC.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  1:  203.  pi.  59. 
1878.  Chibo-caspi. 

Forest  tree,  from  20  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  from  6  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  either  branching 
from  near  the  base  or  undivided  up  to  17  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown, 
fairly  smooth ;  inner  bark  separates  into  coarse  flakes. — Fairly  com- 
mon; in  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second  growth 
(alt.  3,500  ft.);  reported  also  by  Riedel  near  the  Mamore  River, 
Matto  Grosso,  Brazil. 

Wood  pale  yellow,  in  some  specimens  with  light  brown  streaks; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  straight-grained;  moderately  fine-  or 
medium- textured ;  of  medium  weight;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a 
smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well.  Growth  rings  absent. 
Parenchyma  in  wavy,  irregular,  broken  or  fairly  continuous,  con- 
centric lines.  Pores  small;  few  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  diagonal  or  tangential  pairs;  open. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  long,  fine  scratches,  slightly  darker  than  back- 
ground. Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  and  distinguishable  only  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  lighter  color  than 
adjacent  elements  and  sometimes  barely  distinguishable  with  lens 
on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  251 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2338,  2368(1).— San  Martin:  San  Roque, 
7180. 

Trichilia  iquitosensis  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10: 
248.  1928. 

Uncommon,  small  tree,  not  exceeding  30  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  slender,  and  undivided  for  6 
feet.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown,  with  numerous,  small  lenticels; 
inner  bark  and  wood  beneath  bark  chocolate  brown. — In  open  dry 
patches  in  dense  forest  free  from  periodical  inundations  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  brown  throughout,  occasionally  with  pale  yellow 
patches  and  fine,  dark  brown  streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  fairly  fine-textured;  moderately  heavy  and  strong;  not 
difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  fine,  fairly  evenly  spaced,  concentric  lines. 
Pores  small;  not  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  slightly  darker 
than  background.  Rays  fine  and  numerous  on  cross  section;  visible 
only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5139. 

Trichilia  Macbrideana  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
11:  785.  1933. 

Shrub,  about  10  feet  high.  Trunk  branching  from  the  base  or 
undivided  up  to  half  the  height.  Bark  very  dark  brown  and  with 
numerous,  small  lenticels.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow;  June- July. 
—Common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon;  in  fairly  dense  forest  or 
in  thickets  close  to  river  banks  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Sap  wood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  pale  pinkish,  in  some 
specimens  with  darker  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark  brown. 
Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fine- tex- 
tured; of  light  or  medium  weight  and  rather  tenacious;  takes  a 
smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster;  durable.  Growth  rings 
present.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine,  broken,  concentric 
lines;  faintly  discernible  with  lens  on  moistened  surface.  Pores 
minute  or  very  small;  not  numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision. 
Rays  numerous  and  very  fine  on  cross  section;  scarcely  distinguish- 
able with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2524,  2806,  2840. 


252  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Trichilia  maynasiana  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  700.  1878. 
Shatona,  Uchu-mullaca. 

Tree,  from  15  to  36  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  from  6  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  up 
to  more  than  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  brown,  that  of  young 
trees  and  branches  fairly  smooth,  in  old  trees  scaly.  Flowers  small, 
pale  yellow;  December-February. — Common  in  both  lowland  and 
upland  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.);  in  open  patches  in  flood-free  forest  or 
among  low  trees  of  second  growth.  Timber  is  used  for  rough  carpen- 
try and  general  construction. 

Sapwood  varying  in  color  from  pale  grayish  to  light  pinkish  or 
yellowish  brown,  streaked,  and  darkening  on  exposure  to  air;  heart- 
.wood  dark  brown.  Wood  slightly  fragrant,  but  has  no  distinctive 
taste;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
heavy,  compact,  and  tough;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  liable  to  be  damaged 
by  insects.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  absence  of  parenchyma. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform,  in  numerous,  fine,  irregular, 
broken,  tangential  lines,  and  less  often  in  continuous,  concentric 
lines;  readily  distinguishable  with  lens  on  moistened  surface.  Pores 
small;  not  very  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  small 
radial  multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  filled  with  yellowish 
brown  gum.  Vessel  lines  very  fine,  indistinct  or  barely  at  limit  of 
vision.  Rays  numerous  and  very  fine  on  cross  section;  usually 
visible  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces,  but  sometimes  barely  dis- 
tinguishable to  unaided  eye  on  tangential. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  3997,  4561,  5294(1}.— San  Martin: 
Morales,  5743;  Tarapoto,  6631,  6777;  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto, 
6834. 

Trichilia  peruviana  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  654.  1878. 
Lechuza-caspi. 

Tree,  from  17  to  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  erect 
or  moderately  so,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  10  feet. 
Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  reddish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast  and  numer- 
ous, low,  irregular  ridges.  Fruit  round,  reddish  brown  when  mature; 
seeds  red;  December-January. — Uncommon;  in  dry  medium  loam 
in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood  and  is  well  defined,  pale 
ocher-colored  with  pinkish  brown  streaks,  darkening  slightly  on 
exposure;  heart  wood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  253 

straight-grained;  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  moderately 
heavy  and  rather  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
polish  with  a  moderate  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished ; 
appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in 
abundance  of  parenchyma  and  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal  and  in  widely  spaced,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric 
lines  or  fine  bands.  Pores  very  small;  numerous,  well  scattered; 
solitary,  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  small  clusters. 
Vessel  lines  very  fine,  short,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  very 
fine,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  barely  dis- 
cernible with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6628. 

Trichilia  Riedelii  C.  DC.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  1: 202. 1878. 
Lluillo-caspi,  Uchu-mullaca. 

Small,  forest  tree,  from  20  to  35  feet  in  height,  although  said  to 
attain  greater  stature.  Crown  open.  Trunk  erect,  round  or  com- 
pressed, up  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  one-third 
the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish  or  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth ;  inner 
bark  separates  into  long,  thin  flakes. — Not  common;  in  dense, 
flood-free  forest  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.);  reported  previously  by  Gaudi- 
chaud  and  Riedel  respectively  from  Sao  Paulo  and  between  Sorocana 
and  Ytu,  Brazil,  also  by  Spruce  from  Tarapoto. 

Sapwood  not  well  defined,  creamy  white,  turning  to  yellowish  or 
medium  brown  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  constitutes  most  of  the 
wood,  pale  pinkish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained  ;  uniformly  fine-textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy ; 
easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster,  and  holds 
its  place  fairly  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  present,  but 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine,  broken,  con- 
centric lines,  often  confluent.  Pores  small  or  very  small;  not  numer- 
ous, well  scattered;  mostly  solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples  of  2. 
Vessel  lines  very  fine,  of  slightly  darker  color  than  background,  and 
barely  at  limit  of  vision;  lustrous  tyloses  sometimes  present.  Rays 
numerous,  very  fine,  closely  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section; 
visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct  on 
tangential. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  51 49. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6536. 

Trichilia  Ruiziana  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  702.  1878.  Uchu- 
mullaca. 


254  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tall,  forest  tree,  often  70  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
erect,  compressed,  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  22 
feet.  Bark  reddish  brown  with  gray  patches,  scaly,  and  0.5  inch  or 
more  thick;  inner  bark  separates  into  coarse  flakes.— Uncommon ; 
in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  ocher-colored  throughout  with  irregular  brown  glim 
streaks  and  pale  gray  markings;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight,  compact,  and  fairly 
tough;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth,  rather  dull  finish,  and 
holds  its  place  well;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  irregular,  broken,  tangential  lines.  Pores  fairly 
small ;  moderately  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  filled  with  grayish  white  deposit.  Vessel 
lines  fairly  numerous,  fine,  and  irregularly  spaced  on  cross  section; 
discernible  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga,  4891. 

Trichilia  sexanthera  C.  DC.(?),  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  7: 
501.  1917.  Shatona  blanca. 

Uncommon,  forest  tree,  about  55  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing. Trunk  erect,  columnar,  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided 
for  about  one-sixth  the  entire  height.  Bark  grayish  brown  with  a 
pinkish  tinge,  and  short,  vertical  ridges;  inner  bark  chocolate  brown 
and  coarsely  fibrous. — Among  tall  trees  in  flood-free  area  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  ocher-colored  with  a  pinkish  cast  and  fine,  dark 
brown  streaks;  heartwood  thin,  dark  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  fairly  light  in  weight;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  finish.  Parenchyma  in  short,  tangential  or  fairly  continu- 
ous, concentric  lines.  Pores  very  small;  not  numerous,  well  scat- 
tered; solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  long,  fine,  and  slightly  darker  than  background.  Rays  very 
fine,  numerous,  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  of  reddish  brown  color  and  at  limit  of  vision, 
but  inconspicuous,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5163. 

Trichilia  singularis  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  703.  1878; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  1:  217.  1878. 

Shrub,  from  9  to  18  feet  in  height.  Bark  very  dark  brown  or 
almost  black,  with  numerous,  small,  interwebbing  ridges;  inner  bark 
separates  into  coarse  flakes;  wood  beneath  bark  dark  brown  with  a 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  255 

grayish  cast. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  (alt. 
350  ft.);  in  slightly  humid  loam  forming  undergrowth  in  dense 
forest;  reported  also  by  Gaudichaud  from  the  State  of  Para,  Brazil. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  pale  pinkish  brown  with  fine,  straight, 
dark  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  has  a  slightly 
pleasant  odor,  but  no  distinctive  taste;  straight-grained;  moderately 
fine-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  fibrous,  easy  to 
work,  and  takes  a  smooth  polish.  Growth  rings  present;  indi- 
cated by  bands  of  terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  fairly  small;  moder- 
ately numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  fine, 
numerous,  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  at  limit  of  vision 
on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  31 14,  3123. 

Trichilia  tocacheana  C.  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  1:  701.  1878. 
Lupuna,  Rifari. 

Medium-sized  or  tall,  forest  tree,  up  to  75,  or  at  times  150,  feet 
in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so, 
round,  from  12  to  28  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  up  to  52  feet, 
and  with  strong,  medium-sized  or  tall  buttresses.  Bark  thin,  grayish 
brown,  and  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  separates  into  long  flakes. 
Flowers  with  creamy  white  corolla  and  brown  anthers;  October- 
November.  Fruit  ovoid,  yellowish  or  pale  brown,  dehiscent;  seeds 
lustrous  red.— Common  in  the  lower  Huallaga;  in  slightly  humid  or 
dry  loam  in  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal  floods  (alt.  500  ft.). 
Timber  is  used  for  general  carpentry. 

Wood  pinkish  or  reddish  brown  throughout,  with  a  pale  grayish 
cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
fairly  heavy;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its 
place  well  when  finished;  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  in- 
conspicuous. Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  short,  tangential  lines 
often  extending  from  ray  to  ray.  Pores  fairly  small;  not  numerous, 
well  scattered;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infrequently 
in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  slightly  darker 
than  background.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  and  barely  discernible 
with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  reddish  brown,  darker 
than  background,  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4005,  4128,  5354. 


256  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Trichilia  Ulei  C.  DC.  Ann.  Conserv.  &  Jard.  Bot.  Geneve 
10:  164.  1907. 

Rare,  forest  tree,  up  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for 
half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish  to  dark  brown  with  grayish 
patches;  inner  bark  and  wood  beneath  bark  dark  reddish  brown. 
Fruit  ovoid,  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  December- January.— 
In  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  of  second 
growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  The  hard,  dense  timber  is  employed  for 
general  construction. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure;  odorless, 
but  slightly  bitter;  straight-grained;  fine- textured ;  heavy,  compact, 
and  moderately  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
finish,  and  holds  its  place  fairly  well;  incorruptible.  Growth  rings 
present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  also  in  fine,  short,  tangential  or  continuous,  concentric 
lines.  Pores  very  small;  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  partly  closed  by  parenchyma.  Vessel 
lines  short,  very  fine,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  numerous 
and  very  fine  on  cross  section;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on 
cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto,  6828. 

Trichilia  Williamsii  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11: 
387.  1932. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  50  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  columnar,  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for 
about  a  third  of  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  green  to  dark  brown ; 
inner  bark  reddish  brown.  Flowers  white;  October-November. 
Fruit  ovoid. — Rare;  among  tall  trees  in  flood-free  area  (alt.  500  ft.). 
Timber  is  used  for  beams  in  house  construction. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  red- 
dish brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fairly 
fine-textured ;  moderately  heavy  and  tough ;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  polish  with  a  golden  luster;  durable.  Growth  rings  present. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  wavy,  broken  or  continuous,  con- 
centric lines.  Pores  small;  few,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial, 
diagonal,  or  tangential  pairs.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  faintly  distin- 
guishable without  lens.  Rays  fine;  distinguishable  only  with  lens 
on  cross  and  radial  sections;,  indistinct  on  tangential.  Pith  pale 
brown  with  dark  brown  specks  of  gum. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5284,  5353. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  257 

MALPIGHIACEAE.     Malpighia  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs,  often  scandent.  Leaves  usually  opposite, 
entire,  dentate,  or  lobate,  often  bear  glands  on  the  petiole  or  on  the 
lower  surface  of  the  blade,  stipulate.  Flowers  usually  perfect  and 
showy,  variously  arranged.  Fruit  drupaceous,  capsular,  nut-like, 
or  of  1-3  samaras.  The  family  is  of  little  economic  importance. 

Sapwood  yellowish,  pale  pink,  or  dark  red,  usually  darkening  on 
exposure  to  air,  and  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  pinkish  or  reddish 
to  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth, 
sometimes  lustrous,  polish;  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or 
readily  visible  as  irregularly  spaced,  broken  or  concentric  bands, 
often  enveloping  the  pores  and  sometimes  appear  to  indicate 
limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  fairly  numerous 
or  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  multiples  or  rows, 
or  in  clusters;  frequently  filled  with  calcium  deposit  or  lustrous 
tyloses.  Rays  numerous,  evenly  spaced,  moderately  fine  to 
rather  distinct  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  very  dis- 
tinct at  times  in  Byrsonima  and  occasionally  in  Bunchosia. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  often  numer- 
ous, with  round  or  polygonal  margins,  and  slit-like  or  "screwhead" 
type  of  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  very  numerous,  small,  half-bor- 
dered. Rays  heterogeneous  in  Bunchosia,  at  times  showing  a 
tendency  to  homogeneous;  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate  in  Spachea, 
2-4  cells  wide  in  Bunchosia  and  Byrsonima,  and  few  to  about  60 
cells  high.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled  or  fairly  thick-walled,  some- 
times septate  and  with  simple  pits.  Long  strands  of  calcium  oxalate 
crystals  common  in  Spachea. 

1.    BANISTERIA  L. 

Shrubs  or  woody  vines.  Leaves  opposite,  entire;  stipules  minute, 
deciduous.  Flowers  in  umbels,  infrequently  in  panicles  or  racemes; 
calyx  5-lobed. 

Banisteria  Caapi  Spruce  ex  Griseb.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12, 
pt.  1:  43.  1858.  Ayahuasca,  Caapi. 

Woody  twiner,  sometimes  cultivated  in  the  lowland,  preferably 
in  slightly  alkaline  soil.  Spruce  (Notes  of  a  Botanist  on  the  Amazon 
and  Andes  2:  413-425.  1908)  states  that  the  species  grows  along 
"the  river  Uaupes,  the  Icanna,  and  other  tributaries  of  the  Rio 
Negro,  where  it  is  commonly  planted  in  rocas  or  mandioca  plots; 


258  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

also  at  the  cataracts  of  the  Orinoco  and  on  its  tributaries,  on  the 
Napo  and  Pastasa,  and  about  the  eastern  foot  of  the  equatorial 
Andes."  The  lower  part  of  the  stem  and  its  leaves  are  crushed  and 
boiled  in  water.  When  sufficiently  triturated,  the  infusion  is  passed 
through  a  sieve  to  remove  fibrous  material,  and  to  the  residue  water 
is  added  to  render  it  drinkable.  The  resulting  greenish  brown 
infusion  has  a  disagreeable,  bitter  taste  and  is  said  to  contain  nar- 
cotic properties. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3741,  8111,  8224;  upper  Itaya,  3348,  3523 
—herbarium  material  only. 

Banisteria  quitensis  Ndzu.  Gen.  Banisteria  1:  10.  1900; 
Pflanzenr.  IV,  141:  427.  1928.  Ayahuasca,  Bejuco-bravo. 

Scandent  shrub,  common  in  clearings  or  dense  forest  and  some- 
times cultivated.  As  in  the  case  of  B.  Caapi  the  stem  and  leaves  are 
boiled  in  water  and  the  resulting  infusion  is  greatly  esteemed  by  the 
Indians. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  33a— herbarium  material  only. 

2.    BUNCHOSIA  Rich. 

Small  trees  or  erect  shrubs,  with  short-stalked,  entire  leaves. 
The  yellow  flowers  are  arranged  in  racemes  or  small  panicles  in  the 
axils  of  the  leaves.  Fruit  red  or  orange-colored,  2-3-lobed  drupe. 
Sometimes  cultivated  for  their  edible  fruit,  but  the  timbers  are  not 
of  local  economic  importance. 

Sap  wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  sometimes 
well  defined,  chocolate  brown.  Wood  usually  without  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  moderately  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  work.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  in  broken,  tangential  or  concentric  bands,  fre- 
quently uniting  the  pores.  Pores  small;  moderately  numerous; 
solitary,  in  radial  rows  or  multiples,  or  in  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine. 
Rays  fine,  but  sometimes  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section; 
usually  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Bunchosia  elliptica  Tod.  Ind.  Sem.  Hort.  Pan.  38.  1877. 
Ciruelo,  Ciruelo  de  la  China. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  12  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  open 
or  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  2  or  3 
feet  from  the  base.  Bark  light  green  or  pale  brown,  with  numerous, 
small,  anastomosing  fissures.  Flowers  yellow;  June-August. — Widely 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  259 

distributed  in  the  lowland  (alt.  380-500  ft.),  and  often  cultivated  for 
its  fruit,  which  is  red  when  mature  and  edible. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut.  Growth  rings  present,  but 
poorly  defined;  visible  owing  to  some  variation  in  abundance  of 
parenchyma,  which  is  paratracheal  and  in  broken,  tangential  or 
concentric  bands  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  small;  not  very  numerous, 
well  scattered ;  solitary  or  more  often  in  short,  radially  disposed 
rows.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct. 
Rays  moderately  fine,  lighter-colored  than  background,  and  barely 
at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2127;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga, 
5007. 

Bunchosia  Hookeriana  Juss.  Arch.  Mus.  Par.  3:  337.  1843. 

Small  tree,  from  18  to  27  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
straight  or  bent,  round,  slender,  and  branching  a  few  feet  from  the 
base.  Bark  yellowish  or  light  tan  to  dark  green,  smooth  or  with 
small  scales.  Fruit  pinkish  red,  small,  and  round;  January. — Not 
common ;  in  dry  medium  or  heavy  loam,  among  shrubs  or  low  trees 
(alt.  1,400-1,800  ft.). 

Sapwood  sharply  demarcated,  creamy  yellow;  heartwood  choco- 
late brown.  Wood  fragrant  when  freshly  cut,  but  tasteless;  straight- 
grained  or  moderately  so;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to 
rather  heavy ;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  distinct  owiifg  to  difference  in  depth  of  color  incident  to  absence 
of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous,  irregu- 
larly spaced,  concentric  bands,  of  lighter  color  than  background  and 
at  limit  of  vision.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed; 
mostly  in  small  radial  rows  or  small  clusters,  less  frequently  solitary. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  but  faintly  discernible 
without  lens.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  slightly  sinuous,  of  same  color 
as  parenchyma,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross 
section;  indistinct  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Puca-yaco,  Tarapoto,  6063;  Lamas,  &4$ff(?). 

3.    BYRSONIMA  Rich. 

Erect  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees,  with  a  fleshy  drupe,  not 
separating.  They  are  common  along  the  borders  of  swamps  and 


260  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

form  the  understory  of  high  forest  growth  in  both  lowland  and 
upland.  Their  timbers  are  of  some  local  value,  being  used  mostly 
for  general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sap  wood  pinkish  gray  to  dark  red,  often  darkening  on  exposure 
to  air  and  with  a  grayish  cast  when  dried ;  heartwood  sometimes  well 
defined,  grayish  or  dark  brown.  Wood  medium- textured ;  of  medium 
weight  to  heavy;  sometimes  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and  highly  lus- 
trous; durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small  to  rather 
large;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows;  often  filled  with  calcium  or  lustrous 
tyloses.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  distinct  on  cross  section;  distinct  or 
very  distinct  on  radial  surface;  specks  of  dark  brown  gum  often 
present  in  cells  and  readily  visible  on  tangential. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  numerous,  with 
hexagonal  margins  and  "screwhead"  type  of  apertures.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  2-4  cells  wide  and  up  to  20  cells  high.  Wood  fibers 
fairly  thick- walled. 

Byrsonima  coriacea  (Sw.)  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  5: 147. 1822. 

Tree,  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  18  feet.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown, 
with  few,  fairly  coarse  lenticels.  Fruit  small,  ovoid,  with  white 
calyx  cup;  July- August. — Uncommon;  in  open  patches  in  flood-free 
forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  when  fresh,  reddish  or  medium  brown  with  a 
grayish  tinge  when  dried;  odorless,  but  slightly  astringent;  straight- 
or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  work 
and  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly 
small;  moderately  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  mostly  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  rows,  of  2-5.  Vessel  lines  fine, 
short,  of  same  color  as  background,  and  visible  without  lens  in 
proper  light;  calcium  deposit  or  lustrous  tyloses  common.  Rays 
fairly  broad,  but  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section,  also  on 
tangential;  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  rather  distinct  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2997. 

Byrsonima  fluminensis  Ndzu.  Gen.  Byrsonima,  pt.  2:  43. 1901. 
Murushi. 

Tree,  from  45  to  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  fairly 
round,  from  14  to  18  inches  in  diameter,  and  bifurcating  a  few  feet 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  261 

from  the  base  or  undivided  for  12  feet.  Bark  pinkish  to  dark  brown, 
with  coarse,  shallow  fissures.  Flowers  with  pinkish  red  corolla  and 
yellow  filaments;  June- July. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  slightly 
humid  loam  along  bank  of  lagoon  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  and  darkening  to  reddish  brown  after  long 
exposure;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  appears  to  be 
immune  to  stain  and  resistant  to  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  pres- 
ent owing  to  some  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  numerous,  well  dis- 
tributed; mostly  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  less  frequently 
solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  short;  grayish  calcium  deposit 
common.  Rays  fairly  fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  visible  only  with  lens 
on  cross  section;  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2348,  2500. 

Byrsonima  spicata  (Cav.)  Rich.  Ann.  Mus.  Par.  18:  481.  1811. 
Indano,  Indano  Colorado. 

Tree,  from  35  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat,  round,  or  open. 
Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so,  round,  9  inches  in  diameter,  and  un- 
branched  for  from  5  to  24  feet.  Bark  pale  gray  to  medium  brown, 
rough;  inner  bark  dark  chocolate  brown.  Leaves  elliptic-lanceolate, 
attenuate  at  base,  lustrous  above,  puberulent  and  opaque  or 
glabrous  below.  Flowers  yellow;  January-February.  Fruit  small, 
round,  pale  brown,  and  edible  when  mature. — Fairly  common  in 
the  upland  (alt.  1,500-3,500  ft.);  in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam 
among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  secondary  growth.  Timber  used  in 
some  localities  for  door-frames  and  general  carpentry. 

Sap  wood  pale  pinkish  brown  or  sometimes  almost  white;  heart- 
wood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  heavy  or  fairly  heavy;  fibrous  at  times,  easy 
to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish,  holds  its  place  well; 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  in 
radial  multiples,  seldom  rows,  of  2-3,  less  frequently  solitary; 
open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays 
numerous  and  fairly  broad,  but  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5805,  6677;  San  Roque,  6989. 


262  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

4.     SPACHEA  A.  Juss. . 
Spachea  tricarpa  A.  Juss.  Arch.  Mus.  Par.  3:  329.  1843. 

Shrub,  9  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  straight  and 
slender.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  fairly  smooth. — In  slightly 
humid  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.);  reported  also  from  the 
upper  Brazilian  Amazon. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown  throughout;  odorless,  but  bitter  to 
taste;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium 
weight;  rather  tough  and  compact;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly 
smooth  polish;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Paren- 
chyma in  irregular,  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  in 
concentric  bands  which  appear  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings. 
Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  short  rows  or  clusters. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  but  visible  when  held 
to  proper  light.  Rays  numerous,  evenly  spaced;  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

Vessel  perforations  simple  or  show  tendency  to  scalariform; 
intervascular  pits  with  round  margins  and  slit-like  or  "screwhead" 
apertures.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part. 
Long  crystal  strands  of  calcium  oxalate  common.  Fibers  fairly 
thick- walled. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2243. 

DICHAPETALACEAE.    Dichapetalum  Family 

1.    TAPURA  Aubl. 
Tapura  guianensis  Aubl.(?),  PI.  Guian.  1:  126.  pi.  48.  1775. 

Tree  of  the  upland  region,  about  55  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  from  9  to  15  inches  in  diameter, 
and  unbranched  up  to  35  feet.  Bark  yellow  or  light  gray,  smooth  or 
with  few,  small  lenticels.  Leaves  alternate,  glabrous,  ovate.  Flowers 
small,  sessile,  with  yellow,  persistent  calyx  lobes;  December- January. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white  when  fresh,  turning  to  pale  brown 
on  exposure;  heartwood  grayish  or  pinkish  brown.  Wood  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste;  heavy  and  hard;  straight-grained  or  fairly 
so;  medium-textured;  not  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull 
polish;  moderately  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  absence 
or  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  metatracheal ; 
in  very  numerous,  fine,  short  lines  extending  from  ray  to  ray; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  263 

producing  a  hoary  effect  when  seen  under  lens.  Pores  small  or 
moderately  small;  not  very  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-5  or  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine, 
but  visible  to  unaided  eye  owing  to  light  brown  specks  of  gum  present. 
Rays  very  numerous,  fine,  and  faintly  discernible  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  distinguishable  to  aided 
eye  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  either  simple  and  elliptical  or  scalariform 
with  fairly  numerous,  thin  bars.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4,  some- 
times up  to  10,  cells  wide,  these  irregularly  arranged.  Wood  fibers 
thick-walled  and  with  very  small  lumina. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6554- 

VOCHYSIACEAE.    Vochysia  Family 

1.    VOCHYSIA  Juss. 

Vochysia  Haenkeana  Mart.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  1:  147.  pi.  89. 
1826.  Goma  amarilla. 

Small  tree  of  the  upland,  up  to  36  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing; twigs  and  small  branches  dark  lustrous  brown.  Trunk  bent, 
round,  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  15  feet.  Bark 
rufous  brown  and  occasionally  with  light  green  patches,  fairly 
smooth.  Wood  exudes  a  translucent,  viscid  resin  when  cut.  Leaves 
opposite,  entire,  leathery,  yellowish  green  above,  brownish  green 
beneath,  and  with  prominent  midrib.  Flowers  small,  yellow, 
zygomorphic,  racemose.  Capsule  chocolate  brown,  about  1  inch 
long. — Not  widely  distributed;  in  sandy  or  heavy  loam  among 
shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second  growth  (alt.  1,300-1,800  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  brown  with  grayish  streaks,  well  defined;  heart- 
wood  dark  red,  pinkish,  or  purplish  brown  and  thin.  Wood  odorless, 
but  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather 
coarse-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  plane, 
takes  a  smooth  polish;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing 
to  arrangement  of  parenchyma  and  variation  in  abundance  of 
elements.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numerous  or  fairly 
numerous,  irregular,  tangential  lines  uniting  the  pores,  sometimes  in 
concentric  bands  limiting  growth  rings  (variation  noted  in  different 
specimens);  lighter-colored  than  background  and  at  limit  of  vision. 
Pores  rather  large  and  discernible  without  lens;  few  or  moderately 
few,  well  scattered  or  at  times  show  a  tendency  to  concentric  aline- 
ment;  solitary  and  round  in  outline,  less  frequently  in  radial  mul- 


264  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

tiples  of  2-3,  also  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  long, 
not  distinct;  often  filled  with  grayish  white  deposit;  vessel  segments 
visible  with  lens.  Rays  rather  broad,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent 
fibers,  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  distinguishable  also 
without  lens  on  tangential ;  darker  than  background  and  conspicuous 
on  radial.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  present. 

Vessel  perforations  simple. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6155;  Lamas,  6491. 

EUPHORBIACEAE.    Spurge  Family 

One  of  the  largest  families  of  plants,  composed  of  trees,  shrubs, 
or  herbs,  sometimes  twining  or  climbing,  often  with  a  sweet  or  acrid 
milky  juice.  Leaves  commonly  alternate  and  simple.  Flowers 
mostly  small  and  unisexual,  with  or  without  petals.  Fruit  most  often 
a  3-celled  capsule.  The  most  important  members  of  this  group  in 
Peru  are:  Hevea,  which  yields  the  Para  rubber  of  commerce  and  is 
now  grown  extensively  in  plantations  in  the  East  Indies;  latex- 
yielding  trees  and  shrubs  of  the  genus  Sapium;  Croton  and  Jatropha, 
the  seeds  of  which  yield  croton  oil ;  cassava  root,  as  in  other  tropical 
American  regions  the  staple  food  of  the  natives,  furnished  by  Mani- 
hot  utilissima  Pohl.;  and  Ricinus  communis  L.,  the  seeds  of  which 
yield  castor  oil. 

Woods  exhibit  a  wide  variation  in  their  physical  properties  and 
structure.  In  color  they  vary  from  oatmeal,  whitish,  yellowish,  to 
pale  brown,  often  streaked  or  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined,  reddish  or  dark  brown;  fine-  or  moderately 
fine-  to  coarse- textured;  light  and  soft  to  fairly  heavy  and  strong; 
often  fibrous,  saw  woolly  or  require  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  the  grain;  mostly  perishable  and  subject  to  stain  in 
drying.  Parenchyma  not  very  abundantly  developed;  arranged  in 
characteristic,  very  fine,  often  numerous,  irregular  or  frequently 
very  closely  spaced,  tangential  or  concentric  lines  such  as  are  com- 
monly found  in  the  order  Malvales;  sometimes  indistinct  even  with 
lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large,  infrequently  small;  few  or 
fairly  numerous;  mostly  solitary,  also  in  multiples  or  rows  and  in 
some  species  in  clusters;  open  or  filled  with  gum,  calcium  deposit, 
or  tyloses.  Rays  mostly  fine  or  fairly  fine  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential;  sometimes  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Large 
radial  canals,  often  distinct,  "occur  in  species  of  Alchornea,  Croton, 
Mabea,  and  Sapium. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  265 

Vessels,  as  a  rule,  have  simple  perforations;  vessel-parenchyma 
pits  half-bordered  or  with  transitions  to  large,  irregular,  simple 
pits.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide,  seldom  more,  and  few  to 
75  cells  or  more  high.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled,  often  provided 
with  a  mucilaginous  layer,  while  the  thin-walled  ones  are  frequently 
septate. 

1.    ACALYPHA  L. 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  long-stalked, 
usually  crenate,  with  stipules.  Flowers  monoecious,  in  long  or  short 
spikes;  pistillate  flowers  subtended  by  dentate  foliaceous  bracts. 
Fruit  a  small  3-celled  capsule.  The  genus  is  represented  locally 
by  a  number  of  species  of  little  economic  importance. 

Wood  variegated  light  brown,  yellowish,  or  grayish,  and  often  with 
lavender-colored  streaks;  fairly  lustrous;  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
of  light  or  medium  weight;  inclined  at  times  to  saw  woolly,  but  easy 
to  work;  some  species  durable.  Parenchyma  not  abundantly  devel- 
oped ;  in  indistinct  or  barely  distinguishable  concentric  bands.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  evenly  distributed  or  inclined  to 
zonate  arrangement;  solitary  or  less  often  in  small  multiples;  open. 
Rays  fine  to  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  sometimes  visible  on 
tangential;  distinct  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  large; 
vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  2-3 
cells  wide. 

Acalypha  cuneata  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  22. 1845. 

Small,  glabrous  tree  or  tall  shrub,  up  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches 
for  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  thin,  pale  pinkish  to  dark 
brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  scaly.  Leaves  obovate-oblong,  acuminate, 
cuneate-cordate  at  base,  remotely  serrate,  glabrous  above,  and 
pubescent  beneath.  Flowers  yellowish  white.  Fruit  a  glabrous  cap- 
sule. Wood  has  no  local  application. 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  interlocked-grained ;  of  medium 
weight  and  moderately  hard;  fairly  easy  to  work;  not  durable. 
Growth  rings  distinguishable  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5134- 

Acalypha  diversifolia  Jacq.  Hort.  Schoenb.  2:  63.  pi.  244. 
1797.  Yana-varilla. 

Slender  shrub  or  small  tree,  about  10,  at  times  up  to  20,  feet 
in  height.  Branches  slender  and  horizontally  disposed.  Bark 


266  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

moderately  thin,  pale  brown  or  violet  to  dark  reddish  brown,  and 
fairly  smooth.  Leaves  short-stalked,  lance-oblong  to  oblong- 
elliptic,  long-acuminate,  obtuse  at  base,  crenate-serrate,  finely 
pubescent  or  nearly  glabrous.  Flowers  white,  both  kinds  in  slender 
catkin-like  spikes;  October-November. — Common  in  the  lower  and 
middle  Huallaga  regions  and  at  San  Roque  (alt.  600-3,500  ft.); 
in  thickets,  clearings,  or  along  margin  of  forest;  reported  also  from 
La  Merced  and  Posuso  and  in  forest  along  Rio  Perene,  Department 
of  Junin  (alt.  1,900  ft.). 

Sapwood  light  brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  occasionally  with 
pinkish  or  dark  streaks,  and  lustrous  when  held  to  proper  light;  heart- 
wood  pale  to  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  taste,  but 
slightly  fragrant  when  fresh;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ; 
uniformly  fine- textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight,  firm,  and  hard; 
takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  at  times  fairly  distinct  owing 
to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
minute  or  small;  rather  numerous,  with  a  tendency  to  ring-porous; 
solitary  or  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-4,  infrequently  diagonally 
disposed;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine;  occasionally  filled  with 
white  or  dark  deposits.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  the  larger  barely 
distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tan- 
gential and  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4391,  Jtf56. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
6025;  San  Roque,  7059. 

Acalypha  macrophylla  Ule,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50: 
79-80.  1908.  Yana-ocuera  de  oyada. 

Slender  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  bent, 
cylindrical,  from  5  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  one- 
fourth  the  height.  Bark  moderately  thin,  grayish  to  dark  purplish 
brown,  and  with  numerous  small  lenticels.  Leaves  membranaceous, 
elliptic-ovate.  Inflorescence  in  spikes;  the  pistillate  flowers  terminal, 
staminate  lateral;  petals  reddish  violet;  November-December. 
—Common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  450  ft.);  in  thickets,  clearings, 
or  along  margin  of  forest  growth. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  occa- 
sionally with  darker  brown  areas;  heartwood  dull  grayish  brown. 
Wood  of  medium  weight,  fairly  hard,  and  strong;  saws  rather  woolly; 
appears  to  be  durable. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5185. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU     .  267 

Acalypha  macrostachya  Jacq.  Hort.  Schoenb.  2:  63.  pi.  245. 
1797.  Yana-vara. 

Small,  slender  tree,  not  exceeding  27  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  round,  and  clear  of  branches 
up  to  two-thirds  the  height.  Leaves  long-stalked,  membranaceous, 
closely  pubescent  or  glabrescent,  cordate  or  short-subcuneate  at  base. 
Flowers  in  axillary  spikes,  greenish  white;  November-December. 
Capsule  about  1  inch  broad,  subglabrous;  seeds  very  small. — Com- 
mon in  the  lower  Huallaga  region  (alt.  500  ft.);  in  slightly  humid 
land  along  margin  of  forest.  Wood  not  used  locally. 

Sap  wood  almost  white  when  fresh,  but  soon  changes  on  exposure 
to  yellowish  brown  with  grayish  or  dark  streaks;  heartwood  pale 
gray.  Wood  moderately  soft,  but  strong;  easy  to  work,  saws  woolly, 
and  takes  a  lustrous  finish;  not  durable. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5124. 

2.    ALCHORNEA  Swartz 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  stalked,  usually  toothed.  Flowers  dioe- 
cious or  monoecious,  in  lateral  spikes  or  racemes.  Fruit  a  2-3-celled 
capsule.  The  members  of  this  genus  are  of  unattractive  appear- 
ance and  their  timber  is  little  used  locally. 

Wood  yellowish  or  grayish  white  to  pale  brown ;  heartwood  some- 
times well  defined,  reddish  to  dark  brown.  Wood  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured;  light  and  soft;  fibrous  and  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut 
smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  poorly  developed; 
in  very  fine,  indistinct  lines.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large;  fairly 
numerous  and  with  no  definite  arrangement;  solitary,  less  often  in 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  rows  or  clusters;  open  or  infrequently 
closed.  Rays  fine,  closely  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  barely  visible  without  lens  in  proper  light 
on  radial  surface.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  large, 
simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Alchornea  castaneifolia  (Willd.)  Juss.  Tent.  Euph.  42.  1824. 
Yaco-chihua. 

Small,  glabrous  tree,  from  15  to  20  feet  high.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
straight  and  slender.  Bark  thin,  grayish  or  dark  purplish  brown. 
Leaves  narrowly  oblongate,  abruptly  acuminate  at  apex,  rounded  or 
acute  at  base,  dentate  or  remotely  serrate,  and  with  minute  stellate 
hairs  beneath.  Capsule  globose;  maturing  in  April-May. — Com- 


268  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

mon  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  inundated  land  or 
along  banks  of  streams.    Wood  employed  locally  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
thin,  grayish  to  dull  chocolate  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive 
taste  or  odor;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  light  and  soft. 
Growth  rings  distinct  owing  to  variation  in  color.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  very  fine,  broken  lines,  scarcely  distinguishable  with 
lens,  infrequently  in  more  distinct  concentric  bands.  Pores  barely 
visible;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or,  less  often,  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-6.  Vessel  lines  shallow,  but  rather  coarse  and 
prominent;  tyloses  often  present.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  evenly 
spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  496. 

Alchornea  glandulosa  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3: 
18.  pi.  221.  1845. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  from  20  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  from  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter, 
and  branching  near  the  base.  Bark  thin  and  variegated  in  color 
from  yellowish  to  mottled  violet  brown.  Leaves  elliptic-ovate, 
acuminate,  acute  at  base,  serrate.  Flowers  yellow,  dioecious,  pedicel- 
late; November-December. — In  second  growth  along  the  banks  of 
the  Paranapura  River,  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  450  ft.).  Wood  is  not 
employed  locally. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  darker  brown- 
ish streaks;  heartwood  thin,  dull  chocolate  brown.  Wood  light  or 
moderately  so,  firm,  and  strong  for  its  weight;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  easy  to  cut,  saws  slightly  woolly;  does  not  appear 
to  be  durable. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  3899,  4621. 

Alchornea  triplinervia  Muell.  Arg.  in  DC.  Prodr.  15,  pt.  2: 
909.  1862.  Alchornea  brevistyla  Pax  &  K.  Hoffm.  Mojarra. 

Small  tree,  up  to  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  subround  or  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round  to  moderately  so,  from  6  to  10  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  from  2  to  10  feet.  Bark  medium  to 
fairly  dark  chocolate  brown,  with  irregular,  dark  brown,  shallow 
fissures  and  small,  black  lenticels.  Twigs  and  leaves  covered  with 
minute  stellate  hairs.  Fruit  small,  round,  and  red  when  mature; 
March- April. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  dry  loam  in  old 
clearings  or  along  edge  of  forest  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  269 

' 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood  and  varies  in  color  from 
pale  pinkish  yellow  to  deep  pinkish  brown,  sometimes  with  long  dark 
gum  streaks;  heartwood  medium  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  moderately  straight-grained;  medium-  to  rather 
coarse- textured;  light  in  weight  and  fairly  soft;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  but  takes  a  moderately  smooth 
finish;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  visible  as  short,  fine  lines  extend- 
ing tangentially  between  the  rays.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  or 
fairly  long,  darker  than  background,  and  readily  visible  without 
lens;  dark  brown  specks  of  gum  and  lustrous  tyloses  very  abun- 
dant. Rays  closely  spaced  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section; 
faintly  discernible  with  lens  on  tangential;  barely  at  limit  of  vision 
on  radial. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  7988;  upper  Itaya,  3540;  San  Ramon,  lower 
Huallaga,  4589. 

Alchornea  triplinervia  var.  crassifolia  Muell.  Arg.  in  DC. 
Prodr.  15,  pt.  2:  909.  1866.  Cocopano,  Mojarra. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree  of  the  lowland,  not  exceeding  45 
feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight, 
cylindrical,  from  10  to  14  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  moderately  thin, 
yellowish  to  violet  brown  with  a  grayish  cast,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
coarse,  vertical  fissures;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  alter- 
nate, long-stalked,  ovate,  acuminate,  acute  to  rounded  at  base, 
subcoriaceous,  dentate,  lustrous.  Flowering  in  October.  Capsule 
pale  brown  when  mature;  ripening  in  October. — Fairly  common; 
in  dry  cut-over  land  or  in  thickets  (alt.  400-500  ft.);  previously 
reported  from  Peru  by  Ruiz  and  Pavon.  Wood  is  not  used  locally 
for  any  particular  purposes. 

Sapwood  varying  in  color  from  almost  white  to  lustrous  pale 
yellow  or  pinkish  brown,  occasionally  with  darker  streaks;  heart- 
wood  dull  brown.  Wood  has  a  slightly  offensive  odor  and  astringent 
taste;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  light 
in  weight  and  moderately  soft;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2162,  2186;  near  Iquitos,  7972,  7980. 

3.    APARISTHMIUM  Muell.  Arg. 

Aparisthmium  cordatum  (Juss.)  Baill.  Adansonia  5:  307. 
1863-64.  Rucurana. 


270  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Small  or  medium-sized,  slender,  deciduous  tree,  from  24  to  55 
feet  tall.  Crown  round.  Trunk  columnar,  erect,  rather  gnarled, 
and  clear  of  branches  for  from  7  to  22  feet.  Young  branches  and 
peduncles  yellowish.  Bark  thin,  smooth,  dark  reddish  or  chocolate 
brown.  Leaves  long-stalked,  coriaceous-membranaceous,  ovate, 
cuspidate-acuminate  at  apex,  obtuse  or  truncate-obtuse  at  base. 
Flowers  greenish  white,  short-stalked,  and  appear  when  the  tree  is 
leafless.  Capsule  3-lobed,  green;  seeds  ellipsoid;  May- June. — Abun- 
dant in  lowland ;  along  margin  of  or  in  dense  forest  growth  (alt.  380- 
450  ft.).  Wood  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  thick,  pale  pinkish  brown  with  a  light  grayish  or  almost 
white  tinge;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood  tasteless,  but  has  a 
spicy  odor  when  fresh;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  moderately  light  weight  to  rather 
heavy,  strong,  compact,  and  resilient;  saws  rather  woolly,  but  takes  a 
smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster;  liable  to  check  in  drying. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color  and 
absence  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  exceedingly  fine,  numerous, 
short,  unevenly  spaced,  tangential  lines.  Pores  appear  as  small  pin- 
points; fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  and  ovoid  in 
outline,  but  more  frequently  in  radial,  sometimes  tangential,  mul- 
tiples or  rows  of  2-3,  less  frequently  4-7  or  occasionally  up  to  10, 
or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  broad,  but  not  con- 
spicuous, shallow  scratches.  Rays  fine  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross 
section;  indistinct,  but  faintly  visible,  on  tangential;  distinguishable 
to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  simple  or  show  a  tendency  to  scalariform; 
vessel-ray  pits  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  356;  upper  Nanay,  64-5,  649;  La  Victoria, 
2582. 

4.    CLEIDION  Blume 

Gleidion  amazonicum  Ule,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50: 
76.  1908. 

Shrub,  up  to  18  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  or  dark  reddish  brown,  thin, 
and  smooth.  Leaves  short-stalked,  obovate,  penninerved,  char- 
taceous. — Uncommon;  in  closed  growth  or  along  banks  of  streams 
(alt.  450  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  the  lower  Jurua,  State  of  Amazonas, 
Brazil. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  white  throughout  and  fairly  lustrous; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked -grained ;  uniformly 
fine-textured;  light  in  weight  and  soft;  easy  to  work  and  saws  slightly 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  271 

woolly.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  readily  distinguishable  as  numerous,  fine,  sinuous, 
fairly  evenly  spaced,  concentric  lines.  Pores  small  or  sometimes 
barely  discernible  without  lens;  not  numerous,  uniformly  scattered; 
solitary  and  ovoid  in  outline,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-9,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine, 
and  indistinct.  Larger  rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  the  surrounding  elements, 
but  sometimes  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  vessel -ray  pits  simple. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Loreto:  Paranapura,  lower  Huallaga,  5272. 

5.    CROTON  L. 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees  with  stellate  or  scurfy  pubescence.  Leaves 
alternate,  often  heart-shaped,  entire  or  serrate.  The  greenish  or 
white  flowers  are  arranged  in  racemes,  the  pistillate  flowers  near  the 
base  of  the  raceme,  the  staminate  above.  Fruit  a  3-lobed  capsule; 
seeds  smooth. 

Sap  wood  oatmeal-colored  or  grayish  to  light  brown;  heartwood 
dark  brown.  Wood  sometimes  has  a  spicy  odor  when  freshly  cut; 
medium-  to  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  or  of  medium  weight; 
fairly  or  highly  lustrous;  inclined  to  saw  woolly;  not  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal,  also  aliform,  confluent,  and  in  irregular  lines 
or  fine  bands  extending  between  the  rays;  producing  a  hoary  effect 
when  seen  under  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  fairly  numer- 
ous and  evenly  distributed;  solitary,  less  often  in  multiples,  rows, 
or  in  clusters;  open.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  other  surfaces.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  simple.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate. 

Croton  cuneatus  Klotzsch  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot.  2: 
49.  1843;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  2:  89.  1873.  Puma-sacha. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  up  to  40,  rarely  55  to  60,  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  at  times  bent,  cylindrical,  from  8 
to  14  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  up  to  25  feet. 
Bark  grayish  or  purplish  brown  and  secretes  a  small  quantity  of 
red  resin.  Leaves  obovate-lanceolate  or  cuneate-obovate,  long- 
petiolate,  entire  or  remotely  dentate.  Inflorescence  in  long  racemes 
at  the  tip  of  the  branches;  flowers  small;  June- August.  Fruit  a 


272  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

bilobed  capsule,  speckled  light  brown  when  mature;  seeds  flattened, 
triangular,  brownish  black. — In  open  patches  in  second  growth, 
frequently  in  humid  loam  along  banks  of  streams  or  lagoons  (alt. 
450  ft.).  Wood  employed  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  variegated  in  color  from  pale  yellow  or  almost  white  to 
light  brown,  highly  lustrous;  heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  tasteless 
when  fresh,  but  has  a  spicy  odor  suggesting  cinnamon;  straight-  or 
irregular-grained;  medium-textured;  light  or  moderately  heavy, 
firm;  easy  to  work;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  fairly  distinct  in 
some  specimens  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
indistinct  or  barely  distinguishable  with  lens;  paratracheal  and  in  fine, 
broken,  tangential  lines  uniting  the  pores.  Larger  pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  not  numerous,  fairly  uniformly  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-5;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  readily  discernible 
against  the  lighter-colored  background;  brown  gum  or  lustrous 
tyloses  frequently  present.  Rays  fine  and  faintly  distinguishable 
with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  dis- 
cernible without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  524;  upper  Nanay,  983;  Caballo-cocha, 
2272;  upper  Itaya,  2343,  3300. 

Croton  glabellus  L.  Syst.  ed.  10.  1275.  1859. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  seldom  exceeding  25  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  and  free  of  branches 
for  4  feet  or  so.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  fairly  smooth. 
Leaves  oblong-ellipsoid  or  oblong-ovate,  entire.  Flowers  small, 
white,  fragrant,  in  axillary  racemes;  October-November.  Capsule 
oblong-globose;  seeds  brown,  smooth. — Not  common;  in  open 
patches  or  thickets  and  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  600-1,500  ft.). 
Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  almost  white,  pale  yellow,  or  light  brown;  heartwood 
dull  brown.  Wood  has  a  pleasant  spicy  odor  when  fresh;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  saws  slightly  woolly;  tends  to  check  in 
drying;  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5070. 

Croton  matourensis  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  2:  879.  pi.  338.  1775. 
Yurac-siprana. 

Tree,  up  to  80  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  from  20  to  30  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  about  10  feet.  Young  branches  and  petioles  covered  with  dark 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  273 

reddish,  stellate  hairs.  Leaves  glabrous  above  and  densely  covered 
with  small  scales  beneath.  Racemes  aggregated  near  the  tip  of  twigs. 
Capsule  subglobose. — Common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  500  ft.); 
in  open,  dry,  medium  loam.  Wood  is  used  for  general  construction. 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  yellow  and  turning  to  light  brown  on 
exposure,  highly  lustrous;  heartwood  dark  purplish  brown.  Wood 
light,  firm,  and  strong  for  its  weight;  saws  slightly  woolly  and  holds 
its  place  well  when  finished.  Pores  often  filled  with  dark  brown  or 
black  gum. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  1*711. 

Croton  palanostigma  Klotzsch  in  Hook.  Lond.  Journ.  Bot. 
2:  48.  1843.  Sangre  de  dragon. 

Tree,  often  attaining  a  height  of  45  feet.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  from  8  to  12  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and 
clear  of  limbs  for  one-third  the  height.  Bark  grayish  or  reddish  brown, 
about  0.5  inch  thick;  sap  wood  and  bark  exude  a  copious  quantity 
of  bitter,  dark  reddish  brown  resin  (hence  the  local  name  "dragon's 
blood"),  which  is  employed  in  the  treatment  of  fractures.  Inflores- 
cence in  long  racemes.  Capsule  depressed-globose. — Restricted  in 
its  distribution;  in  second  growth  along  rocky  banks  of  streams 
(alt.  1,400  ft.).  Wood  is  used  for  kindling  only. 

Wood  light  brown  when  fresh,  grayish  and  occasionally  with  light 
brown  areas  when  dried;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  moderately 
light  in  weight,  but  firm;  saws  rather  woolly  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish  with  a  silvery  luster.  Parenchyma  visible  to  unaided  eye; 
paratracheal  and  in  fine,  undulating,  fairly  evenly  spaced  lines 
uniting  the  pores.  Pores  distinguishable  as  fine  pinholes;  tyloses 
frequently  present.  Vessel  lines  short,  rather  coarse,  and  prominent 
against  the  lustrous  background;  dark  gum  often  present.  Rays 
thinner  than  the  parenchyma  lines,  but  discernible  to  unaided  eye 
on  cross  section. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5844. 

6.    HEVEA  Aubl. 

Trees,  with  milky  juice.  Leaves  alternate,  long-stalked,  3-folio- 
late.  Flowers  small,  white  or  yellowish  white,  in  panicles.  In  nor- 
mal years,  the  trees  bloom  about  the  middle  of  the  dry  season  while 
the  fruits  mature  during  the  corresponding  period  of  the  wet  season. 
The  smaller  trees  or  those  growing  along  margins  of  forest  or  in 
clearings  flower  earlier  than  the  taller  trees  or  those  growing  in 


274  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

dense  forest.  Capsule  3-sulcate,  splitting  up  into  three  2-valved  cocci 
exploding  at  maturity,  scattering  the  seeds  and  fragments  of  the 
woody  valves;  seeds  oblong  or  subglobose  and  smooth.  Ducke,  in 
his  revision  of  the  genus  (Archiv.  Inst.  Biol.  Veget.  2,  no.  2:  217- 
246.  1935)  gives  a  full  account  of  its  distribution  in  tropical  America. 
The  genus  is  chiefly  important  as  the  source  of  a  yellowish  or  white 
latex,  the  Para  rubber  of  commerce.  The  timber,  however,  is  of  only 
secondary  value. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  brown,  often  with  dark  grayish  streaks,  and 
fairly  lustrous;  medium-  or  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to  medium 
in  weight ;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain ;  perish- 
able. Parenchyma  metatracheal ;  in  fine,  tangential  or  concentric 
lines  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  large ;  few  and  scattered 
irregularly;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples;  open  or  filled  with  dark 
gum  or  calcium  deposits.  Rays  moderately  fine  on  cross  section; 
sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  tangential;  distinct  on  radial  surface; 
dark  gum  present  in  cells  and  readily  visible  with  lens  on  both 
tangential  and  radial  sections. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half- 
bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide. 

Hevea  brasiliensis  (HBK.)  Muell.  Arg.  Linnaea  34:  204.  1865- 
66.  Jebe  debil  muerto,  Siringa  mapa. 

Tree,  from  50  to  80  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  fairly  round  or 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  up  to  30  inches  in  diameter,  and 
clear  of  limbs  for  from  30  to  45  feet.  Twigs  grayish  white,  pubescent. 
Bark  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  scaly.  Leaflets  lanceolate-elliptic, 
acute-acuminate  or  cuspid-acuminate  at  apex,  acute  at  base,  mem- 
branaceous.  Flowers  axillary,  small,  white;  May-June.  Fruit 
3-seeded;  seeds  oblongate. — Rather  abundant  throughout  the  low- 
land, but  not  in  any  pure  or  extensive  stands;  in  dense  forest 
in  slightly  humid  or  flood-free  areas,  often  in  the  vicinity  of  streams 
(alt.  350-600  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used  locally.  The  yellowish  sweet 
latex  obtained  by  making  incisions  in  the  bark  furnishes  the  Para 
rubber  of  commerce.  The  trees  are  tapped  by  means  of  a  small 
implement,  rasqueta,  the  incisions  taking  the  form  of  either  V-cuts 
or  oblique  lines.  The  first  tapping  is  made  at  a  height  of  5  or  6  feet, 
subsequent  tappings  at  intervals  of  approximately  2  inches  below  the 
first  incision,  until  the  base  of  the  trunk  is  reached.  The  latex  exuding 
is  collected  in  tin  cups  or  pails  and  coagulated  by  pouring  successive 
layers  of  latex  on  a  pole  revolved  in  the  smoke  of  a  palm-nut  fire. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  275 

The  process  is  continued  until  a  large  ball  or  "loaf"  is  formed. 
The  interior  of  a  fresh  loaf  is  white,  but  after  long  exposure  it 
turns  black.  (For  further  notes  see  page  48.) 

Wood  pale  yellow  throughout,  usually  with  extensive  grayish  or 
dark  brown  areas  or  streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  light  in  weight  to  moderately  so,  firm;  easy  to 
work  and  takes  a  smooth,  highly  lustrous  finish;  not  durable. 
Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  broken  or 
continuous  lines  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  dis- 
tinguishable without  lens;  few  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-5;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fairly  coarse 
and  usually  readily  distinguishable  on  account  of  brown  or  black 
gum  present.  Rays  of  about  the  same  thickness  as  parenchyma 
lines,  evenly  spaced,  slightly  sinuous,  and  distinguishable  only  with 
lens  on  cross  section ;  discernible,  but  not  conspicuous,  on  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  889. 

Hevea  brasiliensis  var.  janeirensis  Pax,  Pflanzenr.  IV.  147: 
121.  1910.  Jebe  debit  fino,  Siringa. 

Tree,  from  80  to  90  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  25  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches 
for  27  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  chocolate  brown,  with  short  vertical 
and  transverse  ridges.  Leaflets  membranaceous,  elliptic,  acute  at 
base,  glabrous,  lustrous  dark  green  above,  grayish  green  beneath, 
petiolulate.  Flowers  small,  yellowish  white;  buds  creamy  white; 
August-September. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  dense 
forest  usually  close  to  banks  of  streams  (alt.  380  ft.).  As  in  the  case 
of  H.  brasiliensis,  the  latex  secreted  in  abundance  when  the  bark 
and  sapwood  are  cut  furnishes  the  Para  rubber  of  commerce. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pale  yellow  with  extensive 
dark  grayish  streaks  or  wide  bands  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood 
dull  light  brown.  Wood  light  in  weight,  but  strong  and  firm.  In 
comparison  with  H.  membranacea,  parenchyma  is  more  widely 
spaced  and  not  as  distinct,  pores  of  about  the  same  size  and  abun- 
dance, the  vessel  lines  coarser,  longer,  and  frequently  filled  with 
dark  gum.  Rays  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  tangential; 
darker  than  background  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2931;  near  Iquitos,  8071(1}. 

Hevea  membranacea  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  2: 

299.  1874.    Siringa. 


276  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tree,  from  100  to  150  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  cylindrical,  32  inches  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  branches  for  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  brown, 
coarsely  fissured,  and  yields  an  abundance  of  latex,  which  coagulates 
readily  and  turns  pink  on  exposure  to  light.  Leaflets  narrowly 
obovate,  acuminate  at  apex,  attenuate  at  base,  glabrous,  slender- 
stalked.  Flowers  pale  yellow  or  white;  August. — Scattered  through- 
out the  lowland  forest,  especially  near  the  Javary  River,  which  forms 
the  boundary  between  Peru  and  Brazil  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  white,  pale  yellow,  or  light  brown  with  slaty  gray  streaks; 
slightly  heavier  than  the  other  species.  Growth  rings  visible  owing 
to  some  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  arrangement  of  elements. 
Pores  usually  distinguishable  without  lens;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  short  or  long  and  prominent  owing  to  dark  brown  or  black 
gum  present.  Rays  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tan- 
gential sections;  occasionally  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2503. 

Hevea  microphylla  Ule,  Bot.  Jahrb.  35:  669.  1905.    Siringa. 

Tree,  up  to  145  feet  in  height.  Crown  fairly  round  or  open. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  straight,  round,  up  to  36  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  50  feet.  Bark  pale  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  numerous  small  scales,  and  exudes  when  incised  a 
copious  quantity  of  sweet  latex. — Fairly  common  in  some  areas 
in  the  lowland;  in  forest  subject  to  periodical  inundations  or  in  the 
vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown  with  extensive 
grayish  patches  and  irregular  dark  brown  striping;  fairly  straight- 
or  irregular-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth 
finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  perishable.  Growth  rings  present 
owing  to  absence  or  variation  in  abundance  of  parenchyma,  which 
is  in  numerous,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric  lines  or  bands. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  not  very  numerous,  well  scattered;  soli- 
tary or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  sometimes  up  to  7,  seldom  in 
tangential  pairs;  infrequently  closed.  Vessel  lines  usually  darker 
than  background  owing  to  black  gum  present.  Rays  fairly  fine, 
numerous,  of  lighter  color  than  adjacent  elements,  and  visible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible  or  distinguishable  to  aided 
eye  on  tangential;  sometimes  slightly  darker  than  the  surrounding 
elements  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  206. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  277 

7.    HURA  L. 

Hura  crepitans  L.  Sp.  PI.  1008.  1753;  DC.  Prodr.  15,  pt.  2: 
1229.  1866.  Catahua. 

Glabrous  tree,  up  to  100  feet  in  height,  with  stout  limbs. 
Crown  spreading  or  conical.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from  20  to  70 
inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  up  to  30  feet;  the  lower 
part  armed  with  stout,  conical  spines.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  grayish 
brown,  with  shallow  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous;  a  bitter,  turbid 
latex  exuding  from  incisions  in  the  bark  is  reputed  to  be  injurious 
to  eyesight  and  is  employed  locally  as  fish  poison.  Leaves,  in  size 
and  shape,  resemble  those  of  cottonwood  (Populus  deltoides  Marsh.), 
dull  on  both  surfaces,  and  the  veins  prominent  on  the  under  side. 
The  dark  red  flowers,  borne  in  the  form  of  a  cone,  are  rather  con- 
spicuous on  account  of  their  profusion.  Capsules  concave  at  both 
ends,  deeply  sulcate,  and  when  ripe  burst  with  considerable  violence, 
liberating  the  wafer-like  seeds. — The  species  has  a  wide  distri- 
bution in  northeastern  Peru  in  both  the  lowland  and  upland  (alt. 
400-2,200  ft.);  in  open  dry  or  humid  loam  or  in  the  vicinity  of 
watercourses.  Wood  is  used  for  crating,  general  carpentry,  and 
construction. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  dark  brown,  often  with  grayish  streaks; 
odorless,  but  slightly  astringent;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium- 
or  coarse-textured ;  light  in  density  or  moderately  so,  firm,  and  strong 
for  its  weight;  saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying  and  to  damage  by  insects. 
Growth  rings  indistinct  or  faintly  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in 
abundance  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine, 
short,  tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  producing  a 
network  pattern  on  cross  section.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  not 
numerous  or  fairly  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4, 
infrequently  tangentially  disposed;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  rather- 
fine  or  coarse,  short  or  long;  often  filled  with  tyloses  or  dark  gum. 
Rays  fine  and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  section ;  faintly 
discernible  without  lens  on  moistened  tangential;  slightly  darker 
than  adjacent  elements  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  rather  large 
and  numerous,  with  rounded  or  hexagonal  margins  and  lenticular 
orifices;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  rounded,  simple  to  half-bordered. 
Tyloses  thin-walled.  Rays  heterogeneous  to  homogeneous;  uniseri- 
ate  or  biseriate  in  part,  few  to  20  cells  high,  and  cells  thin-walled 


278  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  rather  large.     Wood  fibers  thin-walled,  with  simple  or  indis- 
tinctly bordered  pits. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  111;  Caballo-cocha,  2303;  Yurimaguas, 
4243. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6318. 

8.  JATROPHA  L. 
Jatropha  Curcas  L.  Sp.  PI.  1006.  1753.    Pinon. 

Shrub,  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  10  to  20  feet  high.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  base. 
Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  purplish  brown,  papery,  and  secretes 
when  cut  a  translucent,  astringent  juice.  Leaves  entire  or  shallowly 
3-5-lobed,  nearly  glabrous,  and  with  long  petioles.  Flowers  greenish 
yellow,  in  long-stalked  cymes.  Fruit  drupe-like,  fleshy,  and  with 
large,  oblong-ellipsoid  seeds  with  prominent  black  striation,  and 
contains  a  high  percentage  of  an  odorless  oil  used  for  soap,  as  a  lu- 
bricant, and  in  domestic  medicine. — Common  in  both  the  lowland 
and  upland  and  often  cultivated  (alt.  380-1,800  ft.  or  more);  in 
dry  loam  in  clearings. 

Sapwood  variable  in  color  from  yellowish  white  to  pale  brown 
with  extensive  grayish  stain;  heartwood  brown,  perishable.  Wood 
light  and  soft;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain  and  saws  woolly. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine 
lines,  extending  between  rays  and  scarcely  discernible  with  lens. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  few;  solitary  or  more  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-5,  occasionally  in  tangential  pairs;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays 
distinguishable  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel -ray  pits  large  and  crowded. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate  and  low. 

Loreto:  Pinto-cocha,  middle  Nanay,  816;  Pebas,  1582;  Leticia, 
near  Peruvian-Brazilian  border,  3062;  herbarium  material  col- 
lected also  at  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  and  at  Tarapoto,  San 
Martin. 

9.  MABEA  Aubl. 

Shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  alternate, 
short-stalked,  penninerved.  Flowers  in  terminal  panicles.  Capsule 
globose;  seeds  ovoid,  smooth.  Timber  is  not  of  local  economic 
importance. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  279 

Wood  of  various  shades  of  light  brown,  ranging  from  yellowish 
or  grayish  to  cocoa  brown;  medium- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to 
heavy;  easy  to  work,  fairly  lustrous;  durable.  Parenchyma  meta- 
tracheal;  in  indistinct,  irregularly  spaced,  concentric  lines.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  not  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  less  often  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine,  numerous, 
and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly 
distinct  on  radial  surface.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Vessels  with  exclusively  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits 
numerous,  small,  and  crowded;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half -bor- 
dered. Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Mabea  subsessilis  Pax  &  K.  Hoffm.  Pflanzenr.  IV.  147,  pt.  5: 
282.  1912.  Amaquillo,  Manchinga  blanca. 

Tree,  from  14  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading  or  flat.  Trunk  erect, 
fairly  round,  from  5  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  up 
to  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  purplish  or  reddish  brown, 
fairly  smooth,  and  exudes  when  incised  a  small  quantity  of  tasteless 
latex.  Leaves  membranaceous,  glabrous,  and  serrate.  Flowers 
yellow  or  pale  red,  in  panicles.  Capsule  round,  1-seeded;  seeds 
lustrous  black,  oily,  edible,  and  have  a  bland  taste;  May. — Un- 
common; in  sandy  loam  in  old  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest 
(alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  used  for  fuel  only. 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ; 
uniformly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight,  dense,  and  hard;  capable 
of  taking  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  durable.  Growth 
rings  occasionally  present.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  sinuous,  broken  or 
continuous,  concentric  bands;  not  prominent.  Pores  small;  not 
numerous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  distinguishable  with 
lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on 
moistened  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  653;  upper  Nanay,  896. 

10.    MAPROUNEA  Aubl. 

Maprounea  guianensis  Aubl.  PL  Guian.  2:  895.  1775.  Airana, 
Arean. 

Medium-sized,  glabrous  tree,  up  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading 
or  round.  Trunk  straight  or  bent,  cylindrical  or  fluted,  from  9  to  15 
inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  more  than  half 
the  entire  height.  Bark  0.5  to  1  inch  thick,  russet  or  dark  brown, 
scaly.  Leaves  short-stalked,  membranaceous.  Fruit  small,  globose, 


280  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

reddish  when  mature;  seeds  dark  brown;  October-November. — The 
species  is  characteristic  of  the  plain  of  Tarapoto;  in  sandy  or 
heavy  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  secondary  growth,  also  on 
hill  slopes  (alt.  1,300-1,600  ft.).  Wood  is  used  rather  extensively 
around  Tarapoto  for  house  construction  and  general  carpentry. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  creamy  white  streaks  and  dark  purplish 
brown  striping;  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  heavy  to  heavy, 
fairly  hard,  and  strong;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium- 
textured;  moderately  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when 
finished;  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
visible  on  account  of  alinement  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  fine,  short,  fairly  evenly  spaced,  irregular  or  con- 
tinuous, concentric  lines.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized  and  at 
limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  in  radial  multiples 
or  rows  of  2-4,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  faintly  discernible  without  lens; 
tyloses  common.  Rays  numerous  and  very  fine  on  cross  section; 
distinguishable  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate 
or  biseriate  in  part. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5899,  5900;  Lamas,  6380,  6470. 

11.    PERA  Mutis 

Pera  sp.(?)  Machusacha  mapichi.  Tree,  up  to  45  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  round,  from  8  to  12  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  unbranched  for  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  green  or 
light  gray  to  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  thin.  Flowers 
small,  white;  December- January. — In  dry  loam  along  edge  of  path 
in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  throughout;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly 
heavy;  easy  to  work;  does  not  stain  in  drying  and  is  immune  to 
insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement  of  paren- 
chyma, which  is  in  indistinct,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  fairly 
small  or  medium  size;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  in- 
frequently in  radial  or  diagonal  multiples  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines 
fairly  fine,  of  same  color  as  or  slightly  darker  than  background,  and 
visible  to  unaided  eye.  Rays  moderately  fine,  lighter-colored  than 
background  on  cross  section;  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tan- 
gential sections;  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  moistened  radial. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6089. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  281 

12.    PHYLLANTHUS  L. 

Trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  usually  2- 
ranked.  Flowers  very  small,  green,  commonly  solitary  or  clustered 
in  the  leaf  axils.  Fruit  baccate  or  more  commonly  a  3-celled  capsule. 
The  timbers  are  used  locally  to  some  extent  for  heavy  construction 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture. 

Sapwood  yellowish  to  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  sometimes  well 
defined,  dark  brown.  Wood  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight 
to  heavy;  inclined  to  be  brittle  and  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and  takes 
a  moderately  lustrous  polish;  fairly  durable  or  durable.  Parenchyma 
sparingly  developed ;  indistinct  or  visible  as  very  fine  lines  extending 
between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  to  numer- 
ous, well  distributed;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  small  multiples 
or  rows;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential;  sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  small 
to  fairly  large.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide  and 
often  high. 

Phyllanthus  grandifolius  L.  Sp.  PI.  981.  1753.  Gallinazo- 
panga. 

Small  tree,  from  12  to  22  feet  high,  with  long,  drooping  branches 
and  round  crown.  Trunk  straight,  round,  from  5  to  10  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  either  branching  from  near  the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to 
more  than  three-fourths  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  low  ridges.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow;  October- 
November.  Fruit  appressed,  green  when  mature. — Fairly  common 
in  the  lower  Huallaga,  in  fairly  dense  forest,  also  in  secondary  growth 
on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  450-1,500  ft.).  Timber  seldom  used 
for  any  particular  purpose. 

Wood  creamy  yellow,  becoming  purplish  or  dark  brown  when 
dried,  and  with  no  sharp  demarcation  between  sap  and  heart;  wavy- 
grained;  medium-textured;  light  or  moderately  light  in  weight,  but 
firm  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its 
place  well.  Growth  rings  present  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  not  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens.  Pores  fairly  small  or  sometimes  barely  at 
limit  of  vision;  rather  numerous,  well  scattered;  most  frequently  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-5,  seldom  more,  less  frequently  tangentially 
disposed,  solitary,  or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines 
of  same  color  as  background;  tyloses  or  grayish  white  deposit 
frequently  present.  Rays  faintly  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on 


282  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

moistened  cross  section;  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements  and 
sometimes  producing  a  silver  grain  on  radial.  Pith  septate;  in 
young  wood  pale  yellow,  in  older  wood  light  to  dark  brown. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4831,  5190. — San  Martin:  Rumisapa, 
near  Tarapoto,  6762. 

13.    SAPIUM  Jacq. 

Glabrous  trees  or  shrubs,  usually  with  copious  milky  juice. 
Leaves  alternate,  stalked.  Flowers  monoecious,  in  terminal  or 
lateral  spikes.  Fruit  a  globose  or  pear-shaped  capsule;  seeds  nearly 
globose.  Timber  is  suitable  for  boxes,  crates,  general  carpentry, 
and  paper  pulp. 

Wood  whitish  to  yellowish  brown,  usually  with  dark  gray  streaks 
caused  by  stain;  odorless  and  tasteless;  coarse-  or  very  coarse- 
textured;  light,  soft  or  fairly  firm;  fibrous  and  requires  a  sharp  knife 
to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal 
and  in  numerous  fine  lines  or  bands  extending  between  the  rays; 
sometimes  indistinct.  Pores  large;  few,  scattered  irregularly  or 
showing  a  slight  tendency  to  zonate  arrangement;  solitary  or  infre- 
quently in  small  multiples;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine, 
numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section;  sometimes  barely 
discernible  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  numer- 
ous, large,  and  with  elongate-lenticular  orifices.  Rays  heterogeneous ; 
uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  part.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  pits. 

Sapium  Hippomane  G.  F.  W.  Meyer,  Prim.  Fl.  Esseq.  275. 
1818.  Gutapercha. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  120  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  21  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
unbranched  for  about  half  the  entire  height,  and  with  strong  but- 
tresses 4  feet  high.  Bark  yellowish  white  or  brown,  with  coarse 
ridges;  secretes  when  cut  a  fair  quantity  of  sweet,  pinkish  latex. 
Leaves  elliptic  or  oblong-lanceolate.  Flowers  small,  white;  June- 
July.  Capsule  globose. — In  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400  ft.); 
said  to  grow  in  the  Department  of  Huanuco  at  an  elevation  of 
approximately  5,000  feet. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  extensive  dark  gray 
streaks;  tasteless,  but  has  a  slightly  fetid  odor;  straight-grained; 
coarse-textured;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain, 
easy  to  work;  checks  and  liable  to  stain  in  drying;  not  durable. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  283 

Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium 
size  or  large  and  readily  visible;  not  very  numerous,  well  scattered; 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small 
clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  coarse,  short  or  moderately  long.  Rays 
visible  with  lens  and  wavy  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tan- 
gential; of  same  color  as  background  and  faintly  discernible  with 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2865. 

14.    SECURINEGA  Comm. 

Securinega  congesta  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11,  pt.  2: 
76.  1873. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  about  20  feet  in  height,  with  terete 
branches.  Bark  grayish  or  dark  brown.  Leaves  ovate-lanceolate, 
membranaceous.  Flowers  monoecious.  Fruit  a  small  capsule, 
brownish  black;  April-May. — Common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  350-400 
ft.);  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of  and  in  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  uniform  pinkish  brown,  occasionally  with  darker  brown 
streaks;  heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm 
and  compact.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  very  small;  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
small  radial  multiples  or  rows.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as 
background,  indistinct.  Rays  few  and  irregularly  spaced  on  cross 
section,  faintly  visible  with  lens;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
up  to  4  cells  wide;  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in  cells, 
especially  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2234;  herbarium  material  collected  also 
at  La  Victoria  and  near  Iquitos. 

ANACARDIACEAE.     Cashew  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs,  with  resinous  juice.  •  Leaves  alternate,  simple  or 
pinnate.  Flowers  minute  or  small,  whitish  or  greenish,  in  axillary 
or  terminal  panicles.  Fruit  superior,  usually  fleshy,  and  containing 
a  single  seed.  The  family  is  represented  by  about  58  genera,  con- 
fined mostly  to  the  warmer  parts  of  the  globe.  Some  of  the  members 
furnish  edible  fruits  of  economic  value,  others  are  the  sources  of  oils 
and  gums,  many  are  commercially  important  for  their  tannins  and 
dyes,  while  some  of  the  timbers  are  either  of  commercial  or  of 
local  value. 


284  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  woods  of  this  group  exhibit  a  wide  range  of  variation  in 
their  physical  properties.  That  of  Spondias  is  light  in  weight, 
coarse- textured,  and  with  a  dull  whitish  or  grayish  color;  the  wood 
of  Astronium  is  hard  and  heavy,  and  sometimes  dark  reddish 
brown  or  cherry  red  variegated  with  black  streaks;  the  quebracho, 
Schinopsis,  of  Argentina  has  a  uniform  reddish  color  and  is  one  of 
the  hardest  and  most  durable  of  woods  known.  The  principal 
structural  characters  of  the  Peruvian  woods  are  as  follows:  Paren- 
chyma not  abundantly  developed;  mostly  paratracheal,  sometimes 
aliform  or  confluent;  very  fine  and  indistinct  to  fairly  distinct. 
Pores  of  variable  size,  but  mostly  large  and  distinct  in  Anacardium, 
Mangifera,  and  Spondias;  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
multiples;  sometimes  filled  with  gum  or  tyloses.  Rays  fine  on  cross 
section  in  Anacardium,  Astronium,  Mangifera,  and  Mauria,  or  broad 
in  Spondias  and  Tapirira;  usually  invisible  without  lens  on  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces.  Small  radial  canals  are  common  in  the  rays 
in  Spondias  and  Tapirira;  in  the  last  they  are  visible  under  lens 
as  black  dots  on  tangential  surface  and  as  dark  lines  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  are  mostly  simple  and  circular  or  elliptical. 
Pits  between  vessels  and  ray  or  wood  parenchyma  cells  are  char- 
acteristically large,  simple  or  half-bordered,  sometimes  elongated 
and  so  arranged  as  to  resemble  scalariform  perforation.  The  rays 
are  heterogeneous,  but  infrequently  in  Spondias  show  some  tendency 
to  homogeneous;  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate  in  Anacardium, 
Astronium,  Mangifera,  and  Mauria,  1-3  cells  wide  in  Tapirira, 
and  2-3,  sometimes  up  to  6  or  more,  in  Spondias.  Wood  fibers  have 
simple  pits  and  are  sometimes  septate. 

1.    ANACARDIUM  L. 

Anacardium  occidentale  L.  Sp.  PI.  383.  1753.  Caju,  Cashew, 
Casu,  Maranon. 

Small,  evergreen  tree  or  shrub,  of  wide  distribution  and  culti- 
vated extensively  in  northern  Peru,  as  in  other  tropical  American 
regions,  for  its  characteristic  fruit,  the  cashew-nuts  of  commerce. 
Crown  spreading.  Bark  reddish  brown  and  yields  a  gummy  exuda- 
tion. Leaves  subleathery,  nearly  glabrous,  obovate,  rounded  at 
apex,  and  short-stalked.  Flowers  in  large  terminal  panicles,  yellowish 
or  purplish,  and  fragrant.  Fruit  consists  of  a  large,  grayish,  reniform 
nut  borne  at  the  apex  of  an  enlarged,  yellow  or  red  hypocarp.  The 
latter  resembles  a  bullnose  pepper  and  has  a  juicy  flesh  with  an 
agreeable  flavor.  The  nut  is  edible  when  roasted  and  its  outer  coat 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  285 

is  the  source  of  anacardic  acid  and  of  a  caustic  oil,  cardol,  similar 
to  that  of  bitter  almonds.  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for 
boxes  and  crates. 

Sapwood  grayish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  lustrous  reddish 
brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  medium-  or  fairly  coarse- textured ; 
moderately  hard,  heavy,  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  lustrous 
finish ;  not  resistant  to  decay.  Growth  rings  fairly  distinct  in  some 
specimens.  Parenchyma  paratracheal.  Pores  moderately  small  to 
fairly  large;  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial, 
seldom  tangential,  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  rather 
prominent.  Rays  fine  and  barely  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on 
cross  section;  slightly  darker  than  background  on  tangential;  and 
producing  a  golden  sheen  on  radial  surface;  uni-  or  biseriate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  400,  483;  near  Iquitos,  1388;  Caballo- 
cocha,  2183. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5548. 

2.    ASTRONIUM  Jacq. 

Small  to  fairly  large  trees.  Leaves  pinnate.  Calyx  much 
enlarged  and  persistent  in  fruit.  Fruit  not  edible.  The  "palo  de 
cruz,"  found  in  scattered  localities  in  northeastern  Peru,  is  hard, 
heavy,  and  durable,  and  is  esteemed  for  walking  sticks,  mouth- 
pieces for  blowpipes,  rollers  for  crushing  sugar  cane,  and  other 
purposes  demanding  strength. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pink  to  dark 
reddish  brown,  often  conspicuously  marked  with  vertical  bands 
of  dark  brown  or  black,  producing  a  striking  and  handsome  effect; 
line  of  demarcation  between  sap  and  heart  is  often  well  marked; 
straight-  or  cross-grained ;  medium-textured ;  not  difficult  to  work  and 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  ali- 
form, and  sometimes  confluent;  at  times  indistinct.  Pores  moder- 
ately small  or  of  medium  size;  not  numerous  and  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine  and 
slightly  darker  than  background.  Rays  fine  and  discernible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  section;  sometimes  distinguishable  to  unaided 
eye  on  radial  surface.  Small  radial  canals  are  present  in  some  rays, 
showing  as  small  black  dots  on  tangential  surface;  contents  oily. 

The  following  numbers  have  been  determined  provisionally  on 
the  basis  of  wood  specimens: 

Loreto:   Pebas,   176G,   3186. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5851. 


286  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    MAURIA  Kunth 

Mauria  suaveolens  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  77. 
1845.  Ingaina  blanca,  Itil,  Itil  bianco,  Yurac  ingaina. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  up  to  50,  occasionally  60,  feet  in 
height.  Crown  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  15  or 
more  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  about  18  feet.  Twigs 
minutely  pubescent.  Bark  pale  gray  or  dark  purplish  brown. 
Leaves  subleathery.  Flowers  white.  Drupe  subglobular;  fruiting 
in  February. — Limited  in  its  distribution  to  the  upland  (alt.  1,600- 
3,500  ft.);  either  in  secondary  growth  or  in  dense  forest.  Timber 
sometimes  used  for  the  construction  of  huts. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  and  highly  lustrous;  heart- 
wood  reddish  or  dark  pinkish  brown,  sharply  demarcated.  Wood 
without  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium- textured ; 
of  medium  weight,  firm,  and  strong ;  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish 
and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly 
numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial,  seldom  tan- 
gential, multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  filled  with  tyloses.  Vessel  lines 
short,  fine,  but  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye.  Rays  distinguishable 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  somewhat  darker 
than  adjacent  elements,  but  indistinct,  on  radial;  uni-  or  biseriate. 

San  Martin:  Lamas,  6408;  San  Roque,  7098,  7227. 

4.    SPONDIAS  L. 

Shrubs  or  moderately  small  to  tall  trees,  widely  distributed  in 
tropical  America.  Leaves  deciduous;  leaflets  numerous,  unequal  at 
the  base.  Flowers  small,  in  terminal  or  lateral  panicles.  Fruit  a 
fleshy,  juicy  drupe  with  a  large,  usually  5-celled,  rough  stone.  The 
best-known  members  are  Spondias  Mombin  L.  and  S.  pur  pur  ea  L., 
both  of  which  are  planted  commonly  in  the  lowland  for  their  plum- 
like,  edible  fruits  and  for  shade. ; 

Wood  nearly  white  when  fresh,  but  subject  to  blue  stain;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  coarse-textured;  light  in  weight  and  soft  to  rather  firm 
and  tenacious;  suitable  for  box  boards  if  kiln-dried;  perishable  in  the 
soil.  Growth  rings  sometimes  present.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine 
bands  surrounding  the  pores;  usually  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium 
size  to  moderately  large;  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  broad  on  cross  section  and  suggest 
Ceiba;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces.  Small  radial  canals  are  present 


287 

in  association  with  margins  of  rays  and  with  wood  parenchyma 
strands. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  2-6  cells  or  more  wide.  Wood  fibers  thin- 
walled  and  septate. 

Spondias  Mombin  L.  Sp.  PI.  371.  1753.  Shungu,  Ubo,  Uvo, 
Ushun. 

Deciduous  tree,  from  30  to  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  fairly  cylindrical,  up  to  28  inches 
in  diameter,  clear  of  branches  up  to  half  the  entire  height,  and  at 
times  armed  with  stout  spines.  Bark  reddish  brown,  about  0.5  inch 
thick,  scaly  or  with  coarse,  deep  fissures.  Leaflets  in  pairs  of  3-8, 
opposite  or  subopposite,  nearly  glabrous,  entire  or  dentate,  with 
long,  narrow  tips.  Flowers  small,  red,  in  large  terminal  panicles; 
June- August.  Fruit  yellow. — Frequent  in  thickets  (alt.  350-550  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow,  with  prominent  black  streaks  and  extensive 
grayish  or  dark  brown  areas  when  dried,  not  distinctly  demarcated 
into  sap  and  heart;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight- 
grained;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  liable 
to  be  damaged  by  insects.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  of  medium 
size  or  fairly  large;  uniformly  scattered;  mostly  solitary,  also  in 
small  radial  or  diagonal  multiples,  infrequently  in  small  clusters; 
open  or  filled  with  white  or  dark  brown  to  black  deposits.  Vessel 
lines  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  lighter-colored  than  surrounding 
elements  on  cross  section;  distinguishable  with  lens  on  tangential; 
occasionally  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial.  Pith  pale  brown. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  217,  258,  259;  lower  Nanay,  408;  Pebas, 
1761;  Caballo-cocha,  2156;  La  Victoria,  2651,  2857,  3128;  upper 
Itaya,  3401,  3446;  lower  Huallaga,  4437,  4933;  near  Iquitos,  8034. 

Spondias  purpurea  L.  Sp.  PI.  ed.  2.  613. 1762.    Ajuela,  Ciruelo. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  at  times  up  to  30  or  40  feet  in  height.  Crown 
almost  flat;  branches  few  and  stout.  Trunk  straight,  round,  up  to 
12  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  from  5  to  10  feet.  Bark 
about  0.25  inch  thick,  pinkish  to  dark  brown,  with  short,  coarse 
ridges.  Leaflets  in  pairs  of  6-11,  blunt  or  rounded  at  apex,  subses- 
sile.  Flowers  in  lateral  panicles  on  old  wood,  pale  red  or  purplish. 
Fruit  red  or  purplish  when  mature. — Fairly  common  in  old  clear- 
ings in  the  lowland  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 

Wood  varying  from  pale  yellow  with  a  pinkish  cast  to  light  brown 
with  black  streaks;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight- 


288  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

grained;  rather  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight;  requires  sharp  tools 
to  work;  susceptible  to  insects.    Pith  reddish  or  dark  brown. 
Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  216;  near  Yurimaguas,  4207. 

5.    TAPIRIRA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  widely  distributed  throughout  tropical  Amer- 
ica. Of  the  dozen  or  more  species  composing  the  genus,  the  best 
known  is  Tapirira  guianensis  Aubl.,  a  tree  of  medium  height  with  a 
wood  of  good  quality  and  suitable  for  general  carpentry  and  in- 
terior construction. 

The  woods  of  the  various  species  differ  chiefly  in  their  density. 
The  softer  grades  are  suitable  for  cheaper  construction  and  mis- 
cellaneous purposes,  while  the  harder  kinds  are  of  about  the  con- 
sistency of  birch  (Betula).  The  Peruvian  species  are  medium-  or 
fairly  coarse- textured ;  inclined  to  be  fibrous  and  take  a  lustrous 
polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium 
size;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous,  diffuse-porous;  mostly  solitary; 
open  or  filled  with  tyloses.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision  or  indistinct 
without  lens.  Small  radial  canals  are  common  in  the  rays;  oily 
specks  caused  by  exudations  from  these  canals  are  common  on  the 
tangential  surface  and  appear  as  dark  lines  on  the  radial. 

Tapirira  guianensis  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  470.  pi.  188.  1775. 
Isa-paritsi. 

Forest  tree,  from  30  to  75  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  spread- 
ing. Trunk  straight,  columnar,  up  to  12  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
sometimes  buttressed,  and  unbranched  for  from  one- third  to  one- 
half  the  entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  shallow,  vertical  ridges.  Leaves  alternate;  leaflets 
membranaceous,  varying  in  size  and  shape.  Flowers  in  axillary  or 
terminal  panicles,  small,  yellow  with  pale  greenish  tinge,  and  with 
short  filaments;  July- August. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  flood-free 
or  periodically  inundated  forest  (alt.  400  feet);  the  species  is  said 
to  grow  in  northern  and  eastern  Brazil  where  it  is  known  as  "pao 
pombo"  (see  Timbers  of  Tropical  America  383-384.  1924)  and  fur- 
nishes "a  wood  of  good  quality  used  for  general  carpentry,  interior 
construction,  and  to  some  extent  in  boat-building."  Aublet  (I.e.) 
describes  the  species  as  a  tall  tree  with  a  trunk  up  to  40  or  50  feet  in 
height  and  2  or  3  feet  in  diameter.  "It  has  at  its  summit  a  large 
number  of  branches,  those  in  the  center  erect  and  the  lateral  ones 
horizontal."  The  Carib  name  is  "tapiri." 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  289 

Wood  pinkish  brown  with  grayish  streaks,  not  sharply  defined 
into  sap  and  heart;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained 
or  fairly  so;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  soft,  and  fibrous  to 
moderately  hard  and  tenacious;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  good  polish 
with  a  moderate  luster;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but 
inconspicuous;  visible  owing  to  slight  differences  in  color.  Pores 
at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  evenly  distributed;  solitary,  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine, 
darker  than  background,  and  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye.  Rays 
fairly  numerous;  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  at  limit  of  vision,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  652;  near  Iquitos,  3649;  Yurimaguas, 
lower  Huallaga,  3828. 

Tapirira  myriantha  Triana  &  Planch. (?),  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  V.  14: 
295.  1872. 

Tree,  approximately  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
moderately  straight,  round  or  slightly  compressed,  15  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  more  than  a  third  of  the  entire  height. 
Bark  yellowish  or  reddish  brown,  smooth  or  with  few,  long,  low  ridges; 
exudes  when  incised  a  small  amount  of  oily  or  resinous  fluid. — Not 
common;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.);  Record  (Timbers 
of  Tropical  America  383.  1924)  states  that  the  species  is  known 
from  the  Choco  Province  on  the  Pacific  Coast  of  Colombia  and  from 
the  coast  of  San  Bias  in  Panama. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
grayish  brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  of  medium  weight  and 
firm ;  slightly  fibrous,  not  difficult  to  work,  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull 
finish;  checks  in  drying;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present, 
but  poorly  defined.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well 
scattered;  solitary,  seldom  in  small  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential 
multiples.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine,  short  or  long,  and  slightly  darker 
than  background.  Rays  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  mois- 
tened cross  section;  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  tangential; 
darker  than  the  adjacent  elements  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  1*712. 

AQUIFOLIACEAE.    Holly  Family 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  simple,  alternate,  often  evergreen. 
Flowers  regular,  usually  dioecious,  small,  axillary.  Fruit  a  berry- 
like  drupe.  They  are  more  valuable  for  decorative  purposes  than 
for  their  wood. 


290  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  microscopic  features  of  the  wood  of  Ilex  are  distinctive;  the 
vessel  perforations  are  scalariform  with  many  bars,  and  the  ground 
mass  is  composed  of  fiber-tracheids  with  spiral  thickenings. 

1.    ILEXL. 

Ilex  sp.  Huitoc-quiro,  Vitoc-quiro.  Tree,  35  feet  in  height.  Crown 
dense  and  spreading.  Trunk  7  inches  in  diameter  and  bifurcating 
almost  from  the  base.  Bark  light  gray,  fairly  smooth  or  with  rather 
coarse  lenticels;  inner  bark  and  wood  beneath  bark  dark  choco- 
late brown. — In  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second 
growth  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  grayish  brown;  heartwood  medium  or  pale  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  density;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  fairly 
smooth  finish.  Pores  of  moderately  small  or  medium  size;  fairly 
numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows 
of  2-3.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  fine 
to  rather  coarse,  of  light  color,  and  distinct  on  cross  section;  visible 
also  without  lens  on  moistened  tangential;  darker  than  the  sur- 
rounding elements  and  rather  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6995. 

STAPHYLEACEAE.    Bladdernut  Family 
1.    TURPINIA  Vent. 

Turpinia  heterophylla  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Harms  &  Loes.  Bot. 
Jahrb.  37:  575.  1906.  Yana-mullaca. 

Small  tree  of  the  upland  forest,  about  22  feet  in  height.  Crown 
dense,  spreading.  Trunk  bent,  compressed,  slender,  and  unbranched 
for  about  8  feet.  Bark  light  gray,  with  low,  irregular  ridges;  inner 
bark  medium  brown.  Leaves  5-foliolate;  leaflets  glabrous,  elliptic- 
ovate  or  ovate-oblong,  serrulate  or  crenate,  and  almost  sessile.  In- 
florescence in  terminal  racemes;  flowers  yellowish  white;  February- 
March.  Fruit  a  subround  capsule. — Uncommon;  in  dense,  tall 
growth  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  with  darker  pinkish  brown  striping;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight,  firm;  easy  to  work,  takes  a 
fairly  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  fairly  durable.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  some  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size;  moderately  numer- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  291 

cms,  evenly  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  less 
frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  very  fine,  of  same  color  as 
background,  and  indistinct  to  unaided  eye.  The  larger  rays  fairly 
broad,  but  invisible  without  lens  or  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on 
moistened  cross  section;  distinguishable  also  without  lens  on 
tangential;  reddish  brown  and  rather  prominent  on  radial  surface; 
small  globules  of  dark  brown  gum  visible  with  lens  on  radial  section. 
Pith  grayish  brown,  with  darker  brown  specks  of  gum. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations;  intervascular  pits  elon- 
gated; vessel-ray  pits  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4,  seldom  5, 
cells  wide,  and  up  to  50  cells  high. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7099. 

ICACINACEAE.    Icacina  Family 
1.    PORAQUEIBA  Aubl. 

Poraqueiba  sericea  Tul.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  11:  172.  1849. 
Umari,  U?nari  amarillo,  Umari  negro. 

Tree,  from  45  to  65  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round  or  moderately  so,  from  10  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  un- 
branched  for  from  9  to  45  feet.  Bark  purplish  or  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  rough.  Flowers  small,  yellow;  July- August.  Fruit 
round,  about  2.5  inches  in  diameter,  yellowish  with  a  greenish  cast 
when  mature,  and  contains  an  oily,  edible  pulp. — Fairly  common  in 
the  lowland;  in  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of  second 
growth  or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  380-450  ft.).  Timber  is 
used  for  general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  with  light  brown  markings  or  uniform 
pale  pinkish  brown,  well  defined ;  heartwood  dark  purple,  thin.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-  or 
fairly  coarse-textured;  moderately  heavy,  strong,  and  compact; 
not  very  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  but  rather  dull  polish ; 
liable  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present; 
when  present  visible  owing  to  absence  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  fine  lines  extending  tangentially  and  forming  a  network 
with  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  or  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  less  often  in  multiples.  Vessel  lines 
appear  as  very  fine,  short  lines  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays 
on  cross  section  appear  to  be  of  two  sizes:  numerous,  fine  to  moder- 
ately fine  or  few,  very  broad,  and  distinct,  suggesting  aggregate 
or  compound  rays;  indistinct  on  tangential;  occasionally  distinct  on 
radial  surface. 


292  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  scalariform  to  simple.  Rays  hetero- 
geneous with  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  the  narrow  rays  2-3  cells 
wide,  the  broad  rays  20  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  with  distinctly 
bordered  pits. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2099;  near  Iquitos,  8078,  8080. 

SAPINDACEAE.    Soapberry  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs,  often  woody  vines,  frequently  provided  with 
tendrils.  Leaves  alternate  or  subopposite,  stalked,  compound  or 
simple,  without  stipules.  Flowers  small,  usually  white,  regular 
or  nearly  so.  Fruit  dry  or  fleshy.  Timbers  of  no  commercial  im- 
portance, although  some  of  them  are  useful  locally. 

Sap  wood  white  to  pinkish  brown,  darkening  on  exposure  to  air 
and  subject  to  a  bluish  gray  stain;  heartwood  cocoa  brown,  often 
perishable.  Wood  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured ;  moderately  light, 
but  firm  to  moderately  heavy  and  durable ;  sometimes  fibrous,  easy  to 
work,  and  takes  a  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and 
indistinct,  also,  as  in  Cupania  and  Allophylus,  in  broken  or  continu- 
ous, closely  or  irregularly  spaced,  concentric  bands  or  lines;  some- 
times distinct  and  appear  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores 
small  to  fairly  large;  moderately  numerous  or  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  solitary,  in  multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  clusters;  open  or 
closed.  Rays  very  fine  and  numerous  or,  as  in  Talisia,  fairly  broad 
on  cross  section;  usually  not  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential; 
rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  vessel-parenchyma  pits 
half-bordered.  Rays  homogeneous  or  tending  to  heterogeneous; 
1-3  cells  wide  and  2-30  cells  high;  dark  brown  gum  often  present 
in  cells.  Square  or  rhombohedral  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  com- 
mon in  parenchyma  strands  in  Allophylus  and  Cupania.  Wood 
fibers  fairly  thin-  or  thick-walled;  pits  simple. 

1.    ALLOPHYLUS  L. 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  with  3  leaflets.  Flowers 
small,  white,  in  simple  or  panicled  racemes;  sepals  and  petals  each  4; 
stamens  8.  Fruit  a  small  1-seeded  drupe. 

Wood  whitish,  yellowish,  pink,  or  pale  brown,  with  a  gray  cast 
or  streaked ;  medium-textured ;  fairly  light  to  moderately  heavy;  easy 
to  work  and  sometimes  takes  a  moderately  lustrous  polish;  fairly 
durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  indistinct,  at  times  aliform 
or  in  broken  or  continuous,  evenly  or  unevenly  spaced,  concentric 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  293 

bands;  distinct  in  some  species.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium 
size;  moderately  numerous  and  fairly  well  scattered;  solitary,  less 
often  in  multiples  or  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine  on 
cross  section;  sometimes  barely  discernible  on  tangential;  fairly 
distinct  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uni-  or  biseriate. 
Rhombohedral  or  squarish  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in 
parenchyma  strands. 

Allophylus  divaricatus  Radlk.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  3: 
493.  1900.  Yurac-tortilla-caspi. 

Small  to  medium-sized  tree.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight,  cylin- 
drical, from  8  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for 
from  one-half  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height.  Bark  thin,  fairly 
smooth,  pale  pinkish  or  purplish  brown  with  a  greenish  cast.  Flowers 
small,  yellowish;  November-December. — Common  on  the  plain  of 
Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.);  in  thickets. 

Sapwood  almost  white  or  pale  pinkish  brown  throughout, 
occasionally  with  broad,  darker  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark 
brown  or  almost  black.  Wood  straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  light  to  moderately  heavy;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5969,  6033,  6137. 

Allophylus  floribundus  Radlk.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl,  Nat. 
Pflanzenfam.  3,  pt.  5:  312.  1895.  Shitari-caspi,  Shitari-caspi  Colorado. 

Small  tree,  from  12  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense,  open. 
Trunk  slender,  cylindrical,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  three-fifths 
the  height.  Bark  moderately  thin,  pale  grayish  brown,  and  covered 
with  numerous,  small  fissures.  Flowers  pale  yellowish  or  white; 
December- January. — Common;  in  forest  and  thickets  (alt.  1,300- 
3,000  ft.).  Timber  is  used  locally  for  general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown  with  slightly  darker  streaks;  heart- 
wood  dark  brown  or  almost  black,  thin.  Wood  straight-  or  roey- 
grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy,  hard,  and  firm;  easy  to 
work  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  probably  durable. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5453,  6020,  6596;  San  Roque,  7007. 

Allophylus  leiophloeus  Radlk.  Sitzber.  Bayer.  Akad.  38:  214. 
1908;  Pflanzenr.  IV.  165:  503.  1932. 

Tree,  approximately  55  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  fairly  round,  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 


294  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

for  30  feet.  Bark  medium  or  light  brown  with  extensive  gray  patches 
and  small  black  lenticels;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Fruit  ovoid, 
borne  on  the  main  branches;  October-November. — Not  common; 
in  dense  forest  in  altura  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  brown  with  a  pinkish  cast;  heartwood 
dark  yellowish  brown,  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm; 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  probably 
durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  rather  numerous  and 
fairly  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-4;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  darker  than  background, 
and  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  discernible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  of  darker  color  than 
adjacent  elements  and  visible  to  unaided  eye  in  proper  light  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4131,  4657(1). 

Allophylus  punctatus  Radlk.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl,  Nat.  Pflanzen- 
fam.  3,  pt.  5:  312.  1895. 

Tree,  of  small  to  medium  stature.  Crown  spreading,  broad. 
Trunk  bent,  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to 
half  the  entire  height.  Bark  yellowish  or  greenish  to  dark  brown, 
smooth,  and  fairly  thin.  Fruit  small,  globose,  yellow  when  mature; 
November-December. — Common  in  the  forest  of  the  lower  and 
middle  Huallaga  regions  (alt.  600-1,500  ft.).  Timber  used  locally 
for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown, 
thin.  Wood  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy  to 
moderately  heavy,  hard,  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
polish  with  a  high  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished ; 
durable. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5716,  5864,  6103. 

Allophylus  scrobiculatus  Radlk.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl,  Nat.  Pflan- 
zenfam.  3,  pt.  5:  312.  1895.  Shimbillo. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  slender.  Bark  light  grayish  brown, 
fairly  smooth,  moderately  thin,  and  with  numerous,  minute 
lenticels.  Leaves  elliptic  or  oblanceolate,  acuminate  at  apex,  acute 
or  oblique  at  base,  glabrous  above,  and  sparsely  pubescent  beneath. 
Flowers  densely  pubescent,  in  racemes.  Fruit  brown,  obovoid, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  295 

and  1-seeded. — Common;  in  moderately  dense  growth  along  banks 
of  streams,  also  in  secondary  growth  (alt.  380-1,400  ft.).  Timber  is 
employed  locally  for  fuel  and  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  pinkish  or  grayish  brown  and  highly 
lustrous;  heartwood  yellowish  to  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- textured ;  light  to  moderately 
heavy,  firm,  and  brittle;  saws  slightly  woolly,  but  easy  to  work;  does 
not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement 
of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  evenly  spaced,  tangential  or 
continuous,  concentric  bands.  Pores  not  distinguishable  to  unaided 
eye;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered;  solitary,  less  fre- 
quently in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  more;  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine,  but  readily  distinguishable  without  lens;  crystalline  deposit 
often  present.  Rays  fine  and  barely  discernible  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements  and  visible  to  unaided 
eye  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces,  especially  when  moistened. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  544;  Pebas,  1763;  near  Iquitos,  7903.— 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6712. 

2.    GUPANIA  L. 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  large,  pinnate.  Flowers 
small,  white,  in  racemes  or  panicles;  sepals  and  petals  each  5;  stamens 
7.  Fruit  a  2-4-lobed  capsule,  coriaceous  or  somewhat  fleshy;  seeds 
with  a  conspicuous  aril. 

Sapwood  pinkish  brown  with  a  gray  tinge;  heartwood  cocoa 
brown.  Wood  medium-textured;  of  medium  density;  inclined  to  be 
fibrous,  but  easy  to  work;  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal 
and  indistinct,  also  in  wavy,  irregularly  spaced,  concentric  lines,  at 
times  indicating  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  of  medium  size  to 
fairly  large;  not  very  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
multiples,  less  often  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  fairly  fine 
or  very  fine  on  cross  section ;  usually  indistinct  on  tangential ;  faintly 
visible  without  lens  on  radial  surface ;  homogeneous  to  heterogeneous ; 
uni-  or  biseriate.  Rhombohedral  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate,  in 
short  strands,  common  in  parenchyma. 

Gupania  cinerea  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  38.  1845. 

Tree,  57  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  and  8  inches  or  more  in  diameter.  Bark  dark  chocolate 
brown  with  abundant  pale  yellow  or  whitish  deposit.  Flow- 
ers yellowish  brown;  December- January. — Uncommon;  in  dry 
loam  in  fairly  dense  forest  of  medium-sized  trees  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 


296  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  medium-tex- 
tured; of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight  and  firm;  not  difficult  to 
work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster;  checks  in 
drying;  fairly  durable  and  immune  to  insects  and  stain.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  numerous 
and  uniformly  distributed;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  also 
solitary;  most  often  filled  with  yellowish  or  scarlet  brown  de- 
posits. Vessel  lines  numerous,  fine,  darker  than  background,  and 
readily  visible  to  unaided  eye;  lustrous  tyloses  common.  Rays 
numerous,  fairly  fine,  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section ; 
slightly  darker  than  background  and  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye 
in  proper  light  on  moistened  radial  surface.  Pith  dirty  gray  with 
lustrous  or  reddish  brown  gum  deposits. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6023. 

3.    MATAYBA  Aubl. 

Matayba  purgans  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  Radlk.  in  Sitzber.  Math. 
Phys.  Akad.  Muench.  9:  629.  1879. 

Small  tree,  from  18  to  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  often  fluted,  slender,  and  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base. 
Bark  white,  pale  yellowish,  grayish,  to  light  reddish  brown,  thin.— 
Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  among  shrubs  or  small  trees  of  second 
growth  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  when  fresh,  turning  to  pale  reddish  brown  on 
exposure,  and  with  no  sharp  demarcation  between  sap  and  heart; 
straight-grained  or  moderately  so;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  fairly 
heavy  and  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish 
with  a  golden  luster,  and  holds  its  place  well;  immune  to  stain  and 
insects  and  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  barely 
visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indis- 
tinct. Pores  small  or  fairly  small ;  not  numerous  and  well  scattered ; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  slightly  darker  than  background.  Rays  barely  distinguish- 
able to  aided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  slightly 
darker  brown  than  adjacent  elements  and  barely  visible  without 
lens  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

Intervascular  pits  with  slit-like  apertures.  Rays  homogeneous 
to  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  and  2-15  cells  high;  dark  brown  gum 
common  in  cells.  Wood  fibers  fairly  thin-  to  thick- walled. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5889,  6493. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  297 

4.    TALISIA  Aubl. 

Talisia  peruviana  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  165.  1936. 

Uncommon  shrub,  15  feet  in  height,  with  many  branches.  Trunk 
divided  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  green  or  medium  brown  and  fairly 
smooth.  Fruit  ellipsoid,  green;  October. — Forming  undergrowth 
in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown  when  fresh,  pale  pink 
or  dark  chocolate  brown  when  dried  and  with  extensive  dark 
gray  areas;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fine-textured; 
fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  rather  tenacious;  fibrous,  but 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish.  Growth 
rings  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  or 
small.  Vessel  lines  fine,  invisible  or  faintly  discernible  to  unaided 
eye.  Rays  moderately  fine  to  rather  broad,  numerous,  wavy, 
lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers,  and  visible  without  lens  on 
moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  visible 
on  radial  surface. 

Rays  homogeneous  with  a  tendency  to  heterogeneous;  uniseriate 
or  biseriate  in  part,  seldom  triseriate,  and  5-20  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  very  thick  walls  and  small  lumina. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5218. 

SABIACEAE.     Sabia  Family 
1.    OPHIOCARYON  Schomb. 

Ophiocaryon  heterophyllum  Urban,  Ber.  Deutsch.  Bot.  Ges. 
13:  221.  1895. 

Uncommon  shrub,  about  9  feet  tall,  with  many  branches.  Bark 
pinkish  brown  and  scaly.  Flowers  bright  yellow  or  pale  red;  July- 
August.— In  dry  loam  in  thickets  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sap  wood  pale  pinkish  brown  and  lustrous;  heartwood  sometimes 
well  defined,  cocoa  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  moderately  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  in  weight; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  the  grain,  easy  to  work; 
checks  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  fine,  evenly  and  rather  closely 
spaced,  concentric  lines,  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  of 
small  or  medium  size; few,  inclined  to  be  in  isolated  groups;  solitary, 
less  frequently  in  radial  or  diagonal  rows  of  2,  seldom  in  small  clus- 
ters; open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background,  but 
visible  without  lens.  Rays  of  about  the  same  thickness  as  paren- 


298  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

chyma  lines  on  cross  section;  visible  only  with  lens  also  on  tangen- 
tial; barely  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  radial 
surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  or  half- 
bordered  and  of  about  the  same  size  as  intervascular.  Rays  hetero- 
geneous; uniseriate.  Rhombohedral  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate 
common  in  parenchyma  strands;  dark  brown  gum  also  common. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3719. 

RHAMNACEAE.     Buckthorn  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  simple,  entire  or  toothed,  usually 
provided  with  stipules.  Flowers  small  and  inconspicuous,  greenish, 
perfect  or  of  separate  sexes,  in  axillary  cymes  or  rarely  terminal; 
calyx  4-5-lobed;  petals  4-5  or  none,  often  clawed;  stamens  4-5, 
opposite  the  petals.  Fruit  1-4-celled,  capsular  or  drupaceous. 
Although  some  of  the  woods  are  among  the  densest  known,  they 
are  of  little  or  no  commercial  value. 

Woods  pale  yellow  to  pinkish  or  dark  brown  and  often  streaked ; 
heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  pinkish,  dark  red,  or  purplish 
brown;  fine-  or  fairly  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy  and 
durable;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  paratra- 
cheal  and  often  indistinct,  also  in  fine,  broken,  tangential  or  con- 
centric bands,  at  times  indicating  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  small 
or  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous  or  numerous,  diffuse-  or  ring- 
porous;  solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters  or  small 
radial  rows;  sometimes  filled  with  calcium  deposit.  Rays  very  fine, 
numerous,  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  indistinct  without 
lens  on  tangential;  sometimes  visible  in  Gouania  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  half-bordered. 

1.    GOUANIA  Jacq. 

Gouania  Lupuloides  (L.)  Urban,  Symb.  Ant.  4:  378.  1910. 

Scandent  shrub,  with  long,  trailing  branches.  Bark  light  tan 
and  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  alternate,  glabrous  or  nearly  so.  Flow- 
ers small,  white,  in  long,  slender  racemes.  Fruit  hard,  dry,  and 
furnished  with  vertical  wings;  seeds  compressed-convex. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  brown;  heartwood  pale  yellow  or  medium 
brown  and  streaked  with  gray.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm;  easy  to  cut.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  not  distinct, 
also  in  fine,  wavy,  broken  or  continuous,  evenly  spaced,  tangential 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  299 

or  concentric  bands.  Pores  fairly  small;  numerous  or  mod- 
erately numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples,  less  frequently  in  tangential  pairs  or  in  small  clusters. 
Vessel  lines  short  and  barely  visible  without  lens.  Rays  numerous, 
very  fine  or  fine,  and  faintly  discernible  or  invisible  with  lens  on 
cross  section;  barely  distinguishable  to  aided  eye  on  tangential; 
slightly  darker  than  background  and  sometimes  faintly  visible  to 
unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 
Loreto:  Pebas,  1640. 

2.    RHAMNIDIUM  Reissek 

Rhamnidium  elaeocarpum  Reiss.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  11, 
pt.  1:94.  pi.  SI.  1861. 

Small  tree  or  shrub,  about  18  feet  in  height,  with  many  branches. 
Trunk  branching  a  few  feet  above  the  ground.  Bark  greenish  or 
pink  and  coarsely  fissured;  inner  bark  reddish  brown.  Fruit  ovoid, 
green,  and  borne  in  clusters;  December-January. — Not  common; 
forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  1,700  ft.). 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  yellow  or  pinkish  white,  streaked;  heart- 
wood  pinkish,  dark  reddish,  or  purplish  brown,  and  sharply 
demarcated.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ; 
fine-textured ;  not  very  easy  to  work,  but  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
polish;  checks  in  drying;  durable  and  strong.  Growth  rings  present. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed;  surrounding  the  pores  and 
occasionally  in  concentric  bands,  which  appear  to  indicate  limit  of 
growth  rings;  producing  a  slightly  hoary  effect  on  cross  section. 
Pores  small;  numerous,  tending  to  ring-porous;  mostly  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  solitary,  seldom  in  small  radial  rows;  usually 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  and  indistinct. 
Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements 
and  faintly  discernible  with  lens  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  middle  Huallaga,  6887. — Loreto: 
near  Iquitos,  8011(1}. 

ELAEOCARPACEAE.    Elaeocarpus  Family 

This  family,  included  by  some  botanists  in  the  Tiliaceae,  con- 
sists of  trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  simple,  alternate  or  opposite,  and 
with  persistent  or  deciduous  stipules.  Flowers  in  axillary  racemes 
or  in  cymes  and  usually  with  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  a  capsule 
or  berry,  often  bur-like.  Although  used  locally  to  a  limited  extent, 
the  timbers  are  not  commercially  important. 


300  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  white  or  pale  yellowish  to  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined,  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
medium-  to  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to  fairly  heavy;  requires  a 
sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  at  times  firm  and  capable 
of  taking  a  smooth  finish;  some  species  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma 
indistinct  or  visible  as  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  between 
the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  numerous  or  fairly  numer- 
ous and  well  distributed;  predominantly  solitary,  seldom  in  mul- 
tiples in  Sloanea;  open  or  sometimes  filled  with  calcium  deposit. 
Rays  moderately  distinct  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  distinct 
on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple  to  scalariform.  Rays  homo- 
geneous to  heterogeneous;  most  commonly  4-6  cells  wide. 

1.    MUNTINGIA  L. 

Muntingia  Calabura  L.  Sp.  PI.  509.  1753.  Bolina,  lumanasa, 
Mullaca-huayo. 

Slender  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  45  feet.  Crown 
almost  flat  or  occasionally  conical;  branches  elongated.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  about  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
up  to  10  feet.  Bark  dark  purplish  brown  or  almost  black  with  low 
interwoven  ridges,  fibrous;  is  used  for  cordage.  Leaves  almost 
sessile,  unequal  at  the  base,  toothed,  whitish  beneath.  Flowers 
axillary,  solitary,  and  on  long  stalks;  petals  white  or  pinkish;  stamens 
numerous.  Fruit  a  globose  berry,  yellow  or  red  at  maturity,  edible, 
and  contains  many  seeds. — Widely  distributed  throughout  the  low- 
land; in  second  growth  or  along  edge  of  forest,  frequently  in  the 
vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  400-500  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  La  Merced 
(alt.  2,000  ft.),  and  from  the  Colonia  Perene.  Wood  is  used  some- 
times as  a  substitute  for  balsa  wood  in  making  rafts,  but  is  utilized 
mostly  for  fuel. 

Wood  pale  yellow  to  pinkish  brown  throughout;  has  no  distinc- 
tive odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  rather  coarse- 
textured;  light  and  moderately  soft,  but  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes 
a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  not  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  visible  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color  and 
occasionally  due  to  alinement  of  elements.  Parenchyma  indistinct 
or  visible  as  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  not  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary,  infrequently  in 
small  radial  or  tangential  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  slightly 
darker  than  background  and  discernible  without  lens,  but  not 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  301 

prominent.  Rays  fairly  broad;  barely  distinguishable  to  unaided 
eye  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  prominent  and  producing  a 
silver  grain  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present,  but  indistinct; 
not  all  elements  storied ;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  140. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  457;  La  Victoria,  2885;  lower  Huallaga, 
4.931;  near  Iquitos,  8025. 

2.    SLOANEA  L. 

Small  or  large  trees.  Leaves  fairly  large  or  very  large,  stalked. 
Flowers  small,  whitish,  in  few-flowered,  axillary  or  lateral  racemes, 
and  with  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  a  hard  or  woody  capsule,  usu- 
ally covered  with  bristles. 

Wood  usually  white  when  fresh,  of  various  shades  of  brown, 
ranging  from  yellowish,  grayish,  reddish  to  purplish  when  dried; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight  to  heavy; 
easy  to  work;  sometimes  durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed 
and  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  numerous  or  fairly 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  predominantly  solitary,  also  in  mul- 
tiples; infrequently  filled  with  calcium.  Rays  fairly  distinct  on 
cross  section;  sometimes  visible  without  lens  on  tangential;  conspicu- 
ous on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  heterogeneous;  6  or 
more  cells  wide  and  few  to  many  cells  high. 

The  following  have  been  determined  generically: 

Loreto:   La  Victoria,  2950,  3162. 

TILIACEAE.     Linden  Family 

Trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs,  the  pubescence  most  often  of  branched 
hairs.  Leaves  alternate,  simple,  stalked,  sometimes  lobed,  with 
stipules.  Flowers  small  or  large  and  showy,  with  5  free  or  coherent 
sepals,  normally  5  petals,  and  usually  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  a 
capsule  or  berry,  or  often  bur-like.  The  best-known  member  of  this 
family  in  the  northern  temperate  zone  is  basswood  or  linden  (Tilia), 
furnishing  a  soft,  white  lumber  of  great  utility.  In  the  East  Indies, 
herbaceous  species  of  Corchorus  are  cultivated  extensively  as  the 
source  of  jute  or  gunny,  a  coarse,  strong  textile  fiber  which  is  an 
important  article  of  commerce. 

The  woods  are  white,  yellowish,  to  light  brown,  usually  with  a 
grayish  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  fine-  to  rather 
coarse-textured;  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy;  fibrous  and 
require  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  perishable  to 


302  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  developed  in  varying  abundance,  with 
a  tendency  toward  irregular  tangential  lines,  rarely  visible  without 
lens,  sometimes  in  a  fine  meshwork.  Rays  sometimes  of  two  sizes, 
the  larger  fairly  distinct  on  cross  section;  invisible  without  lens  on 
tangential;  moderately  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks 
present  in  Apeiba,  Luehea,  and  Mollia,  and  of  two  kinds:  (1)  where 
all  elements  are  distinctly  storied  as  in  Luehea;  and  (2)  where  the 
larger  rays  are  not  storied  or  occupy  two  to  several  tiers  as  in  Apeiba 
and  Mollia;  in  the  last  the  markings  are  indistinct  and  irregular. 
In  Apeiba  and  Heliocarpus  unlignified,  cottony  tissue  is  arranged 
either  irregularly  or  concentrically. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  or  half- 
bordered.  Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous;  1-4,  sometimes  6,  cells 
wide  and  up  to  40  cells  or  more  high.  Wood  fibers  fairly  thin-walled ; 
pits  numerous,  small,  simple  or  half-bordered. 

1.    APEIBA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  confined  mainly  to  the  northern  half  of  South 
America.  Fruit  resembles  a  sea-urchin.  Wood  white  or  pale  gray- 
ish brown ;  fairly  coarse-textured ;  soft  or  almost  spongy ;  of  a  peculiar 
laminated  structure  consisting  of  unlignified,  cottony  tissue  alter- 
nating with  fairly  compact  wood;  suitable  for  rafts  and  other 
purposes  requiring  material  of  light  weight;  requires  a  sharp 
knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  indis- 
tinct without  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large;  fairly  numerous 
and  tending  to  be  confined  to  the  compact  tissue;  solitary,  in  mul- 
tiples, or  in  clusters;  open.  Rays  of  two  general  sizes,  the  larger 
fairly  distinct  on  cross  section;  faintly  discernible  on  moistened 
tangential;  moderately  distinct  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 
Ripple  marks  present  in  the  lignified  tissue  only  and  moderately 
distinct,  but  irregular  because  some  of  the  larger  rays  occupy  more 
than  one  tier;  number  per  inch  length,  60-72. 

Apeiba  aspera  Aubl.  PL  Guian.  1:  545.  pi.  216.  1775.  Maqwi- 
sapa,  Maqui-sapa-naccha. 

Medium-sized  to  tall,  deciduous  tree,  sometimes  attaining  a 
height  of  80  feet.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  up 
to  14  or  18  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  from  10  to 
55  feet.  Bark  yellowish  or  grayish  to  light  or  dark  brown,  with 
incrustations  and  shallow  interwebbing  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous; 
sometimes  used  for  ropes.  Leaves  elliptic-oval,  short-acuminate 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  303 

at  apex,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  glabrate,  petiolate.  Fruit 
black  when  ripe,  depressed-globose,  2  inches  in  diameter,  coria- 
ceous, pulpy  within,  and  provided  with  numerous  stout  spines  resem- 
bling a  sea-urchin. — Fairly  abundant;  in  dry  medium  loam  near  edge 
of  tall  growth  or  in  dense  forest,  preferably  in  areas  free  of  inunda- 
tions (alt.  400-500  ft.).  Wood  has  no  application  except  for  firewood. 

Wood  uniform  pale  yellow  or  grayish  brown  and  with  no  clear 
demarcation  between  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and 
somewhat  strong;  cuts  easily  and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  sometimes  present  owing  to  variation  in 
porosity.  Parenchyma  in  extremely  fine,  rather  numerous,  tangen- 
tial lines  extending  between  the  rays,  and  distinguishable  with  lens 
only  when  surface  is  moistened.  Pores  large  and  visible  without 
lens;  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial,  rarely  tangential,  multiples  of 
2-3;  open.  Unlignified  cottony  tissue  abundant.  Vessel  lines 
appear  as  deep,  dark  scratches.  Rays  apparently  of  two  sizes,  the 
larger  moderately  fine  to  broad  and  readily  visible  to  unaided  eye  on 
cross  section ;  lighter-colored  than  background  and  visible  on  tangen- 
tial and  radial  surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present,  mostly  in  lignified 
tissue;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  72. 

Loreto:  Paraiso,  upper  Itaya,  3315;  Yurimaguas,  4012. 

Apeiba  Tibourbou  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  538.  pi.  213.  1775. 
Maqui-sapa,  Maqui-sapa-naccha. 

Medium-sized  tree,  from  55  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  flat,  spread- 
ing, or  round.  Trunk  often  inclined,  cylindrical,  from  10  to  15  inches 
in  diameter,  free  of  branches  up  to  more  than  half  the  height,  and 
with  small  buttresses  up  to  2  or  3  feet  high.  Bark  moderately  thick, 
pale  brown  or  purplish  to  bluish  black,  with  interwebbing  ridges 
and  a  fibrous  inner  bark.  Bark  and  leaves  secrete  a  sap  and  medici- 
nal properties  are  ascribed  to  the  flowers.  Leaf  blades  elliptic- 
ovate  or  elliptic-oval,  acute  or  short-acuminate  at  apex,  cordate  at 
base,  crenulate,  stellate,  hirtellous.  Flowers  white  or  yellowish 
brown,  in  lateral  cymes.  Fruit  pendent,  depressed-globose,  grayish 
black  when  ripe,  about  3  inches  in  diameter,  densely  covered  with 
long,  stout,  hairy  spines.— Of  rather  limited  distribution;  in  the 
lower  Huallaga  region  and  around  the  estuary  of  the  Mayo,  middle 
Huallaga  (alt.  500-1,600  ft.);  reported  also  from  La  Merced  (alt. 
2,000  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally  for  any  particular  purpose 
except  for  fuel. 


304  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  uniform  pale  pinkish  brown;  light  in  weight,  soft,  and  suit- 
able for  rafts.  Unlignified  tissue  more  abundant  than  in  A.  aspera. 
Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3; 
open.  Ripple  marks  present;  not  so  distinct  as  in  A.  aspera; 
number  per  inch  length,  about  60. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5004-  —  San  Martin: 
Morales,  near  Tarapoto,  5694;  Juan  Guerra,  6727. 

2.    HELIOCARPUS  L. 

Heliocarpus  popayanensis  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  5:  341.  1823. 
Llausa-quiro. 

Fast-growing  tree,  50  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  moderately 
straight,  round,  and  branching  3  or  4  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  light 
to  dark  chocolate  brown  and  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  very  fibrous 
and  is  used  for  cordage.  Flowers  small,  white,  in  large,  open  panicles  ; 
October-November.  Fruit  elliptic,  with  slender,  soft  spines.  —  Uncom- 
mon; in  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam  in  old  clearings  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  white  with  a  moderately  high  silky  luster  and 
turning  to  creamy  yellow  on  exposure;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  very  light  and  soft, 
but  strong  for  its  weight;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain,  saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  work,  but  does  not  take  a 
smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  well;  perishable.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Parenchyma  in  narrow  bands  surrounding  the  pores.  Pores 
appear  as  fine  pinpoints;  comparatively  few  and  well  distributed; 
solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4;  open. 
Vessel  lines  short  and  slightly  darker  than  the  surrounding  elements; 
walls  often  lined  with  light  or  dark  gum.  Rays  moderately  fine  or 
rather  coarse,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers,  and  at  limit  of 
vision  on  cross  section;  discernible  also  without  lens  in  proper  light 
on  radial  surface.  Pith  grayish  white. 

Intervascular  pits  fairly  large  with  sieve-like  apertures;  vessel- 
ray  pits  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4,  some- 
times 6,  cells  wide  and  40  cells  or  more  high. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas, 


3.    LUEHEA  Willd. 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  dentate,  3-  or  5-nerved.  Flowers  large 
and  showy,  white,  in  axillary  cymes;  the  calyx  subtended  by  numer- 
ous bractlets.  Capsule  large  and  woody,  5-celled,  usually  5-angu- 
late,  and  many-seeded. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  305 

Wood  yellow,  pale  pink,  or  grayish  brown;  fairly  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy;  rather  fibrous;  fairly 
durable  or  decidedly  durable.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine  tangential 
lines  extending  between  the  rays,  occasionally  terminal;  narrower 
than  rays  and  not  visible  without  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  to 
rather  large;  moderately  numerous  and  fairly  well  distributed; 
predominantly  in  radial  multiples,  also  in  small  radial  rows,  solitary, 
or  in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays  fairly  distinct  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  moderately  distinct  on  moistened  radial 
surface.  Ripple  marks  present  and  distinct;  all  elements  storied, 
though  some  of  the  rays  occupy  more  than  one  tier;  number  per 
inch  length,  from  60-80. 

Luehea  tarapotina  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  382.  1934.  Cal- 
zoncillo,  Calzoncillo-panga. 

Tree,  from  27  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  9  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for 
from  7  to  12  feet.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  light  to  dark  gray;  inner 
bark  purplish  brown.  Fruit  ovoid,  golden  brown ;  January. — In  sandy 
loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  (alt.  1,400  ft.).  Wood  used  for  fuel. 

Wood  pale  brown  or  yellowish  throughout;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; straight-  or  roey-grained ;  moderately  fine-textured;  of  medium 
weight  and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
durable.  Growth  rings  visible.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine, 
irregularly  spaced  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous  and  evenly  scattered ;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-5,  also  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine;  sometimes  filled  with 
brown  or  grayish  deposits.  The  larger  rays  readily  distinguishable, 
but  not  conspicuous  to  unaided  eye,  on  cross  section;  faintly  visible 
on  moistened  radial  surface;  cells  often  filled  with  small  globules  of 
brown  gum.  Ripple  marks  present;  all  elements  storied;  number  per 
inch  length,  about  80. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5699,  5704. 

Luehea  Tessmannii  Burret,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
836.  1926. 

Tree,  approximately  35  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
moderately  straight,  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for 
20  feet.  Bark  yellowish  or  dark  purplish  brown,  rough.  Fruit 
5-celled,  black  when  mature;  May- June.— Not  common;  in  humid 
loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt. 
380  ft.).  Wood  used  only  to  a  limited  extent  for  fuel. 


306  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pinkish  or  pale  grayish  brown  throughout;  of  lighter 
density  and  not  so  compact  asL.  tarapotina;  easy  to  work  and  takes 
a  smooth  finish.  Rays  not  so  distinct  on  cross  section,  and  storied 
arrangement  of  the  elements  more  pronounced  than  in  the  other 
species. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2419. 

4.    MOLLIA  Mart. 

Mollia  sp.  Uchu-huayo.  Tree,  approximately  20  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  fairly  straight,  10  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  14  feet.  Bark  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
numerous,  low  ridges;  inner  bark  reddish  brown  and  fibrous.  Fruit 
bipartite;  May- June. — Not  common;  in  slightly  humid  loam  or  in 
the  vicinity  of  streams  in  dense  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  pink  or  pinkish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight,  but 
firm  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish; 
fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  paratracheal 
and  in  indistinct,  short,  irregular,  tangential  lines  or  bands  uniting 
the  pores.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  not 
numerous,  well  distributed;  in  radial,  tangential,  or  diagonal  mul- 
tiples of  2-3,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters;  open. 
Vessel  lines  short,  of  darker  color  than  background,  and  prominent. 
Rays  fine  and  barely  visible  without  lens  on  moistened  cross  section ; 
indistinct  on  tangential ;  low  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on 
radial  surface. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate.  Wood  fibers 
fairly  thin- walled. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  963. 

MALVACEAE.     Mallow  Family 

The  members  of  this  family  are  mostly  herbs,  but  often  woody 
shrubs,  and  sometimes  attain  the  size  of  small  trees.  Leaves  alter- 
nate, simple,  often  lobed,  and  provided  with  stipules.  Flowers 
sometimes  showy,  with  5  more  or  less  united  sepals,  5  colored  petals, 
and  numerous  stamens  united  to  form  a  column.  Fruit  dry,  capsu- 
lar,  or  fleshy.  Many  of  the  Malvaceae  exude  a  mucilaginous  sap 
and  have  a  tough  fibrous  bark  used  locally  for  cordage;  others  are 
valuable  for  decorative  planting. 

Sap  wood  light-colored,  ranging  from  white  or  oatmeal  to  pale 
brown  and  frequently  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  pinkish  to 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  307 

dark  brown.  Woods  odorless  and  tasteless;  light,  soft,  and  perish- 
able as  in  Hibiscus  or  Pavonia,  to  moderately  heavy,  firm,  and 
durable  as  in  Tetrasida;  fairly  or  highly  lustrous;  some  saw  woolly 
and  require  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  others  are 
easy  to  work  and  take  a  good  polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and 
often  indistinct  with  lens,  also  in  numerous,  fine,  broken,  sometimes 
irregularly  arranged,  tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays, 
occasionally  confluent.  Pores  small  or  medium-sized ;  few  to  numer- 
ous, diffuse  or  rarely  showing  tendency  to  ring-porous  (in  Sida); 
solitary  or  in  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  moderately 
fine  to  rather  broad  on  cross  section;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on 
tangential;  moderately  distinct  on  radial  surface;  numerous  specks 
of  dark  gum  present  in  cells,  especially  on  tangential  surface,  in 
Sida.  Ripple  marks  present  in  Hibiscus  and  Tetrasida.  Inter- 
cellular canals,  vertical-gummosis  type,  are  present  in  Hibiscus. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  small  or  moderately 
large,  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  and  showing 
a  tendency  in  Sida  and  Tetrasida  to  homogeneous;  from  1-4  cells 
wide  and  up  to  30  cells  or  more  high.  Wood  fibers  thin-  or  thick- 
walled;  pits  usually  small  and  inconspicuous.  Crystals  of  calcium 
oxalate  often  present  in  ray  cells  in  Sida  and  Tetrasida. 

1.    HIBISCUS  L. 

Herbs  or  shrubs,  sometimes  small  trees,  widely  distributed  in 
temperate  and  tropical  countries,  and  cultivated  for  ornament. 
Leaves  entire  or  lobed.  Flowers  5-parted,  axillary  or  in  cymes; 
corolla  usually  campanulate  and  showy.  Fruit  a  dry,  more  or  less 
dehiscent  capsule. 

Wood  white,  yellowish  white,  or  sometimes  pinkish  brown; 
fine-  or  med ium- textured ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  in  indistinct  tangential  bands  or  lines.  Pores  of 
small  or  medium  size;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-6;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  sometimes  visible  without  lens.  Rays  broad  or 
fairly  broad  and  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible 
or  visible  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present;  not  all  elements 
storied.  Intercellular  canals,  gummosis  type,  often  present. 

Hibiscus  tiliaceus  L.  Sp.  PI.  694.  1753. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  20,  infrequently  35  or  40,  feet  tall. 
Crown  round.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs 
for  from  8  to  15  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  grayish  brown;  inner  bark 
fibrous  and  is  used  for  cordage.  Leaves  rounded,  abruptly  pointed, 


308  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

nearly  entire,  green  above,  covered  beneath  with  a  whitish  felt. 
Flowers  yellow,  large,  and  showy;  July- August. — Common  in 
swampy  thickets  or  in  old  clearings  (alt.  450  ft.).  Wood  not  used 
locally  except  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  almost  white,  pale  yellowish,  or  pinkish  brown; 
heartwood  dark  brown  or  almost  black.  Wood  light  in  weight,  but 
firm;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  easy  to  work  and  rather 
lustrous;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  indistinct, 
tangential  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples  of  2,  sometimes  up  to  4,  also  in  tangential  pairs;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  at  limit  of  vision;  often  filled  with  dark  brown 
gum.  Rays  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  other  surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present;  not  all  elements 
storied;  number  per  inch  length,  about  90. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  1302. 

2.  MALACHRA  L. 

Malachra  alceifolia  Jacq.  Coll.  2:  350.  1788;  Ic.  PI.  Rar.  3. 
pi  549.  1786-93.  Malva. 

Shrub,  from  3  to  12  feet  tall.  Bark  dark  brown,  with  numerous, 
anastomosing  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous  and  sometimes  used  for 
cordage. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland;  in  open  dry  medium  loam, 
often  cultivated  for  its  attractive  yellow  flowers. 

Wood  white  or  grayish  white  and  has  a  silvery  luster;  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  soft. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  447;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in 
the  lower  Itaya  and  Huallaga. 

3.  PAVONIA  Cav. 

Pavonia  leucantha  Garcke,  in  Eichl.  Jahrb.  Berl.  1:  211.  1881. 
Mushu-sillo,  Yerba  del  monte. 

Common  shrub,  from  5  to  8  feet  tall.  Bark  pinkish  brown,  with  a 
network  of  small  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous. — Especially  abundant  in 
the  lowland,  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.), 
also  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  and  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Roque 
(alt.  1,400-3,000  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow,  turning  on  exposure  to  pale  gray;  heart- 
wood  brown,  thin.  Wood  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured; 
light  and  soft.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  absent.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal;  sparingly  developed  and  invisible  even  with  lens. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  309 

Pores  minute  or  small;  not  numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  rows  or  multiples.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same 
color  as  background,  and  indistinct.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine,  closely 
spaced,  and  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  section;  not  visible  on 
other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  241. 

4.    TETRASIDA  Ulbr. 

Tetrasida  polyantha  Ulbr.  Bot.  Jahrb.  54:  Beibl.  117:  66.  1916. 

Uncommon  tree,  about  42  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  15  feet. 
Bark  light  gray  or  greenish  brown,  with  numerous  shallow  fissures. 
Fruit  globose,  brown  when  mature;  December- January. — Among 
small  trees  and  shrubs  of  secondary  growth  (alt.  1,400  ft.);  collected 
also  by  Weberbauer  between  Jae"n  and  Bellavista  near  the  Rio 
Maranon,  Department  of  Cajamarca  (alt.  1,900  ft.). 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  creamy  yellow  throughout;  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fairly 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  rather  heavy,  hard,  and  compact;  not 
difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation 
in  abundance  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  also  in 
unevenly  and  irregularly  spaced,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric 
bands,  often  uniting  the  pores;  distinct.  Pores  small  or  fairly 
small;  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  in  radial  rows  or  multiples 
of  2-5,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  tangential  pairs,  seldom  in 
small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background, 
and  invisible  to  unaided  eye.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine,  slightly 
wavy,  fairly  numerous,  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces  or  sometimes  visible  on  radial 
in  proper  light.  Ripple  marks  distinct;  all  elements  storied;  number 
per  inch  length,  about  112. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  2-4  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled. 
Irregularly  shaped  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in  ray  cells. 

San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  6663. 

BOMBACACEAE.    Silk-cotton  Tree  Family 

Large  or  small,  soft- wooded  trees,  noted  for  their  fast  growth 
and  some  for  their  massive,  sometimes  peculiarly  swollen,  trunks. 
Leaves  alternate,  simple  or  palmately  compound.  Flowers  often 
large  and  showy;  petals  5;  stamens  5  to  many,  either  free  or  united 


310  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

to  form  a  tube.  Fruit  dry  or  fleshy,  2-5-celled,  dehiscent  or  in- 
dehiscent,  with  2  to  many  seeds  in  each  cell;  inBombax  and  Ochroma 
the  seeds  are  imbedded  in  a  silky  fiber,  employed  for  stuffing  pillows, 
cushions,  mattresses,  and  for  textiles.  The  fibrous  inner  bark  is 
used  locally  for  cordage. 

Woods  vary  from  white  or  yellowish  to  gray  or  brownish; 
spongy  or  very  light,  as  in  Bombax  and  Ochroma,  to  moderately 
heavy  and  firm,  as  in  Quararibea.  Parenchyma  usually  in  the  form 
of  very  fine,  sinuous,  tangential  lines,  suggesting  those  of  the  Anona- 
ceae,  except  that  they  are  more  numerous  and  less  distinct.  Rays 
often  high  and  conspicuous  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  are 
present  in  some  of  the  woods  and  provide  a  valuable  diagnostic 
feature.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  are  present  inBombax.  Dark 
brown  gum  is  common  in  pores  of  Matisia,  Ochroma,  and  Quararibea. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  simple. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly  2-9  cells  wide,  and  very  high. 

1.     BOMBAX  L. 

Small  or  large,  unarmed  trees.  Leaves  palmately  compound; 
leaflets  usually  5,  entire.  Flowers  mostly  solitary  and  appear  when 
the  tree  is  bare  of  leaves.  Fruit  a  5-celled  woody  capsule;  seeds 
numerous,  small,  pea-like,  imbedded  in  a  brown  silky  fiber.  The 
trees  grow  with  great  rapidity,  attaining  a  large  size  in  a  few  years, 
and  are  most  common  in  overflow  lands  of  the  main  rivers,  in  old 
clearings,  or  along  margins  of  forest  growth.  The  light,  soft  timber 
is  employed  for  rafts  and  for  cheap  box  and  crating  material;  the 
silk  "cotton"  filling  the  fruit  is  collected  for  use  in  stuffing  pillows, 
mattresses,  and  upholstery;  and  the  bark  furnishes  a  fiber  used 
for  cordage. 

Wood  whitish  or  yellow  to  a  dull  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  or 
pinkish  cast,  not  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart;  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  coarse- 
textured  and  harsh;  light,  soft,  and  spongy  to  fairly  firm;  saws 
woolly,  fairly  easy  to  work,  does  not  take  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds 
nails  well;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  closely 
spaced,  tangential  or  concentric  lines  interrupted  by  the  rays.  Pores 
small  to  large  and  distinct;  few  or  fairly  numerous;  solitary,  in  small 
radial  rows,  or  infrequently  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  distinct. 
Rays  variable  in  size,  the  larger  visible  on  cross  section;  invisible  or 
visible  on  tangential;  often  conspicuous  on  radial;  homogeneous  or 
inclined  to  heterogeneous;  mostly  2-3  cells  wide.  Ripple  marks 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  311 

present  and  of  two  kinds:  (1)  visible  to  unaided  eye,  not  very  regular; 
and  (2)  distinguishable  only  with  lens,  several  times  more  numerous 
than  the  others.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  often  large  and 
conspicuous. 

Bombax  aquaticum  (Aubl.)  K.  Schum.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl, 
Pflanzenfam.  3,  pt.  6:  62.  fig.  SOB.  1890.  Bellaco-caspi,  Huimba. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect, 
cylindrical,  at  times  up  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
for  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown,  thick,  with 
fibrous  inner  bark,  and  yields  a  small  quantity  of  colorless  resin. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown,  darkening  slightly  on 
exposure  to  air,  and  often  with  fine,  black  veining;  fairly  light  in 
weight.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  faintly  discernible  owing  to 
alinement  of  pores.  Pores  large;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly 
distributed;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4  or  more,  infre- 
quently in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  prominent,  slightly  darker 
than  adjacent  elements;  lustrous  tyloses  and  white  or  dark  de- 
posits common.  Rays  faintly  visible  on  cross  section;  readily  dis- 
tinguishable on  tangential;  visible,  but  not  conspicuous,  on  radial. 

Loreto :  Caballo-cocha,  2431 ;  lower  Huallaga,  3937. 

Bombax  Munguba  Mart.  &  Zucc.  in  Mart.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp. 
1:  93.  1824.  Huina-caspi,  Punga,  Punga  blanca. 

Fast-growing  tree,  up  to  120  or  150  feet  in  height.  Crown 
conical  in  young  trees,  wide-spreading  in  old  trees.  Trunk  straight 
or  moderately  so,  round,  up  to  28  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided 
for  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  lustrous  yellowish  brown,  turning 
to  reddish  brown  in  old  trees;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous  and  is 
used  for  cordage.  Flowers  white,  large,  and  conspicuous;  May- 
June. — Common  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  350-450  ft.);  in 
open  sandy  areas  or  in  slightly  humid  loam  along  margin  of  forest. 
Wood  is  used  to  some  extent  for  rafts. 

Wood  varying  in  color  from  creamy  white  to  pale  or  dark  pink- 
ish brown  and  subject  to  a  bluish  gray  stain;  requires  a  sharp  knife 
to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  easy  to  work,  and  does  not  take  a 
smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  numerous;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3.  Vessels  often  filled  with  black  gum. 
Rays  lighter-colored  than  background  and  faintly  visible  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  or  barely  distinguishable  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  260;  upper  Nanay,  610;  Caballo-cocha, 
2506;  La  Victoria,  2866. 


312  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Bombax  paraense  Ducke(?),  Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio  Janeiro  4: 
124.  1925.  Punga  blanca  de  chamizal 

Small  tree,  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  15  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown, 
with  long,  irregular  ridges;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Flowers  white, 
large;  April-May.  Fruit  light  brown. — Common  in  some  localities; 
in  slightly  humid  loam  in  dense  forest,  at  times  forming  almost 
pure  stands  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  when  fresh,  reddish  brown  when  dried ;  medium- 
textured;  fairly  heavy;  appears  to  be  more  durable  than  the  other 
species.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  few  and 
well  scattered;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples; 
open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct  or  darker  than  adjacent  elements; 
lustrous  tyloses,  reddish  brown  gum,  and  calcium  deposit  common. 
Rays  wavy  on  cross  section;  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  cross 
and  radial  sections;  specks  of  reddish  brown  gum  common  in  cells  on 
tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Manfinfa,  upper  Nanay,  1097. 

2.    MATISIA  Humb.  &  Bonpl. 

Small  or  sometimes  large  trees,  represented  by  about  10  species 
mostly  in  the  Guianas,  Colombia,  and  Amazon  Valley.  Leaves 
entire  or  subentire.  Flowers  often  violet-colored;  calyx  campanu- 
late,  5-lobed,  petals  obovate-oblong  or  spatulate.  Fruit  drupaceous, 
with  a  fleshy  mesocarp. 

The  wood  of  the  Peruvian  species  is  oatmeal-colored  or  pale 
yellowish  with  grayish  or  dark  brown  streaks;  straight-grained; 
medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to 
work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  not  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  and  metatracheal.  Pores  minute,  small,  or 
visible  without  lens.  The  larger  rays  conspicuous  on  cross  section; 
faintly  visible  on  tangential;  indistinct  or  distinct  on  radial;  hetero- 
geneous; 9  cells  or  more  wide  and  very  high. 

Matisia  cordata  Humb.  &  Bonpl.  PI.  Aequin.  1:  10.  pi.  2. 
1805.  Zapote. 

Forest  tree  of  the  lowland,  attaining  a  height  of  from  45  to  100 
feet.  Crown  round  or  flat.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  up  to  26 
inches  or  more  in  diameter  above  the  large  buttresses,  and  clear 
of  branches  for  from  one-third  to  three-fourths  the  entire  height. 
Bark  dark  gray  or  reddish  brown,  about  1  inch  thick;  inner  bark 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  313 

fibrous.  Leaves  in  dense  clusters  borne  at  tip  of  branchlets,  glabrous. 
Flowers  with  green  calyx,  pale  yellow  or  pink  petals,  and  yellow 
staminal  filaments. — Widely  scattered,  but  not  very  abundant,  in 
Loreto;  usually  in  flood-free  areas  (alt.  380-500  ft.).  Wood  not 
used  locally. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  light  brown  with  darker  brown  streaks 
and  a  grayish  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- 
to  coarse- textured;  light  in  weight,  soft,  and  brittle;  easy  to  work 
and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying  and 
subject  to  stain;  perishable.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  short,  closely  spaced  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  visible  without  lens;  few  to  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  infrequently  in  small  clusters; 
open.  Vessel  lines  faintly  discernible  or  distinct  on  account  of 
black  gum  or  white  deposit  frequently  present.  The  larger  rays 
broad  and  prominent  on  cross  section;  occasionally  visible  without 
lens  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  background  and  indistinct 
on  radial  surface.  Pith  grayish  white. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  170;  Caballo-cocha,  2182;  San  Antonio, 
upper  Itaya,  3515. 

Matisia  ochrocalyx  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  3:  238. 
1886.  Zapotillo. 

Tree,  up  to  25  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  conical  or  almost 
flat.  Trunk  round  and  straight  or  moderately  so,  slender,  and 
clear  of  branches  up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  or 
dark  pinkish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  long,  coarse,  shallow 
fissures.  Calyx  deep  yellow  and  green  proximally;  petals  white; 
staminal  tube  yellowish  white.  Fruit  brown  when  mature  and 
edible;  October. — Common  in  the  lowland;  in  sandy  loam  in  thickets 
and  old  clearings  (alt.  380-600  ft.).  Wood  not  employed  locally. 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  grayish  streaks;  heavier  and  more  com- 
pact than  M.  cordata;  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  characteristic 
figure  on  account  of  the  prominent  rays;  susceptible  to  insects  and 
subject  to  stain.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  surrounding 
the  pores  and  in  very  fine,  wavy,  more  or  less  regular,  closely  spaced 
lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small ;  few  and  well 
scattered;  mostly  solitary;  open  or  closed.  Rays  white  and  conspic- 
uous on  cross  section;  faintly  visible  on  tangential;  slightly  darker- 
colored  than  adjacent  elements  and  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  648;  Pebas,  1576;  upper  Itaya,  3389. 


314  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    OGHROMA  Swartz 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees  of  rapid  growth,  common  and 
conspicuous  in  thickets  or  old  clearings.  Leaves  simple,  very 
large,  long-stalked,  usually  shallowly  lobed,  stellate-pubescent. 
Flowers  whitish,  large.  Capsule  long  and  narrow;  the  numerous, 
small  seeds  imbedded  in  brown  cotton-like  fiber,  the  last  often 
employed  like  kapok.  The  very  light  and  soft  but  comparatively 
strong  wood  is  the  same  as  the  well-known  balsa  wood  of  commerce. 
Its  most  important  use  locally  is  for  rafts.  Balsa  is  usually  a  second- 
growth  tree,  though  it  does  occur  occasionally  as  an  isolated  tree 
in  high  forest,  and  appears  promptly  where  clearings  have  been 
made  by  such  agencies  as  human  cultivation,  floods,  and  fires. 

Wood  lustrous  white,  becoming  dull  pale  brown  on  exposure 
to  air,  sap  and  heart  usually  not  clearly  demarcated;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  lighter  than  cork,  soft,  and  spongy;  straight-grained; 
coarse-textured;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain, 
fairly  easy  to  work,  crushes  readily,  but  is  strong  for  its  weight; 
perishable  in  contact  with  soil.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  invisible.  Pores  resemble  small  pinholes, 
readily  visible;  not  very  numerous  and  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2  or  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  long, 
coarse  scratches  darker  than  background;  segments  readily  visible 
with  lens.  Rays  readily  visible  on  all  surfaces.  Gum  ducts  not 
observed. 

In  his  highly  interesting  account  of  the  social  institutions  of 
the  Incas  and  their  predecessors,  Philip  Ainsworth  Means  (Trans. 
Conn.  Acad.  Arts  and  Sciences  27:  407-469.  Sept.,  1925)  gives  a 
brief  description  of  the  dug-out  canoes  and  the  great  balsa  rafts 
which  were  in  use  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards  in  1530. 

"The  American  Indians  as  a  whole  were  curiously  deficient  in 
skill  and  enterprise  as  navigators.  The  ancient  Peruvians  were  no 
exception  to  the  general  rule.  They  had,  however,  several  sorts  of 
craft,  none  of  which  was  worthy  of  a  seaman's  admiration.  They 
were  as  follows: 

"1.  The  dug-out,  called  canoa  in  the  Antilles  and  piragua  in 
what  is  now  called  Colombia.  The  dug-outs  of  the  people  on  the 
coast  of  Peru  were  commonly  made  of  the  light  wood  of  the  ceyba 
tree.  These  craft  were  swift,  whether  under  sails  of  cotton  or 
propelled  by  paddles,  but  they  were  extremely  capsizable.  The 
smallest  dug-outs  could  hold  only  two  passengers;  but  some  of 
them  were  50  or  60  feet  long  and  could  hold  30  or  more  people. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  315 

"2.  The  totora  raft.  Vessels  of  this  type  were  formed  of  bundles 
of  a  reed  called  totora  which  grows  plentifully  in  Peru.  .  .  . 

"3.  Pontoon-rafts  of  two  types:  One  in  which  inflated  seal-skins 
were  held  together,  catamaran-fashion,  by  a  wooden  platform;  the 
other  a  platform  resting  on  a  number  of  empty  calabashes  held 
together  by  a  network  of  cords.  .  .  . 

"4.  The  great  raft  or  balsa.  This,  primitive  though  it  was, 
must  be  hailed  as  the  chef  d'oeuvre  of  the  ancient  Andean  shipwright. 
It  was  made  of  7,  9,  or  even  11  thick  logs  of  the  very  buoyant 
wood  of  the  balsa-tree,  lashed  together  with  cords.  The  logs  were 
arranged  in  such  a  fashion  that  the  middle  log  was  longest;  those 
lying  on  either  side  of  it  were  somewhat  shorter,  and  those  on  the 
two  sides  were  shortest  of  all.  In  this  way  a  sort  of  bow  was  formed. 
Over  the  raft  was  a  sort  of  framework  of  smaller  beams  upon  which 
a  fragile  platform  with  a  rude  roofed-in  area  and  a  mast  were  erected. 
The  vessel  was  moved  by  cotton  sails  and  by  paddles.  A  movable 
centerboard  was  inserted  when  needed  between  two  of  the  logs." 

In  conclusion  the  author  states  that  "...  balsas  capable  of  ac- 
commodating as  many  as  50  persons  were  used  for  long  sea  voyages 
and  likewise  for  trading  excursions.  They  seem  to  have  reached 
their  highest  development  in  the  coast  country  around  the  mouth 
of  the  Guayas  River,  and  to  this  day  one  may  see  craft  of  this  kind 
slowly  making  their  way  upstream  or  down.  They  serve  as  a  useful 
supplement  to  the  steam-driven  traffic  on  that  stream."  The  wood 
of  the  Peruvian  balsa  is  Ochroma  boliviana  Rowlee. 

Ochroma  boliviana  Rowlee,  Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  9:  166. 
1919.  Balsa,  Palo  de  balsa,  Topa. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  deciduous  tree,  seldom  more  than  60 
feet  in  height,  most  frequently  from  25  to  40  feet.  Crown  open  or 
somewhat  flat  and  with  branches  mostly  at  the  top.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical  or  moderately  so,  up  to  13  or  18  inches  in  di- 
ameter, and  free  of  branches  for  more  than  a  third  of  the  entire 
height.  Bark  very  thin,  reddish  or  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  small  scales.  Leaves  obsoletely  3-lobed,  glabrous 
and  dark  green  above,  velvety  and  tawny  white  beneath.  Very 
showy  when  in  flower,  suggesting  tulip  tree  (Liriodendron) ;  flowering 
in  July-August  and  fruiting  in  August-October. — Grows  best  in  dry 
loam  (alt.  400-2,000  ft.)  and  appears  promptly  where  clearings 
have  been  made  for  cultivation.  Because  of  its  lightness  and  ease 
of  handling,  combined  with  its  strength,  the  timber  is  used  for 
rafts,  and  to  a  less  extent  for  house  construction. 


316  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  lustrous  white  with  pale  brown  striping  of  vessel  lines, 
becoming  dull  and  darkening  slightly  to  light  brown  on  exposure, 
sapwood  not  clearly  defined;  odor  and  taste  absent  or  not  dis- 
tinctive; light,  soft,  and  spongy  or  moderately  so;  straight-grained; 
coarse- textured ;  requires  sharp  tools  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain 
and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  strong  for  its  weight;  but  perishable 
when  exposed  to  weathering.  Growth  rings  present;  visible  owing  to 
differentiation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  not  visible.  Pores 
resemble  small  pinholes  and  are  readily  discernible  without  lens. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  short  or  long  coarse  scratches,  of  darker  color 
than  adjacent  elements;  segments  sometimes  visible  with  lens.  Rays 
readily  distinguishable  and  sometimes  rather  prominent  on  cross 
section;  discernible  but  not  prominent  on  tangential;  rather  high 
and  producing  a  silver  grain  on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 
Pith  white,  up  to  0.5  inch  in  diameter,  and  with  yellowish  brown 
gum  specks. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  166;  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3439;  near 
Iquitos,  3644.. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5965. 

4.    QTJARARIBEA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  simple,  mostly  oblong,  entire  or  nearly 
so,  pinnate-nerved;  the  dry  foliage  has  the  odor  of  slippery  elm 
(Ulmus  fulva).  Peduncles  solitary,  1-flowered,  and  opposite  the 
leaves.  Fruit  2-celled,  sometimes  by  abortion  only  1-celled,  hard, 
and  not  opening;  seeds  not  surrounded  by  cotton. 

Wood  creamy  white  or  pale  yellow,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure, 
and  usually  with  a  pale  grayish  cast  when  dried ;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; moderately  light  but  firm  to  fairly  heavy  and  hard;  medium- 
textured;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Paren- 
chyma in  fine,  closely  spaced,  wavy  lines;  barely  visible  or  at  times 
readily  distinguishable  without  lens.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size;  few  or  fairly  numerous  and  scattered.  Rays  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  cross  section  and  sometimes  on  tangential. 

Quararibea  guianensis  Aubl.  PL  Guian.  2:  692.  pi.  278.  1775. 
Huayhuash-zapote. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  up  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown 
dense,  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  from  6  to  10  inches  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  half  the  entire  height;  branches 
verticillate,  long,  flexible,  and  interwoven.  Bark  about  0.5  inch 
thick,  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  inner  bark  yellowish 
brown  and  fibrous.  Leaves  alternate,  oblong,  nearly  glabrous; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  317 

dried  leaves  have  a  spicy  odor.  Flowers  rather  large  and  attractive, 
with  white  petals  and  stamens,  and  yellow  anthers;  October- 
November.  Fruit  1-  or  2-celled,  with  fibrous  flesh. 

Wood  pale  yellow,  darkening  somewhat  on  exposure,  and  with 
extensive  pale  gray  cast;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  rather 
heavy,  strong,  and  hard ;  not  difficult  to  work,  inclined  to  be  fibrous ; 
takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  not  durable  when  exposed  to 
weathering  and  susceptible  to  stain.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  readily  visible  with  lens.  Pores  distinguish- 
able without  lens;  few  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  infrequently 
in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  discernible  without  lens,  either 
of  the  same  color  as  background  or  filled  with  white  or  dark  deposits. 
Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4572. 

Quararibea  Wittii  K.  Schum.  &  Ulbr.  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  137. 
1907;  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50:  90.  1908.  Zapotillo. 

Tree,  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  cylin- 
drical, 15  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  30  feet.  Bark  pale 
yellowish  gray  or  medium  brown  with  numerous  small  lenticels. 
Flowers  white;  October-November.  Fruit  ovoid,  deep  yellow  when 
mature,  and  with  a  persistent  calyx  cup. — Uncommon;  in  dense, 
flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  almost  creamy  white  and  with  pale  grayish 
streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  work,  takes  a 
fairly  smooth  dull  polish,  and  holds  its  place  and  color  well.  Growth 
rings  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine,  closely  spaced, 
wavy  lines;  barely  visible  with  lens.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium 
size;  moderately  numerous  and  well  scattered.  Vessel  lines  moder- 
ately fine  and  slightly  darker  than  background;  light  brown  specks 
of  gum  sometimes  present.  Rays  rather  coarse  and  unevenly  spaced 
on  cross  section;  visible,  but  not  distinct,  without  lens  on  tangential; 
lighter-colored  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  discernible  with 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4869. 

STERCULIACEAE.     Cacao  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  simple,  with  stipules; 
the  pubescence  often  of  branched  hairs.  Flowers  small  or  large, 
in  panicles  or  cymes;  calyx  5-lobed;  petals  5,  rarely  none,  some- 


318  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

times  clawed,  either  free  or  united  with  the  stamen  tube.  Fruit 
dry  or  fleshy,  indehiscent  or  variously  dehiscent.  The  best  and 
most  widely  known  member  of  this  group  is  Theobroma  Cacao  L., 
a  small  tree  growing  wild  in  the  Amazon  forests  and  planted  there 
as  in  other  tropical  regions  for  its  seeds,  the  source  of  cacao. 

Woods  are  cream-colored,  pinkish,  or  variegated  light  brown 
and  subject  to  a  bluish  gray  stain;  heartwood  sometimes  well 
defined,  cocoa  or  dark  grayish  brown;  light  and  soft  or  of 
medium  weight;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  often  fibrous,  easy 
to  work,  and  take  a  highly  lustrous  polish;  not  durable.  Paren- 
chyma developed  in  varying  amounts;  paratracheal,  at  times  in 
very  numerous  and  extremely  fine  lines,  usually  invisible  without 
lens,  and  in  some  species  in  coarse  lines  that  are  fairly  distinct. 
Pores  of  medium  size  or  large ;  few  to  numerous,  diffuse-  or  rarely  ring- 
porous;  mostly  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples,  less  often  in  radial 
rows  or  in  small  clusters;  calcium  deposit,  reddish  or  dark  brown 
gum,  or  lustrous  tyloses  common.  Rays  broad  or  fairly  broad  on 
cross  section;  distinct  on  tangential;  fairly  high  and  conspicuous  on 
radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  are  present  in  Guazuma  and  Sterculia, 
with  only  the  low  rays  in  seriation  or  the  high  ones  occupying  two  to 
several  tiers.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  are  present  in  Sterculia 
and  Theobroma. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  up  to  10  cells  wide  and  few  to  many  cells  high. 

1.    GUAZUMA  Adans. 

Medium-sized  or  fairly  tall  trees.  Leaves  toothed,  short-stalked. 
Flowers  small,  in  axillary  clusters;  petals  pale  yellow.  Fruit  a 
woody  capsule,  covered  with  hard,  sharp-pointed  tubercles.  Wood 
is  used  to  a  limited  extent  in  carpentry,  general  construction,  and 
for  crating.  In  G.  ulmifolia  Lam.  the  inner  bark  is  in  thin  lamina- 
tions, fibrous,  and  is  employed  for  cordage. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
or  medium  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium- 
or  rather  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  moderately  light  weight;  saws 
woolly,  but  takes  a  lustrous  finish;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  tangentially  between  the  rays. 
Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  in  small  radial  multiples,  less  often  solitary  or  in  rows; 
black  gum  or  lustrous  tyloses  sometimes  present.  Rays — many  of 
them  rather  coarse  and  distinct  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  fairly 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  319 

distinct  on  tangential;  rather  high  and  conspicuous  on  radial,  pro- 
ducing a  silver  grain.  Ripple  marks  present,  but  irregular  and 
indistinct;  high  rays  not  storied  or  occupying  several  tiers;  number 
per  inch  length,  about  80. 

Guazuma  crinita  Mart.  Flora  20,  2:  Beibl.  95.  1837.    Bolaina. 

Fast-growing  tree,  from  55  to  110  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round  or  moderately  so,  up  to  20  inches 
or  more  in  diameter  above  the  fairly  tall  buttresses,  and  either 
bifurcating  near  the  base  or  unbranched  for  two-thirds  the  entire 
height.  Bark  pale  grayish  or  almost  black  with  vertical  and  hori- 
zontal fissures;  inner  bark  medium  brown.  Flowers  pale  violet- 
colored  and  slightly  fragrant;  April-June. — Common  throughout  the 
lowland  (alt.  400-500  ft.) ;  usually  in  old  clearings  or  along  margin 
of  forest  clear  of  inundations.  Timber  is  used  for  sugar  boxes 
and  crates. 

Sapwood  fairly  well  demarcated,  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish 
brown  with  irregular  dark  brown  gum  striping;  heartwood  dull 
medium  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight- 
grained;  rather  coarse- textured ;  light  or  fairly  light,  but  firm  and 
strong;  saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  cut,  and  takes  a  lustrous  finish; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  numerous, 
very  fine,  tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  visible 
only  with  lens.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  well 
scattered;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  also  solitary,  seldom  in 
tangential  pairs;  open  or  filled  with  black  gum.  Vessel  lines  appear 
as  rather  coarse  scratches  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements. 
Rays  visible  without  lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections.  Pith  medium 
or  reddish  brown;  translucent  deposits  common. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  151;  lower  Nanay,  434; 
Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4221;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga, 
5015. 

Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lam.  Encycl.  3:  52.  1789.  lumanasi, 
Lluicho-vanilla,  Papayillo. 

Tree,  from  50  to  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  spreading. 
Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  up  to  30  inches  in  diameter, 
and  bifurcating  from  3  to  11  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  light  to  dark 
chocolate  brown  and  rough;  inner  bark  in  thin  laminations  and 
fibrous.  Leaves  oblong  to  ovate,  toothed,  cordate  and  unequal  at 
the  base,  and  densely  covered  with  fine  pubescence.  Flowers  yellow 
or  yellowish  brown,  in  axillary  clusters;  December -January.  Fruit 


320  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

an  ellipsoid  or  round  woody  capsule,  with  short,  hard  protuberances, 
dehiscent  or  indehiscent,  black  when  mature;  seeds  numerous,  large, 
black,  and  imbedded  in  a  sweet,  edible  pulp. — Common  in  the 
lower  and  middle  Huallaga  regions  (alt.  500-1,400  ft.);  usually  in 
secondary  growth.  Timber  is  used  for  general  construction  and 
the  bark  furnishes  a  fiber  used  for  cordage. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
reddish  brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  density,  strong  and  rather  tough  for 
its  weight;  easy  to  work  and  moderately  lustrous;  immune  to  stain 
and  insect  attacks,  but  not  durable  when  exposed  to  decay.  Pores 
at  limit  of  vision;  rather  numerous  and  well  distributed;  mostly  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-4,  also  solitary;  open  or  filled  with  dark  brown 
gum  or  white  deposit.  Rays  sometimes  rather  broad  and  visible 
without  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  barely  discernible  with- 
out lens  on  tangential;  fairly  prominent  on  radial  surface  when 
held  to  proper  light. 

Loreto:  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4227;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Hua- 
llaga, 4768.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5675;  Rio  Mayo,  6271. 

2.    STERGULIA  L. 

Sterculia  Tessmannii  Mildbr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 
1149.  1927.  Zapote  silvestre. 

Uncommon  tree,  up  to  55  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  8  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
for  about  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  light  brown  and  fairly 
smooth;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Flowers  yellowish  brown. — In  moder- 
ately dense,  flood -free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  not  much 
used,  being  too  soft  for  ordinary  purposes. 

Wood  in  some  respects  suggests  that  of  the  Bombacaceae,  light 
pinkish  brown  or  pale  yellow  throughout  with  darker  brown  veining 
of  vessel  lines;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  coarse- 
textured;  light  in  weight  and  rather  soft;  fibrous,  but  easy  to  cut; 
subject  to  stain;  perishable.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  in  fine,  broken,  tangential  lines  extending  between 
the  rays  or  in  continuous  concentric  bands,  sometimes  doubled 
or  tripled  and  producing  a  meshwork  with  the  rays.  Pores  promi- 
nent on  account  of  the  black  gum  usually  present;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  predominantly  solitary,  infrequently  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  2-3 ;  tyloses  also  present.  Vessel  lines  conspicu- 
ous. Rays  rather  broad,  lighter-colored  than  background,  and 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  321 

readily  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  distinguishable 
also  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  of  a  dark  brown  color  and 
distinct  or  very  prominent  on  radial  surface,  producing  a  silver  grain; 
light  or  dark  brown  globules  of  gum  abundant  in  cells  and  distinguish- 
able with  lens,  especially  on  radial  section.  Ripple  marks  present 
but  indistinct;  only  fibers  and  parenchyma  in  seriation;  number 
per  inch  length,  up  to  150.  Vertical  ducts,  gummosis  type,  present 
in  the  pith. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2570. 

3.    THEOBROMA  L. 

Trees.  Leaves  large,  entire.  Flowers  small,  in  axillary  or  lateral 
clusters,  often  borne  on  the  trunk  or  on  the  older  branches.  Fruit 
large,  fleshy,  indehiscent;  seeds  surrounded  by  pulp.  This  genus  is 
important  commercially  as  the  source  of  cacao,  from  which  cocoa 
and  chocolate  are  made.  The  principal  species  planted  is  T.  Cacao 
L.  The  cultivated  trees  are  short-boled  and  wide-spreading. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  variegated  pale  brown,  often  with 
bluish  gray  cast;  heartwood  dark  grayish  brown.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  sometimes  fairly  lustrous;  fairly  fine-  to  coarse- 
textured;  light  and  soft  to  medium  weight;  tending  to  be  fibrous  and 
easy  to  work;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  numer- 
ous, indistinct,  tangential  or  oblique  lines  extending  between  the 
rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few;  solitary  or  in  multiples; 
sometimes  filled  with  gum  or  calcium  deposits.  Rays  broad  on 
cross  section;  moderately  distinct  on  tangential;  distinct  on  radial 
surface.  Vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  present. 

Theobroma  Cacao  L.  Sp.  PI.  782.  1753.    Cacao,  Cacao  silvestre. 

Small,  evergreen  tree,  from  18  to  24,  sometimes  32,  feet  in  height, 
with  slender,  spreading  branches  and  the  lateral  limbs  in  clusters. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  from  5  to  15 
feet  or  more.  Bark  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  rather 
coarse  ridges;  inner  bark  somewhat  fibrous.  Leaves  short-stalked, 
oblong,  long-pointed,  nearly  or  entirely  glabrous.  Flowers  small, 
pink,  borne  in  small  clusters  along  the  trunk  and  larger  branches. 
Fruit  a  large,  fleshy,  reddish  brown  capsule  filled  with  firm,  juicy 
pulp  in  which  are  imbedded  the  large  brown  seeds. — Cacao  is  grown 
throughout  the  lowland,  although  not  on  an  extensive  scale.  It  is 
found  occasionally  in  dense  forest,  but  usually  in  such  places  it  has 
the  appearance  of  having  been  introduced  by  accident  or  as  the 
result  of  cultivation  in  clearings. 


322  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  variable  in  color  from  yellowish  or  pale  pink  to  laven- 
der brown  with  a  grayish  cast  and  dark  brown  striping;  heartwood 
pale  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
rather  coarse-textured ;  light  or  moderately  light  in  weight  and  soft, 
but  firm;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  but  not 
difficult  to  work;  subject  to  stain  and  perishable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
few;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2.  Vessel  lines  rather  fine 
and  often  of  dark  color  on  account  of  black  gum  present.  Rays 
lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers  and  conspicuous  on  cross  section ; 
visible  also  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  lighter  or  darker  than 
background  and  rather  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  148;  Caballo-cocha,  2105,  2349;  upper 
Itaya,  3510;  lower  Huallaga,  4160. 

Theobroma  ferruginea  Bernoulli,  Denkschr.  Schw.  Naturf. 
Ges.  24,  no.  3:  13.  1871.  Cacao-senisa,  Cumala,  Uchpa-cacao. 

Medium-sized  or  tall  tree,  ranging  in  height  from  40  to  80  feet. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round  or  moderately  so,  16 
inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  two-thirds  the 
entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown,  with  numerous,  small 
scales  or  few,  coarse  ridges.  Leaves  oblanceolate  or  narrowly  ovate. 
Flowers  dark  red;  May-June.  Fruit  a  schizocarp,  dark  brown, 
about  5  inches  in  length,  and  pendent. — Not  common;  in  fairly 
dense  forest  free  from  floods  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  varying  in  color  from  yellowish  to  pale  brown  with 
black  veining  and  grayish  areas  caused  probably  by  sapstain;  heart- 
wood  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  of  light  or  medium 
weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  not  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of 
medium  size;  few  and  scattered;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  often  filled  with  grayish  white  deposit. 
Vessel  lines  readily  discernible  without  lens,  but  not  conspicuous, 
on  account  of  dark  brown  or  yellowish  white  deposit.  Rays  rather 
coarse,  lighter-colored  than  background,  and  distinguishable  to 
unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  darker  than  adjacent 
elements  and  fairly  prominent  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1233;  upper  Itaya,  3254. 

Theobroma  grandiflora  (Willd.)  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
12,  pt.  3:  76.  pi.  17.  1886.  Cupuassu. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  323 

Small  tree,  about  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
from  8  to  12  inches  in  diameter  and  branching  3  or  4  feet  from  base. 
Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown  with  light  gray  patches  and  short, 
rather  coarse  ridges  or  excrescences.  Pods  dark  brown,  9  inches 
in  length;  the  seeds  are  crushed  and  employed  for  preparing  a 
refreshing  beverage. — Sometimes  planted. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  to  air, 
and  with  black  veining;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and  fairly  tough;  easy 
to  work  and  takes  a  moderately  smooth,  dull  finish.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  invisible  with  lens.  Pores  of 
medium  size  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  more  numerous  than  in 
T.ferruginea;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2;  open  or  filled  with 
black  gum  or  yellowish  white  calcium  deposit.  Vessel  lines  visible, 
but  not  prominent.  Rays  rather  coarse,  wavy,  and  lighter-colored 
than  background  on  cross  section;  distinguishable  also  to  unaided 
eye  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2401. 

Theobroma  Mariae  (Mart.)  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt. 
3:  71.  pi.  15.  1886.  Cacahuillo. 

Shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  10  to  15  feet  in  height,  with 
few  leaves  confined  to  the  summit.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  and 
simple.  Bark  dark  brown  or  almost  black,  occasionally  with  light 
gray  patches,  fairly  smooth  or  scaly,  and  with  small  lenticels;  inner 
bark  tan-colored  and  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  up  to  17  inches  long 
and  5.5  inches  in  width,  elliptic-ovate,  acute  or  acuminate  at  apex, 
glabrous,  light  green  beneath.  Flowers  borne  on  trunk;  calyx  dark 
purple  and  corolla  creamy  white.  Fruit  cinnamon  brown,  about 
3.5  inches  long  and  1  inch  in  width,  and  with  small  seeds  imbedded 
in  a  sweet  pulp. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  400  ft.);  in 
dense,  flood-free  forest. 

Sapwood  pale  pink;  heartwood  pinkish  brown.  Wood  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste ;  straight-  or  wavy-grained ;  coarse-textured ; 
light  in  weight  and  soft;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  perishable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small  or  very  small;  not  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3.  Vessel 
lines  fairly  long,  not  prominent,  but  discernible  to  unaided  eye. 
Rays  coarse,  lighter-colored  than  background,  sometimes  wavy, 
and  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  darker  than  background  and  fairly 


324  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

distinct  on  tangential;  of  darker  color  than  adjacent  elements  and 
conspicuous  on  radial  surface.    Pith  light  or  dark  grayish  brown. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2332;  La  Victoria,  2816,  2843;  upper 
Itaya,  3345,  3364- 

Theobroma  quinquenervia  Bernoulli,  Denkschr.  Schw. 
Naturf.  Ges.  24,  no.  3:  8.  1871.  Macambo,  Majambo. 

Tree,  from  27  to  32  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  almost 
flat  and  branches  extending  laterally.  Trunk  straight,  round  or 
slightly  compressed,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  three-fourths 
the  entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly 
smooth;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Heartwood  when  cut  exudes  a 
small  amount  of  translucent,  viscid  resin.  Leaves  up  to  16  inches 
in  length  and  8  inches  in  width,  glabrous  above,  tomentose  beneath. 
Flowers  small,  blue.  Fruit  about  5  inches  long,  sessile,  and  pendent 
from  the  under  side  of  branches;  seeds  surrounded  by  a  sweet, 
yellowish  pulp,  which  has  an  agreeable  flavor.— Not  common;  in 
open,  dry  loam  among  low  trees  and  shrubs  of  secondary  growth 
and  sometimes  propagated  (alt.  380-450  ft.). 

Wood  varying  in  color  from  pale  yellow  to  light  brown,  with  a 
grayish  cast  and  darker  brown  or  black  streaks  when  dried ;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  dull  finish;  perishable. 
Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium 
size  to  fairly  large;  not  very  numerous,  uniformly  scattered  ; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  sometimes  in  diagonal  or 
tangential  pairs;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  invisible  or  readily 
discernible  owing  to  black  gum  often  present.  Rays  of  lighter  color 
than  adjacent  fibers,  fairly  broad,  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross 
section;  distinguishable  also  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2149;  upper  Itaya,  3346. 

Theobroma  subincana  Mart.  Repert.  Pharm.  35:  23.  1830. 
Cacahuillo. 

Forest  tree,  from  30  to  40  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  9  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  half  the  entire 
height.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  yellowish  or  dark  purplish  brown,  and 
fairly  smooth.  Leaves  oblong  or  elliptic-oblanceolate,  glabrous. 
Flowers  small,  white;  April-May. — Uncommon;  in  fairly  dense 
growth  adjacent  to  streams  (alt.  400  ft.). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  325 

Wood  uniform  pinkish  or  light  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  of  medium 
weight  to  rather  heavy;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  checks  in  drying;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium 
size;  not  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial,  diag- 
onal, or  tangential  multiples;  open  or  filled  with  black  or  yellowish 
brown  gum.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine,  but  visible  without  lens.  Rays 
broad  and  fairly  prominent,  lighter-colored  than  the  surrounding 
elements,  and  slightly  wavy  on  cross  section;  visible,  but  not  con- 
spicuous on  tangential;  darker  than  background  and  producing  a 
silver  grain  on  radial  surface.  Pith  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  with 
prominent  vertical  ducts  of  the  gummosis  type. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  161,  230. 

DILLENIACEAE.     Dillenia  Family 
1.    GURATELLA  L. 

Curatella  americana  L.  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  10:  1079.  1759.  Racta- 
panga. 

The  best-known  member  of  the  genus,  widely  distributed  through- 
out Central  and  northern  South  America.  Small  tree,  up  to 
about  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or 
bent,  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  only  a  few  feet. 
Bark  thick,  exfoliating,  and  of  a  dark  reddish  brown  color.  Leaves 
short-petiolate,  oval  or  elliptic-ovate,  emarginate,  abruptly  short- 
decurrent  at  base,  coriaceous,  very  rough  on  both  surfaces  and 
contain  much  silica.  Flowers  white,  in  short,  dense,  lateral  panicles, 
and  have  a  foul  odor.  Seeds  small,  dark  reddish  brown  or  black, 
surrounded  by  a  thin  aril. — Abundant  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,400  ft.);  in  dry  loam,  sometimes  forming  dense  thickets.  Wood 
is  used  locally  for  fence  posts  and  fuel,  but  owing  to  its  poor 
quality  it  is  not  of  commercial  importance. 

Wood  brown  or  reddish  brown,  variegated  on  account  of  the 
conspicuous  rays;  sap  and  heart  not  clearly  defined;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  interwoven-grained ;  coarse- textured ;  rather  heavy  and 
hard ;  difficult  to  cut  and  to  plane;  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth 
rings  apparently  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in  numerous, 
exceedingly  fine  lines.  Pores  large;  few  and  scattered;  solitary;  open. 
Rays  broad  and  wavy  on  cross  section,  constituting  most  of  the  wood ; 
strands  of  fibers  bend  around  the  rays  on  tangential ;  very  conspicu- 
ous and  producing  a  pronounced  silver  grain  on  radial  surface. 


326  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  wood  suggests  the  Proteaceae,  but  it  differs  from  this  group  in 
that  the  pores  are  few  and  scattered  instead  of  being  in  tangential 
alinement  and  the  parenchyma  is  indistinct  or  barely  visible  even 
with  lens.  Raphides  present  in  ray  cells  and  visible  with  lens. 

Vessel  perforations  simple  or  mostly  scalariform.  Rays  hetero- 
geneous; multiseriate,  up  to  15  cells  wide  and  extremely  high. 
Wood  fibers  have  distinctly  bordered  pits. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5677. 

OCHNACEAE.     Ochna  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  to  medium-sized,  glabrous  trees.  Leaves 
simple,  with  entire  or  toothed  stipules.  Flowers  small  or  large  and 
showy,  with  5  sepals,  5  petals,  and  a  3-6-celled  ovary.  The  timbers 
are  not  commercially  important. 

Wood  whitish  and  streaked  to  pale  or  deep  pinkish  brown, 
usually  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  in  Cespedesia  Sprucei  Van 
Tiegh.  well  defined,  dark  brown  or  almost  black;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; fine-  or  medium-textured;  fairly  light  to  moderately  heavy; 
slightly  fibrous  in  Cespedesia,  easy  to  work;  moderately  durable. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  sparsely  developed  and  not  visible  with 
lens.  Pores  moderately  small  to  fairly  large;  few  to  numerous  and 
well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  clusters; 
mostly  open.  The  rays  on  cross  section  are  fine  or  moderately  fine 
and  slightly  sinuous  (Cespedesia)  to  fine  or  fairly  broad  and  widely 
spaced  (Ouratea) ;  invisible  or  barely  visible  on  tangential;  sometimes 
moderately  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  absent  and  gum 
ducts  were  not  observed. 

Vessel  perforations  are  typically  simple  to  scalariform;  inter- 
vascular  pits  are  small  and  numerous,  their  apertures  often  coalesc- 
ing into  spiral-like  striations;  vessel-ray  pits  small,  numerous,  and 
half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-8  cells  wide  and  few  to  many 
cells  high.  The  slender  fibers  have  thick  walls,  very  small  cavities, 
minute  simple  pits,  and  are  often  arranged  in  radial  rows.  Dark 
red  gum  is  frequently  present  in  all  cells. 

1.    GESPEDESIA  Goudot 

Cespedesia  Sprucei  Van  Tiegh.  Journ.  de  Bot.  18: 57. 1904;  Ann. 
Sci.  Nat.  VIII.  19:  51.  1904. 

Tree,  from  35  to  50  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or  flat.  Trunk  cylin- 
drical, straight,  from  8  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  more  than  half  the  height.  Bark  grayish  to  dark  brown,  rough ; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  327 

inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  persistent,  large,  lanceolate  or 
elliptic-oblong,  glabrous,  leathery,  somewhat  lustrous,  serrulate, 
blunt  at  apex,  acute  at  base.  Flowers  yellow,  in  axillary  racemes. 
Fruit  a  dark  brown,  1-seeded  drupe. — Fairly  common  around  Lamas 
(alt.  1,600  ft.),  in  association  with  shrubs  and  small  trees,  also  at 
San  Roque  in  dense  forest  growth  (alt.  3,500  ft.).  Wood  sometimes 
used  for  house  construction. 

Sap  wood  uniform  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood 
pale  to  dark  brown  or  almost  black.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor 
or  taste;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
moderately  hard  and  heavy;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  lus- 
trous finish;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks  and  not  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  sparingly 
developed  and  indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  fairly 
large;  numerous,  not  crowded;  mostly  in  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangen- 
tial multiples  of  2-3,  also  solitary  or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines 
moderately  fine  and  short;  often  filled  with  pale  yellowish  white 
deposit.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine  on  cross  section,  slightly  sinu- 
ous, especially  at  point  of  contact  with  pores;  indistinct  or  barely 
visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential ;  slightly  darker  than  background 
and  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  small  and  numer- 
ous; vessel-ray  pits  small,  numerous,  and  half -bordered.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  up  to  8  cells  wide  and  few  to  many  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  thick  walls  and  minute  lumina,  and  often  arranged  in 
radial  rows;  pits  minute,  simple. 

San  Martin:  Lamas,  61*60;  San  Roque,  7675. 

2.    OURATEA  Aubl. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  oblong  to  elliptic,  leathery,  shin- 
ing, finely  serrate,  short-petioled.  Flowers  large  and  showy,  with 
thin,  bright  yellow  petals.  Fruit  juicy,  black,  borne  upon  a  fleshy, 
red  disk.  Timber  is  little  used  locally. 

Wood  whitish  or  yellowish  to  pale  reddish  or  pinkish  brown,  often 
with  a  gray  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  has  the  consistency  of 
beech  (Fagns);  not  difficult  to  work;  liable  to  check  in  drying; 
sometimes  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small  to 
medium-sized;  few  to  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  rows  or 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  occasionally  filled  with  calcium. 
Rays  apparently  of  two  sizes:  the  larger  ones  fairly  broad  and 
widely  spaced  on  cross  section,  the  smaller  numerous,  and  requiring 


328  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

the  aid  of  a  lens;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  on  radial 
surface,  sometimes  producing  an  attractive  figure. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  3  cells  or  more  wide;  gum  abundant  in 
all  the  cells. 

Ouratea  iquitosensis  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  382.  1934. 

Glabrous,  straggly  tree,  up  to  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  often  bent,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches  for 
about  8  feet.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
small  scales.  Leaves  alternate,  leathery,  and  serrulate.  Flowers 
in  lateral  or  terminal  racemes;  pedicels  jointed  at  base.  Fruit  a 
1-seeded  drupe;  May- June. — Common  along  the  banks  of  the 
Amazon  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.),  sometimes  aquatic. 
Wood  has  no  local  application. 

Sapwood  thin  and  indistinctly  demarcated,  light  brown  with  a 
pale  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  pinkish  brown,  occasionally  with  darker 
brown  streaks.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  interlocked-grained ; 
uniformly  fine- textured ;  rather  heavy  and  brittle;  not  difficult  to 
work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  likely  to  check  in  dry- 
ing; durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance 
of  elements.  Parenchyma  at  limit  of  vision  but  indistinct  with  lens, 
producing  a  hoary  effect  on  cross  section.  Pores  minute  or. small; 
numerous  and  showing  tendency  to  ring-porous;  mostly  solitary. 
Vessel  lines  very  fine.  Rays  fairly  widely  and  uniformly  spaced  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  occasionally  discernible  to 
unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  1491,  1492,  1498,  1499. 

Ouratea  pendula  (Poepp.)  Engl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  2: 
339.  1876. 

Shrub,  about  13  feet  tall,  many  branched,  and  with  short,  slender 
trunk.  Bark  grayish  or  light  brown  and  with  numerous  small  fissures. 
Flowers  yellow.  Fruit  black  when  mature;  October. — Fairly  com- 
mon in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  550  ft.);  along  margin  of  forest  or 
in  open  patches. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  oatmeal  to  pale  yellow  or  pinkish 
with  long  streaks;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  moderately  fine-  to 
medium-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes 
a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size,  but  not  visible  without 
lens;  fairly  numerous;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial,  seldom  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  329 

tangential,  rows  or  multiples  of  2-3  pores,  rarely  in  small  clusters; 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background;  often  filled 
with  grayish  white  deposit.  Rays  very  fine,  uniformly  and  closely 
spaced  on  cross  section;  barely  discernible  to  aided  eye  on 
moistened  tangential;  occasionally  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened 
radial  surface.  Pith  narrow,  pale  yellow. 
Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4530. 

CARYOCARACEAE.     Souari-nut  Family 

Medium-sized  to  tall,  erect  trees,  rarely  shrubs,  of  which  there 
are  two  genera,  Anthodiscus  and  Caryocar,  confined  to  the  tropical 
regions  of  northern  South  America  and  adjacent  Central  America, 
especially  in  the  Guianas  and  the  Amazon  Valley.  Leaves  digitate, 
trifoliolate,  opposite  or  alternate;  stipules  2-4,  small  and  deciduous, 
or  none.  Flowers  perfect,  in  terminal,  ebracteate  racemes;  those  of 
Caryocar  are  attractive,  pale  yellow  or  red,  and  of  prominent  size. 
In  Caryocar,  their  characteristic  feature  is  the  numerous,  brightly 
colored  stamens  with  small  anthers,  the  filaments  tortuous  and 
closely  packed  in  the  bud,  and  in  some  species  extending  well 
beyond  the  petals  during  inflorescence.  Fruit  a  drupe,  with  an 
oil-containing  mesocarp  and  a  woody  muricate  endocarp  breaking 
up  into  1-seeded  parts;  seeds  thick,  round-reniform  or  thin,  com- 
pressed. Some  of  the  members  of  this  group  yield  timbers  of 
commercial  importance,  others  furnish  sweet,  edible  nuts  which  in 
some  countries  form  an  article  of  export. 

Sap  wood  in  Caryocar  not  always  sharply  defined,  light-colored 
when  fresh,  becoming  tinged  with  extensive  grayish  or  bluish  gray 
areas  or  dark  streaks,  at  times  causing  it  to  appear  slightly  darker 
than  the  heartwood,  in  Anthodiscus  montanus  Gleason  uniform  and 
darker  brown  than  in  any  species  of  Caryocar  and  turning  to  chocolate 
brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  in  Caryocar  varies  from  uniform  oat- 
meal to  pale  yellow,  dull  grayish  brown,  or  pale  brown,  sometimes 
with  a  pinkish  cast,  in  A.  montanus,  dark  brown  or  almost  black. 
Woods  usually  without  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-,  roey-, 
or  much  interwoven-grained ;  fine-  or  medium-  to  coarse- textured ; 
moderately  heavy  and  hard  to  decidedly  heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious; 
easy  or  moderately  easy  to  work,  hold  their  place  and  color  well; 
take  a  smooth  polish,  and  some  Caryocar  species  have  an  oily  appear- 
ance and  a  waxy  feel;  split  readily,  sometimes  brittle;  most  of  them 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  darker  areas 
being  free  or  nearly  free  of  parenchyma,  or  to  certain  parenchyma 


330  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

lines  being  more  regular  and  distinct  than  others.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  also  in  narrow,  broken  lines  or  bands,  fairly  uniformly 
and  evenly  spaced,  and  diffuse;  rhombohedral  or  polygonal  crystals 
of  calcium  oxalate  rare  or  common  in  parenchyma  strands.  Pores 
barely  visible  in  A.  montanus,  mostly  of  medium  size  to  large  in 
Caryocar;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous,  scattered  and  not  crowded ; 
solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  seldom  up  to  8;  open  or  filled 
with  froth-like  tyloses  or  dark  gum.  Vessel  lines  fine  to  moderately 
so  or  appear  as  prominent  deep  scratches.  Rays  fine  to  very  fine 
and  usually  invisible  on  cross  section  without  lens,  lighter-colored 
than  the  ground  mass,  numerous,  closely  and  fairly  uniformly 
spaced;  mostly  indistinct  with  lens  on  tangential;  low  and  incon- 
spicuous on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple  or  rarely  scalariform; 
intervascular  pit-pairs  minute,  or  small,  fairly  numerous  to  numerous 
and  crowded,  usually  alternate  in  Caryocar  and  with  narrowly  oval 
or  lenticular  apertures;  vessel-ray  pit-pairs  either  large,  often 
crowded,  or  else  small  to  moderately  small,  simple  to  half-bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  very  numerous,  from  1-4  cells  wide  and  from 
2-50,  sometimes  up  to  200,  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  sometimes  in 
definite  radial  arrangement,  fairly  thick-  to  extremely  thick- walled, 
and  lumina  minute  or  almost  closed  in  some  Caryocar  species;  septate 
fibers  common  in  Caryocar;  pits  small,  simple  or  indistinctly  bordered. 
(For  further  notes  on  Caryocaraceae  see  Tropical  Woods  42 :  1-15. 
June,  1935.) 

1.    ANTHODISCUS    G.  F.  W.  Meyer 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate;  leaflets  coriaceous,  glabrous, 
penninerved,  entire  or  crenate.  Raceme  long;  calyx  small,  cupulate, 
5-dentate,  persistent.  Fruit  small,  coriaceous,  smooth,  depressed- 
globose;  seeds  small,  laterally  compressed;  the  radicle  long,  slender, 
vermiform. 

The  only  member  of  this  genus  collected  by  the  writer  is  Antho- 
discus  glaucescens  Macbr.  (Candollea  5:  385.  1934),  an  uncommon 
shrub,  about  6  feet  tall,  growing  along  the  margin  of  forest  at  San 
Roque,  Department  of  San  Mai-tin,  at  an  elevation  of  3,500  feet 
(No.  7491,  type — herbarium  material  only). 

Of  the  other  four  species  ascribed  to  this  genus  (1)  A.  montanus 
Gleason  is  described  as  a  tall  tree,  from  60  to  100  feet  in  height, 
with  slender  flowering  branches  and  round  crown,  growing  in  dense 
forest,  El  Umbo  region,  state  of  Boyaca,  130  miles  north  of  Bogota, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  331 

Colombia  (alt.  3,400-4,000  ft.) ;  (2)  A.  peruvianus  Baillon  is  a  tall  tree 
with  clear  yellowish  brown,  hard  wood  and  bright  golden  yellow, 
fragrant  flowers,  found  in  non-inundated  forest  in  the  upper 
Brazilian  Amazon;  (3)  A.  trifoliatus  G.  F.  W.  Meyer,  the  species 
upon  which  Meyer  established  the  genus,  is  described  as  a  tree  35 
feet  in  height,  from  the  region  of  the  Rio  Essequibo,  British  Guiana, 
and  from  the  Department  of  San  Martin,  Peru;  (4)  A.  obovatus 
Bentham,  a  tree(?)  collected  by  Spruce  at  Pacimoni  and  San  Carlos, 
region  of  Rio  Negro,  upper  Brazilian  Amazon. 

2.    CARYOCAR  L. 

Small,  medium-sized,  or  tall  trees,  rarely  shrubs.  Leaves  opposite 
and  often  long-stalked;  leaflets  short-petiolulate  or  almost  sessile, 
subcoriaceous  or  coriaceous,  entire,  dentate,  serrate,  or  crenate, 
glabrous,  tomentose,  or  pilose.  Raceme  short;  flowers  pale  yellow 
or  red,  frequently  of  prominent  size  and  attractive;  calyx  distinct. 
Fruit  with  glabrous  or  tomentose  pericarp,  and  contains  4  or, 
through  abortion,  from  1-3,  single-seeded,  subreniform  nuts;  the 
endocarp  consists  of  two  layers,  the  outer  soft  and  rich  in  oil,  the  in- 
ner one  with  long,  tightly  packed,  slender  processes  which  extend  into 
the  lumen  of  the  nut  and  reach  outwardly  almost  to  the  periphery 
of  the  outer  layer. 

Sapwood  light-colored  to  pale  brown;  heartwood  varies  from 
oatmeal  to  pale  yellow,  dull  grayish  brown,  or  pale  brown,  some- 
times with  a  pinkish  cast,  and  not  always  sharply  demarcated. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-,  roey-,  or  interwoven-grained ; 
medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  fairly  heavy  and  hard  to  decidedly 
heavy  and  hard ;  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  moderate  luster ;  holds 
its  place  and  color  well,  and  sometimes  has  an  oily  appearance  and  a 
waxy  feel ;  mostly  durable  and  suitable  for  purposes  requiring  strength 
and  resistance  to  moisture.  Growth  rings  usually  distinct.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  and  in  fine  network  with  rays,  often  producing  a 
hoary  effect.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  fairly  numerous,  not 
crowded ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  sometimes  up  to  8 ; 
most  often  filled  with  froth-like  tyloses  or  dark  gum  deposit.  Vessel 
lines  moderately  fine  to  coarse.  Rays  fine  to  very  fine  and  invisible 
without  lens  on  cross  section,  lighter-colored  than  the  background, 
and  closely  and  uniformly  spaced;  inconspicuous  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple,  with  a  tendency  to  multiple;  inter- 
vascular  pits  small  to  large  and  distinct,  fairly  numerous  to  numerous 
and  crowded,  in  alternate  arrangement,  tending  in  some  species 


332  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

to  scalariform.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4,  mostly  2-3,  cells  wide, 
and  up  to  50,  infrequently  200,  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  occasionally 
in  definite  radial  arrangement,  fairly  thick-  to  extremely  thick- 
walled  and  with  minute  cavity;  mucilaginous  layers  common  in 
C.  glabrum;  pits  simple  to  indistinctly  bordered;  septate  fibers 
common.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  are  common  in  C.  gracile  and 
C.  glabrum.  Pith  flecks,  sometimes  present  in  Anthodiscus  montanus, 
have  not  been  observed  in  Caryocar. 

Caryocar  coccineum  Pilger,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  10: 
127.  1927.  Almendro. 

Tall,  forest  tree  of  the  lowland,  frequently  up  to  95  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  about  32  inches  in 
diameter,  free  of  branches  up  to  half  its  height,  and  with  small 
buttresses.  Bark  light  brown  to  dark  gray.  Twigs  glabrous. 
Leaflets  coriaceous,  elliptic,  narrowly  cuneate  or  sharply  acuminate 
at  apex,  rounded  at  base;  petiole  moderately  long.  Flowers  garnet 
to  yellow  in  color;  September-October.  Drupe  about  1  inch  in 
width,  and  nuts  contain  a  sweet,  edible  kernel. — Not  common; 
among  equally  tall  trees  in  forest  free  from  inundations  (alt.  400  ft.) ; 
reported  also  from  the  middle  Maranon.  Timber  is  sometimes  used 
for  fencing  and  house  construction. 

Sapwood  dull  pale  yellow  to  light  brown  and  tinged  with 
extensive  grayish  areas;  heartwood  pale  reddish  or  russet  brown. 
Wood  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and  strong;  straight-  to  irregular- 
grained;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  holds  its  place  well  when 
finished;  durable,  although  heartwood  near  the  base  is  sometimes 
attacked  by  termites.  Seasonal  growth  rings  absent  or  present. 
Parenchyma  fine  and  almost  indistinguishable  with  lens.  Pores 
large  and  readily  visible  without  lens;  fairly  numerous,  well  dis- 
tributed, and  not  crowded ;  solitary  and  oval  to  round  in  outline, 
less  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines 
visible  owing  to  white  or  dark  brown  deposits;  tyloses  also  frequently 
present.  Rays  fine  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section ; 
indistinct  or  barely  visible  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4425. 

Caryocar  glabrum  Pers.  Syn.  PI.  2:  84. 1806.    Almendro  de  bajo. 

Tree,  from  60  to  120,  occasionally  150,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
dense,  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight  or  erect,  cylindrical, 
from  30  to  40  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  333 

upwards  of  half  its  height.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth 
or  scaly.  Leaflets  glabrate,  acuminate,  acute  at  base,  with  undulating 
margins  but  not  dentate,  and  veins  prominent  beneath.  Flowers 
yellow.  Drupe  globose-ovate  or  irregular  in  shape,  with  4  or,  through 
abortion,  1-3  nuts;  kernel  edible. — Widely  distributed  in  north- 
eastern Peru;  attaining  its  best  development  in  forest  free  from 
seasonal  inundations  (alt.  400-500  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  San  Carlos, 
Mapiri  region,  Bolivia  (alt.  2,800  ft.),  Colombia,  Brazilian  Amazon, 
and  the  regions  of  the  Cuyuni,  upper  Mazaruni,  Demerara,  Pome- 
roon,  and  Waini  rivers,  also  at  Potaro  and  Curita  in  the  Guianas. 
Timber  is  used  locally  for  canoes  and  piling. 

Sapwood  white  or  pale  yellow,  occasionally  with  dark  or  almost 
black  streaks,  and  not  always  sharply  defined;  heartwood  grayish 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  roey-  or  straight-grained ; 
medium-textured;  decidedly  heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  tough;  not 
difficult  to  work  and  finishes  smoothly;  durable  and  suitable  for 
purposes  requiring  strength  and  resistance  to  moisture.  Growth 
rings  indistinct  to  distinct.  Parenchyma  abundant;  paratracheal 
and  in  numerous,  fine,  broken,  tangential  lines,  not  visible  without 
lens.  Pores  appear  as  large  pinholes;  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  3-8;  tyloses  occasionally  present.  Vessel  lines  appear  as 
distinct,  rather  long  scratches,  darker  than  background.  Rays  not 
visible  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  not  very  distinct 
on  radial. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  alternate, 
very  large,  crowded,  the  apertures  oval;  vessel-ray  pits  (1)  small  to 
large,  simple  to  half-bordered,  and  (2)  tangentially  elongated  and 
tending  to  scalariform  arrangement.  Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous; 
mostly  uniseriate,  a  few  partly  biseriate;  cells  filled  with  brown  gum. 
Wood  fibers  polygonal  in  section,  extremely  thick-walled,  often  with 
mucilaginous  layers,  and  small  or  minute  lumina;  pits  inconspicuous 
and  simple. 

Loreto:  Timbuchi,  upper  Nanay,  1000. 

Caryocar  Tessmannii  Pilger(?),  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin 
10:  126.  1927.  Almendron. 

Tree,  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical, 
22  inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  35  feet,  and  with  large  surface 
roots.  Bark  medium  or  dark  brown,  rough.  Flowers  red.  Drupe 
round,  speckled  brown;  pulp  rich  in  oil  and  is  used  locally  to  a  limited 
extent  for  cooking  and  in  native  medicine;  the  kernel  of  the  nut  is 


334  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

also  edible ;  fruiting  in  January. — In  sandy  loam  along  edge  of  path 
in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  1,400  ft.). 

Sapwood  fairly  well  defined,  moderately  dark  brown;  heartwood 
pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  roey-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-textured;  heavy  and 
tenacious;  not  easy  to  work,  takes  a  moderately  smooth  polish, 
and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  subject  to  stain  and  insects, 
but  strong  and  durable,  especially  in  contact  with  moisture.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma in  association  with  pores,  confluent,  and  in  short,  fine  lines 
extending  between  the  rays,  or  in  irregular  concentric  lines  or  bands. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  radial  and  diagonal  multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  closed. 
Vessel  lines  distinct  to  rather  coarse  and  darker  than  background; 
lustrous  tyloses  common.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  spaced, 
and  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or 
discernible  to  aided  eye  on  other  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6106. 

MARCGRAVIACEAE.    Marcgravia  Family 
1.    MARGGRAVIA  L. 

Small  or  large,  epiphytic  vines  with  fleshy,  alternate  leaves. 
Inflorescence  umbel-like,  the  flowers  long-stalked,  the  nectaries 
large,  inverted  helmet-shaped,  pendent-like  dippers.  Fruit  globose, 
coriaceous,  indehiscent. 

Wood  medium  to  dark  brown;  very  coarse-textured;  light  in 
weight.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  sparingly  developed,  indistinct. 
Pores  large;  numerous  and  scattered ;  solitary  or,  less  often,  in  multi- 
ples or  clusters;  open.  Rays  large  and  coarse. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform  or  simple;  intervascular  and 
vessel-ray  pits  numerous,  minute,  and  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous. 
Wood  fibers  have  numerous,  minute,  slit-like  pits;  often  septate. 
Raphides  present  in  the  ray  cells. 

Marcgravia  Williamsii  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  386. 1934.  Murcu- 
huasca. 

Rare  vine,  reaching  up  to  the  higher  branches  of  tall  trees,  and 
with  pendent  branches.  Bark  deep  pinkish  or  medium  brown; 
inner  bark  dark  chocolate  brown.  Flowers  arranged  in  whorls; 
June- July. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  450  ft.). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  335 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pale  reddish  brown;  heartwood  deep  pink 
when  fresh,  turning  to  chocolate  brown  after  long  exposure.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  moderately  coarse-textured; 
fairly  light  in  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous.  Growth  rings  poorly 
defined  or  fairly  distinct  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  sparingly  developed  and  indistinct.  Pores 
coarse  and  readily  visible;  numerous;  mostly  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-5,  also  solitary,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  less  often 
filled  with  yellowish  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  coarse,  but  not 
distinct;  greenish  gray  and  light  to  dark  brown  gum  frequently 
present;  vessel  segments  visible  with  lens.  Rays  mostly  broad, 
lighter  brown  than  the  surrounding  elements,  and  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  barely  discernible  with 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  885(1],  3269. 

THEACEAE.     Tea  Family 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  alternate  or  opposite,  usually  leathery, 
entire  or  toothed,  stalked,  without  stipules.  Flowers  axillary,  small 
or  large,  regular;  sepals  and  petals  each  5 ;  stamens  numerous.  Fruit 
capsular  or  leathery  and  indehiscent.  The  timbers  are  of  little  im- 
portance locally. 

Woods  yellowish  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  sometimes 
well  defined,  reddish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy  and  tenacious; 
sometimes  fibrous,  but  easy  to  work;  fairly  durable  or  durable. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  sparingly  developed  and  indistinct.  Pores 
of  rather  small  to  medium  size;  moderately  few  to  numerous,  well 
distributed;  predominantly  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  multiples 
or  rows;  usually  open.  Rays  fine,  as  in  Bonnetia,  to  rather  broad  on 
cross  section;  visible  on  tangential  in  Ternstroemia;  fairly  distinct 
or  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform  or  simple;  vessel-parenchyma  pits 
half-bordered  and  rather  large.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-5  cells  wide. 
Wood  fibers  thick-walled,  often  in  definite  radial  rows;  pits  numer- 
ous, fairly  large,  simple  to  bordered. 

1.    BONNETIA  Mart.  &  Zucc. 

Bonnetia  paniculata  Spruce  in  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  5: 
63.  1861.  Cascarilla. 


336  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Small  tree,  approximately  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  cone- 
shaped.  Trunk  straight,  round,  9  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  5  or  6  feet.  Bark  dark  pinkish  or  chocolate  brown, 
and  scaly;  esteemed  locally  as  a  substitute  for  quinine.  Leaves 
smooth,  light  or  deep  yellow.  Fruit  pale  brown;  December-Janu- 
ary.— Of  limited  distribution;  in  sandy  loam  in  open  patches 
along  summit  and  on  hill  slopes  (alt.  1,600  ft.). 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  deep  yellowish  brown; 
heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  moderately  heavy  and 
tenacious;  not  very  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds 
its  place  fairly  well;  immune  to  stain  and  insect  attacks;  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  in  association  with  pores  and 
indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  fairly  large;  not  very  numerous 
and  well  distributed;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  multiples;  open 
or  closed.  Vessel  lines  moderately  fine,  darker  than  background,  and 
visible  without  lens;  lustrous  deposit  common.  Rays  numerous, 
fine,  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  slightly 
darker  than  background  and  faintly  distinguishable  without  lens 
on  radial  surface.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide.  Wood 
fiber  pits  large,  numerous,  and  in  definite  vertical  alinement. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5.955,  597-4. 

2.    TERNSTROEMIA  Mutis 

Ternstroemia  sp.  Tree,  32  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  13  feet.  Bark 
yellowish  or  dark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  with  small 
lenticels. — Fairly  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.); 
in  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of  second  growth. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish 
brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  wavy-grained;  fairly 
fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  or  moderately  heavy;  not  difficult 
to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  fairly  durable. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  fairly  small;  numerous  and  rather  crowded;  solitary,  less 
frequently  in  radial  or  diagonal  multiples  or  rows  of  2,  sometimes  up 
to  4  or  more;  open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  rather  broad, 
lighter-colored  than  background,  and  visible  without  lens  on  cross 
section ;  discernible  also  on  tangential ;  of  darker  color  than  adjacent 
elements  and  rather  prominent  on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  337 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  rather 
large,  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-5  or  more  cells  wide. 
Wood  fibers  thick-walled  and  with  bordered  pits. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3673. 

GUTTIFERAE.     Clusia  Family   .  ' 

Shrubs  or  trees,  sometimes  epiphytic,  rarely  herbs.  They  are 
characterized  by  opposite  and  entire  leaves,  usually  leathery,  and 
without  stipules,  and  a  resinous,  commonly  yellow,  sap.  Flowers 
mostly  of  separate  sexes,  often  large  and  showy,  with  2-6  or  more 
sepals,  as  many  petals,  and  numerous  stamens.  Fruit  capsular  or 
drupaceous,  dehiscent  or  indehiscent. 

Sapwood  varies  from  whitish  to  pale  grayish  brown,  often  with  a 
pinkish  tinge;  heartwood  often  sharply  defined,  pinkish  or  reddish  to 
dark  brown.  Wood  light  to  rather  heavy  and  hard;  moderately  fine- 
to  fairly  coarse-textured;  some  species  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  easy 
to  work,  and  often  take  a  lustrous  finish;  fairly  durable  or  durable. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed  and  distinct  in  most  species, 
sometimes  conspicuous  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  commonly 
appearing  as  numerous  concentric  lines  or  bands,  often  wavy  and 
confluent,  which  invariably  unite  the  pores  and,  at  times,  in  wider 
bands  completely  enveloping  them;  in  some  species  more  definitely 
aliform  to  confluent,  tending  to  form  discontinuous  and  at  times 
very  irregular  tangential  bands;  usually  inconspicuous  on  longi- 
tudinal surfaces  because  of  lack  of  color  contrast  with  the  back- 
ground. Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  rather  few  to  numerous  and 
usually  well  distributed  through  the  ground  mass;  predominantly 
solitary,  but  occasionally  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3,  seldom 
more;  often  completely  closed  with  tyloses  or  gum.  Rays  variable 
from  fairly  fine  to  distinct  without  lens  on  cross  section;  occasion- 
ally distinct  on  tangential;  in  some  species  lighter  to  decidedly 
darker  than  background  on  radial  surface  and  usually  distinct, 
producing  fairly  definite  silver  grain.  Small  radial  canals  have  been 
observed  in  Rheedia. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  of 
medium  size,  numerous,  and  often  crowded,  with  rounded  or  polygo- 
nal borders,  and  narrow  lenticular  or  oval  apertures;  vessel-ray 
pits  simple  and  large  to  half -bordered  and  rather  small.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  uniseriate  (Calophyllum)  or  multiseriate  (mostly 
from  2-7  cells  wide),  and  from  few  to  90  cells  or  more  high.  Wood 
libers  with  simple  pits. 


338  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

1.    CALOPHYLLUM  L. 

Calophyllum  brasiliense  Camb.  in  St.  Hil.  Fl.  Bras.  Mer.  1: 
321.  1825;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  1:  398.  1888.  Jacare-uba,  Lagarto- 
caspi  bianco. 

Uncommon,  glabrous  tree,  up  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open  or  conical.  Younger  parts  of  branchlets  quadrangular.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  up  to  37  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches 
for  about  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  dark  brown  or  almost 
black  and  yields  a  small  quantity  of  viscid,  pale  brown  resin  when 
incised.  Leaves  variable  in  shape,  coriaceous,  with  a  pale  milky 
hue  on  the  upper  surface.  Flowers  in  axillary  or  terminal  racemes. 
Fruit  globose,  light  green,  reticularly  wrinkled  when  dry.  Although 
.not  as  strong  as  the  timbers  used  for  similar  purposes,  the  wood  is 
esteemed  locally  for  canoes,  flooring,  and  interior  construction. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained  or 
moderately  so;  medium-  to  rather  coarse-textured ;  of  medium  density 
and  strong;  saws  rather  woolly,  but  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a 
golden  luster;  durable.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing  to 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  distinguishable  only 
with  lens;  paratracheal,  confluent,  and  in  fine,  broken,  tangential 
lines.  Pores  sometimes  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous 
and  inclined  to  be  in  radial  or  oblique  groups;  solitary,  less  often  in 
radial  or  tangential  rows  of  2;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  long  and 
prominent;  tyloses  often  present.  Rays  very  fine  and  barely  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and 
radial  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  small, 
rounded,  "screwhead"  type.  Rays  heterogeneous  with  a  tendency 
to  homogeneous;  uniseriate,  few  to  30  cells  or  more  high.  Wood 
fiber  pits  with  slit-like  apertures  and  indistinct,  rounded  borders. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1015. 

2.    CHRYSOCKLAMYS  Poepp.  &  Endl. 

Chrysochlamys  Weberbaueri  Engl.  Bot.  Jahrb.  58:  Beibl. 
130:  8.  1923. 

Tree,  from  12  to  25,  sometimes  35  or  40,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open,  round,  or  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round  or  compressed, 
slender,  branching  from  near  the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up  to  12  feet, 
and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  brown,  fairly 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  339 

smooth,  scaly,  or  with  shallow  fissures,  and  yields  when  cut  a  small 
quantity  of  brown  resin. — Very  common;  in  either  humid  or  dry 
loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380-3,000  ft.).  Wood  used  mostly  for  fuel. 
Sapwood  grayish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure  to  a  shade 
lighter  than  that  of  heartwood ;  heartwood  reddish  brown,  thin,  and 
perishable.  Wood  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or 
interlocked-grained ;  medium-  or  rather  coarse-textured;  light  but 
firm  to  moderately  heavy;  saws  rather  woolly,  easy  to  cut;  lustrous 
when  held  to  proper  light;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  rather  small  or  at 
limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  well  distributed; 
often  solitary,  also  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  straight;  lustrous  tyloses  commonly  present. 
Rays  either  distinguishable  only  with  lens  or  broad  and  distinct  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  or  visible  on  tangential;  often  of  darker 
color  than  background  and  prominent  on  radial  surface;  globules 
of  dark  reddish  brown  gum  common. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  and 
elongated.  Rays  heterogeneous;  2-3  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  1513;  Pebas,  1615,  1628,  1635,  1720,  1890; 
Caballo-cocha,  2108.— San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6936. 

3.    CLUSIA  L. 

Glabrous  trees  or  shrubs,  of  interest  chiefly  because  of  their 
fig-like  habit,  being  epiphytic  on  other  trees  at  first,  in  age  often 
standing  alone.  Leaves  usually  thick  and  leathery,  hard  when 
dried,  and  with  numerous  lateral  nerves.  Flowers  often  large  and 
showy,  whitish  or  pink,  and  with  thick,  fleshy  petals.  Fruit  a  leathery 
capsule,  splitting  at  maturity  into  several  segments,  these  radiating 
when  open  like  the  points  of  a  star. 

Sapwood  whitish  to  pale  pinkish  brown,  often  with  dark  streaks 
and  grayish  cast;  heartwood  usually  reddish  brown.  Wood  moder- 
ately fine-  to  medium- textured ;  light  to  rather  heavy;  easy  or  mod- 
erately easy  to  work;  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  scantily 
developed  about  the  pores.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  and 
well  distributed;  predominantly  solitary,  seldom  in  small  multiples; 
open  or  closed .  Rays  fine  or  very  distinct  on  cross  section ;  occasionally 
distinct  on  tangential;  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  large,  simple 
or  somewhat  bordered,  often  elongated  laterally.  Rays  heterogene- 


340  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

ous;  1-4  cells  wide  and  many  cells  high;  the  cells  thick- walled  and 
often  abundantly  pitted.  Wood  fibers  often  in  radial  rows,  many 
with  gelatinous  layer;  pits  simple  or  indistinctly  bordered. 

Clusia  insignis  Mart.(?),  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3: 164. 1817.    Renaco. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  20  or  25  feet  in  height,  and 
usually  epiphytic  on  other  trees.  Crown  round  to  open  and  densely 
branched.  Trunk  often  twisted,  cylindrical,  and  branching  from 
near  the  base. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland ;  in  pasture  or  along 
border  of  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  almost  white  with  pale  brown  or  black  streaks;  heart- 
wood  brown,  perishable.  Wood  heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2188. 

Clusia  penduliflora  Engler  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  1:  412. 
1888.  Game,  Sacha-indana. 

Tree,  at  times  up  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of  limbs  for  3  to 
18  feet,  and  with  buttresses  2  feet  high.  Bark  dark  grayish  brown, 
fairly  smooth,  and  exudes  when  cut  a  viscid  latex  which  turns 
yellow  on  exposure.  Flowers  yellowish  white;  January-February. — 
In  dense  forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.).  Wood  employed  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pale  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
irregular-  or  interlocked-grained ;  medium-textured;  hard,  heavy, 
and  compact;  suitable  for  purposes  requiring  strength  and  durability. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7201,  7739. 

Clusia  renggerioides  Triana  &  Planch.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  IV.  13: 
350.  1860.  Renaquillo, 

Tree,  about  40  feet  tall.  Crown  round,  with  many  branches  and 
dense  foliage.  Trunk  contorted,  about  27  inches  in  diameter,  and 
branching  from  the  bai>e.  Sapwood  and  bark  yield  a  small  quantity 
of  insipid,  yellow  resin. — Uncommon;  in  open,  dry  loam  and  usually 
epiphytic  on  other  trees. 

Wood  lustrous  white  or  pale  yellow,  with  extensive  grayish  areas 
or  dark  streaks  caused  by  stain;  not  as  heavy  and  hard  as  C.  Spru- 
ceana.  Pith  fairly  large,  light  or  dark  brown. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2187. 

Clusia  Spruceana  Triana  &  Planch.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  IV.  13:  346. 
1860.  Game,  Renaquillo. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  341 

Epiphytic  tree,  from  20  to  30  feet  in  height.  Trunk  compressed, 
about  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching  a  few  feet  above  the 
ground.  Bark  about  0.75  inch  thick,  yellowish  to  dark  brown. 
Wood,  bark,  and  fruit  yield  a  viscid,  astringent,  yellowish  resin 
reputed  to  contain  medicinal  properties. — Common  in  the  lower 
Peruvian  Amazon;  in  open  dry  loam  (alt.  380-450  ft.).  Wood  used 
occasionally  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  clearly  demarcated,  almost  white  or  pale  yellow  with 
dark  streaks  or  extensive  grayish  cast;  heartwood  pinkish  or  dark 
brown,  perishable.  Wood  tasteless  and  odorless;  irregular-  or 
interlocked-grained;  fine- textured ;  hard,  heavy,  and  tough;  not  easy 
to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying.  Growth 
rings  indistinct  or  barely  visible.  Parenchyma  indistinct;  para- 
tracheal.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  evenly  distributed;  solitary 
or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  rarely  in  tangential  pairs 
or  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  short,  indistinct. 
Rays  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  light  brown  and  distinct  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2190;  upper  Itaya,  3189,  3507. 

4.    RHEEDIA  L. 

Trees  or  shrubs  with  yellowish  sap.  Leaves  decussate  or  verticil- 
late.  Flowers  small,  solitary,  and  in  axillary  fascicles.  Fruit  a  berry, 
with  a  smooth,  leathery  skin,  warty,  or  with  teeth-like  protuberances, 
containing  1-5  seeds,  enveloped  in  a  pulpy  aril. 

Wood  varying  between  whitish  and  light  or  reddish  brown, 
the  heart  sometimes  well  demarcated,  pinkish  or  reddish  brown; 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy;  brittle  and 
slightly  fibrous;  appears  to  be  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal 
and  in  irregular,  tangential  bands,  forming  a  network  with  the 
rays,  less  often  in  closely  or  widely  spaced,  fairly  continuous,  con- 
centric bands.  Pores  of  medium  size;  moderately  numerous  or 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in 
radial  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fairly  fine  or  moderately  distinct 
and  slightly  wavy  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
occasionally  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  numerous  and 
irregularly  arranged;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  often  elongated.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  2-5  cells  wide;  some  of  them  contain  small  radial 
canals. 


342  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Rheedia  floribunda  (Miq.)  Triana  &  Planch.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  IV. 
14:  319.  1860.  Brea-huayo,  Charichuela. 

Tree,  from  35  to  55  feet  in  height.  Crown  round  or  pyramidal. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  from  8  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  from  6  to  24  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish  brown, 
with  low  ridges  or  small  fissures;  bark  and  fruit  yield  a  sweet, 
yellowish  resin,  which  is  reputed  to  be  beneficial  for  cataracts  and 
other  eye  ailments.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow.  Fruit  ovoid-round, 
brown  when  mature,  and  borne  on  the  main  branches;  January- 
April. — Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere  common;  along  margin 
of  dense  forest  or  in  sandy  loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  (alt. 
400-1,400  ft.). 

Wood  white  when  freshly  cut,  turning  to  pale  brown  on  exposure; 
has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
medium- textured ;  heavy,  compact,  and  moderately  hard;  not  easy 
to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish;  appears  to  be  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
at  times  uniting  the  pores,  also  in  numerous,  short,  irregular, 
tangential  lines  extending  between  and  forming  a  network  with  the 
rays,  and  less  often  in  continuous,  concentric  bands  which  appear 
to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings;  producing  a  hoary  effect  when 
seen  under  lens  on  cross  section.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous, 
well  distributed ;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial  rows  or  multiples 
of  2-3;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  discernible  without 
lens;  sometimes  filled  with  dark  brown  gum.  Rays  numerous, 
moderately  fine,  rather  wavy,  and  sometimes  distinguishable  to 
unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  lighter  color 
than  background  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1580. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6616. 

Rheedia  macrophylla  (Mart.)  Triana  &  Planch.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  IV.  14:  309.  1860.  Charichuela. 

Tree,  approximately  75  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  half  the 
entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  scaly  or  with  low 
ridges,  and  secretes  when  cut  a  small  quantity  of  yellow  resin  used 
for  calking  canoes. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  pale  brown;  heartwood  pinkish  brown, 
thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  or  moderately  heavy;  inclined 
to  be  fibrous,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  rather  dull  finish ;  durable.  Growth 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  343 

rings  present  owing  to  alinement  of  parenchyma.    Rays  visible  to 
unaided  eye  on   radial    surface.     Pith   pale   brown;   small   radial 
intercellular  canals  present. 
Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  921. 

5.    SYMPHONIA  L.  f. 

Symphonia  globulifera  L.  f.  Suppl.  302.  1781.    Brea-caspi. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight 
or  moderately  so,  columnar,  27  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  clear 
of  limbs  for  about  two-thirds  the  entire  height,  with  strong, 
laterally  compressed  surface  roots  and  fairly  large  buttresses.  Bark 
pinkish  or  dark  brown,  up  to  0.5  inch  thick,  rough,  and  when  cut 
secretes  a  yellowish  resin  of  a  waxy  consistency,  which  turns  black 
after  long  exposure  to  air  and  is  used  for  calking  canoes.  Leaves 
opposite,  lanceolate-oblong,  with  blunt  tip,  leathery  or  subleathery, 
short-stalked,  and  without  stipules.  Flowers  globose  and  red,  borne 
in  umbelliferous  groups  on  the  short  lateral  twigs;  stamens  numerous 
and  united  by  their  filaments  in  a  tube  swollen  at  the  base.  Fruit 
an  ovoid  berry,  dark  green  when  unripe,  brown,  fleshy,  and  edible 
when  mature;  July- August. — Not  common;  in  slightly  humid  loam 
(alt.  400  ft.).  The  strong,  durable  timber  is  used  for  house  posts  and 
general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  not  sharply  defined,  creamy  yellow  and  with  slightly 
darker  streaks;  heartwood  yellowish  or  pale  brown.  Wood  has  a 
strongly  fetid  odor  when  fresh,  odor  and  taste  not  distinctive  in 
dried  material ;  mostly  straight-grained ;  of  medium  weight  to  rather 
heavy;  not  difficult  to  work;  inclined  to  check  in  drying;  immune  to 
insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  indicated  by  unusual  regularity  of 
parenchyma  lines.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed ;  in  numerous 
concentric  lines  or  bands,  often  wavy  and  confluent  or  enveloping 
the  pores,  at  times  in  discontinuous,  short,  and  very  irregular 
tangential  lines;  lighter  in  color  than  fibers  and  distinguishable 
to  unaided  eye.  Pores  of  medium  size;  rather  few,  well  distributed; 
solitary,  in  radial  pairs,  or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  often  filled 
with  tyloses  in  heartwood.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine,  of  same  color  as 
background,  but  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  owing  to  distinct 
luster  of  tyloses.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  so,  numerous,  and  of  same 
color  as  background  on  cross  section,  indistinct  or  barely  visible 
without  lens  on  moistened  surface;  indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter 
or  darker  than  background  on  radial  surface,  sometimes  producing 
fairly  definite  silver  grain  in  heartwood. 


344  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Vessels  with  exclusively  simple  perforation  plates;  intervascular 
pits  of  medium  size,  numerous,  and  often  crowded,  with  rounded  or 
somewhat  oval  borders  and  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits 
definitely  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous,  with  a  tendency  to 
homogeneous;  1-6  cells  wide  and  few  to  about  90  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  simple  pits. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2268. 

HYPERICACEAE.     St.  Johnswort  Family 
1.    VISMIA  Vand. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees  with  orange-colored  sap  exuding  from  the 
bark.  Leaves  opposite,  entire,  somewhat  tomentose  beneath,  and 
without  stipules.  Flowers  inconspicuous,  in  terminal  cymes;  sepals 
and  petals  each  5;  stamens  numerous  and  arranged  in  5  clusters. 
Fruit  a  berry,  3-5-celled.  There  are  many  species  of  Vismia  in 
tropical  America,  usually  encountered  in  thickets.  The  timber 
is  used  only  locally,  principally  for  fuel.  The  common  name  in 
northern  Peru  for  all  species  of  Vismia  is  "pichirina." 

The  trees  range  in  height  from  15  to  35,  seldom  up  to  45,  feet. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  slightly  contorted,  round, 
slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  half  the  height,  infrequently  bifur- 
cating 2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pinkish  or  reddish  to  chocolate 
brown,  fissured,  and  yields  when  cut  a  yellowish  sap,  which  turns 
brown  on  exposure  to  sunlight  and  air. — Very  common  in  the  low- 
land (alt.  350-550  ft.) ;  in  open  dry  patches  among  shrubs  and  small 
trees,  in  pastures,  along  margin  of  forest  growth,  infrequently 
aquatic. 

The  woods  suggest  Calophyllum  in  their  properties  and  structure. 
Sapwood  pinkish  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  red- 
dish or  dark  brown.  Wood  medium-  to  fairly  coarse- textured ; 
moderately  light  to  medium  in  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  brittle, 
easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  or  lustrous  finish ;  moderately 
durable.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric 
bands  or  lines,  often  enveloping  the  pores  and  sometimes  forming  a 
network  with  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  few  to  fairly 
numerous,  scattered  without  definite  arrangement  or  tending  to  be  in 
concentric  zones;  predominantly  solitary  or  in  radial  rows,  seldom  in 
multiples  or  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately 
fine  on  cross  section ;  occasionally  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangen- 
tial; distinct  and  often  producing  a  silver  grain  on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  345 

Vessels  with  exclusively  simple  perforation  plates;  vessel-paren- 
chyma pits  usually  small  but  distinct,  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  mostly  from  2-4  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  41,  136;  upper  Itaya,  3310,  3324,  3366, 
3396;  lower  Nanay,  357,  486;  middle  Nanay,  1144,'  upper  Nanay, 
966,  1205,  1292;  near  Iquitos,  1460,  1533,  7962;  Pebas,  1639,  1734, 
1748,  1793;  Caballo-cocha,  2061,  2074,  2077,  2191,  2192,  2194, 
2211,  2364;  La  Victoria,  2674,  2691 ;  lower  Huallaga,  3821,  3827. 

BIXACEAE.    Anatto  Family 
1.    BIXA  L. 

Bixa  Orellana  L.  Sp.  PL  512.  1753.  Achiote,  Achiote  bianco, 
Achiote  Colorado,  Shainbu,  Shambu-huayo,  Shambu-quiro. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  from  10  to  25,  sometimes  up  to  35,  feet  in 
height.  Bark  thin,  light  to  dark  brown;  inner  bark  fibrous,  sug- 
gesting basswood  (Tilia),  and  is  sometimes  used  for  cordage.  Young 
shoots  covered  with  small  rusty  scales.  Leaves  alternate,  broadly 
ovate,  acuminate,  truncate  or  rounded  at  base;  stipules  deciduous. 
Flowers  in  compact  terminal  panicles,  pale  yellowish  white  or  pink- 
ish, fairly  large,  and  with  greenish  filaments.  Capsule  2-valved, 
subglobose  or  ovoid,  with  flexible,  spinose  bristles;  the  numerous 
seeds,  about  the  size  and  shape  of  grape  seeds,  are  imbedded  in  a 
fleshy,  slightly  sticky,  bright  orange-  or  vermilion-colored  pulp, 
which  yields  anatto  dye  used  by  the  natives  in  soups,  for  painting 
their  bodies  partly  for  ornament  and  partly  against  insect  bites, 
and  for  dyeing  the  palm  fiber  that  is  employed  for  making  hammocks 
and  dresses. 

Wood  pinkish  yellow ;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste ;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  to  coarse-textured;  has  the  consistency  of  bass- 
wood  (Tilia} ;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish ;  perish- 
able. Growth  rings  distinct  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  metatracheal ;  in  very  numerous,  fine,  short,  wavy 
lines.  Pores  small;  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4  or  solitary; 
open.  Vessel  lines  of  darker  color  than  background.  Rays  fine  or 
moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  sometimes  discernible  without 
lens  on  radial.  Ripple  marks  present,  fairly  regular  and  distinct, 
with  all  elements  storied,  although  some  of  the  rays  occupy  two 
stories;  number  per  inch  length,  about  80. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations,  with  a  tendency  to  simple; 
vessel-parenchyma  pits  simple  or  half -bordered.  Rays  heterogene- 
ous; 2-6  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  have  simple  pits. 


346  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  184;  lower  Nanay,  354,  355;  Pebas,  1264, 
1583;  Caballo-cocha,  2082,  2193;  La  Victoria,  3063;  Yurimaguas, 
lower  Huallaga,  3987,  4615.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5549. 

COCHLOSPERMACEAE.     Cochlospermum  Family 
1.    COCHLOSPERMUM  Kunth 

Medium-sized  or  tall  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  long-stalked, 
palmately  lobed.  Flowers  in  terminal  clusters,  bright  yellow,  being 
strikingly  suggestive  of  roses,  and  often  appear  when  the  trees  are 
devoid  of  leaves.  Fruit  a  thin-walled  capsule;  the  numerous  seeds 
covered  with  short  silky  hairs  similar  to  the  fiber  furnished  by  some 
of  the  Bombacaceae.  The  trees  are  of  rapid  growth  and  are  frequent 
in  thickets  or  open  forest.  Bark  secretes  a  small  amount  of  yellow- 
ish resin  and  the  fibrous  inner  bark  is  employed  for  cordage.  The 
timber  is  not  utilized. 

Wood  white  or  pale  brown;  very  coarse-textured;  light,  soft, 
spongy,  laminated,  and  brittle;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  metatracheal ;  in  broad, 
irregularly  spaced,  concentric  lines  of  darker  color  than  background. 
Pores  not  numerous;  solitary  or  in  multiples;  open  or  filled  with 
gum.  Rays  broad  on  cross  section;  fairly  distinct  on  tangential; 
producing  a  silver  grain  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present; 
all  elements  storied. 

Vessel  lines  in  part  simple  to  scalariform ;  vessel-ray  and  vessel- 
parenchyma  pits  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  multiseriate. 

Cochlospermum  orinocense  (HBK.)  Steud.  Nom.  ed.  2. 1:393. 
1840.  Huimba,  Huina-caspi,  Quillo-sisa, 

Deciduous  tree,  from  42  to  75,  occasionally  up  to  90,  feet  tall. 
Crown  moderately  flat  or  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  round,  about 
30  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  up  to  half  the  height.  Bark 
thick,  dark  brown,  spinous,  and  secretes  a  small  amount  of  yellowish 
resin.  Leaves  digitate,  long-stalked.  Flowers  large,  bright  yellow, 
and  showy,  whence  the  vernacular  name  "quillo-sisa"  ("quillo"= yel- 
low; "sisa"= flower).  Fruit  a  3-valvate,  ovoid  capsule,  yellow  when 
mature,  and  with  dense  brown  pubescence;  seeds  covered  with  a 
silky  fiber  employed  locally  to  a  limited  extent  for  filling  pillows 
and  mattresses. — Abundant  in  both  the  lowland  and  upland  (alt. 
500-1,500  ft.);  in  thickets  and  old  clearings,  usually  in  dry  loam. 

Sapwood  thick,  pale  yellowish  or  light  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
reddish  brown.  Wood  tasteless,  but  slightly  fragrant  when  fresh; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  347 

straight-grained;  medium-  to  coarse-textured;  light  and  soft;  easy 
to  work,  but  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain; 
perishable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
occasionally  visible;  in  concentric  terminal  bands  or,  in  some  speci- 
mens, in  very  fine,  tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision ;  not  numerous,  uniformly  distributed ;  mostly 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters; 
mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  long  and  coarse;  often  filled  with 
brown  deposit.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  faintly 
distinguishable  on  tangential;  lighter  or  darker  than  background 
and  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Ripple  marks  present,  but  often 
indistinct;  number  per  inch  length,  up  to  about  120. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3485;  lower  Huallaga,  39 91. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6664- 

Cochlospermum  Williamsii  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  388.  1934. 

Handsome  tree  of  the  lowland,  said  to  attain  a  height  of  up  to 
95  feet.  Crown  flat  or  round.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from 
10  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  one-third  or  two- 
thirds  the  height,  not  buttressed.  Leaves  from  3-8  inches  long  and 
2-4  inches  broad,  elliptic,  short-cuneate  at  base,  short-acuminate  at 
apex,  chartaceous-membranaceous.  Flowers  yellow,  showy,  short- 
stalked;  sepals  imbricate.  Capsule  obconical,  brown-tomentose, 
truncate-depressed  at  apex,  filled  with  silky  fiber. — Fairly  abundant 
in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  (alt.  380  ft.);  in  dry  clearings  or 
along  margin  of  forest. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1778,  1964;  Caballo-cocha,  2090. 

VIOLACEAE.    Violet  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  trees,  sometimes  woody  vines.  Leaves 
simple,  toothed,  provided  with  stipules.  Flowers  usually  small, 
with  5  sepals,  5  petals,  which  often  are  unequal,  and  5  stamens. 
Fruit  a  1-celled  capsule,  opening  by  3  valves. 

Wood  creamy  yellow,  occasionally  pale  pinkish  or  light  brown; 
heartwood  sometimes  well  defined  in  Paypayrola  and  Rinorea,  pale 
purplish ;  odorless  and  tasteless;  very  fine-  or  fine- textured ;  of  medium 
density;  easy  to  work;  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  de- 
veloped; paratracheal  and  indistinct  in  Gloeospermum,  Paypayrola, 
and  Rinorea,  and  in  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  between 
the  rays  in  Leonia.  Pores  minute  or  small;  numerous  or  fairly 
numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  multiples  or  rows;  open 


348  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

or  closed.  Rays  appear  to  be  of  two  sizes,  the  smaller  ones  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  section,  the  larger  distinct  to  unaided  eye 
and  slightly  sinuous;  invisible  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform;  intervascular  pits  small  to  large, 
often  elongate.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate 
in  Gloeospermum,  or  up  to  4  cells  wide  as  in  Rinorea,  and  few  to  100 
cells  high.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled. 

1.    GLOEOSPERMUM  Triana  &  Planch. 

Gloeospermum  Sprucei  Eichl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1: 
390.  1871. 

Small  tree,  approximately  16  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  6  feet.  Bark 
medium  chocolate  brown,  sometimes  with  a  pale  greenish  tinge, 
fairly  smooth,  and  thin.  Fruit  round,  dark  green;  June- July.— 
Uncommon;  in  moderately  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  yellowish  or  light  brown;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; moderately  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  of  fairly 
light  or  medium  weight;  inclined  to  be  splintery;  easy  to  cut,  takes 
a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster,  and  holds  its  place  and  color 
well;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal  and  in  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  tangentially 
between  the  rays;  barely  distinguishable  with  lens.  Pores  minute 
or  very  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  very  fine  or 
fairly  fine,  numerous,  wavy,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements, 
and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
discernible  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforation  plates.  Rays  heterogeneous ; 
uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate  and  up  to  20  cells  or  more  high. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1935. 

2.    LEGNIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Leonia  glycycarpa  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Fl.  Per.  2:  69.  1799.  Nina- 
caspi,  Urcu-tamara. 

Slender,  glabrous  tree,  up  to  60  or  70  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from  10  to  24  inches  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  limbs  for  half  the  height.  Bark  greenish  or  pinkish  to 
dark  brown.  Leaves  ovate  or  oblongate,  acuminate  at  apex,  acute 
or  rounded  at  base,  subcoriaceous.  Flowers  borne  on  trunk.  Fruit 
light  green,  round,  and  containing  numerous  seeds. — Common 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  349 

between  Iquitos  and  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  frontier  (alt.  400  ft.); 
in  forest  free  from  periodical  inundations.  Timber  is  esteemed  for 
house  construction,  general  carpentry,  and  fuel. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  creamy  yellow,  with  no  distinction 
between  sap  and  heart;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight- 
or  irregular-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  light  or  moderately 
heavy,  strong,  and  compact;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  fairly  durable,  but  subject  to  stain. 
Growth  rings  barely  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of 
color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small ;  numerous,  well  scattered 
or  tending  to  crowd ;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  infrequently 
up  to  8  or  solitary;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine  or  barely  visible  on 
moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous; 
2-4  cells  wide  and  up  to  60  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  thick-walled, 
with  numerous  large  pits. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  22;  Pebas,  1604;  middle  Nanay,  3191; 
near  Iquitos,  8014- 

3.    PAYPAYROLA  Aubl. 

Paypayrola  grandiflora  Tul.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  7:  371.  1847. 

Shrub,  up  to  about  15  feet  tall.  Trunk  round,  slender,  and 
branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark  grayish  or  reddish  brown, 
scaly  or  with  low  ridges.  Flowers  pale  yellow;  June- July. — Forming 
undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  creamy  yellow  throughout;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
interlocked-grained ;  fine-  or.  medium-textured;  of  light  or  fairly 
medium  weight  and  brittle;  takes  a  dull  polish;  liable  to  check  in 
drying;  moderately  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  sparingly  developed;  paratracheal,  diffuse,  or  terminal. 
Pores  very  small;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  radial,  infrequently  diagonal  or  tangential,  rows  or  multiples 
of  2-6;  open.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  distinguishable  only  with 
lens;  lustrous  tyloses  frequently  present.  Rays  wavy  and  lighter- 
colored  than  fibers,  the  larger  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  other  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations;  intervascular  pits  elongated 
and  distinct;  vessel-ray  pits  of  same  size  as  intervascular.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  2-3  cells  wide  and  up  to  50  cells  high,  cells  rather 
large.  Wood  fibers  fairly  thick-walled. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2359. 


350  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

4.    RINOREA  Aubl. 

Slender  shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  opposite, 
short-stalked,  thin,  acuminate,  obscurely  serrate  or  almost  entire; 
stipules  small,  deciduous.  Flowers  very  small,  in  racemes  or  pan- 
icles; sepals  5,  equal;  petals  5,  recurved  at  the  apex;  stamens  5. 
Fruit  a  strongly  compressed  capsule.  Wood  not  used  locally  to  any 
extent. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  grayish  to  light  brown;  heart- 
wood  sometimes  well  defined,  purplish  or  dark  brown,  sometimes 
streaked.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine- textured ;  easy  to  work; 
liable  to  check  in  drying;  moderately  durable.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal;  sparingly  developed  and  often  indistinct.  Pores  small  or 
minute;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or 
in  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  appear  to  be  of  two  sizes : 
the  larger  distinct  and  visible  without  lens,  the  smaller  fine  and 
discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  often  visible  without 
lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  segments  elongate;  vessel  perforations  simple;  inter- 
vascular  pits  small,  elongate.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide 
and  up  to  100  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  moderately  thick- walled. 

The  following  numbers  of  the  genus  Rinorea  remain  to  be 
determined  specifically: 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3244;  lower  Huallaga,  4127,  4355,  4865, 
4881,  5088,  5210. 

FLACOURTIACEAE.    Flacourtia  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  simple,  alternate,  entire  or  toothed, 
stalked,  often  with  translucent  dots  and  lines;  stipules  usually 
minute  or  wanting.  Flowers  small;  perfect  or  of  separate  sexes; 
calyx  3-7-lobed  or  of  3-7  distinct  sepals;  the  petals  of  the  same 
number  as  the  calyx  segments,  or  sometimes  absent.  Fruit  a  1-celled 
capsule  or  berry.  Some  of  the  genera  have  edible  fruits,  others  yield 
tanning  materials  as  well  as  oils,  drugs,  and  resins  of  medicinal  value. 

Woods  variegated  in  color;  sap  wood  ranging  from  oatmeal  or 
yellowish  to  pale  brown,  often  with  grayish  to  pinkish  streaks  or 
cast;  heartwood  reddish,  purplish,  or  dark  brown.  Wood  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy  or  heavy; 
sometimes  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  has  no  distinctive  figure; 
some  species  susceptible  to  stain  and  insects;  perishable  or  fairly 
durable  to  durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed;  in  very  fine 
lines  extending  between  the  rays,  often  indistinct;  in  a  few  species  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  351 

fine  concentric  lines;  rarely  paratracheal.  Pores  small  or  very 
small  to  medium-sized;  few  to  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary,  less 
frequently  in  small  radial  multiples,  seldom  in  small  radial  rows  or 
small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  in  several  species  appear  to  be  of 
two  sizes,  ranging  from  fine  to  fairly  broad,  numerous,  closely  spaced, 
and  wavy  on  cross  section;  seldom  visible  on  tangential;  fairly  dis- 
tinct to  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations,  with  some  tendency  to  scalari- 
form,  particularly  in  the  region  of  the  primary  wood  (in  Banara 
and  Casearia);  intervascular  pits  small  to  fairly  large,  with  round, 
ovoid,  or  hexagonal  margins  and  slit-like  or  lenticular  apertures; 
vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly 
from  1-4,  in  Patrisia  up  to  14,  cells  wide  and  few  to  75  cells  or  more 
high.  Wood  fibers  have  simple  pits;  sometimes  septate. 

1.    BANARA  Aubl. 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  serrate. 
Flowers  in  terminal  panicles.  Fruit  leathery  or  fleshy,  indehiscent, 
often  pulpy  within;  seeds  numerous. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored,  yellowish,  or  light  brown  with  a  pinkish 
or  grayish  tinge;  medium-textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight; 
slightly  fibrous,  brittle,  easy  to  work;  checks  in  drying  and  subject 
to  stain.  Parenchyma  indistinct;  paratracheal.  Pores  of  medium 
size  to  fairly  large;  moderately  numerous,  diffuse;  in  radial  multiples 
or  rows,  less  often  solitary,  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Rays  fine, 
numerous,  closely  spaced  on  cross  section  and  sinuous,  especially 
at  point  of  contact  with  the  pores;  indistinct  on  tangential ;  sometimes 
distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  numerous, 
small.  Rays  heterogeneous;  2-3,  seldom  4,  cells  wide. 

Banara  guianensis  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  548.  pi.  217.  1775. 
Machinmangua,  Raya-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  often  straggly,  up  to  20  feet  in  height. 
Crown  open.  Trunk  round  and  slender.  Leaves  elliptic-oblong  to 
ovate,  subcoriaceous,  tomentose,  acuminate  at  apex,  rounded  or 
subcordate  at  base.  Flowers  in  short,  terminal  panicles.  Fruit 
capsular,  subrounded,  1-seeded,  dark  brown;  seeds  black. — Common 
in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  500  ft.);  along  margin  of  forest  or  in 
thickets;  collected  also  along  river  banks  at  Puerto  Bermudez 
and  Puerto  Yessup,  Department  of  Junin.  Timber  is  used  for 
sugar  boxes. 


352  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  not  sharply  defined,  uniform  pale  brown  or  yellowish 
white;  heartwood  pale  gray.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  moderately  heavy,  firm, 
and  brittle;  cuts  easily  and  is  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium 
size;  rather  numerous  and  evenly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 
rows  or  multiples  of  2-4  or  more;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine 
and  slightly  darker  brown  than  background;  small  crystalline 
deposits  frequently  present.  Rays  indistinct  or  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  sur- 
rounding elements,  but  discernible  to  unaided  eye,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4014,  4978,  5321(1},  5365.    : 

Banara  mollisTul.Ann.  Sci.Nat.  111.7:288. 1847.  Borracho-sisa. 

Small,  straggly  tree,  about  18  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  slender,  appressed,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  about  4  feet.  Bark 
light  brown;  inner  bark  separates  into  thin  flakes. — Of  limited 
distribution;  in  dry  forest  loam  (alt.  3,000  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used 
locally. 

Wood  white  with  grayish  or  brown  streaks;  light  in  weight,  but 
firm;  saws  rather  woolly,  easy  to  cut;  not  durable. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7031. 

Banara  nitida  Spruce  in  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  5,  Suppl.  2: 
93.  1861. 

Tree,  attaining  a  height  of  up  to  60  feet.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  from  10  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
limbs  up  to  half  the  height.— In  upland  forest  (alt.  1,300-3,000  ft.). 
Wood  is  used  for  general  carpentry  and  kindling. 

Wood  light  brown  throughout  with  pale  grayish  cast,  occasionally 
with  dark  streaks;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  fine-  or  moderately 
fine-textured;  firm  and  of  about  the  same  density  as  B.  guianensis; 
brittle,  saws  slightly  woolly;  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6530;  San  Roque,  6986. 

2.    CARPOTROCHE  Endl. 

Shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  large,  short- 
stalked.  Flowers  usually  dioecious.  Fruit  leathery  or  woody,  dehis- 
cent or  indehiscent;  seeds  large  and  numerous. 

Wood  pale  yellow  to  pinkish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure; 
fine-textured;  of  light  to  medium  weight  or  moderately  heavy; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  353 

t 

slightly  fibrous,  sometimes  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish; 
susceptible  to  stain;  moderately  durable  or  durable.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  small;  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  and  appar- 
ently of  two  sizes,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  distinct  on  radial. 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations,  with  5-8  bars;  vessel-ray 
pits  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers 
with  fairly  large,  simple  pits;  septate. 

Carpotroche  longifolia  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  Benth.  Journ.  Linn. 
Soc.  5,  Suppl.  2:  82.  1861.  Huira-huayo,  Zapote  del  .mono. 

Slender  tree,  from  12  to  20  feet  high.  Crown  spreading  or  conical 
and  with  elongated  branches.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  and  free  of 
branches  for  2  or  3  feet.  Bark  thin,  reddish  to  dark  chocolate  brown, 
fairly  smooth  or  with  small  excrescences.  Leaves  obovate-oblong 
to  oblanceolate,  short-acuminate.  Flowers  in  clusters  attached  to 
trunk  and  main  branches;  petals  white;  stamens  yellow,  white,  or 
pink;  June-July. — Common  in  the  lowland;  along  margin  of  or  in 
dense  forest  growth  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pinkish  brown  to  pale  yellow;  heartwood  thin,  dull 
brown,  occasionally  with  extensive  grayish  areas.  Wood  has  a 
slightly  offensive  odor;  straight-  or  wavy-grained ;  not  as  fine-textured 
as  C.  parvifolia;  light  in  weight  or  moderately  so;  takes  a  smooth 
and  fairly  lustrous  finish.  Rays  of  two  sizes,  numerous,  closely  and 
evenly  spaced  on  cross  section,  the  larger  barely  visible  to  unaided 
eye;  indistinct  on  tangential;  slightly  darker  than  background  and 
rather  prominent  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform;  vessel-ray  pits  simple.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  with  fairly  large  pits; 
often  septate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  625;  Pebas,  1801;  Caballo-cocha,  2131; 
La  Victoria,  2711. 

Carpotroche  parvifolia  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  390. 1934.  Casha- 
huayo. 

Uncommon  forest  tree,  approximately  70  feet  in  height.  Crown 
conical.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  12  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  clear  of  branches  for  one-third  the  height.  Bark  grayish  brown. 
— In  slightly  humid  loam  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited 
extent  for  piling  and  in  house  construction. 


354  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  pale  purplish  or  reddish  brown  streaks; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
rather  heavy,  hard,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished;  durable.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing 
to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
small  and  visible  only  with  lens;  fairly  numerous,  evenly  scattered; 
solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  rows  of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  short,  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  fine,  closely 
spaced,  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements,  but  distinguishable 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto :  lower  Huallaga,  5260. 

3.    CASEARIA  Jacq. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  either  entire  or  toothed,  usually 
with  translucent  dots  or  lines.  Flowers  small,  white,  arranged  in 
clusters  or  umbels  in  the  leaf  axils  or  along  the  older  branches; 
petals  none.  Fruit  a  3-4-valved,  dry  or  fleshy  capsule,  usually  red 
at  maturity;  seeds  several  or  many,  covered  by  a  fleshy  aril. 

Wood  whitish  to  pinkish,  often  with  grayish  streaks;  heartwood 
purplish  to  dark  chocolate  brown.  Wood  fine-  or  fairly  fine- textured ; 
of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy,  hard,  and  compact,  and  well 
suited  for  turnery;  easy  to  work,  capable  of  taking  a  smooth,  fairly 
lustrous  or  highly  lustrous  polish;  sometimes  liable  to  stain  in 
drying.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  tangential  or  oblique  lines. 
Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows;  seldom  filled  with  calcium  deposit.  Rays 
fine  or  moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  occasionally  distinct  on 
radial. 

Vessel  perforations  'simple,  tending  at  times  to  scalariform; 
Intervascular  pits  very  small,  with  slit-like  apertures  which  may 
extend  beyond  the  borders  and  may  coalesce  into  spirals;  vessel-ray 
pits  very  small,  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  2-4  cells  wide, 
up  to  75  cells  high,  and  often  crowded.  Wood  fibers  have  simple 
pits;  often  septate. 

Gasearia  Blanchetiana  Miq.  Linnaea  22:  801.  1849.  Uchu- 
mullaca. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  65  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  erect,  moderately  round,  from  10  to  15  inches  in  diameter, 
with  small  buttresses,  and  free  of  branches  for  almost  two-thirds 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  355 

the  height.  Bark  pale  gray  to  purplish  brown,  moderately  smooth, 
and  secretes  a  small  amount  of  translucent,  insipid  resin. — Fairly 
abundant  in  the  upper  Itaya  (alt.  450  ft.);  in  flood-free  forest. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  throughout  when  fresh,  yellowish  or  pink- 
ish brown  when  dried;  heartwood  pale  pinkish  brown;  straight- 
grained;  fine-  to  medium-  and  uniform-textured;  moderately  heavy 
to  heavy  and  compact;  saws  slightly  woolly,  but  capable  of  taking 
a  smooth  and  highly  lustrous  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  not 
resistant  to  termite  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  indistinct  even  with  lens.  Pores  small;  very  numerous; 
in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-8;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine, 
but  readily  visible  against  the  light-colored  background;  grayish 
white  deposit  occasionally  present.  Rays  indistinct  to  unaided 
eye  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  darker  than  background  and 
readily  visible  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3393. 

Casearia  iquitosensis  Macbr.,  ined. 

Shrub,  from  8  to  18  feet  tall.  Bark  thin,  grayish  to  dark  reddish 
brown,  fairly  smooth. — Common  near  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  clear- 
ings, thickets,  or  along  border  of  forest  growth. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  thin,  dull  dark  brown. 
Wood  straight-  to  irregular-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured ;  heavy, 
tough,  and  strong;  cuts  easily;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings 
present.  Rays  prominent  in  some  specimens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3773,  7975,  8015. 

Casearia  javitensis  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  5:  366.  1823. 

Uncommon  forest  tree,  from  30  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  6  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  free  of  limbs  for  about  one-third  the  height.  Timber  is  used  to 
a  limited  extent  for  house  construction. 

Wood  uniform  light  brown  or  pinkish  brown;  straight-,  roey-,  or 
irregular-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured ;  rather  heavy  and  moder- 
ately hard;  fairly  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  liable  to  check 
in  drying.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  on  account  of  variation 
in  depth  of  color.  Rays  prominent  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4590. 

Casearia  macrophylla  Vahl(?),  Eclog.  Am.  2:  32.  1798. 
Uncommon  forest  tree,  seldom  more  than  20  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.     Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from  5  to  8  inches  in 


356  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

diameter,  and  branching  about  5  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  thin, 
yellowish  to  pale  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Timber  is  used  for 
fuel  only. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  demarcated,  pale  yellow  to  cream-colored, 
occasionally  with  pinkish  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dull  gray. 
Wood  has  a  slightly  offensive  odor  when  fresh;  straight-  or  inter- 
locked-grained ;  fine- textured ;  moderately  light,  but  strong.  Rays 
indistinct  to  unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4934- 

Casearia  parvifolia  Willd.  Sp.  PL  2:  628.  1799.    Tortuga-caspi. 

Tree,  about  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  5  feet.  Bark 
up  to  1  inch  thick,  pale  grayish  yellow  or  brown,  scaly.  Flowers 
white,  fragrant. — In  scant  growth,  close  to  bank  of  the  Mayo 
River  (alt.  1,600  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  pink;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  very 
fine- textured. 

San  Martin:  upper  Huallaga,  6219. 

Casearia  Poeppigii  Eichl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1:  475. 
1871.  Llajas. 

Tree,  ranging  in  height  from  20  to  90  feet.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  up  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
limbs  for  about  one-third  the  height.  Bark  moderately  thin,  pale 
gray  to  grayish  brown,  with  fine,  shallow,  transverse  fissures. 
Flowers  pale  yellowish  white;  December-January. — Abundant  in 
lower  Huallaga  in  flood-free  forest,  where  it  appears  to  attain 
its  best  development,  also  in  secondary  growth  around  Tarapoto 
(alt.  400-1,500  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  for  rafters  and  beams  in 
house  construction. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  in  some  specimens  reddish 
brown;  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  fine-textured;  moderately  heavy  to 
heavy;  saws  slightly  woolly,  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a  high  golden 
luster;  appears  to  be  durable. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4579,  4741- — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
6078,  6116,  6612. 

Casearia  reginae  Macbr.,  ined. 

Forest  tree  of  the  lowland,  up  to  85  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  12  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  357 

for  60  feet.  Bark  moderately  thin,  light  to  dark  grayish  brown  or 
almost  black.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow;  May-June. — Fairly 
abundant;  in  dry  patches  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  not  clearly  defined  into  sap  and  heart,  pale  or  pinkish 
brown. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2758. 

Casearia  sylvestris  Sw.  Fl.  Ind.  Occ.  2:  752.  1800. 

Shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  15  to  18,  infrequently  up  to  27, 
feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  and  free  of 
limbs  up  to  half  the  height.  Bark  yellowish  or  dark  reddish  brown. 
Flowers  grayish  brown.  Fruit  small,  rounded,  and  dark  brown  when 
mature. — Common  in  forest  and  secondary  growth  in  the  lower 
Huallaga  and  around  Tarapoto  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.). 

Sap  wood  yellowish  to  pale  brown  with  grayish  tinge;  heart  wood 
dark  chocolate  brown  and  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4750. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6823. 

Casearia  sylvestris  var.  martinensis  Macbr.,  ined. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  from  15  to  27  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched 
for  from  3  to  6  feet.  Bark  grayish  brown.  Fruit  dark  brown  when 
mature;  June-July. — Common;  in  dry  medium  loam  on  edge  of 
forest  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.).  Timber  is  liable  to  be  damaged  by  insects 
and  is  little  used  except  for  kindling. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2436(7). — San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near 
Tarapoto,  6831. 

Casearia  tarapotina  Pilger,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  47: 
161.  1905.  Tambor  huactana. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  from  10  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open.  Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched 
for  from  2  to  6  feet.  Bark  light  tan,  often  with  slaty  gray  patches. 
Fruit  small,  round ;  December-January. — Common  on  the  plain  of 
Tarapoto  (alt.  1,500  ft.) ;  in  sandy  loam  often  along  edge  of  paths 
in  open  forest. 

Wood  almost  white  when  fresh,  in  dried  material  becoming 
creamy  yellow,  occasionally  with  light  gray  streaks  or  areas  caused 
by  stain;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  moderately  fine- textured ; 
of  medium  weight;  inclined  to  be  coarsely  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and 


358  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  light-colored 
bands  resembling  parenchyma.  Pores  not  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2.  Rays 
closely  spaced,  lighter  than  background;  visible  only  with  lens  on 
cross  section  and  occasionally  on  radial. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6096,  6590,  6723. 

Casearia  timbuchi  Macbr.,  ined.     Uchu-caspi. 

Shrub,  9  feet  tall.  Trunk  slender  and  undivided  for  4  or  5  feet. 
Bark  light  gray  or  medium  brown,  with  numerous,  small,  lighter- 
colored  lenticels.  Flowers  with  yellow  corolla  and  deeper  yellow 
filaments;  June-July. — Along  banks  of  streams  or  in  alluvial  loam 
in  dense  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  sharply  defined,  creamy  white;  heartwood  chocolate 
brown.  Wood  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine-textured.  Growth 
rings  present.  Pores  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-3,  less 
frequently  solitary.  Rays  numerous,  fine  or  fairly  fine,  slightly  sinu- 
ous, lighter  than  background,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section. 

Loreto:  Timbuchi,  upper  Nanay,  995. 

4.    HASSELTIA  HBK. 

Hasseltia  laxiflora  (Benth.)  Eichl.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  12,  pt.  3: 
168.  1886.  Okuchi-huasi,  Raton-caspi,  Tamamaru. 

Small  tree  or  shrub,  up  to  15  feet  tall.  Crown  pyramidal  or  flat. 
Bark  light  tan  to  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  numerous, 
small  lenticels.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow  or  white ;  July-September. 
Fruit  small,  round,  red  when  mature. — Common  throughout  the 
lowland  from  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  border  to  the  lower  Huallaga 
(alt.  380-400  ft.) ;  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  and  sometimes  forming 
undergrowth  in  moderately  dense  forest  free  from  periodical 
inundations. 

Wood  uniform  creamy  yellow  with  little  or  no  distinction  between 
sap  wood  and  heartwood;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained; fine-textured;  light  to  medium  in  weight;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  smooth  finish;  susceptible  to  insects,  but  free  from  stain. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  very  small;  moderately  or  veiy  numerous  and  well  dis- 
tributed or  inclined  in  some  specimens  to  be  crowded;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-4;  open  or  occasionally  filled  with  white 
deposit  of  calcium.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  359 

Rays  moderately  fine,  lighter  than  adjacent  elements,  and  visible 
without  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  barely  discernible  with 
lens  on  other  surfaces.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  abundant  in  ray 
cells  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  fairly  large 
and  numerous.  Rays  heterogeneous;  2-3  cells  wide.  Fibers  with 
small,  simple  pits;  septate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  588;  La  Victoria,  2845,  2937;  Puerto 
Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  4976,  5196. 

5.    LAETIA  Loefl. 

Laetia  suaveolens  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  5,  Suppl.  2:  85. 
1861.  Timarehua. 

Tree,  35  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round,  7  inches 
in  diameter,  and  unbranched  up  to  18  feet.  Bark  medium  brown, 
rough,  and  furnishes  a  fair  quantity  of  viscid,  insipid,  brown  resin. 
Flowers  with  filiform  filaments.  Fruit  baccate,  trivalvate,  pinkish 
yellow;  February-April. — Uncommon;  in  humid  loam  near  bank  of 
Amazon  River  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown  and  streaked;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  fairly  straight-  or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  me- 
dium weight;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  holds  its  color  and 
place  well ;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  difference 
in  depth  of  color.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  fairly  numerous, 
evenly  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  seldom  more. 
Vessel  lines  numerous,  fine,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  lustrous 
tyloses  frequently  present.  Rays  numerous,  moderately  fine,  lighter 
than  adjacent  elements,  evenly  spaced,  and  at  limit  of  vision  on 
cross  section;  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  other  surfaces; 
dull  brown  specks  of  gum  abundant  in  cells. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uni-  or 
biseriate.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  abundant  in  ray  cells,  espe- 
cially on  radial  surface.  Wood  fibers  with  small  simple  pits;  septate. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  8035. 

6.    LINDACKERIA  C.  Presl 

Lindackeria  maynensis  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3: 
63.  pi.  270.  1845.  Huacapu,  Lluicho-caspi,  Quinilla  colorada. 

Tree,  from  20  to  45  feet  in  height,  although  said  to  attain  greater 
stature.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  slender,  and  un- 


360  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

branched  for  from  3  to  10  feet.  Bark  in  young  trees  pale  brown,  in 
old  trees  turning  to  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  scaly;  inner  bark 
darker  brown.  Flowers  with  white  petals  and  yellow  anthers;  June. 
Fruit  round,  spiny,  edible;  October. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland 
(alt.  400-600  ft. ) ;  usually  along  margin  of  forest  free  from  seasonal 
inundations.  The  strong  durable  wood  is  esteemed  for  house  posts. 

Sap  wood  pale  brown,  in  some  specimens  with  dark  areas  or  gray- 
ish cast;  heartwood  well  defined,  dark  gray.  Wood  has  no  dis- 
tinctive odor  or  taste ;  straight-grained ;  fine-  and  uniform-textured ; 
heavy  and  compact;  moderately  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous 
finish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  indis- 
tinct or  absent.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine  tangential 
lines  extending  between  the  rays  and  barely  visible  with  lens. 
Pores  minute  or  small;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  well 
distributed ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3 ;  mostly  open  or  in- 
frequently filled  with  calcium.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  and  slightly 
darker  than  the  surrounding  elements;  pale  grayish  calcium  deposit 
frequently  present.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  indistinct  or  indistinguishable 
without  lens  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  heterogeneous;  3-4  cells 
wide.  Fibers  with  small,  simple  pits;  often  septate. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  4%5;  near  Iquitos,  3731,  3753;  Yurimaguas, 
4681,  4705;  Punchana,  near  Iquitos,  8005. 

7.    LUNANIA  Hook. 

Lunania  cuspidata  Warb.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl,  Nat.  Pflanzenfam. 
3,  pt.  6a:  47.  1893.  Champa  huatana,  Pina-quiro. 

Tree,  from  20  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  infrequently  almost  round, 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  undivided  for 
6  to  25  feet.  Bark  thin,  pale  grayish  brown;  inner  bark  chocolate 
brown.  Flowers  in  terminal  racemes,  small,  white;  June-July. 
Fruit  round,  bluish  black  when  mature;  October-November. — In 
dry  loam  in  open  patches  or  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380-600  ft.).  Wood 
is  used  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellow  or  light  grayish  brown;  heartwood  thin, 
dark  brown,  and  with  a  grayish  cast.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  moderately  fine-  or  medium-tex- 
tured; of  medium  weight  and  compact;  easy  to  cut,  splits  readily, 
saws  woolly,  and  is  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish;  liable  to 
check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present.  Parenchyma 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  361 

indistinct;  diffuse  or  in  very  fine  lines  between  rays.  Pores  small  or 
medium-sized;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous,  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4;  open  or  filled  with  lustrous 
tyloses.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements.  Rays 
either  fine  and  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential 
surfaces  or  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  occasionally  at  limit  of 
vision  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  fairly  large, 
with  round  borders;  vessel-ray  pits  simple.  Rays  distinctly  hetero- 
geneous; mostly  biseriate.  Fibers  with  simple  pits. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1895;  lower  Huallaga,  4731,  5099,  5156. 

8.    MAYNA  Aubl. 

Mayna  echinata  Spruce  ex  Benth.  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  5, 
Suppl.  2:  82.  1861.  Congo-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  from  15  to  25  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  3  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  and 
clear  of  limbs  up  to  about  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  thin 
and  dark  pinkish  brown.  Flowers  pale  yellow  or  white.  Fruit 
deep  yellow  when  mature;  December-January. — Very  common  in 
the  lower  Huallaga  and  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.) ; 
in  old  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest;  the  species  was  collected 
also  by  Spruce  in  the  Brazilian  Amazon. 

Wood  yellowish  brown  with  broad  pinkish  or  grayish  streaks;  has 
no  distinctive  taste  or  odor;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  fine-  or 
medium-textured;  light  or  medium  in  weight,  but  strong  and  rather 
tenacious;  fairly  easy  to  cut;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  susceptible 
to  stain  and  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  present  on  account  of  some 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute 
or  small  and  barely  visible  with  lens;  rather  numerous  or  very 
numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or 
rows.  Vessel  lines  not  distinguishable.  Rays  apparently  of  two 
sizes,  the  larger  moderately  broad  and  readily  discernible  without 
lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  lighter  color  than 
background  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  fairly  large 
and  with  ovoid  margins.  Rays  heterogeneous;  multiseriate  (2-5 
cells  wide). 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  235;  Sapote-yaco,  4892,  and  Puerto  Arturo, 
lower  Huallaga,  5021,  5328. 


362  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

9.    PATRISIA  L.  C.  Rich. 

Patrisia  pyrifera  L.  C.  Rich.  Acta  Soc.  Hist.  Nat.  Par.  1: 
110.  1792.  Ryania  pyrifera  (L.  C.  Rich.)  Uittien  &  Sleumer  in  Pulle, 
Flora  of  Surinam  3:  286.  1935. 

Shrub,  7  to  15  feet  tall,  with  slender,  pendent  branches.  Bark 
pale  green  to  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  oblong, 
short-stalked,  rounded  or  subrounded  at  base,  abruptly  acuminate 
at  the  broad  tip.  Flowers  nearly  sessile,  in  the  leaf-axils;  sepals 
greenish  white,  turning  pink;  filaments  white;  anthers  brown.  Fruit 
soft  when  mature  and  valvately  dehiscent;  valves  with  thin  endo- 
carp,  and  a  thick  corky  exocarp;  seeds  brown  and  finely  haired; 
March-April. — Not  common;  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  second 
growth  (alt.  400-450  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  darker  brown  markings 
of  rays;  heartwood  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless,  but  has  a  slightly 
astringent  taste;  wavy-  or  interlocked -grained ;  fairly  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm,  tough,  and  coarse;  easy  to 
cut.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct;  in  very  few 
tangential  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small ; 
fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small 
radial  rows  or  multiples.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct  without 
lens.  Rays  yellowish  white  or  pale  brown,  apparently  of  two  sizes,  the 
larger  ones  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  darker  than  the  surrounding 
elements  and  readily  distinguishable  on  other  surfaces. 

Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous,  cells  filled  with  an  abundant  deposit 
of  dark  brown  gum;  up  to  14  cells  or  more  wide. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3443;  near  Iquitos,  8229. 

10.    PROCKIA  L. 

Prockia  septemnervia  Spreng.  Syst.  Veg.  2:  609.  1825.  Chara- 
pilla. 

Medium-sized  or  fairly  tall  tree,  often  attaining  a  height  of 
60  feet.  Crown  almost  round.  Trunk  straight,  round,  from  15  to  24 
inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  up  to  45  feet,  and  with  four  buttresses 
about  3  feet  high.  Bark  0.5  to  1  inch  thick,  brown,  rough;  inner 
bark  pinkish  brown.  Fruit  green  and  soft  when  mature;  October- 
November. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  clear  of  inundations  (alL 
500  ft.).  Wood  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  with  pinkish,  light  brown,  or  dark  purplish 
streaks;  heartwood  reddish  to  dark  brown  or  almost  black.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  363 

weight  or  fairly  heavy;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
polish  with  a  moderate  luster;  likely  to  check  in  drying  and  subject 
to  stain.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  con- 
fluent, also  in  broken  or  fairly  continuous  concentric  lines  or  bands. 
Pores  fairly  small  or  medium-sized;  few,  well  scattered;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  seldom  in  tangential  pairs  or  in  small 
clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine  scratches  of 
slightly  darker  color  than  background;  white  deposit  or  dark 
brown  gum  frequently  present.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  evenly 
spaced,  wavy,  and  lighter  than  background  on  cross  section;  barely 
visible  with  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  small, 
numerous,  and  with  round  margins.  Rays  heterogeneous,  crystals 
of  calcium  oxalate  common  in  cells;  3-4  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5048;  herbarium  material  collected  also 
near  Tarapoto,  San  Martin. 

11.    TETRATHYLACIUM  Poepp.  &  Endl. 

Tetrathylacium  macrophyllum  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen. 
&  Sp.  3:  34.  pi.  240.  1845.  Anonilla,  Llaja,  Mulla-huayo. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  bent  or  fairly  straight,  round,  4  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  up  to  7  feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  grayish  brown  and  fairly 
smooth ;  wood  beneath  bark  often  deep  pink.  Leaves  up  to  12  inches 
long,  leathery,  and  alternate.  Inflorescence  cymose-axillary ;  flowers 
small,  yellow;  October.  Fruit  a  berry. — Widely  distributed  in  the 
lowland,  but  nowhere  common;  in  old  clearings  and  thickets  (alt. 
380-500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown  with  light  gray 
streaks;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  to 
medium-textured;  light  or  moderately  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  smooth  finish ;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings 
present.  Parenchyma  indistinct;  in  very  fine  tangential  lines 
extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous  to  very 
numerous,  well  scattered ;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  less  often  soli- 
tary, in  diagonal  or  tangential  pairs,  seldom  in  small  clusters; 
variation  appearing  in  different  specimens;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  and  indistinct  to  unaided 
eye.  Rays  fairly  fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  discernible  with  lens  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  dark  or  reddish  brown  and 
at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface.  Pith  pale  brown,  septate,  thin. 


364  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Vessels  with  scalariform  perforations;  intervascular  pits  fairly 
large  and  with  ovoid  or  round  margins;  vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered 
or  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  3-4  cells  wide. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2136;  La  Victoria,  2713;  near  Yurimaguas, 
4010$),  4618. 

12.    XYLOSMA  Forst.  f. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  the  trunk  often  armed  with  large,  branched 
spines.  Leaves  short-stalked,  crenate  or  almost  entire.  Flowers 
minute,  fascicled  in  the  leaf  axils  or  in  short  racemes;  petals  absent; 
stamens  numerous.  Fruit  a  small,  2-8-seeded  berry. 

Wood  light  brown,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  and  usually 
with  a  grayish  cast;  moderately  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  of  medium 
weight  or  fairly  heavy;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
polish;  durable.  Parenchyma  sparsely  developed;  indistinct  or  visi- 
ble as  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
numerous,  diffuse ;  solitary  or  in  multiples;  open  or  infrequently  filled 
with  tyloses.  Rays  fine,  wavy,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  barely  visible  on 
radial  when  held  to  proper  light. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  with  slit-like 
orifices.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide. 

Xylosma  pilosa  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  391.  1934.  Diablo-casha, 
Supai-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  approximately  15  feet  tall.  Crown  open. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  undivided  for  5  feet.  Bark  light 
green  to  rufous  brown,  with  small  lenticels. — Rare;  in  dry  loam  along 
margin  of  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  deep  pinkish  brown  and  darkening  in  color 
on  exposure  to  air;  straight-,  roey-,  or  interwoven-grained ;  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight,  tenacious,  and  compact;  inclined  to  be 
fibrous  and  splintery ;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish ;  checks  in 
drying.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of 
pores.  Pores  of  medium  size;  rather  numerous,  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines 
of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct;  grayish  white  deposit 
sometimes  present  and  discernible  with  lens.  Rays  very  fine, 
numerous,  closely  spaced ;  discernible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and 
radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  4977. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  365 

Xylosma  Salzmannii  Eichl.(?),  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  13,  pt.  1: 

448.  1871.    Cunshi-cashan. 

Slender  shrub,  14  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  and  branches 
contorted  and  armed  with  stout  spines  up  to  1.5  inches  long.  Bark 
medium  brown  with  a  pale  gray  cast. — Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  in 
clearings  or  along  edge  of  path  in  forest  (alt.  500-3,500  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  light  brown,  occasionally  with  pale  grayish  white 
areas;  straight- or  irregular-grained;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm; 
easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3  and  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct. 
Rays  numerous,  very  closely  spaced,  slightly  wavy,  and  visible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  section;  darker  than  background  and  discernible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  4487;  herbarium  material  collected 

also  at  San  Roque,  San  Martin. 

• 

CARICACEAE.    Pawpaw  Family 

Trees  or  large  shrubs,  rarely  herbs,  with  milky  juice.  Leaves 
alternate,  long-stalked,  simple,  and  deeply  lobate  or  digitately  com- 
pound, without  stipules.  Flowers  commonly  unisexual.  Fruit 
baccate,  large,  1-  or  5-celled.  Wood  spongy  and  perishable. 

1.    CARICA  L. 
Carica  Papaya  L.  Sp.  PI.  1036.  1753.    Papayo. 

A  rapid-growing  tree,  from  15  to  30  feet  in  height,  planted 
abundantly  and  in  places  naturalized.  Crown  flat,  with  few  branches. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  up  to  10  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  thin, 
spongy  within,  and  papery  outside.  Leaves  toothed,  deeply  lobed, 
and  simple.  Fruit  oblong  or  obovoid,  yellow  or  orange,  with  thick 
skin,  firm  pulp  with  a  delicious  flavor,  and  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed 
fruits  of  tropical  America;  seeds  numerous,  black,  and  rough. 
All  parts  of  the  tree  contain  a  copious  milky  juice. 

Wood  very  spongy  and  consists  of  an  outer  ring  of  fibrous  wood 
bundles  surrounding  a  large  pith.  The  bundles  are  wedge-shaped 
and  crossed  at  intervals  by  bars  in  which  the  small  pores  are  located. 
The  medullary  rays  between  the  bundles  are  indistinct. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2181;  La  Victoria,  2837,  3023 — herba- 
rium material  only. 


366  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

2.    JACARATIA  Endl. 

Jacaratia  digitata  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  Solms  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
13,  pt.  3:  191.  pi.  51,  fig.  1.  1889.  Shamburu. 

Medium-sized  or  tall  tree,  at  times  attaining  a  height  of  75 
feet.  Crown  conical  or  spreading;  branches  arranged  in  whorls  and 
often  spinose.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  about  19  inches  in  diame- 
ter, and  free  of  branches  for  more  than  one-fourth  the  height.  Bark 
brown  or  almost  black  and  exudes  an  astringent  juice.  Leaves  long- 
stalked,  digitate;  leaflets  broadly  round-ovate.  Fruit  oblong; 
maturing  in  February. — Limited  in  its  distribution;  in  old  clearings 
or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3342—  herbarium  material  only. 

THYMELAEACEAE.    Leatherwood  Family 
1.    SGHOENOBIBLUS  Mart. 

Schoenobiblus  peruvianus  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  169. 
1936.  Barbasco-caspi. 

Small  tree,  up  to  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  irregular.  Trunk 
slender  and  unbranched  for  5  feet.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown; 
inner  bark  grayish  or  dirty  white  and  woolly.  Flowers  white;  June- 
July. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest,  often  near  streams  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  when  freshly  cut,  but  soon  turns  to  pale 
pinkish  brown  on  exposure,  occasionally  with  canary  yellow  streaks 
and  a  grayish  cast;  has  a  pleasant  odor  and  a  slightly  bitter  taste 
when  fresh;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
moderately  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and 
takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying;  fairly  durable.  Growth 
rings  indicated  by  terminal  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  paratracheal, 
aliform,  sometimes  in  broken,  concentric  lines  or  fine  bands,  at  times 
uniting  the  pores  or  indicating  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  of 
medium  size ;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary,  less  often 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-4  or  in  fairly  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines 
indistinct  or  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  lighter-colored  than 
background,  fairly  broad,  and  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section; 
lighter  than  adjacent  elements  and  fairly  distinct  in  proper  light  on 
radial  surface. 

Vessel  segments  short,  stout,  and  compressed ;  vessel  perforations 
simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate;  dark  brown  gum  common 
in  cells.  Wood  fibers  fairly  thin-walled;  pits  simple  or  half-bordered. 

Loreto:  middle  Nanay,  1162. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  367 

LYTHRACEAE.     Loosestrife  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  slender  trees.  Leaves  opposite,  whorled, 
or  alternate,  entire,  estipulate  or  with  minute  stipules.  Flowers 
perfect,  4-16-parted.  Fruit  capsular,  dry.  Some  of  the  members 
are  important  sources  of  dyestuffs,  for  example,  the  Egyptian  henna, 
Lawsonia  inermis  L.,  a  small  shrub  with  small,  very  fragrant, 
greenish  flowers,  widely  cultivated  for  its  leaves,  the  source  of  henna 
dye  used  for  imparting  an  orange-yellow  or  brownish-yellow  color  to 
nails,  hair,  skin,  and  leather.  "Locura"  (Lagerstroemia  indica  L.),  a 
native  of  the  East  Indies  and  Australia,  is  much  esteemed  locally  for 
ornament.  The  Peruvian  species  do  not  yield  timber  of  commer- 
cial importance. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  pale  yellow  to  grayish,  pinkish,  or  purplish 
brown;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  light  to  dark  chocolate 
brown.  Wood  usually  without  odor  or  taste;  fine-  or  medium-tex- 
tured; mostly  of  medium  weight  to  heavy;  sometimes  saws  woolly, 
easy  to  work,  and  takes  a  moderately  or  highly  lustrous  polish ;  fairly 
durable  or  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform,  or  in  broken, 
tangential  bands  often  uniting  the  pores,  sometimes  terminal ;  indis- 
tinct or  visible  only  with  lens.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size; 
numerous  or  fairly  numerous,  diffuse-  or  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in 
multiples,  seldom  in  rows  or  small  clusters.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine 
and  numerous  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  usually 
fairly  conspicuous  on  radial  surface.  In  Physocalymma  scaberrimum 
Pohl  large  oil  or  resin  canals  are  present  along  the  margin  of  the 
rays,  in  the  wood  parenchyma  strands,  and  in  the  bark,  constituting 
a  highly  characteristic  feature  of  the  species. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  rather  large, 
slit-like;  vessel-ray  pits  large  and  elongated;  pits  vestured.  Rays 
heterogeneous  or  in  some  species  tending  to  homogeneous;  mostly 
uniseriate  or  biseriate.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  pits;  often  septate. 

1.    ADENARIA  HBK. 

Adenaria  floribunda  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  6:  188.  pi.  549. 
1824.  Puca-varilla,  Rumo-caspi. 

Slender  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  15  feet  tall.  Leaves,  twigs, 
and  bark  covered  with  small,  black  glands.  Crown  conical  or  flat. 
Bark  thin,  reddish  brown.  Leaves  opposite,  short-stalked  or  almost 
sessile,  narrowly  oblongate  or  elliptic-lanceolate,  acute  or  acuminate, 
puberulent  beneath.  Flowers  in  short,  dense,  axillary  cymes;  petals 
yellowish  white;  June-July.  Fruit  small,  deep  pink  or  reddish  brown, 


368  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  borne  in  clusters;  December-January. — In  dense  forest  (alt.  up 
to  1,800  ft.);  reported  also  between  Huanuco  and  Pampayaco,  Piedra 
Grande  (alt.  5,000  ft.),  Ccarrupa,  between  Huanta  and  Rio  Apurimac 
(alt.  4,500  ft.),  and  near  the  estuary  of  the  Zubineta,  an  affluent 
of  the  Putumayo. 

Sapwood  lustrous  light  brown;  heartwood  pale  or  dark  chocolate 
brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  taste  or  odor;  straight-grained; 
uniformly  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  rather  heavy,  firm,  and  com- 
pact; easy  to  work  and  finishes  smoothly.  Growth  rings  present  and 
distinct  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
abundantly  developed;  paratracheal.  Pores  small;  numerous,  scat- 
tered; solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  rarely  more,  seldom 
in  small  radial  rows;  open  or  filled  with  calcium.  Vessel  lines  appear 
as  fine,  shallow  scratches.  Rays  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background,  but 
fairly  distinct,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1855,  1931. — San  Martin:  Lamas,  6354,  6440, 
6838. 

2.    PHYSOCALYMMA  Pohl 

Physocalymma  scaberrimum  Pohl,  Flora  10:  153.  1827. 
Slender  tree,  up  to  32  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  columnar,  about  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  14 
feet.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  pinkish  brown,  scaly;  inner  bark  with 
distinct  pale  yellow  deposit  (see  notes  on  minute  structure).  Leaves 
obovate,  acuminate,  petiolate.  Flowers  with  dark  purple  calyx  and 
bright  pink  corolla.— Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  and  plain 
of  Tarapoto  (alt.  550-1,500  ft.);  in  old  clearings  or  along  margin  of 
flood-free  forest;  reported  also  from  the  Colonia  Perene  (alt.  2,100 
ft.),  in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley  (alt.  3,700  ft.),  near  La  Merced  (alt. 
2,000  ft.),  and  in  the  forests  of  western  Brazil  near  the  Peruvian 
border.  Timber  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge; 
heartwood  purplish  or  dark  brown,  well  defined,  perishable.  Wood 
has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  moderately  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  heavy,  moderately  hard, 
and  compares  with  maple  (Acer)',  moderately  easy  to  work  and 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish;  subject  to  insect 
attacks,  but  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing  to 
slight  variation  in  the  density  of  the  wood.  Parenchyma  meta- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  369 

tracheal;  in  broad,  irregular,  broken,  tangential  or  oblique  bands; 
readily  visible  without  lens  in  some  specimens.  Pores  of  small  or 
medium  size;  not  numerous  to  numerous  and  well  scattered;  soli- 
tary or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  sometimes  filled  with  tyloses  or 
calcium.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  distinguishable  without  lens;  grayish 
white  or  white  deposit  often  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  tangential 
section.  Rays  very  fine  and  numerous  on  cross  section;  faintly 
discernible  on  tangential;  slightly  darker  than  the  surrounding 
elements  on  radial  surface  and  occasionally  visible  to  unaided  eye.  . 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  rather  large, 
with  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  large  and  elongated,  often 
in  scalariform  arrangement,  simple  or,  at  times,  tending  to  bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide  and  few  to  25  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  minute  simple  pits;  often  septate.  A  characteristic 
feature  of  this  species  is  the  presence  of  large  oil  or  resin  canals 
located  at  intervals  along  the  margin  of  the  rays,  in  the  wood  paren- 
chyma strands,  and  in  the  bark;  they  are  thin- walled  and  have 
yellowish  contents. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  3882,  4025. — San  Martin:  near  Tara- 
poto,  5601. 

LECYTHIDACEAE.    Brazil-nut  Family 

Small  to  large  trees,  widely  distributed  in  tropical  regions  of 
both  hemispheres,  but  most  abundant  and  of  greatest  stature  in  the 
Amazon  Valley.  Leaves  simple,  alternate,  without  stipules.  Flowers 
rather  large  and  showy,  in  terminal  racemes  or  panicles,  actinomor- 
phic  or  zygomorphic,  hermaphrodite;  stamens  numerous,  in  several 
series.  Fruit  woody,  fibrous,  or  fleshy,  indehiscent  or  operculate 
at  the  apex.  While  many  of  the  timbers  are  suitable  for  construction 
and  carpentry,  and  have  considerable  local  utility,  they  are  practi- 
cally unknown  to  commerce. 

Sapwood  ranges  in  color  from  pale  grayish  or  drab  to  light 
brown;  heartwood  brown,  with  variations  in  shade  from  yellow  or 
olive  through  pink,  reddish,  to  chocolate  or  purplish.  Woods  at 
times,  e.g.,Gustavia,  have  a  fetid  or  nauseous  odor  in  fresh  material; 
mostly  straight-grained;  fine-  to  very  coarse- textured ;  some  are 
comparatively  light  and  soft,  while  others  are  extremely  hard  and 
heavy.  Growth  rings  distinct,  poorly  defined,  or  absent;  some- 
times indicated  by  variation  in  the  spacing  of  the  parenchyma  and 
the  relative  abundance  of  the  pores.  Wood  parenchyma  abundantly 
developed;  mostly  in  definite  metatracheal  bands  or  lines,  which 


370  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

vary  from  fine  and  indistinct  to  as  wide  as  the  fiber  layers 
between  them,  sometimes  paratracheal.  Pores  mostly  small  and 
indistinct  to  rather  large  and  distinct;  moderately  numerous  to  very 
numerous;  chiefly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  sometimes  in  irregu- 
lar clusters  or  solitary.  Rays  indiscernible  with  lens  to  broad  on 
cross  section  and  producing  a  conspicuous  silver  grain  on  radial. 
Vertical  gum  ducts,  gummosis  type,  sometimes  present. 

Vessels  with  mostly  short  to  long  members;  thin-walled  tyloses 
common;  perforation  plates  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pit- 
pairs  medium-sized,  alternate  or  opposite,  and  with  lenticular  or 
slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  of  two  sizes:  (a)  large  and  usually 
elongated;  (6)  small  and  resembling  intervascular,  alternate  or 
occasionally  crowded.  Wood  fibers  thick- walled  and  with  small, 
simple  or  indistinctly  bordered  pits.  Rays  homogeneous  or  nearly 
so;  2-7,  sometimes  15,  cells  wide,  and  few  to  60-100  cells  high; 
crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  or  dark  yellow  or  reddish  brown  gum 
common,  sometimes  very  abundant. 

1.    GRIAS  L. 
Grias  Neuberthii  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  30.  1931.  Chope. 

Tree,  55  feet  high.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  fairly  straight, 
round,  19  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching  3  or  4  feet  from  base. 
Bark  pale  brown  with  grayish  white  patches;  inner  bark  very 
fibrous.  Leaves  sessile,  oblong-spatulate,  short-acuminate,  angus- 
tate  at  base.  Flowers  pale  yellow,  showy,  long-stalked,  and  borne 
on  the  trunk;  June-July.  Fruit  ovoid,  brown  when  mature,  and 
contains  a  white,  succulent  pulp. — Sometimes  cultivated. 

Wood  pale  cream-colored  when  fresh,  light  brown  when  dried, 
often  stained  dark  gray  or  almost  black;  slightly  bitter  to  taste; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth  polish;  checks  in  drying. 
Parenchyma  visible  with  lens  as  numerous,  wavy,  closely  spaced 
lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size;  numerous 
and  uniformly  scattered ;  in  radial  or  diagonal  multiples  of  2  or  more, 
also  in  small  clusters,  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine  and  faintly  visible  without  lens  in  proper  light.  Rays  lighter- 
colored  than  the  surrounding  elements  and  fairly  broad  on  cross 
section;  fairly  distinct  on  tangential;  of  a  grayish  white  color  and 
rather  prominent  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2337. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  371 

2.    GUSTAVIA  L. 

Small  or  occasionally  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  alternate, 
vary  in  length  from  a  few  inches  to  almost  3  feet,  and  are  mostly 
in  clusters  near  the  tips  of  the  branches.  Flowers  white  or  yellowish 
and  showy.  Fruit  globular,  about  the  size  of  an  apple,  and  with  a 
leathery  pericarp;  pulp  sometimes  edible;  seeds  numerous,  bean-like. 
The  flowers  and  the  fleshy  fruit  are  clustered  along  the  trunk  and 
larger  branches.  Often  planted  for  their  fruit,  but  the  timber  is 
not  used  locally. 

Wood  varies  from  creamy  yellow  to  pale  brown,  at  times  with  a 
grayish  tinge;  generally  characterized  by  a  fetid  odor  that  is  pro- 
nounced in  fresh  material ;  moderately  fine-textured ;  heavy  and  hard 
to  moderately  so,  tough,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  good 
polish;  durable.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine,  wavy,  closely 
spaced  lines,  one  cell  wide,  and  extending  from  ray  to  ray.  Pores 
fairly  small;  numerous,  diffuse-  or  tending  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays  broad  and  conspicuous  on 
cross  section ;  visible  without  lens,  but  not  very  distinct,  on  tangential 
and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  small,  numerous, 
with  slit-like  orifices.  Rays  homogeneous,  tending  to  heterogeneous; 
1-5  cells  wide  and  up  to  50  cells  or  more  high;  crystals  of  calcium 
oxalate  common. 

Gustavia  caballoensis  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  28.  1931. 
Chope. 

Tree,  from  12  to  27  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  branch- 
ing from  the  base  or  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to 
three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  purplish  or  chocolate  brown,  with 
few,  fairly  large  lenticels;  inner  bark  deep  pink.  Flowers  large, 
white,  and  showy;  July- August.  Fruit  large,  rounded,  and  opercu- 
late. — Common  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  border 
(alt.  380  ft.);  in  dry  loam  in  second  growth. 

Wood  creamy  yellow,  with  little  or  no  distinction  between  sap 
and  heart;  has  a  strongly  fetid  odor  when  fresh;  moderately  straight- 
or  interwoven-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth,  dull  finish;  liable  to  check  in 
drying.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma 
in  very  closely  spaced,  wavy  lines  extending  tangentially  between 
the  rays.  Pores  small;  numerous  and  well  scattered  or  tending  to 
ring-porous;  solitary,  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  or  in  small 


372  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  and 
indistinct.  Rays  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements  and  very 
distinct  on  cross  section ;  sometimes  discernible  without  lens,  though 
not  distinct,  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2152,  2236,  2240. 

Other  numbers  determined  provisionally: 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2414,  2430,  2502;  La  Victoria,  3165;  upper 
Itaya,  3406;  Iquitos,  8057. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5646. 

3.    LECYTHIS  Loefl. 

Lecythis  sp.(?)  Machinmangua.  Tree,  up  to  75  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  30  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  45  or  50  feet.  Bark  purplish  to  pale  brown;  inner 
bark  fibrous  and  employed  locally  for  cordage.  Fruit  subround  and 
operculate;  June-July. — In  flood-free  forest  or  in  alluvial  loam,  often 
near  streams  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow,  darkening  slightly  on  exposure,  with 
fine,  dark  gum  striping  and  bluish  gray  streaks;  heartwood  dark 
brown,  perishable.  Wood  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste;  straight- 
grained;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to 
fairly  heavy,  compact;  saws  slightly  woolly;  does  not  appear  to  be 
durable.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  unevenly  spaced,  concentric 
bands  of  same  color  as,  and  forming  a  network  with,  the  rays.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary;  mostly  filled 
with  white  or  pale  brown  deposit.  Vessel  lines  not  distinct.  Rays 
numerous  and  readily  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section ;  distinguish- 
able also  to  aided  eye  on  other  surfaces;  small  specks  of  dark  brown 
common  in  ray  cells. 

Loreto:  Timbuchi,  upper  Nanay,  979. 

COMBRETACEAE.    Combretum  Family 

Shrubs  or  trees,  sometimes  climbing.  Leaves  opposite  or  alter- 
nate, entire,  without  stipules.  Flowers  arranged  in  heads,  spikes,  or 
racemes;  calyx  4-5-lobed;  petals  4-5  or  absent.  Fruit  dry  or  drupa- 
ceous, indehiscent,  1-celled,  and  1-seeded.  The  members  of  this 
family  furnish  bark,  leaves,  and  fruits  used  extensively  in  the  tanning 
and  dyeing  industries  and  to  some  extent  also  for  medicinal  purposes. 

1.    TERMINALIA  L. 

Medium-sized  or  large  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  often  crowded 
at  the  tips  of  the  branches.  Flowers  small,  greenish,  in  long  slender 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  373 

spikes;  petals  absent;  stamens  8-10.  Drupe  flattened,  with  acute 
edges,  sometimes  with  2-5  wings.  The  timber  is  only  of  local 
importance,  although  it  has  good  qualities  for  railway  ties,  furniture, 
and  general  construction.  T.  Catappa  L.,  commonly  known  as 
"almendro"  or  "castana"  and  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  is  planted 
in  the  lowland,  as  in  other  regions  of  tropical  America,  for  shade 
and  decorative  purposes. 

Sap  wood  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  darker 
brown,  at  times  with  a  satiny  luster.  Wood  medium-  or  coarse- 
textured;  light,  soft,  and  splintery  to  heavy;  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
polish;  often  durable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  sometimes  con- 
fluent, also  in  broken,  irregularly  spaced,  tangential  or  concentric 
lines,  which  are  distinct  at  times,  and  appear  to  indicate  limit  of 
growth  rings.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large;  fairly  numerous,  diffuse- 
or  tending  to  ring-porous;  solitary  or  in  multiples;  open  or  filled  with 
deposit  of  calcium.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine;  fairly  distinct  on  radial 
surface,  at  times  producing  a  fine  silver  grain.  Vertical  ducts, 
gummosis  type,  have  been  observed  in  some  species. 

Woods  of  this  group  suggest  the  Leguminosae  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  parenchyma,  the  exclusively  simple  perforations  of  the  vessels, 
and  the  sieve-like  perforations  of  the  pit  membranes,  but  in  general 
they  are  quite  distinct.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Terminalia  oblonga  Steud.  Norn.  ed.  2.  2:  668.  1841.    Rifari. 

Forest  tree,  from  30  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or 
flat.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  up  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  about  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  light  gray,  pink, 
or  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  covered  with  numerous,  small, 
short  ridges,  and  yields  when  cut  a  resin  used  for  dyeing  cloth.  Leaves 
oblongate.  Flowers  in  dense  spikes.  Fruit  a  two- winged  drupe; 
September-October. — Not  common;  in  open  dry  loam  in  thickets 
and  on  hill  slopes  (alt.  400-500  ft.).  The  dense  wood  is  used  for 
posts  in  the  construction  of  huts. 

Sap  wood  distinctly  demarcated,  greenish  yellow  or  pinkish 
brown;  heartwood  chocolate  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  not  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish; 
checks  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined; 
visible  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal  and  in  irregular,  broken,  tangential  or  diagonal  bands. 
Pores  fairly  small  or  visible  to  unaided  eye;  not  very  numerous  and 
well  scattered;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  or  in  small  clusters; 
open.  Vessel  lines  long  and  rather  coarse;  often  filled  with  grayish 


374  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

white  deposit.  Rays  numerous  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  moistened 
cross  section ;  faintly  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  other  surfaces. 
Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  596;  lower  Huallaga,  3968. 

MYRTACEAE.     Myrtle  Family 

The  Peruvian  species  are  shrubs  or  small  trees,  although  a  species 
of  Eucalyptus,  common  around  Chachapoyasand  doubtless  introduced, 
attains  a  height  of  up  to  80  feet.  Leaves  simple,  opposite,  entire, 
without  stipules,  and  conspicuously  dotted  with  oil  glands;  when 
crushed  they  frequently  have  an  aromatic  odor.  Flowers  mostly 
small,  perfect,  regular,  and  variously  arranged;  calyx  4-5-lobed; 
petals  4  or  5;  stamens  numerous.  Fruit  a  1-seeded  drupe  or  many- 
seeded  berry,  and  in  many  instances  edible.  In  general,  the  mem- 
bers of  this  group  are  characterized  by  an  abundance  of  aromatic 
volatile  or  essential  oil  used  in  perfumery,  while  some  plants  have 
attractive  flowers  and  are  used  for  decorative  purposes.  From  the 
standpoint  of  commercial  value  the  most  important  genus  is  Euca- 
lyptus, which  constitutes  the  bulk  of  Australian  forests. 

Sap  wood  variable  in  color  from  white  to  pale  pink  or  light  brown, 
often  with  purplish  streaks;  heartwood  medium  or  pale  brown  to 
dark  purplish  or  almost  black  and  fairly  lustrous.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium  density  to 
rather  heavy ;  sometimes  splintery  or  brittle,  not  difficult  to  work,  and 
takes  a  smooth  polish ;  durable  or  moderately  durable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal,  sometimes  confluent,  or  in  numerous,  exceedingly  fine 
lines  extending  between  the  rays;  sometimes  indistinct.  Pores  of 
small  to  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  to  numerous,  arranged  in 
zigzag  arrangement  as  in  Eucalyptus  or  scattered  without  definite 
order  as  in  Psidium;  solitary,  in  multiples  or  rows,  less  often  in 
clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine  on  cross  section, 
numerous  and  closely  spaced  in  Eucalyptus;  invisible  to  unaided  eye 
on  other  surfaces;  calcium  deposit  common  in  Psidium.  Vertical 
canals,  gummosis  type,  are  present  in  Eucalyptus  and  sometimes  in 
Psidium(1). 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  mostly 
bordered;  pits  vestured.  Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous;  mostly  1-2 
cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  commonly  thick-walled  and  with  incon- 
spicuously bordered  pits. 

1.    PSIDIUM  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Flowers  often  rather  large,  white  or 
whitish,  the  peduncles  axillary,  1-3-fl owered ;  calyx  4-5-lobed,  the 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  375 

lobes  partly  or  entirely  united  in  bud;  petals  4-5.  Fruit  a  globose 
or  pear-shaped  berry,  commonly  4-5-celled,  and  edible. — Common 
in  thickets  or  in  open  places.  Timber  is  of  no  local  value. 

Sapwood  pale  pink  to  light  brown,  often  streaked;  heartwood 
ranging  from  light  to  dark  purplish  brown  or  almost  black.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium 
density  to  rather  heavy;  often  rather  splintery  or  brittle,  but  not 
difficult  to  work,  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  polish;  usually  durable. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  exceedingly  fine  lines  extending  between 
the  rays.  Pores  fairly  small  to  medium-sized ;  moderately  numerous 
to  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary,  in  multiples  or  rows, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  often  filled  with  white  deposit  of  calcium. 
Rays  very  fine  or  fine  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 
Pith  is  almost  invariably  very  dark  brown  in  color  and  rectangular 
in  outline. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  1-2  cells  wide.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate 
common  in  parenchyma  strands. 

Psidium  Guajava  L.  Sp.  PI.  470.  1753.    Guayaba. 

Small  tree,  from  20  to  25,  seldom  up  to  40,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading  or  flat.  Trunk  often  bent,  fairly  round,  7  inches  or 
more  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  about  12  feet.  Bark  in  young 
trees  pale  gray  or  light  pinkish  brown,  in  old  trees  dark  purple  or 
chocolate  brown  and  scaly.  Twigs  tomentose.  Leaves  short-stalked, 
oblong,  acute  or  obtuse,  in  young  trees  tomentose  on  upper  surface, 
becoming  glabrous  with  age.  Flowers  with  white  petals  and  filaments. 
Fruit  round,  yellow  or  yellowish  pink;  one  of  the  favorite  fruits 
of  tropical  America;  it  is  rather  insipid  to  taste  when  unripe  and  is 
eaten  either  raw  or  made  into  jelly  or  paste. — Planted  commonly 
and  is  frequent  in  thickets.  Wood  of  old  trees  is  sometimes  used 
for  fuel. 

Sapwood  variable  in  color  from  pale  yellow  to  pinkish  brown 
with  a  grayish  cast  and  darker  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark  brown, 
thin.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  moderately 
straight-grained;  rather  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and 
strong ;  takes  a  smooth,  rather  dull  polish ;  subject  to  insects.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine, 
short  lines  extending  between  the  rays  or  in  concentric  bands. 
Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine  and 
occasionally  distinguishable  without  lens;  white  deposit  often  present. 


376  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Rays  fairly  numerous  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section; 

invisible  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  108;  lower  Itaya,  187,  271;  lower  Nanay, 

552;  Pebas,  1587;  Caballo-cocha,  2157;  upper  Itaya,  3502;  Yuri- 

maguas,  4002. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5534- 
Additional  numbers  determined  provisionally : 
Loreto:  Pebas,  1849,  1995;  Caballo-cocha,  2276. 

MELASTOMACEAE.    Melastome  Family 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  characteristic  groups  of  tropical 
American  plants,  represented  by  trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs.  Leaves 
simple,  opposite  or  verticillate,  entire  or  toothed,  with  pubescence 
often  of  branched  hairs,  and  (except  in  Mouriria)  with  3-9  longi- 
tudinal nerves  arising  at  or  near  the  base  of  the  blade  and  running 
to  the  apex.  Flowers  perfect,  small  or  large  and  showy,  have  white, 
pink,  yellow,  or  purple  petals,  and  twice  as  many  stamens  as  petals. 
Fruit  a  2-many-celled  capsule  or  berry,  and  in  the  latter  case  some- 
times edible.  The  family  is  not  of  economic  importance. 

Wood  ranges  in  color  from  yellowish  or  creamy  white  to  pinkish 
or  dark  chocolate  brown,  sometimes  streaked  or  with  a  grayish  cast, 
and  often  with  no  sharp  distinction  between  sap  and  heart;  mostly 
without  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured; 
slightly  fibrous  or  splintery,  easy  to  work;  durable  or  moderately 
durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  to  abundantly  developed;  para- 
tracheal  or  metatracheal.  Pores  small  to  medium-sized;  fairly 
numerous  to  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  most  often  soli- 
tary or  in  multiples,  also  in  rows  or  small  clusters;  open  or  filled  with 
lustrous  tyloses,  calcium,  or  gum  deposit.  Rays  fine  or  fairly  fine, 
rarely  broad,  as  in  Leandra,  numerous,  and  wavy  on  cross  section ; 
invisible  on  tangential;  occasionally  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on 
radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  the  bordered  pits  of  the  vessels  some- 
times possess  sieve-like  structure,  e.g.,  Meriania,  Ossaea;  vessel- 
parenchyma  pits  simple  to  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly 
uni-  to  triseriate. 

1.    BELLUCIA  Neck. 

Small  or  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  longitudinally  3-9-nerved. 
Flowers  large,  white  or  pink,  solitary  or  in  small  clusters,  lateral  or 
axillary;  stamens  equal  or  nearly  so.  Fruit  baccate,  large,  and 
edible.  Timber  is  sometimes  employed  for  general  construction. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  377 

Sapwood  yellowish  to  pale  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  cast; 
heartwood  dark  reddish  or  purplish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  density  to 
moderately  heavy;  inclined  to  be  splintery,  takes  a  lustrous  finish; 
durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed;  paratracheal  and  in 
numerous,  very  fine,  indistinct  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  of  medium  size  to  fairly  large;  moderately  numerous  to 
numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in 
clusters;  infrequently  closed.  Rays  fairly  fine  and  numerous  on 
cross  section  and  sinuous,  especially  at  point  of  contact  with  pores; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Bellucia  grossularioides  (L.)  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28: 
141.  1871;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  512.  1888.  Nispero,  Nispero 
del  monte. 

Medium-sized  tree,  attaining  a  height  of  up  to  55  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  often  bent,  from  9  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and 
free  of  branches  for  3  to  18  feet.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  dark  brown, 
and  scaly.  Leaves  subcoriaceous,  ovate  to  elliptic-ovate,  sharply 
acuminate  or  acute  at  apex,  glabrate.  Flowers  white.  Fruit  yellowish 
when  mature,  succulent,  and  edible. — Common  in  the  lowland 
(alt.  380  ft.);  in  clearings  and  sometimes  planted  for  its  fruit;  widely 
distributed  in  tropical  America,  ranging  from  Brazil  as  far  north 
as  Panama.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  to  pinkish  brown,  in  some  specimens  with 
dark,  almost  black,  streaks;  heartwood  dark  purplish  brown.  Wood 
slightly  fragrant  when  freshly  cut,  but  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium-textured;  heavy  or  moderately  heavy,  hard,  compact,  and 
strong;  fairly  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed 
and  indistinct;  paratracheal  and  metatracheal.  Pores  barely  at 
limit  of  vision;  moderately  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary, 
in  small  radial  multiples,  or  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines 
readily  distinguishable;  often  filled  with  white  deposit.  Rays  invis- 
ible without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  643;  Pebas,  1588;  Caballo-cocha,  2073. 

Bellucia  Weberbaueri  Cogn.  Bot.  Jahrb.  42:  148.  1908. 
Nispero. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  often  attaining  a  height  of  40  feet. 
Crown  open.  Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so,  slender,  cylindrical,  and 
free  of  branches  up  to  half  the  height.  Bark  moderately  thick, 


378  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

yellowish  or  grayish  to  dark  brown,  with  thin,  papyraceous  scales 
and  coarse  lenticels.  Flowers  pink ;  October-November.  Fruit  round, 
edible. — Common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  region,  near  Tarapoto,  and 
around  Moyobamba  (alt.  450-2,700  ft.);  in  clearings.  Timber  is 
used  for  general  carpentry,  in  the  construction  of  huts,  and  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  uniformly  pale  pinkish  brown; 
heartwood  dull  dark  grayish  brown.  Wood  straight-grained; 
uniformly  fine- textured ;  heavy,  strong,  and  more  compact  than  B. 
grossularioides ;  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  durable. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga  3969,  WQ(T),  7828.— San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  5591. 

2.    CALYPTRELLA  Naud. 

Calyptrella  cucullata  (Don)  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  72. 
1871;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  44.  1886.  Dispero,  Nispero. 

Slender  tree,  from  10  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  free  of  limbs  for  from  one-half  to 
two-thirds  the  height.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  yellowish  brown,  with 
low  ridges.  Heartwood  yields  a  small  amount  of  tasteless,  reddish 
resin.  Leaves  opposite,  ovate  or  oblong-ovate,  subcoriaceous, 
mostly  rounded  at  base,  sharply  acuminate  at  apex.  Flowers  white, 
in  rather  dense  panicles.  Capsule  ovoid,  light  brown,  about  0.25  inch 
long. — Has  a  wide  distribution  in  the  Andean  regions,  usually  in 
secondary  growth;  common  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tarapoto  and  at 
Lamas  (alt.  1,400-1,800  ft.),  also  at  San  Roque  (alt.  3,500  ft.);  pre- 
viously reported  at  Casupi,  Huanuco,  and  Posuso  (alt.  2,000  ft.), 
from  the  Chanchamayo  Valley,  Department  of  Junin,  and  by  Spruce 
along  the  slopes  of  the  Campana,  and  at  Timborazo,  near  Tarapoto. 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  uniform  pale  brown, 
occasionally  with  dark  streaks,  and  darkening  somewhat  on  exposure ; 
heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut  and 
takes  a  lustrous  finish;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  faintly 
visible  in  some  specimens.  Parenchyma  sparsely  developed;  para- 
tracheal  and  in  indistinct,  irregularly  spaced,  concentric  bands. 
Pores  discernible  to  unaided  eye;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous; 
most  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  seldom  in  rows,  occasion- 
ally solitary  and  circular  in  outline;  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine, 
but  readily  distinguishable  against  the  lighter-colored  background. 
Rays  not  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
sometimes  visible,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Lamas,  6459;  San  Roque,  7109. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  379 

3.    CLIDEMIA  D.  Don 

Clidemia  hirta  (L.)  D.  Don,  Mem.  Wern.  Soc.  4:  309.  1822. 
Pajar-mullaca. 

Subligneous  herb  or  shrub,  from  3  to  5  feet  high.  Flowers  with 
yellowish  white  or  pinkish  petals  and  white  stamens.  Fruit  purple 
or  purplish  black,  succulent,  and  edible;  seeds  minute. — Abundant 
throughout  the  lowland  and  occasionally  in  the  upland  in  clearings 
(alt.  up  to  3,500  ft.);  widely  distributed  throughout  tropical 
America. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  465 — herbarium  material  only. 

Clidemia  naevula  (Naud.)  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  137. 
1871. 

Shrub,  approximately  9  feet  tall.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  chocolate 
brown;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Young  branches,  petioles,  and 
peduncles  covered  with  pilose  pubescence.  Leaf  blades  petiolate, 
ovate  or  oblanceolate,  membranaceous,  glandulose-pilose  above, 
slightly  pubescent  beneath.  Flowers  in  panicles,  with  white  petals. 
Berry  subglobose,  pilose;  May-June. — Common  in  the  lowland  in 
thickets  and  clearings  (alt.  380  ft.);  reported  also  from  the  Brazilian 
Amazon  and  British  Guiana. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellowish  white  with  a  grayish  cast,  fairly  lustrous; 
heartwood  dull  pinkish  brown,  thin.  Wood  straight-  or  interlocked- 
grained ;  very  fine-textured ;  light  in  weight.  Growth  rings  occasion- 
ally visible  owing  to  variation  in  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct 
or  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section.  Pores  minute  and 
scarcely  discernible  to  aided  eye;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered; 
solitary,  infrequently  in  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  fine  and  faintly  discernible  without  lens.  Rays  very  fine, 
numerous,  closely  spaced,  and  wavy  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2121,  2184,'  herbarium  material  collected 
also  in  the  upper  Nanay  region. 

4.    GRAFFENRIEDA  DC. 

Graffenrieda  limbata  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  70.  1871. 
Dispero-sacha,  Nispero-sacha. 

Small  tree,  21  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  bent,  round, 
slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish 
or  dark  chocolate  brown  and  moderately  smooth.  Fruiting  in 


380  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

December-January. — In  semi-open  dry  loam  among  low  trees  and 
shrubs  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  throughout;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish  with 
a  moderately  high  luster  when  held  to  proper  light,  and  holds  its 
place  and  color  well;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present; 
visible  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  or  alinement  of  parenchyma. 
Parenchyma  in  rather  broad,  widely  and  evenly  spaced,  continuous, 
concentric  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size;  few  or  fairly  numerous, 
evenly  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  less  frequently  soli- 
tary; open.  Vessel  lines  numerous,  fairly  fine,  and  slightly  darker 
than  background;  deposit  of  calcium  common,  especially  on  tan- 
gential surface.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  barely  discernible  without  lens  in 
proper  light  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5893. 

5.    HENRIETTELLA  Naud. 

Henriettella  verrucosa  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28: 144. 1871. 
Uchpa-caspi. 

Tree,  from  30  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  flat  or  open.  Trunk  straight 
and  round  to  moderately  so,  up  to  22  inches  in  diameter,  either 
bifurcating  3  or  5  feet  from  the  base  or  unbranched  up  to  25  feet. 
Bark  pale  yellow,  tan,  or  light  gray  to  reddish  brown;  inner  bark 
creamy  yellow.  Leaves  large  and  narrow.  Flowers  small,  sessile  or 
short-stalked.  Fruit  small,  round,  borne  on  the  main  branches; 
seeds  obovoid,  numerous;  July- August. — Common  throughout  the 
lower  Peruvian  Amazon  and  in  some  regions  in  the  upland  (alt.  380- 
1,800  ft.);  in  sandy  or  dry  loam  in  pastures  or  in  old  clearings. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  creamy  yellow  with  extensive  slaty  or  dark 
grayish  areas  caused  by  sapstain;  heartwood  dull  reddish  brown, 
often  with  broad,  chocolate  brown  streaks.  Wood  odorless,  but  has  a 
slightly  bitter  taste ;  straight-  or  irregular-grained ;  medium-  or  fairly 
coarse- textured ;  light  or  moderately  so,  but  strong  for  its  weight; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain,  saws  woolly  at 
times,  fairly  lustrous;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent.  Paren- 
chyma sparsely  developed;  paratracheal  or  in  indistinct,  broken, 
tangential  bands.  Pores  faintly  to  readily  discernible  without  lens 
as  numerous  fine  pinpoints;  well  distributed;  solitary  or,  more 
frequently,  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small  clusters; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  381 

open  or  filled  with  calcium  or  dark  brown  gum.  Vessel  lines  short, 
line,  but  visible  to  unaided  eye;  white  or  dark  gray  deposits  fre- 
quently present.  Rays  numerous,  closely  spaced,  curving  at  point 
of  contact  with  pores,  and  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  fibers  on 
cross  section;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1717,  1736,  1864;  Caballo-cocha,  2091;  La  Vic- 
toria, 2972.— San  Martin:  Lamas,  6392. 

6.    LEANDRA  Raddi 

Leandra  sp.(?)  Yuto-banco.  Medium-sized  tree,  from  35  to  60 
feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  up  to 
12  inches  or  more  in  diameter.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown,  with  coarse, 
horizontal  ridges.  Flowers  small  or  minute,  5-parted,  in  terminal 
panicles.  Fruit  a  small  berry.— Scattered  throughout  the  forest  of 
the  lower  Itaya  (alt.  400  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  to  a  limited  extent 
for  general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Wood  grayish  or  pinkish  brown  with  pale  purplish  streaks  and 
slaty  gray  areas;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ; 
fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy; 
inclined  to  be  splintery,  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a 
moderate  luster;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  invisible.  Pores  small;  numerous 
and  uniformly  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  radial 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine,  short,  and  slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements.  Rays  fairly 
broad,  evenly  spaced,  and  sinuous  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  45. 

7.    MERIANIA  Sw. 

Meriania  Spruceana  Cogn.  in  DC.  Monogr.  Phan.  7:  426.  1891. 
Cruz-chillca. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  bent,  fairly  round,  slender,  and  branching  3  or  4  feet  from  the 
base.  Bark  very  thin,  pale  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Leaf  blades 
lanceolate.  Flowers  with  pale  red  or  yellow  petals;  December  to 
beginning  of  February. — Limited  in  its  occurrence  to  the  upland 
(alt.  4,000  ft.);  in  clearings  and  on  hill  slopes.  Wood  is  used  for 
fuel  only. 

Wood  pale  grayish  white,  turning  to  pale  yellow  on  exposure; 
fresh  wood  slightly  fragrant,  odor  and  taste  absent  or  not  distinctive 


382  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

in  dried  material;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  and  uniform-textured; 
of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy,  tough,  and  strong;  easy  to  work, 
takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when 
finished;  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  short, 
broken,  irregularly  spaced,  tangential  or  oblique  bands;  barely  dis- 
cernible to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section.  Pores  of  small 
or  medium  size;  not  numerous,  evenly  distributed;  solitary,  less  often 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small  radial  rows  or  in  small 
clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  barely  distinguish- 
able without  lens.  Rays  very  fine  and  indistinct  even  with  lens  on 
cross  and  tangential  sections;  slightly  darker-colored  than  adjacent 
elements  and  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7010. 

8.    MICONIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

The  largest  genus  of  the  family,  composed  of  shrubs  or  small, 
less  frequently  medium-sized,  trees.  Leaves  small  or  large,  entire  or 
toothed.  Flowers  4-9-parted,  in  terminal  panicles;  petals  usually 
white.  Fruit  a  small,  edible  berry,  blue,  purple,  or  black.  The 
timbers  are  of  some  local  importance  for  general  construction. 
The  local  name  "mullaca"  is  applied  to  all  or  most  species  of  this 
genus. 

Sap  wood  varies  in  color  from  whitish  or  oatmeal  to  pale  brown, 
often  streaked  or  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  usually  dark 
chocolate  brown,  also  with  a  grayish  tinge.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  light  and  soft  to  heavy, 
hard,  and  compact;  splintery  and  at  times  saws  woolly,  usually  ca- 
pable of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  fairly  durable  to  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal  or  in  fairly  fine  to  broad,  broken  or  continuous, 
concentric  or  tangential  lines  or  bands;  indistinct  to  visible.  Pores 
small  to  medium-sized;  not  numerous  to  numerous;  solitary  or  in 
multiples,  less  frequently  in  rows  or  small  clusters;  open  or  filled  with 
calcium  deposit.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine,  numerous,  closely  spaced 
on  cross  section,  often  curving  at  point  of  contact  with  the  pores; 
invisible  without  lens  on  tangential;  not  visible  to  unaided  eye 
on  radial  surface  or,  in  a  few  instances,  distinguishable;  hetero- 
geneous, seldom  showing  a  slight  tendency  to  homogeneous;  mostly 
1-3  cells  wide  and  up  to  15-20  cells  high. 

Miconia  amazonica  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  103.  1871; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  241.  1887.  Dispero  bianco,  Dispero-sacha, 
Nispero-sacha,  Nispero-sacha  bianco. 


383 

Small  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
round,  usually  bent,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches  up  to  three-fourths 
the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with 
low  ridges.  Leaves  dark  green  and  glabrous  above,  light  brown 
beneath.  Flowers  deep  pink,  fragrant;  September  to  beginning  of 
October. — Not  common;  in  sandy  loam  among  low  trees  and  shrubs 
of  secondary  growth  (alt.  600-1,400  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  for 
fuel  only. 

Wood  lustrous  whitish  with  a  grayish  tinge;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm  and  strong;  saws  woolly,  easy  to  cut,  and  takes  a  smooth 
polish;  liable  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  present.  Paren- 
chyma in  broken,  undulating,  unevenly  spaced,  concentric  lines  or 
fine  bands;  visible  only  with  lens  on  moistened  cross  section.  Pores 
small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  dis- 
cernible without  lens.  Rays  fine  and  numerous;  discernible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6076;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in 
the  lower  Huallaga,  Department  of  Loreto. 

Miconia  amplexans  (Crueg.)  Cogn.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt. 
4:256.1887.  Pichirina. 

Small  tree  of  the  lowland  forest,  from  15  to  25  feet  in  height. 
Crown  conical  or  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  unbranched  up  to  12  feet.  Bark  pale  creamy  yellow  to 
russet  brown,  smooth  or  moderately  so.  Leaves  glabrous  above  and 
with  fine  pinkish  brown  pubescence  beneath.  Flowers  bluish  or 
lilac-colored;  April-June.  Fruit  subglobular;  September-October.— 
Common  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  380-500  ft.);  among  low 
trees  and  shrubs.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sap  wood  distinctly  defined,  lustrous  pale  brown;  heartwood 
chocolate  brown,  perishable.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor,  but 
slightly  bitter  to  taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
of  medium  weight  or  moderately  heavy,  compact,  and  strong; 
saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  cut,  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color. 
Parenchyma  in  wavy,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric  bands. 
Pores  small  or  fairly  small ;  moderately  numerous  and  well  distributed ; 
solitary,  less  often  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  but  discernible  without  lens.  Rays  fine  and  dis- 


384  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

tinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  surfaces;  slightly 
darker  than  adjacent  elements  on  radial. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  677;  Pebas,  ^577,  1633;  Caballo-cocha, 
2049;  Yurimaguas,  4259. 

Miconia  aulocalyx  Mart,  ex  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28: 
115.  1871;  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  267.  1887. 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  tall  and  flat-topped.  Bark  pale  pinkish 
brown,  moderately  smooth  or  scaly. — Fairly  common;  in  thickets 
or  along  margin  of  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  up  to  600  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  grayish  or  light  brown,  fairly  lustrous;  heartwood 
dull  brown,  thin.  Wood  of  light  or  medium  weight,  firm;  takes  a 
smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  more  or  less 
regular,  evenly  spaced,  concentric  bands.  Pores  minute  or  small; 
open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine, 
and  barely  discernible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  485,  487;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga, 
5282. 

Miconia  aurea  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  244.  1851. 

Shrub,  10  feet  tall,  with  a  slender  trunk  branching  from  near  the 
base.  Bark  grayish  or  dark  violet  brown. — Common  in  the  lower 
Huallaga  and  reported  also  from  the  Chanchamayo  Valley  (alt. 
450-5,000  ft.);  in  dense  forest. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  white,  occasionally  with  pinkish  streaks 
and  extensive  grayish  areas  caused  by  stain  in  drying;  fairly  lustrous; 
light,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma 
in  short,  tangential  bands;  visible  only  with  lens.  Vessel  lines  fine, 
but  visible  without  lens.  Rays  faintly  discernible  to  aided  eye  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  back- 
ground and  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  7858. 

Miconia  bubalina  (D.  Don)  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  244. 
1851. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  13  to  22  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  undivided  for 
from  one-half  to  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light 
brown,  finely  fissured. — Common  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt. 
400  ft.);  in  old  clearings  or  moderately  dense,  low  forest.  Wood  has 
no  local  application. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  385 

Sap  wood  lustrous  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  with  darker  streaks; 
heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  roey-  or  straight-grained;  of  medium 
weight.  Pores  small;  often  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine,  slightly  darker 
than  background,  and  discernible  to  unaided  eye;  grayish  white 
deposits  or  tyloses  often  present. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3666,  3707. 

Miconia  calvescens  (Schrad.  &  Mart.)  DC.  Prodr.  3:  185.  1828. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  cylindrical,  7  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  unbranched  up  to  22  feet.  Bark  pale  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
scaly.  Flowers  pale  pink  or  white.  Fruit  ovoid,  pinkish  brown  or 
yellow  when  mature;  July-October. — Very  abundant  and  widely 
distributed  throughout  the  lowland,  especially  between  the  Itaya 
River  and  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  boundary  (alt.  350-450  ft.);  in 
alluvial  or  dry  loam  in  thickets  or  along  margin  of  forest.  Wood 
is  sometimes  employed  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  pale  white  or  light  yellowish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast, 
darkening  somewhat  on  exposure;  heartwood  pale  pinkish  or  dark 
brown.  Wood  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight; 
saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  cut,  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous 
finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  297;  near  Iquitos,  1479;  Caballo-cocha, 
2116;  upper  Itaya,  3314,  3367. 

Miconia  cannabina  Markgr.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  9: 1145. 
1927.  Mullaca. 

Common  shrub,  about  12  feet  in  height.  Bark  pinkish  brown, 
wrinkled.  Flowers  with  pale  green  or  pinkish  sepals,  white  petals, 
deep  pink  staminal  filaments,  and  purplish  anthers;  April-May. — In 
thickets  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  lustrous  pinkish  brown;  heart- 
wood  greenish  brown,  perishable.  Wood  fine-textured;  light  in 
weight,  but  tenacious  and  strong. 

Loreto:  Morona-cocha,  near  Iquitos,  65. 

Miconia  capitata  Ule,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  6:  360.  1915. 

Shrub,  12  feet  tall.  Bark  yellowish  or  light  brown,  smooth  or 
with  low,  interwebbing  ridges.  Flowers  small,  with  bluish  white 
petals  and  yellowish  or  pale  brown  anthers;  June- July. — Forming 
undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 


386  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  creamy  yellow,  moderately  lustrous;  uniformly  fine- 
textured.     Rays  very  fine;  indistinct  without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
Loreto:  Pebas,  1634- 

Miconia  chrysophylla  (L.  C.  Rich.)  Urb.  Symb.  Antill.  4:  459. 
1910.  Puca-mullaca. 

Shrub,  about  16  feet  in  height.  Bark  reddish  or  dark  chocolate 
brown  to  almost  black,  fairly  smooth  or  scaly. — Widely  distributed 
in  the  lowland,  but  not  common;  in  open,  dry  loam. 

Sapwood  pale  grayish  brown  or  light  pink,  sometimes  turning 
to  dark  brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  thin,  brown.  Wood  fine- 
textured;  moderately  heavy,  hard,  and  tough;  fairly  easy  to  cut 
and  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks. 
Pores  small ;  often  filled  with  light  brown  or  yellowish  deposit.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  but  discernible  to  unaided  eye.  Rays  indistinct  or  visible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3660;  Yurimaguas,  4809. 

Miconia  clavistyla  Gleason,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  229.  1931. 

Shrub,  18  feet  in  height.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  minute  scales.  Fruit  bluish  black,  globose;  April. 
— Not  common;  along  banks  of  streams  in  low  growth  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  and  highly  lustrous;  rather  fine- textured ; 
of  light  or  medium  density;  fairly  easy  to  cut;  subject  to  stain. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  broken  or  continuous,  con- 
centric lines.  Pores  small;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial  or 
tangential  multiples  or  rows  of  2;  open.  Rays  invisible  to  unaided 
eye  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  373. 

Miconia  dichrophylla  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4:  189.  1929. 
Caracha-caspi,  Mullaca-caspi,  Ubiamba. 

Tree,  up  to  36  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moder- 
ately straight,  cylindrical,  about  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  un- 
branched  for  from  1  to  15  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown,  in  young  trees 
with  numerous,  minute,  shallow  fissures,  in  old  trees  scaly.  Fruit 
light  brown;  November-December. — Common;  in  sandy  loam  in 
thickets  (alt.  600-1,800  ft.).  The  durable  timber  is  esteemed  for 
piling  and  house  construction. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  light  or  dark  brown  with  grayish  cast, 
occasionally  with  darker  brown  streaks;  heartwood  dark  reddish 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  387 

or  grayish  chocolate  brown.  Wood  straight-  or  irregular-grained; 
uniformly  fine-textured;  hard,  heavy,  and  tenacious  or  fairly  so; 
moderately  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish; 
susceptible  to  insect  attacks.  Pores  small;  numerous  and  tending 
to  be  crowded;  frequently  filled  with  yellowish  deposit.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  but  discernible  without  lens. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4886. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5891,  6586; 
Lamas,  6472. 

Miconia  Donaeana  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  244.  1851. 
Nucnu-mullaca. 

Tree,  from  10  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk 
cylindrical,  straight  or  moderately  so,  slender,  and  undivided  for 
two-thirds  the  height.  Bark  light  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth. 
Flowers  purplish;  December-February. — Limited  to  the  upland 
(alt.  3,500  ft.);  in  dense  forest.  Wood  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  light  brown;  heartwood  pale  brown 
or  pinkish,  thin,  and  not  sharply  defined.  Wood  medium-textured; 
moderately  light  in  weight;  saws  slightly  woolly  and  easy  to  work; 
not  durable.  Pores  of  medium  size,  but  invisible  to  unaided  eye; 
not  numerous  to  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  in  small 
multiples  or  rows,  less  frequently  solitary;  open. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7002,  7055. 

Miconia  egensis  Cogn.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  374.  1887. 

Tree,  from  15  to  20  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
columnar,  and  slender.  Bark  greenish  or  light  brown,  smooth  or 
with  deep,  coarse  fissures. — Abundant  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon 
(alt.  350-400  ft.);  in  dry  or  slightly  humid  loam  in  dense  forest. 
Wood  has  no  local  application. 

Wood  light  brown  throughout,  in  some  specimens  with  streaks 
of  darker  brown  and  grayish  cast;  of  medium  weight;  capable  of 
taking  a  smooth  finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings 
present.  Parenchyma  in  fine  concentric  bands.  Pores  small;  not 
numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently  in 
radial  multiples  of  2. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1637;  La  Victoria,  2703. 

Miconia  heteromera  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  124.  1851. 

Shrub,  from  4  to  11  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  gray  or  greenish  brown, 
smooth.  Fruit  reddish  or  light  brown  when  mature;  July. — Common 


388  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

near  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  boundary  (alt.  380  ft.);  along  margin 
of  flood-free  forest. 

Sapwood  pale  grayish  brown;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood 
fine-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine,  short, 
irregular  or  concentric  lines.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  often  filled  with  light  brown 
or  white  deposits. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2985. 

Miconia  juruensis  Pilger,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  47:  172. 
1905.  Caracha-caspi. 

Tree  or  shrub,  from  10  to  15  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
cylindrical,  moderately  straight,  and  from  5  to  8  inches  in  diameter. 
Bark  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  white,  in  short 
panicles;  April- June. — Not  common;  along  banks  of  streams  or  in 
secondary  growth  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent for  fuel. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  pale  yellowish  white  with  extensive 
grayish  areas  to  uniform  light  brown;  odorless,  but  has  a  slightly 
bitter  taste;  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  of  medium  weight  or  fairly 
heavy;  moderately  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish  with  a 
moderate  luster.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  irregular, 
short  or  fairly  continuous,  concentric  bands.  Pores  small;  not 
very  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
or  rows  of  2-3;  open. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  481;  lower  Huallaga,  5186  (M.  aff. 
juruensis);  the  species  was  collected  originally  by  Ule  along  the 
Jurua  River,  Brazil. 

Miconia  lepidota  DC.  Prodr.  3:  180.  1828. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  28  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from  5  to  8  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  3  feet.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  pale  brown  or  dark 
gray,  and  scaly.  Fruit  small,  light  brown  when  mature;  October- 
November. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  450  ft.); 
in  dry  loam  in  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest.  Wood  has  no 
local  application. 

Wood  lustrous  pale  white,  creamy  yellow,  or  light  brown,  darken- 
ing on  exposure;  tasteless  and  odorless;  rather  fine- textured ;  fairly 
heavy,  strong,  and  compact,  but  splinters  readily;  fairly  easy  to 


389 

work;  likely  to  check,  and  subject  to  stain,  in  drying.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  arrangement  of  parenchyma  and  pores. 
Parenchyma  in  sinuous,  short  or  continuous,  concentric  bands, 
fairly  distinct  with  lens.  Pores  barely  distinguishable  without  lens; 
rather  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  mul- 
tiples or  rows  of  2-4;  open. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4693. 

Miconia  longifolia  (Aubl.)  DC.  Prodr.  3:  184.  1828.     Rifari. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  seldom  more  than  45,  most  fre- 
quently between  15  and  30,  feet  tall.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight 
or  contorted,  moderately  round,  from  7  to  14  inches  in  diameter, 
and  branching  from  the  base  or  undivided  up  to  about  6  feet.  Bark 
pale  yellow  or  light  pink  to  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
with  deep  fissures.  Flowers  small,  white.  Fruit  a  small  berry, 
turning  black  at  maturity. — Abundant  throughout  the  lowland 
(alt.  380-500  ft.);  in  thickets  and  old  clearings.  Wood  is  esteemed 
for  general  carpentry  and  house  construction. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  or  pinkish;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood 
straight-  or  irregular-grained ;  moderately  fine-textured ;  fairly  heavy 
and  strong,  but  splinters  rather  readily;  takes  a  smooth,  fairly 
lustrous  finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  sometimes  distinct.  Parenchyma  indistinct 
or  visible  with  lens  as  fine,  short  or  continuous,  concentric  bands. 
Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows;  often  filled  with  yellowish  or  light  brown 
deposit.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  but  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2753;  Paraiso,  upper  Itaya,  3280;  San 
Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3402,  3506;  Santa  Rosa,  4769,  4912,  and 
Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5350. 

Miconia  longiracemosa  Gleason,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  232. 
1931.  Bucacuru-caspi. 

Tree,  from  12  to  30,  rarely  40,  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  columnar,  about  12  inches  in  diameter, 
and  unbranched  for  from  1  to  12  feet.  Bark  pale  pink  or  dark 
brown,  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  small,  white,  and  fragrant.  Fruit 
a  small,  round,  red  berry;  September-October . — Of  common  occur- 
rence throughout  the  lowland,  especially  between  Iquitos  and 
the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  380-500  ft.);  most  frequently  along  banks 
of  streams  or  along  margin  of  dense  forest.  Timber  is  sometimes 
employed  for  house  posts  and  general  carpentry. 


390  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  light  brown,  occasionally  with  pale  grayish  areas; 
heartwood  dark  violet  brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight-  or 
irregular-grained;  medium- textured ;  of  medium  weight  or  moder- 
ately heavy,  compact,  strong,  but  splinters  rather  readily;  not  easy 
to  cut;  checks  in  drying;  susceptible  to  stain  and  insects. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  115;  lower  Nanay,  604;  upper  Itaya,  3296; 
lower  Huallaga,  4038,  4167,  4249,  4349. 

Miconia  macrophylla  (D.  Don)  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28: 
103.  1871;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  239.  1887.  Millua-caspi. 

Slender  shrub,  sometimes  scandent,  from  5  to  15  feet  tall.  Crown 
tapering.  Bark  pale  yellow.  Flowers  white  or  pale  yellow;  June- 
July.  Fruit  light  brown,  turning  purplish  at  maturity. — Very 
common  in  the  lower  Peruvian  Amazon  and  reported  also  from  the 
upland  (alt.  380-4,000  ft.);  most  frequently  in  clearings  or  along 
banks  of  streams  and  lagoons. 

Sapwood  lustrous  light  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin. 
Parenchyma  in  regular,  concentric  lines.  Pores  small;  open  or 
filled  with  white  deposit. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1629;  collected  also  at  La  Victoria,  Iquitos,  and 
in  the  lower  Huallaga. 

Miconia  minutiflora  (Bonpl.)  DC.  Prodr.  3:  189.  1828; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  384.  1887. 

Small,  forest  tree,  approximately  22  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense, 
round.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches 
up  to  half  the  height.  Bark  yellowish  or  reddish  brown,  fairly 
smooth.  Flowers  yellow,  fragrant.  Fruit  small,  round,  and  grayish 
green  when  ripe;  January-March. — Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere 
abundant;  in  thickets  or  along  margin  of  dense  forest  (alt.  380- 
4,000  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  uniform  light  brown,  occasionally  with  pale  yellowish 
brown  streaks;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight ;  fairly  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous 
finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  solitary  or 
in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  dis- 
cernible without  lens;  often  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1616;  collected  also  in  the  middle  Huallaga  near 
Tarapoto,  at  Lamas,  San  Roque,  and  by  others  in  the  Chanchamayo 
Valley. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  391 

Miconia  Macbridei  Gleason,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  246.  1931. 

Shrub,  5  or  more  feet  tall,  with  purplish  pink  flowers  and  small, 
globose,  pale  blue  fruit,  maturing  in  December-January. — Not 
common;  among  rocks  or  in  open  sandy  loam  (alt.  1,800  ft.). 

San  Martin:  Lamas,  5996. 

Miconia  mollis  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  115.  1871; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  341.  1887. 

Uncommon  shrub,  12  feet  tall.  Crown  bell-shaped.  Bark  pale 
brown  or  purple,  fairly  smooth.  Twigs  covered  with  light  brown 
pubescence.  Flowering  in  December-February. — Fairly  common; 
in  open  sandy  loam  (alt.  1,400  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  brown,  occasionally  with  long,  dark  striping  or 
pale  grayish  cast;  slightly  fragrant  and  sometimes  slightly  bitter  to 
taste;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  fairly  compact. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  at  limit  of 
vision;  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  mul- 
tiples or  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short;  often  filled  with  yel- 
lowish white  deposit.  Rays  visible  without  lens  on  moistened  cross 
and  radial  surfaces.  Pith  large,  septate. 

San  Martin:  Rumisapa,  near  Tarapoto,  6768. 

Miconia  parviflora  (Benth.)  Cogn.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4: 

249.  1887.    Sinchi-mullaca. 

Tree,  about  60  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  about  two-thirds  the  entire 
height.  Bark  deep  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  small,  white; 
June- July.  Fruit  blue  when  mature. — Of  limited  distribution;  in 
dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  450  ft.).  The  durable  timber  is  esteemed 
for  pillars  in  the  construction  of  huts. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  uniform  light  brown;  heartwood  dull  dark 
brown.  Wood  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  heavy, 
hard,  strong,  and  compact;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth, 
lustrous  finish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  indistinct, 
wavy,  concentric  bands  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  small;  fairly 
numerous,  well  distributed;  mostly  solitary;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  long,  fine,  but  discernible  without  lens. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  901. 

Miconia  Pilgeriana  Ule,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  6:  363. 
1915.  Mullaca,  Palo  bianco. 


392  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Fairly  common,  forest  tree,  from  18  to  40,  occasionally  up  to  60, 
feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical  or 
moderately  so,  12  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  branching  from 
near  the  base  or  undivided  up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark 
pale  grayish  white,  smooth,  thin.  Fruit  small,  round,  dark  brown; 
July- August. — Most  frequently  in  flood-free  areas  (alt.  380-450  ft.). 
Wood  is  sometimes  used  for  beams  in  house  construction. 

Sapwood  almost  white  when  fresh,  turning  to  yellow  or  dark 
brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  grayish  brown,  susceptible  to  in- 
sect attacks.  Wood  uniformly  fine-textured;  moderately  heavy  to 
heavy  and  tenacious;  fairly  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish, 
and  is  strong.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  small,  but  visible  to 
unaided  eye  owing  to  pale  white  or  pinkish  deposits  often  present. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1718;  Caballo-cocha,  2155;  Paraiso,  upper  Itaya, 
3339. 

Miconia  Poeppigii  Triana,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  28:  107.  1871; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  319.  1887.  Rifari,  Rupinia. 

Medium-sized,  forest  tree,  from  50  to  60  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  with  small  buttresses,  about 
22  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  35  feet.  Bark  0.5 
inch  thick,  pale  gray,  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  dark  brown,  and  fairly 
smooth.  Flowering  in  August-October.  Fruit  small,  round,  light 
or  dark  green. — Widely  distributed,  but  not  abundant,  in  the  low- 
land; along  margin  of  or  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380-500  ft.).  Timber 
is  used  extensively  for  fuel  and  to  a  limited  extent  for  general 
construction. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  light  brown,  often  with  long,  black  streaks 
and  grayish  areas;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  medium- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut 
smoothly  across  grain;  checks  in  drying;  susceptible  to  stain  and 
insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present.  Pores  small; 
frequently  filled  with  yellowish  deposit. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2900;  upper  Itaya,  3340;  Iquitos,  3698; 
lower  Huallaga,  4147,  4373,  4548. 

Miconia  prasina  (Sw.)  DC.  Prodr.  3:  188.  1828.  Isula-micuna, 
Mu llaca-colorada,  Millu-caspi. 

Small  tree,  from  12  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  fairly  cylindrical,  about  7  inches  in  diameter,  and 
branching  a  few  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  light  brown,  fairly  smooth 
or  with  shallow  anastomosing  fissures.  Fruit  small,  round;  May- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  393 

June.— Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  thickets 
or  along  margin  of  forest.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sap  wood  fairly  well  defined,  uniform  pale  grayish  or  pinkish 
brown;  heartwood  grayish  brown.  Wood  interlocked-grained ;  uni- 
formly fine- textured;  moderately  heavy,  tough,  and  strong;  not 
difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  present.  Pores  small;  in  some  specimens 
open,  in  others  filled  with  white  deposit. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  572;  upper  Nanay,  974;  La  Victoria, 
2936;  lower  Huallaga,  4807. 

Miconia  pteropoda  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  314.  1840. 
Bucacuru-caspi,  Yana-panga. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  glabrous  tree,  from  15  to  50  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading  or  rarely  round.  Trunk  straight  or 
moderately  so,  cylindrical,  up  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear 
of  limbs  up  to  15  feet.  Bark  light  or  dark  pinkish  brown,  fairly 
smooth.  Flowers  terminal;  petals  white  and  anthers  cream-colored; 
March-April.  Fruiting  in  May-August. — Fairly  common  in  the 
lowland  (alt.  380  ft.);  in  clearings,  thickets,  or  more  frequently 
along  banks  of  streams.  Wood  is  employed  for  fuel  only. 

Sap  wood  creamy  yellow  or  light  brown;  heartwood  dark  purplish 
brown,  thin.  Wood  moderately  fine-textured;  of  light  or  medium 
weight,  and  splinters  easily;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth,  lustrous  finish;  strong  and  durable,  although  liable  to  check 
in  drying.  Pith  white. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1636;  La  Victoria,  2707,  2987. 

Miconia  puberula  Cogn.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  386. 
pi.  78.  1887.  Uchu-mullaca. 

Shrub,  from  15  to  18  feet  tall.  Bark  light  grayish  brown,  turning 
with  age  to  dark  purplish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  scaly.  Flowers 
small,  white;  December-January. — Fairly  common  on  the  plain  of 
Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.);  in  secondary  growth. 

Sapwood  fairly  well  demarcated,  uniform  light  brown,  occasionally 
with  grayish  striping;  heartwood  dull  purplish  brown.  Wood  heavy, 
hard,  and  compact;  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  strong 
and  durable.  Pores  small;  numerous;  mostly  in  small  radial  mul- 
tiples or  rows. 

San  Martin:  Morales,  5702;  Tarapoto,  6150. 


394  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Miconia  scorpioides  (Sch.  &  Cham.)  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III. 
16:  243.  1851. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  50  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  from  7  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
limbs  for  about  one-third  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  grayish 
brown,  fairly  smooth.  Fruiting  in  September-October. — Of  limited 
distribution;  in  flood-free  forest  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt. 
500  ft.).  Wood  is  employed  extensively  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  uniform  light  brown,  occasionally  with  pale  grayish 
streaks;  heartwood  purplish  brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight- 
grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight,  firm,  and 
strong;  easy  to  cut  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  susceptible 
to  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  broken, 
wavy,  tangential  bands.  Pores  small;  open  or  closed. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4266,  4607. 

Miconia  serialis  DC.  Prodr.  3:  182.  1828.     Caracha-caspi. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree  of  the  lowland,  up  to  50  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  cylindrical,  often  bent,  about 
12  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  from  2  to  8  feet.  Bark 
grayish  or  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  white.  Fruit  small, 
round,  pale  green,  1-seeded;  seeds  dark  brown. — Widely  distributed, 
but  not  common;  in  clearings  not  subject  to  inundations.  Wood 
is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  uniform  light  brown;  heartwood  pale  purplish  brown. 
Wood  interlocked-  or  irregular-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured; 
heavy,  hard,  and  moderately  tough ;  takes  a  smooth,  rather  lustrous 
finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying;  susceptible  to  insect  attacks,  but 
strong  and  durable.  Pores  small;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  fine 
and  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  1508,  3631;  lower  Huallaga,  3836,  4718. 

Miconia  spennerostachya  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  187. 
1851. 

Tree,  about  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches  for  about  three- 
fourths  the  entire  height.  Bark  light  or  purplish  brown,  fairly 
smooth.  Fruit  round,  bluish  black;  July- August. — Uncommon;  in 
dense  forest  free  from  periodical  floods  (alt.  380  ft.).  Wood  has  no 
local  application. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  395 

Wood  uniform  light  brown  with  a  pinkish  cast,  occasionally 
with  pale  gray  striping;  rather  fine- textured ;  moderately  light  in 
weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  lustrous  finish. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  absence  or  variation  in  abundance 
of  elements.  Parenchyma  in  broken  or  continuous,  fairly  regular, 
concentric  lines.  Pores  small;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2; 
open  or  closed. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1686. 

Miconia  stelligera  Cogn.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  14,  pt.  4:  275.  1887. 
Mullaca. 

Shrub,  from  6  to  12  feet  tall.  Bark  light  or  pale  purplish  brown, 
fairly  smooth.  Flowering  in  September-October.  Fruit  round, 
pale  greenish  brown. — Forming  undergrowth  in  dense,  flood-free 
forest  (alt.  500-2,000  ft.). 

Wood  lustrous  yellowish  white  with  fine  brown  streaks  and 
pale  grayish  bands;  fairly  fine-textured;  moderately  light  in  weight; 
saws  slightly  woolly,  easy  to  cut;  does  not  appear  to  be  durable. 
Pith  creamy  or  pinkish  white. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  1+398,  5093. 

Miconia  stenostachya  DC.  Prodr.  3: 181.  1828.   Caracha-caspi. 

Tall  shrub.  Twigs  covered  with  white  or  pale  gray  pubescence. 
Bark  dark  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  with  pale  pink  or  white 
petals.  Fruit  yellow,  turning  to  dark  brown  at  maturity. — Common 
in  the  vicinity  of  Tarapoto  and  Lamas  (alt.  1,300-1,800  ft.);  in 
secondary  growth. 

Sap  wood  uniform  pale  brown,  lustrous;  heartwood  grayish  or 
purplish  brown,  thin.  Wood  uniformly  fine- textured ;  rather  heavy, 
strong,  and  compact;  not  difficult  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
durable.  Growth  rings  and  parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  seldom  more;  open  or  closed. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5678. 

Miconia  tetrasperma  Gleason,  Bull.  Torrey  Club  58:  237. 1931. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  a  few  feet  above  the 
base.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  grayish,  fairly  smooth. — Common  in 
the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  and  fairly  abundant  also  near  the  Peruvian- 
Brazilian  frontier  (alt.  350-400  ft.);  in  thickets  and  old  clearings. 
Wood  is  not  used  locally. 


396  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  uniform  light  brown  throughout;  straight-grained;  rather 
fine- textured ;  moderately  heavy,  strong,  and  tough;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  has  a  golden  luster  when  freshly  planed  ; 
probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  not  visible 
with  lens. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  3693. 

Other  numbers  of  this  genus  determined  provisionally : 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  689;  upper  Itaya,  3306,  3410;  lower 
Huallaga,  3823,  4230,  4458.— San  Martin:  Lamas,  6485. 

9.    MOURIRIA  Juss. 

Mouriria  grandiflora  DC.  Prodr.  3:  8.  1828.    Charachuela. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  about  35  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs 
for  about  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish  brown  and 
scaly.  Leaves  opposite,  equal  in  each  pair,  sessile  or  short-stalked, 
entire,  coriaceous,  pinnate-nerved.  Flowers  small,  fasciculate, 
axillary.  Fruit  baccate,  globose. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland 
in  inundated  forest  (alt.  400  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  the  lower  and 
upper  Brazilian  Amazon.  Timber  is  used  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pinkish,  reddish,  or  pale  grayish  brown; 
heartwood  dark  purplish  brown,  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  moderately  fine- textured ; 
heavy,  hard,  tenacious,  and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  cut  and  capable 
of  taking  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  visible  owing  to  alinement 
of  elements.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed;  paratracheal  or 
in  short,  broken  or  fairly  continuous,  tangential  bands.  Pores  rather 
small  to  medium-sized;  not  very  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary, 
but  more  frequently  in  radial  or  tangential  multiples  or  rows  of  2, 
seldom  in  small  clusters;  sometimes  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses. 
Vessel  lines  fine,  but  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  very  fine,  fairly  numer- 
ous, and  barely  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections;  at  times  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  8125. 

10.    OSSAEA  DC. 

Ossaea  micrantha  (Swartz)  Macfad.  Fl.  Jamaica  2:  49,  100. 
1850. 

•  Slender  shrub,  about  6  feet  tall.    Bark  pale  brown,  fairly  smooth. 
Twigs  glabrous.    Leaves  longitudinally  3-9-nerved,  petiolate,  entire, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  397 

acuminate,  acute  at  base.  Flowers  in  loose  axillary  panicles,  white, 
4-parted.  Fruit  baccate,  subround,  black  when  mature;  July- 
August. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  creamy  yellow  throughout;  has  no 
characteristic  odor  or  taste;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  uni- 
formly fine- textured ;  of  light  weight;  easy  to  cut;  not  durable. 
Growth  rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  slightly  wavy,  irregularly  spaced, 
broken  or  continuous,  concentric  lines.  Pores  minute  and  invisible 
or  faintly  discernible  with  lens;  not  numerous  and  uniformly  dis- 
tributed; solitary,  rarely  in  small  multiples;  occasionally  filled  with 
white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  short.  Rays  extremely 
fine,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section,  barely  distin- 
guishable with  lens;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3465. 

11.    TIBOUCHINA  Aubl. 

Tibouchina  ochypetala  (Ruiz  &  Pa  von)  Baill.  Adansonia  12: 
75.  1877.  Machu-sacha  pichirina,  Santa  Rosa  sisa. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  from  15  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown 
flat.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  more 
than  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  dark  reddish  brown  or  chocolate- 
colored,  occasionally  with  grayish  patches;  inner  bark  fibrous. 
Leaves  pubescent  on  both  surfaces.  Flowers  bright  purple,  white, 
or  lavender-colored;  December-January.  Fruit  capsular,  5-valvate. 
—Not  common;  in  sandy  or  heavy  loam  among  shrubs  and  low 
trees  of  secondary  growth  (alt.  1,300-1,800  ft.) ;  reported  also  from 
La  Merced,  in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley,  and  Vilcabamba  (alt. 
up  to  2,600  ft.). 

Sapwood  white  when  fresh,  but  turns  to  pale  pinkish  brown  on 
exposure;  heartwood  dull  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  distinc- 
tive odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy;  tending  to  be  splintery,  not 
difficult  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished;  susceptible  to  insects;  moderately  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  present;  visible  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of 
color.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  occasionally  terminal ;  sparingly 
developed  and  indistinct  or  barely  discernible  with  lens.  Pores 
fairly  small  or  medium-sized ;  few  to  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed ; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  sometimes  more,  less  frequently 
in  diagonal  pairs  or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines 


398  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

fairly  fine,  but  at  limit  of  vision;  sometimes  filled  with  pale  grayish 
deposit.  Rays  numerous,  closely  spaced,  fine  or  moderately  fine,  and 
sometimes  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened  cross  section; 
invisible  or  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential ;  dark  pinkish 
brown  and  sometimes  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5953;  Lamas,  6385,  6492. 

12.    TOGOGAAubl. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  large,  petiolate,  entire  or  toothed  ; 
stems  and  petioles  covered  with  long,  rather  thick  bristles.  Flowers 
small  or  large,  in  terminal  panicles.  Fruit  a  berry. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  or  streaked  with  yellow; 
heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  of  light  to  medium  density;  slightly  fibrous,  not  difficult 
to  work;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  broken,  concentric  bands, 
sometimes  invisible  with  lens.  Pores  small;  few  to  fairly  numerous; 
solitary,  less  frequently  in  multiples;  often  filled  with  grayish  white 
deposit  of  calcium.  Rays  fine  or  very  fine,  sometimes  wavy  on  cross 
section;  invisible  on  other  surfaces. 

Tococa  egensis  Naud.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  III.  16:  92.  1851. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  sometimes  scandent,  up  to  21  feet  tall. 
Crown  open.  Trunk  bent,  round,  slender,  and  branching  2  or  3 
feet  from  the  base.  Bark  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Fruit  round, 
black  when  mature;  June-July. — Not  common;  in  open  dry  loam 
among  shrubs  or  small  trees  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  yellow  when  freshly  cut,  turning  on  exposure  to  pale  brown 
with  a  grayish  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  of  light  to  medium  weight; 
straight-grained;  fairly  fine-textured;  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  cut, 
and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined. 
Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in  very  fine,  broken,  concentric  bands. 
Pores  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous,  well  scattered;  in  small 
radial  multiples,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  long,  fine  scratches.  Rays  numerous, 
very  fine,  and  barely  discernible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  43;  Caballo-cocha,  2463. 

Tococa  juruensis  Pilger,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  47:  176. 
1905. 

Small  shrub  or  ligneous  herb.  Bark  pale  or  dark  purplish  brown, 
fairly  smooth.  Flowers  pink;  June- July. — Fairly  common  around 
Pebas  (alt.  380  ft.);  in  humid  loam  in  dense  forest. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  399 

Wood  pale  brown  with  greenish  gray  areas;  straight-grained; 
moderately  fine- textured ;  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut.  Growth 
rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  few  and 
scattered.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  barely  discernible  without  lens. 
Rays  lighter-colored  than  background  and  at  limit  of  vision  on 
moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1940. 

ONAGRACEAE.    Evening  Primrose  Family 
1.    JUSSIAEA  L. 

Jussiaea  latifolia  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  2:  317.  1840. 

Shrub,  about  9  or  10  feet  tall.  Crown  dense,  round.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  branching  from  near  the  base. 
Bark  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  alternate,  entire, 
oblongate  or  lanceolate,  acute  at  base,  acuminate  at  apex,  mem- 
branaceous,  glabrous  above,  pubescent  beneath.  Flowers  axillary; 
petals  yellow.  Fruit  brown,  small,  and  with  numerous,  yellowish 
brown,  winged  seeds;  June- July. — Common  throughout  north- 
eastern Peru,  especially  in  the  lowland  (alt.  450-3,500  ft.);  in  slightly 
humid  loam  in  clearings  or  in  fairly  dense  forest. 

Sap  wood  lustrous  grayish  brown;  heartwood  dark  gray  or  almost 
black,  perishable.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained; 
medium- textured ;  light  in  weight  and  fairly  soft,  but  strong;  easy 
to  cut.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  in- 
distinct. Pores  of  medium  size  or  fairly  large;  fairly  numerous  or 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-4,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  distinguish- 
able to  unaided  eye.  Rays  fine  and  irregularly  spaced  on  cross  sec- 
tion; sometimes  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  315;  Caballo-cocha,  2118;  collected  also 
at  San  Roque,  Department  of  San  Martin. 

ARALIACEAE.    Ginseng  Family 

Trees  or  shrubs,  rarely  herbs,  with  watery  juice.  Leaves  alternate, 
simple  or  compound,  with  stipules.  Flowers  perfect  or  of  separate 
sexes,  in  heads  or  umbels,  small,  greenish;  calyx  tube  adnate  to  the 
ovary;  petals  usually  5;  stamens  as  many  as  the  petals.  Fruit  a 
berry,  containing  2-7  one-seeded  nutlets. 

Woods  white  or  grayish,  subject  to  stain;  rather  light,  but  firm 
and  tenacious;  medium-textured;  easy  to  work;  perishable;  lumber 
suitable  for  box  boards,  interior  construction,  and  possibly  for  paper 


400  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

pulp.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium 
size;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous,  diffuse;  solitary  or  in  small 
multiples.  Rays  broad;  usually  distinct  on  all  sections.  Small 
radial  intercellular  canals  are  present  along  margin  of  pith  and 
common  in  rays. 

The  perforations  of  the  vessels  are  mostly  simple,  but  they  may 
be  scalariform  with  several  bars,  reticulate,  or  composite;  inter- 
vascular  pits  large,  irregular,  with  conspicuous  borders;  vessel- 
parenchyma  pits  large,  simple  to  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous, 
with  a  tendency  to  homogeneous;  multiseriate  (2-10  cells  wide)  and 
rather  few.  Fibers  often  septate. 

1.    DIDYMOPANAX  Decne.  &  Planch. 

Didymopanax  Morototoni  (Aubl.)  Decne.  &  Planch.  Rev. 
Hort.  IV.  3:  109.  1854.  Sacha-uva. 

The  best-known  species  of  the  genus,  widely  distributed  through- 
out tropical  South  America  from  Colombia  to  Brazil,  and  char- 
acteristic of  the  open  forests,  in  abandoned  clearings,  or  along 
margin  of  savannas.  Tree  of  medium  size,  although  said  to  attain 
a  height  at  times  of  up  to  100  feet  or  more.  Crown  spreading; 
branches  few  and  confined  to  the  summit.  Trunk  straight,  cylindri- 
cal, and  from  9  to  20  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  light  brown,  smooth, 
and  has  a  bitter  taste.  Leaves  long-stalked,  large,  the  7-10  leaflets 
subleathery,  entire,  oblongate,  acuminate  at  apex,  rounded  or  acute 
at  base,  densely  tomentose  beneath.  Flowers  white,  in  large  panicles. 
Fruit  ovoid-compressed,  pale  green,  2-celled,  borne  at  tip  of  branch- 
lets;  November-December. — Common  in  the  upland,  usually  in 
secondary  growth  (alt.  1,300-3,500  ft.).  The  soft  wood  is  used  for 
crates  and  general  carpentry. 

Wood  pale  or  grayish  brown,  sometimes  with  a  yellowish  tinge, 
not  clearly  defined  into  sap  and  heart;  has  no  characteristic  odor 
or  taste;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  rather  coarse- textured ; 
light  in  weight  and  of  about  the  same  consistency  as  alder  (Alnus) ; 
easy  to  work,  rather  brittle,  and  lacks  figure;  not  durable  and  subject 
to  blue  stain.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in  indistinct, 
scattered  cells.  Pores  small;  numerous,  evenly  distributed;  solitary 
or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  seldom  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines 
moderately  fine  and  inconspicuous;  tyloses  sometimes  present.  Rays 
broad  and  uniform  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  all  surfaces,  especially 
on  radial.  Small  radial  canals  along  margin  of  pith  and  common 
in  the  rays. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  401 

Vessel  perforations  may  be  simple,  scalariform  with  several  bars, 
reticulate,  or  composite;  pits  are  large,  irregular,  with  conspicuous 
borders.  Rays  homogeneous  or  tending  to  heterogeneous;  5  cells 
wide,  marginal  cells  usually  larger  than  interior  cells.  Fibers  septate. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5452. 

2.    GILIBERTIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Gilibertia  Williamsii  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11: 
490.  1932.  Achcu-isman. 

Tree,  ranging  in  height  from  40  to  45  feet  or  more.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  12  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  from  20  to  25  feet.  Bark  light  tan-colored  and  has 
a  spicy  odor  when  fresh;  inner  bark  somewhat  fibrous.  Leaves 
long-stalked,  simple.  Flowers  pale  red;  January. — Uncommon;  in 
fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  dirty  white  to  pale  brown;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or 
taste;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  light 
in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  dull  finish.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color  and  abundance 
of  elements.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or 
medium  size;  very  numerous,  uniformly  distributed  or  tending  to 
be  crowded  in  zones;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3,  also 
solitary  or  in  tangential  pairs,  seldom  in  clusters.  Vessel  lines 
moderately  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background,  but  distinguishable 
without  lens;  translucent  tyloses  common.  Rays  distinct  on  all 
surfaces.  Small  radial  canals  present,  mostly  in  margin  of  pith. 
Pith  medium  brown;  grayish  white  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate 
(raphides)  common. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  3-6  cells  wide  and  24  cells  or  more  high. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7398. 

3.    NOTHOPANAX  Seem. 

Nothopanax  sp.  Shrub,  about  8  feet  tall.  Bark  papyraceous, 
light  brown,  and  with  low  ridges.  Leaves  membranaceous,  serrate, 
rounded  or  cordate  at  base,  and  petiolate. — In  open  dry  loam,  some- 
times cultivated  for  hedges  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  becoming  dark  grayish  on 
exposure;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  fairly  straight-  or 
slightly  wavy-grained;  fine- textured ;  light  and  soft;  easy  to  cut; 
perishable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 


402  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

not  distinguishable  with  lens.  Pores  minute  or  small ;  fairly  numerous, 
uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  up  to  6. 
Vessel  lines  fine.  Rays  broad,  but  not  very  distinct  on  cross  section ; 
fairly  prominent  on  radial.  Small  radial  canals  present  along  margin 
of  pith  and  especially  in  the  rays;  distinct  under  lens. 

Vessel  perforations  scalariform.    Rays  heterogeneous;  up  to  8 
cells  wide  and  20  cells  or  more  high. 
Loreto:  Iquitos,  3627. 

4.    OREOPANAX  Decne.  &  Planch. 

Oreopanax  Williamsii  Harms,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11: 
487.  1932.  Sacha-uvilla. 

Uncommon  tree,  ranging  in  height  up  to  30  feet  or  more.  Crown 
spreading  and  with  dense  foliage.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from  6 
to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for  two-fifths  the  entire 
height.  Bark  pinkish  or  pale  brown,  with  short  ridges  and  small 
lenticels.  Leaves  membranaceous,  lanceolate.  Flowers  small,  pale 
brown,  in  dense,  rounded  heads.  Fruit  black  when  mature,  edible; 
February. — In  dense  forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  or  yellowish  gray;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy 
to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth  polish;  not  durable.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  indistinct. 
Pores  moderately  small;  numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  solitary, 
also  in  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multiples  of  2,  seldom  in  small 
clusters.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fairly  long,  fine  scratches,  of  darker 
color  than  background;  tyloses  common.  Rays  fairly  broad  on 
cross  section;  distinct  on  all  surfaces.  Small  radial  canals  present 
in  the  rays. 

Vessel  perforations  simple.  Rays  1-4  cells  wide  and  50  or  more 
cells  high. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7225. 

MYRSINACEAE.    Myrsine  Family 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  entire  or  toothed, 
generally  marked  with  translucent  or  dark  glands  or  lines;  stipules 
absent.  Flowers  small,  white  or  pink,  perfect,  4-5-parted,  with 
inferior  calyx.  Fruit  a  small  globose  berry  or  drupe,  commonly 
black  or  dark  purple  when  ripe,  edible.  Timbers  are  used  to  a 
limited  extent  for  construction,  joinery,  and  fuel. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  403 

Wood  dull  grayish  white  to  variegated  pale  pinkish  brown,  often 
with  a  grayish  hue;  heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  darker  brown, 
also  with  a  grayish  tinge.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  or  fairly 
fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy  and  tenacious; 
usually  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  moderately  lustrous  polish ; 
fairly  durable  to  durable.  Parenchyma  rather  sparingly  developed 
about  pores;  not  distinct  with  lens.  Pores  small  to  medium-sized; 
not  numerous  to  numerous,  usually  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  small 
multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays 
broad  and  distinct  to  indistinct  on  cross  section,  usually  few  and 
widely  spaced;  visible  without  lens  in  Rapanea  on  tangential  and 
sometimes  appear  to  constitute  about  one-third  the  area;  often  give 
a  pronounced  silver  grain  on  radial  surface,  where  they  are  darker 
than  background  and  suggest  sycamore  (Platanus) ;  aggregates  of 
yellowish  to  dark  brown  ray  cells  or  cysts  are  readily  visible  in  some 
Rapanea  species  and  impart  a  speckled  appearance  to  rays  on  radial 
section. 

The  perforations  of  the  vessels  are  chiefly  simple;  intervascular 
pits  numerous,  with  ellipsoid  margins  and  slit-like  apertures.  Rays 
distinctly  heterogeneous;  2-6  cells  wide  and  often  very  high,  cells 
usually  elongated  vertically.  Wood  fibers  have  simple  pits.  The 
family  resembles  the  Dilleniaceae  and  Proteaceae  in  some  respects, 
but  it  differs  from  the  dillenias  in  the  size  of  the  pores  and  their 
arrangement  in  radial  multiples  or  rows,  the  simple  perforations  of 
the  vessel  plates,  the  simple  pitting  of  the  wood  fibers,  and  the  pres- 
ence of  resin  cysts  or  cells  in  the  rays  in  Rapanea.  In  the  Proteaceae 
the  pores  are  in  distinct  tangential  arrangement  as  if  hanging  from 
the  parenchyma  lines,  the  latter  extending  in  hammock-like  arrange- 
ment between  the  rays. 

1.    CONOMORPHA  A.  DC. 

Conomorpha  peruviana  A.  DC.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  II.  16:  92. 1841. 
Urpai-micuna. 

Uncommon  shrub,  about  6  feet  tall.  Calyx  greenish  white  with 
pinkish  dots;  corolla  creamy  white;  flowering  in  May-June.  Fruit 
brownish  black. — Forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine- 
textured;  moderately  heavy;  not  difficult  to  cut.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal ;  indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  fairly  small;  moderately 
numerous,  fairly  well  scattered;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  2-3,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays 


404  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

few,  widely  spaced,  rather  broad,  and  fairly  distinct  on  cross  section; 
invisible  without  lens  on  tangential;  conspicuous  at  times  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  middle  Nanay,  965. 

2.    RAPANEAAubl. 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  entire.  Flowers  small,  clustered  in  the 
leaf  axils.  Fruit  dry  or  fleshy,  1-seeded. 

Sapwood  dull  white  to  pinkish  brown,  often  with  a  grayish  tinge ; 
heartwood  darker  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  or 
fairly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy,  tenacious; 
not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  fairly  lustrous  finish;  moderately 
durable  to  durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed  around  the 
pores;  indistinct  even  with  lens.  Pores  small  to  medium-sized; 
moderately  numerous  to  very  numerous  and  well  distributed  or 
tending  to  ring-porous;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows,  less  often  solitary 
or  in  small  clusters;  often  closed.  Rays  rather  widely  spaced  and 
distinct  on  cross  section;  readily  visible  without  lens  on  tangential; 
often  conspicuous  on  radial  surface.  Aggregates  of  yellowish  or  dark 
brown,  resinous  cells  often  present  and  give  a  speckled  appearance 
to  rays  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations.  Rays  distinctly  heterogeneous; 
mostly  4-6  cells  wide  and  very  high.  Wood  fibers  with  simple  pits. 

Rapanea  chartacea  Macbr.  Candollea  5:  396.  1934. 

Shrub,  about  12  feet  in  height.  Bark  chocolate  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  few,  coarse  ridges.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow; 
March- April. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  in  humid  loam. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  pinkish  brown;  of  light  or  medium  weight; 
wavy-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- 
textured;  not  easy  to  cut;  strong  and  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  fine  bands  around  pores.  Pores 
small;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3,  also  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  visible  to 
unaided  eye,  but  not  prominent.  Rays  lighter-colored  than  fibers, 
widely  spaced,  and  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  other  surfaces.  Pith  brown. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  8059. 

Rapanea  leuconeura  (Mart.)  Mez,  Pflanzenr.  IV.  236:  389. 
1902. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  405 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  up  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  7  inches  or  more  in  diameter, 
either  branching  from  near  the  base  or  undivided  up  to  25  feet. 
Bark  pinkish  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  with  small  lenticels. 
Fruit  small,  round,  red  when  mature;  December- January. — Fairly 
common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  and  around  Lamas  (alt.  1,400-1,600 
ft.);  in  sandy  or  heavy  loam  in  secondary  growth. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  variable  from  cream-colored  to  pinkish 
brown,  with  grayish  or  purplish  markings  of  rays;  heartwood  pinkish 
brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  light  to  moderately 
heavy;  fairly  straight-grained;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  moderately 
smooth  polish  with  an  attractive  figure,  and  holds  its  place  well 
when  finished.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ; 
indistinct.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  mostly  in 
small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  also  solitary.  Vessel  lines  fine  and 
inconspicuous;  sometimes  filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  lighter- 
colored  than  fibers,  widely  spaced,  and  faintly  or  readily  discernible 
without  lens  on  cross  section;  conspicuous  on  tangential  and  radial 
surfaces;  scarlet  globules  of  gum  often  present  in  cells  and  visible 
on  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5461;  Lamas,  6383.. 

Rapanea  Sprucei  Mez,  Pflanzenr.  IV.  236:  388. 1902.   Camesito. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  about  12  feet  tall.  Densely  branched. 
Trunk  straight,  slender.  Bark  dark  brown;  inner  bark  reddish 
brown.  Fruit  round,  red  when  mature,  and  borne  in  clusters; 
December-January. — Uncommon;  in  sandy  loam  among  small  trees 
and  shrubs  (alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  house  construction 
and  the  leaves  and  bark  are  employed  in  domestic  medicine. 

Wood  pinkish  brown  with  darker  brown  markings  of  rays; 
wavy-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  very  hard,  heavy,  and 
extremely  tenacious;  not  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish; 
very  durable. 

San  Martin :  near  Tarapoto,  5977. 

3.    STYLOGYNE  DC. 

Stylogyne  amplifolia  Macbr.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  33.  1931. 
Puca-varilla. 

Small  tree,  from  12  to  22  feet  in  height,  with  dense,  open  crown. 
Trunk  bent,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  from  3  to  9  feet. 


406  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Bark  reddish  brown,  smooth,  scaly,  or  with  low,  rounded  ridges. 
Flowers  small,  white.  Fruit  small,  round,  attached  to  branches, 
black  when  mature,  and  edible;  June-July. — Not  very  common; 
in  dry  or  humid  loam  in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sapwood  variable  in  color  from  yellowish  to  pale  pinkish  brown ; 
heartwood  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-  to  fairly  coarse-textured;  of 
fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  not  difficult  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in- 
distinct. Pores  minute  or  small  and  barely  discernible  with  lens; 
not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  or  diagonal 
pairs.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely  distinguishable  without  lens. 
Rays  lighter-colored  than  fibers,  widely  spaced,  and  faintly  dis- 
cernible or  readily  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  darker  than  background  in 
some  specimens  and  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  587;  Caballo-cocha,  2081,  2117. 

THEOPHRASTACEAE.     Theophrasta  Family 
1.    CLAVIJA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Clavija  sp.  Trompetero-sacha.  Shrub,  up  to  16  feet  in  height. 
Crown  dense.  Trunk  stout  and  branching  from  base.  Bark  light  or 
dark  brown,  coarsely  wrinkled.  Flowers  yellow;  September-October.— 
Fairly  abundant  in  some  localities  in  the  lowland  (alt.  500  ft.) ;  in  dry 
loam  in  thickets  or  along  margin  of  forest. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  when  fresh,  with  pinkish,  pale  purple,  or 
gray  streaks  when  dry;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine- textured ;  fairly 
light;  easy  to  cut;  not  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
small;  fairly  numerous;  predominantly  solitary;  open  or  closed. 
Rays  conspicuous  on  all  surfaces. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  numerous, 
small.  Rays  heterogeneous  and  tending  to  homogeneous;  up  to  10 
cells  or  more  wide  and  60  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  fairly  thick- walled. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4174- 

SAPOTACEAE.     Sapodilla  Family 

Trees  or  large  shrubs,  sometimes  armed  with  spines.  Leaves 
alternate,  entire,  stalked,  usually  thick  and  leathery,  without 
stipules,  and  frequently  in  tufts  at  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Flowers 
small,  whitish  or  greenish,  perfect,  in  small  clusters  in  the  leaf  axils 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  407 

or  on  older  naked  branches.  Fruit  a  fleshy  drupe  or  berry,  often 
very  large,  succulent,  and  edible,  the  trees  sometimes  culti- 
vated on  this  account;  seeds  1  to  several  and  in  some  species  are 
sources  of  food  and  oil.  The  family  is  characterized  by  a  milky 
juice,  the  source  of  such  commodities  as  balata,  chicle,  and  gutta- 
percha,  products  which  are  of  greater  economic  importance  than 
their  timbers.  Some  of  the  timbers,  Manilkara,  for  example,  are 
valuable  on  account  of  their  hardness,  strength,  and  durability, 
adapting  them  to  a  wide  range  of  uses. 

Woods  pinkish,  yellowish,  or  reddish  brown,  often  with  a  gray 
tinge;  heartwood  sometimes  well  denned,  dark  chocolate  brown; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  fairly  fine-  to  coarse-textured;  mostly  heavy  or 
very  heavy;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  or 
high  luster.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  often  wavy,  tangential 
or  concentric  lines  or  bands,  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores 
fairly  small  to  large;  rather  few  to  numerous  and  well  scattered; 
most  often  in  radial  multiples,  also  solitary,  in  radial  rows,  or  in 
clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays  very  fine  or  fine,  usually  thinner  than 
parenchyma  lines,  numerous,  and  sometimes  indistinct  on  cross 
section ;  not  visible  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple  in  the  Peruvian  species, 
in  others  scalariform,  simple,  or  both ;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  elliptical 
or  much  elongated,  simple  or  half -bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
uniseriate  and  partly  biseriate  in  Lucuma  and  Manilkara,  2-3  cells 
wide  in  Sideroxylon.  Rhombohedral  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  and 
dark  gum  common.  Wood  fibers  often  exceedingly  thick- walled 
and  with  small  lumina;  pits  simple. 

1.    CHRYSOPHYLLUM  L. 

Large  or  medium-sized  trees  with  milky  latex,  easily  recognized 
by  their  oblong  to  oval,  leathery  leaves,  which  are  rather  small, 
glabrous  on  the  upper  surface,  and  densely  covered  beneath  with 
closely  appressed,  brownish,  glistening  hairs.  Flowers  small  or  very 
small,  stalked,  clustered  in  the  leaf  axils  or  at  naked  nodes  below  the 
leaves;  sepals  5-6;  corolla  5-6-lobed;  staminodia  none.  Fruit  small 
or  large,  containing  1  or  more  seeds.  Timber  is  used  locally  for  heavy 
construction. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown  and  streaked  with  gray,  becoming 
yellowish  brown  on  exposure  to  air  and  sunlight;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; moderately  fine-  to  medium-textured;  heavy  and  durable; 
occasionally  saws  slightly  woolly,  takes  a  moderately  lustrous  polish. 


408  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

The  structure  suggests  that  of  Lucuma.  Parenchyma  in  numerous, 
fine,  tangential  lines  or  concentric  bands.  Pores  moderately  small; 
few  or  moderately  few,  uniformly  distributed;  mostly  in  radial 
multiples,  less  often  solitary  or  in  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays 
fine,  numerous,  and  rather  unevenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  invisible 
without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly  1-3 
cells  wide. 

Chrysophyllum  Klugii  Baehni,  ined.    Batata  blanca  de  altura. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  150  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  spreading. 
Trunk  fairly  straight,  cylindrical,  36  inches  in  diameter,  and  undi- 
vided for  80  feet.  Bark  dark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  with 
numerous  small  scales  or  small  fissures.  Flowers  pale  yellow,  small ; 
May-June.  Fruit  yellowish  brown  when  mature,  with  persistent 
calyx  lobes  and  containing  a  cream-colored,  edible  pulp  in  which  are 
imbedded  1  or  2  lustrous  black  seeds. — Not  common;  forming  the 
upper  story  in  dense  forest  not  subject  to  seasonal  floods  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Sapwood  fairly  well  demarcated,  uniform  pale  brown  and  darken- 
ing on  exposure;  heartwood  dark  reddish  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no 
distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured;  fairly  heavy  and  strong;  not  very  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings 
present  owing  to  some  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in 
fine,  wavy,  evenly  spaced,  continuous,  concentric  lines,  lighter- 
colored  than  adjacent  elements.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  not  very 
numerous,  uniformly  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of  up  to  7  or 
more,  infrequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  visible  without  lens, 
but  not  distinct;  grayish  deposit  of  calcium  common.  Rays  numer- 
ous, fine,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
slightly  darker  brown  than  adjacent  elements  and  distinguishable 
without  lens  on  moistened  radial  surface.  The  structure  of  the  wood, 
especially  the  arrangement  of  the  parenchyma,  suggests  Lucuma. 

Loreto :  upper  Nanay,  91 1 . 

Chrysophyllum  sericeum  A.  DC.  Prodr.  8: 158.  1844. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  15  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  6  feet.  Bark 
dark  brown,  with  short,  fine  fissures.  Flowers  pale  yellow;  October- 
November. — Common  along  the  banks  of  the  Paranapura  River,  an 
affluent  of  the  Huallaga  (alt.  500  ft.) ;  in  dense  forest.  Timber  is  not 
used  locally  except  for  fuel. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  409 

Wood  light  brown,  often  with  broad,  dark  grayish  areas,  and  with 
little  or  no  definition  between  sap  and  heart;  tasteless  and  odorless; 
interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  hard,  heavy,  and 
strong;  not  easy  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished; 
durable.  Growth  rings  occasionally  present  owing  to  variation  in 
abundance  of  parenchyma.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  con- 
centric lines  forming  a  network  with  rays.  Pores  small  and  distin- 
guishable only  with  lens;  rather  few,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-3  or  more.  Vessel  lines  exceedingly  fine  and 
indistinguishable  to  unaided  eye.  Rays  discernible  only  with  lens 
on  cross  section ;  barely  visible  without  lens  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  3945. 

Other  numbers  determined  provisionally  as  Chrysophyllum: 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5522,  6140. 

2.    LUCUMA  Molina 

Small  or  large  trees  with  milky  latex.  Leaves  small  or  large, 
leathery  or  rather  thin,  glabrous.  Flowers  small  or  large,  greenish, 
stalked,  solitary  or  clustered  in  the  leaf  axils;  sepals  4-6;  corolla 
4-5-lobed,  without  appendages;  stamens  4-5,  alternating  with  the 
staminodia.  The  fleshy,  olive-like  fruit  is  small  or  large,  usually 
edible,  and  contains  1-5  seeds.  The  durable  timber  is  employed 
mostly  for  house  timbers. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown,  darkening  on  exposure; 
heartwood  chocolate  brown  with  a  grayish  cast.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  of  medium  density  to  very 
heavy;  occasionally  saws  woolly,  not  difficult  to  work,  and  sometimes 
takes  a  lustrous  polish;  subject  to  stain  and  insects.  Parenchyma  in 
few  to  fairly  numerous,  tangential  lines  or  fine,  continuous,  con- 
centric bands,  sometimes  wavy  and  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  of 
medium  size  to  moderately  large;  fairly  numerous  to  numerous  and 
well  scattered;  mostly  in  radial  multiples,  less  often  solitary,  in 
radial  rows,  or  in  clusters;  open  or  filled  with  dark  gum  or  tyloses. 
Rays  numerous  on  cross  section  and  much  finer  than  parenchyma 
lines  or  bands;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or 
partly  biseriate. 

Lucuma  bifera  Molina(?),  Sagg.  Stor.  Nat.  Chil.  187.  1782. 
Pucuna-caspi,  Urcu-cumala. 


410  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tree,  up  to  90  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or  conical; 
branches  elongated.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  about  20  inches  in 
diameter,  and  unbranched  for  about  three-fourths  the  entire  height. 
Bark  reddish  to  dark  brown  or  almost  black,  with  long,  shallow 
fissures,  and  secretes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of  dark  red  resin. 
Flowers  axillary,  fairly  large,  red;  May-June.  Fruit  dehiscent; 
seeds  ovoid,  reddish. — Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  free  from  floods 
(alt.  450  ft.).  The  durable  heartwood  is  sometimes  used  for  making 
blowpipes,  hence  the  local  Quechua  name  ("pucuna"= blowpipe; 
"caspi"=wood). 

Sap  wood  well  demarcated,  pale  lustrous  brown;  heartwood  dark 
purplish  or  chocolate  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  rather  heavy,  firm,  strong,  and 
compact;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  durable.  Growth 
rings  faintly  visible.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  wavy,  unevenly  spaced, 
concentric  lines.  Pores  sometimes  faintly  visible  without  lens. 
Vessel  lines  short  or  long;  often  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses.  Rays 
distinguishable  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  902. 

Lucuma  Caimito  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Roem.  &  Schultes,  Syst. 
Veg.  4:  701.  1819.  Caimito. 

Tree,  from  20  to  45  feet  in  height,  infrequently  attaining  greater 
stature.  Crown  conical  or  wide-spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round 
or  fairly  so,  from  6  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for  from 
2  to  20  feet.  Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  pale  or  dark  reddish  brown,  scaly, 
and  with  very  coarse,  broad  fissures.  Flowers  small,  white;  June- 
July.  Fruit  ovoid,  yellowish  white  when  ripe,  edible  and  highly 
esteemed;  October-December. — Widely  distributed  throughout  the 
lowland  and  frequently  cultivated  for  its  fruit;  in  open  dry  loam. 
Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  pinkish  or  light  brown,  darkening  on  exposure  and  with 
a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  dark  brown,  perishable.  Wood  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  medium-textured; 
moderately  heavy  to  heavy,  firm,  and  strong;  fairly  easy  to  cut; 
liable  to  check  and  susceptible  to  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings 
visible  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  evenly  and  closely  spaced,  wavy,  concentric  lines  or 
fine  bands  forming  a  network  with  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size; 
fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-6, 
less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  distinguishable  without 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  411 

lens,  but  not  prominent;  grayish  white  deposit  frequently  present. 
Rays  indistinct  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
occasionally  visible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  171(1};  lower  Nanay,  472;  Pebas,  1792, 
1983;  La  Victoria,  2683;  lower  Huallaga,  3990,  4717. 

Lucuma  dolichophylla  Standl.,  ined.  Quina-quina,  Quinilla 
blanca. 

Tree,  from  45  to  70  feet  tall.  Crown  round  or  flat.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical  or  moderately  so,  from  8  to  20  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  undivided  for  from  12  to  35  feet.  Bark  dark  purplish  brown 
and  when  cut  yields  a  fairly  sweet  latex  resembling  gutta-percha; 
inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Flowers  small,  white.  Fruit  round, 
covered  with  a  brown,  velvety  down,  yellow  when  mature,  and  edible; 
November. — Not  common;  in  dense  forest  free  from  floods  (alt. 
600  ft.).  The  durable  heartwood  is  esteemed  for  house  construction 
and  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  uniform  light  brown,  darkening  somewhat  on  exposure; 
heartwood  brown.  Wood  rather  heavy  and  strong;  saws  slightly 
woolly;  liable  to  check  in  drying.  Pores  not  numerous,  uniformly 
scattered;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  also  solitary; 
open  or  closed.  Rays  occasionally  distinguishable  without  lens  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  886;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4951. 

Lucuma  huallagae  Standl.,  ined.     Huangana-caspi. 

Tree,  about  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  mod- 
erately straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  undivided  for  12  feet. 
Bark  about  0.5  inch  thick,  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  secretes 
a  small  quantity  of  sweet  latex.  Fruit  grayish  brown  with  a  velvety 
down,  and  borne  on  the  main  branches;  October-November.— 
Uncommon;  in  dense  forest  not  subject  to  periodical  floods  (alt. 
600  ft.).  The  dense,  hard  wood  is  esteemed  for  house  posts. 

Wood  pinkish  or  yellowish  brown  throughout;  heavy,  compact, 
strong,  and  tenacious;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  rather  fine- 
textured;  moderately  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish. 
Growth  rings  present.  Pores  often  filled  with  pale  yellowish  white 
deposit.  Rays  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4802. 

The  following  numbers  remain   to  be  determined  specifically : 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  189;  upper  Nanay,  899;  Puerto  Arturo, 
lower  Huallaga,  5358. 


412  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

3.    MANILKARA  Adans. 

Tall,  evergreen  trees  or  rarely  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate,  entire, 
leathery;  stipules  small.  Flowers  whitish,  clustered  in  the  leaf  axils. 
Fruit  obovoid  or  ellipsoid,  1-2-seeded. 

This  genus  is  important  commercially  as  the  source  of  balata,  a 
hydrocarbon  similar  to  gutta-percha  and  the  only  substance  so  far 
known  that  may  be  substituted  for  this  commodity  in  all  its  applica- 
tions. The  milky  latex  that  issues  immediately  and  abundantly 
from  the  incised  bark  of  the  "balata"  tree  (known  in  English  as 
"bully"  or  "bullet  tree")  solidifies  on  contact  with  the  air  and  assumes 
a  pinkish  tint.  It  contains  from  42  to  48  per  cent  of  gutta  and  from 
37  to  44  per  cent  of  resins.  The  yield  of  a  single  tree  during  one 
collecting  season  varies  greatly,  but  may  average  about  5  or  6  pounds. 
Coagulation  is  obtained  by  exposure  to  the  air  or  by  boiling.  (For 
further  notes  on  balata  in  the  montana,  see  page  50.) 

Sapwood  varies  in  color  from  pale  pinkish  or  yellowish  to  reddish 
brown;  heartwood  darker  brown,  not  always  sharply  defined.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-  or  rather  fine- textured ;  heavy  or 
moderately  heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  durable;  takes  a  smooth,  fairly 
lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  closely  but  not 
always  evenly  spaced,  wavy,  concentric  lines,  sometimes  broken  and 
irregular,  not  always  distinct  without  lens.  Pores  small  or  very  small 
to  medium-sized;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows,  less  often  solitary; 
mostly  open.  Rays  very  fine  and  numerous;  visible  with  lens  on 
cross  section,  but  not  on  tangential ;  of  about  the  same  color  as  back- 
ground or  distinct,  but  not  prominent,  on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  elliptical  or 
elongated,  simple  to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells 
wide  and  few  to  many  cells  high,  often  filled  with  dark  gum.  Wood 
fibers  extremely  thick-walled  with  minute  cavities  and  small,  simple 
pits.  Crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  common  in  parenchyma  and  rays. 

Manilkara  bidentata  (A.  DC.)  A.  Chev.  Revue  de  Botanique 
Applique"e  et  d'Agriculture  Tropicale  12:  268-270,  pi.  8.  1932. 
Pamashto,  Quinilla,  Quinilla  color  ad  a. 

Tree,  up  to  75  or  85  feet  in  height.  Crown  wide-spreading,  flat, 
or  conical.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  cylindrical,  up  to  18 
inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for  from  50  to  65  feet  or 
more.  Bark  0.5  inch  or  more  thick,  pale  gray  or  pinkish  to  dark 
reddish  brown,  with  coarse,  deep,  vertical  fissures,  and  yields  a 
copious  quantity  of  slightly  sweet,  viscid,  yellow  latex — the  balata 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  413 

of  commerce.  Leaves  dark  green  and  about  6  inches  long.  Flowers 
small,  yellow.  Fruit  borne  in  profusion,  round,  red,  and  edible 
when  mature;  seeds  small,  lustrous  black;  January  through  April. 
—Widely  scattered  but  nowhere  abundant;  in  dry  or  slightly  humid 
loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380-1,400  ft.).  The  dense,  durable  heart- 
wood  is  highly  esteemed  for  house  posts,  general  construction,  and 
sometimes  for  canoes. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white,  darkening  on  exposure  to  a  uniform 
pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked -grained ;  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
heavy,  hard,  compact,  and  very  strong;  not  easy  to  work  and  takes 
a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish;  likely  to  check  in  drying.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  darker  zones  free  from  parenchyma.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  fine,  continuous  or  broken  and  irregular,  con- 
centric lines;  visible  only  with  lens.  Pores  mostly  small;  not  numer- 
ous, well  distributed;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  also  solitary 
or  in  small  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine  or 
distinct,  but  not  conspicuous,  scratches  of  lighter  color  than  back- 
ground; filled  with  black  gum  or  tyloses.  Rays  fine,  numerous, 
slightly  thinner  than  parenchyma  lines,  visible  only  with  lens  on 
cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter-colored  than  back- 
ground on  radial  surface  and  faintly  discernible  to  aided  eye. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  893,  907;  Caballo-cocha,  2260. — San 
Martin:  Tarapoto,  5735. 

4.    SIDEROXYLON  L. 

Medium-sized  or  large  trees.  Leaves  of  small  or  medium  size, 
rather  leathery,  with  short  or  long  petioles.  Flowers  small,  in  dense 
clusters  in  the  leaf  axils  or  on  naked  branches;  sepals  usually  5, 
subequal;  corolla  most  often  5-lobed.  Fruit  small,  commonly 
1-seeded.  Timber  is  suitable  for  heavy  construction. 

Wood  of  various  shades  of  brown,  ranging  from  pale  pinkish  to 
reddish  and  often  with  a  grayish  hue;  odorless  and  tasteless;  mod- 
erately fine-  to  medium-,  infrequently  coarse- textured ;  fairly  light 
to  rather  heavy  and  durable;  sometimes  saws  woolly,  easy  to  work, 
and  capable  of  taking  a  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  in  evenly 
spaced,  concentric  lines,  at  times  wavy,  not  always  visible  with  lens. 
Pores  fairly  small  to  large;  few  to  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples,  less  often  in  radial  rows  or  in  clusters; 
open  or  closed.  Rays  fairly  fine  to  invisible  on  cross  section;  not 
visible  on  tangential ;  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 


414  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  elliptical 
or  much  elongated  vertically  or  laterally.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
mostly  2-3  cells  wide.  Wood  fibers  with  very  thick  walls  and  minute 
cavities;  pits  simple.  Rhombohedral  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate 
common  in  parenchyma  strands. 

Sideroxylon  cylindrocarpon  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp. 
3:  72.  pi.  282.  1845. 

Shrub,  18  feet  tall,  with  slender  trunk,  branching  7  or  8  feet  from 
the  base.  Bark  rufous  brown,  very  thin,  and  scaly.  Fruit  round, 
black,  2-seeded. — Not  common;  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of  forest 
(alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  pinkish  brown  with  a  pale  grayish  tinge  and 
turning  to  yellowish  or  pale  brown  on  exposure;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight; 
not  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster,  and 
holds  its  place  well  when  finished ;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  very  fine,  evenly  spaced,  concentric 
lines.  Pores  minute  or  small;  few  and  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  rows  or  multiples.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  or  sometimes  visible 
without  lens.  Rays  moderately  fine  and  slightly  wavy  on  cross 
section;  discernible  to  aided  eye  on  moistened  cross  and  tangential 
surfaces;  slightly  darker  than  adjoining  elements  and  faintly  dis- 
tinguishable without  lens  on  radial. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2995. 

Sideroxylon  Quinilla  Standl.,  ined.    Quinilla. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  up  to  100  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  fairly  straight,  compressed  or  fluted,  up  to  45 
inches  in  diameter,  unbranched  for  30  feet,  and  with  large  surface 
roots.  Bark  thin,  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  yields  when 
incised  a  small  amount  of  insipid  latex.  Fruit  ellipsoid,  green  when 
mature;  September-October. — Uncommon;  in  flood-free  areas  (alt. 
500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  general  construction. 

Wood  pale  brown  throughout;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  moderately  straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  of  medium  weight ; 
not  difficult  to  work  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished;  durable. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  invisible 
or  faintly  visible  with  lens  as  fine,  broken  or  fairly  continuous,  con- 
centric lines.  Pores  of  rather  small  or  medium  size;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered ;  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-5,  less  frequently 
solitary;  open  or  filled  with  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  415 

as  background  or  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  very  fine  and  barely  visible 
with  lens  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  faintly 
discernible  to  aided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga,  4903. 

Sideroxylon  Ulei  Krause,  Verb.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50:  95. 
1908.  Varilla  del  agua. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  from  12  to  18  feet  in  height.  Bark  light 
gray,  dark  brown,  or  almost  black,  with  small  lenticels.  Leaves 
leathery.  Fruit  ellipsoid,  brown,  1-seeded. — Common  along  the 
banks  of  the  Morona  River,  an  affluent  of  the  Nanay  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  light  pink  or  pale  yellow  throughout;  odorless,  but  slightly 
bitter;  moderately  straight-grained;  fine-textured;  rather  tenacious. 
Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  concentric  lines;  visible 
only  with  lens.  Pores  small;  few  and  well  scattered;  in  radial  or 
diagonal  multiples  or  rows  of  2-5,  less  frequently  in  tangential  pairs 
or  solitary.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  faintly  discernible  without  lens. 
Rays  very  fine  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  section ; 
invisible  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  191. 

Sideroxylon  Williamsii  Baehni,  ined.     Tarrico-nana. 

Forest  tree,  50  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  12  inches  or  so  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  10  feet.  Bark 
dark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown,  scaly,  and  secretes  when  cut  an 
abundance  of  pale  pinkish  latex  which  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste. 
Flowers  axillary,  small,  yellow;  July.  Fruit  round,  yellow  and  soft 
when  mature. — Uncommon;  in  alluvial  loam  in  forest  (alt.  500  ft.). 

Wood  light  brown  with  scattered  patches  of  pale  grayish  white 
and  fine,  dark,  irregular  striping;  odorless  and  tasteless;  irregular- 
grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy  and 
tough ;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish ;  appears  to  be 
durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma 
in  fine,  evenly  spaced,  concentric  lines;  visible  only  with  lens.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  rather  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples  or  rows  of  up  to  7  or  more;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  appear  as  very  fine  scratches  of  darker  color  than  background ; 
dark  gum,  calcium,  or  lustrous  tyloses  common.  Rays  fine  or  barely 
visible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  numerous  and  of  a  dark  reddish 
color  on  tangential;  sometimes  dsicernible  with  lens  on  radial 
surface.  Abundant  deposit  of  calcium  (raphides)  discernible  in  pith. 

Loreto:  Palta-cocha,  middle  Nanay,  3198. 


416  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

EBENACEAE.     Ebony  Family 
1.    DIOSPYROS  L. 

Trees  or  large  shrubs.  Leaves  alternate,  entire,  persistent  or 
deciduous,  without  stipules.  Flowers  small,  of  2  sexes,  white  or 
greenish,  axillary,  solitary  or  in  cymes;  corolla  of  united  petals. 
Fruit  baccate,  usually  large,  containing  several  large  seeds.  Some 
members  of  the  genus  are  cultivated  for  their  edible  fruits,  others 
are  commercially  important  as  the  source  of  the  true  ebony  of  com- 
merce, which  comes  from  Africa  and  the  Far  East. 

The  Peruvian  woods  are  yellowish,  grayish,  or  light  brown  to  dark 
purplish  brown,  usually  streaked;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  heavy 
or  moderately  so,  tenacious,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of 
taking  a  smooth  polish;  sapwood  suitable  for  tool  handles,  heart- 
wood  for  small  cabinet  work  and  articles  of  turnery.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  spaced,  concentric  lines  forming  a 
network  with  the  rays  and  suggesting  certain  representatives  of  the 
Anonaceae;  invisible  without  lens  and  sometimes,  particularly  in  the 
black  heartwood,  not  distinct  under  lens.  Pores  usually  very  small ; 
few  or  fairly  numerous;  solitary  or  infrequently  in  small  multiples; 
open.  Rays  very  fine;  indistinct  or  not  visible  with  lens. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  and  vessel-paren- 
chyma pits  half-bordered  or  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uni- 
seriate  or  at  the  most  triseriate. 

Diospyros  peruviana  Hiern,  Trans.  Camb.  Phil.  Soc.  12:  253. 
1873. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  sometimes  up  to  21  feet  in 
height.  Crown  spreading  or  flat.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  slender, 
and  clear  of  limbs  for  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  rather  thin, 
pale  brown,  with  long,  coarse  fissures;  inner  bark  separates  into  thin 
flakes.  Leaves  oblong,  acuminate  at  apex,  subrounded  or  narrow 
at  base,  coriaceous,  deep  green,  shining,  glabrescent  above  except 
along  the  depressed  veins,  pubescent  beneath  especially  along 
the  veins.  Inflorescence  cymose;  calyx  densely  pubescent  outside 
and  slightly  so  inside;  corolla  lobes  rounded  and  wide-spreading  in 
flower.  Fruit  subglobose,  yellow  when  mature;  December- January. 
—In  sandy  loam  among  shrubs  or  small  trees  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.). 

Sapwood  fairly  well  demarcated,  pale  brown  interspersed  with 
streaks  of  gray ;  heartwood  dark  gray.  Wood  straight-grained ;  uni- 
formly fine-textured;  moderately  light  in  weight,  compact,  tough; 
fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  occasion- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  417 

ally  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  faintly 
discernible  as  fine,  broken,  concentric  lines.  Pores  of  small  to  medium 
size;  not  numerous,  uniformly  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  barely  distinguish- 
able with  lens,  sinuous,  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  at  limit 
of  vision,  but  not  prominent,  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6498. — Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  8130. 

Diospyros  Poeppigiana  A.  DC.  Prodr.  8:  224.  1844.  Uchpa- 
pamashto. 

Tree,  about  40  feet  tall.  Crown  irregular.  Trunk  cylindrical, 
erect,  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  10  feet.  Bark 
up  to  0.75  inch  thick,  dark  brown  or  black;  inner  bark  reddish 
brown.  Flowers  yellow.  Fruit  about  1  inch  in  diameter,  brown 
when  mature,  and  with  4  seeds  imbedded  in  a  sweet,  edible  pulp; 
July- August. — Fairly  abundant,  but  not  widely  distributed;  in  dry 
medium  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.).  Wood  is  used  mostly 
for  fuel. 

Wood  dark  purplish  brown  throughout  and  darkening  somewhat 
upon  exposure  to  air;  softer  and  coarser-textured  than  C.  peruviana. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  3196. 

LOGANIACEAE.    Strychnine  Family 

Herbs,  vines,  shrubs,  or  trees.  Leaves  opposite  or  whorled, 
entire,  dentate,  or  lobed,  with  or  without  stipules.  Flowers  regular, 
large  or  small;  calyx  4-5-lobed;  corolla  of  4  or  5  united  petals. 
Fruit  a  capsule,  drupe,  or  berry,  1-  or  many-seeded.  Their  timbers 
are  of  no  local  economic  importance.  From  Old  World  species  of  the 
genus  Strychnos  are  obtained  the  drugs  strychnine  and  nux  vomica. 
Woods  yellowish  or  pale  pinkish  brown,  with  a  grayish  tinge; 
fine- textured ;  of  light  to  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  closely  spaced,  concentric  lines  or  fine  bands.  Pores 
minute  or  very  small;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  scat- 
tered; predominantly  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  multiples;  open 
or  closed.  Rays  very  fine  and  usually  invisible  without  lens  on  all 
surfaces.  The  woods  are  of  interest  because  of  the  presence  of  island 
type  of  included  phloem  in  several  species  of  Strychnos,  which 
provides  an  important  diagnostic  feature. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  small, 
with  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  large  and  elongated,  simple 
or  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly  uniseriate  or  partly 
biseriate. 


418  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

1.    POTALIA  Aubl. 

Potalia  amara  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  394.  pi.  151.  1775.  Sacha- 
mangua. 

Erect,  slender  shrub,  from  5  to  15  feet  tall,  with  flat  top  and 
simple  trunk.  Twigs  glabrous.  Bark  grayish  or  pale  green,  fairly 
smooth.  Leaves  lanceolate,  short-stalked,  entire,  midrib  prominent 
beneath,  acuminate  at  apex,  narrowing  to  the  base,  and  confined  to 
the  summit.  Corolla  yellowish  white;  flowering  in  September- 
October.  Fruit  a  round  or  ovoid,  pale  green,  ruminate  berry;  seeds 
globose;  January. — Common  in  both  lowland  and  upland  (alt.  380- 
3,500  ft.) ;  in  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest. 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  pinkish  or  grayish  streaks;  straight- 
grained;  uniformly  fine-textured.  Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  wavy,  closely  spaced, 
concentric  lines  or  fine  bands.  Vessel  lines  at  times  barely  visible 
with  lens.  Rays  numerous  and  finer  than  parenchyma  lines  on  cross 
section ;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1936;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in  the 
lower  Huallaga,  Department  of  Loreto,  and  at  San  Roque,  Depart- 
ment of  San  Martin. 

2.    STRYCHNOS  L. 

Trees  or  scandent  shrubs,  of  wide  distribution  in  the  tropics, 
particularly  in  Asia  and  Africa.  Leaves  opposite,  entire,  one  of 
them  being  frequently  abortive  and  developing  from  its  axil  a  tendril- 
like  branch.  Flowers  small,  white,  greenish  white,  or  yellowish,  in 
terminal  or  lateral  cymes;  calyx  4-5-lobed,  corolla  salverform,  4-5- 
cleft,  stamens  5.  Fruit  a  globose  or  oblong  berry.  The  genus  is 
of  economic  value  as  the  source  of  drugs. 

The  fruit  of  the  strychnine  tree  (S.  Nux-vomica  L.),  of  tropical 
India,  contains  numerous,  flattened  seeds  imbedded  in  pulp.  The 
seeds  are  intensely  bitter,  owing  to  the  presence  of  the  alkaloids 
strychnine  and  brucine,  but  the  pulp  is  said  to  be  innocuous.  S.  toxi- 
fera  Schomb.,  of  Panama  and  South  America,  supplies  an  ingredient 
of  the  drug  "curare,"  employed  by  the  aborigines  for  poisoning 
arrows. 

Strychnos  Poeppigii  Prog,  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  282. 
1868.  Cunshu-huayo. 

Uncommon  tree,  about  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 

straight,  round,  and  slender.  Bark  yellowish  or  reddish  brown, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  419 

very  thin,  and  scaly.  Leaves  opposite,  entire,  glabrous,  and  veins 
prominent  beneath.  Fruit  a  round,  light  to  dark  brown,  1-seeded 
berry;  seeds  white,  discoid;  April-May. — In  dense  forest  among  tall 
trees  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Sap  wood  dark  violet  or  pale  brown,  becoming  light  brown  when 
exposed  to  air  and  often  with  a  grayish  cast;  heartwood  dark 
brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless ;  straight-grained ;  medium- 
textured;  rather  heavy,  strong,  and  fairly  tough;  not  difficult  to 
work  and  takes  a  dull  finish ;  probably  durable.  Growth  rings  present, 
but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  short,  tangen- 
tial bands  uniting  the  pores,  occasionally  in  broken,  concentric 
bands;  visible  only  with  lens.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous  to 
numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in  small 
radial  multiples.  ,  Strands  of  included  phloem — characteristic  of 
woods  of  this  genus — are  prominent  on  cross  section  and  visible  also 
on  radial  surface.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  very 
fine;  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections; 
indistinct  on  tangential. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  597. 

APOCYNACEAE.    Dogbane  Family 

Large  family  composed  of  trees  and  shrubs,  sometimes  herbs, 
often  scandent,  with  milky  sap.  Leaves  entire,  opposite,  whorled, 
or  alternate,  without  stipules.  Flowers  mostly  in  terminal  or 
lateral  cymes,  large  and  showy  or  small,  perfect,  and  regular;  calyx 
5-lobed,  corolla  5-lobed,  stamens  5,  with  short  filaments.  Fruit 
composed  of  1  or  2  carpels,  these  dry  or  fleshy,  dehiscent  or  indehis- 
cent.  Most  of  the  plants  have  a  milky  sap  furnishing  such  useful 
products  as  landolphia  rubber  (Landolphia  Kirkii  Dyer,  L.  owarien- 
sis  Beauv.,  etc.)  and  silk  rubber  (Funtumia  elastica  Stapf.)  of  tropical 
Africa.  Only  a  limited  number  of  the  members  are  important  for 
their  timber. 

Woods  yellowish,  grayish,  to  pinkish  or  chocolate  brown;  most 
often  without  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  medium-  to  coarse-textured; 
moderately  heavy;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth, 
sometimes  lustrous  finish.  Parenchyma  may  be  scantily  developed 
or  moderately  abundant;  most  often  in  fine  lines  extending  between 
the  rays,  seldom  in  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  medium  size  to  large; 
fairly  numerous  to  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  in  multiples 
or  rows,  or  in  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  on  cross  section; 
usually  invisible  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 


420  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Latex  tubes  are  present  in  the  rays  in  some  species  and  form  one  of 
the  most  important  anatomical  characters  of  the  family.  Large 
radial  canals  are  present  in  the  majority  of  the  Peruvian  genera 
described  below. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  bordered.  Rays 
heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  multiseriate  (mostly  2-3  cells  wide) 
and  up  to  15  cells  or  more  high. 

1.    ASPIDOSPERMA  Mart.  &  Zucc. 

Aspidosperma  subincanum  Mart.  Herb.  Fl.  Bras.  No.  262. 
1837-40;  DC.  Prodr.  8:397.  1844.  Quillo-bordon,  Pinshi-caspi. 

Medium-sized  to  tall,  forest  tree,  from  75  to  120  feet  in  height. 
Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  and  slender.  Bark  grayish 
to  dark  reddish  brown,  scaly.  Leaves  oblong  or  ovate-oblong, 
membranaceous.  Flowers  small,  numerous;  calyx  lobes  lanceolate. 
—Not  common;  in  dense  growth  in  the  region  of  Tarapoto  and  Rio 
Mayo  (alt.  1,300-1,600  ft.).  Timber  is  highly  esteemed  for  general 
carpentry  and  to  a  small  extent  for  furniture. 

Sapwood  yellowish  or  dull  brown,  sometimes  with  a  grayish  cast; 
heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  has  a  slightly  fragrant  odor  when 
fresh,  but  no  characteristic  taste;  straight-grained;  fine- textured ; 
fairly  heavy  to  heavy  and  strong;  not  very  easy  to  work  and 
capable  of  taking  a  high  polish;  durable.  Growth  rings  poorly 
defined  or  sometimes  present  owing  to  absence  of  pores.  Parenchyma 
in  indistinct,  concentric  bands.  Pores  of  small  to  medium  size; 
numerous,  sometimes  tending  to  crowd;  solitary  or  less  often  in 
radial  multiples  of  2;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as 
background.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  lighter-colored  than  the 
surrounding  elements  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and 
radial.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

San  Martin:  Rio  Mayo,  6231;  Tarapoto,  5754(1). — Loreto:  Yuri- 
maguas,  4204(1}. 

2.    CONDYLOCARPON  Desf. 

Condylocarpon  pubiflorum  (Benth.)  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart. 
Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  67.  1860. 

Small  tree,  rarely  attaining  a  height  of  more  than  25  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  up 
to  one-fourth  the  height.  Bark  dark  reddish  brown,  with  small 
scales;  inner  bark  fibrous.  Leaves  opposite,  ovate-elliptic,  thin, 
often  shiny,  and  glabrous  above.  Flowers  minute,  in  terminal 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  421 

cymes.  Fruit  compressed,  woody. — Not  common;  in  secondary 
growth  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  throughout,  often  streaked  with 
pink  or  dark  gray,  and  darkening  slightly  upon  exposure;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  medium-textured; 
heavy,  strong,  and  tenacious;  saws  woolly;  appears  to  be  durable, 
though  liable  to  stain  and  check  in  drying.  Growth  rings  occasion- 
ally present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
in  broad,  distinct,  continuous,  concentric  bands,  several  times 
thicker  than  rays  and  of  lighter  color  than  background ;  distinguish- 
able also  on  tangential.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  rather  few  to  fairly 
numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  seldom 
in  small  clusters;  infrequently  filled  with  dark  gum  or  whitish 
deposit.  Vessel  lines  rather  coarse.  Rays  fine;  indistinct  without 
lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2011. 

3.    COUMAAubl. 

Large  trees,  with  verticillate  or  opposite  leaves.  Inflorescence 
axillary,  near  the  tips  of  twigs;  corolla  small,  pink  or  purple.  Fruit 
a  globose  berry,  with  several  ellipsoidal  seeds. 

Sapwood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  yellow  to  pinkish  brown; 
heartwood  sometimes  well  defined,  pale  reddish  brown.  Wood  has 
no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  medium-  to  rather  coarse- textured ; 
light  in  weight;  fairly  lustrous  in  proper  light;  subject  to  stain  and 
not  durable.  Parenchyma  in  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  of  medium  size  to  fairly  large;  moderately  numerous,  scattered ; 
solitary  or  more  frequently  in  radial  multiples;  open  or  filled  with 
calcium.  Rays  fine;  visible  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces.  Large 
radial  canals  present. 

Couma  sp.  Leche-caspi.  Tall,  umbrageous  tree,  up  to  150  feet 
in  height.  Crown  flat  or  open.  Trunk  erect,  cylindrical,  up  to  36 
inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  three-fourths  the  height. 
Bark  chocolate  brown,  thin,  with  smooth  scales,  and  exudes  when 
cut  a  copious  quantity  of  sweet  latex  employed  locally  for  calking 
canoes. — Fairly  common;  in  intermediate  or  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
450  ft.  or  more). 

Sapwood  sharply  defined,  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  yellow,  occa- 
sionally with  dark  streaks;  heartwood  dark  pinkish  brown,  thin. 
Wood  straight-grained;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  easy  to  cut. 


422  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  abundantly 
developed.  Pores  not  visible  without  lens  or  at  limit  of  vision; 
in  radial  multiples  of  2-9,  less  frequently  solitary  or  in  small  clusters; 
tyloses,  dark  gum,  or  white  deposit  sometimes  present.  Vessel  lines 
rather  coarse  and  short.  Rays  visible  only  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  912. 

Couma  sp.  Leche-caspi,  Osurba.  Glabrous  tree,  from  80  to  140 
feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight,  round, 
approximately  36  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for  more 
than  half  the  height.  Bark  light  brown,  sculptured,  and  secretes 
when  cut  an  abundance  of  latex,  known  locally  as  fansoca,  used 
for  calking  canoes  and  river  launches,  and  occasionally  in  varnishes. 
Flowers  reddish  white;  May-June.  Fruit  round,  small. — Fairly 
common;  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  brown  throughout;  harder  and  more  compact  than 
No.  912.  Pores  few;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  occasionally 
solitary.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision,  but  not  conspicuous,  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2100. 

4.    ECHITES  Jacq. 

Echites  spectabilis  Stadelm.  Flora  24,  pt.  1:  Beibl.  44.  1841. 

Scandent  shrub.  Leaves  large,  opposite,  and  leathery.  Bark 
chocolate  brown,  laminated.  Flowers  white  and  showy,  in  axillary 
cymes.  Fruit  a  follicle;  seeds  spindle-shaped,  with  an  apical  tuft  of 
brown  hair.  The  stem  yields  a  large  quantity  of  sap. — In  dry  or  wet 
thickets  (alt.  350-450  ft.). 

Loreto :  lower  Nanay,  71 1 . 

5.    MAGOUBEA  Aubl. 

Macoubea  paucifolia  (Spreng.)  Markgr.,  ined.  Chicle,  Huapa- 
caspi,  Yaco-sanango. 

Forest  tree,  up  to  75  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading 
or  flat;  branches  elongated  and  undulating.  Trunk  fairly  straight, 
cylindrical,  up  to  36  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for 
about  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  0.75  inch  thick,  deep  pink  or 
dark  brown,  rough,  and  exudes  an  abundance  of  sweet  latex,  hence 
the  local  name  "chicle."  Flowers  fairly  large,  white,  with  long, 
yellow  staminal  filaments.  Fruit  3-4  inches  long,  appressed  on  one 
side,  bluish  when  mature,  and  contains  an  edible  pulp;  seeds  black, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  423 

rounded,  deeply  grooved,  and  mucilaginous  on  the  surface;  May- 
June. — Fairly  common  in  the  upper  Nanay  (alt.  600  ft.);  frequently 
in  humid  areas  or  in  the  vicinity  of  streams. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellow  with  extensive  grayish  brown  areas;  heart- 
wood  reddish  to  dark  brown.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
straight-grained;  fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  light  in  weight, 
but  firm;  inclined  to  be  fibrous  or  splintery;  subject  to  stain  and 
insects;  perishable.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  fine,  often  indistinct  lines  extending  between  the  rays. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  in 
radial  multiples  of  2-5,  less  often  solitary,  seldom  in  clusters ;  open  or 
closed.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  of  same  color  as  background. 
Rays  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
other  surfaces.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  938, 1103. 

6.    MALOUETIA  A.  DC. 

Small  or  medium-sized,  slender,  forest  trees  with  black  twigs. 
Leaves  subleathery  or  leathery  and  opposite.  Flowers  few,  terminal ; 
corolla  white  and  fragrant. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  oatmeal-colored  to  pale  brown,  often 
with  a  pinkish  or  grayish  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  to  medium- 
textured  ;  light  in  weight ;  easy  to  work ;  perishable.  Parenchyma  in 
fine,  irregular  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium 
size;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  in  radial  multiples, 
less  often  solitary ;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  on  cross  section ;  usually 
indistinct  without  lens  on  all  surfaces.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Malouetia  furfuracea  Spruce  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  93. 
1860.  Cuchara-caspi. 

Slender  tree,  approximately  18  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  erect,  and  undivided  for  from  8  to  10  feet.  Bark 
pinkish  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  secretes  a  bitter  latex  when 
cut.  Leaves  leathery,  glabrous,  ovate-lanceolate  or  oblong-ovate, 
and  long-acuminate.  Flowering  in  July. — Fairly  common  in  some 
localities;  in  dry  or  humid  loam  in  fairly  dense  forest  subject  to 
periodical  inundations  (alt.  350-400  ft.). 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  oatmeal  to  pale  brown  with  a  grayish 
tinge;  fresh  wood  has  an  odor  suggesting  vinegar  and  is  slightly  bitter, 
odor  and  taste  absent  or  indistinct  in  dried  material;  straight-  or 
slightly  roey-grained ;  fine-textured;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth, 


424  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

fairly  lustrous  finish,  and  holds  its  place  fairly  well.  Growth  rings 
occasionally  present.  Parenchyma  barely  visible  with  lens  as 
irregularly  spaced,  concentric  lines  or  extending  only  between  the 
rays.  Pores  minute  or  small;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4  or  solitary. 
Vessel  lines  indistinct. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2089. 

Malouetia  furfuracea  var.  grandifolia  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  93.  1860.  Cuchara-caspi. 

Tree,  from  18  to  27  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  erect, 
columnar,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  3  feet  or  so.  Bark  brown 
and  yields  a  small  amount  of  latex  when  cut.  Leaves  larger  than  in 
the  preceding  species  (up  to  6.5  inches  long)  and  with  distinct  veins. 
—Not  common;  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Sap  wood  pale  yellowish  white  with  a  grayish  hue;  heartwood 
dull  brown,  thin.  Wood  fine- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  weight. 
Parenchyma  in  numerous  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores 
and  rays  slightly  more  distinct  than  in  M.  furfuracea. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2216. 

Malouetia  Tamaquarina  (Aubl.)  A.  DC.  Prodr.  8:  378.  1844; 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  92. 1860.  Cuchara-caspi,  Chicle. 

Forest  tree,  from  30  to  50  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  round 
or  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so,  cylindrical,  up  to 
20  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for  from  one-half  to 
two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish  brown,  scaly, 
and  furnishes  a  copious  quantity  of  fairly  sweet  latex. 

Wood  oatmeal  or  pale  yellow  in  color  with  pinkish  or  greenish 
gray  areas;  straight-grained;  fine-textured;  of  light  or  medium 
density;  saws  slightly  woolly;  not  durable.  Pores  small  or  at  limit 
of  vision;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-6;  lustrous  tyloses  some- 
times present.  Vessel  lines  discernible  without  lens. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  159;  upper  Nanay,  928,  973(1}. 

7.    PARAHANCORNIA  Ducke 

Parahancornia  Amapa  (Huber)  Ducke,  Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio 
Janeiro  3:  242. 1922.  Naranjo  podrido. 

Tall,  forest  tree,  often  attaining  a  height  of  110  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  36  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear 
of  branches  up  to  four-fifths  the  entire  height.  Bark  0.5  inch  or 
more  thick,  reddish  brown,  and  scaly;  bark  and  sap  wood  when  cut 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  425 

yield  a  copious  quantity  of  latex,  which  is  often  mixed  with  balata 
in  order  to  improve,  according  to  the  natives'  belief,  the  consistency 
of  the  latter.  Leaves  glabrous,  narrowing  to  the  base,  and  short- 
acuminate  at  the  tip.  Corolla  yellowish  white.  Fruit  large,  green, 
and  contains  a  yellowish  pulp  with  an  agreeable  flavor;  March-May. 
— Not  common;  usually  in  humid  areas  (alt.  450  ft.). 

This  species  was  placed  by  Huber  in  the  genus  Hancornia,  but 
Ducke  (I.e.)  observes  that  "the  flowers  differ  from  the  last-named 
genus  and  should  be  considered  as  a  distinct  genus  between  Han- 
cornia and  Couma.  .  .  .  The  venation  of  the  leaves  and  the  inflo- 
rescence resemble  Zschokkea." 

Sapwood  uniform  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  chocolate  brown, 
well  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular- 
grained;  moderately  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium  density; 
easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish ;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  fine,  evenly  spaced 
lines  extending  between  the  rays,  slightly  finer  than  the  latter. 
Pores  at  limit  of  vision  or  indistinct;  fairly  numerous  to  numerous, 
uniformly  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-7,  less  frequently 
in  small  clusters,  seldom  solitary;  open  or  filled  with  pale  yellowish 
deposit.  Rays  fine  and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section;  not  visible 
without  lens  on  tangential;  sometimes  distinguishable  to  unaided 
eye  on  moistened  radial;  multiseriate.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  913. 

8.    PLUMERIA  L. 

Plumeria  tarapotensis  K.  Schum.  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  410.  1908; 
Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  11:339. 1932.  Bellaco-caspi. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  from  27  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading;  branches  stout.  Trunk  straight,  round,  up  to  10  inches 
or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for  from  6  to  9  feet. 
Bark  pinkish  or  dark  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge,  scaly  or  with 
small  fissures.  Leaves  alternate,  petiolate.  Flowers  conspicuous, 
white,  in  terminal  cymes;  October-December.  Fruit  woody,  borne 
in  pairs;  seeds  numerous,  winged. — In  sandy  or  heavy  loam  along 
edge  of  paths  in  forest  or  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  (alt.  550- 
1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  employed  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  con- 
struction. The  slightly  sweet  latex  obtained  by  making  incisions  in 
the  heartwood  is  said  to  be  used  in  native  medicine  and  an  infusion 
obtained  by  boiling  the  fruit  is  reputed  also  to  be  beneficial  for  fevers. 


426  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown,  often 
with  a  grayish  or  pinkish  cast;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood 
has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  fine-  to  medium  - 
textured;  of  moderately  light  or  medium  weight;  not  difficult  to 
work,  takes  a  dull  polish;  susceptible  to  stain  and  insects;  perishable. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  present.  Parenchyma  lines  numerous,  fine 
or  very  fine,  irregular,  often  obliquely  disposed,  extending  between 
the  rays,  and  producing  a  hoary  effect  when  seen  under  lens.  Pores 
mostly  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  in  radial 
multiples  of  up  to  4,  less  often  tangentially  arranged  or  solitary; 
open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct  without  lens.  Rays  numerous,  very 
fine;  indistinct  without  lens  on  all  surfaces;  uniseriate.  Large  radial 
canals  present. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  3895,  3988,  4021;  lower  Huallaga,  7835. 
—San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5605,  6559. 

9.  RAUWOLFIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Rauwolfia  Duckei  Markgr.  Rep.  Spec.  Nov.  20:  117,  121.  1924. 
Chiric-sanango. 

Tree,  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  round,  bent, 
slender,  and  unbranched  for  9  feet.  Bark  dark  brown,  with  numerous 
short,  coarse  ridges.  Flowers  small,  white,  in  loose  axillary  cymes; 
June- July.  Fruit  a  drupe  with  1  or  2  seeds. — Not  common;  in 
slightly  humid  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish ;  has  no  distinctive 
odor,  occasionally  slightly  bitter;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
fine- textured ;  of  fairly  light  to  medium  density;  easy  to  work  and 
takes  a  smooth  finish ;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine  or  indistinct  lines 
extending  between  the  rays;  hoary.  Pores  small  or  very  small;  ver}r 
numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  multiples  or  rows;  open. 
Rays  fine,  but  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section  and 
occasionally  on  radial;  multiseriate.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1915. 

10.  TABERNAEMONTANA  L. 

Erect  shrubs  or  small  trees,  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
tropics.  Leaves  opposite,  often  unequal,  glabrous  or  nearly  so. 
Flowers  rather  small,  white  or  pale  yellow,  in  terminal  or  sublateral 
cymes,  calyx  5-lobed;  corolla  salverform,  with  slender  tube.  Fruit 
consists  of  2  short,  fleshy  pods;  seeds  ellipsoidal. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  427 

Wood  varies  in  color  from  yellowish  to  pale  or  dark  brown,  often 
streaked;  has  no  characteristic  odor  or  taste;  fine-  or  fairly  fine- 
textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  inclined  to  be  fibrous,  but  easy 
to  work;  perishable.  Parenchyma  lines  fine  or  indistinct,  extend- 
ing between  the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small;  numerous  or  fairly 
numerous;  solitary  or  less  often  in  multiples;  open.  Rays  fine;  in- 
distinct without  lens  on  all  sections.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

Tabernaemontana  Benthamiana  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  6,  pt.  1 :  80.  1860.  Siuca-sanango. 

Shrub,  from  6  to  16  feet  tall,  with  many  branches  and  short, 
slender  trunk.  Bark  yellowish  brown  or  dark  purplish,  with  long, 
coarse,  vertical  ridges.  Leaves  membranaceous,  ovate  or  elliptic, 
short-acuminate.  Corolla  lobes  white  and  pale  yellow  at  center 
within.  Fruit  orange  red. — Common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,500  ft.);  most  frequently  in  sandy  loam  along  edge  of  paths  or 
among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of  secondary  growth. 

Wood  pale  brown,  not  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart; 
of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull  polish ;  checks  in  drying.  Growth 
rings  present.  Pores  small  or  fairly  small;  in  radial  multiples  of 
up  to  8  or  more,  less  frequently  solitary.  Vessel  lines  not  visible 
without  lens;  grayish  white  deposit  common.  Rays  moderately 
numerous  or  numerous  and  lighter-colored  than  surrounding  elements 
on  cross  section.  Pith  light  brown;  lustrous  deposit  of  calcium 
oxalate  fairly  common. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5508,  6290. 

Tabernaemontana  olivacea  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6, 
pt.  1:75.1860. 

Shrub,  10  feet  tall,  with  many  branches.  Trunk  straight,  short, 
and  slender.  Bark  dark  brown,  scaly  or  with  prominent  anastomos- 
ing ridges.  Leaves  oblong-ovate  or  elliptic-ovate.  Corolla  creamy 
white. — Uncommon;  in  open  dry  loam  along  margin  of  forest  (alt. 
500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  or  dark  brown;  interwoven-grained;  light 
in  weight;  slightly  fibrous.  Growth  rings  present.  Pores  minute  or 
very  small ;  fairly  numerous ;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-6  or  more,  less 
frequently  solitary  or  in  tangential  multiples  of  2.  Vessel  lines 
indistinct.  Rays  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross 
section  and  occasionally  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4194- 


428  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tabernaemontana  Poeppigii  Muell.  Arg.(?),  Linnaea  30:  405. 
1859-60.  Uchu-sanango. 

Shrub,  about  18  feet  tall,  with  few  branches  and  long,  slender 
trunk.  Twigs  glabrous,  with  long  internodes.  Bark  pale  pink  with 
a  grayish  cast  and  secretes  when  cut  a  copious  quantity  of  bitter 
latex,  said  to  be  used  in  native  medicine.  Leaves  membranaceous 
and  short-stalked. — Uncommon;  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of 
secondary  growth  (alt.  1,300  ft.)- 

Wood  creamy  yellow,  streaked  with  dark  chocolate  brown; 
interwoven-grained ;  light  in  weight.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Pores  fairly  numerous;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6704. 

Tabernaemontana  Sananho  Ruiz  &  Pa  von,  Fl.  Peruv.  2:  22. 
pi.  144-  1799.  Sanango,  Sanangillo,  Sananho. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  at  times  up  to  27  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  slender  and  unbranched  for  4  or  5  feet.  Bark 
pale  or  dark  brown,  with  rather  coarse  ridges,  and  exudes  a  copious 
quantity  of  slightly  bitter  latex.  Flowers  white;  June-August. 
Fruit  orange-colored  with  a  greenish  hue;  September-October.— 
Very  common  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  350-400  ft.);  in  open 
patches  or  along  margin  of  forest;  said  to  grow  up  to  an  altitude  of 
2,100  feet. 

Sapwood  varying  in  color  from  canary  or  creamy  yellow  to  light 
brown  with  grayish  or  pale  purplish  streaks;  heartwood  grayish 
brown,  thin.  Wood  interwoven-grained;  light  in  weight  and  rather 
soft;  somewhat  fibrous,  easy  to  cut;  subject  to  stain.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  very  numerous  and  tending 
to  crowd ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-8.  Rays  numerous  and 
very  fine. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2109,  2468;  La  Victoria,  2831;  lower 
Huallaga,  4656. 

11.    THEVETIA  Adans. 

Thevetia  peruviana  (Pers.)  K.  Schum.  in  Engl.  &  Prantl,  Nat. 
Pflanzenfam.  4,  Abt.  2: 159.  1895.  Bellaquillo. 

Uncommon,  slender  shrub,  up  to  10,  occasionally  18,  feet  in 
height.  Trunk  virgate;  twigs  grayish.  Bark  pale  greenish  brown, 
with  small,  light-colored  lenticels  and  dark  brown  inner  bark,  and 
exudes  when  cut  a  bitter  latex,  said  to  be  used  by  the  natives  for 
relieving  toothache.  Leaves  alternate  or  verticillate,  linear,  long- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  429 

attenuate  at  base,  leathery,  lustrous  above.  Flowers  yellow,  showy, 
fragrant,  in  terminal  cymes;  December-January.  Fruit  drupaceous, 
red;  seeds  brown. — Among  shrubs  and  small  trees  in  sandy  loam 
(alt.  1,400  ft.);  sometimes  cultivated  for  ornamental  purposes. 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  brown;  heartwood  dark  brown  or  almost 
black.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor,  but  bitter  to  taste;  straight- 
or  fairly  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of  medium 
weight  or  fairly  heavy ;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth 
rings  indicated  by  terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  small;  numerous  or 
fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-6 
or  more,  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely 
visible  without  lens.  Rays  fine;  sometimes  discernible  without  lens 
on  radial  surface;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  other  sections;  uni- 
seriate.  Large  radial  canals  present. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5478. 

12.    ZSCHOKKEA  Muell.  Arg. 

Lactescent  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  opposite  and  leathery. 
Flowers  small,  white  or  pale  yellow.  Fruit  a  small,  rounded, 
1 -seeded  berry;  seeds  ellipsoidal. 

Wood  yellowish  to  pale  or  deep  pinkish  brown,  often  with  a 
grayish  cast,  not  always  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine-  or  medium- 
textured  ;  of  light  or  medium  density ;  sometimes  fibrous  and  at  times 
takes  a  lustrous  polish;  perishable.  Parenchyma  lines  indistinct, 
extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous 
to  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  in  multiples  or  rows,  less  fre- 
quently solitary  or  in  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  on  cross 
section ;  sometimes  distinct  on  radial ;  uniseriate.  Large  radial  canals 
present. 

Zschokkea  floribunda  (Poepp.)  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
6,  pt.  1:23.1860. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  from  12  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
open.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  3  or  5 
feet.  Bark  medium  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  and  small,  lighter 
brown  lenticels;  secretes  when  cut  a  small  amount  of  insipid  latex. 
Leaves  subleathery,  oblong-ovate,  lustrous  green  above,  opaque 
beneath.  Flowers  axillary  or  terminal,  with  greenish  white  corolla; 
August. — In  clearings  or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 


430  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pinkish  brown  throughout;  medium-textured;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  cut,  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish,  and 
holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  lines  numerous,  fairly 
evenly  spaced,  and  tangentially  or  diagonally  disposed.  Pores  at 
limit  of  vision;  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-4,  less  frequently 
solitary  or  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine,  slightly  darker  than 
background.  Rays  numerous  and  closely  spaced  on  cross  section; 
slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements  and  faintly  discernible  with- 
out lens  on  radial. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  3739. 

Zschokkea  gracilis  (Benth.)  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6, 
pt.  1:21.  1860. 

Small  tree  or  shrub,  12  feet  tall.  Trunk  slender  and  unbranched 
up  to  half  the  height.  Leaves  leathery,  ovate,  petiolate.  Flowers 
small,  white;  June-July. — Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of 
forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  yellowish  or  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  fine- tex- 
tured; light  in  weight,  but  firm;  takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish.  Growth 
rings  absent.  Parenchyma  lines  fine  and  forming  a  fine  network  with 
the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small ;  well  distributed ;  in  radial  multiples 
or  rows  of  2-5,  also  solitary  or,  less  frequently,  in  small  clusters. 
Vessel  lines  barely  discernible  without  lens.  Rays  very  fine,  numer- 
ous, and  evenly  spaced  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1738. 

Zschokkea  peruviana  Heurck  &  Muell.  Arg.  in  Heurck,  Obs. 
Bot.  PI.  Nov.  148.  1871.  Huiqui-caspi. 

Uncommon,  slender  tree,  from  30  to  38  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  and  unbranched  for  from  3  to 
6  feet.  Bark  pinkish  to  dark  brown,  with  small  lenticels;  inner  bark 
pinkish  brown.  Flowers  white;  December- January.  Fruit  ovoid  or 
subround,  yellow  when  mature. — In  sandy  or  dry  medium  loam 
among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of  secondary  growth  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown,  at  times  with  a  pale  grayish  cast; 
straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish;  checks  in  drying  and  subject  to  insects.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  lines  numerous,  irregularly  dis- 
posed, sometimes  invisible  even  with  lens.  Pores  faintly  visible 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  431 

without  lens;  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-6,  less  frequently 
solitary  or  in  clusters;  open  or  closed.  Grayish  white  deposit  some- 
times visible  without  lens  in  vessels.  Rays  numerous  and  closely 
spaced  on  cross  section;  occasionally  distinguishable  to  unaided 
eye  on  radial.  Pith  medium  to  dark  brown;  grayish  white  raphides 
present. 

Loreto :  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4384. — San  Martin :  Tarapoto, 
6562. 

Zschokkea  ramosissima  (Spruce)  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  6,  pt.  1:  21.  1860.  Pajar-umu,  Quina-quina. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  not  exceeding  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight,  9  inches  in  diameter,  and 
branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish  to 
dark  grayish  brown,  scaly  or  with  numerous  small  bursts;  bark  and 
sap  wood  when  incised  exude  a  viscid,  sweet  latex,  said  to  be  tapped 
during  the  rainy  season  for  medicinal  use.  Leaves  leathery,  ovate- 
lanceolate.  Flowers  subterminal,  yellow  or  yellowish  white;  June- 
July. — Rather  widely  distributed;  most  frequently  in  open  dry  loam 
among  shrubs  and  small  trees  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  cream-colored  to  dark  pinkish  brown;  straight-  or 
fairly  straight-grained;  medium- textured ;  light  and  firm  to  rather 
heavy  and  tenacious;  not  difficult  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth 
polish ;  appears  to  be  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present  owing 
to  variation  in  depth  of  color  or  abundance  of  parenchyma  lines. 
Pores  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  less  often  solitary  or  in  small  clusters; 
open  or  filled  with  pale  gray  or  yellowish  brown  deposits.  Vessel 
lines  moderately  fine.  Rays  indistinct  without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
Pith  medium  to  dark  chocolate  brown. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  676;  near  Yurimaguas,  3983. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6535. 

Additional  numbers  of  the  genus  Zschokkea  determined  pro- 
visionally on  the  basis  of  wood  specimens: 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4546,  4678;  lower  Nanay,  651. 

BORAGINACEAE.     Borage  Family 
1.    GORDIA  L. 

The  most  important  genus  of  the  family,  represented  abundantly 
throughout  tropical  America  by  shrubs  or  trees.  Bark  scaly,  some- 
times fibrous,  and  suggests  walnut  (Juglans).  Leaves  chiefly  alter- 
nate, entire  or  toothed,  usually  with  rough  pubescence.  Flowers 


432  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

small  or  large,  mostly  white,  arranged  in  cymes,  spikes,  or  heads; 
calyx  tubular  or  campanulate,  usually  4-6-lobed.  Fruit  a  fleshy 
drupe.  Some  of  the  timbers  are  used  locally  for  carpentry  and 
general  construction. 

The  Peruvian  species  are  light  to  dark  brown;  light  in  weight 
and  soft  or  firm  to  moderately  heavy  and  hard;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; medium-  or  coarse- textured ;  brittle,  fibrous,  and  often  take  a 
lustrous  finish;  not  very  durable.  They  have  certain  general  char- 
acteristics which  make  them  readily  recognizable  and  in  some 
respects  suggest  elm  ( Ulmus).  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  also  in 
tangential  or  concentric  bands  which,  in  some  instances,  appear  to 
indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  fairly  numerous  or  numerous; 
solitary  or  in  multiples,  less  frequently  in  clusters;  usually  open. 
Rays  broad  on  cross  section  and  distinct  on  other  surfaces.  Vertical 
canals,  gummosis  type,  occasionally  present. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  rather  small. 
Parenchyma  cells  coarse.  Rays  heterogeneous;  multiseriate  (3-5 
cells  wide),  the  marginal  cells  often  very  large.  Wood  fibers  have 
small,  simple  pits. 

Gordia  alliodora  (Ruiz  &  Pa  von)  Cham,  in  DC.  Prodr.  9: 
472.  1845. 

Tree,  from  25  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  about  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  more 
than  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  to  dark  brown  or  almost 
black,  with  low,  anastomosing  ridges.  Leaves  oblong-elliptic,  entire, 
acuminate,  finely  stellate-pubescent,  and  have  an  odor  suggesting 
garlic  when  crushed.  Flowers  small,  white,  fragrant,  in  large  panicles. 
Drupe  small,  white. — Fairly  common;  in  secondary  growth  or  in 
low  forest  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.) .  Timber  is  employed  locally  for  general 
construction  and  in  the  manufacture  of  vehicles. 

Sapwood  variegated  light  brown,  lustrous;  heartwood  dull, 
slightly  darker  brown,  perishable.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or 
taste;  light  to  moderately  heavy,  hard,  strong,  but  brittle;  straight- 
or  roey-grained ;  medium-textured;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth 
polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  or  in  broken,  irregularly 
spaced,  concentric  bands.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous, 
in  some  specimens  showing  a  tendency  to  diagonal  alinement; 
in  radial  or  tangential  multiples  of  2  or  more,  less  often  solitary; 
open  or  at  times  filled  with  tyloses.  Rays  visible  without  lens  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  433 

some  specimens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  considerably  darker 
than  background  and  conspicuous  on  radial. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  318;  lower  Huallaga,  4306. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6751. 

Cordia  heterophylla  Roem.  &  Schult.  Syst.  Veg.  4:  800.  1819. 
Bacuri. 

Tree,  approximately  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk 
straight,  slender,  round,  and  clear  of  branches  for  18  feet.  Bark 
moderately  thick,  light  brown  with  darker  patches.  Leaves  short- 
stalked,  elliptic,  acute  or  acuminate  at  base,  rounded  or  acute  at 
apex,  finely  pubescent,  especially  along  midrib  and  lateral  veins. 
Inflorescence  cymose.  Fruiting  in  May- June. — Confined  to  the 
lowland;  in  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used 
locally  except  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  pale  brown;  heartwood  slightly  darker 
brown.  Wood  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight  and  strong;  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth,  highly 
lustrous  finish  with  characteristic  figure  owing  to  the  prominent 
rays.  Pores  rather  distinct.  Vessel  lines  and  rays  somewhat  more 
prominent  than  in  C.  alliodora. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  578. 

Cordia  laurifolia  Killip,  ined.    Mote-mullaca. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  about  16  feet  tall.  Crown  round,  dense. 
Trunk  erect,  fairly  cylindrical,  up  to  7  inches  in  diameter,  and 
branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark  pale  brown,  moderately  smooth. 
Flowers  white;  January-February. — Uncommon;  in  thickets  or  low 
forest  (alt.  1,800ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  light  brown;  heartwood  dull  brown. 
Wood  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  subject  to  insects.  Rays  not  conspicuous,  but  readily 
visible  on  all  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  684.1. 

Cordia  nodosa  Lam.  111.  1 : 422. 1791.  Anallio-caspi,  Almendrillo. 

Slender  tree,  up  to  35  or  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  open  or 
umbrella-shaped,  and  with  few  branches.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical, 
and  free  of  limbs  up  to  three-fourths  the  height.  Bark  grayish  to 
dark  brown,  deeply  fissured,  scaly,  and  with  numerous,  small 
lenticels;  inner  bark  at  times  slightly  fibrous.  Twigs  pubescent, 


434  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

rufous.  Leaves  oblongate,  glabrous  or  pubescent,  with  short,  stout 
petioles.  Flowers  white.  Fruit  ovoid,  with  long,  rufous  hairs,  yellow 
when  mature. — Common  in  the  lowland  and  occasionally  in  the 
upland,  in  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.);  reported  also  from 
San  Ramon,  Department  of  Junin  (alt.  4,500-5,000  ft.),  near  the 
Perene  bridge,  in  the  Paucartambo  Valley,  and  in  the  Department  of 
Huanuco.  Timber  is  used  to  some  extent  for  general  carpentry. 

Sapwood  not  always  well  defined,  lustrous  pale  brown,  but  some- 
what darker  than  the  other  species  of  Cordia  described  here;  heart- 
wood  dull  brown.  Wood  slightly  fragrant;  straight-grained ;  medium- 
to  rather  coarse-textured;  light  in  weight  or  moderately  so,  firm; 
saws  rather  woolly;  splits  readily.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  long,  dark 
scratches. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1229;  Caballo-cocha,  2334;  La  Victoria, 
2679;  San  Juan,  near  Iquitos,  3748;  Yurimaguas,  4305,  4677; 
Iquitos,  7974. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6516. 

Cordia  tetrandra  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  222.  pi.  87.  1775. 
Tahuampa-caspi. 

Forest  tree,  25  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  clear  of  branches  for  3  feet.  Bark 
light  brown,  fairly  smooth;  inner  bark  slightly  fibrous.  Leaves 
ovate,  alternate,  entire  or  with  undulating  margins,  acute,  unequal 
at  base,  petiolate,  glabrous  above,  rough  beneath.  Flowers  in 
terminal  corymbs.  Drupe  light  green  and  secretes  a  viscid,  trans- 
lucent sap. — Of  limited  occurrence;  in  sandy  loam  among  shrubs 
and  small  trees,  occasionally  in  humid  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt. 
1,400ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown;  interlocked-  or  straight-grained;  medium-  or 
rather  coarse- textured ;  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut,  brittle,  and 
takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish ;  checks  in  drying.  Rays  readily  visible 
on  all  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Morales,  near  Tarapoto,  5676. 

Cordia  Ulei  Johnston,  var.  ucayaliensis  Johnston,  Contr.  Gray 
Herb.  92:57.  1930. 

Tree,  from  22  to  36  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  com- 
pressed, tortuous,  about  9  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching  a  few 
feet  from  the  base.  Bark  moderately  thick,  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  small  anastomosing  ridges;  inner  bark  bristly  or 
coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  long-stalked,  obovate-oblong  or  oblong- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  435 

oblanceolate,  pubescent  on  both  surfaces,  cuneate,  abruptly  obtuse 
or  rounded  at  base,  rounded,  obtuse,  or  short-acuminate  at  apex. 
Inflorescence  in  terminal  panicles;  corolla  white. — Common;  in 
secondary  growth  or  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 

Sap  wood  variegated  pale  brown,  highly  lustrous;  heartwood  dull 
brown.  Wood  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  rather  coarse- 
textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and  splintery;  not  durable.  Pores 
rather  few  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  or  tangential 
multiples  of  2-4;  often  filled  with  lustrous  tyloses. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2333;  Yurimaguas,  3832,  4387. 

VERBENACEAE.     Verbena  Family 

Trees,  shrubs,  herbs,  sometimes  vines.  Leaves  chiefly  opposite 
and  simple,  toothed  or  entire.  Flowers  small  or  large,  variously 
arranged,  and  either  regular  or  irregular;  calyx  2-5-lobed;  corolla 
with  4  or  5  lobes;  stamens  usually  4  and  in  pairs,  occasionally  2  or  5. 
Fruit  a  fleshy  drupe  or  dry  and  separating  into  2  or  4  nutlets. 
The  best-known  and  most  important  wood  of  this  family  is  teak 
(Tectona  grandis  L.  f.),  a  native  of  southeastern  Asia  and  the 
Malay  Archipelago. 

In  the  Peruvian  species  the  wood  varies  from  cream-colored,  tan, 
whitish,  or  yellowish  to  pale  pinkish  brown,  occasionally  with  a 
grayish  cast;  heartwood  sometimes  fairly  well  defined,  light  to  dark 
brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  mostly  fine-  or  fairly  fine-  to 
medium-,  infrequently  coarse- textured ;  light  and  soft  (Aegiphild], 
to  fairly  heavy  and  compact  (Callicarpa}',  easy  to  cut  and  takes 
a  moderately  lustrous  or  highly  lustrous  finish;  perishable  or  fairly 
durable.  Parenchyma  sparingly  developed;  paratracheal,  infre- 
quently aliform;  often  invisible  even  with  lens.  Pores  of  small  to 
medium  size,  infrequently  large;  rather  few  to  numerous  and  uni- 
formly or  moderately  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small 
multiples,  less  often  in  rows  or  in  small  clusters;  infrequently  closed. 
Rays  fine  on  cross  section  in  Aegiphila  and  Lippia,  occasionally 
fairly  broad  in  Callicarpa  and  Vitex;  at  times  visible  to  unaided  eye 
on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces  in  Callicarpa  and  Vitex,  and  on 
moistened  radial  section  in  Lippia. 

Vessel  perforations  mostly  simple  to  scalariform;  intervascular 
pits  usually  small;  vessel-ray  pits  rather  large,  simple  to  half- 
bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  1-7  cells  wide  and  few  to  50  or  more 
cells  high.  Wood  fibers  sometimes  thick-walled  and  septate;  pits 
simple. 


436  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

1.    AEGIPHILA  Jacq. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  entire.  Flowers  in  terminal 
panicles  or  in  dense,  axillary  or  lateral  cymes;  corolla  with  spreading 
limb.  Fruit  a  fleshy  drupe;  nutlets  distinct.  Common  throughout 
northeastern  Peru,  especially  in  the  lowland,  and  most  frequently 
encountered  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  secondary  growth. 
Timber  is  not  used  locally  for  any  particular  purpose. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  creamy  white  or  yellowish  to  pale 
brown  and  not  sharply  demarcated  into  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  medium-  to  coarse- textured ;  light  and  fairly  soft  to  medium 
in  weight;  often  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain 
and  saws  slightly  woolly;  perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  or 
infrequently  aliform;  indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  fairly  small  to 
large;  rather  few  to  fairly  numerous,  tending  to  be  arranged  in  con- 
centric bands  one  pore  wide;  predominantly  solitary,  also  in  small 
radial  multiples,  seldom  in  rows;  open.  Rays  fairly  fine  on  cross 
section,  occasionally  curving  slightly  at  point  of  contact  with  the 
pores;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  other  surfaces;  heterogeneous; 
2-3  cells  wide. 

Aegiphila  filipes  Mart.  &  Schau.  in  DC.  Prodr.  11:  652.  1847. 
Chirapa-sacha. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  27  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  half 
the  height.  Bark  thin  or  moderately  so,  light  brown  or  grayish, 
ridged.  Leaf  blades  oblong  or  elliptic,  entire,  acuminate,  acute  at 
base,  chartaceous,  glabrous  above  and  below.  Inflorescence  in 
dense,  axillary  cymes;  flowers  small,  yellow.  Drupe  yellow  or 
orange-colored. — Common  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  350-450  ft.); 
in  secondary  growth.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  pinkish  or  pale  brown  with  grayish  patches;  has  an  insipid 
taste;  light  in  weight  and  fairly  soft  or  spongy;  straight-grained; 
coarse- textured ;  saws  woolly,  but  takes  a  smooth  finish;  subject  to 
stain  and  insect  attacks;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined 
or  absent.  Parenchyma  visible  with  lens  as  fine  bands  surrounding 
the  pores  and  often  in  fine  lines  uniting  them.  Pores  of  small  or 
medium  size;  few  and  scattered  or  tending  to  ring-porous;  solitary 
or  less  frequently  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  seldom  more;  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct  or  slightly  darker-colored  than 
background.  Rays  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  section; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  437 

discernible,  but  not  distinct,  on  tangential ;  sometimes  barely  visi- 
ble without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  533,  534;  Caballo-cocha,  2165,  2469;  La 
Victoria,  2622,  2832,  3115,  3146;  near  Iquitos,  8190. 

Aegiphila  peruviana  Turcz.  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Mosc.  36:  219. 
1863.  Chirapa-sacha. 

Shrub,  about  12  feet  tall.  Bark  moderately  thick,  pale  grayish 
brown,  scaly.  Leaf  blades  ovate,  acuminate,  acute  at  base,  puberu- 
lent  on  both  surfaces.  Inflorescence  axillary  or  terminal.  Drupe 
globose,  semi-inclosed  by  mature  calyx,  glabrous,  and  umbilicate 
at  both  ends. — Common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,300  ft.); 
in  secondary  growth.  Timber  is  not  employed  locally  for  any 
particular  purpose. 

Sapwood  pinkish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  yellowish  white. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  light,  but  firm;  takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  finish. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5588,  6152. 

Aegiphila  Smithii  Moldenke,  Brittonia  1: 191.  1932. 

Small,  slender,  straggly  tree,  seldom  exceeding  30  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  round,  slender,  and  branching  from  near 
the  base.  Bark  thick,  scaly,  reddish  brown.  Leaf  blades  ovate  or 
narrow-ovate,  acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  glabrous  above, 
tomentose  beneath.  Flowers  pale  yellow  or  cream-colored.  Drupe 
bright  orange,  turning  brown  at  maturity,  included  in  the  calyx. 
Timber  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  not  distinctly  defined,  darker  brown  than  heartwood; 
heartwood  pale  pinkish  brown  or  almost  white,  lustrous.  Wood  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight 
or  moderately  so;  tenacious,  but  stringy;  takes  a  fairly  smooth 
finish ;  probably  durable. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  680;  near  Iquitos,  3869(1);  collected  also 
at  Puerto  Yessup,  Department  of  Junin. 

2.    CALLICARPA  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  short-stalked,  toothed.  Flowers 
white,  in  axillary  cymes.  Fruit  fleshy,  black  when  mature.  Fairly 
common;  in  thickets  or  in  open  patches  among  low  trees. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  tan-colored  to  light  brown;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  fine-  or  fairly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  moder- 


438  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

ately  heavy;  easy  to  cut;  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  of  small  to  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  dis- 
tributed; solitary,  less  often  in  multiples  or  rows,  seldom  in  clusters; 
open  or  closed.  Rays  fine  to  moderately  broad  on  cross  section; 
occasionally  fairly  distinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces;  dis- 
tinctly heterogeneous;  most  often  2-3  cells  wide. 

Callicarpa  sp.  Shrub,  15  feet  tall,  with  long,  slender  trunk. 
Bark  pale  brown,  with  small  scales. — Fairly  common  on  the  plain  of 
Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.);  in  secondary  growth. 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  throughout;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  tenacious  and  strong; 
fairly  durable. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6168. 

Callicarpa  sp.  Shrub,  from  10  to  15  feet  in  height.  Trunk 
slender  and  branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark  thin,  purplish  or 
pale  brown. — Abundant  around  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,300-1,600  ft.);  in 
thickets  or  in  open  patches  in  forest. 

Wood  slightly  coarser-textured  than  6168;  otherwise  the  two 
specimens  show  close  resemblance. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  681 7. 

3.    LIPPIA  L. 

Lippia  virgata  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Steud.  Nom.  ed.  2,  2:  751.  1841. 
Chichara-caspi. 

Tree,  approximately  25  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  columnar,  from  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches 
for  4  feet.  Bark  pale  yellow  or  light  brown,  with  long,  coarse,  deep 
fissures.  Leaves  opposite,  ovate  or  lanceolate,  acuminate,  acute  at 
base.  Flowers  small,  white  or  with  a  violet  hue,  fragrant;  calyx 
toothed ;  stamens  4 ;  December- January .  Fruit  dry,  2-celled,  included 
in  the  calyx. — Common  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  1,400  ft.); 
in  open  sandy  loam,  often  along  banks  of  streams.  Wood  is  used  only 
for  fuel. 

Sap  wood  yellowish  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  light  brown. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless ;  fairly  fine-textured ;  of  medium  density, 
tenacious,  and  rather  splintery;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth, 
fairly  lustrous  finish;  moderately  durable.  Growth  rings  poorly 
defined  and  appear  to  be  indicated  by  slight  variation  in  depth  of 
color.  Parenchyma  indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  439 

size;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-3,  also  solitary;  occasionally  filled  with  yellowish  white  deposit. 
Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays  fine  and 
numerous  on  cross  section;  indistinct  without  lens  on  tangential; 
fairly  distinct  on  moistened  radial  surface. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5565. 

4.    VITEX  L. 

Vitex  triflora  Vahl,  Eclog.  Am.  2:  49.  1798. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  15  feet  tall,  with  many  elongated  branches. 
Trunk  slender  and  branching  1  or  2  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale 
yellow  or  light  green,  smooth;  wood  beneath  bark  chocolate  brown. 
Leaves  opposite,  digitately  compound;  the  leaflets  entire.  Flowers 
sky  blue;  calyx  bell-shaped,  5-toothed;  corolla  with  short  tube  and 
2-lipped  limb.  Fruit  a  drupe. — Uncommon;  along  edge  of  swamps 
or  in  open  patches  in  dense  forest  (alt.  500  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used 
locally. 

Sap  wood  fairly  well  defined,  creamy  yellow  with  a  grayish  tinge 
and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  to  sunlight  and  air;  heartwood 
pale  purplish  brown  or  tan-colored.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  slightly  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium 
weight  to  moderately  heavy;  fairly  easy  to  cut  and  holds  its  place 
well.  Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  rather  small  or  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye; 
fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples 
of  2-3,  infrequently  in  diagonal  or  tangential  multiples  or  rows  of  2; 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision.  Rays 
lighter-colored  than  background,  evenly  spaced,  and  rather  distinct 
on  moistened  cross  section;  sometimes  barely  visible  to  unaided 
eye  on  moistened  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  often  elongated  and 
rather  large,  mostly  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous  in  part; 
1-7  cells  wide  and  few  to  50  cells  or  more  high.  Wood  fibers  have 
simple  pits. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4195. 

SOLANACEAE.    Potato  Family 

A  large  and  important  family,  particularly  well  developed  in  the 
tropics,  consisting  of  small  trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs,  often  armed  with 
prickles,  and  the  pubescence  frequently  of  branched  hairs.  Leaves 
alternate  or  sometimes  opposite,  either  simple  or  compound,  without 


440  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

stipules.  Flowers  perfect,  small  or  large  and  showy,  variously 
arranged,  regular  or  nearly  so;  corolla  of  united  petals,  stamens 
normally  5,  inserted  on  the  corolla  tube.  Fruit  a  berry  or  capsule. 
The  timber  is  not  utilized  locally,  but  the  fruit  of  Solanum  is  employed 
in  some  regions  in  the  lowland  as  a  substitute  for  soap. 

Wood  whitish  or  cream-colored  to  medium  brown  or  pale  pink, 
at  times  with  dark  grayish  streaks;  most  often  without  distinctive 
odor  or  taste;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  and  soft  to 
moderately  hard  and  rather  tenacious;  saws  woolly  and  often  requires 
a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  not  durable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  often  indistinct.  Pores  of  small  to  medium 
size,  in  Solanum  sometimes  fairly  large;  rather  few  to  moderately 
numerous;  solitary  or  in  multiples,  seldom  in  rows  or  clusters;  most 
often  open.  Rays  moderately  fine  to  rather  broad  on  cross  section; 
invisible  or  occasionally  discernible  without  lens  on  tangential; 
distinguishable  at  times  in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  exclusively  simple;  intervascular  pits  large 
or  fairly  large;  margins  either  round  to  ellipsoid  or  elongated  and 
coalescing;  vessel-parenchyma  pits  simple  and  large  or  bordered. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  in  Cyphomandra,  multiseriate  (1-4 
cells  wide)  in  Cestrum  and  Solanum,  up  to  25  cells  or  more  high. 

1.    CESTRUM  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  large  or  small,  narrow,  entire, 
stalked.  Flowers  white  or  greenish,  clustered  in  the  leaf  axils  or  in 
cymes;  calyx  5-lobate  or  5-dentate;  corolla  salverform  or  funnelform; 
filaments  filiform.  Fruit  a  small,  often  juicy,  2-celled  berry.  Wood 
is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  yellowish  brown,  sometimes  with  dark 
grayish  patches;  odorless,  often  bitter;  fine-  or  moderately  fine- 
textured;  light  in  weight,  rather  soft,  but  tenacious;  not  durable. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  rather  few  to 
numerous  and  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples,  infrequently  in  multiples  or  in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays 
fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  occasionally  visible  without  lens  on 
radial  surface.  Large  radial  canals  occasionally  present. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  large  or  fairly 
large,  with  round,  ellipsoid,  or  elongated  and  coalescing  margins. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  441 

Cestrum  Baenitzii  Lingelsh.  Repert.  Nov.  Sp.  7:  248.  1909. 

Tree,  up  to  36  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  or 
bent,  round,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  14  feet.  Bark 
medium  brown  with  a  grayish  cast.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellow  or 
white;  May-June.  Fruit  ovoid,  black  when  mature;  September- 
October. — Widely  distributed  in  the  lowland,  but  nowhere  common 
(alt.  500  ft.) ;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  free  from  seasonal 
inundations. 

Sap  wood  creamy  yellow  when  fresh,  pale  brown  when  dried  and 
with  extensive  light  or  dark  areas;  heartwood  dark  brown,  perishable. 
Wood  odorless,  sometimes  slightly  bitter;  straight-grained;  fairly 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  moderately  light  to  medium  density; 
slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  work;  warps  in  drying;  subject  to  stain  and 
insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  small;  not  very  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in 
radial  multiples,  seldom  rows,  of  2-4  or  more;  small  black  specks  of 
gum  frequently  visible  with  lens.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color 
as  background;  black  gum  or  lustrous  tyloses  commonly  present. 
Rays  moderately  fine,  lighter-colored  than  background,  and  barely 
visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
lighter-  or  darker-colored  than  adjacent  elements  on  radial  and 
occasionally  faintly  distinguishable  without  lens  on  moistened 
surface. 

Loreto:  Yarina-cocha,  middle  Nanay,  627;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower 
Huallaga,  5277. 

Cestrum  racemosum  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Fl.  2:  29.  pi.  154-  1799. 

Small  tree,  21  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  contorted, 
compressed,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  10  or  11  feet.  Bark  light 
tan,  with  fairly  small  to  rather  distinct  lenticels.  Fruit  round,  black 
and  soft  when  mature;  January. — In  sandy  loam;  among  fairly  tall 
trees  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  white  throughout  when  fresh,  turning  to  creamy  yellow 
after  long  exposure  and  with  pale  gray  stains  when  dried ;  odorless 
and  tasteless  or  slightly  bitter;  straight-grained;  medium-textured; 
light  in  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to  work;  checks  in  drying;  not  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision ;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  distributed;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5,  also  in  tan- 
gential pairs  or  small  clusters,  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  and  faintly  visible  without  lens.  Rays  moderately 


442  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

thin,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements,  and  visible  without 
lens  on  cross  section. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6620. 

Oestrum  Sendtnerianum  Mart,  ex  Sendt.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
10:  215.  1846.  Yerba-santa. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  straggly  tree,  from  10  to  22  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  bent,  round,  slender,  and  branching  3  or 
4  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  medium  brown  with  a  greenish  gray  tinge 
and  rather  prominent,  lighter-colored  lenticels.  Flowers  white; 
October-November.  Fruit  ovoid,  round,  black  when  mature; 
May-July. — Widely  distributed  in  the  lowland,  but  not  common  (alt. 
350-500  ft.);  along  margin  of  flood-free  forest  or  in  old  clearings. 

Wood  creamy  white  when  fresh,  pale  yellowish  brown  when  dried ; 
odorless,  but  has  an  astringent  taste;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
fairly  fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  moderately  light  to  medium 
weight,  firm;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth  finish;  subject  to 
stain  and  insect  attacks.  Growth  rings  absent  or  appear  to  be 
indicated  by  terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  small  or  fairly  small; 
rather  numerous,  well  scattered;  mostly  in  radial  multiples  or  rows 
of  2-4,  also  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  clusters.  Rays  lighter- 
colored  than  background  and  barely  or  readily  distinguishable  with- 
out lens  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2128;  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4522. 

Oestrum  sp.  Yerba-santa.  Shrub,  about  8  feet  or  more  tall. 
Bark  light  tan  with  short,  low  ridges  and  small  lenticels.  Leaves 
employed  locally  as  a  substitute  for  soap.  Fruit  ovoid,  blue; 
March-April. — In  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees  of  second- 
ary growth  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  white;  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter;  fairly  straight- 
or  interwoven-grained;  fine-textured.  Pores  small;  mostly  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  up  to  5  or  more.  Rays  moderately  fine,  unevenly 
spaced,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements,  and  barely  distin- 
guishable without  lens  on  moistened  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Iquitos,  7955. 

2.    CYPHOMANDRA  Mart. 

Unarmed  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  dimorphous,  the  lower 
ones  deeply  pinnate-lobed,  the  upper  entire.  Corolla  bell-shaped  or 
saucer-shaped.  Fruit  a  berry. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  443 

Wood  white  or  cream -colored,  fairly  lustrous,  and  subject  to  blue 
stain;  occasionally  with  unpleasant  odor  when  fresh,  but  tasteless; 
medium-textured;  light  and  soft;  saws  woolly;  perishable.  Paren- 
chyma paratracheal ;  sparingly  developed  and  indistinct.  Pores 
of  medium  size;  few  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately 
fine  on  cross  section ;  invisible  on  tangential ;  occasionally  discernible 
in  proper  light  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  large  or  fairly 
large,  sometimes  elongated.  Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate. 

Cyphomandra  sp.  Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  about  12  feet  in 
height,  with  fiat  top,  few  branches,  and  slender  trunk.  Bark  light 
chocolate  brown,  smooth ;  inner  bark  lighter  brown,  fibrous.  Flowers 
pale  white;  June- July.  Fruit  round,  yellow,  and  soft  when  mature. 
—In  dry  loam  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  yellow  and  fairly  lustrous;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm ;  slightly 
fibrous,  easy  to  cut;  subject  to  stain.  Growth  rings  absent.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size  and  sometimes  at  limit  of 
vision;  not  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3,  less  frequently  in  tangential  pairs  or  in  small 
clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  rather  coarse  and  at  limit  of 
vision,  but  not  conspicuous.  Rays  numerous,  moderately  thick,  and 
lighter-colored  than  background;  barely  discernible  without  lens  on 
moistened  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2564,  2827,  2917. 

3.    SOLANUM  L. 

Small  trees,  shrubs,  frequently  armed  with  sharp  prickles,  and 
often  with  pubescence  of  branched  hairs.  Leaves  mostly  simple  but 
often  deeply  lobed,  sometimes  opposite,  one  of  the  pair  being  much 
smaller  than  the  other.  Flowers  variously  arranged ;  corolla  saucer- 
shaped  and  5-lobed,  filaments  short.  Fruit  a  small  or  large,  usually 
globose,  berry.  The  local  names  for  almost  all  species  of  Solanum 
are  "cocona"  and  "siuca-huito"  or  "siuca-vito." 

Wood  whitish,  pale  pink,  or  cherry  brown;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; fairly  fine-  or  medium- textured ;  light  and  soft  to  medium 
density ;  saws  woolly,  at  times  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  highly  lustrous;  usually  perishable.  Parenchyma  para- 
tracheal ;  frequently  indistinct.  Pores  moderately  small  to  fairly  large ; 


444  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential  multiples,  infrequently  in  small 
clusters;  at  times  filled  with  black  gum.  Rays  moderately  fine  and 
numerous  to  rather  broad  on  cross  section ;  invisible  without  lens  on 
tangential;  occasionally  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  large  or  moderately 
large.  Rays  heterogeneous;  mostly  1-3  cells  wide,  and  up  to  25  cells 
or  more  high. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2584;  2598,  2981,  lower  Itaya,  128,  296; 
Pebas,  1888;  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  4983. — San  Martin: 
Lamas,  6352;  near  Tarapoto,  5505. 

BIGNONIACEAE.     Bignonia  Family 

Trees  or  woody  vines.  Leaves  alternate  or  opposite,  simple  or 
compound,  the  terminal  leaflet  often  replaced  by  a  tendril.  Some  of 
the  plants  are  noted  for  the  beauty  of  their  large  and  showy  flowers; 
corolla  of  united  petals,  usually  funnelform;  calyx  inferior  and  of 
united  sepals;  stamens  4,  inserted  on  the  corolla  tube  alternate  with 
the  lobes,  a  fifth  sterile  stamen  usually  present.  Fruit  a  capsule  of 
variable  form,  or  sometimes  baccate,  and  normally  very  large.  A 
few  of  the  species  are  highly  valuable  for  their  timber.  Bark  often 
fibrous,  in  Crescentia  and  Tabebuia  separating  into  thin  layers. 

The  woods  exhibit  a  wide  range  of  variation  in  their  properties. 
Those  described  here  are  light-colored  or  pale  brown;  heartwood 
sometimes  sharply  defined  and  dark  brown  or  greenish  black  as  in 
Tabebuia  (Tecoma) ;  most  often  without  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
medium-  to  coarse-textured;  some  of  them  are  light  in  weight  and 
soft  to  firm,  as  in  Crescentia,  to  heavy,  strong,  and  durable,  as  in 
Tabebuia;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish. 
Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform,  or  confluent;  usually  visible  only 
with  lens.  Pores  most  frequently  of  medium  size;  numerous  and 
well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples;  open.  Rays 
very  fine  or  fine  on  cross  section;  not  visible  without  lens  on  all 
surfaces.  Ripple  marks  present;  all  of  the  elements  in  horizontal 
seriation  in  Tabebuia. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  intervascular  pits  rather  large;  in 
some  instances  spirals  are  present;  vessel-ray  pits  small  and  half- 
bordered.  Rays  homogeneous,  tending  to  heterogeneous;  uniseriate 
or  rarely  more  than  3  cells  wide,  and  usually  less  than  15  cells  high. 
Wood  fibers  with  simple  pits. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  445 

1.    CRESCENTIA  L. 

Crescentia  Cujete  L.  Sp.  PL  626.  1753.     Huingo. 

The  calabash  tree,  the  best-known  species  of  the  genus,  ranges 
between  15  and  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading;  branches  long, 
stout,  and  drooping.  Trunk  bent,  moderately  round,  short,  and  up 
to  14  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  fairly  thick,  pale  brown,  with  numer- 
ous, shallow  fissures;  inner  bark  fibrous  and  separates  into  many 
thin,  papery  layers.  Leaves  simple  and  clustered  on  the  stout 
branches,  persistent,  entire,  oblanceolate  or  spatulate,  acute  or 
rounded  at  the  tip,  and  tapering  to  the  base.  Flowers  solitary  or 
clustered  along  the  trunk  and  older  branches;  corolla  purplish  yellow; 
April- June.  The  tree  is  noteworthy  because  of  its  large,  gourd-like 
fruit  with  abundant  pulp  in  which  are  imbedded  many  large  seeds; 
the  thin,  hard,  woody  shell  (epicarp),  after  removal  of  the  pulp,  is 
used  for  cups,  dishes,  and  other  utensils,  often  artistically  orna- 
mented by  carving  and  painting.  The  seeds  are  edible  when  cooked. 
Its  timber  is  employed  for  tool  handles  and  vehicle  parts. 

Wood  lustrous  pale  brown  or  yellowish  brown  with  fine,  dark 
veining;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium- 
to  coarse- textured ;  light  and  soft  to  moderately  heavy,  hard,  and 
strong;  has  the  consistency  of  elm  (Ulmus);  easy  to  work,  and 
takes  a  smooth  finish ;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or  fairly 
well  defined  owing  to  the  more  orderly  arrangement  of  the  elements. 
Parenchyma  abundantly  developed;  paratracheal  and  in  broad, 
tangential,  wavy  bands  connecting  the  pores;  distinct  also  on  tan- 
gential surface.  Pores  small,  but  visible;  fairly  numerous;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays  fine  on  cross  section ; 
not  visible  without  lens  on  all  surfaces;  homogeneous;  uniseriate. 
Ripple  marks  present;  indistinct  and  rather  irregular;  about  110 
per  inch  length. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  192;  lower  Nanay,  545. 

2.    JACARANDA  Juss. 

Small  or  tall  trees,  with  bipinnate  leaves.  Flowers  bluish  and 
often  showy.  Capsule  as  broad  as  long;  seeds  winged.  The  60 
known  species  constituting  this  genus  are  mostly  from  the  Amazon 
region,  although  there  are  representatives  in  other  parts  of  tropical 
America. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  to  bright  yellow  or  pinkish;  straight-  or 
moderately  straight-grained;  medium-  to  coarse-textured;  light  and 


446  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

soft  or  medium  in  weight  to  fairly  heavy  and  compact;  sometimes 
takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish,  at  other  times  saws  woolly  or 
is  splintery.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  aliform,  or  confluent, 
occasionally  terminal.  Pores  of  medium  size  or  large ;  fairly  numerous 
and  irregularly  or  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  multiples; 
mostly  open.  Rays  fine  or  moderately  fine  on  cross  section;  invisible 
or  barely  visible  on  radial. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits  small  and  half- 
bordered.  Rays  homogeneous,  tending  to  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells 
wide  and  up  to  20  cells  high;  cells  thin-walled,  rather  coarse,  and 
often  gummy.  Fibers  thin-walled,  abundantly  pitted. 

Jacaranda  filicifolia  D.  Don(?),  in  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.  9:  266. 
1823.  Amchiponga. 

Tree,  up  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  from  7  to  15  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  branches  for 
about  20  feet.  Bark  extremely  thin,  pinkish  or  pale  brown,  smooth 
or  with  small  scales. — Fairly  common;  in  dense  forest  in  the  lowland 
(alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  creamy  yellow  or  pinkish,  with  pale  brownish  cast; 
heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
straight-grained;  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy  and  hard; 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  checks  in  drying;  probably  dura- 
ble. Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  rather 
numerous,  irregularly  spaced,  slightly  wavy,  fine  bands  uniting  the 
pores,  also  paratracheal;  often  indistinct.  Pores  barely  visible  with- 
out lens;  not  very  numerous,  uniformly  distributed;  mostly  solitary, 
also  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4;  open.  Vessel  lines  fairly  distinct 
against  the  lighter-colored  background.  Rays  indistinct  without  lens. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  229. 

The  following  have  been  determined  provisionally  on  the  basis 
of  wood  specimens: 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  4140;  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4345-— 
San  Martin:  Lamas,  6488. 

3.    TABEBUIA  Gomez  (or  TECOMA  Juss.) 

Trees.  Leaves  opposite,  long-stalked;  leaflets  usually  5,  large, 
entire  or  toothed,  radiating  from  the  end  of  the  petiole.  Flowers  large 
and  showy,  in  terminal  panicles,  cymes,  or  heads,  usually  borne 
when  the  tree  is  devoid  of  leaves.  The  pendent  pods  long  and  cylin- 
dric;  seeds  numerous,  broadly  winged.  The  Tabebuias  are  important 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  447 

commercially  throughout  their  range  because  of  their  valuable 
timber,  useful  for  general  construction  and  cabinetwork.  Also,  they 
are  noted  for  their  remarkably  showy  and  brightly  colored  blossoms, 
which  are  either  yellow  or  of  varied  tints  of  purple  and  pink,  similar 
to  those  of  the  genus  Catalpa.  The  two  genera,  Tabebuia  and 
Tecoma,  are  closely  allied  and  botanists  differ  as  to  the  basis  of  their 
separation.  As  a  result,  species  are  frequently  transferred  from  one 
genus  to  the  other. 

Sap  wood  pale  yellow  to  medium  brown,  sometimes  with  a  gray- 
ish tinge;  heartwood  yellowish  brown  to  dark  greenish  brown,  often 
well  defined.  Wood  usually  without  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  fairly 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  heavy,  tenacious,  strong,  and  durable; 
takes  a  smooth  polish  and  holds  its  place  well ;  resistant  to  stain  and 
insects.  Parenchyma  inconspicuously  paratracheal,  also  in  irregular 
tangential  or  concentric  bands  containing  the  pores,  occasionally  in 
lines  independent  of  the  pores  and  also  limiting  growth  rings;  often 
distinct  on  longitudinal  sections,  being  darker  than  background. 
Pores  moderately  small  or  medium-sized;  numerous  and  well  dis- 
tributed; solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples;  open  or  filled  with 
a  yellowish  sulphur-like  powder,  lapachol,  which  covers  the  surface, 
and,  when  moistened  with  ammonia  or  dilute  sodium  carbonate,  turns 
deep  wine  red.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  closely  spaced  on  cross 
section;  invisible  or  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 
Ripple  marks  present  and  usually  regular;  all  elements  storied; 
number  per  inch  length,  100-144.  (For  further  notes  on  Tabebuia  and 
Tecoma  see  Record,  Samuel  J.:  Timbers  of  Tropical  America,  532- 
544.) 

Tabebuia  spp.  Tahuari,  Tahuari  amarillo,  Tahuari  negro. 
Deciduous,  forest  trees,  attaining  a  height  of  from  60  to  90  feet. 
Crown  round.  Trunk  erect,  columnar,  from  12  to  25  inches  in  diam- 
eter, and  unbranched  up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  brown 
with  extensive  light  gray  patches,  fairly  smooth ;  inner  bark  separates 
into  large,  papery  layers.  Flowers  deep  yellow,  fragrant,  and  showy; 
appearing  in  July-August  when  the  leaves  are  absent.  Fruit  ovoid, 
compressed. — Widely  distributed;  usually  in  dense,  tall  forest  free 
from  seasonal  floods  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.).  The  dense  heartwood  is 
much  esteemed  for  piling,  rollers  for  sugar  cane  mills,  handles  for 
bush  knives,  blow  pipes,  and  other  purposes  demanding  strength 
and  durability. 

Loreto :  La  Victoria,  31 76;  Pebas,  1 881 ;  near  Yurimaguas,  4435.— 
San  Martin:  near  Tarapoto,  5736,  6617. 


448  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

GESNERIACEAE.     Gesneria  Family 
1.    DRYMONIA  Mart. 

Drymonia  sp.  An  epiphytic  shrub,  sometimes  scandent.  Bark 
medium  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  inner  bark  reddish  brown. 
Leaves  thick,  rough.  Corolla  dark  red;  flowering  in  June-July.— 
Fairly  common  in  some  localities  in  the  lowland  (alt.  350-400  ft.); 
usually  in  dense,  flood-free  forest. 

Wood  lustrous  light-colored  or  pale  pinkish  brown,  turning  to 
medium  brown  on  exposure  to  air;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight, 
firm;  easy  to  cut;  subject  to  stain.  Parenchyma  paratracheal,  some- 
times aliform  or  confluent.  Pores  at  limit  of  vision;  numerous  and 
well  distributed;  in  tangential  or  diagonal  multiples  of  2-4,  also 
solitary  or  in  clusters.  Vessel  lines  darker  than  adjacent  elements 
owing  to  gum  contents.  Rays  fairly  fine,  numerous,  and  curving  at 
point  of  contact  with  pores;  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  and 
tangential  sections;  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface.  Pith  grayish 
white,  with  abundant  translucent  deposits  and  globules  of  brown  gum. 

Vessels  with  exclusively  simple  perforations;  vessel-ray  pits 
simple  to  half-bordered.  Wood  fibers  with  large  lumina. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1907. 

ACANTHACEAE.     Acanthus  Family 

Chiefly  herbs,  but  sometimes  shrubs,  twining  vines,  or  small, 
rarely  medium-sized,  trees.  Leaves  opposite,  entire  or  essentially  so, 
without  stipules.  Flowers  perfect,  frequently  large  and  showy; 
calyx  inferior,  composed  of  4  or  5  distinct  or  united  sepals;  stamens 
2  or  4,  inserted  on  the  corolla  tube  alternate  with  the  lobes.  Fruit 
usually  a  2-celled,  dehiscent  capsule,  often  contracted  and  stalked 
at  the  base;  seeds  2  or  several,  attached  by  a  thick,  hook-like  funicle 
or  stalk.  Wood  is  of  no  economic  importance  locally. 

Woods  exhibit  a  range  in  color  from  creamy  or  yellowish  to 
pinkish  or  pale  brown;  occasionally,  as  in  Trichanthera,  have  a 
slightly  fetid  odor,  but  without  distinctive  taste;  fine-  to  coarse- 
textured ;  light  and  soft  to  medium  weight;  easy  to  work;  subject  to 
a  bluish  gray  stain.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  or  metatracheal ; 
indistinct  to  distinct.  Pores  small  to  readily  visible  without  lens; 
few  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  moderately  fine  or  broad  on 
cross  section;  usually  indistinct  on  tangential;  sometimes  visible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  449 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  mostly  very 
small,  with  slit-like  apertures;  vessel-ray  pits  simple  to  half-bordered 
or  bordered,  large,  much  elongated,  often  in  scalariform  arrange- 
ment. Rays  heterogeneous;  1-5  cells  wide  and  few  to  40  cells  high; 
the  cells  frequently  elongated  in  the  vertical  direction.  Wood  fibers 
thin-walled,  often  septate,  and  with  large,  simple  pits. 

1.  PACHYSTACHYS  Nees 

Pachystachys  Riedeliana  Nees  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  9:  99.  1847. 

Shrub,  9  feet  tall,  with  flexible  trunk.  Branches  few  and  confined 
to  the  summit.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown,  with  short,  shallow  ridges. 
Leaves  glabrous,  oblong,  acute  at  apex,  cuneate  at  base.  Flowers 
with  bright  red  corolla. — Fairly  common;  in  thickets  (alt.  380- 
1,500ft). 

Wood  canary  yellow,  streaked  with  pinkish  brown;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-grained;  fine-textured;  of  fairly  light  or  medium 
weight;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  or  very 
small;  not  numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples. 
Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  sometimes 
barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct 
on  other  surfaces.  Pith  pale  yellow  or  yellowish  white. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  vessel-ray  pits  large,  elongated,  simple 
to  half-bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous;  5  cells  or  more  wide.  Wood 
fibers  septate  and  with  simple  pits. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2367;  herbarium  material  collected  also 
at  Tarapoto,  San  Martin. 

2.  TRICHANTHERA  HBK. 

Trichanthera  gigantea  (HBK.)  Humb.  &  Bonpl.  ex  Steud. 
Norn.  ed.  1.  708.  1821. 

Straggly  tree,  ranging  in  height  up  to  55  feet.  Crown  dense, 
spreading.  Trunk  bifurcating  near  the  base;  diameter  of  larger  limb 
13  inches.  Bark  thin,  light  gray  or  greenish  gray,  smooth.  Leaves 
opposite,  subround  or  oval,  acuminate  at  tip.  Flowers  in  terminal 
racemes.  Fruit  a  bilocular,  oblong  capsule;  October-November.— 
Uncommon;  in  slightly  humid  loam  or  in  the  vicinity  of  streams 
(alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  cream-colored  or  pale  brown,  with  no  sharp  distinction 
between  sap  and  heart;  has  a  slightly  fetid  odor,  but  no  distinctive 


450  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

taste;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  coarse- textured ;  light  and  rather 
soft,  but  strong  for  its  weight;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  stains  readily  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indis- 
tinct. Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  fairly  distinct  with  lens.  Pores  at 
limit  of  vision  to  distinct;  fairly  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary 
or  in  small  multiples;  open.  Vessel  lines  long  or  short,  prominent; 
usually  filled  with  brown  or  gray  deposits  and  vessel  walls  rather 
lustrous.  Rays  broad  and  fairly  distinct  to  prominent  on  cross  and 
radial  sections;  heterogeneous  and  with  coarse  cells.  Pith  pale 
brown;  lustrous  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  abundant. 
Loreto:  Sapote-yaco,  lower  Huallaga,  4894. 

3.    SANCHEZIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  large,  firm,  subentire,  bright 
green  or  variegated.  Flowers,  arranged  in  spikes  or  panicles,  have 
tubular,  small-lobed,  red,  yellow,  or  purple  corolla;  bracts  small 
and  inconspicuous  or  large  and  bright  red  or  yellow.  The  brilliant 
color  of  the  inflorescence,  in  contrast  with  the  bright  green  of  the 
leaves,  adds  to  the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  the  plants. 

Wood  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  mod- 
erately fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight;  easy 
to  cut;  not  durable  and  subject  to  a  bluish  gray  stain.  Growth 
rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct  or  in  numerous,  extremely 
fine,  short  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small  or  fairly 
small;  not  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  less  frequently  in 
small  radial  multiples;  open.  Rays  moderately  fine  to  rather 
distinct  on  cross  section;  sometimes  distinguishable  without  lens 
on  radial. 

Vessel  perforations  simple;  pits  between  vessels  and  ray-paren- 
chyma cells  large,  elongated,  and  simple  to  half-bordered.  Wood 
fibers  septate  and  with  simple  pits.  Rays  heterogeneous. 

Sanchezia  rubriflora  Leonard (?),  Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  22: 
135.  1932.  Topomaki, 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  16  feet  in  height.  Bark  pale 
brown  with  a  grayish  tinge  and  numerous  short  or  long,  low  ridges. 
Flowers  in  terminal  spikes;  corolla  reddish,  yellow  near  the  tip ;  April- 
May. — Forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  subject  to  periodical 
inundations  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  with  extensive  bluish  gray  areas  or 
streaks;  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut.  Pores  readily  visible  with  lens; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  451 

rather  few,  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-3.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine.  Rays  moderately  fine  or  broad  on  cross 
section;  occasionally  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 
Pith  pale  brown,  about  0.25  inch  in  diameter,  chambered;  septa 
oblique. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  380. 

Sanchezia  Williamsii  Leonard,  Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  22: 
127.  1932.  Andara-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  22  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat. 
Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for  7  or  8  feet. 
Bark  pale  brown  with  grayish  white  patches  and  numerous,  low, 
fairly  coarse  ridges.  Flowers  with  reddish  or  yellowish  pink  corolla; 
January- February. — Uncommon;  in  thickets  or  open  dry  patches 
(alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste; 
moderately  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight; 
easy  to  cut;  not  durable  and  subject  to  stain  in  drying.  Growth  rings 
absent.  Pores  fairly  small;  not  numerous,  uniformly  scattered; 
solitary  or  less  frequently  in  radial,  seldom  tangential,  multiples  of 
2-3.  Vessel  lines  fine,  but  visible  without  lens.  Rays  at  limit  of 
vision  on  moistened  cross  section ;  indistinct  or  barely  distinguishable 
to  unaided  eye  on  radial. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7215. 

RUBIACEAE.     Madder  Family 

Trees,  shrubs,  herbs,  sometimes  vines.  Leaves  opposite  or 
verticillate,  with  persistent  or  deciduous  stipules.  Flowers  small 
or  large  and  showy,  perfect  or  rarely  unisexual;  corolla  of  united 
petals.  Fruit  baccate,  drupaceous,  or  capsular,  1-10-celled;  seeds 
1-many,  small  or  large,  often  winged.  The  family  is  represented 
generously  in  most  tropical  regions  and  is  one  of  the  largest  of  Peru- 
vian flora,  confined  mostly  to  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Andes.  The 
best  known  and  most  important  members  of  the  group  in  Peru  are 
Cinchona,  the  source  of  cinchona  bark  which  furnishes  quinine; 
Coffea  arabica  L.,  cultivated  so  extensively  in  tropical  regions;  and 
the  "capirona,"  Calycophyllum  Spruceanum  Hook,  f.,  a  tall  tree 
common  along  the  banks  of  the  Amazon  and  its  main  tributaries  and 
readily  recognizable  by  its  long,  columnar  trunk  and  smooth  bark. 

Woods  brightly  colored,  ranging  from  pink  to  orange,  but  mostly 
dull  pale  brown  or  creamy;  odorless  and  tasteless;  usually  fine-tex- 


452  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

tured;  heavy  and  hard  to  moderately  so,  and  some  of  them  may 
prove  of  value  as  substitutes  for  boxwood.  Parenchyma  usually 
sparingly  developed  and  indistinct;  in  poorly  defined  concentric 
lines  which  may  be  widely  spaced  or  close  together,  in  others  diffuse 
or  in  very  short  lines  at  right  angles  to  the  rays.  Pores  small  or 
extremely  small ;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ; 
solitary,  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  or  tending  to  be  in  clusters. 
Rays  usually  fine,  numerous,  invisible  or  readily  discernible  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  without  lens  on  tangential;  lighter-  or  darker- 
colored  than  background  and  often  very  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  and  vessel- 
parenchyma  pits  of  the  same  size  and  shape;  all  pits  vestured. 
Rays  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide  and  up  to  40  cells  high.  Wood 
fibers  with  simple  or  indistinctly  bordered  pits.  Raphides  present 
in  the  rays  and  sometimes  in  the  wood  parenchyma  or  in  both  in 
Psychotria,  confined  to  the  wood  parenchyma  cells  in  Morinda. 

1.    ALIBERTIA  A.  Rich. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  opposite,  coriaceous,  glabrous  or 
pubescent;  stipules  distinct.  Flowers  dioecious,  small  or  medium- 
sized,  solitary  or  clustered  at  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Fruit  baccate, 
globose,  2-5-celled,  with  fleshy  pulp;  seeds  large,  lenticular  or  sub- 
globose.  Wood  is  of  no  local  value. 

Wood  pinkish  yellow  to  pale  brown,  often  streaked;  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined,  reddish  brown;  lustrous;  odorless  and  taste- 
less; straight-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy,  hard  or 
moderately  so,  and  strong;  easy  to  cut;  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma 
in  concentric  lines  of  lighter  color  than  background.  Pores  small; 
not  numerous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples;  open.  Rays 
fine,  sometimes  barely  visible  without  lens  on  cross  section ;  invisible 
to  unaided  eye  on  other  surfaces;  heterogeneous. 

Alibertia  edulis  (L.  Rich.)  A.  Rich.(?),  ex  DC.  Prodr.  4:  443. 
1830. 

Slender,  glabrous  tree,  from  10  to  25,  seldom  35,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight  and  cylindrical.  Bark  reddish 
brown,  fissured,  and  stringy.  Leaves  short-stalked,  lustrous,  coria- 
ceous, the  blades  ovate  or  lanceolate-oblongate,  acuminate,  acute  or 
rounded  at  base.  Flowers  clustered  at  end  of  branches,  sessile, 
those  of  the  two  sexes  on  separate  plants;  corolla  white.  Fruit  a 
globose  berry,  yellow  and  fleshy  at  maturity,  said  to  be  edible  al- 
though it  has  a  disagreeable  taste;  seeds  large,  numerous,  com- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  453 

pressed. — Common  in  inundated  land  or  in  thickets  (alt.  400- 
1,500  ft.). 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  pale  brown  to  pinkish  gray,  with 
purplish  or  grayish  streaks;  somewhat  lustrous  when  held  to  proper 
light;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
hard,  heavy,  strong,  and  tenacious;  takes  a  smooth  finish;  fairly 
durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  abundantly  developed 
and  distinct;  in  concentric  lines  of  lighter  color  than  background. 
Pores  small  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens;  not  numerous; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2;  open.  Vessel  lines  short  and  fine. 
Rays  numerous  and  faintly  distinguishable  to  aided  eye  on  cross 
section ;  barely  visible  with  lens  on  tangential ;  of  same  color  as  back- 
ground on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6112;  Juan  Guerra,  6869. — Loreto:  near 
Iquitos,  8061. 

Alibertia  stenantha  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  170.  1930. 

Tall  shrub  or  small,  slender  tree,  from  9  to  18  feet  in  height. 
Leaves  membranaceous  or  subcoriaceous,  oblong  or  elliptical-oval, 
abruptty  acuminate,  sharply  acute  to  rounded  at  base.  Corolla 
white  or  yellow.  Fruit  globose,  glabrous,  dark  brown  when  mature. 
—Frequent  throughout  the  lowland  (alt.  350-400  ft.);  in  thickets  or 
clearings  in  slightly  humid  soil. 

Wood  pinkish  yellow  and  lustrous;  straight-grained ;  uniformly 
fine- textured ;  moderately  hard,  heavy,  and  strong. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2225;  La  Victoria,  2941,  3116,  3154,  3168. 

2.    ALSEIS  Schott 

Alseis  peruviana  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  179.  1936.  Misho- 
quiro,  Muela  de  gato,  Palo  bianco. 

Forest  tree,  from  30  to  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from  8  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  and 
clear  of  branches  up  to  two-thirds  the  height.  Bark  thin,  yellowish 
to  dark  reddish  brown,  and  with  coarse  scales.  Leaf  blades  lanceo- 
late, pubescent,  short-stalked,  dark  brown  on  the  upper  surface, 
dark  green  beneath.  Flowers  small,  pale  yellowish  white,  in  elongate 
spikes;  October-November.  Capsule  oblong-turbinate,  2-celled.  — 
Fairly  abundant  in  the  lower  and  upper  Huallaga  regions  (alt.  450 
1,500  ft.);  in  moderately  scanty  growth.  Wood  is  used  for  door- 
frames, window  sashes,  house  posts,  and  other  purposes  demanding 
durability  and  strength. 


454  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  almost  white  to  uniform  pale  yellow  and  suggesting 
West  Indian  boxwood  (Casearia  praecox  Gris.) ;  heartwood  thin,  red- 
dish brown,  not  resistant  to  insect  attacks.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  heavy,  strong, 
and  moderately  hard;  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster 
and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth  rings  indicated  by 
fine  bands  of  terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  distinguishable  with  lens; 
numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  rows  of  2-4,  fre- 
quently in  small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct. 
Rays  distinguishable  to  aided  eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential ;  fairly  distinct  at  times  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5030. — San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  6916. 

3.    ANISOMERIS  Presl 

Anisomeris  paniculata  (Bartl.)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4: 
293.  1929.  Cunshi-cashan,  Cunshi-huacran. 

Small,  forest  tree,  up  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading  or 
flat.  Trunk  straight,  compressed  or  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free 
of  branches  up  to  15  feet;  twigs  appressed-pilose.  Bark  thin,  pale 
gray  to  grayish  brown.  Leaves  oval  or  ovate-lanceolate,  acuminate, 
acute  or  obtuse  at  base,  pubescent.  Flowers  in  long-stalked  cymes; 
calyx  deeply  lobate;  corolla  tomentulose.  Fruit  containing  a  very 
hard  stone. — Fairly  abundant  in  the  lowland  and  in  the  Department 
of  San  Martin  (alt.  400-2,500  ft.).  The  durable  timber  is  suitable 
for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  heartwood  dull  brown. 
Wood  medium  in  weight,  fairly  hard,  and  strong;  takes  a  high  polish 
with  a  satiny  luster.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores 
numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-4,  infre- 
quently in  tangentially  disposed  pairs  or  in  small  clusters;  open. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine  scratches.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  surface;  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  tangential;  of 
same  color  or  slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial. 

Loreto:  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3503. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
5617;  San  Roque,  711&. 

4.    BERTIERA  Aubl. 

Bertiera  guianensis  Aubl.  PI.  Guian.  1:  180.  pi.  69.  1775. 

Slender  shrub,  from  4  to  12  feet  tall.  Crown  conical.  Bark  thin, 
light  brown,  scaly.  Branches  densely  and  somewhat  roughly  pubes- 
cent. Leaves  short-stalked  or  almost  sessile,  blades  oblongate  to 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  455 

ovate,  lanceolate,  acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base.  Flowers 
small,  sessile,  in  one-sided  cymes,  these  arranged  in  large  terminal 
panicles;  corolla  white  or  greenish  white.  Fruit  a  round  drupe, 
glabrate  or  sparsely  pilose,  ribbed,  bluish  black  when  ripe;  seeds 
yellow. — Common  in  dry  loam  in  scant  forest  growth  throughout 
Loreto  and  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.);  widely 
distributed  in  Central  and  northern  South  America. 

Sapwood  pale  yellowish  or  white  and  fairly  lustrous;  heartwood 
purplish.  Wood  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste,  straight-  or  inter- 
locked-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight,  com- 
pact, strong;  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or 
absent.  Parenchyma  not  visible  with  lens.  Pores  small  and  barely 
distinguishable  to  aided  eye;  not  numerous;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  fine.  Rays  distinguishable  or  indistinct  with  lens. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  2045. 

5.  BOTHRIOSPORA  Hook.  f. 

Bothriospora  corymbosa  (Benth.)  Hook.  f.  Ic.  PI.  11:  55.  pi. 
1069.  1870.  Quinilla. 

Tree,  70  feet  in  height.  Crown  open;  branches  slender.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  from  8  to  16  inches  in  diameter.  Bark 
reddish  brown,  thin,  smooth;  inner  bark  fibrous  or  separates  into 
coarse  flakes.  Leaves  opposite,  stalked.  Fruit  baccate,  small, 
yellow  when  mature;  seeds  numerous;  maturing  in  April-May.— 
Common  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.);  along  banks  of 
streams  or  in  periodically  flooded  forest. 

Wood  grayish  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey- 
grained;  medium- textured ;  fairly  heavy;  not  difficult  to  work  and 
takes  a  moderately  smooth  finish ;  checks  in  drying ;  durable.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  fairly  small;  rather  numerous  and  uniformly  dis- 
tributed; solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples;  often  closed.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  but  readily  visible  owing  to  white  deposit  of  calcium 
frequently  present.  Rays  fine,  sinuous,  lighter-colored  than  adjacent 
fibers,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section ;  visible  with  lens 
on  tangential;  barely  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  radial. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  118, 119. 

6.  CALYCOPHYLLUM  DC. 

Calycophyllum  Spruceanum  (Benth.)  Hook.  f.  ex  Schum.  in 
Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6: 191.  pi.  106. 1889.  Capirona. 


456  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

One  of  the  most  ubiquitous  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  handsome 
trees  in  the  Peruvian  Amazon  basin,  often  attaining  a  height 
of  90  and  occasionally  up  to  150  feet.  Crown  spreading  or  at  times 
cone-shaped.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from  25  to  35  inches  in 
diameter,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  three-fourths  its  height.  Bark 
smooth,  deciduous,  of  a  grayish  green  color  when  newly  formed, 
becoming  coppery  brown  with  age.  Leaves  opposite,  subcoriaceous, 
entire,  long-petiolate,  glabrous.  Inflorescence  in  terminal  cymes; 
flowers  small  but  conspicuous,  pale  yellow,  and  fragrant;  corolla 
somewhat  grayish  and  densely  pubescent.  Capsule  ellipsoid,  pale 
brown,  2-celled,  dry  when  ripe,  up  to  0.3  inch  long;  seeds  small, 
winged. — Common  along  the  banks  of  the  main  stream  and  its 
principal  tributaries,  usually  in  inundated  or  swampy  areas.  Its 
timber  is  the  most  common  firewood  of  the  Amazon  Valley,  where  it 
is  consumed  in  enormous  quantities  by  river  launches.  It  is  used 
also  for  furniture  and  general  construction. 

Sap  wood  thick,  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dull  brown.  Wood 
slightly  lustrous;  tasteless  and  odorless;  straight-  or  irregular- 
grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy  and  strong;  easy  to  work 
and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma 
not  distinguishable.  Pores  discernible  only  with  lens;  numerous, 
uniformly  scattered,  and  not  crowded;  solitary  or  in  radially  or 
tangentially  arranged  pairs;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  short. 
Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  surface;  visible  with  lens 
on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  with  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  small  and 
rather  numerous;  vessel-ray  pits  half-bordered,  often  in  reticulate 
arrangement.  Rays  decidedly  heterogeneous;  1-4  cells  wide  and  few 
to  30  cells  high.  Wood  fibers  in  radial  rows;  pits  bordered,  few,  and 
inconspicuous. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  -455;  La  Victoria,  2855,  3010;  near  Iquitos, 
8033. 

7.    CAPIRONA  Spruce 

Capirona  decorticans  Spruce,  Journ.  Linn.  Soc.  3:  200.  1859. 
Capirona  negra. 

Slender,  forest  tree,  about  40  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  and  free  of  branches  for  three-fourths  the 
height.  Bark  fairly  thick,  dark  purplish  brown  or  almost  black, 
smooth  or  with  shallow  fissures.  Leaves  almost  sessile,  glabrous, 
oblong  to  broadly  elliptic,  obtuse  or  short-acuminate.  Flowers  in 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  457 

large  terminal  panicles;  corolla  red;  one  of  the  calyx  lobes  often 
expanded  into  a  large  red  limb.  Capsule  woody,  1  inch  long,  greenish 
yellow. — Abundant;  in  open  light  loam  (alt.  1,400  ft.).  Timber  is 
used  for  general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Wood  uniform  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  tasteless 
and  odorless;  straight-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  heavy  and 
strong;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  durable.  Growth 
rings  poorly  defined  or  absent.  Parenchyma  not  visible.  Pores  dis- 
tinguishable only  with  lens;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed; 
mostly  solitary,  also  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel 
lines  short  and  fine.  Rays  fine  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background,  but 
discernible,  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6070. 

8.    CEPHAELIS  Swartz 

Shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  opposite,  stalked,  glabrous  or 
pubescent;  stipules  united  in  a  short  sheath.  Flowers  in  dense  heads 
and  surrounded  by  an  involucre  of  large,  leaf-like,  green  or  colored 
bracts,  a  characteristic  feature  of  the  genus.  Fruit  a  rather  fleshy, 
2-seeded  drupe;  seeds  vertical.  Fairly  common  in  the  lowland, 
usually  in  dry  patches  or  in  wooded  swamps,  and  exceptionally 
conspicuous  and  showy  when  in  flower. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  faint  grayish  tinge,  sometimes  streaked ; 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  fine- textured ;  easy  to  cut 
and  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  polish.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
present.  Parenchyma  indistinct  with  lens.  Pores  minute  or  small; 
fairly  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  not  visible  without 
lens.  Rays  numerous  and  slightly  wavy  on  cross  section,  the  larger 
ones  readily  distinguishable  with  lens;  slightly  darker  than  back- 
ground and  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Cephaelis  rosea  Benth.  in  Hook.  Journ.  Bot.  3:  224.  1841. 
Sufia,  Yaco-sisa  bianco, . 

Shrub,  up  to  6  feet  tall.  Leaf  blades  ovate-lanceolate  or  elliptic- 
oblong,  long-acuminate,  acute  or  attenuate  at  the  base.  Bracts  green 
or  purplish.  Fruit  blue,  globose. — Fairly  common  in  the  lower 
Nanay  (alt.  400  ft.) ;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  765 — herbarium  material  only. 


458  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Cephaelis  tomentosa  (Aubl.)  Vahl,  Eclog.  Amer.  1:  19.  1796. 

Slender,  straggly  shrub,  about  6  feet  tall.  Leaves  pubescent 
above,  membranaceous,  short-stalked,  lanceolate  to  ovate-elliptic, 
and  with  long  tip.  Flowers  in  terminal  heads,  stalked,  dense,  many- 
flowered;  bracts  red,  large,  and  exceeding  the  flowers;  corolla  yellow; 
flowering  in  June- July.  Fruit  purplish  blue,  small,  ovoid,  and  some- 
what compressed. — In  dry  open  patches  in  dense  forest  growth  (alt. 
400-4,000  ft.);  very  showy  and  handsome  when  in  blossom. 

Sapwood  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  grayish.  Wood  straight- 
grained;  fine- textured. 

Loreto :  La  Victoria,  2964. 

Cephaelis  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8: 185. 1930. 

Uncommon,  glabrous  shrub,  from  10  to  12  feet  tall,  with  slender 
branches.  Bark  dark  brown,  smooth.  Leaves  slender-stalked,  the 
blades  membranaceous.  Flowers  blue;  May- June.  Fruit  ovoid, 
globose. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  400-500  ft.);  along 
banks  of  streams  or  in  semi-humid  loam  in  forest  growth. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  1123. 

9.    CHIMARRHIS  Jacq. 

Ghimarrhis  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  162.  1930. 
Tuwara,  Yaco-caspi. 

Tree,  from  35  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk  straight, 
11  to  14  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark 
pale  yellowish  or  light  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  opposite, 
short-stalked,  rather  leathery;  stipules  deciduous  or  persistent. 
Flowers  axillary,  very  small;  corolla  white,  fragrant;  May-June. 
Capsule  small,  septicidally  dehiscent;  seeds  numerous,  minute. — 
Not  common;  in  open  patches  among  shrubs  and  small  trees,  fre- 
quently in  the  vicinity  of  abodes  (alt.  400  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for 
general  carpentry  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  well  defined,  variable  in  color  from  pale  yellow  to  light 
brown,  often  with  a  pale  greenish  cast;  heartwood  dull  brown,  thin. 
Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  roey-  or  interlocked-grained ;  moder- 
ately fine-textured;  not  easy  to  work,  but  takes  a  fairly  smooth, 
lustrous  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Growth  rings 
absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  distin- 
guishable only  with  lens;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  infrequently  in  small 
clusters;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  459 

and  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  lustrous  tyloses  or  grayish  white 
deposit  frequently  present.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  and 
radial  sections. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  369,  409  (type);  collected  also  near  mouth 
of  Rio  Santiago,  middle  Maranon. 

10.    CINCHONA  L. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  glabrous  or  variously  pubescent;  stipules  large 
and  distinct.  Inflorescence  terminal,  paniculate,  with  opposite 
branches,  usually  many-flowered ;  corolla  regular.  Capsule  ovoid  or 
oblong  to  subcylindric,  dehiscent  from  base  to  apex,  many-seeded; 
seeds  winged,  vertically  imbricate. 

Next  to  the  genus  Coffea,  that  produces  the  coffee  of  commerce, 
the  most  important  group  of  the  family  Rubiaceae  is  the  genus 
Cinchona.  From  the  bark  of  trees  of  this  genus  is  obtained  the  drug 
quinine,  used  in  medicine  as  a  specific  for  malarial  fever.  The 
distribution  of  the  genus  extends  from  the  Bolivian  province  of 
Cochabamba,  through  Yungas  and  Munecas  into  the  Peruvian 
province  of  Caravaya,  thence  in  the  forests  along  the  eastern  slopes 
of  the  Peruvian  Andes,  continuing  northward  through  the  Ecua- 
dorean  forests  on  the  western  slopes  of  Chimborazo,  through  the 
province  of  Popayan,  and  along  the  slopes  of  the  Colombian  Andes. 

Those  who  wish  to  inform  themselves  upon  the  discovery  and 
habitat  of  cinchona  trees  are  recommended  to  read  Sir  Clements  R. 
Markham's  Peruvian  Bark  (London,  1880),  which  furnishes  a  well- 
written  account  on  the  subject  as  well  as  an  extensive  bibliography. 

According  to  Markham,  the  aborigines  of  South  America,  except 
perhaps  in  one  locality,  appear  to  have  been  ignorant  of  the  virtues 
of  Peruvian  bark.  It  is  mentioned  neither  by  the  Inca  Garcilasso  de 
la  Vega  nor  by  Acosta  in  their  lists  of  Indian  medicines.  It  seems 
probable,  nevertheless,  that  the  Indians  were  aware  of  the  medicinal 
value  of  Peruvian  bark  in  the  neighborhood  of  Loja,  230  miles  south 
of  Quito,  where  its  use  was  first  made  known  to  Europeans.  The 
Quechua  name  for  the  tree,  "quina-quina"  (bark  of  bark),  indicated 
its  special  importance. 

In  1638,  the  wife  of  Don  Luis  Bobadilla,  fourth  Count  of  Chin- 
chon,  and  at  the  time  Viceroy  of  Peru,  suffered  from  an  intermittent 
fever.  News  of  her  illness  reached  one  Don  Juan  Lopez,  Spanish 
Corregidor  of  Loxa,  Ecuador,  who  dispatched  a  parcel  of  powdered 
bark  to  her  physician,  Doctor  Juan  de  Vega,  which  was  tried  and 
effected  a  rapid  and  complete  cure.  When  the  Count  of  Chinchon 


460  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

returned  to  Spain  in  1640,  his  wife  took  with  her  samples  of  the  bark 
and  thus  she  was  the  first  person  to  introduce  the  remedy  into 
Europe.  To  commemorate  the  service  rendered  by  the  countess, 
Linnaeus,  100  years  later,  named  the  genus  which  yields  the  bark 
Chinchona.  In  recent  years  the  generic  name  has  been  misspelled  by 
dropping  the  h  of  the  first  syllable,  thus  defeating  the  purpose 
Linnaeus  had  in  mind. 

A  few  years  later,  the  Count  of  Chinchon  was  instrumental  in 
sending  an  expedition  from  Quito  to  the  estuary  of  the  Amazon.  In 
the  party  was  a  Jesuit  priest,  Acufia,  who  spread  the  knowledge  of 
the  curative  properties  of  the  bark  among  the  brethren  of  the  order 
throughout  Europe  and  thus  it  became  known  as  "Jesuit's  bark." 
Under  the  name  of  Peruvian  bark  and  "quina-quina"  its  use  gradually 
spread  and  by  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  its  virtue  was 
generally  conceded  by  the  medical  authorities  of  Europe. 

The  first  description  of  the  tree  was  given  as  a  result  of  a  French 
expedition  to  South  America,  headed  by  La  Condamine.  In  the 
party  was  Joseph  de  Jussieu  who  set  out  in  1739  from  Quito  to  study 
the  "quina-quina"  tree.  In  the  Me"moires  de  I'Academie,  La  Con- 
damine described  the  tree  and  in  1742  Linnaeus,  as  previously  stated, 
established  the  genus  Chinchona. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  years  the  "quina-quina"  bark  found  in 
the  forests  and  transported  to  the  Peruvian  port  of  Paita  was  the 
only  species  with  which  botanists  were  familiar.  The  high  price  at 
which  it  was  sold  led  to  improvidence  in  the  collection  of  the  bark, 
the  trees  being  felled  in  great  numbers  in  order  to  obtain  the  product. 
Owing  to  the  lack  of  a  dependable  and  constant  supply  and  the 
realization  that  continuance  of  the  depredations  in  collecting 
the  product  would  result  in  its  extinction,  plans  were  made  in 
1859,  under  the  direction  of  the  British  government,  to  establish 
cinchona  trees  in  the  Nilgiri  Hills  and  elsewhere  in  India.  The  best 
authorities  available,  such  as  Markham  and  others,  were  selected 
for  this  work  and  seeds  and  plants  were  gathered  in  all  the  principal 
centers  of  production.  Richard  Spruce,  who,  through  several  years 
of  collecting  along  the  Amazon  and  in  the  Andes,  became  familiar 
with  the  vegetation  of  those  regions,  was  entrusted  with  the  collec- 
tion of  cinchona  in  the  Chimborazo  region.  A  full  account  of  his 
explorations  is  given  in  his  Notes  of  a  Botanist  on  the  Amazon 
and  Andes. 

The  cinchona  trees  of  Peru  and  adjacent  territories  have  become 
so  scarce,  through  the  continued  practice  of  felling  the  trees,  that  the 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  461 

export  of  the  bark  no  longer  forms  an  appreciable  source  of  revenue 
to  the  republic.  Since  the  introduction  of  the  trees  into  India, 
Ceylon,  and  Jamaica  by  the  English,  and  into  Java  by  the  Dutch, 
large  areas  have  been  cleared  for  plantations  which  furnish  a  con- 
stant supply  of  this  valuable  commodity.  The  success  of  these 
plantations  demonstrates  the  fact  that  the  forest-grown  product 
cannot  compete  with  the  same  commodity  produced  scientifically 
and  economically  by  cultivation. 

Cinchona  amazonica  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  334.  1931. 

Small,  slender  tree  or  shrub,  approximately  12  feet  high. 
Branches  only  at  the  top.  Trunk  straight  and  round.  Leaves 
rather  membranaceous,  obovate-elliptic.  Fruit  ovoid,  dark  green; 
July- August. — Not  common ;  in  sandy  loam  in  open  patches  in  forest 
(alt.  350  ft.). 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1747. 

Cinchona  officinalis  L.  Sp.  PI.  172.  1753.  Capirona  del  bajo, 
Cascarilla  amarilla,  Quina-quina. 

Medium-sized  tree,  up  to  40  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown 
spreading  or,  at  times,  almost  flat  or  round.  Trunk  straight,  cylin- 
drical, about  8  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  branches  for  half  the 
height.  Bark  thin,  dark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  rugose, 
lustrous  when  held  to  proper  light,  and  is  or  has  been  an  important 
source  of  quinine.  Leaves  stalked,  lanceolate  to  elliptic  or  ovate, 
small,  acute,  acuminate,  or  obtuse,  attenuate  to  rounded  at  base, 
subleathery.  Calyx  reddish,  glabrous  or  nearly  so;  corolla  pink  or 
red.  Capsule  oblong. — In  open  patches  in  forest,  frequently  in  humid 
loam  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  450-1,500  ft.  or  more).  Wood  is 
used  for  furniture,  general  carpentry,  and  fuel. 

Sapwood  uniform  yellowish  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  dull  pink- 
ish brown.  Wood  tasteless  and  odorless;  straight-  or  interlocked- 
grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  rather  heavy,  strong,  and  compact; 
moderately  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  probably  dura- 
ble. Growth  rings  absent  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  not  visible 
with  lens.  Pores  of  medium  size ;  not  crowded ;  mostly  solitary,  also 
in  radial  rows  of  2-3,  seldom  in  tangentially  disposed  pairs;  open. 
Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine,  short  or  long  scratches,  of  same  color  as 
the  adjacent  elements;  tyloses  abundant.  Rays  fine,  evenly  spaced, 
and  distinguishable  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4486. 


462  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

11.    COFFEA  L. 

Coffea  arabica  L.  Sp.  PI.  172.  1753.    Cafe. 

Native  of  tropical  Africa,  the  coffee  shrub  is  planted  on  a  limited 
scale  in  both  the  lowland  and  highland,  at  elevations  up  to  about 
3,500  ft.  Infrequently,  half-wild  sprouts  are  found  in  thickets  and 
forest,  the  seeds  probably  having  been  carried  by  birds.  Flowers  in 
clusters  of  3-7  in  the  leaf  axils,  sessile.  Fruit  subglobose,  inde- 
hiscent,  reddish  at  maturity. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  218;  Pro,  near  Pebas,  1966;  La  Victoria, 
2736.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6099. 

12.    CONDAMINEA  DC. 

Condaminea  corymbosa  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  DC.  Prodr.  4:  402. 
1830.  Sauco. 

Straggly  shrub  or  small,  subxerophytic  tree.  Leaves  very  large, 
oblong  or  obovate,  nearly  sessile,  glabrous.  Flowers  in  rather  large 
terminal  panicles;  calyx  dehiscing;  corolla  tube  creamy  white  below, 
red  above;  staminal  filaments  and  style  green;  anthers  brown.  Cap- 
sule bisulcate;  seeds  compressed,  angled. — Common  on  open  hillsides 
(alt.  3,000  ft.). 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7794 — herbarium  material  only. 

13.    COUSSAREA  Aubl. 

Shrubs  or  trees,  usually  glabrous.  Leaves  opposite  or  rarely 
verticillate,  short-stalked  or  subsessile,  more  or  less  leathery,  lan- 
ceolate-oblong to  elliptic.  Inflorescence  terminal;  flowers  short- 
stalked;  corolla  lobes  valvate.  Drupe  ovoid  or  globose,  1-seeded, 
with  thin  septum,  rupturing  easily;  seeds  laterally  or  basally 
attached. 

Wood  grayish  white  or  oatmeal-colored  to  dark  brown,  often 
streaked;  sometimes  well  defined  into  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  fine-  to  medium-tex- 
tured; moderately  light  to  heavy,  strong,  and  compact;  easy  to  cut; 
sometimes  fairly  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  or 
small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly  open.  Rays  prominent  and  wavy 
on  cross  section;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  sometimes 
rather  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Coussarea  brevicaulis  Krause,  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  142.  1907; 
Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50: 117. 1908. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  463 

Shrub,  from  8  to  12  feet  tall.  Bark  0.25  inch  thick,  scarlet  brown, 
rugose.  Fruit  ovoid,  pale  yellow  when  mature ;  March- April. — Fairly 
common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  400  ft.);  in  dry  or  humid  loam  in  pas- 
tures or  along  margin  of  forest. 

Sap  wood  greenish  gray  or  pale  grayish  brown ;  heartwood  pinkish 
brown.  Wood  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  fine-  to  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  cut. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2310;  lower  Itaya,  8175. 

Coussarea  hirticalyx  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  175.  1930. 

Slender  tree  of  the  lowland,  up  to  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  branching  from  near  the  base. 
Bark  0.5  inch  thick,  purplish  brown,  scaly.  Flowers  with  brown 
calyx,  fragrant;  June-July. — Common;  in  slightly  humid  or  dry 
loam  along  margin  of  dense  forest  (alt.  380  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
locally  for  rough  carpentry  and  general  construction. 

Sapwood  not  sharply  defined,  dark  brown,  often  with  dark  pur- 
plish streaks;  heartwood  pale  pinkish.  Wood  odorless,  but  slightly 
bitter;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
heavy,  strong,  and  compact;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth, 
lustrous  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  durable.  Rays  wavy  and 
distinguishable  without  lens,  but  not  prominent,  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2406,  2504;  La  Victoria,  2528. 

Coussarea  megalocarpa  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  366.  1931. 

Slender  tree,  rarely  exceeding  25  feet  in  height.  Trunk  moder- 
ately straight,  cylindrical,  and  free  of  limbs  for  4  feet  or  so.  Fruit 
soft,  oval,  in  clusters  of  3,  pale  brown  when  mature;  March- April. 
—Fairly  common;  in  moderately  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  grayish  white  throughout,  often  streaked  with  extensive 
dark  purplish  brown;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine- textured ; 
rather  heavy,  strong,  but  perishable  in  contact  with  soil.  Rays 
evenly  spaced,  white,  the  larger  ones  rather  prominent  and  readily 
distinguishable  on  cross  section. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  8171. 

Coussarea  ovalis  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  367.  1931. 
Chonchuela. 

Medium-sized,  slender  tree,  often  up  to  36  feet  or  more  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  and  clear  of  limbs  for 
half  the  height.  Leaves  petiolate,  glabrate,  the  blades  oblong  or 


464  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

elliptic,  abruptly  acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base.  Inflorescence 
terminal;  flowers  small,  white,  fragrant;  August-September. — Not 
common;  in  dense  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used 
locally. 

Wood  uniform  white  or  oatmeal-colored  throughout,  turning  to 
pale  brown  or  yellowish  on  exposure;  odorless  and  tasteless;  inter- 
locked- or  wavy-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured ;  of  medium  weight 
to  rather  heavy;  cuts  easily  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  dry- 
ing; not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  barely  visible  owing  to 
slight  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  not  discernible 
with  lens.  Pores  minute  or  small;  rather  numerous  and  well  scat- 
tered; solitary  or,  less  frequently,  in  small  radial  or  tangential  mul- 
tiples or  rows ;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as  background, 
occasionally  visible  as  very  fine  scratches.  Rays  wavy  and  promi- 
nent on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  rather  conspicuous 
on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3355. 

Coussarea  tenuiflora  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4:  331.  1929. 
Motelo-micuna,  Nucnu-huito,  Supai-caspi. 

Nearly  glabrous,  slender  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading  or  almost  conical.  Trunk  straight  or  moderately  so, 
cylindrical,  either  branching  from  near  the  base  or  clear  of  limbs  up 
to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  greenish  when  fresh,  in  dry  material 
becoming  light  gray  or  almost  black  with  age,  and  with  long,  shallow 
fissures.  Leaf  blades  subleathery,  ovate  or  oblongate,  slightly  puber- 
ulent  above  along  midrib  and  costal  veins,  acuminate  or  acute, 
usually  rounded  at  base.  Fruit  dark  brown  when  mature. — Abun- 
dant in  the  lowland  (alt.  380-500  ft.);  in  forest  not  subject  to  inun- 
dations; type  material  collected  by  Spruce  at  Tarapoto.  Wood  has 
no  local  application  except  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  not  clearly  demarcated,  ranging  from  almost  white  to 
pale  brown  with  long  purplish  or  pinkish  streaks;  heartwood  pale 
greenish  or  light  brown.  Wood  rather  light  in  weight;  slightly  lus- 
trous when  held  to  proper  light.  Rays  of  a  pronounced  white  color 
and  often  readily  distinguishable  on  cross  section;  of  same  color  or 
slightly  darker  than  background  on  radial  surface.  Some  indications 
of  what  appear  like  intercellular  canals  present  in  some  specimens. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  891;  lower  Huallaga,  4622,  5177,  7830; 
Iquitos,  81 52. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  465 

Coussarea  tricephala  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  368. 1931. 

Stout  shrub,  up  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown  dense.  Bark  pale 
gray  to  dark  brown,  with  numerous,  short,  deep,  vertical  fissures. 
Leaf  blades  elliptic  or  elliptic-lanceolate,  acuminate,  acute  at  base, 
puberulent  along  veins  on  upper  surface,  glabrous  beneath.  Flowers 
white;  December- January  .—Fairly  common;  in  sandy  loam  in 
secondary  growth  (alt.  1,300-1,600  ft.). 

Wood  white,  streaked  with  pale  pink;  rather  hard,  heavy,  and 
tough;  probably  durable. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6533;  herbarium  material  collected  also 
at  Lamas. 

14.    COUTAREA  Aubl. 

Coutarea  hexandra  (Jacq.)  K.  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6, 
pt.  6: 196.  1889.  Huacamayo-caspi. 

Tree,  up  to  120  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat.  Trunk  straight, 
cylindrical,  from  20  to  36  inches  in  diameter,  free  of  branches  up  to 
30  feet,  and  with  small  buttresses.  Bark  1  inch  thick,  yellowish  or 
grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth,  and  yields  when  cut  a  small  amount  of 
reddish  or  yellowish,  bitter  resin,  reputed  to  be  employed  in  domestic 
medicine  as  a  substitute  for  quinine.  Leaves  opposite,  stalked, 
lanceolate,  oblong,  or  broadly  ovate  to  elliptic,  short-acuminate, 
glabrous  or  nearly  so;  stipules  persistent.  Inflorescence  terminal, 
few-flowered;  corolla  deep  pink  or  purplish  white.  Capsule  woody, 
strongly  compressed,  dark  brown,  2-celled,  septicidally  bivalvate; 
seeds  imbricate,  broadly  winged. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dense 
forest  subject  to  seasonal  inundations  (alt.  400  ft.).  The  dense  wood 
is  esteemed  locally  for  house  posts,  furniture,  and  general  carpentry. 

Wood  uniform  pinkish  brown  throughout,  turning  to  yellowish 
brown  soon  after  exposure  to  air;  odorless,  but  bitter  to  taste; 
straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy, 
strong,  and  compact;  fairly  easy  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and 
holds  its  place  well;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  occasionally 
present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  not  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens.  Pores  discernible  only  with  lens;  numerous 
and  evenly  distributed;  solitary,  infrequently  in  small  tangential  or 
diagonal  multiples;  open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  short; 
lustrous  tyloses  frequently  present.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  158. 


466  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

15.    DUROIA  L.  f. 

Shrubs  or  trees,  unarmed,  with  thick  branchlets.  Leaves  oppo- 
site or  verticillate,  petiolate,  chiefly  coriaceous;  stipules  forming  a 
conical  cap  and  deciduous  above  a  circular  slit.  Inflorescence  ter- 
minal ;  flowers  dioecious,  the  staminate  in  cymes,  the  pistillate  usually 
solitary,  rarely  2-3  in  a  head.  Fruit  large,  baccate;  seeds  rounded, 
trigonous,  compressed,  with  fibrous,  reticulate  testa. 

Wood  white  or  pale  pink  when  fresh,  becoming  pinkish  brown 
and  at  times  streaked  when  dried;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained  or  fairly  so;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy  or  moderately 
heavy,  hard,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth, 
lustrous  finish;  durable.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small; 
numerous  and  uniformly  scattered ;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multi- 
ples or  rows;  mostly  open.  Rays  indistinct  or  barely  visible  without 
lens  on  cross  section ;  invisible  to  unaided  eye  on  other  surfaces. 

Duroia  hirsuta  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  K.  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
6,  pt.  6:  367.  1889.  Palo  de  diablo,  Supai-caspi,  Supai-quinilla. 

Tree,  about  25  feet  high,  but  said  to  attain  greater  stature. 
Trunk  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  approximately 
9  feet.  Bark  thin,  reddish  or  dark  brown.  Leaves  obovate-oblong, 
cuspidate,  acuminate,  hispid  especially  along  the  midrib.  Flowers  in 
dense  terminal  cymes,  white,  subsessile;  staminate  flowers  in  clus- 
ters, pistillate,  solitary.  Fruit  baccate,  ellipsoid-globose. — Fairly 
common;  in  dense  forest  not  subject  to  periodical  inundations  (alt. 
450-500  ft.) ;  collected  also  near  the  estuary  of  the  Santiago  River, 
middle  Maranon.  The  dense  wood  is  esteemed  for  posts  in  the  con- 
struction of  huts. 

Wood  pale  pink  or  mauve  when  freshly  cut,  uniform  pinkish 
brown  throughout  when  dried;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or 
interlocked -grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  heavy,  strong,  tena- 
cious, and  compact;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
polish;  durable.  Growth  rings  barely  distinguishable  owing  to  slight 
variation  in  density  of  fibers.  Parenchyma  not  discernible.  Pores 
small;  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows  of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  short,  fine,  and  barely  visible 
without  lens.  Rays  indistinct  or  faintly  distinguishable  on  all 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  759;  San  Antonio,  upper  Itaya,  3501. 

Duroia  longifolia  (Poepp.  &  Endl.)  K.  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  6,  pt.  6:  365.  1889.  Pamparemo-caspi. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  467 

Forest  tree,  up  to  45  feet  or  more  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from  6  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  clear  of 
branches  for  approximately  one-third  the  height,  and  with  low  but- 
tresses. Bark  pinkish  or  pale  brown,  scaly.  Leaves  entire,  stalked; 
blades  oblanceolate,  nearly  glabrous,  smooth,  subcoriaceous,  acumi- 
nate, cuspidate.  Fruit  brown,  globose. — Moderately  abundant  (alt. 
400  ft.) ;  in  dense  forest.  Wood  is  used  to  a  small  extent  for  house 
construction  and  furniture. 

Wood  uniform  pinkish  or  pale  yellow,  darkening  slightly  on  ex- 
posure; interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured,  although  not 
as  fine  as  D.  hirsuta;  heavy,  hard,  strong;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth 
finish ;  not  resistant  to  insect  attacks.  Rays  slightly  more  pronounced 
on  cross  section  than  in  D.  hirsuta. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  30, 162;  upper  Itaya,  3373. 

Duroia  trichocarpa  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  353.  1931. 

Tree,  up  to  40  or  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  often 
bent,  cylindrical,  from  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
branches  up  to  20  feet.  Bark  light  to  dark  brown;  inner  bark 
white.  Twigs  pubescent.  Leaves  opposite,  long-stalked;  blades 
subcoriaceous,  oblong  or  ovate,  acuminate,  attenuate  or  obtuse  at 
base,  hirsute  especially  beneath.  Inflorescence  short.  Fruit  ovoid 
or  globose,  rufous,  hispid. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dense,  flood- 
free  forest  (alt.  500  ft.).  Wood  has  no  local  application. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown  or  almost  white  throughout,  sometimes 
with  purplish  streaks,  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure;  straight- 
grained;  coarser-textured  than  D.  hirsuta;  moderately  heavy,  but 
brittle;  cuts  easily  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth,  lustrous  finish;  liable 
to  check  in  drying;  not  very  durable.  Vessel  lines  appear  as  fine 
scratches.  The  larger  rays  readily  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye 
on  cross  section  and  faintly  visible  without  lens  on  radial  surface; 
heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3470. 

16.    FARAMEA  Aubl. 

Glabrous  shrubs  or  trees.  Leaves  opposite,  stalked  or  sub- 
sessile,  usually  leathery,  lanceolate  or  oblong,  acuminate  or  caudate; 
stipules  often  long-sheathing.  Inflorescence  terminal  or  axillary,  few- 
or  many-flowered ;  flowers  medium-sized,  in  corymbs.  Fruit  baccate 
or  almost  dry,  by  abortion  1-seeded;  seeds  horizontal,  globose  or 
reniform. 


468  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  pale  white  or  yellowish  to  pinkish  brown;  heartwood 
sometimes  well  defined,  dull  or  reddish  brown.  Wood  occasionally 
has  a  spicy  odor  when  fresh ;  straight-  or  moderately  straight-grained ; 
fine-  to  medium-textured;  of  medium  density  to  heavy  and  compact; 
takes  a  smooth,  lustrous  polish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  or  in 
fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays,  infrequently  appearing  to 
indicate  limit  of  growth  rings;  not  distinct  with  lens.  Pores  minute, 
small,  or  medium-sized ;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Rays  apparently 
of  two  sizes,  the  larger  often  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  cross 
section;  frequently  darker  than  background  and  producing  silver 
grain  on  radial  surface. 

Faramea  amplifolia  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8: 177. 1930. 

Tree,  up  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading  or  conical.  Trunk 
fairly  cylindrical,  often  compressed,  slender,  7  inches  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to  12  feet.  Bark  thin,  pale  or  dark 
reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  numerous,  shallow  fissures. 
Leaf  blades  short-petiolate,  narrowly  oblong  or  ovate,  abruptly 
acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  coriaceous,  glabrous;  petiole 
glabrous,  brown,  and  fairly  stout.  Inflorescence  terminal,  peduncu- 
late; flowers  bright  blue;  May-June.  Fruit  pale  brown,  subglobose. 
—Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt.  380-550  ft.);  in  dense  forest, 
most  frequently  in  humid  loam.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  yellowish  when  fresh,  turning  to  pinkish  brown  on 
exposure,  with  extensive  grayish  brown  areas;  heartwood  dull 
reddish  brown.  Wood  has  a  spicy  odor  when  freshly  cut,  odor  and 
taste  not  distinctive  in  dried  material;  straight-  or  wavy-grained; 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy,  but 
rather  brittle;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  highly  lustrous  finish; 
fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
not  visible  or  in  indistinct  sheaths  around  pores.  Pores  of  small  to 
medium  size;  not  numerous,  well  distributed;  solitary,  less  frequently 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows,  infrequently  in  tangential  pairs;  mostly 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  rather  long,  and  of  same  color  as  background 
or  filled  with  pale  grayish  deposit.  Rays  apparently  of  two  sizes,  the 
larger  sinuous  and  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  cross  section ; 
discernible  without  lens  also  on  tangential;  darker  than  adjacent 
elements  and  producing  a  silver  grain  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1575, 1946  (type). 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  469 

Faramea  anisocalyx  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  28. 

1845.     Uchu-sanango. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading; 
branches  slender.  Trunk  bent,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for 
almost  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  or  greenish  brown, 
fairly  smooth  or  with  small  scales.  Leaves  subsessile;  blades  nar- 
rowly oblong  to  oval,  acuminate,  acute  or  rounded  at  base,  coria- 
ceous, glabrous.  Inflorescence  terminal ;  bracts  pale  sky  blue  and  very 
showy.  Fruit  white,  1-seeded;  May-June. — Common  throughout 
the  lowland;  in  dry  medium  loam,  most  frequently  in  old  clearings 
(alt.  350-500  ft.);  reported  also  in  dense  forest  at  Cahuapanas 
along  the  Pichis  Trail  (alt.  1,300  ft.).  Wood  is  used  only  for  fuel. 

Wood  pale  yellow  or  yellowish  white,  sometimes  with  a  grayish 
tinge  or  extensive  brownish  areas  when  dried;  of  medium  weight; 
easy  to  work;  liable  to  check  in  drying. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1330;  Pebas,  1898;  collected  also  at 
Caballo-cocha,  La  Victoria,  and  in  the  lower  Huallaga. 

Faramea  capillipes  Muell.  Arg.  Flora  58:  474.  1875.  Choleta- 
caspi,  Kikinkaka. 

Shrub,  approximately  15  feet  tall,  and  often  straggly.  Bark  pale 
brown  or  greenish  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Leaves  short-petiolate; 
blades  narrowly  oblong  or  obovate,  long-acuminate,  attenuate  at 
base,  glabrous.  Inflorescence  terminal;  flowers  orange-colored  or 
white.  Fruit  globose,  1-seeded. — Limited  in  its  distribution;  in 
open,  dry  patches  (alt.  400-500  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  the  estuary 
of  the  Santiago  River,  an  affluent  of  the  Maranon. 

Sapwood  pale  brown,  indistinctly  demarcated;  heartwood 
slightly  darker  brown.  Wood  of  medium  weight,  compact,  tough,  and 
fairly  lustrous.  Growth  rings  visible.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and 
terminal.  Larger  rays  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  cross 
section;  slightly  darker  than  background  and  distinct  on  radial 
section. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  753;  upper  Nanay,  1234. 

Faramea  glandulosa  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3:  29. 
1845.  Itulli-caspi,  Uchpa-caspi,  Charachuela. 

Shrub  or  low,  spreading  tree,  15,  rarely  more  than  30,  feet  in 
height.  Branches  slender,  elongate.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical, 
slender,  and  free  of  limbs  for  about  4  feet.  Bark  light  or  dark 
brown,  fairly  smooth,  with  broad,  low  ridges,  or  scaly.  Leaf  blades 


470  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

short-petiolate,  narrowly  oblongate,  long-acuminate,  acute  to  obtuse 
at  base,  membranaceous,  glabrous.  Inflorescence  terminal;  flowers 
with  pale  blue  corolla  and  fragrant;  May- June.  Drupe  globose, 
purple  or  black  when  mature,  edible. — Abundant  in  both  the  lowland 
and  upland,  in  dense  forest  or  in  old  clearings  (alt.  350-4,000  ft.); 
collected  also  in  the  lower  Huallaga,  in  the  Putumayo  basin,  and 
at  La  Merced.  Wood  is  employed  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tarapoto 
for  house  construction. 

Wood  somewhat  variable  in  color  from  pale  white  or  yellowish 
to  pinkish  brown;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy,  compact,  and 
rather  tenacious,  but  splintery;  fairly  easy  to  work  and  takes  a 
smooth,  moderately  lustrous  finish;  liable  to  check  in  drying;  often 
attacked  by  insects.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  distinct.  Pores 
minute  or  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered.  Larger  rays 
fine,  but  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye,  and  more  uniformly  spaced 
on  cross  section  than  in  other  species;  indistinct  or  barely  discernible 
on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  109;  Iquitos,  1489,  3682;  La  Victoria,  2525; 
Yurimaguas,  4571.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6065,  6093. 

Faramea  maynensis  Spruce  in  Benth.  &  Hook,  f .  Gen.  PI.  2 : 121. 
1873. 

Shrub,  from  3  to  15  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  gray  to  dark  brown, 
scaly  or  with  short,  low,  irregular  fissures.  Leaf  blades  narrowly 
oblong  or  elliptic-oblong,  glabrous,  short-acuminate,  acute  or 
attenuate  at  base,  short-petiolate,  with  stipules.  Inflorescence 
terminal,  in  dense  corymbs;  corolla  pale  blue.  Drupe  transversely 
oval;  fruiting  in  June-July. — Common  in  the  lowland  forest  (alt. 
450  ft.),  usually  in  dry  loam;  collected  also  in  the  middle  Maranon, 
in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley  (alt.  3,800  ft.),  and  at  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,400  ft.).  Wood  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  yellowish  white  or  pale  brown,  usually  with  narrow 
pinkish  streaks  or  extensive  grayish  areas;  heartwood  brown,  perish- 
able. Wood  light  and  soft  to  medium  in  weight  and  firm;  saws 
slightly  woolly,  easy  to  cut;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined.  Vessel  lines  often  filled  with  lustrous  deposits. 
Rays  of  same  color  as  background,  but  faintly  discernible  to  unaided 
eye  on  radial  surface;  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2107;  Yurimaguas,  7820. 

Faramea  quinqueflora  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3: 
28.  pi.  234-  1845. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  471 

Tree,  up  to  15,  occasionally  30,  feet  in  height.  Crown  spread- 
ing. Trunk  slender,  often  fluted,  and  clear  of  branches  for  4  or  6 
feet.  Bark  pinkish  or  violet  brown,  scaly.  Leaf  blades  short-petio- 
late,  membranaceous,  ovate-lanceolate  or  rarely  ovate-oblong,  nar- 
row-acuminate at  apex.  Inflorescence  in  terminal  cymes;  corolla 
bright  blue.  Fruit  purplish  or  dark  blue  when  mature. — Fairly 
abundant;  in  dry  medium  or  heavy  loam  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400- 
1,200  ft.).  Wood  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Wood  variable  from  pale  greenish  or  grayish  white  to  pinkish 
brown  and  highly  lustrous;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy  and 
compact,  but  inclined  to  be  splintery  and  liable  to  check  in  drying; 
easy  to  work.  Growth  rings  absent  or  barely  visible  owing  to  slight 
variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  discernible  with  lens  as 
very  fine,  short  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Rays  fairly 
broad,  uniformly  spaced,  and  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on 
cross  section;  pinkish  brown  and  rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3760,  8164. 

Faramea  rectinervia  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8: 177.  1930. 

Glabrous  tree,  about  25  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  free  of  limbs  up  to  9  or  10  feet. 
Bark  grayish  brown,  scaly  or  with  deep,  short,  coarse  fissures. 
Leaf  blades  subcoriaceous,  oblong  or  elliptic-oblong,  abruptly  short- 
acuminate,  acute  or  obtuse  at  base,  midrib  prominent  beneath 
and  of  light  color;  petiole  long,  stout.  Inflorescence  terminal, 
cymose ;  corolla  blue.  Drupe  light  green. — Limited  in  its  distribution ; 
in  dry  loam  in  scant  forest  growth  (alt.  380  ft.);  collected  also  at 
Puerto  Bermudez  (alt.  1,050  ft.).  Wood  is  used  to  a  small  extent 
for  fuel. 

Sapwood  almost  white  or  pale  brown,  not  well  demarcated; 
heartwood  dull  pale  brown.  Wood  of  medium  weight,  compact,  and 
tough;  liable  to  check  slightly  in  drying;  appears  to  be  durable. 
Growth  rings  poorly  defined  and  indicated  by  arrangement  of 
elements.  Rays  sinuous  and  distinguishable  without  lens  on  cross 
section;  visible  against  the  lighter-colored  background  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2962. 

17.    FERDINANDUSA  Pohl 

Ferdinandusa  chlorantha  (Wedd.)  Standl.  Trop.  Woods  34:  41. 
1933.  Huacamayo,  Loro-micuna. 


472  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Glabrous  tree,  55  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
slender  and  unbranched  for  about  6  feet.  Bark  chocolate  brown  and 
scaly.  Leaves  opposite,  leathery,  short-stalked;  stipules  deciduous. 
Inflorescence  terminal.  Capsule  subround  or  ovoid,  2-celled;  seeds 
numerous,  winged. — Uncommon;  in  dense  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  when  fresh,  but  soon  turns  to  deep  yellowish 
pink,  and  with  purplish  streaks  in  the  sapwood;  odorless,  but  bitter; 
straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine-  or  medium-textured; 
heavy;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  slightly  in 
drying;  subject  to  sapstain.  Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small  or  fairly  small; 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements, 
but  barely  distinguishable  without  lens.  Rays  numerous,  fine  or 
fairly  fine,  and  slightly  sinuous  on  cross  section;  visible  only  with 
lens  on  all  surfaces;  heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  697. 

18.    GENIPA  L. 

Genipa  americana  L.  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  10.  931.  1759;  Sp.  PI.  ed. 
2.  251.  1762.  Huito,  Jagua,  Yaco-huito,  Vito. 

Common  tree  of  the  lowland,  from  30  to  60  feet  in  height.  Crown 
conical,  round,  or  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  13,  seldom  up 
to  24,  inches  in  diameter,  and  undivided  for  from  10  to  20  feet.  Bark 
light  tan  or  reddish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  coarse  lenticels. 
Leaves  opposite,  leathery,  broad,  short-stalked,  with  stipules. 
Flowers  large  with  yellowish  white  corolla;  May- June.  Fruit  bac- 
cate, up  to  3  inches  in  diameter,  grayish  when  mature,  has  a 
leathery  pericarp  inclosing  an  astringent  pulp  which,  although  not 
very  palatable,  is  esteemed  by  the  natives  for  eating;  seeds  large, 
numerous,  and  compressed. — Abundant  throughout  the  lowland 
from  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  boundary  to  the  foothills  of  the  eastern 
Andes  and  occasionally  in  the  upland  up  to  an  altitude  of  3,500  ft. ; 
most  frequently  around  villages  and  abodes  since  it  is  planted  as  a 
shade  tree  or  grows  spontaneously  and  is  protected  for  its  fruit. 
The  leaves  and  seeds  yield  a  dark  blue  or  black  dye  used  for  coloring 
cloth  and  by  the  Indians  for  painting  their  bodies  as  a  protection 
against  insect  bites.  Timber  is  employed  for  handles  for  axes  and 
bush-knives,  also  for  boxes,  crates,  and  in  general  carpentry. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  473 

Wood  varying  in  color  from  oatmeal  to  pale  pinkish  brown, 
sometimes  yellowish  brown  or  brownish  gray;  odorless  and  tasteless 
or  slightly  bitter;  moderately  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  fairly 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy  to  heavy;  easy  to  work, 
takes  a  harsh,  rather  dull  finish,  and  holds  its  place  moderately  well; 
immune  to  insect  attacks,  but  subject  to  stain.  (For  description  of 
the  macroscopic  structure  see  Timbers  of  Tropical  America  550.) 
Pith  dirty  gray  or  pale  brown  and  laminated. 

Loreto:  Rio  Masan,  lower  Itaya,  142;  Yarina-cocha,  lower 
Nanay,  607;  upper  Nanay,  1096;  Caballo-cocha,  2147;  La  Victoria, 
2932;  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  4830. — San  Martin:  San  Roque, 
7379. 

19.    GONZALAGUNIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Gonzalagunia  cornifolia  (HBK.)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4: 
281.  1929.  Mullaca. 

Slender  shrub,  from  6  to  12  feet  tall.  Bark  pinkish  or  medium 
brown,  fairly  smooth  or  fissured,  thin.  Leaves  opposite,  mem- 
branaceous,  almost  sessile;  stipules  subpersistent.  Flowers  small, 
terminal;  corolla  white;  May- June.  Fruit  baccate,  small,  white; 
seeds  numerous,  minute. — Uncommon;  forming  undergrowth  in 
dense  forest  clear  of  seasonal  floods  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  throughout;  odorless,  sometimes 
slightly  bitter;  interwoven-  or  fairly  straight-grained;  fine- textured ; 
moderately  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  mostly  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  up  to  5  or  more,  also  solitary.  Vessel  lines  fine 
and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  fine  and  barely  visible  with 
lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  579,  580,  581. 

20.    HAMELIA  Jacq. 

Hamelia  lutea  Rohr.  ex  Smith  in  Rees,  Cycl.  5:  17.  1811. 
Yuto-banco. 

Tree,  up  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  round,  pyramidal,  or  open. 
Trunk  straight  or  fairly  so,  round,  up  to  9  inches  in  diameter,  and 
unbranched  for  from  6  to  30  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  chocolate  brown 
with  a  grayish  tinge.  Leaves  long-stalked,  membranaceous.  Flowers 
rather  small,  in  cymes;  corolla  yellow;  October-November.  Fruit 
baccate,  juicy;  seeds  minute. — Common  in  some  localities  in  the 


474  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

lower  Huallaga  (alt.  450  ft.);  usually  in  open,  dry  loam  in  secondary 
growth.  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  for  general  construction. 

Sapwood  lustrous  pale  yellow  or  yellowish  brown;  heartwood 
pinkish  or  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless  or  slightly 
bitter;  interwoven-grained ;  fairly  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight; 
easy  to  cut  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings 
present,  but  not  distinct;  visible  owing  to  some  variation  in  depth 
of  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  not  very  numerous, 
well  distributed ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3.  Vessel 
lines  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct  without  lens.  Rays 
fine  or  moderately  fine,  rather  widely  spaced,  lighter-colored  than 
background,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct 
on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  4974,  5159,  5179. 

21.    HIPPOTIS  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Hippotis  brevipes  Spruce  ex  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6: 
298.  pi.  133,  f.  2.  1889. 

Shrub,  up  to  18  feet  tall.  Crown  wide-spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  branching  from  near  the  base. 
Bark  pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Leaves  short-stalked,  obovate  or 
oblanceolate,  acuminate,  acute  or  attenuate  at  base,  glabrous  or 
sparsely  pilose  above,  pubescent  beneath.  Inflorescence  axillary; 
flowers  large,  with  bright  red  calyx  and  corolla;  February-March. 
Fruit  baccate,  globose;  seeds  numerous  and  small. — Widely  dis- 
tributed, but  not  common;  in  dense  forest  (alt.  600-3,500  ft.). 
Timber  is  not  employed  locally. 

Wood  pale  yellow  with  a  grayish  tinge  and  highly  lustrous;  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  straight-grained;  moderately  fine- textured ; 
of  light  weight  and  fairly  soft.  Growth  rings  barely  visible  at  times 
owing  to  slight  variation  in  color.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered.  Vessel  lines  indistinct. 
Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  not  distinguishable 
on  tangential;  slightly  darker  than  adjacent  elements  on  radial 
surface. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6945;  reported  also  from  the  Pongo  de 
Cainarachi  and  Balsapuerto,  lower  Huallaga,  and  from  Tarapoto. 

22.    ISERTIA  Schreb. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  with  stout  branches.  Leaves  opposite, 
large,  leathery,  and  often  tomentose  beneath,  stalked ;  stipules  usually 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  475 

4  and  distinct.  Flowers  showy,  in  large,  terminal  panicles;  calyx 
lobes  equal  or  nearly  so.  Fruit  baccate,  globose;  seeds  numerous, 
small,  subglobose. 

Wood  yellowish  or  pale  brown,  usually  with  grayish  cast  or 
streaked  when  dried;  odorless,  but  bitter;  straight-  or  interlocked- 
grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy ; 
takes  a  smooth  finish.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute,  small, 
or  medium-sized;  numerous  or  fairly  numerous;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine  on  cross  section; 
usually  invisible  without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Isertia  alba  Sprague,  Trans.  Bot.  Soc.  Edinb.  22:  434.  1905; 
Macbride,  Fl.  Peru,  pt.  6:  78-79.  1936.  Asar-quiro. 

Tree,  up  to  45  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  up  to  half  the  entire 
height.  Bark  grayish  brown,  fairly  smooth  or  coarsely  fissured. 
Leaf  blades  oblong  to  obovate-oblong,  sharply  acute  or  acuminate 
at  apex,  acute  at  base,  deep  green  on  the  upper  surface,  densely 
whitish-tomentose  beneath.  Calyx  reddish  brown;  corolla  white. 
Fruit  globose,  brown  when  mature. — Abundant  throughout  the 
lowland  (alt.  380-500  ft.);  in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  or  along 
margin  of  forest.  Wood  is  used  for  house  construction  and  general 
carpentry. 

Wood  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown,  occasionally  with  a  pale 
grayish  or  greenish  cast;  has  no  distinctive  odor,  but  slightly  bitter; 
straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  fine-  or  medium-textured ;  of  medium 
weight,  firm,  strong,  but  splintery,  and  liable  to  check  in  drying; 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  absent  or  indis- 
tinct. Parenchyma  not  distinguishable.  Pores  of  small  or  medium 
size;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  tending  to  crowd;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-4,  seldom  more;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  short,  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements,  and  barely  dis- 
cernible to  unaided  eye.  Rays  fine  and  distinguishable  only  with 
lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  sometimes  barely  visible 
without  lens  on  radial  surface.  Pith  pale  white  or  brown. 

Loreto:  Fortaleza,  lower  Huallaga,  4381 ;  Yurimaguas,  4418,  7856. 

Isertia  rosea  Spruce  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6:  284.  1889. 

Glabrous  forest  tree,  from  15  to  22  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  columnar,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  about  half 
the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  to  dark  reddish  brown  and  yields, 
when  cut,  a  small  quantity  of  bitter  resin.  Leaves  long-petiolate; 


476  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

blades  oblong  or  obovate-oblong,  acuminate  or  obtuse-acuminate  at 
tip,  cuneate  at  base.  Flowers  with  rose-colored  or  purplish  corolla. 
Fruit  rounded;  May- June. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  humid  loam, 
most  frequently  in  the  vicinity  of  streams  (alt.  450  ft.).  Wood  is 
not  used  locally. 

Wood  uniform  pale  yellowish  brown,  occasionally  with  slightly 
darker  brown  bands;  odorless,  but  bitter;  straight-  or  interlocked  - 
grained;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy, 
firm,  strong,  and  rather  tenacious;  moderately  easy  to  work  and  holds 
its  place  well ;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined  or  absent. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  or  small  and  barely  dis- 
cernible with  lens.  Vessel  lines  fine,  short,  and  indistinct  without  lens. 
Rays  discernible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces.  Pith  yellowish  or  pale  brown . 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  1111,  1159. 

23.    IXORA  L. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  usually  glabrous  or  mostly  so.  Leaves 
most  frequently  opposite  and  short-stalked.  Inflorescence  terminal 
or  rarely  axillary;  calyx  simple.  Fruit  a  globose  drupe,  somewhat 
fleshy,  2-seeded  or,  by  abortion,  1-seeded;  seeds  subglobose. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  white  to  pale  brown,  sometimes  streaked 
and  slightly  darker  brown  when  dried;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  fine-textured ;  of  medium  density  to 
rather  heavy,  tenacious,  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth 
finish.  Parenchyma  paratracheal  and  in  concentric  or  broken,  tan- 
gential lines  or  fine  bands,  sometimes  uniting  the  pores.  Pores  minute 
or  small;  rather  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small 
radial  rows  or  multiples;  mostly  open.  Rays  fine;  invisible  to 
unaided  eye  on  all  surfaces. 

Ixora  Finlaysoniana  Wall.  Cat.  No.  6166. 1832.  Buquet  de  novia. 

Small  tree,  not  exceeding  18  feet  in  height,  believed  to  be  native 
of  Asia,  and  sometimes  propagated  in  the  lowland  for  its  handsome 
flowers.  Crown  dense,  spreading.  Trunk  round,  slender,  and 
branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  brown,  thin;  inner 
bark  purplish. 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  yellowish  white;  heartwood  yellowish 
brown.  Wood  interlocked-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured,  suggest- 
ing boxwood  (Casearia);  of  medium  weight;  fairly  easy  to  cut  and 
takes  a  smooth  polish. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2129. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  477 

Ixora  Killipii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8: 174. 1930.   Chimicua. 

Medium-sized  tree,  often  attaining  a  height  of  40  feet.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  from  7  to  14  inches  in 
diameter,  free  of  limbs  for  more  than  one  half  the  height,  and  with 
buttresses  up  to  12  inches  high.  Bark  grayish  or  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth  or  with  low  ridges.  Leaf  blades  oblanceolate  or  oblong-oval, 
short-acuminate,  acute  at  base,  glabrous.  Flowers  in  loose  terminal 
panicles;  corolla  greenish  white  or  cream-colored.  Fruit  rounded, 
black  or  dark  purplish  when  mature;  September-October. — In  dense 
forest  flanking  the  Paranapura  River  (alt.  450  ft.).  Timber  is  used 
to  some  extent  for  house  construction  and  general  carpentry. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  pinkish  cast  and  streaked  with  slightly 
darker  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ; 
fine-  or  medium-textured;  moderately  heavy,  hard,  and  compact; 
fairly  easy  to  work;  durable.  Growth  rings  sometimes  barely  visible 
owing  to  some  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Parenchyma  at 
limit  of  vision  on  moistened  surface;  paratracheal  and  in  short, 
irregular,  tangential  lines  or  fine  bands  uniting  the  pores,  sometimes 
in  more  orderly  arrangement  and  appearing  to  indicate  limit  of  growth 
rings.  Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ;  solitary  or 
in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3 ;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  invisible 
or  appear  as  fine  scratches.  Rays  fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  dis- 
cernible only  with  lens  on  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  tangential  and 
radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Puerto  Arturo,  lower  Huallaga,  5310,  5362;  collected 
also  at  La  Victoria,  Umbria  on  the  Putiimayo  River,  and  along  the 
Pichis  Trail. 

Ixora  peruviana  (Spruce)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  7:  296.  1931. 

Tall  shrub,  up  to  14  or  18  feet  tall.  Crown  dense,  spreading. 
Trunk  moderately  straight,  round,  slender,  and  branching  near  the 
base.  Bark  pale  brown,  scaly.  Leaf  blades  oblong  or  oblong-elliptic, 
acute  or  short-acuminate,  long-attenuate  to  the  base,  rather  long- 
stalked,  glabrous.  Flowers  have  a  jasmine-like  odor;  corolla  white. 
Fruit  subglobose,  red  or  reddish  violet;  December- January. — Not 
common;  in  sandy  loam  in  secondary  growth  among  shrubs  and  small 
trees  (alt.  1,500  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  yellow  or  pinkish  brown;  interlocked-grained; 
uniformly  fine- textured ;  heavy,  dense,  tough,  and  strong;  not  easy  to 
work;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  owing  to  alinement  of  paren- 
chyma and  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma  in  fine,  more  or 


478  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

less  continuous,  unevenly  spaced,  concentric  bands.     Pores,  vessel 
lines,  and  rays  not  visible  to  unaided  eye. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6595,  6717. 

24.    LADENBERGIA  Klotzsch 

Ladenbergia  magnifolia  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Klotzsch,  in  Hayne, 
Arzneigew.  14:  pi.  15.  1846.  Cascarilla  amarilla,  Cascarilla  boba. 

Tree,  approximately  30  feet  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  cylindrical,  from  8  to  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching 
3  or  4  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  very  thin,  pale  gray,  violet,  or 
cinnamon  brown,  and  inner  bark  dark  chocolate-colored;  exudes 
when  cut  a  small  amount  of  pale  yellow  resin.  Leaf  blades  ovate  or 
elliptic,  acute  or  obtuse  at  apex,  rounded  or  cordate  at  base.  Inflores- 
cence paniculate;  corolla  white.  Capsule  pale  or  dark  brown  when 
mature;  July-August. — Common  in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  (alt.  400 
ft.) ;  in  dry  loam  in  thickets.  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown  and  highly  lustrous  when 
held  to  proper  light;  heartwood  pinkish  brown,  thin,  and  perishable. 
Wood  odorless,  but  bitter;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  of 
medium  weight,  strong,  firm,  but  inclined  to  be  splintery;  easy  to  cut 
and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  barely  visible.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal.  Pores  barely  at  limit  of  vision;  fairly  numerous,  not 
crowded;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples;  open. 
Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  faintly 
distinguishable  without  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential ; 
at  times  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface  when  held  to  proper  light. 
Loreto:  Iquitos,  3781. 

25.    MACHAONIA  Humb.  &  Bonpl. 
Machaonia  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  357.  1931. 

Tree,  25  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moderately 
straight  and  round,  from  7  to  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  branching 
2  or  3  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  extremely  thin,  light  gray,  scaly. 
Leaves  membranaceous,  oblong-elliptic  or  ovate-elliptic.  Fruit 
cuneate-obovate. — Common  in  the  region  of  Juan  Guerra,  near  the 
junction  of  the  Mayo  and  Huallaga  rivers  (alt.  2,000  ft.);  in  dense 
forest.  Timber  is  employed  to  some  extent  for  construction  and 
general  carpentry,  but  more  especially  for  fuel. 

Wood  pale  yellow  throughout  and  with  slightly  darker  streaks; 
odorless,  but  slightly  bitter;  roey-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  479 

rather  heavy,  strong,  and  compact;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth, 
moderately  lustrous  finish;  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct  or 
faintly  visible  owing  to  some  variation  in  abundance  of  pores.  Paren- 
chyma indistinct.  Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3;  mostly  open.  Vessel 
lines  short,  fine,  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  fine  and 
invisible  without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 
San  Martin:  Juan  Guerra,  6886. 

26.  MACROCNEMUM  L. 

Macrocnemum  roseum  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Wedd.  Ann.  Sci. 
Nat.  IV.  1:  76.  1854.  Shamoja. 

Tree,  up  to  80  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  often  bent, 
fairly  cylindrical,  from  12  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  to  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth.  Leaves  glabrous  above,  pubescent  beneath  especially  along 
the  veins.  Flowers  violet.  Capsule  oblong-compressed,  dehiscent, 
about  0.5  inch  long,  and  dark  brown;  seeds  numerous,  minute,  com- 
pressed, narrowly  winged;  maturing  October-November. — Fairly 
common  in  fairly  dense  forest  in  the  lower  Huallaga  (alt.  500  ft.), 
also  among  small  trees  and  shrubs  on  the  plain  of  Tarapoto  (alt. 
1,400  ft.),  on  hill  slopes  of  Campana  (alt.  3,000  ft.),  between 
Lamas  and  Moyobamba,  and  collected  by  other  botanists  at  Pam- 
payaco,  Department  of  Huanuco,  and  at  Posuso.  Wood  is  used 
mainly  for  fuel  and  to  a  small  extent  for  general  construction. 

Wood  uniform  pale  grayish  brown  throughout;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  interlocked-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight, 
firm,  but  brittle;  easy  to  cut,  takes  a  highly  lustrous  polish,  and  holds 
its  place  well  when  finished ;  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Parenchyma  not  distinguishable.  Pores  small;  fairly 
numerous  and  evenly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows  of  2-4,  seldom  tangentially  disposed;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine,  short,  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  barely  at  limit 
of  vision  on  moistened  cross  and  tangential  surfaces;  of  darker  color 
than  adjacent  elements  and  rather  prominent  on  radial  section; 
heterogeneous. 

Loreto:  Santa  Rosa,  lower  Huallaga,  J+957. 

27.  PALICOUREA  Aubl. 

Shrubs  or  small  trees,  similar  in  general  appearance  to  the  Psy- 
ch otrias.  Leaves  large,  short-stalked,  acuminate.  Flowers  small, 


480  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

in  dense  thyrsiform  panicles;  corolla  enlarged  at  the  base  of  the  tube, 
and  the  tube  is  often  curved,  whereas  in  Psychotria  the  tube  is 
straight  and  not  enlarged  at  the  base.  Fruit  a  juicy  drupe,  2-5- 
celled.  Timber  is  used  to  a  limited  extent  in  some  localities  for 
general  construction. 

Sapwood  whitish  or  yellowish  to  pale  brown,  often  streaked  with 
grayish  markings;  heartwood  violet  or  dark  brown  and  usually  well 
demarcated.  Wood  straight-grained;  fine-textured;  of  light  or  me- 
dium weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  moderately  smooth,  often 
lustrous  finish;  subject  to  stain  and  insects.  Parenchyma  most 
often  invisible.  Pores  very  small  or  small;  moderately  numerous  to 
numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples 
or  rows;  most  often  open.  Rays  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross 
section,  but  not  always  distinct;  invisible  on  tangential;  distin- 
guishable without  lens  on  radial  surface  in  most  species;  heterogene- 
ous; 2-3  cells  wide  and  up  to  40  cells  high. 

Palicourea  condensata  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  224.  1930; 
Macbride,  Fl.  Peru,  pt.  6:  224-225.  1936. 

Tree,  about  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical.  Trunk  round, 
moderately  straight,  10  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  clear  of 
branches  for  upwards  of  21  feet.  Bark  thin,  pale  brown,  with  short, 
low  ridges.  Leaves  long-stalked  and  glabrous.  Flowers  in  panicles; 
corolla  deep  pinkish  or  purple,  filaments  and  style  white,  anthers  and 
stigma  deep  purple.  Fruit  subround,  violet  blue  when  mature.— 
Very  common ;  usually  in  dense  or  fairly  dense  forest  free  from  period- 
ical inundations  (alt.  up  to  3,500  ft.) ;  reported  also  from  San  Lorenzo 
on  the  Maranon  River  between  the  estuaries  of  the  Pastasa  and 
Huallaga  rivers,  at  Balsapuerto,  Rio  Blanco  on  the  Ucayali,  in  the 
Putumayo  region,  and  at  Tarapoto.  Wood  is  used  to  a  small  extent 
for  general  construction,  but  mostly  for  fuel. 

Sapwood  distinctly  demarcated,  creamy  yellow  or  pale  brown; 
heartwood  dark  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
grained;  medium-textured;  easy  to  cut,  but  splinters  readily;  not 
very  durable.  Growth  rings  indistinct.  Parenchyma  not  distin- 
guishable. Pores  small;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  in  radial 
multiples  or  rows  of  2-6,  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel  lines 
fine  and  of  same  color  as  background.  Rays  discernible  to  unaided 
eye  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  adja- 
cent elements,  but  distinguishable  without  lens,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3284;  Caballo-cocha,  2078. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  481 

Palicourea  crocea  (Sw.)  Roem.  &  Schult.  Syst.  Veg.  5: 193. 1819. 

Glabrous  shrub,  about  9  feet  tall.  Bark  dark  brown,  fairly 
smooth.  Branchlets  deep  pink  or  purplish  red.  Inflorescence  in 
dense  panicles;  flowers  long-stalked,  with  minute,  orange-colored 
calyx  lobes,  and  orange  or  red  corolla.  Fruit  subround,  pale  brown 
when  mature;  April-May. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland,  in  dry 
medium  loam  in  clearings  (alt.  350ft.);  reported  also  at  Pampa-yaco, 
Huanuco,  at  Ccarrapa,  between  Huanta  and  Rio  Apurimac, 
Department  of  Ayacucho  (alt.  4,800  ft.),  at  Pangoa,  Department  of 
Junin,  along  the  Pichis  Trail,  in  dense  forest  at  Enefias,  and  in  the 
Chanchamayo  Valley. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  pinkish  brown  with  pinkish  streaks  and 
extensive  grayish  markings;  heartwood  chocolate  brown,  thin. 
Wood  straight-  or  irregular-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in 
weight,  but  firm ;  cuts  easily  and  takes  a  fairly  smooth,  lustrous 
finish;  often  attacked  by  insects.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly 
defined.  Pores  minute  or  small  and  barely  visible  with  lens.  Rays 
visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2287. 

Palicourea  lasiantha  Krause,  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  341.  1908. 
Jaboncillo. 

Small  tree,  seldom  exceeding  27  feet  in  height.  Crown  composed 
of  few  branches  confined  to  the  summit.  Trunk  straight  or  bent, 
round,  and  about  8  inches  in  diameter.  Bark  pinkish,  with  small 
fissures;  inner  bark  lustrous  black.  Pedicels  reddish  pink.  Flowers 
with  deep  pink  or  bright  wistaria-colored  corolla.  Fruit  subround, 
tomentose;  February-March. — In  dense  flood-free  forest  (alt.  400- 
3,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  creamy  yellow  with  fine  dark  veining 
and  with  pinkish  brown  streaks  and  extensive  grayish  areas;  heart- 
wood  dark  brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight-  or  irregular-grained; 
moderately  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight;  easy  to  work;  likely 
to  check  in  drying;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  indis- 
tinct. Parenchyma  not  visible  with  lens.  Pores  minute  or  small; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows.  Rays  faintly  distin- 
guishable to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on. 
tangential;  sometimes  barely  discernible  without  lens  on  radial 
surface. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3754- — San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6985;  Tara- 
poto,  8002. 


482  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Palicourea  nigricans  Krause,  Bot.  Jahrb.  40:  428.  1908;  Verb. 
Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50:  112.  1908. 

Small  tree,  up  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight,  round,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  for  about  13  feet.  Bark 
pale  yellow,  moderately  smooth ;  inner  bark  brown.  Flowers  varying 
from  rose-  to  violet-colored. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland  (alt. 
350-550  ft.);  in  dense  forest  not  subject  to  seasonal  floods.  Wood 
has  no  local  application. 

Sap  wood  constitutes  the  greater  part  of  the  wood,  grayish  white 
or  creamy  yellow  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure  to  sunlight; 
heartwood  dark  chocolate  brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight-  or 
irregular-grained;  medium-textured;  moderately  light  in  weight; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  checks  in  drying; 
often  attacked  by  insects  and  subject  to  stain.  Growth  rings  absent 
or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  not  distinguishable.  Pores  small; 
not  numerous  or  fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed ;  solitary  or  in 
small  radial  multiples  or  rows.  Rays  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross 
section  in  some  specimens;  indistinct  on  tangential;  barely  discern- 
ible without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  440(1);  lower  Huallaga,  4682,  4828. 

Palicourea  paraensis  (Muell.  Arg.)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot. 
11:226.  1936;  Macbride,  Fl.  Peru,  pt.  6:  235.  1936. 

Almost  glabrous,  tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  not  exceeding  16  feet 
in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  fairly  straight,  columnar, 
slender,  and  unbranched  for  about  7  feet.  Bark  chocolate  brown 
with  a  grayish  tinge,  fairly  smooth  or  with  numerous  small  ridges. 
Pedicels  and  corolla  reddish,  calyx  lobes  darker  red;  flowering  in 
May-June.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  almost  white  and  streaked  with  pale 
gray  or  pink;  heartwood  brown,  rather  thin,  and  distinctly  demar- 
cated. Wood  straight-grained;  fine- textured ;  fairly  light  in  weight; 
easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish  with  a  moderate  luster.  Growth 
rings  occasionally  present.  Parenchyma  terminal;  sometimes 
visible  without  lens.  Pores  very  small;  not  numerous  and  well 
scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  pairs.  Rays  distinguishable  without 
lens  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  occasionally 
discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1841;  Caballo-cocha,  2275,  2287,  2472. 

Palicourea  punicea  (R.  &  P.)  DC.  Prodr.  4:  526.  1930; 
Macbride,  Fl.  Peru,  pt.  6:  236-237.  1936. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  483 

Shrub,  from  6  to  9  feet  tall.  Bark  brown.  Flowers  yellow. 
Fruit  ovoid,  green;  March- April. — Fairly  common  in  the  vicinity  of 
Iquitos  (alt.  400  ft.) ;  along  edge  of  paths  in  fairly  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  yellowish  brown,  turning 
to  pinkish  brown  on  exposure;  heartwood  violet  brown  and  streaked. 
Wood  straight-grained;  moderately  fine- textured ;  light  in  weight. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  minute  or  very  small  and  faintly  distinguishable  with  lens. 
Rays  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct 
on  tangential;  visible,  but  not  prominent,  to  unaided  eye  on  radial 
surface.  Pith  white. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  8003. 

28.    PENTAGONIA  Benth. 
Pentagonia  velutina  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  347.  1931. 

Small  tree,  up  to  30  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
straight  or  moderately  so,  round,  slender,  and  clear  of  limbs  up  to 
more  than  two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  reddish  brown,  scaly 
or  with  long,  coarse  fissures.  Leaves  large,  glabrous  above,  minutely 
pubescent  beneath  especially  along  the  veins.  Flowers  large,  in 
dense  cymes.  Fruit  baccate,  round;  seeds  numerous,  small,  angu- 
late;  October. — Of  limited  distribution;  in  dense  forest  free  from 
floods  (alt.  600  ft.).  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  odorless,  but  slightly 
bitter;  straight-grained;  medium-textured;  moderately  light  in 
weight;  rather  easy  to  cut;  checks  in  drying;  fairly  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  not 
numerous  and  uniformly  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or 
rows  of  2-5,  rarely  in  small  clusters.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color 
as  background,  and  indistinct.  Rays  distinguishable  without  lens 
on  cross  and  tangential  sections;  of  same  color  as  adjacent  elements 
and  invisible  or  barely  discernible  on  radial  surface.  Pith  pale  brown. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5046,  5280  (type). 

29.    POSOQUERIA  Aubl. 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  opposite,  coriaceous  or  subcoriaceous, 
stalked;  stipules  persistent  or  deciduous.  Flowers  large  and  showy, 
terminal;  corolla  tube  slender,  curved  in  bud.  Fruit  large,  baccate, 
2-celled ;  seeds  numerous,  large,  irregular.  Timber  is  not  used  locally 
except  for  fuel. 


484  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Sapwood  pale  yellow  or  light  brown;  heartwood  pinkish  or  slightly 
darker  brown.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured  ;  of  medium  density ;  takes  a  smooth  polish ;  durable.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  fine  lines  extending  tangentially  between  the 
rays  and  in  concentric  bands  visible  without  lens.  Pores  minute  or 
small;  not  very  numerous;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows. 
Rays  fine  or  barely  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  sec- 
tion; invisible  without  lens  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces;  hetero- 
geneous; 2-4  cells  wide  and  25  or  more  cells  high. 

Posoqueria  latifolia  (Rudge)  Roem.  &  Schultes,  Syst.  Veg.  5: 
227.  1819.  Ucullucui. 

Glabrous  tree,  from  10  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading. 
Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  branches  for  from  2 
to  9  feet.  Bark  light  or  purplish  brown,  with  small  fissures  or  rather 
coarse,  low  ridges;  inner  bark  in  old  trees  separates  into  coarse 
flakes.  Inflorescence  in  dense  terminal  corymbs;  flowers  white,  with 
salverform  corolla.  Fruit  baccate,  round,  resembling  a  small  orange, 
yellow  and  edible  when  mature;  seeds  numerous,  black. — Fairly 
common  in  both  the  lowland  and  upland  forests  (alt.  380-1,500  ft.) ; 
in  dry  or  alluvial  loam.  Timber  is  used  for  fuel  only. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  variable  in  color  from  pale  yellow  to 
light  brown  with  a  grayish  pink  tinge;  heartwood  brown.  Wood 
odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  irregular-grained;  fine-  or  medium- 
textured;  of  medium  weight  to  rather  heavy;  capable  of  taking  a 
smooth,  dull  polish,  strong  and  durable,  but  subject  to  stain.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  abundance  of  elements.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays,  also  in 
wavy,  broken  or  continuous,  concentric  bands  visible  without  lens. 
Pores  minute  or  small ;  not  very  numerous  and  uniformly  scattered ; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open  or  closed.  Vessel 
lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background,  and  indistinct.  Rays 
numerous,  very  fine,  and  visible  only  with  lens  or  barely  distinguish- 
able to  unaided  eye  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangen- 
tial; faintly  discernible  with  lens  on  radial  surface.  Pith  white, 
narrow. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  852,  998;  La  Victoria,  2874- — San  Martin: 
Lamas,  6532;  Tarapoto,  6540,  6545,  6701. 

Posoqueria  longiflora  Aubl.  PL  Guian.  1:  134.  pi.  51.  1775. 
Remo-caspi. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  485 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  tall,  with  many  branches.  Trunk  slender 
and  free  of  limbs  for  5  feet.  Bark  reddish  or  purplish  brown,  moder- 
ately smooth.  Flowers  white,  with  slender,  much  elongated,  salver- 
form  corolla.  Fruit  yellowish  brown;  January-February. — Fairly 
common  in  both  the  lowland  and  upland  (alt.  450-1,400  ft.);  in 
dense  forest,  frequently  near  streams.  Timber  is  not  used  locally. 

Sapwood  fairly  well  demarcated,  uniform  pale  yellow  or  light 
brown;  heartwood  dull  pinkish  brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and 
tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
of  medium  weight;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  strong  and 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays,  also  in  con- 
centric bands  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  section.  Pores 
minute  and  barely  distinguishable  with  lens.  Rays  sometimes 
faintly  visible  with  lens  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  of  same  color  as  background  and  faintly  distinguishable 
to  aided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6101. 

30.    PSYGHOTRIA  L. 

The  largest  genus  of  the  family  Rubiaceae,  generously  repre- 
sented in  tropical  America  by  shrubs  or  small  trees.  Leaves  opposite, 
either  green  and  persistent  or  brownish  and  deciduous.  Inflorescence 
terminal,  in  a  few  species  axillary;  flowers  small  and  inconspicuous, 
white,  yellowish,  or  greenish.  Fruit  baccate,  small,  fleshy,  and  con- 
taining two  or  five  1-seeded  nutlets  which  are  often  ribbed.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  genus  are  without  economic  importance. 

Wood  yellowish  or  pale  pinkish  brown,  often  without  sharp 
demarcation  between  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-, 
seldom  medium-textured;  ranging  in  density  from  light  to  rather 
heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious;  easy  to  work  and  capable  of  taking  a 
smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  invisible  or  distinguishable  with  lens 
as  numerous,  fine,  wavy,  concentric  lines  forming  a  network  pattern 
with  the  rays,  infrequently  appears  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings. 
Pores  minute  or  small,  infrequently  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous 
and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows; 
open.  Rays  fine,  wavy,  not  numerous  to  numerous  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  infrequently  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye 
on  radial  surface. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  1-2-3  cells  wide  and  20  cells  or  more  high. 
Wood  fibers  fairly  thick-walled  and  often  septate. 


486  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Psychotria  alba  Ruiz  &  Pa  von,  Fl.  2:  58.  pi.  205. 1799.  Ucumi- 
micuna. 

Almost  glabrous  tree,  seldom  more  than  25  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up  to 
two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  gray  or  dark  brown,  with 
few,  coarse  ridges.  Inflorescence  terminal,  many-flowered;  corolla 
pale  yellow  or  white.  Fruit  subround,  dark  red. — Widely  distributed, 
especially  in  the  upland  (alt.  400-3,500  ft.);  in  open  dry  loam, 
occasionally  in  fairly  dense  forest.  Wood  is  used  to  a  limited  extent 
for  house  construction. 

Sapwood  pale  pinkish  brown,  usually  streaked;  heartwood  dull 
brown,  thin.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  roey-grained ; 
fine- textured ;  fairly  light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a 
smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not 
distinct.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine,  short  lines  extending 
between  the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small;  not  numerous  and  well 
scattered ;  in  radial  rows  or  multiples  of  2-4,  less  frequently  solitary ; 
open.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  barely  discernible;  often  filled  with  pale 
white  deposit  of  calcium.  Rays  numerous,  slightly  wavy,  moder- 
ately fine,  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section ;  visible  to  aided 
eye  on  tangential  owing  to  small,  dark  brown  globules  of  gum  present 
in  the  cells;  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  moistened  radial 
surface.  Pith  grayish  white;  light  or  dark  brown  specks  of  gum 
common. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  6959,  7071,  7219;  herbarium  material 
collected  also  at  Tarapoto  and  in  lower  Itaya. 

Psychotria  alboviridula  Krause,  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  Berlin  6: 
208.  1914. 

Slender  shrub,  about  15  feet  tall,  with  few  branches.  Bark  dark 
brown,  with  coarse  ridges.  Leaves  glabrous  and  subcoriaceous. 
Inflorescence  terminal;  flowers  tan-colored,  small,  numerous,  and 
nearly  sessile.  Fruit  round,  smooth,  orange  red,  turning  to  dark 
red  or  purplish  at  maturity;  July- August. 

Sapwood  deep  pink;  heartwood  dark  brown,  thin.  Wood  odor- 
less and  tasteless;  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of 
medium  weight;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish.  Growth  rings 
present,  but  indistinct.  Parenchyma  very  fine  and  indistinct  with 
lens.  Pores  minute;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows. 
Vessel  lines  not  visible  without  lens.  Rays  occasionally  at  limit  of 
vision  on  moistened  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  487 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2534,  2803;  near  Iquitos,  8178;  herbarium 
material  collected  also  in  the  lower  Huallaga. 

Psychotria  capitata  R.  &  P.  Fl.  2:  59.  pi.  206,  f.  a.  1799;  Field 
Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  6:  186.  1936.  Cuchara-caspi,  Mullaca  del  ajo. 

Shrub,  up  to  16  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  brown  or  dark,  smooth  or 
scaly.  Fruit  round,  bluish  black  when  mature,  borne  in  clusters; 
December- January. — Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere  common;  in 
open  dry  loam  among  shrubs  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.).  Timber  is  some- 
times used  for  the  construction  of  huts. 

Sapwood  pale  yellow,  occasionally  with  grayish  areas;  heartwood 
dark  brown,  perishable.  Wood  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
uniformly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight,  tough,  and  strong; 
takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings  absent  or  faintly  indicated  by 
terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  minute.  Rays  numerous,  wavy,  fine, 
and  sometimes  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct 
or  slightly  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2960;  upper  Itaya,  3429. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6091,  6593. 

Psychotria  cupularis  (Muell.  Arg.)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8: 
210.  1930. 

Tree,  up  to  45  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  moder- 
ately straight,  round,  about  12  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched 
up  to  30  feet.  Bark  reddish  brown,  with  small,  shallow  fissures. 
Fruit  round,  red  when  mature;  July. — Not  common;  in  dense,  tall 
forest  growth  (alt.  350  ft.).  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  dark  pinkish  brown  with  a  grayish  tinge;  interwoven- 
grained;  moderately  fine-textured;  of  fairly  light  weight,  but  strong; 
easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish;  moderately  durable. 
Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  invisible  or 
barely  discernible  with  lens.  Pores  small;  not  numerous,  well  dis- 
tributed; solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel 
lines  very  fine,  but  faintly  discernible  without  lens;  lustrous  deposit 
common.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential;  visible,  but  inconspicuous,  along  outer  edge  of 
sapwood  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1749. 

Psychotria  Ernesti  Krause,  Verh.  Bot.  Ver.  Brandenb.  50: 
109.  1908. 


488  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Tree,  up  to  30  feet  high.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight, 
round,  about  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  free  of  limbs  for  half  the  entire 
height.  Bark  pale  green  to  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth.  Corolla 
white;  flowering  in  October. — Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  in  clearings 
or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  450  ft.).  Wood  is  seldom  used  locally. 

Wood  pale  brown  with  pinkish  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained;  medium-textured;  of  medium  weight, 
firm,  and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines 
appear  as  fine,  short  scratches;  grayish  white  deposits  frequent. 
Rays  numerous,  slightly  wavy,  and  barely  at  limit  of  vision  on 
moistened  cross  section,  indistinct  on  tangential;  faintly  discernible 
without  lens  on  moistened  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  4445. 

Psychotria  falcata  Rusby,  Mem.  Torrey  Club  3,  no.  3:  47. 1893. 

Tall  shrub,  up  to  14  feet  in  height.  Bark  pale  brown,  with  numer- 
ous, short,  shallow  fissures.  Fruit  dark  blue. — Not  common;  in 
sandy  loam  among  small  trees  and  shrubs  of  secondary  growth  (alt. 
1,400  ft.);  reported  also  above  San  Ramon,  Chanchamayo  Valley 
(alt.  4,500  ft.). 

Wood  pale  yellow;  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
light  in  weight,  but  compact.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  de- 
fined. Parenchyma  not  visible  with  lens.  Pores  minute  and  barely 
discernible  to  aided  eye.  Rays  wavy,  fine,  lighter-colored  than  fibers, 
and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  other  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5962. 

Psychotria  involucrata  Sw.  Prodr.  Veg.  Ind.  Occ.  45.  1788. 

Common,  slender  shrub,  about  7  feet  tall.  Bark  lustrous  brown- 
ish black  and  smooth. — Common  throughout  the  lowland  in  flood- 
free  forest,  also  in  moderately  dense  growth  in  the  upland  (alt. 
400-2,700  ft.). 

Sapwood  pale  yellow;  heartwood  dull  grayish  brown.  Wood 
interwoven-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured.  Growth  rings  present, 
but  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  and 
barely  visible  with  lens;  sometimes  filled  with  brownish  gum.  Rays 
fine,  numerous,  and  wavy  on  cross  section ;  indistinct  on  tangential ; 
of  same  color  as  background  and  faintly  distinguishable  with  lens 
on  radial  surface. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  489 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  8006;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in 
the  lower  and  upper  Nanay,  at  La  Victoria,  and  in  the  lower  Huallaga, 
Department  of  Loreto,  and  at  Lamas  and  Moyobamba,  Department 
of  San  Martin. 

Psychotria  japurensis  Muell.  Arg.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt. 
5:  328.  1881. 

Shrub,  about  10  feet  tall.  Bark  light  or  dark  chocolate  brown, 
fairly  smooth.  Flowers  reddish  brown.  Fruit  small,  dark  brown. 
— Not  common;  forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  light  brown;  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured; 
Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  and 
faintly  visible  with  lens.  Rays  fine,  numerous,  and  wavy  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  faintly  discernible  with  lens  on 
radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1681. 

Psychotria  macrophylla  Ruiz  &  Pa  von,  Fl.  2:  56.  pi.  202. 
1799. 

Shrub  about  2  feet  tall.  Leaves  large,  herbaceous.  Flowers 
white.  Fruit  white  or  reddish. — In  dry  open  loam  in  forest  (alt. 
450  ft.). 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4669. 

Psychotria  Mathewsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4:  342.  1929. 
Topamaki. 

Glabrous  shrub,  up  to  15  feet  in  height,  with  many  branches  and 
slender  trunk.  Bark  deep  purplish  or  brown,  with  small  excrescences 
or  rather  coarse,  long  ridges.  Leaves  dark  green  on  the  upper  sur- 
face and  sometimes  purplish  beneath.  Corolla  greenish  white.  Fruit 
round,  dark  red  when  mature. — Widely  distributed  throughout  the 
lowland  and  upland  (alt.  400-1,800  ft.);  often  in  old  clearings  or  in 
the  vicinity  of  abodes;  reported  also  in  dense  forest  in  the  Paucar- 
tambo  Valley  (alt.  2,200  ft.),  and  near  Kimpitiriki,  Apurimac  Valley, 
Department  of  Ayacucho. 

Wood  cream-colored  or  pinkish  brown  throughout;  interwoven- 
grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  of  light  or  medium  weight,  com- 
pact, and  durable;  takes  a  smooth,  rather  lustrous  polish.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  faintly  visible.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
minute.  Rays  moderately  fine  and  sometimes  barely  at  limit  of 
vision  on  cross  section;  not  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  other 
surfaces. 


490  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  378;  Caballo-cocha,  2473. — San  Martin: 
Tarapoto,  6057;  Lamas,  6409. 

Psychotria  nigricans  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  205.  1930. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  14  feet  or  more  tall.  Crown 
pyramidal.  Bark  light  or  dark  brown  with  a  pinkish  cast,  fairly 
smooth.  Flowers  pink-colored.  Fruit  compressed-round;  July. — 
Common  in  the  vicinity  of  Pebas  in  dry  open  patches  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown;  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine- 
textured.  Growth  rings  present  or  indistinct.  Parenchyma  indis- 
tinct. Pores  minute  or  small.  Rays  visible  with  lens  on  cross  and 
radial  surfaces;  indistinct  on  tangential.  Pith  yellowish  white, 
lustrous. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1603, 1777. 

Psychotria  racemosa  (Aubl.)  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  1:  966.  1797. 

Small,  slender  shrub.  Bark  pinkish  or  reddish  brown,  moder- 
ately smooth.  Fruit  orange  or  reddish  pink,  black  at  maturity.— 
Common  throughout  the  lowland;  along  margin  of  forest  (alt. 
350-400  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  pale  brown  with  pinkish  cast;  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured ;  rather  heavy,  compact,  and 
tough.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in 
numerous,  very  fine,  concentric  lines  or  bands.  Pores  small  and 
visible  only  with  lens;  not  numerous,  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small 
multiples.  Vessel  lines  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct. 
Rays  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  other 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  8169;  herbarium  material  collected  also  at 
Pebas,  Caballo-cocha,  La  Victoria,  and  in  the  lower  Huallaga. 

Psychotria  viridis  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Fl.  2:  61.  pi.  210,  f.  b.  1799. 
Paujil-chaqui. 

Glabrous  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  18  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading  or  flat.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  and  unbranched  for 
half  the  entire  height.  Bark  greenish,  dark  brown,  or  almost  black, 
often  with  few,  coarse  ridges.  Flowers  small,  sessile,  white  or  green- 
ish white.  Fruit  a  red  or  reddish  brown  drupe;  December- January. 
— Common;  in  dense  or  moderately  dense  forest  in  the  lowland  and 
especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Tarapoto  (alt.  400-1,500  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  or  pale  brown;  straight-  or  wavy-grained;  uni- 
formly fine-textured;  of  medium  weight,  compact,  and  tenacious; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  491 

takes  a  smooth  polish ;  durable.  Growth  rings  present  or  indistinct. 
Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  minute  and  sometimes  barely  visible 
with  lens.  Rays  very  fine,  but  occasionally  at  limit  of  vision  on  mois- 
tened cross  section;  sometimes  distinguishable  with  lens  on  tangen- 
tial and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  upper  Itaya,  3363;  near  Yurimaguas,  4836.— San  Mar- 
tin: Tarapoto,  6030,  6699;  Rio  Mayo,  6278. 

31.    RANDIA  L. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  often  armed  with  stout  spines.  Leaves  opposite, 
sessile  or  stalked;  stipules  small.  Flowers  small  or  large,  perfect  or 
dioecious,  solitary  or  fasciculate,  axillary  or  terminal.  Fruit  baccate, 
2-celled;  seeds  few  or  numerous,  compressed,  and  imbedded  in  pulp. 
Timber  is  not  of  economic  importance. 

Wood  yellowish,  pinkish,  or  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
fine- textured ;  of  light  or  medium  weight  to  fairly  heavy;  easy  to 
work  and  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  invisible 
or  in  fine  concentric  bands.  Pores  minute  or  small;  fairly  numerous 
and  uniformly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  or  diagonal 
multiples.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  spaced;  visible  only 
with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  uniseriate  or  biseriate  in  the  middle  part. 
Wood  fibers  very  thick- walled. 

Randia  armata  (Sw.)  DC.  Prodr.  4:  387.  1830;  Field  Mus.  Bot. 
13,  pt.  6:  102.  1936.  R.  spinosa  Karst.  Fl.  Colomb.  2:  128.  1869. 
Espina,  Espuela-casha. 

Small  tree,  not  more  than  20  feet  in  height.  Crown  flat  or  spread- 
ing. Trunk  moderately  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  for 
about  3  feet.  Twigs  armed  with  strong  spines  in  pairs.  Bark  pink- 
ish or  reddish  brown,  scaly  or  fairly  smooth.  Flowers  pale  yellow 
or  white.  Fruit  round,  light  brown  with  a  greenish  tinge  when 
mature. — Very  common  in  the  lower  Huallaga  and  around  Tarapoto 
(alt.  500-1,500  ft.);  reported  also  along  the  Perene  River,  Depart- 
ment of  Junin  (alt.  1,900  ft.). 

Sapwood  uniform  pale  yellow  or  light  brown;  heartwood  dull 
brown,  thin,  and  well  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  inter- 
woven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  or  mod- 
erately heavy,  tenacious,  and  strong;  not  difficult  to  work  and 
capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish;  susceptible  to  damage  by 
insects.  Growth  rings  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  fine  concen- 


492  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

trie  bands.  Pores  minute  and  indistinct  with  lens.  Vessel  lines  very 
fine  and  not  discernible  with  lens.  Rays  very  numerous;  barely 
distinguishable  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct  on  tangential 
surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  4117, 5165,  5244- — San  Martin :  Tarapoto, 
5674,  6700. 

Randia  Ruiziana  DC.  Prodr.  4:  388.  1830;  Field  Mus.  Bot. 
13,  pt.  6:  105.  1936.  R.  formosa  var.  longiflora  (R.  &  P.)  K.  Schum. 
in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6:  343.  pi.  131.  1889. 

Shrub,  about  14  feet  tall.  Bark  pale  brown,  with  long,  low  ridges. 
Flowers  white,  fragrant,  with  long  salverform  corolla.  Fruit  baccate, 
with  thin,  dark  brown  pericarp  and  lustrous  reddish  brown  seeds. 
—Widely  distributed,  but  nowhere  abundant;  in  old  clearings  (alt. 
400-1,400  ft.). 

Sapwood  distinctly  defined,  pale  pinkish  brown;  heartwood  dull 
brown.  Wood  interwoven-grained;  uniformly  fine-textured.  Growth 
rings  present,  but  indistinctly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  not  visible  with  lens.  Rays  numerous,  fine,  and  sometimes 
faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible  on  other 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1921;  collected  also  at  Tarapoto. 

Randia  Tessmannii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  4:  327.  1929. 

Straggly  shrub.  Bark  very  thin,  reddish  brown,  smooth,  and 
coarsely  fibrous.  Flowers  white;  October-November. — Of  limited 
occurrence;  in  humid  loam  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  with  a  pinkish  hue  and  lighter  brown  or  gray- 
ish streaks;  odorless  and  tasteless  or  slightly  astringent;  straight-  or 
roey-grained ;  moderately  fine-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm. 
Parenchyma  in  unevenly  spaced,  concentric  bands.  Pores  small; 
mostly  solitary,  also  in  small  radial  or  diagonal  multiples.  Vessel 
lines  indistinct.  Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  closely  spaced,  and 
visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible  or  discernible  with 
lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4929. 

Randia  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  169.  1930. 

Unarmed,  often  straggly,  shrub,  up  to  14  feet  in  height.  Crown 
pyramidal  or  spreading.  Bark  tan-colored  and  fairly  smooth. 
Flowers  white,  terminal,  and  solitary.  Fruit  pale  brown  and  con- 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  493 

taining  many  seeds. — Not  common;  in  open,  dry  loam  along  margin 
of  forest  (alt.  380ft). 

Sap  wood  almost  white  or  pale  brown;  heartwood  slightly  darker 
brown.  Wood  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured;  of 
medium  weight.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  widely  and 
irregularly  spaced,  concentric  bands  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye. 
Pores  minute,  but  distinguishable  with  lens;  moderately  numerous 
and  uniformly  distributed.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  numer- 
ous, very  fine,  closely  spaced,  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  of  same  color  as  background,  but  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens,  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2531,  2538  (type). 

32.    REMIJIA  DC. 

Remijia  peruviana  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  156.  1930. 
Asar-sisa,  Cascarilla,  Collar-sisa. 

Small  tree,  about  30,  infrequently  up  to  50,  feet  in  height.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical,  slender,  and  free  of  branches 
up  to  more  than  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pinkish  or  reddish 
brown,  fairly  smooth  or  with  small  scales.  Leaves  opposite,  coria- 
ceous. Flowers  fragrant;  corolla  white.  Fruit  capsular,  elongate- 
oblong,  reddish  brown  with  a  grayish  cast  when  mature. — Common 
in  the  vicinity  of  Iquitos  and  Tarapoto;  in  flood-free  forest  (alt. 
450-1,500  ft.). 

Sapwood  uniform  creamy  yellow  or  pale  pinkish  brown;  heart- 
wood  pinkish  or  light  brown.  Wood  odorless,  but  bitter;  interwoven- 
grained;  moderately  fine-textured;  of  medium  weight,  strong,  and 
rather  tenacious;  capable  of  taking  a  smooth  polish  and  holds  its 
place  well  when  finished;  fairly  durable,  but  susceptible  to  insect 
attacks.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very 
fine,  short  lines  extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small;  fairly 
numerous  and  well  distributed ;  mostly  solitary,  infrequently  in  small 
multiples.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  barely  at  limit  of 
vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  faintly 
visible  with  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  upper  Nanay,  675;  near  Iquitos,  1511,  1512,  3738,  8022; 
upper  Itaya,  3190,— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6107,  6322,  6670. 

33.    RUDGEA  Salisb. 

Large  shrubs  or  small  trees,  with  stout  twigs.  Leaves  opposite, 
rather  leathery,  and  short-stalked.  Inflorescence  terminal,  some- 


494  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

times  reduced  to  a  single  flower,  the  latter  sessile.  Fruit  baccate, 
containing  two  1-seeded  nutlets;  seeds  with  a  narrow  fissure  and  a 
central  cavity.  Wood  is  not  used  locally. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  to  medium  brown,  often  with  a  grayish 
tinge,  and  fairly  lustrous  when  held  to  proper  light;  sometimes 
slightly  fragrant  and  astringent  when  freshly  cut;  fine- textured ;  easy 
to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  barely  visible  with 
lens  as  fine  lines  in  concentric  arrangement  or  extending  tangentially 
between  the  rays.  Pores  minute  or  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well 
distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays 
fine  and  lighter-colored  than  background  on  cross  section;  invisible 
to  unaided  eye  on  tangential;  sometimes  slightly  darker  than  back- 
ground and  barely  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Rays  heterogeneous;  1-3  cells  wide  and  up  to  20  or  more  cells  high. 

Rudgea  amazonica  Muell.  Arg.  Flora  59:  449,  460.  1876. 

Shrub,  10  feet  or  more  tall.  Trunk  bent,  subround  or  com- 
pressed. Bark  medium  chocolate  brown,  with  low  fissures. — Of 
limited  distribution;  in  dry  medium  loam  in  old  clearings  or  among 
shrubs  and  small  trees  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Sapwood  constitutes  most  of  the  wood,  pale  brown  with  a  grayish 
hue  and  fairly  lustrous  when  held  to  proper  light;  heartwood  dull 
medium  brown.  Wood  slightly  fragrant,  but  tasteless;  straight-  or 
interwoven-grained ;  fine- textured ;  of  light  weight,  but  firm;  easy  to 
cut,  takes  a  smooth  finish,  and  holds  its  place  fairly  well.  Paren- 
chyma in  numerous,  fine  lines  extending  tangentially  between  the 
rays  and  barely  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section.  Pores  small; 
fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary,  less  frequently  in  small 
radial  multiples.  Rays  fine  and  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross 
section;  of  same  color  as  background  and  invisible  or  slightly  darker 
and  at  limit  of  vision  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2813. 

Rudgea  canephorantha  (Wernh.)  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13, 
pt.  6:  161.  1936. 

Shrub,  about  15  feet  tall.  Twigs  pale  brown  or  yellow.  Bark 
pinkish  brown,  scaly.  Leaves  glabrous,  light  green  beneath.  Fruit 
subround,  pale  brown;  December-January. — Very  common  on  the 
plain  of  Tarapoto  in  secondary  growth  (alt.  1,400-1,800  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  brown;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained;  uniformly 
fine-textured ;  moderately  heavy,  hard,  and  tenacious;  takes  a  smooth 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  495 

polish;  durable.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  small;  fairly  numerous,  scattered;  mostly  solitary;  sometimes 
filled  with  white  deposit.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  back- 
ground. Rays  fine,  not  very  numerous,  slightly  lighter-colored  than 
fibers  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  barely  visible  with  lens  on  tangen- 
tial; faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 
San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6110. 

Rudgea  ciliata  (Ruiz  &  Pavon)  Spreng.  Syst.  Veg.  1:  755.  1825. 

Shrub,  10  feet  tall,  with  round  crown.  Trunk  branching  1  or 
2  feet  from  the  base.  Bark  pale  brown,  with  fairly  numerous,  mod- 
erately coarse  ridges.  Fruit  round,  brown  when  mature;  December- 
January. — In  dry  loam  among  shrubs  and  small  trees,  often  along 
edge  of  paths,  or  in  moderately  dense  forest  (alt.  3,500  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  white  when  fresh,  becoming  pale  brown  after  long 
exposure;  has  a  slightly  fragrant  odor,  but  no  distinctive  taste;  inter- 
woven-grained ;  fine-textured;  fairly  light  in  weight,  but  firm  and 
strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish;  perishable.  Growth 
rings  present  owing  to  some  variation  in  depth  of  color.  Parenchyma 
barely  visible  with  lens.  Pores  small;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples.  Rays  fine,  lighter-colored  than  background,  and  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  invisible  or  distinguishable  to  aided 
eye  on  radial  surface. 

San  Martin:  San  Roque,  7072. 

Rudgea  loretensis  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  230. 1930. 

Shrub,  from  9  to  15  feet  in  height.  Trunk  fairly  straight,  round, 
and  unbranched  up  to  6  feet.  Bark  pale  or  dark  brown,  with  shallow, 
but  fairly  coarse  ridges;  wood  beneath  bark  often  with  a  grayish 
white  cast.  Flowers  white;  July- August. — Common  in  the  lower 
Peruvian  Amazon  (alt.  350-400  ft.);  in  dry  or  slightly  humid  loam  in 
fairly  dense  forest. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  brown  when  fresh,  usually  with  a  grayish 
tinge  when  dried;  slightly  fragrant,  tasteless  or  slightly  bitter; 
straight-grained  or  fairly  so;  fairly  fine- textured ;  light  or  moderately 
light  in  weight;  easy  to  cut;  not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined ;  sometimes  appear  to  be  indicated  by  bands  of  termi- 
nal parenchyma.  Parenchyma  barely  distinguishable  with  lens  as 
very  numerous,  fine,  tangential  lines  reaching  between  the  rays. 
Pores  small ;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  solitary 
or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct. 


496  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Rays  numerous,  fine,  closely  spaced,  and  slightly  wavy  on  cross 
section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  not  visible  or  barely  discernible 
to  aided  eye  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  Caballo-cocha,  2233;  La  Victoria,  2618,  2841,  2877. 

Rudgea  Poeppigii  K.  Schum.  ex  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13. 
pt.  6:  167.  1936. 

Small  shrub.  Bark  tan-colored  or  pale  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
with  small  scales.  Fruit  round,  pale  yellow;  October-November.— 
Forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  clear  of  seasonal  floods  (alt. 
450  ft.). 

Wood  pale  brown  and  darkening  somewhat  on  exposure;  odorless 
and  tasteless;  straight-  or  slightly  wavy-grained;  medium-textured; 
of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut. 
Parenchyma  in  fine,  numerous,  closely  spaced,  wavy,  tangential 
lines  extending  between  the  rays,  sometimes  in  terminal  bands. 
Rays  slightly  sinuous,  lighter-colored  than  surrounding  elements,  and 
prominent  on  cross  section;  darker  than  background  and  at  limit  of 
vision  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  Yurimaguas,  lower  Huallaga,  4162. 

Rudgea  retifolia  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  227.  1930;  Field 
Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  6:  168.  1936.  Amanga,  Pichico,  Sanango  de  bajo. 

Shrub  or  small  tree,  12  to  18  feet  high,  with  spreading  branches. 
Trunk  bent,  round,  and  free  of  branches  for  5  feet.  Bark  dark  choco- 
late-colored, with  numerous,  moderately  small  lenticels,  occasionally 
with  short,  low,  fairly  sharp  ridges.  Flowers  white;  July-August.— 
In  dry  loam  in  old  clearings,  sometimes  forming  undergrowth  in 
fairly  dense,  flood-free  forest  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  with  pale  grayish  streaks  and  no  sharp  dis- 
tinction between  sap  and  heart;  odorless  and  tasteless  or  slightly 
astringent ;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  uniformly  fine-textured ; 
light  in  weight.  Parenchyma  barely  visible  with  lens.  Pores  minute 
or  very  small.  Rays  light-colored,  wavy,  unevenly  spaced;  visible 
only  with  lens  on  cross  and  radial  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  756;  Caballo-cocha,  2228. 

34.    SICKINGIA  Willd. 

Trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  opposite;  stipules  sometimes  large. 
Flowers  small  or  medium-sized,  paniculate.  Capsule  usually  round, 
2-celled,  bivalvate;  seeds  large  and  broadly  winged.  Timber  is  used 
locally  for  miscellaneous  purposes. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  497 

The  woods  of  this  genus  are  white,  yellowish,  or  pale  brown  when 
freshly  cut,  but  turn  pinkish  when  exposed  to  air;  this  handsome 
coloration,  unfortunately,  fades  after  prolonged  exposure  to  sun- 
light. Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  fine-textured;  takes  a  smooth 
polish;  durable.  Parenchyma  usually  indistinct  or  invisible  with 
lens.  Pores  minute  or  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  in 
small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  less  frequently  solitary,  seldom  in 
small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  numerous  or  fairly  numerous, 
light-colored,  usually  visible  only  with  lens  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential ;  seldom  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Sickingia  tinctoria  (HBK.)  Schum.  Bot.  Jahrb.  10:  328. 
1888;  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6:  228.  1889;  Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  6: 
63. 1936.  Huacamayo-caspi,  Machu-sacha,  Puca-quiro. 

Small  or  medium-sized  tree,  up  to  55  feet  in  height,  but  said  to 
attain  greater  stature.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  cylindrical 
or  fairly  so,  about  10  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  almost 
two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  up  to  0.25  inch  thick,  dark  gray- 
ish brown,  and  rather  rough.  Leaves  subleathery.  Capsule  round, 
dark  brown  when  mature;  October-December. — Fairly  common  in 
both  the  lowland  and  upland,  especially  around  the  estuary  of  the 
Mayo  River  (alt.  400-1,800  ft.);  in  moderately  dense  forest  free 
from  periodical  floods.  Timber  is  used  in  the  upland  for  making 
spoons  and  utensils  and  for  general  construction. 

Sapwood  yellow  when  freshly  cut,  becomes  yellowish  brown  or 
deep  pink  on  exposure  to  air;  heartwood  deep  pink,  not  sharply 
defined.  Wood  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter;  interwoven-grained ; 
fine- textured ;  rather  heavy,  fairly  hard,  and  compact;  not  difficult 
to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish;  checks  in  drying;  moderately 
durable.  Growth  rings  present  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered ;  in  small 
radial  multiples  or  rows  or  solitary;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  very 
fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  numerous,  wavy,  lighter-colored  than 
background,  and  discernible  without  lens  on  cross  section;  indis- 
tinct on  tangential;  occasionally  visible  without  lens,  but  not  promi- 
nent, on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  110;  upper  Nanay,  909;  lower  Huallaga, 
4132.— San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6227,  6659,  6660(1} . 

Sickingia  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  340.  1931. 
Puca-quiro. 


498  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Small  tree,  about  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  round.  Trunk  erect, 
round,  about  14  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  15  feet. 
Bark  pinkish  or  pale  brown,  scaly.  Leaves  entire,  glabrous,  and 
subcoriaceous.  Capsule  grayish  when  unripe,  turning  to  light  brown 
at  maturity;  January-February. — Uncommon;  in  open  sandy  loam 
(alt.  1,500  ft.).  Timber  is  used  for  beams  in  the  construction  of 
houses. 

Wood  pale  brown  when  freshly  cut,  but  soon  turns  to  deep  pink 
after  exposure  to  air  and  becomes  pale  brown  with  pinkish  areas 
when  dried;  odorless  and  tasteless;  moderately  straight-  or  inter- 
woven-grained ;  moderately  fine-textured;  rather  heavy,  tough,  and 
compact;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  polish,  and  holds  its 
place  fairly  well  when  finished ;  fairly  durable.  Growth  rings  present, 
but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  rather 
numerous  and  well  scattered;  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows,  less 
frequently  solitary  or  in  diagonal  pairs.  Vessel  lines  fine  and  indis- 
tinct. Rays  moderately  fine,  evenly  spaced;  discernible  only  with 
lens  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  indistinct  on  tangential. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5531  (type). 

35.    SOMMERA  Schlecht 

Sommera  sabiceoides  K.  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt.  6: 
300.  pi.  133,  /.  1.  1889.  Varilla. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  seldom  exceeding  20  feet  in  height. 
Crown  spreading.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched 
for  4  or  5  feet.  Bark  pale  brown,  scaly  or  coarsely  fissured;  inner 
bark  pinkish  or  purplish  brown.  Twigs  slender,  smooth,  light  or 
•dark  brown,  with  long  internodes.  Leaves  petiolate,  thin.  Flowers 
axillary;  sepals  grass  green;  petals  white.  Fruit  baccate,  ovoid, 
pubescent,  pale  brown,  2-celled;  seeds  numerous,  minute. — Very 
common  throughout  the  lowland  from  the  Peruvian-Brazilian  fron- 
tier to  the  eastern  Andean  foothills  (alt.  350-1,500  ft.);  most  fre- 
quently forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest. 

Sapwood  well  demarcated,  pinkish  brown  or  pale  yellow,  in  some 
specimens  with  extensive  dark  grayish  areas  caused  by  stain ;  heart- 
wood  reddish  brown.  Wood  odorless,  but  slightly  sweet;  straight- 
or  interwoven-grained ;  fine-textured;  light  or  moderately  light  in 
weight;  not  difficult  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish.  Growth  rings 
present  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  widely  spaced,  concentric 
bands  and  terminal.  Pores  minute  or  small;  few  or  fairly  numerous, 
well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows.  Vessel 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  499 

lines  of  same  color  as  background  and  indistinct.  Rays  fine,  numer- 
ous, evenly  spaced;  visible  with  lens  on  cross  and  tangential  sections; 
sometimes  discernible  without  lens  on  radial  section. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1810;  Caballo-cocha,  2076;  La  Victoria,  2664, 
2862,  2935;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in  the  lower  Itaya, 
Nanay,  and  Huallaga. 

36.    SPHINCTANTHUS  Benth. 

Sphinctanthus  maculatus  Spruce  ex  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl. 
Bras.  6,  pt.  6:  356.  1889. 

Unarmed  shrub  or  small  tree,  from  10  to  15  feet  tall.  Crown 
spreading.  Trunk  straight,  slender,  and  branching  a  few  feet  from 
the  base.  Bark  pale  brown  or  greenish,  fairly  smooth.  Leaves 
opposite,  short-stalked.  Flowers  in  terminal  cymes;  corolla  elongated 
and  salverform.  Fruit  baccate,  round,  2-celled,  orange-colored 
when  mature;  seeds  numerous,  compressed;  September-October. — 
Not  common;  in  open  dry  medium  loam  in  the  lower  Huallaga 
(alt.  500  ft.);  reported  also  from  Balsapuerto,  Cahuapanas  on  the 
Pichis  River,  and  near  the  estuary  of  the  Santiago  River,  an  affluent 
of  the  Maranon. 

Sapwood  almost  white  or  uniform  pale  creamy  yellow;  heartwood 
pale  grayish,  indistinctly  defined.  Wood  odorless  and  tasteless;  inter- 
locked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ;  of  light  weight;  takes  a 
smooth  polish.  Growth  rings  present.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  minute.  Vessel  lines  not  visible  with  lens.  Rays  lighter-colored 
than  fibers,  fairly  numerous,  slightly  undulating,  and  barely  at  limit 
of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  barely 
distinguishable  with  lens  on  radial  surface. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  4730. 

37.    TOCOYENA  Aubl. 

Unarmed,  small  trees  or  shrubs.  Leaves  opposite,  leathery, 
stalked.  Flowers  large  and  showy,  terminal,  cymose.  Fruit  baccate, 
globose  or  oblong,  2-celled,  with  a  leathery  pericarp;  seeds  numerous, 
compressed,  horizontal,  and  imbedded  in  a  pulp. 

Wood  pale  pinkish  or  yellowish  brown,  darkening  slightly  on 
exposure;  odorless  and  tasteless  or  slightly  bitter;  fine- textured ;  of 
medium  weight  to  moderately  heavy  and  strong;  easy  to  work  and 
takes  a  smooth  polish.  Parenchyma  invisible  or  barely  discernible 
with  lens  as  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending  between  the  rays, 


500  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

and  at  times  appear  to  indicate  limit  of  growth  rings.  Pores  minute 
to  fairly  small;  moderately  numerous  and  uniformly  distributed; 
solitary  or  in  small  radial  multiples  or  rows;  open.  Rays  numerous, 
fine  on  cross  section;  usually  indistinct  or  invisible  to  unaided  eye 
on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 

Tocoyena  amazonica  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  8:  350.  1931. 

Tree,  from  12  to  50  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
bent,  round,  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  unbranched  for  about  half 
the  entire  height.  Bark  yellow  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
with  few,  small  lenticels.  Leaves  glabrous,  obovate  or  oblongate. 
Fruit  round,  almost  black  when  mature;  June- July. — Not  common; 
in  alluvial  soil  or  along  banks  of  streams  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  well  defined,  uniform  pale  pink  and  darkening  on  ex- 
posure; heartwood  medium  brown.  Wood  odorless,  but  slightly 
bitter;  interwoven-grained;  very  fine- textured ;  fairly  light  in  weight; 
easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull  polish.  Growth  rings  present; 
indicated  by  terminal  parenchyma.  Pores  minute  or  barely  dis- 
tinguishable with  lens;  fairly  numerous,  well  scattered;  solitary, 
less  frequently  in  small  radial  multiples.  Vessel  lines  indistinct. 
Rays  numerous  and  faintly  distinguishable  with  lens  on  cross  section ; 
indistinct  or  invisible  on  other  surfaces. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  21;  Pebas,  1811. 

Tocoyena  foetida  Poepp.  &  Endl.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  3: 25.  pi.  229. 
1845. 

Tall  shrub,  up  to  18  feet  in  height,  with  few  branches  and  long, 
slender  trunk.  Bark  pale  gray  or  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth,  ex- 
foliating. Leaves  lanceolate  or  obovate-oblong,  pubescent  beneath. 
Flowers  white,  with  slender  corolla  tube.  Capsule  about  2  inches 
long,  elliptic  or  oblongate,  dark  brown;  seeds  angular,  dark  brown 
or  almost  black;  June-July. — Uncommon;  in  slightly  humid  loam, 
forming  undergrowth  in  dense  forest  (alt.  350  ft.). 

Wood  creamy  white  with  a  pale  pinkish  cast  and  darkening 
slightly  on  exposure;  odorless,  but  slightly  bitter;  interwoven- 
grained;  uniformly  fine-textured;  moderately  heavy,  strong,  and 
fairly  tenacious;  easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth,  dull  finish. 
Growth  rings  present,  but  inconspicuous.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  very  small;  moderately  numerous;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples  or  rows;  open.  Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  numerous, 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  501 

very  fine  on  cross  section;  indistinct  or  invisible  with  lens  on  other 
surfaces. 

Loreto:  La  Victoria,  2617. 

Tocoyena  Williamsii  Standl.  Field  Mus.  Bot.  6:  349.  1931. 

Tree,  from  30  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  conical;  branches 
usually  verticillate.  Trunk  round,  about  13  inches  in  diameter, 
and  either  branching  2  or  3  feet  from  the  base  or  undivided  up  to 
two-thirds  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  or  dark  purplish  brown, 
fairly  smooth  or  with  low,  irregular  ridges.  Leaves  up  to  13  inches 
long  and  about  7  inches  wide,  obovate  or  oblanceolate,  membrana- 
ceous,  glabrous.  Flowers  few,  terminal;  corolla  yellow,  fragrant. 
Capsule  round,  up  to  2.75  inches  in  diameter,  pale  brown  when 
ripe. — Rather  widely  distributed,  but  not  common;  in  sandy  or 
dry  medium  loam  among  shrubs  and  low  trees  of  secondary  growth 
or  in  abandoned  clearings  (alt.  400-1,400  ft.). 

Wood  uniform  grayish,  at  times  turning  to  yellowish  brown  on 
exposure;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ; 
fine-textured;  of  medium  weight  to  moderately  heavy  and  brittle; 
easy  to  work  and  takes  a  smooth  polish;  checks  in  drying;  fairly 
durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  inconspicuous.  Parenchyma  faintly 
distinguishable  with  lens  as  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending 
between  the  rays.  Pores  moderately  small ;  numerous,  well  scattered ; 
solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  or  rows  of  2-3,  infrequently  in  diagonal 
pairs;  open.  Vessel  lines  very  fine  and  short;  lustrous  deposit  fre- 
quently discernible  with  lens.  Rays  numerous,  fine  or  barely  dis- 
tinguishable at  limit  of  vision  on  moistened  cross  section;  indistinct 
on  tangential ;  sometimes  faintly  visible  to  unaided  eye  on  moistened 
radial  surface.  Pith  about  0.5  inch  in  diameter. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  6094(1). — Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  8097. 

38.    UNCARIA  Schreb. 

Uncaria  guianensis  (Aubl.)  Gmel.  Syst.  Veg.  1:  370.  1796. 
Garabato. 

An  evergreen,  subxerophytic  shrub,  frequently  scandent.  Bark 
pinkish  or  chocolate  brown  with  a  grayish  cast;  inner  bark  reddish 
brown,  fibrous.  Stem  armed  with  strong,  recurved  spines  arranged 
in  pairs.  Leaves  opposite,  short-stalked.  Flowers  small,  in  dense 
globose  heads,  sessile.  Capsule  2-celled,  elongate  spindle-shaped; 
seeds  numerous  and  very  small.— Fairly  common  throughout  the 
lowland  and  occasionally  in  the  upland  (alt.  400-2,500  ft.). 


502  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Wood  pale  pinkish  brown;  straight-grained;  coarse-textured; 
light  in  weight.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  very  large;  rather  numerous  and  constitute  more  than  half 
the  surface  area,  but  not  crowded;  solitary,  seldom  in  radial 
multiples  of  2-3;  open  or  filled  with  yellowish  brown  deposit.  Vessel 
lines  long,  coarse,  of  same  color  as  background  or  infrequently 
filled  with  grayish  white  deposit.  Rays  fine;  faintly  visible  with 
lens  on  all  surfaces.  Pith  reddish  brown,  almost  0.5  inch  in  diameter. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  251;  herbarium  material  collected  also  in 
the  lower  Huallaga  and  near  Tarapoto. 

39.    WARSCEWICZIA  Klotzsch 

Tall  shrubs  or  small  to  medium-sized  trees.  Leaves  ovate  or 
obovate,  pubescent  or  glabrous,  long-  or  short-stalked.  Flowers 
in  dense  cymes;  corolla  orange  yellow;  one  of  the  calyx  lobes  expanded 
into  a  scarlet  bract.  Capsule  small,  brown  when  mature.  Timber 
is  used  only  to  a  limited  extent  locally. 

Wood  yellowish  or  pinkish  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure 
to  air;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  moderately  light  to  fairly  heavy, 
strong,  and  compact;  takes  a  smooth,  rather  dull  finish.  Parenchyma 
invisible  or  distinguishable  with  lens  as  numerous,  very  fine  lines 
extending  between  the  rays.  Pores  small  or  moderately  small; 
fairly  numerous  and  well  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial 
multiples,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  mostly  open.  Rays  numerous, 
fine,  lighter-colored  than  background  on  cross  section;  sometimes 
visible  without  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Warscewiczia  coccinea  (Vahl)  Klotzsch,  Monatsb.  Akad. 
Berlin  1853:  497.  1853.  Puca-sisa,  Quinilla. 

Handsome,  showy  tree,  seldom  more  than  50  feet  in  height. 
Crown  round  or  spreading.  Trunk  moderately  straight,  round, 
slender,  and  branching  from  near  the  base.  Bark  very  thin,  rufous 
brown,  fairly  smooth  or  slightly  scaly.  Leaves  long-stalked,  obovate 
or  obovate-oblong,  up  to  16  inches  long.  Flowers  in  small,  dense 
cymes,  yellowish  green,  with  one  of  the  calyx  lobes  often  expanded 
into  an  oblong  or  elliptic  scarlet  bract  about  4  inches  long;  corolla 
yellow. — Common  throughout  the  lowland  in  dry  loam  in  old  clear- 
ings and  frequent  in  the  upland  along  wooded  slopes;  reported  also 
in  the  forest  along  the  Putumayo  River  and  at  La  Merced,  San 
Ramon,  and  other  centers  in  the  Chanchamayo  Valley  (alt.  2,000  ft.). 


503 

Wood  creamy  or  canary  yellow,  occasionally  with  pale  gray 
streaks  and  darkening  slightly  on  exposure;  has  an  oily  odor,  but  no 
distinctive  taste;  straight-  or  interwoven-grained ;  medium-textured; 
of  fairly  light  or  medium  weight,  firm,  but  splintery;  easy  to  cut, 
takes  a  smooth  finish;  checks  in  drying.  Growth  rings  absent  or 
poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  in  numerous,  very  fine  lines  extending 
between  the  rays.  Pores  of  moderately  small  or  medium  size;  fairly 
numerous,  well  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5  or  more,  less 
frequently  solitary,  seldom  in  small  clusters;  infrequently  closed. 
Vessel  lines  fine  and  of  same  color  as  background;  grayish  white 
deposit  sometimes  present.  Rays  lighter-colored  than  background 
and  at  limit  of  vision  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
lighter  or  darker  than  adjacent  elements  on  radial  surface  and 
sometimes  visible  without  lens.  Pith  pinkish  brown,  rectangular  in 
outline. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  135;  Caballo-cocha,  2021 ;  La  Victoria,  2693; 
upper  Itaya,  3438;  near  Iquitos,  8021, 

Warscewiczia  cordata  Spruce  ex  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras. 
6,  pt.  6:  217.  1889.  Shambo-sisa. 

Small  tree,  from  30  to  35  feet  in  height.  Crown  open.  Trunk 
straight,  8  inches  in  diameter,  often  compressed,  and  unbranched  for 
from  10  to  24  feet.  Bark  pale  gray  to  dark  brown,  fairly  smooth  or 
scaly.  Leaves  up  to  16  inches  long  and  7  inches  wide,  ovate  or 
obovate,  pubescent  on  both  surfaces,  and  with  broad  midrib.  Flowers 
in  dense  cymes;  corolla  orange  yellow  and  one  of  the  calyx  lobes 
extended  into  an  ovate  or  elliptic  bract  about  3.25  inches  long, 
of  deep  scarlet  color. — Not  common;  in  open  dry  loam  among  low 
trees  and  shrubs,  also  in  fairly  dense  forest  (alt.  500-1,500  ft.); 
collected  also  by  Spruce  at  Tarapoto,  by  Tessmann  in  the  forest 
adjacent  to  the  Pongo  de  Manserriche,  middle  Maranon,  and  by 
Killip  and  Smith  near  the  Colonia  Perene,  Department  of  Junin 
(alt.  2,000  ft.). 

Wood  pinkish  or  reddish  brown,  occasionally  with  yellowish 
streaks;  straight-  or  interlocked-grained ;  uniformly  fine- textured ; 
heavy,  compact,  and  tough;  not  difficult  to  work,  takes  a  smooth  and 
rather  dull  polish,  and  holds  its  place  well  when  finished.  Growth 
rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores 
small;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-6,  less  frequently  solitary;  mostly  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  some- 
times darker  than  background  owing  to  deposit  of  yellowish  or  dark 


504  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

brown  gum  present.    Rays  numerous,  very  fine,  and  closely  spaced 
on  cross  section;  barely  discernible  with  lens  on  all  surfaces. 

San  Martin:  Tarapoto,  5862. 

Warscewiczia  Schwackei  K.  Schum.  in  Mart.  Fl.  Bras.  6,  pt. 
6:  219.  pi.  115.  1889.  Jayacoma,  Tayacona. 

Small  tree  or  tall  shrub,  18  feet  in  height.  Bark  dark  brown, 
scaly;  inner  bark  chocolate  brown.  Leaves  7  inches  or  more  in 
length  and  0.75  inch  in  width,  ovate,  glabrous,  and  short-petiolate. 
Flowers  in  small,  dense  cymes,  with  one  of  the  calyx  lobes  extended 
into  a  scarlet  bract,  elliptic  in  outline  and  about  1  inch  long.  Cap- 
sule small,  brown  when  mature. — Uncommon;  along  margin  of 
forest  in  dry  loam  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Sapwood  yellow  or  pale  yellowish  brown,  thin,  and  fairly  well 
defined ;  heartwood  pinkish  brown  and  darkening  on  exposure.  Wood 
odorless,  but  slightly  astringent;  interlocked-grained ;  fine- textured ; 
moderately  heavy,  strong,  and  compact;  not  difficult  to  work;  fairly 
durable.  Growth  rings  present,  but  not  well  defined.  Parenchyma 
in  numerous,  very  fine,  short  lines;  indistinct  or  barely  discernible 
with  lens.  Pores  of  small  or  medium  size;  not  numerous  and  well 
scattered ;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2,  seldom  in  small  clusters. 
Vessel  lines  indistinct.  Rays  barely  or  readily  discernible  without 
lens  on  all  surfaces. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  3701. 

COMPOSITAE.    Sunflower  Family 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees.  Leaves  opposite  or  alternate,  simple 
or  compound.  Flowers  arranged  in  heads,  surrounded  by  an  invo- 
lucre composed  of  few  or  numerous  bracts;  flowers  usually  of  two 
kinds — disk  flowers,  in  the  center  of  the  receptacle,  usually  perfect, 
with  tubular  corollas,  and  marginal  or  ray  flowers,  pistillate  or 
sterile,  and  with  long,  strap-shaped  corollas.  Fruit  an  achene. 
Although  some  of  the  timbers  are  used  locally,  they  are  not  of 
economic  importance. 

Woods  whitish,  oatmeal-colored,  or  pale  brown,  often  with  a 
grayish  or  purplish  cast;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  light  or  very  light 
and  soft  or  firm;  fibrous  and  usually  require  a  sharp  knife  to  cut 
smoothly  across  grain;  perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  not 
abundantly  developed  and  often  indistinct.  Pores  small  or  medium- 
sized;  fairly  numerous  or  numerous;  solitary,  less  often  in  small 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  .  505 

multiples;  open.    Rays  fine  or  broad  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on 
tangential;  rather  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 

Vessels  have  simple  perforations;  intervascular  pits  bordered; 
vessel-ray  and  parenchyma  pits  also  bordered.  Rays  heterogeneous; 
multiseriate  (2-5  cells  wide),  the  inner  cells  short  and  bordered  on 
one  or  both  sides  by  one  or  more  layers  of  high  cells. 

1.  CLIBADIUM  Allem. 

Clibadium  remotiflorum  0.  E.  Schulz,  Bot.  Jahrb.  46:  621. 
1912.  Huaca,  Llama-huasca,  Sacha-huaca,  Uchu-huaca. 

Shrub.  Bark  dark  grayish  brown,  moderately  smooth  or  with 
long,  shallow  ridges;  inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  opposite, 
petiolate,  ovate,  acuminate  or  obtuse,  subrounded  or  acute  at  base, 
serrate-crenate,  membranaceous;  leaves  are  ground  and  used  as  fish 
poison.  Flowers  small,  white,  disk-like,  in  cymose  panicles.  Achene 
opaque  black,  compressed. — Common  in  the  lowland;  in  alluvial 
soil  in  thickets  or  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  400-500  ft.). 

Wood  almost  white  or  pale  brown,  often  with  grayish  streaks,  and 
lustrous;  has  no  distinctive  odor  or  taste;  straight-grained;  medium- 
textured;  light  in  weight,  soft;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly 
across  grain;  perishable.  Growth  rings  and  parenchyma  indistinct. 
Pores  small;  numerous  and  well  distributed;  in  radial  multiples  of 
2-5  or  solitary,  infrequently  in  tangential  pairs  or  in  small  clusters; 
open  or  closed.  Vessel  lines  long  and  darker  than  the  surrounding 
elements.  Rays  fairly  broad  and  discernible  to  unaided  eye  on  cross 
section ;  indistinct  on  tangential ;  high,  of  same  color  as  or  darker  than 
background,  and  distinguishable  without  lens  on  radial  surface; 
heterogeneous.  Pith  large,  light  or  dark  brown. 

Loreto:  lower  Itaya,  284;  lower  Nanay,  468;  Yurimaguas,  lower 
Huallaga,  4304(1). 

2.  OLIGANTHES  Cass. 

Shrubs  or  small,  seldom  medium-sized,  trees.  Leaves  alternate, 
entire  or  rarely  dentate,  tomentose.  Heads  1-8-flowered,  aggre- 
gated in  dense  corymbiform  panicles  terminating  the  stem  and 
branches.  Achene  ribbed,  cylindric,  glabrous  or  pilose;  the  pappus 
typically  in  2  series,  the  inner  or  both  sometimes  of  linear,  flat  scales 
twisted  toward  the  apex.  Common  in  clearings.  Wood  is  not  used 
locally. 

Wood  whitish  or  pale  yellowish  to  pinkish  brown;  odorless  and 
tasteless;  medium-textured;  light  in  weight,  but  firm;  fibrous,  but 


506  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

takes  a  fairly  smooth  and  lustrous  polish ;  not  durable.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal.  Pores  of  medium  size;  numerous  and  well  scattered; 
solitary  or  in  multiples  of  2-4,  less  often  in  small  clusters;  open.  Rays 
coarse  or  moderately  coarse  and  lighter-colored  than  background 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  fairly  distinct  on  radial 
surface. 

Oliganthes  discolor  (HBK.)  Sch.  Bip.  Linnaea  20:  502.  1847. 
Yana-ocuera,  Yana-varas. 

Tree,  from  15  to  40  feet  in  height.  Crown  spreading.  Trunk 
erect,  columnar,  from  10  to  28  inches  in  diameter,  and  clear  of  limbs 
up  to  half  the  entire  height.  Bark  pale  or  dark  purplish  brown, 
smooth  or  with  long,  fine  ridges.  Leaves  glabrous  above  and  grayish- 
tomentose  beneath.  Flowers  borne  at  tip  of  twigs.  Fruit  an  achene; 
October-November. — Fairly  common;  in  dense  forest  (alt.  500- 
1,500  ft.);  reported  also  at  Cajamarca,  near  Pacific  coast  (alt.  2,800 
ft.).  Wood  is  used  for  kindling  and  general  construction. 

Wood  uniformly  oatmeal-colored;  odorless  and  tasteless;  straight- 
or  slightly  wavy-grained;  moderately  fine-textured;  fairly  light  in 
weight,  but  firm  and  strong;  easy  to  cut  and  takes  a  smooth  finish; 
not  durable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Parenchyma 
indistinct.  Pores  of  fairly  small  or  medium  size;  not  numerous  to 
fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  in  radial  multiples  of  2-5, 
less  frequently  solitary,  seldom  in  diagonal  or  tangential  pairs  or 
small  clusters;  open.  Vessel  lines  fine,  of  same  color  as  background 
or  slightly  darker,  and  visible  without  lens.  Rays  at  limit  of  vision 
on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential;  distinguishable  against  the 
lighter-colored  background  on  radial.  Pith  pale  yellow  or  light 
brown,  round. 

Loreto:  near  Yurimaguas,  3820,  3995. — San  Martin:  Tarapoto, 
5610. 

Oliganthes  Karstenii  Sch.  Bip.  Linnaea  30:  166.  1859-60. 
Ocuera  negra,  Yana-ocuera. 

Small,  fast-growing  tree,  about  30,  infrequently  up  to  45,  feet 
in  height.  Crown  flat,  spreading,  or  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round, 
7  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  often  hollow  in  the  center,  and  clear 
of  branches  for  three-fifths  the  entire  height.  Bark  light  to  dark 
purplish  brown,  smooth,  with  long  fine  ridges,  or  scaly.  Twigs 
tomentose.  Leaves  green  and  almost  glabrous  above,  tomentose 
beneath.  Flowers  white ;  June-July. — Fairly  common  in  the  lowland ; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  507 

in  dry  loam  in  old  clearings  (alt.  400  ft.).    Wood  is  used  for  fuel  and 
to  a  limited  extent  for  house  construction. 

Wood  pale  yellowish  brown  and  highly  lustrous;  slightly  fragrant 
when  fresh,  odorless  and  tasteless  when  dry;  straight-  or  wavy- 
grained  ;  medium-  to  rather  coarse-textured ;  saws  woolly  and  requires 
a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  liable  to  be  damaged  by 
insects.  Growth  rings  absent  or  poorly  defined.  Pores  of  medium 
size  and  occasionally  visible  to  unaided  eye;  not  numerous  and  well 
distributed;  solitary  or  in  radial  multiples  of  2-3;  open.  Rays  some- 
times rather  conspicuous  and  somewhat  more  distinct  on  radial 
surface  than  in  0.  discolor.  Pith  pale  brown. 

Loreto:  Pebas,  1608,  1767. 

3.    TESSARIA  Ruiz  &  Pavon 

Tessaria  integrifolia  Ruiz  &  Pavon,  Syst.  Veg.  213.  1798. 
Huapariu,  Pajarobobo. 

Fast-growing  tree,  up  to  40,  infrequently  50,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  conical.  Trunk  straight,  round,  slender,  and  unbranched  up 
to  half  the  height.  Bark  chocolate  brown,  fairly  smooth,  with 
numerous,  low,  vertical  ridges,  or  with  few,  small  excrescences;  inner 
bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  narrowly  elliptic  or  lanceolate-elliptic, 
acuminate  at  apex,  narrowing  to  the  base,  and  silky-canescent. 
Inflorescence  corymbose,  terminal.  Flowers  pinkish  or  lavender- 
colored;  June-September. — Fairly  common  throughout  the  lowland; 
usually  in  the  vicinity  of  streams  or  in  alluvial  soil,  sometimes  form- 
ing almost  pure  stands;  reported  also  from  the  region  of  the  Rio 
Perene,  at  Chosia,  Department  of  Huanuco  (alt.  7,000  ft.),  near 
Lima,  and  in  Parinas  Valley. 

Wood  lustrous  white  or  creamy  yellow;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-grained;  fine-  or  medium-textured;  very  light  in  weight 
and  soft;  requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain, 
fibrous,  but  takes  a  smooth,  fairly  lustrous  finish ;  perishable.  Growth 
rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  small;  few  to  fairly 
numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary  or  in  radial,  diagonal,  or 
tangential  multiples  of  2-3,  infrequently  in  small  clusters;  open. 
Vessel  lines  long  and  fine;  often  filled  with  brown  or  black  gum. 
Rays  fairly  fine,  evenly  spaced,  and  visible  with  lens  on  cross  section; 
indistinct  on  tangential;  lighter  or  slightly  darker  than  background 
and  sometimes  distinguishable  to  unaided  eye  on  radial.  Pith  pale 
or  dark  brown,  septate. 


508  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Loreto:  lower  Nanay,  494;  Pebas,  1863. — San  Martin:  Juan 
Guerra,  6891. 

4.    VERNONIA  Schreb. 

Herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  trees.  Leaves  alternate,  toothed  or  nearly 
entire,  and  almost  sessile.  The  many-flowered  small  heads  are 
sessile  or  stalked,  without  rays.  Achene  4-10-ribbed;  the  pappus 
consists  of  2  series,  the  outer  of  short  bristles,  the  inner  of  long 
bristles.  The  members  of  this  genus  are  fast-growing  and  appear 
promptly  in  abandoned  clearings. 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown,  occasionally  with  a  purplish 
cast;  odorless  and  tasteless;  medium-textured;  light  and  soft; 
requires  a  sharp  knife  to  cut  smoothly  across  grain;  fairly  lustrous; 
perishable.  Parenchyma  paratracheal ;  often  indistinct  with  lens. 
Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous  and  well  scattered;  solitary, 
less  often  in  small  multiples;  open.  Rays  moderately  fine  to  rather 
coarse  and  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  indistinct  on  tangential; 
distinct  on  radial  surface.  Some  indication  in  a  few  specimens  of 
what  appear  to  be  vertical  canals,  gummosis  type,  in  the  rays. 

Vernonia  baccharoides  HBK.  Nov.  Gen.  &  Sp.  4:  40.  1820- 
Ocuera,  Ocuera-comun,  Purma-caspi. 

Tall  shrub  or  small  tree,  up  to  25,  seldom  35,  feet  in  height. 
Crown  conical  or  irregular.  Trunk  round,  slender,  and  unbranched 
up  to  10  feet.  Bark  grayish  or  purplish  brown;  inner  bark  slightly 
fibrous;  wood  beneath  bark  usually  chocolate  brown.  Leaves 
membranaceous,  remotely  dentate,  densely  pubescent  beneath. 
Flowers  in  terminal  panicles,  sessile,  white,  with  a  honey-like 
fragrance. — Very  common  in  old  clearings  throughout  the  lowland 
(alt.  400  ft.) ;  said  to  occur  also  in  the  upland. 

Wood  variable  in  color  from  oatmeal  to  pale  brown,  in  some 
specimens  with  a  pale  grayish  pink  cast;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  slightly  wavy-grained;  medium-  or  rather  coarse- 
textured  ;  light  in  weight,  but  firm ;  slightly  fibrous,  easy  to  work,  and 
takes  a  smooth  finish  having  a  moderate  luster  when  held  to 
light;  perishable.  Growth  rings  absent  or  present.  Parenchyma 
paratracheal;  indistinct.  Pores  of  medium  size;  fairly  numerous, 
evenly  distributed;  solitary  or  in  small  radial,  diagonal,  or  tangential 
multiples  of  2-3;  open.  Vessel  lines  fairly  fine,  long  or  short,  and  at 
limit  of  vision;  dark  brown  or  black  gum  sometimes  present.  Rays 
lighter-colored  than  adjacent  elements,  and  prominent  on  cross 
section ;  indistinct  or  faintly  discernible  without  lens  on  tangential ; 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  509 

of  lighter  color  than  background  and  producing  a  silver  grain  on 
radial.    Pith  up  to  0.75  inch  in  diameter,  septate. 

Loreto:  near  Iquitos,  1476;  Pebas,  1648,  2046;  La  Victoria,  2607. 

Vernonia  brachiata  Benth.(?),  ex  Oerst.  in  Kjoeb.  Vidensk. 
Meddel.  1852:  67.  1852. 

Shrub,  10  or  12  feet  tall.  Bark  dark  chocolate  brown,  smooth ; 
inner  bark  coarsely  fibrous.  Leaves  remotely  dentate,  short-stalked 
or  sessile,  finely  pubescent  on  both  surfaces.  Flowers  white;  October. 
—Uncommon;  in  dry  loam  along  margin  of  forest  (alt.  400  ft.). 

Wood  oatmeal-colored  or  pale  brown;  odorless  and  tasteless; 
straight-  or  wavy-grained ;  medium-textured ;  light  in  weight,  but 
firm.  Growth  rings  absent.  Parenchyma  indistinct.  Pores  fairly 
small;  moderately  numerous  and  well  scattered;  in  small  radial, 
seldom  tangential,  multiples,  less  frequently  solitary;  open.  Vessel 
lines  fine  and  indistinct.  Rays  fairly  fine;  faintly  visible  on  cross 
section  and  radial  section;  indistinct  on  tangential.  Pith  up  to  0.75 
inch  in  diameter,  dark  chocolate  brown,  with  coarse  septa. 

Loreto:  lower  Huallaga,  5151. 


TABLES  OF  ANATOMICAL  CHARACTERS 
OF  PERUVIAN  WOODS 

The  following  lists  present  a  summary  of  the  principal  characters 
of  the  woods  described  in  this  publication  and  are  intended  to  take 
the  place  of  keys.  The  inclusion  of  a  family  indicates  that  the 
respective  characters  are  typical  of  members  within  that  particular 
group,  but  do  not  necessarily  apply  to  all  the  species.  In  some 
instances,  for  example,  in  the  case  of  density,  texture,  width  of 
rays,  etc.,  the  choice  of  characters  has  been  arbitrary.  It  is  hoped 
that  these  tables  will  prove  convenient  for  reference  purpose  and 
useful  in  the  identification  of  tropical  American  woods. 

Some  of  the  tables  are  based  upon  the  examination  of  microscopic 
slides  in  the  collections  at  Yale  School  of  Forestry,  others  include 
information  already  published  by  Solereder  (Systematic  Anatomy 
of  the  Dicotyledons.  1182  pp.  ill.  1908),  while  frequent  use  has 
been  made  of  the  various  lists  prepared  by  Record  and  published 
recently  by  him  under  the  title  "Classifications  of  Various  Anatomi- 
cal Features  of  Dicotyledonous  Woods"  (Tropical  Woods  47: 
12-27. 1936). 


511 


TABLE  1 

WOODS  CLASSIFIED  ACCORDING  TO  WEIGHT 
(Arrow  indicates  variation  from  the  average) 

Family  Light  Medium  Heavy 

Acanthaceae X 

Anacardiaceae X  X 

Anonaceae X 

Apocynaceae X  X 

Aquifoliaceae X 

Araliaceae X— > 

Bignoniaceae X 

Bixaceae X— » 

Bombacaceae X— > 

Boraginaceae X— > 

Burseraceae X-» 

Capparidaceae X— » 

Caricaceae X 

Caryocaraceae <— X 

Chloranthaceae X 

Cochlospermaceae X 

Combretaceae <— X 

Compositae X 

Connaraceae X 

Dichapetalaceae X— > 

Dilleniaceae *— X 

Ebenaceae X  X 

Elaeocarpaceae X  X 

Erythroxylaceae X  X 

Euphorbiaceae X  X 

Flacourtiaceae X  X 

Gesneriaceae X 

Guttiferae <— X— > 

Hypericaceae <— X 

Icacinaceae X  X 

Juglandaceae X  X 

Lacistemaceae X  X 

Lauraceae <— X— » 

Lecythidaceae X  X 

Leguminosae X  X 

Loganiaceae X  X 

Lythraceae <— X— > 

Malpighiaceae X  X 


512 


TABLE  1  (concluded) 

WOODS  CLASSIFIED  ACCORDING  TO  WEIGHT 
(Arrow  indicates  variation  from  the  average) 

Family  Light  Medium  Heavy 

Malvaceae X— » 

Marcgraviaceae X 

Melastomaceae X  X 

Meliaceae <— X— » 

Menispermaceae X 

Monimiaceae X  X 

Moraceae X  X 

Myristicaceae <— X— » 

Myrsinaceae X 

Myrtaceae X  X 

Nyctaginaceae X 

Ochnaceae X  X 

Olacaceae <— X— > 

Onagraceae X 

Piperaceae X  X 

Polygonaceae <— x— » 

Proteaceae X  X 

Rhamnaceae X  X 

Rosaceae X  X 

Rubiaceae X  X 

Rutaceae <-X  X 

Sabiaceae X— > 

Salicaceae X 

Sapindaceae <— X— > 

Sapotaceae <— X 

Simarubaceae X 

Solanaceae X 

Staphyleaceae X 

Sterculiaceae X—* 

Theaceae X— > 

Theophrastaceae X— > 

Thymelaeaceae X— > 

Tiliaceae X  X 

Ulmaceae X— > 

Urticaceae X 

Verbenaceae <— X— » 

Violaceae X 

Vochysiaceae X 


513 


TABLE  2 
WOODS  WITH  CHARACTERISTIC  ODOR  OR  TASTE 

Family  Odor  Taste 

Acanthaceae 

Trichanthera Occasionally  slightly  fetid 

Anacardiaceae 

Mangifera Slightly  fragrant  when  fresh  Fruit  has  a  strong 

flavor  suggest- 
ing turpentine 
Anonaceae 

Diclinanona Agreeable  when  fresh 

Duguetia Slightly  fragrant  or  fetid 

Guatleria Spicy 

Unonopsis Faintly  fragrant  Slightly  bitter 

Xylopia Astringent 

Apocynaceae 

Aspidosperma Fragrant  at  times 

Malouetia Suggesting  vinegar  Slightly  bitter 

Rauwolfia Slightly  bitter 

Thfvetia Bitter 

Araliaceae 

Didymopanax Bark  bitter 

Boraginaceae 

Cordia Leaves  of  C.  alliodora  have  odor 

suggesting  garlic 
Burseraceae 

Protium Leaflets  have  a  strong  odor  suggesting 

gum  arabic 
Bignoniaceae 

Tabebuia Slightly  fragrant  when  fresh 

Capparidaceae 

Capparis Garlic-like  when  fresh; 

occasionally  fetid 

Crataeva Garlic-like  when  fresh; 

occasionally  fetid 

Ebenaceae 

Diospyros At  times  fragrant 

Euphorbiaceae 

Croton Spicy,    suggesting    cinnamon    bark, 

when  fresh 

Hura Slightly  astrin- 

gent 
Sapium Slightly  fetid  when  fresh 


514 


TABLE  2  (continued) 
WOODS  WITH  CHARACTERISTIC  ODOR  OR  TASTE 

Family  Odor  Taste 

Flacourtiaceae 

Carpotroche At  times  nauseous  when  fresh 

Patrisia Astringent 

Guttiferae 

Symphonia Strongly  fetid  when  freshly  cut 

Lauraceae 

Acrodiclidium Spicy  Bitter 

Ajouea Slightly  fragrant 

Endlicheria Spicy 

Nectandra Faintly  to  distinctly  fragrant 

Ocotea Suggests  turpentine  Slightly  bitter 

Pleurothyrium Faintly  fragrant 

Lecythidaceae 

Grias Slightly  bitter 

Gustavia Strongly  fetid,  pronounced  when  fresh 

Leguminosae 

Caesalpinia Rancid 

Cassia Occasionally  fetid 

Lonchocarpus Slightly  bitter 

Myroxylon Pronounced  spicy  when  freshly  cut 

Pterocarpus Slightly  fetid  when  fresh 

Swartzia Occasionally  slightly  fetid  when  fresh 

Lythraceae 

Lagerstroemia Sometimes  offensive  when  fresh 

Malpighiaceae 

Spachea Bitter 

Melastomaceae 

Belinda Slightly  fragrant 

Calyptrella Fragrant  Slightly  bitter 

Henriettella Bitter 

Miconia Occasionally 

slightly  bitter 
Meliaceae 

Cedrela Fragrant  Seeds    and    bark 

bitter 

Guarea At  times  fragrant 

Melia Slightly  fragrant  when  fresh 

Swietenia Distinctly  fragrant  when  fresh  Seeds   and    bark 

bitter,  suggest- 
ing quinine 

Trichilia Slightly  fragrant  Occasionally 

bitter 


515 


TABLE  2  (concluded) 
WOODS  WITH  CHARACTERISTIC  ODOR  OR  TASTE 

Family  Odor  Taste 

Monimiaceae 

Siparuna Fresh  wood,  leaves,    and    fruit  dis- 
tinctly spicy 
Moraceae         .  r, 

Clarisia Slightly  fetid 

Coussapoa Fragrant  when  fresh 

Myristicaceae 

Virola Some  specimens  slightly  fragrant  or 

fetid  when  freshly  cut 
Piperaceae 

Piper Some  species  fetid;  leaves  often  aro- 
matic 
Rosaceae 

Couepia Sometimes  pleasant 

Rubiaceae 

Coussarea Slightly  bitter 

Coutarea 

Ferdinandusa 

Genipa 

Gonzalagunia 

Hamelia 

Isertia 

Ladenbergia 

Machaonia 

Pentagonia 

Remijia 

Sickingia 

Tocoyena  

Rutaceae 

Diclyoloma Faintly  pleasant  Slightly  bitter 

Erythrochiton Astringent 

Zanthoxylum Occasionally 

slightly  bitter 
Sapotaceae 

Sideroxylon Slightly  bitter 

Simarubaceae 

Picramnia Very  bitter 

Solanaceae 

Cestrum Occasionally 

slightly  bitter 

Cyphomandra Disagreeable 

Thymelaeaceae 

Schoenobiblus ,  Pleasant  Slightly  bitter 

Vochysiaceae 

Vochysia Slightly  bitter 


516 


TABLE  3 

WOODS  CLASSIFIED  ACCORDING  TO  TEXTURE 
(Arrow  indicates  variation  from  the  average) 

Family  Fine  Medium  Coarse 

Acanthaceae X  X 

Anacardiaceae X  X 

Anonaceae X  X 

Apocynaceae X  X 

Aquif oliaceae X 

Araliaceae <— X  X 

Bignoniaceae X  X 

Bixaceae X  X 

Bombacaceae X 

Boraginaceae X  X 

Burseraceae X  X 

Capparidaceae X  X 

Caryocaraceae X  X 

Chloranthaceae *— X 

Cochlospermaceae X 

Combretaceae X  X 

Compositae X  X 

Connaraceae X 

Dichapetalaceae X  X 

Dilleniaceae X 

Ebenaceae X— > 

Elaeocarpaceae X  X 

Erythroxylaceae X  X 

Euphorbiaceae X  X 

Flacourtiaceae X  X 

Gesneriaceae X 

Guttiferae <-X-» 

Hypericaceae X— > 

Icacinaceae X 

Juglandaceae X  X 

Lacistemaceae X— > 

Lauraceae <— X— > 

Lecythidaceae X  X 

Leguminosae X  X 

Loganiaceae X 

Lythraceae <— X 

Malpighiaceae <— X 

Malvaceae X—* 


517 


TABLE  3  (concluded) 

WOODS  CLASSIFIED  ACCORDING  TO  TEXTURE 
(Arrow  indicates  variation  from  the  average) 

Family                                                            Fine  Medium                 Coarse 

Marcgraviaceae X 

Melastomaceae X  X 

Meliaceae X                    X 

Menispermaceae X 

Monimiaceae X 

Moraceae X                    X 

Myristicaceae <— X 

Myrsinaceae X  X 

Myrtaceae X 

Nyctaginaceae X— > 

Ochnaceae X  X 

Olacaceae X  X 

Onagraceae <— X 

Piperaceae *— X 

Polygonaceae X  X 

Proteaceae X  X— * 

Rhamnaceae X 

Rosaceae X                    X 

Rubiaceae X— > 

Rutaceae <— X 

Sabiaceae <— X 

Salicaceae X 

Sapindaceae *-X— > 

Sapotaceae *— X— * 

Simarubaceae <— X 

Solanaceae *— X— » 

Staphyleaceae X 

Sterculiaceae X                    X 

Theaceae X  X 

Theophrastaceae X 

Thymelaeaceae X— > 

Tiliaceae X 

Ulmaceae X— > 

Urticaceae X— > 

Verbenaceae X  X-* 

Violaceae X 

Vochysiaceae <— X 


518 


TABLE  4 
RING-POROUS  WOODS 

Araliaceae  Juglandaceae  Meliaceae 

Gilibertia  Juglans  (semi)  Cedrela 

Boraginaceae  Leguminosae  Melia 

Cordia  Acacia?  Sterculiaceae 

Ebenaceae  Entada?  Sterculia 

Diospyros  Pterocarpus  (semi)  Rhamnaceae 

Erythroxylaceae  Lythraceae  Rhamnus 

Erythroxylon  Lagerstroemia  Verbenaceae 

Hypericaceae  Malvaceae  Lippia 

Vismia  (occ.)  Sida  Vitex  (semi) 


519 


TABLE  5 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  PARENCHYMA 
(Based  upon  examination  with  HX  lens) 
ARRANGEMENT 


FAMILY 


Acanthaceae  

X 

Anacardiaceae  

,   X 

X 

Anonaceae  

X 

Apocynaceae  

X 

Araliaceae  

X 

Bignoniaceae  

.    X 

Bixaceae  

X 

Bombacaceae  

X 

Boraginaceae  

,    X 

X 

Burseraceae  

.    X 

X 

Capparidaceae. 

.    X 

X 

Caryocaraceae  

X 

X 

Chloranthaceae.  .  .  . 

Cochlospermaceae  . 

X 

C  ombre  taceae  

,    X 

X 

Compositae  

.    X 

Connaraceae  

X 

Dichapetalaceae  .  .  . 

X 

Dilleniaceae  

X 

Ebenaceae  

X 

Elaeocarpaceae  .... 

X 

Erythroxylaceae  .  .  . 

.   X 

X 

Flacourtiaceae  

,    X 

X 

Gesneriaceae  

.    X 

Guttiferae  

.    X 

X 

Hypericaceae  

.    X 

X 

Icacinaceae  

X 

Juglandaceae  

X 

Lacistemaceae  

X 

Lauraceae  

X 

X 

Lecythidaceae  

X 

Leguminosae  

.   X 

X 

Loganiaceae  

X 

Lythraceae  

.    X 

X 

REMARKS 

Fine  lines  between  rays 
Occasionally  in  concentric  bands 
Characteristic  spider-web  arrangement 
X  Fine    tangential    lines    or    concentric 

bands;  often  hoary 

Also  aliform  or  confluent 
Numerous  short  wavy  lines 
Fine  wavy  tangential  lines 
Diagonal,  tangential,  or  concentric  lines 
Broken  tangential  lines  or  concentric 

bands 
Tangential  lines  or  concentric  bands; 

often  conspicuous 
Fine  lines  from  ray  to  ray;  often  hoary 

Broad    irregularly    spaced    concentric 

bands 
Tangential  lines  or  bands 


c      s 
t— i     r 

X 
X 


X 


X 


X 


Malpighiaceae X       X 


X 
X 

Evenly  or  unevenly  spaced  concentric 

lines  or  bands 
Numerous  very  fine  hoary  tangential 

bands 
X       Numerous  very  fine  lines 

Fine  concentric  lines  forming  network 

with  rays 

X       Fine  lines  between  rays 
X       Fine  tangential  lines  or  fine  to  distinct 

concentric  bands 
X       Numerous  fine  bands  between  rays 

At  times  aliform  or  confluent 
X       Occasionally  confluent  or  in  fine  tan- 
gential or  concentric  bands  forming 
network  with  rays 
Broken  or  continuous  concentric  lines 

forming  network 
Tangential  lines  between  rays 
Fine  broken  concentric  bands  or  lines 
X       Very  fine  tangential  bands  between  rays 
X       Often    sparingly     developed     around 
pores  or  at  times  distinct  even  with- 
out lens 
Numerous  fine  tangential  or  concentric 

lines  forming  network  with  rays 
X  Abundantly     developed     and     often 

distinct 

Numerous  concentric  lines  or  fine  bands 
X       X       Aliform,    confluent,    or    in    tangential 

bands 

X       Broken  or  continuous  concentric  bands ; 
at  times  distinct 


520 


TABLE  5  (concluded) 
ARRANGEMENT  OF  PARENCHYMA 
(Based  upon  examination  with  IJ^X  lens} 
ARRANGEMENT 


FAMILY  REMARKS 

ft*  ^  ^  t-H         hH 

Malvaceae X  X  X  Numerous  minute  lines  forming  net- 

work with  rays 

Marcgraviaceae X  Sparingly  developed 

Melastomaceae X  X  Fine  tangential  lines  or  concentric 

bands;  indistinct  or  distinct 

Meliaceae X       X       X  Tangential  or  concentric  lines  or  bands 

Menispermaceae X       X  Very  fine  tangential  lines 

Monimiaceae X       X       X       Very  fine  lines  between  rays 

Moraceae X  X  X  Fine  broken  or  continuous  lines  or 

bands 

Myristicaceae X       X       X       Widely  and  unevenly  spaced 

Myrsinaceae X  X       Sparingly  developed 

Myrtaceae X  X  Exceedingly  fine  lines  between  rays, 

often  uniting  pores 

Nyctaginaceae X  X       Sparingly  developed 

Ochnaceae X  X 

Olacaceae X  Numerous  tangential  lines  between 

rays  or  hoary  concentric  lines 

Onagraceae X  X 

Piperaceae X  X       Or  readily  visible 

Polygonaceae X       X       X  Often  sparingly  developed 

Proteaceae X  X  Numerous  lines  stretched  hammock- 

like  between  rays 

Rhamnaceae X  X  X  Broken  tangential  lines  or  fine  con- 

centric bands 

Rosaceae X  Numerous  tangential  or  concentric 

lines  forming  network  with  rays 

Rubiaceae X  X  X  Mostly  in  fine  lines  between  rays  or 

in  concentric  lines  or  fine  bands 

Rutaceae X       X       X  Fine  concentric  bands  or  lines 

Sabiaceae X  X  Unevenly  spaced  concentric  lines  or 

fine  bands 

Salicaceae X  Indistinct  narrow  bands 

Sapindaceae X  X  X  X  Aliform,  also  in  broken  or  continuous 

concentric  bands  or  lines 

Sapotaceae X  Numerous  fine  tangential  lines  or 

concentric  bands 

Simarubaceae X 

Solanaceae X  X 

Staphyleaceae X 

Sterculiaceae XXX  Fine  tangential  lines  or  concentric  bands 

Theaceae X  X 

Theophrastaceae  X 

Thymelaeaceae X  X  X  Confluent  and  in  irregular  terminal 

lines  or  bands 

Tiliaceae X  X  X  X  Irregular  tangential  lines;  often  in 

fine  network 

Ulmaceae X  X       Sparingly  developed 

Verbenaceae X  X       X       Usually  scantily  developed 

Violaceae XX  X  Sparingly  developed;  at  times  in 

numerous  fine  lines  between  rays 

Vochysiaceae X  X  X  Distinct  about  pores  and  in  broad 

tangential  or  concentric  bands 

521 


TABLE  6 
WOODS  WITH  DISTINCT  OR  CONSPICUOUS  RAYS 

The  size  and  prominence  of  the  rays  in  a  wood  are  important  criteria  for 
identification  and  classification.  Many  temperate  genera,  such  as  Quercw,  Fagtis, 
Alnu-s,  and  Platanus,  have  large  and  conspicuous  rays  and  usually  can  be  identified 
readily,  even  without  the  use  of  a  hand  lens.  Among  tropical  woods  there  is  an 
even  larger  number  of  genera  having  conspicuously  large  rays.  It  is  impossible 
to  draw  a  fast  line  between  the  woods  which  have  broad  rays  and  those  which  do 
not,  for  they  show  a  complete  line  of  gradation  from  fine  or  exceedingly  fine, 
uniseriate  rays,  to  those  that  are  exceedingly  large  or  prominent  and  composed 
of  parenchj'matous  tissue.  The  relative  prominence  of  rays  on  cross  and  tangential 
sections  is  largely  dependent  upon  their  width;  on  the  radial  surface  the  determining 
factors  are  depth  and  color  contrast. 

The  families  and  genera  of  Peruvian  woods  having  distinct  rays  are  as  follows : 
Anonaceae. — Fairly  distinct  to  conspicuously  broad. 
Aquifoliaceae  (Ilex).— Conspicuous. 
Araliaceae. — Often  widely  spaced  on  cross  section  and  strikingly  conspicuous; 

distinct  also  on  other  surfaces. 

Bombacaceae. — Usually  high  and  conspicuous  on  radial  surface. 
Boraginaceae  (Cordia). — Distinct  on  all  surfaces. 
Capparidaceae  (Crataeva). — Readily  visible  on  cross  and  radial  sections,  but 

not  on  tangential. 

Chloranthaceae  (Hedyosmum). — Distinct  on  all  surfaces,  often  beech-like. 
Cochlospermaceae  (Cochlospermum). — Distinct  on  all  surfaces. 
Compositae. — Fairly  distinct  to  distinct  on  cross  and  radial  sections;  some- 
times large  enough  to  produce  a  distinct  figure  on  quarter-sawed  material . 
Connaraceae  (Connarus). — Fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Dilleniaceae  (Curatella). — Conspicuous  and  sometimes  oak-like. 
Elaeocarpaceae  (Muntingia,  Sloanea). — Fairly  broad  or  broad  on  cross  section; 

distinct  to  moderately  so  on  tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 
Euphorbiaceae    (Acalypha,   Aparisthmium,  Hevea,   Hura,   Jatropha,  Mabea, 
Phyllanthus,  Ricinus,  Sapium). — Sometimes  fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Flacourtiaceae  (Carpotroche,  Casearia,  Lindackeria,  Lunania,  Mayna,  Patrisia, 
Tetrathylacium).— Occasionally  fairly  distinct  on  cross  and  radial  sections, 
at  times  on  tangential. 
Gesneriaceae  (Drymonia). — Fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface,  but  moderately 

fine  on  cross  section. 
Guttiferae  (Chrysochlamys,  Clusia,  Rheedia). — Fine  to  fairly  broad  on  cross 

section;  sometimes  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Hypericaceae  (Vismia). — Distinct  on  radial  surface;  moderately  distinct  on 

tangential. 
Icacinaceae  (Poraqueiba). — Fine  to  moderately  broad  on  cross  section;  distinct 

or  fairly  distinct  on  radial. 

Juglandaceae  (Juglans). — Rather  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Lacistemaceae  (Lacistema). — Sometimes  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Lauraceae    (Acrodiclidium,   Ajouea,   Aniba,   Hufelandia,   Nectandra,   Ocotea, 
Persea,  Pleurothyrium,  Phoebe). — Fairly  distinct;  sometimes  conspicuous 
on  radial  surface. 


522 


TABLE  6  (concluded) 
WOODS  WITH  DISTINCT  OR  CONSPICUOUS  RAYS 

Lecythidaceae   (Gustavia). — Very  broad  and  conspicuous  on  cross  section; 

fairly  distinct  on  tangential ;  rather  high  and  distinct  on  radial  surface,  in 

some  species  producing  a  rather  conspicuous  silver  grain. 
Leguminosae     (Bauhinia,    Caesalpinia,    Calliandra,    Campsiandra,    Cassia, 

Copaifera,   Crudia,   Cynometra,   Dalbergia,  Dialium,  Entada,   Erythrina, 

Hymenaea,  Inga,  Lonchocarpus,  Macrolobium,  Piptadenia,  Schizolobium). 

— Fairly  distinct  to  broad  and  conspicuous  on  cross  section;  less  frequently 

very  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Lythraceae  (Adenaria,  Lagerstroemia,  Physocalymma). — At  times  appearing 

considerably  darker  than  background  and  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Malpighiaceae  (Bunchosia,  Byrsonima). — Low,  but  fairly  or  very  distinct  on 

radial  surface. 

Malvaceae  (Hibiscus). — Fine  or  fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  moderately  dis- 
tinct on  radial  surface. 
Melastomaceae  (Bellucia,  Leandra,  Tibouchina). — Fairly  distinct  or  distinct 

on  radial  surface;  moderately  broad  on  cross  section  in  Leandra. 
Meliaceae  (Swietenia). — Distinct  or  conspicuous  on  radial  surface,  where  they 

appear  either  lighter  or  darker  than  background  and  sometimes  add 

materially  to  the  figure  of  quarter-sawed  lumber. 
Menispermaceae   (Abuta). — Fine,  but  visible  on  cross  section;  distinct  on 

tangential  and  radial  surfaces. 
Monimiaceae  (Mollinedia,  Siparuna). — Fine  to  fairly  broad  on  cross  section; 

fairly  distinct  and  high  on  radial. 
Moraceae. — Sometimes  broad  on  cross  section;  fairly  distinct  or  distinct  on 

radial. 
Myristicaceae.— Sometimes  broad  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  radial  and 

often  very  coarse-celled. 
Myrsinaceae    (Rapanea). — Broad,  conspicuous,  and  widely  spaced  on  cross 

section;  fairly  distinct  on  radial,  considerably  darker  than  background, 

resembling  sycamore  (Platanus),  and  give  a  pronounced  silver  grain. 
Piperaceae    (Piper). — Broad   or   very  broad   on   cross   section;   distinct   or 

exceedingly  distinct  and  high  on  radial. 
Polygonaceae  (Symmeria). — Distinct  on  all  surfaces. 
Proteaceae. — Characterized  by  conspicuously  broad,  often  oak-like  rays  which 

show  on  tangential  surface  as  spindle-shaped  masses. 
Rosaceae. — Moderately  distinct  to  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Sabiaceae  (Ophiocaryon). — Fairly  distinct  on  radial  surface. 
Simarubaceae  (Picramnia). — Fairly  broad  on  cross  section;  moderately  distinct 

on  radial. 

Solanaceae. — Fairly  broad  on  cross  section  and  distinct  on  radial. 
Staphyleaceae  (Turpinia). — Moderately  distinct  on  all  surfaces. 
Sterculiaceae  (Sterculia,  Theobroma). — Have  strikingly  large  rays. 
Theophrastaceae  (Clavija). — Distinct  on  all  surfaces  and  suggesting  sycamore 

(Platanus) . 
Urticaceae. — Moderately  broad  on  cross  section;  fairly  distinct  to  distinct  on 

radial. 

Vochysiaceae  (Vochysia). — Rather  coarse  on  cross  section;  distinct  on  tan- 
gential; producing  a  fairly  distinct  silver  grain  on  radial  surface. 


523 


TABLE  7 
WOODS  WITH  "RIPPLE  MARKS"  OR  STORIED  STRUCTURE 

These  are  the  fine  transverse  striations  or  file-like  markings  appearing  on  the 
tangential  surface  of  woods  having  some  or  all  of  their  elements  in  horizontal 
seriation.  Such  a  structure  is  said  to  be  storied  or  tier-like.  Parenchyma  with  a 
definite  number  of  cells  per  strand  may  be  present  in  sufficient  amount  to  produce 
a  secondary  seriation  not  visible  without  lens. 

Below  is  a  list  of  families  and  genera  of  woods  with  storied  structure.  The 
asterisk  indicates  that  not  all  elements  are  storied. 


Bignoniaceae 

Crescentia 

Tabebuia  (Tecoma) 
Bixaceae 

Bixa 
Bombacaceae 

Bombax* 
Cochlospermaceae 

Cochlospermum 
Elaeocarpaceae 

Muntingia* 
Leguminosae 

Bauhinia 

Caesalpinia 

Dalbergia 

Dialium 


Leguminosae  (coni.~) 
Erythrina* 
Lonchocarpus 
Myroxylon 
Pithecolobium  (occ.) 
Poeppigia 
Pterocarpus 
Swartzia 

Malvaceae 
Hibiscus 

Meliaceae 
Carapa  (occ.) 
Cedrela  (occ.) 
Swietenia 

Moraceae 
Ficus  (occ.) 


Piperaceae 
Piper*  (occ.) 

Sterculiaceae 
Guazuma* 
Sterculia* 

Thymelaeaceae 

Schoenobiblus 
Tiliaceae 

Apeiba* 

Heliocarpus* 

Luehea 

Mollia* 
Ulmaceae 
Urticaceae 

Urera* 


524 


TABLE  8 
OCCURRENCE  OP  RAPHIDES 

Raphides  are  needle-like  crystals  of  calcium  oxalate  of  rather  wide  distribution 
in  parenchymatous  tissues  of  certain  dicotyledonous  plants.  According  to  Hess 
(Occurrence  of  raphides  in  wood,  Tropical  Woods  46:  22-31,  June  1,  1936)  the 
crystals  lie  parallel  to  each  other,  forming  sheaf-like  bundles.  They  sometimes 
occur  in  such  abundance,  as  in  some  members  of  Nyctaginaceae,  as  to  impart  a 
silvery  gray  color  to  a  freshly  sawed  surface.  Often  they  occur  in  the  phloem 
when  they  are  absent  from  the  xylem,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  them  in 
the  pith  also. 

Raphides  have  been  observed  in  the  following  Peruvian  woods: 
Dilleniaceae 

Curatella  americana  L. — in  ray  cells. 
Marcgraviaceae 

Marcgravia  sp. — in  ray  cells. 
Meliaceae 

Gilibertia  Williamsii  Harms — in  pith. 
Monimiaceae 

Siparuna  thecaphora  (P.  &  E.)  A.  DC. — in  pith. 

Nyctaginaceae — crystal  bundles  very  numerous  and  large,  often  readily  visible 
with  the  lens;  in  parenchyma  associated  with  included  phloem. 

Neea  divaricata  P.  &  E. 

Neea  floribunda  P.  &  E. 

Neea  parviflora  P.  &  E. 

Neea  Spruceana  Heimerl 

Neea  subpubescens  Heimerl 

Torrubia  myrtiflora  Standl. 
Rubiaceae 

Faramea  amplifolia  Standl. — in  rays  only. 

Faramea  anisocalyx  P.  &  E. 

Faramea  capillipes  Muell. 

Faramea  maynensis  Spruce 

Faramea  quinqueflora  P.  &  E. 

Faramea  rectinervia  Standl. 

Psychotria  alba  R.  &  P.— -in  rays  and  sometimes  in  wood  parenchyma. 
Sapotaceae 

Sideroxylon  Williamsii  Baehni — in  pith. 


TABLE  9 
WOODS  WITH  SPECIAL  STRUCTURE 

Laticiferous  tubes  or  cells  (connecting  with  vertical  tubes  in  the  bark  or  pith 

or  both) :  some  Anacardiaceae,  Apocynaceae,  and  Moraceae. 
Oil  cells:  Anonaceae,  Lauraceae,  and  Myristicaceae. 
Aggregates  of  resinous  cells  in  the  rays:  Myrsinaceae. 
Tanniniferous  tubes:  Myristicaceae. 


525 


TABLE  10 
INTERCELLULAR  CANALS 

The  following  notes  are  extracts  from  articles  published  by  Record  in  Journ. 
of  Forestry  16:  4:  428-441.  1918;  idem  19:  3:  1-12.  1921;  Tropical  Woods  4: 
17-20. 1925;  Timbers  of  North  America  72-81.  1934. 

The  common  forms  of  intercellular  canals  in  dicotyledonous  woods  are  usually 
known  as  gum  ducts,  although  their  contents  vary  greatly  in  composition  and 
may  be  resinous,  oily,  gummy,  mucilaginous,  etc.  The  canals  are  of  two  kinds  with 
respect  to  position  in  the  tree,  namely  (1)  vertical  or  axial,  and  (2)  horizontal  or 
radial. 

Vertical  canals  are  of  two  types,  as  regards  their  origin,  namely  (1)  normal  or 
natural,  and  (2)  traumatic  or  pathological.  The  latter  are  of  more  common  occur- 
rence than  the  others  and  appear  to  result  from  the  breaking  down  (gummosis) 
of  the  structure.  Such  canals  are  in  concentric  or  tangential  rows.  Normal 
canals  are  sometimes  solitary,  but  more  often  in  tangential  arrangement. 

Radial  canals  are  also  of  two  types,  which,  for  lack  of  a  better  classification, 
are  designated  as  (1)  small,  and  (2)  large.  Small  radial  canals  seem  to  be  of  normal 
occurrence  in  all  cases.  They  vary  considerably  in  size,  but  usually  are  large 
enough  to  be  seen  with  a  hand  lens  and  not  infrequently  by  the  unaided  eye.  The 
canals  have  oily  or  gummy  contents  which  are  likely  to  exude  and  stain  the  speci- 
men, thus  adding  decidedly  to  their  visibility.  Radial  canals  of  the  large  type  are 
empty  and  dry,  and  they  vary  in  size,  roughly,  from  that  of  a  pinpoint  to  0.5  inch 
in  height  and  0.125  inch  across. 

Radial  phloem  bridges  in  the  rays  of  some  anomalous  woods  may  appear  like 
large  radial  ducts,  especially  when  the  unlignified  tissue  has  disintegrated. 

The  families  and  genera  of  Peruvian  woods  having  intercellular  canals  are 
the  following: 


Vertical-normal 

Vertical-gummosis  type 

Radial-small 

Radial-large 

Leguminosae 

Bombacaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Copaifera 

Bombax 

Astronium 

Aspidosperma 

Boraginaceae 

Spondias 

Couma 

Cordia 

Tapirira 

Macoubea 

Combretaceae 

Araliaceae 

Maloueiia 

Terminalia 

Didymopanax 

Parahancornia 

Elaeocarpaceae 

Gilibertia 

Plumeria 

Sloanea 

Nothopanax 

Rauwolfia 

Lecythidaceae 

Oreopanax 

Tabernaemontana 

Lecythis 

Burseraceae 

Thevetia 

Leguminosae 

Protium 

Zschokkea 

Hymenaea 

Guttiferae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Macrolobium 

Rheedia 

Alchornea 

Malvaceae 

Croton 

Hibiscus 

Mabea 

Tetrasidad) 

Pera 

Meliaceae 

Sapium 

Carapa 

Solanaceae 

Cedrela 

Cestrum 

Melia 

Solatium 

Swietenia 

Myrtaceae 

Eucalyptus 

Rutaceae 

Citrus 

Zanthoxylum 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculia 

Theobroma 

Vochysiaceae 

Vochysia 

526 


TABLE  11 

TYPE  OF  PERFORATIONS  IN  THE  VESSELS 
(Arrow  indicates  tendency  from  prevailing  type) 


Family  Simple       Multiple 

Acanthaceae X 

Anacardiaceae X—* 

Anonaceae X 

Apocynaceae X 

Aquif  oliaceae X 

Araliaceae X—* 

Bignoniaceae X 

Bixaceae X— > 

Bombacaceae X 

Boraginaceae X 

Burseraceae X 

Capparidaceae X 

Caricaceae X 

Caryocaraceae X— > 

Chloranthaceae X 

Cochlospermaceae X— » 

Combretaceae X 

Compositae X 

Connaraceae X 

Dilleniaceae <— X 

Dichapetalaceae X— > 

Ebenaceae X 

Elaeocarpaceae X— > 

Erythroxylaceae X— » 

Euphorbiaceae X—* 

Flacourtiaceae X— > 

Gesneriaceae X 

Guttif  erae X 

Hypericaceae X 

Icacinaceae <— X 

Juglandaceae X— > 

Lacistemaceae X 

Lauraceae X— > 

Lecythidaceae X 

Leguminosae X 

Loganiaceae X—* 

Lythraceae X 

Malpighiaceae X 


Family  Simple     Multiple 

Malvaceae X 

Marcgraviaceae X— » 

Melastomaceae X 

Meliaceae X 

Menispermaceae X 

Monimiaceae <— x 

Moraceae X 

Myristicaceae <— x 

Myrsinaceae X— » 

Myrtaceae X 

Nyctaginaceae X— > 

Ochnaceae x— * 

Olacaceae X— » 

Onagraceae X— > 

Piperaceae X— > 

Polygonaceae X 

Proteaceae X 

Rhamnaceae X 

Rosaceae X— > 

Rubiaceae X— > 

Rutaceae X— » 

Sabiaceae x 

Salicaceae X 

Sapindaceae X 

Sapotaceae x— » 

Simarubaceae x 

Solanaceae X 

Staphyleaceae *-x 

Sterculiaceae X 

Theaceae <— x 

Theophrastaceae X 

Thymelaeaceae X 

Tiliaceae x 

Ulmaceae x— > 

Urticaceae x 

Verbenaceae x— > 

Violaceae <— x 

Vochysiaceae X 


TABLE  12 
WOODS  WITH  VESTURED  PITS 

In  certain  dicotyledonous  woods  the  bordered  pits  have  a  punctate  or  sieve- 
like  appearance.  According  to  Bailey  (Tropical  Woods  31:  46-48,  Sept.  1932; 
Journ.  Arnold  Arboretum  14:  259-293.  1933),  this  results  from  the  presence  of 
minute  but  highly  refractive  outgrowths  from  the  free  surfaces  of  the  secondary 
wall,  which  line  the  cavity  wholly  or  in  part.  Such  pits  are  referred  to  as  vestured, 
a  new  term  for  pits  with  cribriform  membrane. 

Among  the  families  with  vestured  pits  listed  by  Bailey  the  following  are  repre- 
sented in  the  Peruvian  collection: 


Apocynaceae 

Capparidaceae 

Combretaceae 

Euphorbiaceae  (Bridelieae  only) 

Leguminosae  (except  Bauhinieae) 

Loganiaceae 

Lythraceae 

Malpighiaceae 


Melastomaceae 

Myrtaceae 

Ochnaceae  (Exalbuminosae  only) 

Polygonaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Thymelaeaceae 

Vochysiaceae 


527 


TABLE  13 
NATURE  OF  VESSEL-RAY  PIT-PAIRS 

Pit-pairs  between  the  ray  cells  and  vessels  are  very  distinctive  and  while 
always  simple  on  the  ray  side  they  may  be  simple  or  half-bordered  on  the  vessel 
side.  According  to  Frost  (Bull.  Torrey  Bot.  Club  56:  259-263.  1929)  the 
parenchyma  member  of  a  vessel-ray  pit-pair  sometimes  has  a  narrow  border. 

Half- 
Family  Simple    bordered  Remarks 

Acanthaceae X  X  Often  elongated  and  in  scalariform  arrangement 

Anacardiaceae X  X  Large,  irregular,  resembling  scalariform  perfora- 
tion; the  two  types  together 

Anonaceae X  Small  or  large  and  covering  two  or  more  vessels 

Apocynaceae X 

Aquifoliaceae X 

Araliaceae X  Large,  irregular,  elliptical 

Bignoniaceae X  Small 

Bixaceae X  X  Simple  pits  sometimes  large 

Bombacaceae X  Large 

Boraginaceae X 

Burseraceae X  X  Very  large,  elongated 

Capparidaceae  ....  X  Varying  in  size  and  similar  to  intervascular  pits 

Caryocaraceae  ....   X  X  Small  to  fairly  large 

Cochlospermaceae .    X 

Combretaceae X 

Compositae X 

Connaraceae X  X 

Dichapetalaceae ...  X 

Ebenaceae X 

Erythroxylaceae ...  X  X  Small,  circular  to  much  elongated 

Euphorbiaceae ....   X  X  Few,  very  large,  rounded  or  elongated 

Flacourtiaceae  ....   X  X  Very  small 

Gesneriaceae X  X 

Guttiferae X  X  Large,  often  elongated  laterally  or  vertically,  to 

small 

Hypericaceae X  X  Usually  not  large 

Icacinaceae X 

Juglandaceae X  X  Numerous,  elliptical 

Lacistemaceae ....     X  X  Small 

Lauraceae X  X  Often  simple,  elongated,  and  more  or  less 

scalariform 

Lecythidaceae X  Small  to  large 

Leguminosae X 

Loganiaceae X  X  Often  large,  elongated 

Lythraceae X  Large  and  elongated,  often  in  scalariform 

arrangement 


528 


TABLE  13  (concluded) 
NATURE  OF  VESSEL-RAY  PIT-PAIRS 

Half- 
Family  Simple    bordered  Remarks 

Malpighiaceae  ....  X  Very  numerous,  small 

Malvaceae X  X  Mostly  small 

Marcgraviaceae  ...  X  Numerous,  minute 

Melastomaceae ....   X  X 

Meliaceae X  Very  small,  in  the  ray  side  often  elongated  and 

include  several  in  the  vessel 

Menispermaceae  .  .  X 

Monimiaceae X  X  Small  to  large  and  elliptical 

Moraceae X  X  Often  large  and  elongated 

Myristicaceae X  X  Large,  resembling  wide  gashes 

Myrsinaceae X 

Myrtaceae X 

Nyctaginaceae  ....  X  Often  elongated  vertically  or  laterally 

Ochnaceae X  Very  small,  numerous 

Olacaceae X  X  Often   very  large,   rounded   or   elongated,  and 

scalariform 

Onagraceae X 

Polygonaceae X  Large,   with  open  orifices,  with  transitions  to 

simple 

Proteaceae X  Very  small 

Rhamnaceae X 

Rosaceae X  X  Simple  pits  often  elongated  and  in  scalariform 

arrangement 

Rubiaceae X  Small,  often  in  reticulate  arrangement 

Rutaceae X  Those    in    parenchyma    often    lattice-like    and 

extending  over  2  or  3  in  vessel 

Sabiaceae X  X  Fairly  large 

Salicaceae X  Of  same  size  as  intervascular 

Sapindaceae X 

Sapotaceae X  X  Simple  pits  large,  elliptical  or  much  elongated 

Simarubaceae X  Large,  round 

Solanaceae X  X  Often  large,  the  two  types  together  or   inde- 
pendent 
Staphyleaceae  ....   X 

Sterculiaceae X 

Theaceae X  Fairly  large 

Tiliaceae X  X 

Ulmaceae X  X  Often  much  elongated  laterally 

Urticaceae X  X 

Verbenaceae X  X  Fairly  large 

Violaceae X  X 

Vochysiaceae X  Fairly  large,  variable  in  outline,  open-mouthed 


529 


TABLE  14 
TYPE  OF  RAYS 

Homo-  Hetero-  Number  of  Number  of 

Family                                              geneous  geneous  cells  wide1  cells  high '- 

Acanthaceae X  1-5  -40- 

Anacardiaceae X  1-6  Many 

Anonaceae X->3  -3-9  -100 

Apoeynaceae X  1-3  -15 

Araliaceae <— X  2-10  Few 

Bignoniaceae X— >  1-3  -15 

Bixaceae X  2-6  Few 

Bombacaceae X  2-9  Many 

Boraginaceae X  3-5  Few 

Burseraceae X  1 

Capparidaceae X-»  1-3  Few 

Caryocaraceae X  1-3-4  -50- 

Chloranthaceae X  Many 

Cochlospermaceae X  Few 

Combretaceae X  1  1-15 

Compositae X  2-5  Few 

Connaraceae X  1-3  Few 

Dichapetalaceae X  1-4  Few-many 

Dilleniaceae X  -15-  Many 

Ebenaceae X  1  Few 

Elaeocarpaceae <— X  4-6  Many 

Erythroxylaceae X  1-3  Few 

Euphorbiaceae X  1-3  Few-many 

Flacourtiaceae X  1-3-4  -75 

Guttiferae X  1-7  -90- 

Hypericaceae X  2-3  -90- 

Icacinaceae X  2-20  Many 

Juglandaceae X  1-3  -30 

Lacistemaceae X  1-3  -20- 

Lauraceae *— X  1-3  15-40 

Lecythidaceae X  X  1-9                  5-50 

Leguminosae X  X  1-4  Few-many 

Loganiaceae X  1-2  Few 

Lythraceae <-X  1-3  -25 

Malpighiaceae <— X  1-4  -20 

Malvaceae <-X  1-4  -30 

1  For  genera  with  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate  rays  see  Table  15. 

-  -20-  indicates  up  to  20  cells  or  more  high;  -40-  indicates  up  to  40  or  more,  etc. 

3  Arrow  indicates  tendency  from  the  average. 


530 


TABLE  14  (concluded) 
TYPE  OF  RAYS 

Homo-  Hetero-  Number  of  Number  of 

Family                                                geneous  geneous  cells  wide '  cells  high  -' 

Marcgraviaceae X 

Melastomaceae X  1-2  -30 

Meliaceae X  1-5  -50 

Menispermaceae X  Many 

Monimiaceae X  1-4 

Moraceae X  X  1-5  -50- 

Myristicaceae X  1-2  -40 

Myrsinaceae X  2-6  -40- 

Myrtaceae <— X3  1-2-  Few 

Nyctaginaceae <— X  1  Few 

Ochnaceae X  1-8  -40 

Olacaceae X  1 

Piperaceae X  -15-  Many 

Polygonaceae X  X  1-  -20 

Proteaceae X— >  2-10-  Many 

Rosaceae X  1-2 

Rubiaceae X  1-4  -40 

Rutaceae X->  1-4  -40 

Sabiaceae X  1  Few 

Salicaceae X  1-2 

Sapindaceae X  1-2  -20 

Sapotaceae X  1-3  Few-many 

Simarubaceae 1-5  -100 

Solanaceae X  1-4  6-25 

Staphyleaceae X  1-4  -50 

Sterculiaceae X  Few-many 

Theaceae X  1-5  Few-many 

Theophrastaceae X  -10-  -60- 

Thymelaeaceae X  1  Few 

Tiliaceae X  1-4  -40 

Ulmaceae X  2-3  Few 

Urticaceae X  3-4  10- 

Verbenaceae X  2-6  -20- 

Violaceae X  1-4  -100 

Vochysiaceae X  1-6  -100- 

1  For  genera  with  uniseriate  or  partly  biseriate  rays  see  Table  15. 

-  -20-  indicates  up  to  20  cells  or  more  high;  -40-  indicates  up  to  40  or  more,  etc. 

3  Arrow  indicates  tendency  from  the  average. 


531 


TABLE  15 
WOODS  WITH  UNISERIATE  OR  PARTLY  BISERIATE*  RAYS 

List  originally  compiled  by  Chalk  and  Chattaway,  to  which  many  additions 
have  been  made  by  the  author. 


Anacardiaceae 

Guttiferae 

Myristicaceae  (Cont.) 

Anacardium* 

Calophyllum 

Virola* 

Mangifera 

Lacistemaceae 

Myrtaceae 

Mauria 

Lacistema*  (occ.) 

Eucalyptus* 

Anonaceae 

Lauraceae 

Psidium  (occ.) 

Trymaiococcus 

Phoebe* 

Nyctaginaceae 

Apocynaceae 
Plumeria 

Lecythidaceae 
Lecythis  (occ.) 

Neea 
Torrubia 

Thevetia* 

Leguminosae 

Polygonaceae 

Zschokkea* 

Acacia  (occ.) 

Coccoloba 

Bignoniaceae 
Tabebuia*  (Tecoma) 

Bauhinia* 
Caesalpinia*  (occ.) 
Cassia* 

Triplaris  (occ.) 
Rosaceae 
Chrysobalanus 

Burseraceae 

Crudia 

Hirtella 

Crepidospermum 

Cynometra* 

Licania 

Protium 

Dalbergia* 

Parinarium* 

Capparidaceae 

Dialium 

Rubiaceae 

Capparis*  (occ.) 

Machaerium 

Murraya 

Crataeva*  (occ.) 
Steriphoma 

Caryocaraceae 
Caryocar*  (occ.) 

Macrolobium 
Myroxylon 
Pithecolobium 
Pterocarpus 

Sabiaceae 
Ophiocaryon 
Salicaceae 
Salix* 

Loganiaceae 

Combretaceae 

Strychnos* 

Sapindaceae 

Terminalia 

Potalia* 

Allophylus 

Connaraceae 
Connarus*  (occ.) 

Lythraceae 
Lagerstroemia* 

Cupania 
Matayba 
Talisia* 

Ebenaceae 
Diospyros 

Erythroxylaceae 

Malpighiaceae 
Spachea* 
Melastomaceae 

Sapotaceae 
Chrysophyllum  (occ.) 
Lucuma 

Erythroxylon*  (occ.) 

Bellucia 

Manilkara 

Euphorbiaceae 

Henriettella 

Simarubaceae 

Acalypha* 

Miconia 

Picramnia* 

Alchornea 
Aparisthmium* 
Cleidion* 
Codiaeum 
Hura* 

AJ.  OUTlTTa 

Ossaea 
Meliaceae 
Guarea 
Trichilia 

Solanaceae 
Cyphomandra* 
Thymelaeaceae 
Schoenobiblus 

Jatropha* 

Myristicaceae 

Tiliaceae 

K.JT     77  "     * 

Mabea 

Compsoneura* 

Mollia* 

Maprounea* 

Dialyanthera 

Violaceae 

Sapium* 

Iryanthera* 

Gloeospermum* 

532 


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VERNACULAR  NAMES 

Though  the  official  language  of  Peru  is  Spanish,  the  use  of 
Quechua,  the  ancient  language  of  the  Incas,  is  still  retained  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  sierras  as  well  as  by  the  Spanish-speaking  people 
of  the  montana. 

The  Incas  were  familiar  with  the  properties  and  economic  uses 
of  many  plants,  consequently  their  botanical  vocabulary  was 
remarkably  large.  As  they  did  not  have  an  alphabet  or  any  mode  of 
writing,  existing  Quechua  vocabularies,  first  written  phonetically  by 
Jesuit  missionaries,  exhibit  great  variation  in  spelling. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  include  here  the  English  equivalent  of 
some  Quechua  terms  that  are  used  in  connection  with  the  montana 
or  recur  with  frequency  in  the  succeeding  list  of  plant  names. 

allpa  or  ashpa,  earth  rumi,  stone 

caspi,  tree  or  wood  sacha,  forest 

chiri,  cold  sara,  Indian  corn 

cocha,  lake  sisa,  flower 

huasca,  vine  or  liane  uma,  head 

huayo,  fruit  ucsha,  grass 

parca,  double  urcu,  hill  or  ridge 

paccha,  cataract  or  rapids  yaco,  river  or  water 

pongo,  channel  or  narrow  entrance  yana,  black 

puca,  red  yunga,  worm 

quillo,  yellow  yurac,  white 

quiro,  tooth  yuras,  herb 

Since  the  conquest  of  Peru,  many  Spanish  plant  names  have 
been  introduced  and  are  widely  used.  The  common  use  of  both 
Spanish  and  Quechua  has  given  rise  to  many  hybrid  designations,  as 
the  Quechua-Spanish  "sacha-limon"  or  the  Spanish-Quechua  "remo- 
caspi."  In  addition,  the  Indian  tribes  along  the  Ucayali,  Maranon, 
and  Napo  rivers  and  their  tributaries  possess  distinctive  dialects. 

The  local  names  listed  are  those  in  use  in  northeastern  Peru  and 
include  many  terms  applied  to  herbs  and  shrubs  collected  but  not 
described  in  the  present  publication.  In  the  absence  of  a  standard 
orthography,  except  for  the  Spanish,  the  spelling  of  the  vernacular 
names  represents  the  author's  transcription  of  the  spoken  words. 

The  abbreviations  in  parentheses  indicate  the  probable  deriva- 
tion; thus: 

( A) = Aztec;  (C)=Cocama;  (I)  =  Iquitos;  (LG)  =  Lingua  Geral; 
(Q)= Quechua;  (S)  =  Spanish;  and  (Y)=Yahua.  Where  there  is  no 
indication  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  word  is  of  Spanish  origin. 


536 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


537 


Common  Name 

Abre-mano 

Achcu-ysman  (Q) 

Achiote  (A) 

bianco  (A-S) 
"       Colorado  (A-S) 

Achira  (Q) 

"      amarilla  (Q-S) 
"      colorada  (Q-S) 

Achuni-caspi  (Q) 

Achupa  (Q) 

Afasiquihua  (Q) 

Afas-quiro  (Q) 

Agrio 

Agua-moena  (S-Q) 

Aguano 

Airambo  (Q) 

Airana  (Q) 

Aji 

' '   de  solan 

'   quintillo 
Ajuela 
Albahaca 

Alcanfor  sacha  (S-Q) 
Alegria 
Alejandrina 
Alfalfa 
Algarrobo 
Algodon 


Allcu-ishanga  (Q) 

Almendrillo 

Almendro 


de  bajo 

Amanarapi  (Q) 
Amanga  (Q) 


Amaquillo  (Q) 
Amargo 

Amargo-caspi  (S-Q) 
Amarosoes 
Amasisa  (Q) 


Amchiponga  (Q) 
Amor  enredado 
Amorfina 

colorada 
Amor  seco 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Bauhinia  sp.  Leguminosae 

Gilibertia  Williamsii  Harms  Meliaceae 

Bixa  Orellana  L.  Bixaceae 

Bixa  Orellana  L.  Bixaceae 

Bixa  Orellana  L.  Bixaceae 

Canna  sp.  Cannaceae 

Canna  sp.  Cannaceae 

Canna  sp.  Cannaceae 

Rheedia  sp.  Guttiferae 

Aechmea  angustifolia  P.  &  E.  Bromeliaceae 

Peperomia  paucispica  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Pharus  glaber  HBK.  Gramineae 

Costus  spiralis  (Jacq.)  Rose.  Zingiberaceae 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees  Lauraceae 

Swietenia  macrophylla  King  Meliaceae 

Phytolacca  rivinoides  K.  &  B.  Phytolaccaceae 

Maprounea  guianensis  Aubl.  Euphorbiaceae 

Roupala  sp.  Proteaceae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  annuum  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  baccatum  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Spondias  purpurea  L.  Anacardiaceae 

Ocimum  micranthum  Willd.  Labiatae 

Zanthoxylum  sp.  Rutaceae 
Nothopanax  fruticosum  (L.)  Merr.     Araliaceae 

Rosa  indica  L.  Rosaceae 

Trichachne  insularis  (L.)  Nees  Gramineae 

Pithecolobium  Mathewsi  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Gossypium  barbadense  L.  Malvaceae 
Gossypium  barbadense  L.,  var. 

peruvianum  Cav.  Malvaceae 

Urera  laciniata  Wedd.  Urticaceae 

Cordia  nodosa  Lam.  Boraginaceae 

Caryocar  coccineum  Pilger  Caryocaraceae 

Caryocar  Tessmannii  Pilger  Caryocaraceae 

Terminalia  Catappa  L.  Combretaceae 

Caryocar  glabrum  Pers.  Caryocaraceae 

Cissus  sp.  Vitaceae 
Eucharis  grandiflora    Planch.   & 

Linden  Amaryllidaceae 

Rudgea  retifolia  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Mabea  subsessilis  Pax  &  Hoffm.  Euphorbiaceae 

Ambrosia  peruviana  Willd.  Compositae 

Cassia  chrysocarpa  Desv.  Leguminosae 

Desmodium  adscendens  DC.  Leguminosae 

Erythrina  esculenta  Sprague  Leguminosae 

Erythrina  glauca  Willd.  Leguminosae 

Erythrina  Ulei  Harms  Leguminosae 

Jacaranda  filicifolia  D.  Don(?)  Bignoniaceae 

Antigonon  leptopus  Hook.  &  Arn.  Polygonaceae 

Laivsonia  inermis  L.  Lythraceae 

Lawsonia  inermis  L.  Lythraceae 
Desmodium  adscendens  (Sw.)  DC.     Leguminosae 


538  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Amor  seco 
Ampato-huasca  (Q) 


Ana  (Q) 
Anallio-caspi  (S-Q) 

Ancu-sacha  (Q) 
Andara-caspi  (S-Q) 
Andiroba 
Angel-sisa  (S-Q) 
Anil 

Aninshipircuio  (Q) 
Anis 
Anona 


Anonilla 


Apacas  (Q) 

Apacharana'(Q) 

Apalo 

Arbol  de  navidad 

Arbol  del  pan 

Arean  (Q) 

Aripari  (Q) 

Aristas-poroto 

Arnica 

Arroz 

Arroz-quina  (S-Q) 

Asar-quiro  (Q) 


Asar-sisa  (Q) 
Asnac-panga  (Q) 
Ataca 

"     -casha  (S-Q) 
Atadejo,  Atadijo 
Atun-mullaca  (Q) 
Atun-rupinia  (Q) 
Atun-shicshic  (Q) 
Avilla 
Avocado 
Awa  (Y) 

Ayahuasca  (Q) 

Aya  manchana  (Q) 
"    mullaca  (Q-S) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Desmodium  axillare  (Sw.)  DC.  Leguminosae 

Oxalis  sp.  Oxalidaceae 

Anguria  triphylla  Miq.  Cucurbitaceae 

Cayaponia  tomentosa  Cogn.  Cucurbitaceae 

Cissus  sicyoides  L.  Vitaceae 

Cissus  spp.  Vitaceae 

Erythrina  sp.  Leguminosae 

Cordia  nodosa  Lam.  Boraginaceae 

Mendoncia  Lindavii  Rusby  Acanthaceae 

Sida  rhombifolia  L.  Malvaceae 

Sanchezia  Williamsii  Leonard  Acanthaceae 

Carapa,  aff.  guianensis  Aubl.  Meliaceae 
Caesalpinia  pulcherrima  (L.)  Sw.       Leguminosae 

Indigofera  suffruticosa  Mill.  Leguminosae 

Pariana  zingiberina  Doell  Gramineae 

Foeniculum  vulgare  Mill.  Umbelliferae 

Duguetia  Spixiana  Mart.  Anonaceae 

Rollinia  sp.  Anonaceae 

Xylopia  sp.  Anonaceae 

Anona  scandens  Diels  Anonaceae 
Tetrathylacium  macrophyllum 

Poepp.  &  Endl.  Flacourtiaceae 
Phytolacca   rivinoides    Kunth    & 

Bouche  Phytolaccaceae 

Moquilea  tomentosa  Benth.  Rosaceae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 

Phyllanthus  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 

Artocarpus  communis  Forst.  Moraceae 

Maprounea  guianensis  Aubl.  Euphorbiaceae 
Macrolobium  taxifolium   Spruce      Leguminosae 

Phaseolus  lunatus  L.  Leguminosae 

Cosmos  caudatus  HBK.  Compositae 

Oryza  saliva  L.  Gramineae 
Anthephora    hermaphrodita     (L.) 

Kuntze  Gramineae 

Isertia  alba  Sprague  Rubiaceae 
Hedyosmum  racemosum  (R.  &  P.) 

Don  Chloranthaceae 

Remijia  peruviana  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Phyllanthus  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 

Amaranthus  gracilis  Desf.  Amaranthaceae 

Amaranthus  spinosus  L.  Amaranthaceae 

Amaranthus  spinosus  L.  Amaranthaceae 

Trema  micrantha  (L.)  Blume  Ulmaceae 

Miconia  nervosa  (Sm.)  Triana  Melastomaceae 

Poraqueiba  sp.(?)  Icacinaceae 

Scleria  stipularis  Nees  Cyperaceae 

Sicydium  diffusum  Cogn.  Cucurbitaceae 

Persea  americana  Mill.  Lauraceae 
Cephaelis  barcellana  (Muell.) 

Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Banisteria  Caapi  Spruce  Malpighiaceae 

Banisleria  quitensis  Ndzu.  Malpighiaceae 

Lantana  Camara  L.  Verbenaceae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


539 


Common  Name 

Aya-murillu  (Q) 
"  -porotillo  (Q-S) 
"  -poroto  (Q-S) 

"  -shimbillo  (Q-S) 

"  -sisa  (Q) 
Azucar-huayo  (S-Q) 
Azul  mullaca  (S-Q) 

Bachata 
Bacuri  (LG) 

Balata  blanca  de  altura 
Balsa-mullaca  (S-Q) 

Baras-casha  (Q) 
Barbasco 


-caspi  (S-Q) 
legitimo 
Barbobaca 
Barilla 
Batatillo 
Begonia 

' '        rosada 
Be  ju  co-bra  vo 
Bella  Angelica 

Bellaco-caspi  (S-Q) 
«          «         « 

Bellaquillo  (S-Q) 
Bijauillo 


Bobensana 
Boca  de  leon 
Bolaina 
Bola-quiro  (S-Q) 

Bolina 
Bombonaje 


Scientific  Name 

Hibiscus  Abelmoschus  L. 
Cassia  occidentalis  L. 
Cassia  occidentalis  L. 
Cassia  Tora  L. 
Inga  sp. 
Tagetes  erecta  L. 
Hymenaea  palustris  Ducke 
Calyptrella  sp. 

Gonzalagunia  cornifolia  (HBK.) 

Standl. 
Cordia  heterophylla  Roem.  & 

Schult. 

Chrysophyllum  Klugii  Baehni 
Physalis  angulata  L. 
Physalis  pudescens  L. 
Desmoncus  prunifer  Poepp. 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.) 

DC. 

Tephrosia  toxicaria  Pers. 
Schoenobiblus  peruvianus  Standl. 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC. 
Desmodium  axillare  (Sw.)  DC. 
Sommera  sabiceoides  Schum. 
Ipomeaphillomega  (Veil.)  House 
Begonia  sp. 
Begonia  sp. 

Banisteria  quitensis  Ndzu. 
Rosa  indica  L. 

Plumeria  tarapotensis  Schum. 
Bombax  aquaticum  (Aubl.)  Schum. 
Thevetia  peruviana  (Pers.)  Schum. 
Calathea  altissima  (P.  &  E.) 

Horan 

Calathea  comosa  (L.  f.)  Lindl. 
Calathea  exscapa  (P.  &  E.) 

Koern. 

Heliconia  brasiliensis  Hook. 
Heliconia  hirsuta  var.  cannoides 

(Rich.)  Baker 
Heliconia  psittacorum  L.  f . 
Heliconia  Schumanniana  Loes. 
Monotagma  laxum  (P.  &  E.) 

Schum. 
Monotagma  laxum  var.   oblongi- 

folium  Macbr. 

Myrosma  stromanthoides  Macbr. 
Calliandra  angusli folia  Spruce 
Angelonia  sp. 
Guazuma  crinita  Mart. 
Astronium  sp. 
Schinopsis  peruviana  Engl. 
Muntingia  Calabura  L. 
Carludovica  palmata  Ruiz  &  Pavon 


Family 

Malvaceae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Compositae 

Leguminosae 

Melastomaceae 


Rubiaceae 

Boraginaceae 
Sapotaceae 
Solan aceae 
Solanaceae 
Palmae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Thymelaeaceae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Rubiaceae 

Convolvulaceae 

Begoniaceae 

Begoniaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Rosaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Marantaceae 
Marantaceae 

Marantaceae 
Musaceae 

Musaceae 
Musaceae 
Musaceae 

Marantaceae 

Marantaceae 

Marantaceae 

Leguminosae 

Scrophulariaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Elaeocarpaceae 

Cyclanthaceae 


540  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Bonita 

Borracho-sisa  (S-Q) 
«          «        « 

Bosquesito 

Boton  artificial 
"     -quihua  (S-Q) 
"     -quino  (S-Q) 

"     -sula  (S-Q) 


Botoncillo 

Brasilerina 
Brea-caspi  (S-Q) 
"  -huayo  (S-Q) 
Brinco  de  dama 
Bronce 
Bucacuru-caspi  (Q) 

Bujeo 

Buquet  de  novia 


rosado 


Caapi  (Q) 
Caballo-usa  (S-Q) 


Cacahuillo 


Cacao 


-senisa 
silvestre 


Cafe 
"     mashan  (S-Q) 

It  U  « 

Caimitillo 

Caimito 

Caju 

Calavera  mullaca  (S-Q) 

Calzoncillo 

-panga  (S-Q) 
Camesito 


Scientific  Name 

Chamaedorea  lanceolata  (R.  &  P.) 

Kunth 

Banara  mollis  TuL 
Psychotria  Williamsii  Standl. 
Cuphea  speciosa  (Anders.)  Ktze. 
Aster  laevis  L. 
Hyptis  savannarum  Briq. 
Hyptis  lantanaefolia  Poit. 
Hyptis  obtusiflora  Presl 
Hyptis  recurvata  Poit. 
Spilanthes  americana   (Mutis) 

Hieron 
Spilanthes  americana   (Mutis) 

Hieron 
Wedelia  trilobata  var.  pilosissima 

Blake 

Caladium  Humboldtii  Schott 
Codiaeum  variegatum  Blume 
Rheedia  sp. 

Symphonia  globulifera  L.  f. 
Cordia  sp. 

Rheedia  floribunda  (Miq.)  Tr.  &  PI. 
Clerodendron  Thomsonae  Balf . 
Lonicera  sp. 
Alocasia  indica   (Roxb.)   Schott, 

var.  metallica  Schott 
Miconia  longiracemosa  Gleason 
Miconia  pteropoda  Benth. 
Zebrina  pendula  Schnizl. 
Ixora  coccinea  L. 
Ixora  Finlaysoniana  Wall. 
Ixora  chinensis  Lam. 

Banisteria  Caapi  Spruce 
Pithecolobium  sp. 
Sida  cordifolia  L. 
Triumfetta  allhaeoides  Lam. 
Triumfetta  semitriloba  L. 
Theobroma  Mariae  (Mart.) 

Schum. 

Theobroma  subincana  Mart. 
Theobroma  Cacao  L. 
Theobroma  ferruginea  Bern. 
Theobroma  Cacao  L. 
Coffea  arabica  L. 
Monstera  falcifolia  Engl. 
Psychotria  ligustrina  Willd.(?) 
Abuta  concolor  P.  &  E. 
Lucuma  Caimito  (R.  &  P.)  R.  &  S. 
Anacardium  occidentale  L. 
Psammisia  guianensis  Kl. 
Luehea  tarapotina  Macbr. 
Luehea  tarapotina  Macbr. 
Rapanea  Sprucei  Mez 


Family 

Palmae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Lythraceae 

Compositae 

Labiatae 

Labiatae 

Labiatae 

Labiatae 

Compositae 
Compositae 

Compositae 

Araceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Guttiferae 

Guttiferae 

Boraginaceae 

Guttiferae 

Verbenaceae 

Caprifoliaceae 

Araceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Commelinaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Malvaceae 

Tiliaceae 

Tiliaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Menispermaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Ericaceae 

Tiliaceae 

Tiliaceae 

Myrsinaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


541 


Common  Name 

Camote 

"      -huasca  (S-Q) 
Campanilla 


Canastilla 
Canela-moena  (S-Q) 


Cana  de  azucar 

Caoba 

Capinuri 


Capirona 

"       del  bajo 
"         negra 

Capricornia 

Caracana  (Q) 

Cara-caspi  (S-Q) 

"     -huasca  (S-Q) 
Caracha-caspi  (Q) 


Carachupa-sacha  (Q) 

Caracucha  (Q) 
Carlota 
Carmelo 

Carnaval-sisa  (S-Q) 
Carrizo 


Cascabel 
Cascarilla 

"       amarilla 
Casha-huasca  (Q) 
-huayo  (Q) 
"     -mullaca  (Q) 
"     -punga  (Q) 
Castana 


Scientific  Name 

1 pomoea  Batatas  (L.)  Lam. 
Ipomoea  phillomega  (Veil.)  House 
I  pomoea  squamosa  Choisy 
Hibiscus  schizopetalus  Mart. 
Odontadenia    grandi flora    (Mey.) 

Kuntze 

Aristolochia  asperi folia  Ule 
Hibiscus  schizopetalus  Mart. 
Endlicheria  anomala  Nees 
Ocotea  laxiflora  (Meisn.)  Mez 
Ocotea  tarapotana  (Meisn.)  Mez 
Saccharum  officinarum  L. 
Swietenia  macrophylla  King 
Clarisia  nitida  (Allem.)  Macbr. 
Ficus  sp. 

Rudgea  cephalantha  Standl. 
Calycophyllum  Spruceanum 

Hook,  f . 

Cinchona  officinalis  L. 
Capirona  decorticans  Spruce 
Couepia  speciosa  Pilger 
Lindackeria  maynensis  Poepp.  & 

Endl. 
Anona  sp. 
Unonopsis  sp. 

Guatteria  phanerocampta  Diels 
Malmea  sp. 
Miconia  amplexans   (Crueger) 

Cogn. 

Miconia  dichrophylla  Macbr. 
Miconia  juruensis  Pilger 
Miconia  serialis  DC. 
Miconia  stenostachya  DC. 
Tachigalia  paniculata  Aubl. 
Miconia  minutiflora  (Bonpl.) 

DC. 

Plumeria  acuti folia  Poir. 
Rosa  indica  L. 

Borreria  latifolia  (Aubl.)  Schum. 
Jussiaea  nervosa  Poir. 
Lasiacis  ligulata  H.  &  C. 
Lasiacis sorghoidea  (Desv.)  H.  &  C. 
Olyra  latifolia  L. 
Pariana  zingiberina  Doell 
Clidemia  bullosa  (Spreng.)  Cogn. 
Crotalaria  nitens  HBK. 
Bonnetia  paniculata  Spruce 
Remijia  peruviana  Standl. 
Cinchona  officinalis  L. 
Cardiospermum  Corindum  L. 
Carpotroche  parvifolia  Macbr. 
Miconia  pileata  DC. 
Aechmea  angustifolia  P.  &  E. 
Bertholletia  sp. 
Terminalia  Catappa  L. 


Family 

Convolvulaceae 
Convolvulaceae 
Convolvulaceae 
Malvaceae 

Malvaceae 

Aristolochiaceae 

Malvaceae 

Lauraceae 

Lauraceae 

Lauraceae 

Gramineae 

Meliaceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 
Rubiaceae 
Rubiaceae 
Rosaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Leguminosae 

Melastomaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Rosaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Onagraceae 

Gramineae 

Gramineae 

Gramineae 

Gramineae 

Melastomaceae 

Leguminosae 

Theaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Bromeliaceae 

Lecythidaceae 

Combretaceae 


542  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Casu 
Catahua 

Caucho  bianco 

"     -mashan  (S-Q) 

negro 

' '     -renaco 
Caupuri 
Cayhua 

Cedro;  Cedro  bianco 
"      Colorado 
"    -pashaco 
Cerezo 
Cidraera 
Cidro 

Ciomba  huasca  (Q) 
Ciruelo 


"       de  la  China 
Citu-casha  (Q) 
Clavel  bianco 

' '      rosado 
«          « 

Clavenilla  rosado 
Clavero 

Clavo-caspi  (S-Q) 
'    -huasca  (S-Q) 

Coa 
Coca 

"    -sisa  (S-Q) 

Cocoloba 
Cocona 

Coconilla  colorada 
Cocopano 

Coliflor 

Collar-sisa  (S-Q) 
Comagre  colorada 
Conapi 

Congo-caspi  (Q) 
Copaiba 
Copal-caspi  (S-Q) 


Coral-sisa  (S-Q) 
Cordoncillo 


Scientific  Name 

Anacardium  occidentals  L. 
Erythroxylon  paraense  Peyr. 
H ura  crepitans  L. 
Sapium  sp. 
Sapium  sp. 
Castilla  Ulei  Warb. 
Ficus  Mathewsii  Miq. 
Virola  Weberbaueri  Markg. 
Cyclanthera  pedata  Schrad. 
Cedrela  fissilis  Veil. 
Cedrela  odorata  L. 
Poeppigia  procera  Presl 
Malpighia  glabra  L. 
Lippia  alba  (Mill.)  N.  E.  Br. 
Citrus  medica  L. 
Paullinia  solenoptera  Radlk. 
Bunchosia  elliptica  Tod. 
Spondias  Mombin  L. 
Spondias  purpurea  L. 
Bunchosia  elliptica  Tod. 
Sonchus  asper  (L.)  Hill. 
Lochnera  rosea  Reichenb. 
Lochnera  rosea  Reichenb. 
Dianthus  sp. 
Mirabilis  Jalapa  L. 
Cosmos  caudatus  HBK. 
Torrubia  myrtifolia  Standl. 
Mandevilla      scabra      (Schomb.) 

Schum. 

Borreria  lati folia  (Aubl.)  Schum. 
Erythroxylon  Coca  Lam. 
Securidaca     parvifolia     (Spruce) 

Chod. 

Schinopsis  peruviana  Engl. 
Solanum  sp. 
Solanum  sp. 
Alchornea  triplinervia  Muell.  Arg. 

var.  crassifolia  Muell.  Arg. 
Brassica  campestris  L. 
Remijia  peruviana  Standl. 
Costus  erythrothyrsus  Loes. 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC. 
Mayna  echinata  Spruce 
Copaifera  reticulata  Ducke 
Protium  Car  ana  March. 
Protium  crassifolium  (Rich.) 

Engl.(?) 

Protium  puncticulatum  Macbr. 
Rourea  camptoneura  Radlk. 
Piper  achromatolepis  Trel. 
Piper  arrectispicum  Trel. 
Piper  caballo-cochanum  Trel. 
Piper  cumbasanum  Trel. 
Piper  excultum  Trel. 
Piper  expolitum  Trel. 


Family 

Anacardiaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Myristicaceae 

Cucurbitaceae 

Meliaceae 

Meliaceae 

Leguminosae 

Malpighiaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Rutaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Compositae 

Apocynaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Caryophyllaceae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Compositae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Polygalaceae 
Anacardiaceae 
Solanaceae 
Solanaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Cruciferae 

Rubiaceae 

Zingiberaceae 

Leguminosae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Burseraceae 

Burseraceae 

Burseraceae 

Connaraceae 

Piperaceae 

Piperaceae 

Piperaceae 

Piperaceae 

Piperaceae 

Piperaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


543 


Common  Name 

Cordoncillo 


Cornesuelo 
Coronilla-sacha  (S-Q) 

Cortadera 


Coto-chupa  (Q) 
Cresta  de  gallo 
Crisantemo 
Cruz-chillca 
Cube  (Q) 

"    -barbasco  (Q-S) 
Cuburuchi 
Cucarda 
Cuchara-caspi  (S-Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Piper  falcatum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  fortalezanum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  granuligerum  Trel.  Piperaceae 
Piper  granulosum  Ruiz  &  Pavon      Piperaceae 

Piper  intosum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  iquitosense  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  lamasense  Trel.  Piperaceae 
Piper  Lehmannianum  (Miq.) 

C.  DC.  Piperaceae 

Piper  leucophaeum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  lineatum  Ruiz  &  Pavon  Piperaceae 

Piper  margaritatum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  martinense  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  nanayanum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  occultum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  oculatispicum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  pebasense  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  pervulgatum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  pothophyllum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  reductipes  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  riojanum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  san-roqueanum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  Sellertianum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  sericeonervosum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  Stuebelii  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  subsessile  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  tenebricosum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Piper  yurimaguasanum  Trel.  Piperaceae 

Cassia  Ruiziana  Vog.(?)  Leguminosae 
Achyrocline   satureioides    (Lam.) 

DC.  Compositae 

Scleria  bracteata  Cav.  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  Macbrideana  Gross  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  Martii  Steud.  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  melaleuca  S.  &  C.  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  microcarpa  Nees  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  reflexa  HBK.  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  secans  (L.)  Urban  Cyperaceae 
Scleria  sylvestris  Poepp.  &  Kunth     Cyperaceae 

Scleria  vaginata  Steud.  Cyperaceae 

Inga  plumifera  Spruce  Leguminosae 

Celosia  argentea  L.  Amaranthaceae 

Chrysanthemum  indicum  L.  Compositae 

Meriania  Spruceana  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC.     Leguminosae 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC.     Leguminosae 

Solarium  sp.  Solanaceae 

Hibiscus  Rosa-sinensis  L.  Malvaceae 

Psychotria  capitata  R.  &  P.  Rubiaceae 

Malouetia  furfuracea  Spruce  Apocynaceae 
Malouetia  furfuracea  var. 

grandifolia  Muell.  Arg.  Apocynaceae 
Malouetia   Tamaquarina   (Aubl.) 

A.  DC.  Apocynaceae 

Trophis  racemosa  (L.)  Urban  Moraceae 


544  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Cuchi-yuyu  (Q-C) 


Culantro 
Cumala  (Q) 


blanca  (Q-S) 
del  altura  (Q-S) 
huasca  (Q) 


Cumba-huasca  (Q) 
Cunchu-caspi  (Q) 
Cunshi-cashan  (Q) 


"     -huacran  (Q) 

Cunshu-huayo  (Q) 
Cupuassu  (LG) 

Curi-sisa  (Q) 

Curira  (C) 
Curuinsi-sacha  (Q) 


Challara  come 
Charachuela  (Q) 

Charapa  huatana  (Q) 
Charapilla 

"         huatana  (Q) 
Charca-peedia 
Charichuela  (Q) 


Chibo-caspi  (Q) 
Chibo-runtu-caspi  (Q) 
Chichara-caspi  (Q) 
Chiciae  panga  (Q) 

Chici-casha  (Q) 
Chicitilla  sacha  (Q) 
Chiclayo 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Boerhaavia  coccinea  Mill.  Nyctaginaceae 
Talinum     paniculatum     (Jacq.) 

Gaertn.  Portulacaceae 

Coriandrum  sativum  L.  Umbelliferae 

Eryngium  foetidum  L.  Umbelliferae 

Iryanthera  paraensis  Huber  Myristicaceae 

Iryanthera  Tessmannii  Markg.  Myristicaceae 

Neea  divaricata  P.  &  E.  Nyctaginaceae 

Theobroma  ferruginea  Bern.  Sterculiaceae 

Virola  cuspidata  (Benth.)  Warb.  Myristicaceae 

Virola  loretensis  A.  C.  Smith  Myristicaceae 

Virola  mollissima  (A.  DC.)  Warb.  Myristicaceae 

Virola  sebifera  Aubl.  Myristicaceae 

Virola  calophylla  (Spruce)  Warb.  Myristicaceae 

Iryanthera  juruensis  Warb.(?)  Myristicaceae 

1 pomoea  Batatas  (L.)  Lam.  Convolvulaceae 

Ipomoea  phillomega  (Veil.)  House  Convolvulaceae 

Paullinia  rhizantha  P.  &  E.  Sapindaceae 

Coccoloba  peruviana  Lindau  Polygonaceae 
Anisomeris  paniculata  (Bartl.) 

Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Xylosma  Salzmannii  Eichl.(?)  Flacourtiaceae 
Anisomeris  paniculata  (Bartl.) 

Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Strychnos  Poeppigii  Prog.  Loganiaceae 
Theobroma  grandiflora  (Willd.) 

Schum.  Sterculiaceae 
Stigmatophytton  brachiatum  Tr. 

&  PI.  Malpighiaceae 

Canna  sp.  Cannaceae 

Siparuna  guianensis  Aubl.  Monimiaceae 
Siparuna  thec.aphora  (P.  &  E.) 

A.  DC.  Monimiaceae 

Commelina  elegans  HBK.  Commelinaceae 

Faramea  glandulosa  P.  &  E.  Rubiaceae 

Mouriria  grandiflora  DC.  Melastomaceae 

Lunania  cuspidata  Warb.  Guttiferae 

Prockia  septemnervia  Spreng.  Flacourtiaceae 

Capsicum  baccatum  L.  Solan  aceae 

Pavonia  leucantha  Garcke  Malvaceae 

Phyllanthus  Niruri  L.  Euphorbiaceae 
Rheedia  floribunda  (Miq.)  Tr. 

&  PJ.  Guttiferae 
Rheedia  macrophylla  (Mart.)  Tr. 

&  PI.  Guttiferae 

Trichilia  flava  C.  DC.  Meliaceae 

Couepia  speciosa  Pilger  Rosaceae 

Lippia  virgala  (R.  &  P.)  Steud.  Verbenaceae 
Pseuderanthemum  leptorhachis 

Lind.  Acanthaceae 

Orophochilus  stipulaceus  Lind.  Acanthaceae 

Rhynchanthera  Hookeri  Naud.  Melastomaceae 

Echites  ovalis  R.  &  P.  Apocynaceae 

Vigna  unguiculata  (L.)  Walp.  Leguminosae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


545 


Common  Name 

Chicle 


Chillca-brava  (Q-S) 
Chimiqua  (Q) 


Chino-mashan  (S-Q) 
Chirapa-sacha  (Q) 


Chiric-sanango  (Q) 
Chirimoya 


Choleta-caspi  (Q) 
Chonchuela  (Q) 
Chonta-quiro  (Q) 
Chontilla 
Chope 

Chuchuhuasha  (Q) 

"  -mash  an 

(Q) 
Chupicara  (Q) 

Dalia 

Diablo-casha  (S-Q) 

Diamela 

DIspero  (see  Nispero) 

"       bianco 
' '       sacha 


Enredadera 


Entrada  al  baile 

Entrecasadas 

Erpes 

Escoba 

Escobilla 

Espada  pichana 


Scientific  Name 

Macoubea  paucifolia  (Spreng.) 

Mgf. 
Malouetia  Tamaquarina  (Aubl.) 

A.  DC. 
Zschokkea  sp. 

Eupatorium  amygdalinum  Lam. 
Ixora  Killipii  Standl. 
Perebea  Chimiqua  Macbr. 
Securinega  congesta   Muell. 

Arg. 

Croton  peruvianus  Muell.  Arg. 
Aegiphila  filipes  Mart.  & 

Schau. 

Aegiphila  peruviana  Turcz. 
Psychotria  calochlamys  Standl. 
Vernonia  scorpioides  Pers. 
Wulffia  baccata  (L.  f.)  Kuntze 
Rauwolfia  Duckei  Markgr. 
Anona  montana  Macfad. 
Anona  muricata  L. 
Anona  scandens  Diels,  var.  poly- 

chyla  Diels 

Faramea  capillipes  Muell.  Arg. 
Coussarea  ovalis  Standl. 
Pithecolobium  sp. 
Bactris  sp. 

Grias  Neuberthii  Macbr. 
Gustavia  caballoensis  Macbr. 
Heisteria  pallida  Engl. 

Guatteria  hyposericea  Diels 
Byrsonima  sp. 

Dahlia  rosea  Cav. 
Dahlia  variabilis  Desf . 
Xylosma  pilosa  Macbr. 
Jasminum  Sambac  (L.)  Ait. 
Calyptrella  cucullata  (Don) 

Triana 

Miconia  amazonica  Triana 
Graffenrieda  limbata  Triana 
Miconia  amazonica  Triana 

Antigonon  leptopus  HBK. 
Bougainvillea  glabra  Choisy 
Quamoclit  pennata  Voigt 
Securidaca  sp. 
Coleus  Blumei  Benth. 
Euphorbia  splendens  Boj. 
Tachigalia  paniculata  Aubl. 
Holcus  Sorghum  L. 
Combretum  Jacquinii  Griseb. 
Cor  chorus  pilolobus  Link 


Family 

Apocynaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Compositae 

Rubiaceae 

Moraceae 

Euphorbiaceae 
Euphorbiaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Compositae 

Compositae 

Apocynaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Palmae 

Lecythidaceae 

Lecythidaceae 

Olacaceae 

Anonaceae 
Malpighiaceae 

Compositae 
Compositae 
Flacourtiaceae 
Oleaceae 

Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Convolvulaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Labiatae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Gramineae 

Combretaceae 

Tiliaceae 


546  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Espina 


Espintana 


"         blanca 
Espuela-casha  (S-Q) 

Estoraque 
Estrella 


Estrellita 
Eucalipto 

Flor  del  angel 

"  de  betun 
"  de  cana 
"  de  las  once 

"  de  mediodia 

"  de  muerte 

"  de  paraiso 

"  de  pasto 

"  de  pifla 

"  de  sapo 

"  de  siempreviva 

"  del  sol 

"  de  la  viuda 


' '     variable 
Frijol 

Gallinazo-panga  (S-Q) 
Gallo-sisa  (S-Q) 
Game 


Garras  de  gato 
Ginsira-caspi  (S-Q) 
Goma  amarilla 

"   -huayo  (S-Q) 
Grama-chilluo  (S-Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Randia  armata  (Sw.)  DC.  Rubiaceae 

Randia  spinosa  (Jacq.)  Karst.  Rubiaceae 

Zanthoxylum  Sprucei  Engl.  Rutaceae 
Anaxagorea  pachypetala  (Diels) 

R.  E.  Fries  Anonaceae 
Cymbopetalum  Tessmannii  R.  E. 

Fries  Anonaceae 

Anaxagorea  pallida  Diels  Anonaceae 

Malmea  cuspidata  Diels  Anonaceae 

Duguetia  Spixiana  Mart.  Anonaceae 

Marcgravia  sp.  Marcgraviaceae 

Casearia  spinosa  Willd.  Flacourtiaceae 

Randia  armata  (Sw.)  DC.  Rubiaceae 

Randia  spinosa  (Jacq.)  Karst.  Rubiaceae 
Myroxylon  balsamum  (L.) 

Harms  Leguminosae 
Passiflora  quadriglandulosa 

Rodsch.  Passifloraceae 

Posoqueria  longiflora  Aubl.  Rubiaceae 

Hemionitis  palmata  L.  Polygonaceae 

Eucalyptus  sp.  Myrtaceae 

Caesalpinia  pulcherrima  (L.) 

Sw.  Leguminosae 

Hibiscus  Rosa-sinensis  L.  Malvaceae 

Cassia  chrysocarpa  Desv.  Leguminosae 

Portulaca  grandiflora  Hook.  Portulacaceae 

Portulaca  pilosa  L.  Portulacaceae 

Portulaca  sp.  Portulacaceae 

Asclepias  curassavica  L,  Asclepiadaceae 

Melia  Azedarach  L.  Meliaceae 

Sida  rhombifolia  L.  Malvaceae 

Rhoeo  discolor  (L'Her.)  Hance  Commelinaceae 

Isotoma  longiflora  (L.)  Presl  Lobeliaceae 

Gomphrena  globosa  L.  Amaranthaceae 

Helianthus  annuus  L.  Compositae 

Browallia  americana  L.  Solanaceae 
Gynandropsis  speciosa  (HBK.) 

DC.  Capparidaceae 

Hibiscus  mutabilis  L.  Malvaceae 
Caesalpinia  pulcherrima  (L.)  Sw.     Leguminosae 

Phyllanthus  grandifolius  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Senecio  sp.  Compositae 

Clusia  penduliflora  Engler  Guttiferae 

Clusia  Spruceana  Tr.  &  PI.  Guttiferae 

Desmoncus  spinifer  Poepp.(?)  Palmae 

Guettarda  ferox  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Uncaria  guianensis  Gmel.  Rubiaceae 

Chomelia  unguis-cati  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Coussarea  tenuiflora  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Vochysia  Haenkeana  Mart.  Vochysiaceae 

Sauvagesia  erecta  L.  Ochnaceae 
Setaria  geniculata  (Lam.)  Beauv.     Gramineae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


547 


Common  Name 

Gramalote 


Granada 
Granadilla 


Guanabano 
Guariuba  (LG) 

Guava 
Guayabo 

"       del  agua 
Guayabillo 
Gutapercha 

Herairo 

Higo;  Higuera 
Higuerilla 

negra 
Hiruhuaca  (Q) 

"        -caspi  (Q) 
Hoja  del  aire 

Hortensia 

Huaca  (Q) 

a       « 

Huacamayo  (Q) 

-caspi  (Q) 

-chico  (Q-S) 
Huacapu  (LG) 

Huacapurana  (LG) 


Huaca-shambu  (Q) 
Huachicu  (Q) 

Huainuna  (Q) 

Huairuru  (Q) 
Hualaja  (Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Echinochloa  polystachya  (HBK.) 

Hitchc.  Gramineae 
Hymenachne  donacifolia  (Raddi) 

Chase  Gramineae 

Oryza  latifolia  Desv.  Gramineae 

Paspalum  repens  Berg  Gramineae 

PunicaGranatum  L.  Punicaceae 

Gouania  trichodonta  Reiss.  Rhamnaceae 

Passiflora  coccinea  Aubl.  Passifloraceae 

Passiflora  laurifolia  L.(?)  Passifloraceae 

Passiflora  nitida  HBK.  Passifloraceae 

Passiflora  quadrangularis  L.  Passifloraceae 
Passiflora  quadriglandulosa 

Rodsch.  Passifloraceae 

Passiflora  riparia  Mart.  Passifloraceae 

Anona  montana  Macfad.  Anonaceae 

Anona  muricata  L.  Anonaceae 

Anona  nitida  (Allem.)  Macbr.  Moraceae 

Clarisia  nitida  (Allem.)  Macbr.  Moraceae 

Inga  edulis  Mart.  Leguminosae 

Psidium  Guajava  L.  Myrtaceae 

Psidium  sp.  Myrtaceae 

Psidium  sp.  Myrtaceae 

Sapium  Hippomane  Mey.  Euphorbiaceae 

Bauhinia  sp.  Leguminosae 

Cynometra  bauhiniaefolia  Benth. (?)  Leguminosae 

Ficus  Carica  L.  Moraceae 

Ricinus  communis  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Ricinus  communis  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Faramea  sp.  Kubiaceae 

Matayba  sp.(?)  Sapindaceae 
Bryophyllum  pinnatum  (L.) 

Kurz  Crassulaceae 

Hydrangea  opuloides  Koch  Saxifragaceae 

Aegiphila  peruviana  Turcz.  Verbenaceae 

Clibadium  remotiflorum  Schulz  Compositae 

Clibadium  sylvestre  (Aubl.)  Baill.  Compositae 
Ferdinandusa  chlorantha  (Wedd.) 

Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Coutarea  hexandra  (Jacq.)  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Sickingia  tinctoria  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Pithecolobium  Saman  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Lindackeria  maynensis  P.  &  E.  Flacourtiaceae 

Monstera  falcifolia  Engl.  Aracaceae 

Campsiandra  laurifolia  Benth.  Leguminosae 
Lacistema  aggregatum  (Berg) 

Rusby  Lacistemaceae 

Vismia  sp.  Hypericaceae 
Dichorisandra  hexandra  (Aubl.) 

Standl.  Commelinaceae 
Physocalymma  scaberrimum 

Pohl  Lythraceae 

Ormosia  coccinea  Jacks.  Leguminosae 

Zanthoxylumjuniperinum  P.  &  E.  Rutaceae 


548  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Huaman-samana  (Q) 
Huanabano 

Huangana-caspi  (Q)  ' 
Huapa-caspi  (Q) 

Huapapa-caspi  (Q) 
Huapariu  (Q) 
Huaranga  (Q) 
Huariuba  (LG) 
Huarmi-chuchuhuasha  (Q) 
"      -huarmi  (Q) 

Huasca-anona  (Q-S) 
"      -barbasco  (Q) 

"      -game  (Q) 
Huayo-chico  (Q-S) 
Huayhuash-chupa  (Q-S) 


Huimba 


-zapote  (Q-S) 


Huina-caspi  (Q) 


Huingo  (Q) 

"     -anona  (Q-S) 
Huiqui-caspi  (Q) 

Huira-huayo  (Q) 

"    -palto  (Q-S) 
Huisha  (Y) 

Huitillo  (Q) 
Huito  (Q) 

"     mullo  (Q) 
Huitoc  (Q) 

-quiro  (Q) 

Icoja,  Icoje  (Q) 

Icoje  (Q) 
Indano  (Q) 

"      Colorado  (Q-S) 
Ingaina  (Q) 

blanca  (Q-S) 


Scientific  Name 

Dictyloma  peruvianum  Planch. 
Anona  montana  Macfad. 
Anona  muricata  L. 
Heisteria  cauli flora  Sm. 
Lucuma  huallagae  Standl. 
Macoubea  paucifolia  (Spreng.) 

Mgf. 

Symmeria  paniculata  Benth. 
Heisteria  cauli  flora  Sm. 
Tessaria  integrifolia  R.  &  P. 
Acacia  Farnesiana  (L.)  Willd. 
Clarisia  nitida  (Allem.)  Macbr. 
Heisteria  pallida  Engler 
Compsoneura  capitellata  (Poepp.) 

Warb. 

Schefflera  Ulei  Harms(?) 
Anona  scandens  Diels,  var. 

polychyla  Diels 
Lonchocarpus   Nicou  (Aubl.) 

DC. 

Clmia  radicans  R.  &  P. 
Torenia  Crustacea  (L.)  C.  &  S. 
Setaria  Poiretiana  (Schulz) 

Kunth 

Setaria  vulpiseta  (Lam.)  R.  &  S. 
Quararibea  guianensis  Aubl. 
Bombax  aquaticum  (Aubl.)  Schum. 
Cochlospermum  orinocense  (HBK.) 

Steud. 

Bombax  Munguba  Mart. 
Cochlospermum  orinocense  (HBK.) 

Steud. 

Leonid  glycycarpa  R.  &  P. 
Crescentia  Cujete  L. 
Anona  sp. 
Zschokkea  peruviana  Heurck  & 

Muell. 
Carpotroche  longifolia  (P.  &  E.) 

Benth. 

Persea  americana  Mill. 
Miconia  calvescens  (S.  &  M.) 

DC. 

Dialium  acuminatum  Spruce 
Genipa  americana  L. 
Henriettella  stellaris  Berg 
Ficus  anthelminihica  Mart. 
Ilex  sp. 

Guatteria  sp. 

Unonopsis  floribunda  Diels(?) 
Swartzia  amplifolia  Harms 
Byrsonima  spicata  (Cav.)  Rich. 
Byrsonima  spicata  (Cav.)  Rich. 
Roupala  complicata  HBK. 
Mauria  suaveolens  P.  &  E. 


Family 

Rutaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Olacaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Olacaceae 

Compositae 

Leguminosae 

Moraceae 

Olacaceae 

Myristicaceae 
Araliaceae 

Anonaceae 

Leguminosae 

Guttiferae 

Scrophulariaceae 

Gramineae 
Gramineae 
Bombacaceae 
Bombacaceae 

Cochlospermaceae 
Bombacaceae 

Cochlospermaceae 
Cochlospermaceae 
Bignoniaceae 
Anonaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 
Laura ceae 

Melastomaceae 

Leguminosae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Moraceae 

Aquifoliaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Leguminosae 

Malpighiaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Proteaceae 

Anacardiaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


549 


Common  Name 

Insira  (Q) 
"    -caspi  (Q) 
"    -mashan  (Q) 
Inti-sisa  (Q) 
Intuto-caspi  (Q) 

"    -huasca  (Q) 
"     -moena  (Q) 

Iqui-caspi  (Q) 

Isa-paritsi  (C) 

Isangilla  (Q) 

Ishanga  (Q) 


blanca  (Q-S) 
del  agua  (Q-S) 

Ishpingo  (Q) 

Ishtapi  (Q) 

Ishunga  (Q) 

Isma-moena  (Q-C) 

Isula-caspi  (Q) 

"   -micuna  (Q) 


"   -micunan  (Q) 

Itauba  (LG) 

amarilla  (LG-S) 

"       negra  de  altura 
Itil  (Q) 

"   bianco  (Q-S) 
Itininga  (Q) 
Ituchi-caspi  (Q) 
Itulli-caspi  (Q) 
lumanasa  (Q) 
lumanasi  (Q) 

Jaboncillo 
Jacare-uba  (LG) 
Jagua 
Jazmin 


de  cabo 


Scientific  Name 

Chlorophora  tinctoria  (L.)  Gaud. 
Chlorophora  tinctoria  (L.)  Gaud. 
Crataeva  Tapia  L. 
Passiflora  setacea  DC.(?) 
Capparis  nitida  R.  &  P. 
Neea  subpubescens  Heimerl 
Solatium  sp. 
Aniba  sp. 

Zschokkea  peruviana  Heurck 
Tapirira  guianensis  Aubl. 
Pilea  microphylla  (L.)  Liebm. 
Boehmeria  pallida  (Rusby) 

Killip 

Fleurya  aestuans  (L.)  Gaud. 
Myriocarpa  densiflora  Benth. 
Pilea  hyalina  Kuntze 
Urera  baccifera  (L.)  Gaud. 
Urera  caracasana  var.  Miquelii 

Wedd. 

Urera  laciniata  Wedd. 
Urera  caracasana  (Jacq.)  Gaud. 
Urera  caracasana  (Jacq.)  Gaud. 
Jacaranda  sp. 
Jacaranda  sp. 

Fleurya  aestuans  (L.)  Gaud. 
Endlicheria  Williamsii  Schmidt 
Siparuna  thecaphora  (P.  &  E.) 

A.  DC. 
Crepidospermum  Goudotianum 

Tr.  &  PI. 

Miconia  prasina  (Sw.)  DC. 
Siparuna  guianensis  Aubl. 
Siparuna  plana  Macbr. 
Swartzia  pendula  Spruce 
Pseudolmedia  multinervia 

Mildbr. 

Acrodiclidium  sp. 
Mauria  suaveolens  P.  &  E. 
Mauria  suaveolens  P.  &  E. 
Monstera  falcifolia  Engl. 
Roupala  Dielsii  Macbr. 
Faramea  glandulosa  P.  &  E. 
Muntingia  Calabura  L. 
Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lam. 

Palicourea  lasiantha  Krause 
Calophyllum  brasiliense  Camb. 
Genipa  americana  L. 
Gardenia  florida  L. 
Jasminum  pubescens  (Retz.) 

Willd. 

Jasminum  Sambac  Ait. 
Gardenia  florida  L.     .>£-< 


Family 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Capparidaceae 

Passifloraceae 

Capparidaceae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Solanaceae 

Lauraceae 

Apocynaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Urticaceae 

Urticaceae 
Urticaceae 
Urticaceae 
Urticaceae 
Urticaceae 

Urticaceae 

Urticaceae 

Urticaceae 

Urticaceae 

Bignoniaceae 

Bignoniaceae 

Urticaceae 

Lauraceae 

Monimiaceae 

Burseraceae 

Melastomaceae 

Monimiaceae 

Monimiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Moraceae 

Lauraceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Aracaceae 

Proteaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Elaeocarpaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Rubiaceae 
Guttiferae 
Rubiaceae 
Rubiaceae 

Oleaceae 
Oleaceae 
Rubiaceae 


550  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Jebe  debil  fino 
"        "     muerto 

Jenjibre 

Jergon-sacha  (S-Q) 
it  «         « 

Juapina 
Kikinkaka  (C) 

Lagarto-caspi     bianco 

(Q-S) 
Latapi  (Q) 

"    -caspi  (Q) 
Leche-caspi  (S-Q) 
Lechuza-caspi  (S-Q) 
Limon  agrio 

' '     cidra 

' '     del  monte 

"     dulce 
Limulana 
Locura 
Loro  micuna  (S-Q) 


"    micunan  (S-Q) 
"    urcu(S-Q) 

Lucuma 
Lupina 
Lupuna 
Llaja 

Llajas 

Llama-huasca  (Q) 
Llantai 
Llanten 

Llausa-quiro  (Q) 
Lluicho-caspi  (Q) 

"      -vainilla  (Q-S) 
Lluillui-sacha  (Q) 
Lluvia  de  oro 

Macambo  (Q) 
Machacui-bordon  (Q-S) 
Machete- vaina 
Machinmangua  (Q) 
Machinsacha  (Q) 
Machusacha  (Q) 

mapichi  (Q) 
"  pichirina  (Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Hevea  brasiliensis  var.  janeirensis 

Pax  Euphorbiaceae 
Hevea  brasiliensis  (HBK.)  Muell. 

Arg.  Euphorbiaceae 

Zingiber  officinale  Rose.  Zingiberaceae 

Dracontium  loretense  Krause  Aracaceae 

Urospatha  sp.  .Aracaceae 

Cupania  cinerea  P.  &  E.  Sapindaceae 

Faramea  capillipes  Muell.  Rubiaceae 


Calophyllum  brasiliense  Camb.  Guttiferae 
Guarea  trichilioides  L.  Meliaceae 

Guarea  trichilioides  L.  Meliaceae 

Couma  spp.  Apocynaceae 
Trichilia  peruviana  C.  DC.  Meliaceae 

Citrus    aurantifolia     (Christm.) 

Swingle  Rutaceae 

Citrus  medica  L.  Rutaceae 

Siparuna  thecaphora  (P.  &  E.) 

A.  DC.  Monimiaceae 

Citrus  Limetta  Risso  Rutaceae 

Chlorophora  tincioria  (L.)  Gaud.  Moraceae 

Lagerstroemia  indica  L.  Lythraceae 
Ferdinandusa  chlorantha 

(Wedd.)  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Vismia  sp.  Hypericaceae 

Pseudolmedia  sp.  Moraceae 
Homolepis  aturensis  (HBK.) 

Chase  Gramineae 

Lucuma  sp.  Sapotaceae 

Crotalaria  retusa  L.  Leguminosae 

Trichilia  tocacheana  C.  DC.  Meliaceae 
Tetrathylacium   macrophyllum 

P.  &  E.  Flacourtiaceae 

Casearia  Poeppigii  Eichl.  Flacourtiaceae 

Clibadium  remotiflorum  Schulz  Compositae 

Plantago  major  L.  Plantaginaceae 

Plantago  major  L.  Plantaginaceae 

Heliocarpus  popayanensis  HBK.  Tiliaceae 

Lindackeria  maynensis  P.  &  E.  Flacourtiaceae 

Trichilia  Riedelii  C.  DC.  Meliaceae 

Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lam.  Sterculiaceae 

Philodendron  sp.  Aracaceae 

Galphimia  gracilis  Benth.  Malpighiaceae 

Theobroma  quinquenervia  Bern.  Sterculiaceae 

Dracontium  sp.  Araceae 

Bauhinia  spp.  Leguminosae 

Banara  guianensis  Aubl.  Flacourtiaceae 

Psychotria  rafescens  H.  &  B.  Rubiaceae 

Couepia  racemosa  Benth.  Rosaceae 

Sickingiatinctoria  (HBK.)  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Per  a  sp.(?)  Euphorbiaceae 
Tibouchina  ochypetala  (R.  &  P.) 

Baill.  Melastomaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


551 


Common  Name 

Macote 
Macusari  (C) 
Macusaro  (C) 

Madreselva 
Maicillo  de  altura 
Maiz 

"    de  Guineo 
Majambo  (Q) 
Malagueta 
Malva 


"    -masha  (S-Q) 
Manchinga  blanca 
Mangarila 
Mango 

Mango-micunan  (S-Q) 
Mani 
Mano  abierta 

Manzanilla 

Maqui-sapa,  Maqui- 
sapa-naccha  (Q-C) 

Maqui-sapa,  Maqui- 
sapa-naccha  (Q-C) 

Marano  (C) 

Maranon 

Margarita 

Maricahua  (C) 

Mariposa 

Mashishi  (Q) 
Mashu-huayo  (Q) 

"     -ricrou  (Q) 

"     -sacha  (Q) 

"     -shillo  (Q) 

"  -sisa  (Q) 
Mashunasti  (Q) 
Matapasto 


Mataro  (Q) 

Matayo  (Q) 
Mediodia-sacha  (S-Q) 
Meradiu  (Q) 
Meralla 

Micho-caspi  (Q) 
Micura  (Q) 

Miembro  viril  de  la  paca 
Millu-caspi  (Q) 
Millua-caspi  (Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Serjania  glabrata  HBK.  Sapindaceae 

Solatium  sp.  Solanaceae 
Siparuna  thecaphora  (P.  &  E.) 

A.  DC.  Monimiaceae 

Lonicera  japonica  Thunb.  Caprifoliaceae 

Lasiacis  ligulata  H.  &  C.  Gramineae 

Zea  Mays  L.  Gramineae 

Hokus  Sorghum  L.  Gramineae 

Theobroma  quinquenervia  Bern.  Sterculiaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Malachra  alceifolia  Jacq.  Malvaceae 

Malachra  ruder alis  Guerke  Malvaceae 

Triumfetta  semitriloba  L.  Tiliaceae 

Pavonia  paniculata  Cav.  Malvaceae 

MabeasubsessilisPsiX&  K.  Hoffm.  Euphorbiaceae 

Polianthes  tuberosa  L.  Amaryllidaceae 

Mangifera  indica  L.  Anacardiaceae 

Capparis  petiolaris  HBK.  Capparidaceae 

Arachis  hypogaea  L.  Leguminosae 

Philodendron  sp.  Aracaceae 

Xanthosoma  helleborifolium  Jacq.  Aracaceae 
Chrysanthemum  Parthenium  (L.) 

Bernh.  Compositae 

Apeiba  aspera  Aubl.  Tiliaceae 

Apeiba  Tibourbou  Aubl.  Tiliaceae 

Tococa  juruensis  Pilger  Melastomaceae 

Anacardium  occidentale  L.  Anacardiaceae 

Polianthes  tuberosa  L.  Amaryllidaceae 

Datura  sp.  Solanaceae 
Chelonanthus  acutangulus  (R.  & 

P.)  Gilg  Gentianaceae 

Cucumis  Anguria  L.  Cucurbitaceae 

Anguria  grandiflora  Cogn.  Cucurbitaceae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 

Couepia  racemosa  Benth.  var.  Rosaceae 

Pavonia  leucantha  Garcke  Malvaceae 

Passiflora  leptodada  Harms  Passifloraceae 

Anonocarpus  amazonicus  Ducke  Moraceae 

Cassia  sp.  Leguminosae 

Hyptis  mutabilis  (Rich.)  Briq.  Labiatae 

Hyptis  recurvata  Poit.  Labiatae 

Cassia  Ruiziana  Vog.(?)  Leguminosae 

Xylopia  aromatica  (Lam.)  Mart.  Anonaceae 

Cassia  viminea  L.  Leguminosae 

Blakea  Spruceana  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Dalbergia  inundata  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Peperomia  pellucida  (L.)  HBK.  Piper aceae 

Lippia  sp.(?)  Verbenaceae 

Petiveria  alliacea  L.  Phytolaccaceae 

Hilleria  latifolia  (Lam.)  H.  Walt.  Phytolaccaceae 

Miconia  prasina  (Sw.)  DC.  Melastomaceae 

Gloeospermum  sp.(?)  Violaceae 
Miconia  macrophylla  (Don) 

Triana  Melastomaceae 


552  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Millua-caspi  (Q) 
"     -mullaca  (Q) 


-shicshic  (Q) 
Minchi-pata  (C) 
Miniatura 
Misho-quiro  (Q) 

-caspi  (Q) 
Mishqui-panga  (Q) 

-uchu  (Q) 

Mito-micunan  (Q) 
Moena  (Q) 


del  agua  (Q-S) 
aguaras  (Q-S) 
amarilla  (Q-S) 


"      blanca  (Q-S) 


"     colorada  (Q-S) 

"      negra  (Q-S) 
Mojarra 


Mojarras-huasca  (S-Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Passi flora  trifasciata  Lam.  Passifloraceae 
Clidemia  dependens   (Pav.) 

Don  Melastomaceae 

Leandra  longicoma  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Maieta  Poeppigii  Mart.  Melastomaceae 

Miconia  nervosa  (Sm.)  Triana  Melastomaceae 

Miconia  pileata  DC.  Melastomaceae 

Inga  sp.  Leguminosae 

Olmedia  aspera  R.  &  P.  Moraceae 

Rosa  indica  L.  Rosaceae 

Alseis  peruviana  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Picramnia  macrostachya  Kl.(?)  Simarubaceae 

Renealmia  macrantha  P.  &  E.  Zingiberaceae 

Renealmia  Regnelliana  Loes.  Zingiberaceae 

Capsicum  annuum  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Psychotria  alba  R.  &  P.  Rubiaceae 
Acrodiclidium  armeniacum  (Nees) 

Mez  Lauraceae 

Croton  cuneatus  Kl.  Euphorbiaceae 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees  Lauraceae 

Guazuma  rosea  P.  &  E.  Sterculiaceae 

Heisteria  cauliflora  Sm.  Olacaceae 

Heisteria  cyanocarpa  P.  &  E.  Olacaceae 

Ocotea  maynensis  (Meisn.)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  Tessmannii  Schmidt  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  Trianae  Rusby  Lauraceae 

Phoebe  maynensis  Nees  Lauraceae 

Ajouea  Jelskii  Mez  Lauraceae 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees  Lauraceae 
Ocotea  tarapotana   (Meisn.) 

Mez  Lauraceae 
Aniba  amazonica   (Meisn.) 

Mez  Lauraceae 

Aniba  Williamsii  Schmidt  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  acutifolia  (P.)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  globosa  (Aubl.)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  maranonensis  Schmidt  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  pulverulenta  Nees  Lauraceae 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees  Lauraceae 

Endlicheria  Williamsii  Schmidt  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  globosa  (Aubl.)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  pulverulenta  Nees  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  grandifolia  (Nees)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  opifera  Mart.  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  rubrinervis  Mez  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  Trianae  Rusby  Lauraceae 
Acrodiclidium  armeniacum  (Nees) 

Mez  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  licanioides  A.  C.  Smith  Lauraceae 
Alchornea  triplinervia  Muell. 

Arg.  Euphorbiaceae 
Alchornea  triplinervia  var.  crassi- 

folia  Muell.  Arg.  Euphorbiaceae 

Alchornea  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


553 


Common  Name 

Montecillo 
Monte  Cristo 
Morera 
Mosqueta 
Mostaza 

Motelo-caspi  (Q) 
"      -huasca  (Q) 
"      -micuna  (Q) 

Mote-mullaca  (Q) 

Mucura  (Y) 

Muela  de  gato 

Muichipata  (Q) 

Muina  (Y) 

Mulla  de  la  Virgen 
"    -huasca  (S-Q) 
'    -huayo  (S-Q) 

"    -quillo  (S-Q) 
Mullaca 


del  ajo  (Q-S) 
"       azul 

"      -caspi  (Q) 

"       Colorado  (Q-S) 

grande  (Q-S) 
"      -huayo  (Q) 
Mullo-caspi  (Q) 
Municion-uchu  (S-Q) 
Murcu-huasca  (Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Asparagus  officinalis  L. 
Gomphrena  globosa  L. 
Solanum  sp. 
Rosa  indica  L. 
Brassica  juncea  (L.)  Coss. 
Rumex  crispus  L. 
Erythroxylon  Mamacova  Mart. 
Securidaca  longifolia  P.  &  E. 
Coussarea  tenuiflora  Standl. 
Cordia  laurifolia  Killip 
Petiveria  alliacea  L. 
Alseis  peruviana  Standl. 
Olmedia  aspera  R.  &  P. 
Nectandra  Pichurim  (HBK.)  Mez 
Coix  Lachryma-Jobi  L. 
Tournefortia  Schomburgkii  DC. 
Tetrathyladum  macrophyllum 

P.  &E. 

Cordia  corymbosa  (L.)  Don 
Clidemia  affinis  (Naud.)  Cogn. 
Clidemia  dentata  (Pav.)  Don 
Clidemia  dependens  (Pav.)  Don 
Clidemia  foliosa  Gleason 
Clidemia  hirta  (L.)  Don 
Clidemia  naevula  (Naud.)  Triana 
Clidemia  rubra  (Aubl.)  Mart. 
Clidemia  septiplinervia  Cogn. 
Clidemia  tiliaefolia  DC. 
Clidemia  Ulei  Pilger 
Gonzalagunia  cornifolia   (HBK.) 

Standl. 

Leandra  chaetodon  (DC.)  Cogn. 
Leandra  dichotoma  (Don)  Cogn. 
Leandra  longicoma  Cogn. 
Leandra  secunda  (Don)  Cogn. 
Miconia  aurea  Naud. 
Miconia  cannabina  Mgf. 
Miconia  Pilgeriana  Ule 
Miconia  stelligera  Cogn. 
Ossaea  boliviensis  (Cogn.)  Gleason 
Ossaea  bullifera  (Pilger)  Gleason 
Physalis  angulata  L. 
Psychotria  santaremica  Muell. 

Arg. 

Psychotria  capitata  R.  &  P. 
Clidemia  naevula  (Naud.)  Triana 
Salpinga  secunda  S.  &  M. 
Miconia  dichrophylla  Macbr. 
Miconia  prasina  (Sw.)  DC. 
Bertiera  parviflora  Spruce 
Muntingia  Calabura  L. 
Neea  floribunda  P.  &  E. 
Capsicum  baccatum  L. 
Marcgravia  Williamsii  Macbr. 
Rourea  amazonica  Radlk. 


Family 

Liliaceae 

Amaranthaceae 

Solanaceae 

Rosaceae 

Cruciferae 

Polygonaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Boraginaceae 

Phytolaccaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Moraceae 

Lauraceae 

Gramineae 

Boraginaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Boraginaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Solanaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Elaeocarpaceae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Solanaceae 

Marcgraviaceae 

Connaraceae 


554  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 
Murcuvarilla  colorada 

(Q-S) 

Muringa  (Y) 

Murushi  (LG) 
Mushusillo  (Q) 

Nairn  (Y) 

Naccho-huasca^(Y-Q) 
Naranja  acida 
Naranjillo 


Naranjo 

"        podrido 

Navidad  sacha  (S-Q) 
Nena  (Y) 
Niljilla 
Nina-caspi  (Q) 


Nispero  (see  Dispero) 

«          it         « 
«          a         n 

"      del  monte 
"      sacha  (S-Q) 


Nogal 

Nojarilla 


bianco 

(S-Q) 


Novia-sisa  (S-Q) 
Nowa  (Y) 
Nucnu-baras  (Q) 

-huasca  (Q) 
-huito  (Q) 

-mullaca 
-pichana 
Nudillo 


Nupu-uchu  (Q) 
Ocuera  (C) 


comun  (C-S) 
negra  (C-S) 


Scientific  Name 

Erythroxylon  lucidum  HBK. 
Miconia  amplexans  (Crueger) 

Cogn. 

Byrsonima  fluminensis  Ndzu. 
Pavonia  leucantha  Garcke 

Endlicheria  anomala  Nees 
Ogcodeia  Tessmannii  Mildbr. 
Citrus  Aurantium  L. 
Casearia  spinosa  Willd. 
Murraya  exotica  L. 
Nerium  Oleander  L. 
Citrus  Aurantium  L. 
Parahancornia  Amapa  (Huber) 

Ducke 

Hedychium  coronarium  Koen. 
Lacistema  Nena  Macbr. 
Bactris  sp. 

Capparis  petiolaris  HBK. 
Crataeva  Tapia  L. 
Leonia  glycycarpa  R.  &  P. 
Mabea  sp. 

Swartzia  pendula  Spruce 
Bellucia  grossularioides  (L.) 

Triana 

Bellucia  Weberbaueri  Cogn. 
Calyptrella  cucullata  (Don)  Triana 
Bellucia  grossularioides  (L.) 

Triana 

Graffenrieda  limbata  Triana 
Miconia  amazonica  Triana 

Miconia  amazonica  Triana 
Juglans  neotropica  Diels 
Mascagnia  ovatifolia   (HBK.) 

Griseb. 

Serjania  leptocarpa  Radlk. 
Swartzia  pendula  Spruce 
Anacardium  sp. 
Tapirira  sp. 

Banisteria  elegans  Tr.  &  PI. 
Coussarea  tenella  Standl. 
Coussarea  tenuiflora  Standl. 
Miconia  Donaeana  Naud. 
Scoparia  dukis  L. 
Axonopus  compressus  (Sw.) 

Beauv. 
Leptochloa  filiformis   (Lam.) 

Beauv. 
Capsicum  baccatum  L. 

Baccharis  oblanceolata  Rusby 
Vernonia  baccharoides  HBK. 
Vernonia  cordifolia  HBK. 
Vernonia  baccharoides  HBK. 
Oliganthes  Karstenii  Sch.  Bip. 


Family 

Erythroxylaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Malvaceae 

Lauraceae 

Moraceae 

Rutaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Rutaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Rutaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Zingiberaceae 

Lacistemaceae 

Palmae 

Capparidaceae 

Capparidaceae 

Violaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 
Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 
Juglandaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Leguminosae 

Anacardiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Scrophulariaceae 

Gramineae 

Gramineae 
Solanaceae 

Compositae 
Compositae 
Compositae 
Compositae 
Compositae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


555 


Common  Name 

Oje 

"    de  tucunare  (S-LG) 
Okuchi-huasi  (Q) 
Ollavaja  (Q) 
Omechuai-caspi  (Q) 
Oregano 
Oreja 

"    de  burro 

"    de  perro 


Ortiga 
Osurba  (C) 
Oveja-micuna  (S-Q) 

Pacai  (Q) 

"    guava  (Q-S) 
Pacunga 


blanca 
negra 


Paico 
Pa  jar 


-mullaca 
-umu  (S-Q) 


Pajarobobo  (Q) 

Palillo 

Palma  de  mullaca 

Palmiche 


"        de  bajo 
Palo  bianco 

"  de  balsa 

"  de  candela 

"  de  cruz 

"  de  diablo 

"  de  paloma 

"     de  sangre 
Paloma-chaqui  (S-Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Echites  speclabilis  Stdm. 
Ficus  glabrata  HBK. 
Casearia  timbuchi  Macbr. 
Hasseltia  laxiflora  (Benth.)  Eichl. 
Lonchocarpus  sp. 
Xylopia  aromatica  (Lam.)  Mart. 
Lippia  alba  (Mill.)  N.  E.  Br. 
Cosmos  caudatus  HBK. 
Bunchosia  elliptica  Tod. 
AristolorMa  truncata  Field.  & 

Card. 

Caladium  bicolor  (Ait.)  Vent. 
Urera  caracasana  (Jacq.)  Griseb. 
Couma  sp. 
Hyptis  mutabilis  (Rich.)  Briq. 

Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC. 

Inga  edulis  Mart. 

Bidens  cynapiifolia  HBK.,  var. 

portoricensis  (Spreng.)  Schultz 
Bidens  pilosa  L. 
Bidens  pilosa  var.  radiata  Sch. 

Bip. 

Bidens  riparia  HBK. 
Erechites  hieracefolia  (L.)  Raf. 
Bidens  cynapiifolia  HBK. 
Chenopodium  ambrosioides  L. 
Phoradendron  piperoides  (HBK.) 

Trel. 

Clidemia  hirta  (L.)  D.  Don 
Zschokkea  ramosissima  (Spruce) 

Muell.  Arg. 
Zschokkea  sp. 
Salix  chilensis  Mol. 
Tessaria  integrifolia  R.  &  P. 
Selaginella  stellata  Spreng. 
Sabicea  villosa   R.  &  S.,   var. 

adpressa  (Wernh.)  Standl. 
Chamaedorea  lanceolata  (R.  &  P.) 

Kunth 

Geonoma  aff.  piscicauda  Dammer 
Geonoma  paniculata  Mart. 
Alseis  peruviana  Standl. 
Miconia  Pilgeriana  Ule 
Ochroma  boliviana  Rowlee 
Crataeva  Tapia  L. 
Astronium  spp. 

Duroia  hirsuta  (P.  &  E.)  Schum. 
Alternanthera  Bettzickiana 

(Regel)  Standl. 
Brosimum  spp. 
Alternantha  Bettzickiana  (Regel) 

Standl. 


Family 

Apocynaceae 

Moraceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Anonaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Compositae 

Malpighiaceae 

Aristolochiaceae 

Araceae 

Urticaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Labiatae 

Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 

Compositae 
Compositae 

Compositae 
Compositae 
Compositae 
Compositae 
Chenopodiaceae 

Loranthaceae 
Melastomaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Salicaceae 

Compositae 

Selaginellaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Palmae 

Palmae 

Palmae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Capparidaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Amaranthaceae 
Moraceae 

Amaranthaceae 


556  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Palometa-caspi  (S-Q) 
-huayo  (S-Q) 

Palto 

' '    -shimbillo 
Pamashto 


Pampa-caucho 

"     -huacapurana 

(S-Q) 
-moena  (S-Q) 

' '     -oregano 

"  "      -mashan 

(S-Q) 
Pamparemo-caspi  (S-Q) 

Panguana-mullaca  (Q) 
Papayillo 

Papayo 
Papelillo 


Paralso 
Parilla 
Parinari  (Q) 


Pashaco  (Q) 


"      sinespina  (Q-S) 
Pasha-mullaca  (Q) 
Pashaquillo  (Q) 


Pati 
Patquina  (C) 


Paujil-chaqui  (S-Q) 
"    -huasca  (Q) 
"    -mullaca  (Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Coccoloba  Williamsii  Standl.  Polygonaceae 
Lacistema    aggregation    (Berg) 

Rusby  Lacistemaceae 

Persea  americana  Mill.  Lauraceae 

Inga  spp.  Leguminosae 

Aptandra  Spruceana  Miers  Olacaceae 
Manilkara  bidentata  (A.  DC.) 

A.  Chev.  Sapotaceae 

Sapium  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 

Campsiandra  laurifolia  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Endlicheria  Williamsii  Schmidt  Lauraceae 

Ocotea  Trianae  Rusby  Lauraceae 

Lippia  alba  (Mill.)  N.  E.  Br.  Verbenaceae 

Siparuna  Gilgiana  Perk.  Monimiaceae 
Duroia  longifolia  (P.  &  E.) 

Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Henriettella  stellaris  Berg  Lauraceae 

Guazuma  ulmifolia  Lam.  Sterculiaceae 

Momordica  Charantia  L.  Cucurbitaceae 

Carica  Papaya  L.  Caricaceae 

Codiaeum  variegatum  (L.)  Blume  Euphorbiaceae 
Tabernaemontana  divaricata  (L.) 

R.  Br.  Apocynaceae 

Melia  Azedarach  L.  Meliaceae 

Sommera  sabiceoides  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Allophylus  scrobiculatus  Radlk.  Sapindaceae 
Couepia  chrysocalyx  (P.  &  E.) 

Benth.  Rosaceae 

Couepia  Ulei  Pilger  Rosaceae 

Heisteria  densifrons  Engler  Olacaceae 

Acacia  paniculata  Willd.(?)  Leguminosae 

Acacia  polyphylla  DC.  Leguminosae 

Entada  polyphylla  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Macrolobium  acaciaefolium  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Piptadenia  flava  (Spreng.)  Benth.  Leguminosae 
Schizolobium  excelsum  Vog.,  var. 

amazonicum  Ducke  Leguminosae 

Cassia  multijuga  Rich.  Leguminosae 

Clidemia  dentata  (Pav.)  Don  Melastomaceae 

Acacia  sp.  Leguminosae 

Macrolobium  acaciaefolium  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Mimosa  sp.  Leguminosae 

Piptadenia  flava  (Spreng.)  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Pithecolobium  Spruceanum  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Crescentia  Cujete  L.  Bignoniaceae 

Caladium  bicolor  (Ait.)  Vent.  Araceae 

Dieffenbachia  alba  Lind.  &  Rod.  Araceae 

Dieffenbachia  humilis  Poepp.  Araceae 

Philodendron  sp.  Araceae 
Xantiwsma  Maffafa  Schott,  var. 

Poeppigii  (Schott)  Engler  Araceae 

Psychotria  viridis  R.  &  P.  Rubiaceae 

Dolichocarpus  Rolandri  Gmel.  Dilleniaceae 

Chrysophyllum  sp.(?)  Sapotaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


557 


Common  Name 

Paujil-ruru  (Q) 
'    -sacha  (S-Q) 
"    -singa  (Q) 
Pavoncito 
Pegopinto 
Pepino 
Pichana  albahaca  (Q-S) 

blanca  (Q-S) 
Pichanillo-huasca  (S-Q) 
Pichi-varilla  (Q) 
Pichico 

-caspi  (S-Q) 

Pichirina  (Q) 

Picuru-quina  (Q) 
Picurullu-quina  (Q) 
Piedra  con  piedra 
Pimiento 


malaguete 
Pina-quiro  (Q) 
Pingacui-sacha  (Q) 
Pingulla-shucush  (Q) 
Pinon 

"     negro 
Pinshi-caspi  (Q) 
Piri-piri  (Q) 


Pishco-huihui  (Q) 
"    -isman  (Q) 


-micuna  (Q) 

-moena  (Q) 
-nahui-muina 

(Y-Q) 

-pinguichi  (Q) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Guarea  fissicalyx  Harms  Meliaceae 

Connarus  Sprucei  Baker  Connaraceae 

Connarus  Sprucei  Baker  Connaraceae 

Caladium  Humboldtii  Schott  Araceae 

Spigelia  leiocarpa  Benth.  Loganiaceae 

Cucumis  sativus  L.  Cucurbitaceae 
Baccharis  trinervis  Pers.,  var. 

rhexioides  (HBK.)  Baker  Compositae 

Odmum  micranthum  Willd.  Labiatae 

Mikania  loretensis  Robinson  Compositae 

Xylopia  peruviana  Fries  Anonaceae 

Rudgea  retifolia  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Clidemia  affinis  (Naud.)  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Rudgea  fimbriata  (Benth.)  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Miconiaamplexans  (Crueg.)  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Vismia  spp.  Hypericaceae 

Begonia  sp.  Begoniaceae 

Alternanthera  Lehmannii  Hieron.  Amaranthaceae 

Phyllanthus  Niruri  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Capsicum  annuum  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  baccatum  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Capsicum  frutescens  L.  Solanaceae 

Lunania  cuspidata  Warb.  Flacourtiaceae 

Mimosa  pudica  L.  Leguminosae 

Olyra  heliconia  Lindau  Gramineae 

Jatropha  C ureas  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Jatropha  gossypiifolia  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Jatropha  gossypiifolia  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Aspidosperma  subincanum  Mart.  Apocynaceae 

Cyperus  chalaranthus  Presl  Cyperaceae 

Cyperus  diffusus  Vahl  Cyperaceae 

Cyperus  sphacelatus  Rottb.  Cyperaceae 
Dichromena  amazonica  (P.  &  K.) 

Macbr.  Cyperaceae 

Scleria  melaleuca  S.  &  C.  Cyperaceae 
Dichorisandra  hexandra  (Aubl.) 

Standl.  Commelinaceae 

Oryctanthus  botryostachys  Eichl.  Loranthaceae 

Phoradendron  Mathewsii  Trel.  Loranthaceae 
Phoradendron  quadrangulare 

(HBK.)  Krug  &  Urb.  Loranthaceae 
Phthirusa  paniculata  (HBK.) 

Macbr.  Loranthaceae 
Phthirusa  pyrifolia  var.  terminalis 

Macbr.  Loranthaceae 
Psittacanthus  cupulifer  (HBK.) 

Eichl.  Loranthaceae 
Oryctanthus  glomeratus  (Rich.) 

Urb.  Loranthaceae 

Phoebe  pichisensis  A.  C.  Smith  Lauraceae 

Nectandra  Pichurim  (HBK.) 

Mez  Lauraceae 

Inga  sp.  Leguminosae 


558  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Pisho  (Q) 
Piuca 

Platina-caspi  (S-Q) 
Playa-huasca  (S-Q) 

Plumaje 

"         de  la  reina 

Poroto 
Puapua  (Q) 
Puca-huayo  (Q) 

"   -ishanga  (Q) 
'   -Haja(Q) 

"    -mullaca  (Q) 


-quiro  (Q) 


"       ' '     -mullaca 

(Q-S) 

'   -rupinia  (Q) 
"  -sisa  (Q) 
'   -varilla  (Q) 

Pucchucu-pango  (Q) 
Puchcu-mullaca  (Q-S) 
Pucuna-caspi  (C-Q) 
"     -uchu  (C-Q) 
Puma-sacha  (Q) 

"    -sisa  (Q) 
Punga  (C) 
"      blanca 

"      de 

chamizal  (Q-S) 
"     -huasca  (Q) 
Pungara  (Q) 
Pupa-quihua  (Q) 
Purma-caspi  (S-Q) 

Puru-purillo  (Q) 
"   -puru  (Q) 


Pushiri  (Q) 
Puspu-poroto  (Q-S) 

Quillo-bordon  (Q-S) 
tt          «  n 

"    -casha  (Q) 
"    -moena  (Q) 
"    -sisa  (Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Crudia  parivoa  (Rich.)  DC. 
Purer aea  occidentalis  Trel. 
Heist  eria  cauli flora  Sm. 
Mikania  micrantha  HBK.,  var. 

cynanchifolia  (H.  &  A.)  Rob. 
Nephrokpis  pectinata  (Willd.) 

Schott 
Gynandropsis  speciosa  (HBK.) 

DC. 

Phaseolus  lunatus  L. 
Spirochaeta  Funckii  Turcz. 
Neea  laxa  P.  &  E. 
Fleurya  aestuans  (L.)  Gaud. 
Erythroxylon  paraense  Peyr. 
Clidemia  dentata  (Pav.)  Don 
Miconia  chrysophylla  (Rich.)  Urb. 
Salpinga  secunda  S.  &  M. 
Maieta  Poeppigii  Mart. 
Sickingia  tinctoria  (HBK.)  Schum. 
Sickingia  Williamsii  Standl. 

Maieta  guianensis  Aubl. 
Eugenia  sp.(?) 

Warscewiczia  coccinea  (Vahl)  Kl. 
Adenaria  floribunda  HBK. 
Stylogyne  amplifolia  Macbr. 
Costus  Puchucupango  Macbr. 
Sabicea  villosa  R.  &  S. 
Lucuma  bifera  Molina 
Capsicum  annuum  L. 
Croton  cuneatus  Kl. 
Acalypha  stricta  P.  &  E. 
Bombax  Munguba  Mart.  &  Zucc. 
Bombax  Munguba  Mart.  &  Zucc. 

Bombax  paraense  Ducke(?) 
Banisteria  Caapi  Spruce 
Cecropia  Tessmannii  Mildbr. 
Sipanea  hispida  Benth. 
Miconia  sp. 

Vernonia  baccharoides  HBK. 
Passiflora  foetida  Veil.,  var.  bara- 

quiniana  (Lam.)  Killip 
Passiflora  foetida  Veil.,  var.  bara- 

quiniana  (Lam.)  Killip 
Passiflora  nitida  HBK. 
Aniba  amazonica  (Meisn.)  Mez 
Cajanus  bicolor  DC. 

Aspidosperma  subincanum  Mart. 
Casearia  sp. 

Zanthoxylum  Ruizianum  Kl. 
Aniba  amazonica  (Meisn.)  Mez 
Byrsonima  spicata  (Cav<)  Rich. 
Cassia  racemosa  Willd. 


Family 

Leguminosae 

Amaryllidaceae 

Olacaceae 

Compositae 
Polypodiaceae 

Capparidaceae 

Leguminosae 

Compositae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Urticaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Myrtaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Lythraceae 

Myrsinaceae 

Zingiberaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Solanaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Moraceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Compositae 

Passifloraceae 

Passifloraceae 
Passifloraceae 
Lauraceae 
Leguminosae 

Apocynaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Rutaceae 

Lauraceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Leguminosae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


559 


Common  Name 

Quillo-sisa  (Q) 


Quina  (Q) 

"     -quina  (Q) 


Quinilla  (Q) 


blanca  (Q-S) 
colorada  (Q-S) 

"        de  tahuampa 

Racta-panga  (Q) 

Ramia 

Rastrera 

Raton-caspi  (S-Q) 
Ravesillu 
Raya-caspi  (S-Q) 


Remo-caspi  (S-Q) 
Renaco 


"     -caspi  (S-Q) 
Renaquillo 


Requia  (Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Cochlospermum  orinocense  (HBK.) 

Steud. 
Palicourea  macrobotrys  (R.  &  P.) 

R.  &S. 

Cassia  multijuga  Rich. 
Zschokkea  sp. 
Capparis  Quina  Macbr. 
Cinchona  officinalis  L. 
Lucuma  dolichophylla  Standl. 
Zschokkea  ramosissima  (Spruce) 

Muell.  Arg. 

Bothriospora  corymbosa  Hook.  f. 
Duroia  longifolia  (P.  &  E.) 

Schum. 

Hirtella  triandra  Sw. 
Manilkara  bidentata  (A.  DC.) 

A.  Chev. 

Sideroxylon  Ulei  Krause 
Warscewiczia  coccinea  (Vahl)  Kl. 
Calliandra  angustifolia  Spruce 
Heisteria  cauli flora  Sm. 
Lucuma  dolichophylla  Standl. 
Lindackeria  maynensis  P.  &  E. 
Manilkara  bidentata  (A.  DC.) 

A.  Chev. 
Phyllanthus  sp. 

Curatella  americana  L. 

Inga  sp. 

Dicranopteris  pectinata  (Willd.) 

Underw. 

Hasseltia  laxiflora  (Benth.)  Eichl. 
Lasiacis  ligulata  H.  &  C. 
Ranara  guianensis  Aubl. 
Malouetia  sp. 

Pithecolobium  laetum  Benth. 
Posoqueria  longifolia  Aubl. 
Rudgea  amazonica  Muell.  Arg.(?) 
Tocoyena  amazonica  Standl. 
Zanthoxylum  sp. 
Pilhecolobium  laetum  Benth. 
Clusia  insignis  Mart.(?) 
Ficus  gemina  Ruiz 
Ficus  glabrata  HBK. 
Ficus  Mathewsii  Miq. 
Ficus  paraensis  Miq. 
Ficus  Ruiziana  Standl. 
Ficus  Weberbaueri  Standl. 
Coussapoa  grandiceps  Killip 
Clusia  renggerioides  Tr.  &  PI. 
Clusia  Spruceana  Tr.  &  PI. 
Ficus  caballina  Standl. 
Ficus  decussata  R.  &  P. 
Ficus  Mathewsii  Miq. 
Guarea  trichilioides  L. 


Family 

Cochlospermaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Apocynaceae 

Capparidaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Apocynaceae 
Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 
Rosaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Olacaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Sapotaceae 
Euphorbiaceae 

Dilleniaceae 
Leguminosae 

Gleicheniaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Gramineae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Leguminosae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rutaceae 

Leguminosae 

Guttiferae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Guttiferae 

Guttiferae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Moraceae 

Meliaceae 


560  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Retama 


Retamilla 


Rifari  (Q) 


Romero 
Rosa 


cana 

de  Castilla 


Rosario 

Rosca-shimbillo 
Rucurana  (Q) 

Ruda 
Rufindi 

Ruipato-huasca  (Q) 
Rumisapa  (Q) 
Rumo-caspi  (Q) 
Rumu-barbasco  (Q) 
Runtu-mullaca  (Q) 
Rupinia  (Q) 
Ruturi  (Q) 


Sabino 

Sacha-anona  (Q-S) 

"  -caimito  (Q-S) 

"  -caspi  (Q) 

"  -chullcu  (Q) 

"  -culantro  (Q-S) 

"  -gaito  (Q-S) 

"  -guayaba  (Q-S) 

"  -huaca  (Q) 

"  -huiro  (Q) 

"  -indana  (Q) 

"  -limon  (Q-S) 

"  -mancua  (Q) 

"  -manga  (Q-S) 

"  -mangua  (Q) 

"  -mullaca  (Q) 

"  -paico  (Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Cassia  marginata  Willd. 
Cassia  occidentalis  L. 
Cassia  reticulata  Willd. 
Crotalaria  nitens  HBK. 
Cassia  leiophylla  Vog. 
Cassia  occidentalis  L. 
Cassia  viminea  L. 
Anisomeris  paniculata  (Bartl.) 

Standl. 

Miconia  longifolia  (Aubl.)  DC. 
Miconia  Poeppigii  Triana 
Terminalia  oblonga  Steud. 
Trichilia  tocacheana  C.  DC. 
Rosmarinus  officinalis  L. 
Rosa  indica  L. 
.Rosa  indica  L. 
Rosa  indica  L. 
Dahlia  variabilis  Desf. 
Tagetes  erecta  L. 
Tagetes  erecta  L. 
Inga  velutina  Willd. 
Aparisthmium  cordatum  (Juss.) 

Baill. 

Ruta  chalapensis  L. 
Inga  punctata  Willd. 
Cissus  sicyoides  L. 
Psychotria  alba  R.  &  P. 
Adenaria  floribunda  HBK. 
Lonchocarpus  Nicou  (Aubl.)  DC. 
Clidemia  dentata  (Pav.)  Don 
Miconia  Poeppigii  Triana 
Heliconia  rostrata  R.  &  P. 
Heliconia  Schumanniana  Loes.(?) 

Xylopia  sp.(?) 

Anona  Tessmannii  Diels 

Lucuma  sp. 

Duroia  hirsuta  (P.  &  E.)  Schum. 

Peperomia  elegantifolia  Trel. 

Peperomia  non-alata  Trel. 

Talinum  paniculatum  (Jacq.) 

Gaertn. 
Solanum  sp. 
Psidium  sp. 
Clibadium  remotiflorum  O.  E. 

Schulz 

Dimerocostus  Tessmannii  Loes. 
Clusia  penduliflora  Engler 
Siparuna  thecaphora  (P.  &  E.) 

A.  DC. 

Sida  rhombifolia  L. 
Gustavia  sp. 
Potalia  amara  Aubl. 
Tococa  lasiostyla  Cogn. 
Caladium  bicolor  (Ait.)  Vent. 


Family 

Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Combretaceae 

Meliaceae 

Labiatae 

Rosaceae 

Rosaceae 

Rosaceae 

Compositae 

Compositae 

Compositae 

Leguminosae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Rutaceae 

Leguminosae 

Vitaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Lythraceae 

Leguminosae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Musaceae 

Musaceae 

Anonaceae 
Anonaceae 
Sapotaceae 
Rubiaceae 
Piperaceae 
Piperaceae 

Portulacaceae 

Solanaceae 

Myrtaceae 

Compositae 
Zingiberaceae 
Guttiferae 

Monimiaceae 

Malvaceae 

Lecythidaceae 

Loganiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Araceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


561 


Common  Name 

Sacha-papa  (Q-S) 

"    -rumu  (Q) 
"    -umari  (Q) 

"    -uva  (Q-S) 
"    -uvilla(Q-S) 

"    -vaca  (Q-S) 
"       "    -quina  (Q-S) 
"    -yuchi  (Q) 
"    -yuchiqui  (Q) 
"    -yuyu  (Q-C) 

Salida  del  baile 

Salvaca 

Sanango  (Q) 

de  bajo  (Q-S) 
sacha  (S-Q) 
Sananguillo  (Q) 
Sandia 
Sangapilla 
Sangre  de  dragon 
Sanipanga 
Sanquillo  (Q) 
Santa  Maria 

"     mullaca 

"     Rosa  sisa  (Q-S) 

Sapaelis 
Sapallo 

Sapechihua  (Q) 

«  << 

Sapo-huasca  (S-Q) 

"  -maqui  (S-Q) 

"  -quina 

"  -shimbillo 
Sardina  mullaca  (S-Q) 
Sauce 
Sauco 


Seacun-quihua  (Q) 

Secona 

Selia 

Serpentina 

Setico 


de  oyada 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Bidens  cynapiifolia  var.  portori- 

censis  (Spreng.)  Schulz  Compositae 

Cissus  sp.  Vitaceae 

Manihot  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 
Couepia  chrysocalyx  (P.  &  E.) 

Benth.  Rosaceae 
Didymopanax  Morototoni  (Aubl.) 

Dene.  &  Planch.  Araliaceae 

Oreopanax  Williamsii  Harms  Araliaceae 

Pourouma  Ulei  Warb.  Moraceae 

Clibadium  remotiflorum  Schulz  Compositae 

Anguria  triphylla  Miq.  Cucurbitaceae 

Plukenetia  volubilis  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Plukenetia  volubilis  L.  Euphorbiaceae 

Peperomia  pellucida  (L.)  HBK.  Piperaceae 

Coleus  Blumei  Benth.  Labiatae 

Ocimum  micranthum  Willd.  Labiatae 

Tabernaemontana  Sananho  R.  &  P.  Apocynaceae 

Abuta  concolor  P.  &  E.  Menispermaceae 

Rudgea  cephalantha  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Petraea  sp.  Verbenaceae 
Tabernaemontana  Sananho  R.  &  P.  Apocynaceae 

Passiflora  aristulata  Mart.(?)  Passifloraceae 

Cyclanthus  bipartitus  Poit.  Cyclanthaceae 

Croton  palanostigma  Klotzsch  Euphorbiaceae 

Picramnia  lineata  Macbr.  Simarubaceae 

Mikania  micrantha  HBK.  Compositae 

Piper  peltatum  L.  Piperaceae 

Leandra  secunda  (Don)  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 
Tibouchina  ochypetala  (R.  &  P.) 

Baill.  Melastomaceae 

Cucurbita  Pepo  L.  Cucurbitaceae 

Cucurbila  moschata  Duch.  Cucurbitaceae 

Cassia  marginata  Willd.  Leguminosae 

Cassia  reticulata  Willd.  Leguminosae 

Dalechampia  dioscoreifolia  P.  &  E.  Euphorbiaceae 

Paullinia  caloptera  Radlk.  Sapindaceae 

Selaginella  stellata  Spreng.  Selaginellaceae 

Coccocypselum  hirsuium  Bartl.  Rubiaceae 

Inga  sp.  Leguminosae 

Miconia  nervosa  (Sm.)  Triana  Melastomaceae 

Salix  chilensis  Mol.  Tiliaceae 
Condaminea  corymbosa  (R.  &  P.) 

DC.  Rubiaceae 
Sambucus  mexicana  var.  bipinnata 

(S.  &  C.)  Schwerin  Caprifoliaceae 

Kohleria  peruviana  Fritsch  Gesneriaceae 

Sicana  odorifera  Naud.  Cucurbitaceae 

Platymiscium  sp.(?)  Leguminosae 
Nephrolepis  rivularis  (Vahl) 

Mett.  Polypodiaceae 

Cecropia  latifolia  Miq.  Moraceae 

Cecropia  leucocoma  Miq.  Moraceae 

Cecropia  obtusa  Trecul  Moraceae 

Cecropia  sciadophylla  Mart.  Moraceae 

Cecropia  Tessmannii  Mildbr.  Moraceae 


562  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Shallu-huasca  (Q) 
Shambu  (Q) 

"       -huayo  (Q) 
-quiro  (Q) 
Shamburu  (Q) 
Shamshu-huayo  (Q) 
Shapillejo 

Shapunba  (Q) 


Shapunbilla  (Q) 


Shapunga  (Q) 
Shara-mashan  (Q) 

Shatona  (Q) 

blanca 


Shimbillo 


colorada 


amargo 
bianco 
' '        Colorado 
paca  (S-Q) 
rujinti  (S-Q) 
' '        venenosa 
Shimi-panpana  (Q) 
Shitari-caspi  (Q) 


"         "       Colorado 
Shuca  (Q) 
Shucshu  (Q) 
Shucucu-casha  (Q) 
Shucush-quina  (Q) 
Shula  (Q) 


Scientific  Name 

Clibadium  remotiflorum  Schulz 
Bixa  Orellana  L. 
Bixa  Orellana  L. 
Bixa  Orellana  L. 

Jacaratia  digitata  (P.  &  E.)  Solms 
Mayna  echinata  Spruce 
Zanthoxylum  Ptcrota  HBK. 
Zanthoxylum  Ruiziana  Klotzsch 
Lycopodium  cernuum  L. 
Pityrogramma  calomelaena  (L.) 

Link 

Selaginella  asperula  Spreng. 
Alsophila  sp.  or  Cyathea  sp. 
Asplenium  flabellatum  Kunze 
Lygodium  polymorphum  (Cav.) 

HBK. 
Pityrogramma  calomelaena  (L.) 

Link 

Polypodium  sp. 
Ocimum  americanum  L. 
Ocimum  minimum  L. 
Trichilia  maynasiana  C.  DC. 
Guarea  sp. 

Swartzia  myrtifolia  Smith 
Trichilia  sexanthera  C.  DC. 
Connarus  Patrisii  (DC.)  Planch. 
Erythroxylon  Shatona  Macbr. 
Allophylus  scrobiculatus  Radlk. 
Inga  edulis  Mart. 
Inga  graciliflora  Benth. 
Inga  ingoides  Willd. 
Inga  marginata  Willd. 
Inga  pilosiuscula  Desv.(?) 
Inga  punctata  Willd. 
Inga  quaternata  P.  &  E. 
Inga  Ruiziana  Don 
Inga  stenoptera  Benth. 
Inga  strigillosa  Benth. 
Pithecolobium  laetum  Benth. 
Inga  sp. 
Inga  sp. 

Inga  marginata  Willd. 
Inga  sp. 

Inga  pilosiuscula  Desv.(?) 
Inga  sp. 

Maranla  arundinacea  L. 
Allophylus  floribundus  Radlk. 
Connarus  Patrisii  (DC.)  Planch. 
Protium  sp. 

Allophylus  floribundus  Radlk. 
Vernonia  sp. 
Chusquea  sp. 

Opuntia  brasiliensis  (Willd.)  Haw. 
Panicum  polygonatum  Schrad. 
Neea  divaricata  P.  &  E. 


Family 

Compositae 

Bixaceae. 

Bixaceae 

Bixaceae 

Caricaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Rutaceae 

Rutaceae 

Lycopodiaceae 

Polypodiaceae 
Selaginellaceae 
Cyatheaceae 
Polypodiaceae 

Schizaeaceae 

Polypodiaceae 

Polypodiaceae 

Labiatae 

Labiatae 

Meliaceae 

Meliaceae 

Leguminosae 

Meliaceae 

Connaraceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Marantaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Connaraceae 

Burseraceae 

Sapindaceae 

Compositae 

Gramineae 

Cactaceae 

Gramineae 

Nyctaginaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


563 


Common  Name 

Shungu  (Q) 
Shushucu  (Q) 
Shuturi  (Q) 
Sichacha  (Q) 
Siclaio 
Siempreviva 
Sillaca 
Sinchi  (Q) 


-caspi  (Q) 
-mullaca  (Q) 

-papa  (Q-S) 
-parinari  (Q) 
-pichana  (Q) 


Siparuna  (Q) 
Sipra-moena  (S-Q) 
Sira-sira  (Q) 

Siringa;  Shiringa 


mapa 


Situlli 


Siuca-culantro  (Q-S) 
' '    -huito 
"     -sanango  (Q) 

"     -vito  (Q) 
Siucuc-casha  (Q) 
Sonia 

Soro-sacha  (Q) 
Suelda  con  suelda 

(Epiphytes) 

Sufia 

Supai-casha  (Q) 
"    -caspi  (Q) 


-ocote  (Q-S) 
"  -quinilla  (Q) 
"  -sillo  (Q-S) 

Tabaco 

"       del  lagarto 
Taco 

Tahuampa-caspi  (S-Q) 
Tahuari  (Q) 

"       amarilla  (Q-S) 


Scientific  Name  Family 

Spondias  Mombin  L.  Anacardiaceae 

Peperomia  pellucida  (L.)  HBK.  Piperaceae 

Psychotria  calochlamys  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Entada  polyphylla  Benth.  Leguminosae 

Cassia  Tora  L.  Leguminosae 

Gomphrena  globosa  L.  Amaranthaceae 

Pariana  campestris  Aubl.  Gramineae 

Sida  cordifolia  L.  Malvaceae 

Sida  glomerata  Cav.  Malvaceae 

Trophis  racemosa  (L.)  Urban  Moraceae 

Leandra  chaetodon  (DC.)  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Miconia  parm flora  (Benth.)  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 

Dioscorea  pinedensis  Kunth  Dioscoreaceae 

Couepia  Ulei  Pilger  Rosaceae 

Croton  chamaedrifolius  Griseb.  Euphorbiaceae 

Sida  rhombifolia  L.  Malvaceae 

Perebea  Chimiqua  Macbr.  Moraceae 

Ocotea  grandifolia  (Nees)  Mez  Lauraceae 

Miconia  rufescens  (Aubl.)  DC.  Melastomaceae 

Miconia  stelligera  Cogn.  Melastomaceae 
Hevea  brasiliensis  Muell.  Arg.,  var. 

janeirensis  Pax  Euphorbiaceae 

Hevea  membranacea  Muell.  Arg.  Euphorbiaceae 

Hevea  microphylla  Ule  Euphorbiaceae 
Hevea  brasiliensis  (HBK.)  Muell. 

Arg.  Euphorbiaceae 

Heliconia  brasiliensis  Hook.  Musaceae 

Heliconia  rostrata  R.  &  P.  Musaceae 

Heliconia  variegata  Loes.  Musaceae 

Eryngium  foetidum  L.  Umbelliferae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 
Tabernaemontana  Benthamiana 

Muell.  Arg.  Apocynaceae 

Solanum  sp.  Solanaceae 

Opuntia  brasiliensis  (Willd.)  Haw.  Cactaceae 

Psychotria  nigricans  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Hyplis  mutabilis  (Rich.)  Briq.  Labiatae 

Phoradendron  quadrangulare 

Krug  &  Urb.  Loranthaceae 

Cephaelis  rosea  Benth.  Rubiaceae 

Casearia  spinosa  Willd.  Flacourtiaceae 

Coussarea  tenuiflora  Standl.  Rubiaceae 

Duroia  hirsuta  (P.  &  E.)  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Xylosma  pilosa  Macbr.  Flacourtiaceae 

Allophylus  scrobiculatus  Radlk.  Sapindaceae 

Duroia  hirsuta  (P.  &  E.)  Schum.  Rubiaceae 

Croton  sp.  Euphorbiaceae 

Nicotiana  Tabacum  L.  Solanaceae 

Polygonum  portoricense  Bert.  Polygonaceae 

Luffia  acutangula  Roem.  Cucurbitaceae 

Cordia  tetrandra  Aubl.  Boraginaceae 

Tabebuia  sp.  Bignoniaceae 

Tabebuia  sp.  Bignoniaceae 


564  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Tamamaru 
Tamamuri 
Tamara 
Tambisi 

Tambor  huactana  (S-Q) 
Tangarana 


blanca 

mashan  (S-Q) 
negra 
Tangerina 

Taperiba  (LG) 
Tapitan 

Tarrico-nana  (Q-C) 

Tasha  (Q) 

Te  de  la  China 

Timarehua  (C) 

Tinta  mullaca 

Tipu  (C) 

Tirana  barbasco  (C-Q) 

Tituna-sacha  (Q) 

Toe  (Q) 

"   mullaca 
Tomate 
Topa 

Topamaka  blanca 
Topomaki  (Q) 

Tornecillo 
Toro-urcu  (Q) 
Tortuga-caspi  (S-Q) 


Torurco  (Q) 
Trompetero 

-caspi  (S-Q) 

-sacha      ' ' 
"        -sanango 
Trompo-huayo  (S-Q) 


Trujillo 

"       bianco 
'*       Colorado 
"       relleno 

Tuhuara  (C) 

Tumbo 


Scientific  Name 

Hasseltia  laxiflora  (Benth.)  Eichl. 
Ogcodeia  Tamamuri  Macbr. 
Crataeva  Tapia  L. 
Dichorisandra   hexandra    (Aubl.) 

Standl. 

Casearia  tarapotina  Pilger 
Cassia  chrysocarpa  Desv.(?) 
Symmeria  paniculata  Benth. 
Triplaris  Pavonii  Meisn. 
Triplaris  Poeppigiana  Wedd. 
Triplaris  peruviana  F.  &  M. 
Coccoloba  Williamsii  Standl. 
Triplaris  sp. 
Citrus  nobilis  Lour.,  var.  deliciosa 

(Ten.)  Swingle 
Spondias  Mombin  L. 
Heteropleris  grandiflora  A.  Juss., 

var.  glandulifera  Ndzu. 
Sideroxylon  Williamsii  Baehni 
Caladium  bicolor  (Ait.)  Vent. 
Capraria  biflora  L. 
Laetia  suaveolens  Benth. 
Clidemia  naevula  (Naud.)  Triana 
Croton  chamaedrifolius  Griseb. 
Tephrosia  toxicaria  (L.)  Pers. 
Solanum  sp. 

Cornulia  odorata  (P.  &  E.)  Poepp. 
Datura  sp. 

Solanum  bicolor  Willd. 
Lycopersicon  esculentum  Mill. 
Ochroma  boliviana  Rowlee 
Neea  Spruceana  Heimerl 
Psychotria  Mathewsii  Standl. 
Sanchezia  rubriflora  Leonard(?) 
Helicteres  pentandra  L. 
Panicum  pilosum  Sw. 
Casearia  parvifolia  Willd. 
Duguetia  quitarensis  Benth. 
Guatteria  microcarpa  R.  &  P. 
Paspalum  conjugatum  Berg 
Pfaffia  stenophylla  (Spreng.) 

Standl. 
Crepidospermum  Goudotianum 

Tr.  &  PI. 

Psychotria  chlorotica  Muell.  Arg. 
Clavija  sp. 

Abuta  concolor  P.  &  E. 
Aptandra  Spruceana  Miers 
Lacistema  aggregatum  (Berg) 

Rusby 

Impatiens  Balsamina  L. 
Impatiens  Balsamina  L. 
Impatiens  Balsamina  L. 
Impatiens  Balsamina  L. 
Chimarrhis  Williamsii  Standl. 
Passiflora  quadrangularis  L. 


Family 

Flacourtiaceae 

Moraceae 

Capparidaceae 

Commelinaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Polygonaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Polygonaceae 

Rutaceae 
Anacardiaceae 

Malpighiaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Araceae 

Scrophulariaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Leguminosae 

Solanaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Solanaceae 

Solanaceae 

Solanaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Acanthaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Gramineae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Gramineae 

Amaranthaceae 

Burseraceae 

Rubiaceae 

Theophrastaceae 

Menispermaceae 

Olacaceae 

Lacistemaceae 

Balsaminaceae 

Balsaminaceae 

Balsaminaceae 

Balsaminaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Passifloraceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


565 


Common  Name 

Tuno  (Q) 

Turpentina  moena  (S-Q) 

Tuwara  (C) 

Ubiamba 

Ubo 

Uchpa-cacao  (Q-S) 

-caspi  (Q) 

-mullu  (Q) 
-pamashto  (Q) 
-panga  (Q) 
-parinari  (Q) 
-poroto 
-quinilla 
-situlli  (Q) 
-umari  (Q) 
Uchu-caspi  (Q) 
"     -huaca  (Q) 


-huayo  (Q) 
-huasca  (Q) 
-mullaca  (Q) 


'     -sanango  (Q) 

Ucsha-quiro  (Q) 

«        «       it 

Ucullucui  (Q) 


"       -sacha  (Q) 
Ucumi-micuna  (Q) 
Umari  (Q) 

"      amarillo  (Q-S) 
"      negro  (Q-S) 
Una  de  gato 
Ungurahui  (Q) 
Urcu-cumala  (Q) 
"    -ingaina  (Q) 
"    -moena  (Q) 
"    -tamara  (Q) 
Urpai-manchinga  (Q) 
"    -micuna  (Q) 

Ushun  (Q) 

"     -moena  (Q) 
Uva 


Scientific  Name 

Monstera  dilacerata  Koch 
Ocotea  tarapotana  (Meisn.)  Mez 
Chimarrhis  Williamsii  Standl. 

Miconia  dichrophylla  Macbr. 
Spondias  Mombin  L. 
Theobroma  ferruginea  Bern. 
Theobroma  subincana  Mart. 
Faramea  glandulosa  P.  &  E. 
Henriettella  verrucosa  Triana 
Coix  Lachryma-Jobi  L. 
Diospyros  Poeppigiana  A.  DC. 
Cestrum  strigillatum  R.  &  P. 
Couepia  sp. 
Cassia  occidentalis  L. 
Lucuma  sp. 

Heliconia  brasiliensis  Hook. 
Parinarium  parile  Macbr. 
Casearia  timbuchi  Macbr. 
Clibadium  remotiflorum  O.  E. 

Schulz 
Mollia  sp. 

Paullinia  moquisapaensis  Macbr.  (?) 
Casearia  Blanchetiana  Miq. 
Miconia  puberula  Cogn. 
Mollia  lepidota  Spruce 
Trichilia  maynasiana  C.  DC. 
Trichilia  Riedelii  C.  DC. 
Trichilia  Ruiziana  C.  DC. 
Faramea  anisocalyx  P.  &  E. 
Tabernaemontana  Poeppigii 

Muell.  &  Arg.(?) 
Sclerolobium  paniculatum  Vog. 
Sclerolobium  Uleanum  Harms 
Posoqueria  latifolia   (Rudge) 

R.  &S. 
Stachytarpheta  cayennensis  (Rich.) 

Vahl 

Heliotropium  indicum  L. 
Psychotria  alba  R.  &  P. 
Poraqueiba  sericea  Tul. 
Poraqueiba  sericea  Tul. 
Poraqueiba  sericea  Tul. 
Piptadenia  flava  (Spreng.)  Benth. 
Jessenia  Weberbaueri  Burret 
Lucuma  bifera  Molina  (?) 
Erythroxylon  lucidum  HBK. 
Ocotea  minutiflora  Schmidt 
Leonia  glycycarpa  R.  &  P. 
Trophis  racemosa  (L.)  Urban 
Conomorpha  peruviana  A.  DC. 
Euphorbia  hirta  L. 
Spondias  Mombin  L. 
Hufelandia  sp.(?) 
Vitis  vinifera  L. 


Family 

Araceae 

Lauraceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Gramineae 

Ebenaceae 

Solanaceae 

Rosaceae 

Leguminosae 

Sapotaceae 

Musaceae 

Rosaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Compositae 

Tiliaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Tiliaceae 

Meliaceae 

Meliaceae 

Meliaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Apocynaceae 
Leguminosae 
Leguminosae 

Rubiaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Boraginaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Icacinaceae 

Icacinaceae 

Icacinaceae 

Leguminosae 

Palmae 

Sapotaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Lauraceae 

Violaceae 

Moraceae 

Myrsinaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Lauraceae 

Vitaceae 


566  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Common  Name 

Uvilla 
ii 

Uvo 

Vaca-nahui-huasca 

(S-Y-Q) 

Vaina  de  machete 
Vainilla 
Varilla 

"      del  agua 
Veneno-huasca  (S-Q) 
Verbena 
Verdolaga 

Vibora-huasca  (S-Q) 
Violeta 

Virote-quiro  (Q) 
Vito 

Vitoc-quiro  (Q) 
Viuda 

Yaco-chihua  (Q) 

"    -huito  or  -vito  (Q) 
"    -moena  (Q-C) 
"    -mullaca 


-pashaco  (Q) 
-rumu-shimbillo 

(Q-S) 

-sanango  (Q) 


-shapana  (Q) 
-shimbillo  (Q-S) 

-shutiri  (Q) 


-sisa  (Q) 


"       "    blanca  (Q-S) 

"  -toe(Q) 
Yana-caspi  (Q) 

"  -huasca  (Q) 

"  -huira  (Q) 

"  -huiraru  (Q) 

"  -muco  (Q) 

"  -mullaca 


Scientific  Name 

Pourouma  cecropiaefolia  Mart. 
Pourouma  Ulei  Warb. 
Spondias  Mombin  L. 

Cissampelos  Pereira  L. 

Bauhinia  tarapotensis  Benth. 

Vanilla  sp. 

Acalypha  scandens  Benth. 

Sommera  sabiceoides  Schum. 

Sideroxylon  Ulei  Krause 

Solarium  sp. 

Verbena  litoralis  HBK. 

Portulaca  oleracea  L. 

Phyllanthus  sp. 

Viola  odorata  L. 

Rinorea  sp. 

Genipa  americana  L. 

Ilex  sp. 

Angelonia  sp. 

Alchornea    castaneifolia     (Willd.) 

Juss. 

Genipa  americana  L. 
Ajouea  Jelskii  Mez 
Aciotispurpurascens(A.ub\.)  Triana 
Tococa  glandulosa  Gleason 
Tococa  lasiostyla  Cogn. 
Piptadenia  sp. 
Pithecolobium  Spruceanum  Benth. 

Inga sp. 

Macoubea     paucifolia     (Spreng.) 

Mgf. 

Tabernaemontana  Sananho  R.  &  P. 
Inga  sp. 

Hirtella  pilosissima  Mart.  &  Zucc. 
Inga  sp. 

Hyptis  Parkeri  Benth. 
Polygonum  punctatum  Ell. 
Psychotria  calochlamys  Standl. 
Psychotria  cuspidata  Bredem. 
Psychotria  involucrata  Sw. 
Carludovica  loretensis  Standl. 
Carludovica  Williamsii  Standl. 
Chimarrhis  Williamsii  Standl. 
Cephaelis  rosea  Benth. 
Datura  sp. 

Trema  micrantha  (L.)  Blume 
Duguetia  sp. 

Guatteria  hyposericea  Diels 
Cassia  viminea  L. 
Cassia  viminea  L. 
Neea  parviflora  P.  &  E. 
Clidemia  hirta  (L.)  Don 
Turpinia  heterophylla  (R.  &  P.) 

H.  &L. 


Family 

Moraceae 
Moraceae 
Anacardiaceae 

Menispermaceae 

Leguminosae 

Orchidaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Sapotaceae 

Solanaceae 

Verbenaceae 

Portulacaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Violaceae 

Violaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Aquifoliaceae 

Scrophulariaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Lauraceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Apocynaceae 

Apocynaceae 

Leguminosae 

Rosaceae 

Leguminosae 

Labiatae 

Polygonaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Cyclanthaceae 

Cyclanthaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Solanaceae 

Ulmaceae 

Anonaceae 

Anonaceae 

Leguminosae 

Leguminosae 

Nyctaginaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Staphyleaceae 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


567 


Common  Name 

Yana-ocuera  (Q) 


"     de  oyada 
-panga  (Q) 
-pichirina  (Q) 
-vara  (Q-S) 
-varas  (Q-S) 


'   -varilla  (Q-S) 
Yerba  amarga 

"  de  chacra 

' '  colorada 

' '  de  jergon 

' '  Luisa 

"  de  mariposa 

' '      del  monte 

"      santa 
Yumanilla  (Q) 
Yurac-ingaina  (Q) 

'      -moena  (Q) 

'     -mullaca  (Q) 

'      -siprana  (Q) 

'     -tortilla-caspi  (Q-S) 

'      -varilla  (Q) 
Yutobanco  (Q) 


Zapallito 
Zapatito  del  nino 
Zapote 

"      del  mono 

' '      silvestre 
Zapotillo 


Zapotina 

Zarzamora 

Zarzaparrilla 


Scientific  Name 

Oliganthes  discolor  (HBK.)   Sch. 

Bip. 

Oliganthes  Karstenii  Sch.  Bip. 
Acalypha  macrophylla  Ule 
Miconia  pteropoda  Benth. 
Vismia  sp. 

Acalypha  macrostachya  Jacq. 
Marcgravia  sp. 
Oliganthes  discolor  (HBK.)   Sch. 

Bip. 

Unonopsis  sp. 
Acalypha  diversifolia  Jacq. 
Acalypha  macrostachya  Jacq. 
Hemidiodia  ocimifolia  (Willd.) 

Schum. 

Jussiaea  linifolia  Vahl 
Euphorbia  hirta  L. 
Dracontium  sp. 

Cymbopogon  citratus  (DC.)  Stapf. 
Chelonanthus  acutangulus  (R.  & 

P.)  Gilg 

Pavonia  leucantha  Garcke 
Cestrum  Sendtnerianum  Mart. 
Anemia  Phyllitidis  (L.)  Sw. 
Mauria  suaveolens  P.  &  E. 
Ocotea  rubrinervis  Mez 
Miconia  albicans  (Sw.)  Triana 
Croton  matourensis  Aubl. 
Allophylus  divaricatus  Radlk. 
Rinorea  sp. 

Erythroxylon  macrophyllum  Cav. 
Miconia  ceramicarpa  (DC.)  Cogn. 
Hamelia  lutea  Rohr. 
Leandra  sp. 

Gurania  spinulosa  (P.  &  E.)  Cogn. 
Pedilanthus  sp. 

Matisia  cordata  Humb.  &  Bonpl. 
Carpotroche  longifolia  (P.  &  E.) 

Benth. 

Sterculia  Tessmannii  Mildbr. 
Matisia  ochrocalyx  L. 
Quararibea  Wittii  K.  Schum.  & 

Ulbr. 

Chrysophyllum  Klugii  Baehni 
Rubus  urticifolius  Poir. 
Smilax  sp. 


Family 

Compositae 

Compositae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Hypericaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Marcgraviaceae 

Compositae 
Anonaceae 
Euphorbiaceae 
Euphorbiaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Onagraceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Aracaceae 

Gramineae 

Gentianaceae 

Malvaceae 

Solanaceae 

Schizaeaceae 

Anacardiaceae 

Lauraceae 

Melastomaceae 

Euphorbiaceae 

Sapindaceae 

Violaceae 

Erythroxylaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Rubiaceae 

Melastomaceae 

Cucurbitaceae 
Euphorbiaceae 
Bombacaceae 

Flacourtiaceae 

Sterculiaceae 

Bombacaceae 

Bombacaceae 
Sapotaceae 
Rosaceae 
Smilacaceae 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

REFERENCES  PERTAINING  TO  FLORA  AND  FOREST  PRODUCTS  OF  PERU 

Anonymous.     Adopcion  de  un  regimen  forestal  en  el  Peru.     Bol.  del  Min.  de 
Fomento,  Direccion  de  Fomento.    Lima,  1909. 

Itinerario  de  los  viajes  de  Raimondi  en  el  Peru.     Bol.  Soc.  Geog.  de 


Lima  31:  75-85.  1915. 

Decreto  sobre  proteccion  a  los  arboles.    El  Peruano  (Lima),  p.  9.  Jan. 
5,  1920. 

Executive  decree  for  the  protection  of  trees  in  the  Republic.    Bull.  Pan 
Amer.  Union  50:  475.  1920. 

Ball,  John.  Contributions  to  the  flora  of  the  Peruvian  Andes,  with  remarks  on 
the  history  and  origin  of  the  Andean  flora.  Lin.  Soc.  Journ.  Bot.  22:  1-64. 
1885-86. 

Barrel,  Georges  H.     Walnut  in  Amazonas.     Tropical  Woods  10:  51-53.  1927. 

Notes  on  Amazonia.    Tropical  Woods  11 : 1-4.  1927. 
Blake,  Sidney  F.     Note  on  "arboloco."    Tropical  Woods  7:  33-34. 1926. 

Note  on  the  Peruvian  mahogany.    Tropical  Woods  14:  33.  1928. 

Brims,  Ferdinand.  Beitrage  zur  Kenntnis  der  Vegetation  des  Peruanischen 
Kustengebietes.  Hamburg-Inst.  fur  Allgem.  Bot.  8:  1-85.  1929. 

Castre,  Emilio.  La  flora  del  oriente  peruano.  Bol.  Soc.  Geog.  de  Lima  50: 
89-129.  1933. 

Chevalier,  August.  Les  vrais  et  les  faux  balatas.  Rev.  Bot.  Appl.  et  d'Agric. 
Trop.  (Paris)  128,  129:  261-282,  347-358.  ill.  1932. 

Cook,  O.  F.  Agriculture  and  native  vegetation  in  Peru.  Journ.  Wash.  Acad. 
Sci.  6:284-293.  1916. 

Staircase  farms  of  the  ancients.     Nat.  Geog.  Mag.  (Washington)  29: 


474-534.  ill.  1916. 

Dennis,  W.  J.     Industria  nueva — Cube-barbasco.    El  Comercio  (Lima).    Aug. 
14,  1935. 

Ducke,  Adolpho.     Plantes  nouvelles  ou  peu  connues  de  la  region  amazonienne 
(Hie  Partie).    Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio  de  Janeiro  4:  1-208.  ill.  1925. 
Describes  several  Peruvian  genera  and  species. 

As  leguminosas  do  Estado  do  Para.    Archiv.  Jard.  Bot.  Rio  de  Janeiro 
4:209-341.  1925. 

—     Notes  sur  le  genre   Hevea  Aubl.     Rev.  Bot.  Appl.  et  d'Agric.  Trop. 
(Paris)  9:  98:  623-630.  ill.  1929. 
Contains  a  key  to  seventeen  species  of  Hevea,  with  notes  on  each  species. 

Supplement  aux  notes  sur  le  genre   Hevea  Aubl.     Rev.  Bot.  Appl.  et 
d'Agric.  Trop.  (Paris)  10:  111:  27-30.  1930. 

Les  arbres  producteurs  de  "balata."    Rev.  Bot.  Appl.  et  d'Agric.  Trop. 
(Paris)  10:  111:  849-851.  1930. 

Notes  sur  1'origine  du  copahu  de  la  region  amazonienne.     Rev.  Bot. 
Appl.  et  d'Agric.  Trop.  (Paris)  12:  130:  433-437.  1932. 

Describes  species  of  Copaifera  capable  of  furnishing  copaiba  balsam. 

568 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  569 

Ducke,    Adolpho.      Neue   Arten   aus   der   Hylaea   Brasiliens.      Notizbl.   Bot. 
Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin-Dahlem   11:  579-591.  1932. 

Eight  new  species  and  varieties  are  described  from  Brazil  and  Peru. 

—     Plantes  nouvelles  ou  peu  connues  de  la  region  amazonienne.     Archiv. 
Jard.  Bot.  Rio  de  Janeiro  6:  1-107.  pis.  1-11.  1933. 
Some  Peruvian  species  described. 

Nova  Sopatacea  productora  de  balata,  da  Amazonia  brasileira.  Ann. 
Acad.  Brasil.  de  Sci.  (Rio  de  Janeiro)  6:  207-210.  ill.  1934. 

Colheita  de  material  botanico  na  regiao  amazonica  (Relatorio  1931- 
1933).  Bol.  Ministerio  da  Agricultura  (Rio  de  Janeiro)  33-47.  1934. 

Relatorios  das  commissoes  desempenhadas  pelo  chefe  do  seccao  de 
botanica,  Adolpho  Ducke,  na  regiao  amazonica  durante  os  annos  de  1919  a 
1928.  Rodriguesia  1:  17-71.  1935- 

Le  "pajura"  et  le  "parinary"  d'Amazonie.  Rev.  Bot.  Appl.  et  d'Agric. 
Trop.  (Paris)  15:  179-182.  ill.  1935. 

Revision  of  the  genus  Hevea  Aubl.,  mainly  the  Brazilian  species.  Archiv. 
Inst.  de  Biol.  Veget.  2:  217-246.  pis.  1-3. 1935. 

Notes  on  the  Myristicaceae  of  Amazonian  Brazil,  with  descriptions  of 
new  species.    I,  II.    Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  26:  213-222,  253-264.  1936. 
Describes  several  genera  and  species  found  in  Peru. 

Enock,  G.  Reginald.     The  Andes  and  the  Amazon,  life  and  travel  in  Peru, 
xvi  +  379  pp.  ill.  London,  1907. 

Peru,  its  former  and  present  civilization,    xxxii  +  320  pp.  ill.  London, 


1920. 

Farabee,  William  Curtis.    The  Amazon  Expedition  of  the  University  Museum. 
Univ.  Penn.  Mus.  Journ.  7:  210-244.  1916;  8:  61-82,  126-144.  1917. 

Filho,  Adriao  Caminha.    Timbos  e  rotenona:  uma  riqueza  nacional  inexplorada. 
Pub.  No.  1,  Conselho  Florestal  Federal  (Rio  de  Janeiro)  11  pp.  1935. 

Francey,  Pierre.     Monographic  du  genre  Cestrum  L.     Candollea  (Geneva)  6: 
46-398.  1935;  7:  1-132.  3  pis.  1936. 

Fries,  R.  E.    Revision  der  Arten  einiger  Anonaceen-Gattungen.  III.  Acta  Horti 
Bergiani  (Upsala)  12:  1-220.  pis.  1-20,  figs.  1-14.  1934. 

Garratt,  George  A.    The  wood  of  Symphonia  globulifera.    Tropical  Woods  45: 
1-15.  1936. 

Gleason,  H.  A.,  and  Panshin,  A.  J.    Swietenia  Krukovii:  a  new  species  of  ma- 
hogany from  Brazil.    Amer.  Journ.  Bot.  23:  1:  21-25.  ill.  1936. 

Haught,  Oscar.    A  new  Peruvian  Capparis.    Tropical  Woods  20:  30-31.  1929. 

Herrera,   Fortunato  L.     Nomenclatura   indigena   de   las   plantas   Cuzcoensis.  \ 
Inca  1:  67-263.  1923. 

Chloris  Cuzcoensis.     Anales  de  la  Universidad  del  Cuzco  (Cuzco)   1: 

1:  1-220.  1926. 

Contribuciones  a  la  flora  de  Departamento  del  Cuzco.     Revista  Uni- 

versitaria  (Cuzco)  13:  1:  66-88.  1929. 

Nombres  cientificos  y  vulgares  de  algunas  plantas  indigenas  en  el  De- 
partamento del  Cuzco.    Revista  Universitaria  (Cuzco)  13:  2:  365-395.  1929. 

—  Estudios  sqbre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.    Plantarum  Cuz- 
corum  Herrerarianum.    257  pp.  19  pis.    Lima,  1930. 

—  El  Inca  Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  primero  botanista  cuzqueno.     Revista 
Universitaria  (Cuzco)  20:  5-42.  1931. 


570  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Herrera,  Fortunate  L.     Estudios  sobre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco. 
Ampliaciones.     Revista  Universitaria  (Cuzco)  20:  106-130.  1931. 

Estudios  sobre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.     Revista  Univer- 
sitaria (Cuzco)  20:  254-262.  1931. 

—     Riquezas  vegetales  del  Oriente  cuzqueno.    Revista  Universitaria  (Cuzco) 
20:  163-173.  1931. 

Estudios  sobre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.     Revista  Univer- 
sitaria (Cuzco)  21:  42-61.  1932. 

Los  Pisonaes  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.    Revista  Chilena  de  Historia 

Natural  (Santiago)  35:  35-38.  ill.  1932. 

Estudios  sobre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.     Revista  Univer- 
sitaria (Cuzco)  22:  58-64.  1933. 

El  cedro  peruano,  Cedrela  Herrerae  Harms.     Revista  Sudamericana  de 
Botanica  (Montevideo)  1:  21-27.  1934. 

Estudios  sobre  la  flora  del  Departamento  del  Cuzco.    Ill    Suplemento. 
Revista  Universitaria  (Cuzco)  23:  1:  111-147.  1934. 

Johnston,  Ivan  M.    Studies  in  the  Boraginaceae.    XI.    Journ.  Arnold  Arbore- 
tum (Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.)  16:  145-205.  1935. 

Peruvian  species  of  Cordia  described  are  C.  Klugii  and  C.  ripicola,  with 
numerous  notes  upon  plants  of  other  genera  and  a  monograph  of  the  Old 
World  species  of  Tournefortia. 

Jones,  Howard  A.     The  rotenone  content  of  derris  root,  cube  root,  and  other 
plant  materials.    Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  23:  36-46.  1933. 

Killip,  Ellsworth  P.    New  plants  mainly  from  western  South  America.    Journ. 
Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  24:  42-52.  1934. 

— ,     and  Smith,  A.  C.    The  identity  of  the  South  American  fish  poisons, 
"cube"  and  "timbo."    Journ.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.  20:  74-81.  1930. 

South  American  plants  used  as  fish  poisons.    27  mimeographed  pages. 
Washington,  D.C.,  1935. 


Lanjouw,  J.  Studies  in  Moraceae.  I.  The  genera  Trymatococcus  Poepp.  et 
Endl.  and  Craterogyne  Lanj.  Med.  Bot.  Mus.  Univ.  Utrecht  32:  20:  262-278. 
figs.  1-6.  1935. 

Studies  in  Moraceae.  II.  The  genus  Clarisia  Ruiz  et  Pavon  and  its 
synonyms,  with  a  discussion  of  the  generic  name.  Recueil  des  Trav.  Bot. 
Neerlandais  33:  254-276.  figs.  1-3,  pis.  9-11.  1936. 

Macbride,  J.  Francis.  Identity  of  the  Peruvian  mahogany.  Tropical  Woods 
16:  49-50.  1928. 

Identity  of  the  Peruvian  Balsa.    Tropical  Woods  17:  5-7.  1929. 

—  A  new  Miconia  and  other  large  Melastomes  of  Peru.    Tropical  Woods  17: 
12-14.  1929. 

Identity  of  "Cube,"  a  Peruvian  drug.    Tropical  Woods  18:  56.  1929. 
Cornus,  a  genus  new  to  South  America.    Tropical  Woods  19:  4-5.  1929. 

—  Spermatophytes,  mostly  Peruvian.    Revista  Universitaria  (Cuzco)  20: 
84-90.  1931. 

New  or  renewed  spermatophytes,  mostly  Peruvian.    Candollea  (Geneva) 

6:  1-19.  1934. 

Flora  of  Peru.    Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  1:  1-320.  1  map.  1936. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  571 

Mansfeld,  R.,  and  Sleumer,  Hermann.    Revision  der  Gattung  Befaria  Mutis. 
Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin-Dahlem  12:  235-276.  1935. 

Markgraf,  Fr.     Neue  andine  Melastomataceen.     Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus. 
Berlin-Dahlem  12:  177-182.  1934. 

New  species  in  the  genera  Leandra  and  Miconia. 

—     Neue  Apocynaceen  aus  Siidamerika.    V.  Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus. 

Berlin-Dahlem  12:  295-301.  1935. 
One  new  species,  Aspidosperma  rauwolfioides,  from  Peru. 

Markham,    Clements  R.     Peruvian  bark,     xxiii    +    550  pp.   3  ill.,  3  maps. 
London, 1880. 

Martinez,  Maximino.    Arbol  de  balsamo,  Toluifera  Pereirae  (Klotszch)  Baill. 
Bol.  Direccion  de  Estud.  Biolog.  3:3:  49-51.  1926. 

Means,  Philip  Ainsworth.     A  glimpse  of  northern  Peru.     Bull.  Pan   Amer. 
Union  47:  333-349.  ill.  1918. 

Social  conditions  in  the  Piura-Tumbes  region  of  northern  Peru.    Scien- 
tific Monthly  (Lancaster,  Pa.)  7:  385-399.  1918. 

A  study  of  ancient  Andean  social  institutions.     Trans.  Conn.  Acad. 
Arts  and  Sciences  27:  407-469.  1925. 

Moldenke,  Harold  Norman.    A  monograph  of  the  genus  Aegiphila.    Brittonia 
(Lancaster,  Pa.)  1:  245-477.  1934. 

Studies  of  new  and  noteworthy  tropical  American  plants.     Phytologia 

(New  York)  1:  95-105.  ill.  1934. 

Mortimer,  W.  Golden.    Peru,  history  of  coca,    xxvi  +  576  pp.  ill.    New  York, 
1901. 

Petersen,  George.     Estudios  climatologicos  del  noroeste  Peruano.     Bol.  Soc. 
Geol.  del  Peru  (Lima)  7:  1-141.  1935. 

Poeppig,  Edward.     Reise  in  Chile,  Peru  und  auf  dem  Amazonstrome  wahrend 
der  Jahre  1827-1832.    2  vols.,  930  pp.  Leipzig,  1835-36. 

Record,  Samuel  J.     Distribution  of  the  species  of  Swietenia.    Tropical  Woods 
1 :  2-4.  1925. 

Mahogany  in  the  upper  Amazon.  Tropical  Woods  6:  1-2.  1926. 
Walnut  woods— true  and  false.  Tropical  Woods  18:  4-29.  1929. 
Notes  on  tropical  timbers — mahogany  in  western  Brazil.  Tropical 


Woods  22:  10-11.  1930. 

— ,    and   Clayton  D.  Mell.    Timbers  of  tropical  America,   xviii  +  610  pp. 
51  pis.    New  Haven,  1924. 

Rimbach,  August.     The  forests  of  Ecuador.     Tropical  Woods  31:  1-9.  1932. 
Lists  several  genera  and  species  native  to  Peru. 

Resell,  Ricardo  Garcia.  Conquista  de  la  montana.  Sinopsis  de  los  descubri- 
mientos,  expediciones,  estudios  y  trabajos  llevados  a  cabo  en  el  Peru  para  el 
aprovechamiento  y  cultura  de  sus  montanas.  La  Prensa  (Lima).  59  pp.  1905. 

Ross,  Alexander.  A  recent  journey  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Ucayali,  central 
Peru.  Roy.  Geog.  Soc.  Proc.  (London)  ser.  2,  14:  282-297.  1892. 

Salomon,  Oscar  Victor.  The  forests  of  Peru.  Bull.  Pan  Amer.  Union  56:  4: 
377. 1923. 

Schmidt,  Otto  Chr.  Beitrage  zur  Kenntnis  der  Andinen  Sudamerikanischen 
Lauraceen.  I.  Repertorium  Specierum  Novarum  (Berlin-Dahlem)  31:  168- 
189.  1933. 


572  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Schurz,  William  L.,  Hargis,  O.  D.,  Marbut,  G.  F.,  and  Manifold,  C.  B. 

Rubber  production  in  the  Amazon  Valley.  Trade  Promotion  Series  No.  23, 
Bureau  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce  (Washington).  369  pp.,  45  half- 
tones and  maps.  1925. 

Sleumer,  Hermann.     Beitrage  zur  Kenntnis  der  Flacourtiaceen  Siidamerikas. 
II.    Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin-Dahlem  12:  50-56.  1934. 

Eine  neue  Art  der  Gattung  Aveledoa  Pittier.    Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus. 

Berlin-Dahlem  12:  148-150.  1934. 
A.  Tessmanniana  from  Peru. 

Dilleniaceae    americanae    novae.     Repertorium    Specierum    Novarum 

(Berlin-Dahlem)   39:   44-47.   1935. 

New  species,  Dolichocarpus  amazonicus. 

Ericaceae  novae.    Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin-Dahlem  12:  478- 
486.  1935. 
Leucothoe  andina  from  Peru. 

Vermischte  Diagnosen.    III.    Repertorium  Specierum  Novarum  (Berlin- 
Dahlem)  39:  274-282.  1936. 

Mollinedia  pulcherrima  and  Minquartia  punctata  [Radlk.]  Sleumer. 

Tiber  die  Gattung  Themistoclesia  Kl.     Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin- 
Dahlem  13: 108-111.  1936. 
T.  Pittieri  described  as  new. 

Die  Arten  der   Gattung  Vaccinium  L.  in   Zentral-  und   Siidamerika. 


Notizbl.  Bot.  Gart.  &  Mus.  Berlin-Dahlem  13:  111-140.  1936. 

Solano,  J.  O.,  and  Esposto,  N.  Informe  sobre  algunas  especies  forestales 
peruanas,  emitido  por  el  Jefe  de  la  Seccion  de  Arboricultura  y  Horticultura 
a  pedido  del  Senor  Director  General  de  la  Union  Panamericana.  Lima,  1926. 

Sperber,  O.  Timber  growth  of  the  montana  of  Peru.  American  Lumberman 
(Chicago),  p.  46.  August,  1913. 

Spruce,  Richard.  Notes  of  a  botanist  on  the  Amazon  and  Andes.  2  vols., 
ii  +  518,  xii  +  542.  ill.  London,  1908. 

Standley,  Paul  C.  Macbrideina,  a  new  genus  of  trees  of  the  family  Rubiaceae. 
Tropical  Woods  20:  24-26.  1929. 

New  names  for  tropical  American  trees.    Tropical  Woods  34:  39-41. 1933. 
Includes  some  Peruvian  genera. 

The  genus  Cornus  in  South  America.     Tropical  Woods  43:  16-17.  1935. 
Studies  of  American  Plants— VI.    Field  Mus.  Bot.  11:  145-276.  1936. 

Describes   some    Peruvian   genera   and    species,    mostly   in    the    family 
Rubiaceae,  and  includes  also  many  transfers  of  names. 

— —     Rubiaceae.     Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  6:  1-261.  1936. 


Trelease,  William.     Piperaceae.    Field  Mus.  Bot.  13,  pt.  2:  1-253.  1936. 

Tschudi,  J.  J.  von.    Travels  in  Peru  during  the  years  1838-1842.    Translated 
from  the  German  by  Thomasina  Ross.    354  pp.  New  York,  1848. 

Weberbauer,  A.    Die  Pflanzenwelt  der  Peruanischen  Anden.    Engler  and  Drude, 
Die  Vegetation  der  Erde  12:  355  pp.  Leipzig,  1911. 

Die  Vegetationsgliederung  des  nordlichen  Peruum  5°  siidl.    Bot.  Jahrb. 


50:  Suppl.  72-94.  1914. 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU  573 

Weberbauer,  A.     Phytogeography  of  the  Peruvian  Andes.     Field  Mus.  Bot. 
13,  pt.  1:  13-81.  1936. 

Williams,  Llewelyn.     The  forests  of  northeastern  Peru.    Tropical  Woods  25: 
5-12.  1931. 

—     Note  on  walnut  in  northeastern  Peru.     Tropical  Woods  27: 16-17.  1931. 


East  of  the  Andes.    Bull.  Pan  Amer.  Union  65:  612-627.  1931. 
—    Peruvian  mahogany.    Tropical  Woods  31:  30-37.  1932. 


Wilson,  Lucy  L.  W.  Climate  and  man  in  Peru.  Bull.  Phil.  Geog.  Soc.  8:  79-97, 
153-171.  1910. 

Zon,  Raphael,  and  Sparhawk,  William  N.  Forest  resources  of  the  world. 
2:  788-794.  1923. 

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Bailey,  Irving  W.  Preliminary  notes  on  cribriform  and  vestured  pits.  Tropical 
Woods  31:46-48.  1932. 

The  cambium  and  its  derivative  tissues.  No.  VIII.  Structure,  distri- 
bution, and  diagnostic  significance  of  vestured  pits  in  Dicotyledons.  Journ. 
Arnold  Arboretum  (Jamaica  Plain,  Mass.)  14:  259-273.  ill.  1933. 

Chalk,  L.  Multiperforate  plates  in  vessels,  with  special  reference  to  the 
Bignoniaceae.  Forestry  (The  Journal  of  the  Society  of  Foresters  of  Great 
Britain)  7:1:  16-25.  ill.  1933. 

— ,    and   Chattaway,    Margaret    M.     Perforated  ray  cells.     Proc.   Roy. 
Soc.  (London)  B:  113:  82-92.  1933. 

Chattaway,  Margaret  M.  The  wood  of  the  Sterculiaceae.  I.  Specialization  of 
the  vertical  wood  parenchyma  within  the  sub-family  Sterculiaceae.  The 
New  Phytologist  (Cambridge)  31:  2:  119-132.  ill.  1932. 

Tile  cells  in  the  rays  of  the  Malvales.  The  New  Phytologist  (Cambridge) 
32:4:261-273.  ill.  1933. 

Diehl,  George  A.    A  study  of  the  Lecythidaceae.    Tropical  Woods  43: 1-15.  1935. 

Garratt,  George  A.  Systematic  anatomy  of  the  woods  of  the  Myristicaceae. 
Tropical  Woods  35:  6-48.  ill.  1933. 

Bearing  of  wood  anatomy  on  the  relationships  of  the  Myristicaceae. 
Tropical  Woods  36:  20-44.  1933. 

Systematic  anatomy  of  the  woods  of  the  Monimiaceae.  Tropical  Woods 
39:  18-44.  pis.  1-4.  1934. 

Glossary  of  terms  used  in  describing  woods.    Tropical  Woods  36:  1-12.  1933. 

Hess,  Robert  W.  Occurrence  of  raphides  in  wood.  Tropical  Woods  46:  22-31. 
1936. 

Janssonius,  H.  H.  Mucilage  cells  and  oil  cells  in  the  woods  of  the  Lauraceae. 
Tropical  Woods  6:  3-4.  1926. 

Kribs,  David  A.  Comparative  anatomy  of  the  woods  of  the  Meliaceae.  Amer. 
Journ.  Bot.  17:  8:  724-738.  1930. 

—     Salient  lines  of  structural  specialization  in  the  wood  rays  of  Dicotyledons. 
Bot.  Gaz.  (Chicago)  96:  3:  547-557.  ill.  1935. 

Record,  Samuel  J.  Intercellular  canals  in  Dicotyledonous  woods.  Journ. 
Forestry  16:  4:  429-441.  1918. 

Secretory  cells  in  Dicotyledonous  woods.    Tropical  Woods  1 :  9-12.  1925. 


574  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 

Record,    Samuel   J.     Pits  with  cribriform  membranes.     Tropical  Woods  2: 
10-13.  1925. 

Occurrence  of  intercellular  canals  in  Dicotyledonous  woods.     Tropical 


Woods  4:  17-20.  1925. 

Occurrence  of   "ripple  marks"   in  woods.     Tropical  Woods  9:  13-18. 
1927. 

Identification  of  the  timbers  of  temperate  North  America,     ix  +  200 
pp.  ill.  New  York,  1934. 

Classifications  of  various  anatomical  features  of  Dicotyledonous  woods. 
Tropical  Woods  47:  12-27.  1936. 

Solereder,  Hans.     Systematic  anatomy  of  the  Dicotyledons.     Translated  by 
A.  L.  Boodle  and  F.  E.  Fritsch.    2  vols.,  x  +  1182  pp.  ill.  Oxford,  1908. 

Tupper,  Walter  W.    Woods  with  conspicuously  large  rays.    Tropical  Woods  11 : 
5-9.  1927. 

A  comparative  study  of  Lauraceous  woods.    Amer.  Journ.  Bot.  14:  9: 


520-524.  ill.  1927. 

Preliminary  report  on  the  wood  structure  of  the  Flacourtiaceae.    Tropical 
Woods  38:  11-14.  1934. 

Webber,  Irma  E.    Bearing  of  upright  ray  cells  in  the  wood  of  Hibiscus  mutabilis 
L.  on  usage  of  the  term  tile  cell.    Tropical  Woods  37:  9-13.  1934. 

The  wood  of  Hibiscus  tiliaceus  L.    Tropical  Woods  37:  14-18.  1934. 

Systematic  anatomy  of  the  woods  of  the  Malvaceae.    Tropical  Woods 
38:  15-36.  pis.  1-5.  1934. 

Williams,  Llewelyn.     A  study  of  the  Caryocaraceae.     Tropical  Woods  42: 
1-18. 1935. 


INDEX 


Page  numbers  in  bold-faced  type  refer  to  descriptions  of  woods. 


Aberemoa  guitar ensis,  122 

Spixiana,  123 
Abuta,  115 

concolor,  115 
Acacia,  18,  179 

Farnesiana,  179 

paniculata,  180 

polyphylla,  180 
Acalypha,  265 

cuneala,  265 

diversifolia,  265 

macrophylla,  266 

macroslachya,  267 
Acanthaceae,  448 
Acanthus  family,  448 
Acer,  368 
Actors,  16 
Acrodiclidium,  147 

armeniacum,  147 
Adenaria,  367 

floribunda,  367 
Aegiphila,  435,  436 

filipes,  436 

peruviana,  437 

Smithii,  437 
Agricultural  crops,  38 

methods,  22,  39 
Agriculture,  22,  34,  38 
Ahuashi-yaco,  12 
Airplane  routes,  36 
Aj<mea,  147 

Jelskii,  147 
Alchornea,  264,  267 

castaneifolia,  267 

glandulosa,  268 

Iriplinervia,  268 

triplinervia  var.  crassifolia,  269 
Alibertia,  452 

edulis,  452 

stenantha,  453 
Allophylus,  292 

divaricatus,  293 

ftoribundus,  293 

leiophloeus,  293 

panctatus,  294 

scrobiculatus,  294 
AJseis,  453 

peruviana,  453 
Altura,  16,  18,  20 
Amazon,  Brazilian,  7 

Peruvian,  7,  20,  36 

region,  7 

River,  34,  36,  38,  41,  48,  51 

Valley,  32,  48 

zones  of,  7 

Amazonas,  Department,  10,  14,  15, 
38,  39,  47 


Anacardiaceae,  283 
Anacardium,  284 

occidental,  23,  284 
Anatomical  characters  (tables),  511 
Anatto  family,  345 
Anaxagorea,  117 

minor,  117 

pachypetala,  117 

pallida,  118 
Andean  ranges,  34,  36 
Andes,  7,  34,  36,  38,  52 

Peruvian,  15 
Am'6a,  26,  148 

amazonica,  148 

WtUtamm,  149 
A /mower  is,  454 

paniculata,  454 
Anona,  118 

montana,  118 

muricata,  119 

scandens  var.  polychyla,  119 

Tessmannii,  119 
Anonaceae,  116 
Anonocarpus,  72 

amazonicus,  72 
An^odiscMS,  329,  330 

glaucescens,  330 

montanus,  329,  330,  332 

obovatus,  331 

peruanus,  331 

trifoliatus,  331 
Aparisthmium,  269 

cordatum,  269 
Apeiba,  302 

aspera,  302,  304 

Tibourbou,  26,  303 
Apocynaceae,  419 
Aptandra,  102 

Spruceana,  102 
Aquifoliaceae,  289 
Araliaceae,  28,  399 
Arcylophyllum  setosum,  30 

thy  mi  folium,  30 
Area,  montana,  15 

Peru,  14 

Arrangement  of  parenchyma  (table),  520 
Ar/ocarp?^s,  73 

communis,  24,  73 
Aspidosperma,  420 

subincanum,  26,  420 
Associations,  15 
Astrocaryum,  10,  16,  26 
As/roniwm.,  284,  285 
Attalea,  10 


Baccharis,  24 
odorata,  30 


575 


576  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Bactris,  16 
Bagasan,  13 
Balata,  20,  50,  412 

exports  of,  51 

varieties  of,  51 
Balsapuerto,  12 
Banara,  351 

guianensis,  351,   352 

mollis,  352 

nitida,  352 
Banisteria,  257 

Caapi,  257 

elegans,  16 

quitensis,  258 
Bauhinia,  23,  192 

tarapotensis,  193 
Bean  family,  178 
Bellucia,  376 

grossularioides,  377,  378 

Weberbaueri,  377 
Bertholletia,  20 
Bertiera,  454 

guianensis,  454 
BeJwZa,  288 

ten/a,  232 
Bibliography,  568 
Bignoniaceae,  444 
Bignonia  family,  444 
Biseriate  rays  (table),  532 
Bixa,  345 

Orellana,  23,  345 
Bixaceae,  345 
Bladdernut  family,  290 
Blowpipes,  wood  for,  20 
Boehmeria,  96 

pallida,  96 
Bolivia,  52 
Bombacaceae,  309 
Bombax,  23,  310 

aquaticum,  311 

Munguba,  311 

paraense,  312 
Bonnetia,  335 

paniculata,  26,  335 
Borage  family,  431 
Boraginaceae,  431 
Bothriospora,  455 

corymbosa,  23,  455 
Boxwood,  476 
Brachyotum  lycopodioides,  30 

Trianaei,  30 
Brazil,  48 

Brazil-nut  family,  369 
Brosimum,  74 
Brow  of  the  forest,  13,  28 
Buckthorn  family,  298 
Buckwheat  family,  106 
Bunchosia,  257,  258 

elliptica,  258 

Hookeriana,  259 
Burseraceae,  231 


Byrsonima,  257,  259 
coriacea,  260 
fluminensis,  260 
spicata,  261 

Caballo-cocha,  10 
Cacao  family,  317 
Cacti,  30 
Caesalpinia,  193 

pukherrima,  23,  193 
Caesalpiniaceae,  179,  192 
Caesalpinieae,  179,  192 
Cajamarca,  12,  36 
C alodium,  16 
Calliandra,  180 

angustifolia,  180 
Callicarpa,  435,  437 

spp.,  438 
Calophyllum,  337,  338,  344 

brasiZiense,  22,  338 
Calycophyllum,  455 

Spruceanum,  16,  455 
Calyptrella,  378 

cucullata,  378 
Campana,  13 
Campsiandra,  194 

laurifolia,  194 

Canals,  intercellular  (table),  526 
Caper  family,  163 
Capirona,  456 

decorticans,  456 
Capparidaceae,  163 
Capparis,  163 

ni<tda,  163 

petiolaris,  164 

Quina,  165 

Schunkei,  165 

tarapotensis,  165 
Carapa,  237 

guianensis,  237 
Carex,  28 
Carica,  365 

Papaya,  365 
Caricaceae,  365 
Carludovica  palmata,  13,  26 
Carpotroche,  352 

longifolia,  353 

parvifolia,  353 
Caryocar,  329,  330,  331 

coccineum,  332 

glabrum,  18,  332 

(/rocite,  332 

Tessmannii,  333 
Caryocaraceae,  329 
Casearia,  351,  354,  476 

Blanchetiana,  354 

iquitosensis,  355 

javitensis,  355 

macrophylla,  355 

parvifolia,  356 

Poeppigii,  356 

praecox,  454 


INDEX 


577 


Casearia  reginae,  356 

sylvestris,  357 

sylvestris  var.  martinensis,  357 

tarapotina,  357 

timbuchi,  358 
Cashew  family,  283 
Cassia,  23,  195 

chrysocarpa,  195 

marginata,  195 

multijuga,  196 

occidentalis,  196 

racemosa,  196,  198 

reticulata,  23,  197 

Ruiziana,  198 

viminea,  198 
Castillo,,  72,  74 

E/fet,  20,  74 
Catalpa,  447 
Cecropia,  16,  75 

latifolia,  76 

leucocoma,  76 

obtusa,  76 

sciadophylla,  77 

Tessmannii,  77 
Cedar,  exports  of,  46 

local  uses  of,  46 

Spanish,  46 
CedreJa,  26,  237,  238 

angustifolia,  238 

.tfssiZis,  26,  46,  238,  239 

Herrerae,  46,  238 

odorata,  18,  46,  238,  239,  240,  245 
Ceja  de  la  montana,  13,  28 
Celendin,  47 
CeZ/is,  71 
Cephaelis,  20,  457 

rosea,  457 

tomentosa,  458 

VPiMiamsii,  458 
Cephalocereus,  30 
Cerews,  30 
Cerro  Pelado,  12 
Cespedesia,  326 

Sprucei,  26,  326 
Cestrum,  440 

Baenitzii,  441 

racemosum,  441 

Sendtnerianum,  442 
Chachapoyas,  12,  13,  30,  32,  36,  40,  47 
Chanchamayo  Valley,  36,  47 
Chasuta,  12,  14 
Chimarrhis,  458 

VFCIliamBtf,  458 
Chloranthaceae,  67 
Chloranth  family,  67 
Chlorophora,  77 

tinctoria,  77 
Cholos,  34 
Chrysochlamys,  338 

Weberbaueri,  338 
Chrysophyllum,  407 
M,  20,  408 


Chrysophyllum  sericeum,  408 
Cinchona,  16,  451,  459 

amazonica,  461 

bark,  459 

discovery  of,  459 

distribution  of,  459 

officinalis,  461 
Cilriw,  23,  222 

aurantifolia,  223 

-Awranfiura,  223 

Limetta,  224 

medico,  224 
Clarisia,  22,  79 

nitida,  79 

Classification  of  material,  8,  60 
Clavija,  406 

sp.,  406 
Cleidion,  270 

amazonicum,  270 
Clibadium,  505 

remotiflorum,  505 

sylvestre,  53 
Clidemia,  20,  379 

/ur/a,  23,  379 

naevula,  379 
Climate,  30 
Clusia,  339 

insignis,  340 

penduliflora,  340 

renggerioides,  340 

Spruccana,  340 
Clusia  family,  337 
Coast,  Pacific,  12,  36,  40,  47 
Coca,  40,  52 

cultivation  of,  52 

exports  of,  53 

family,  218 
Coccoloba,  16,  107 

Barbeyana,  22,  108,  109 

gracilis,  108 

peruviana,  108 

VTi^iamsii,  109 
Cochaconga,  Lake,  14 
Cochiquina,  10 
Cochlospermaceae,  346 
Cochlospermum,  346 

orinocense,  346 


ii,  347 

Cochlospermum  family,  346 
Cocos  nucifera,  24 
Cojfea,  459,  462 

arabica,  451,  462 
Coffee  growing,  39,  40 
Collecting  regions,  60 
Collector's  numbers.  60 
Colombia,  15,  52 
Combretaceae,  372 
Combretum  family,  372 
Common  names  (list),  536 
Communications,  36 
Compositae,  504 
Composition  of  forest,  15 


578  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Compsoneura,  130 

capitellata,  130 
Condaminea,  462 

corymbosa,  462 
Condylocarpon,  420 

pubiflorum,  420 
Connaraceae,  176 
Connarus,  22,  176 
Connarus  family,  176 

Patrisii,  177 

Sprucei,  177 
Conomorpha,  403 

peruviana,  403 

Conspicuous  rays  (table),  522 
Copaifera,  198 

reticulata,  198 
Corchorus,  301 
Cordto,  431,  434 

alliodora,  432,  433 

heterophylla,  433 

laurifolia,  433 

nodosa,  433 

rotundifolia,  30 

tetrandra,  434 

t/iez  var.  ucayaliensis,  434 
Cordilleras,  15,  38,  47 
Corrigimento,  13 
Cos<ws,  26 
Cotton,  39,  40 
Couepia,  168 

ccmomensis,  168 

chrysocalyx,  169 

paraensis,  169 

racemosa  var.,  170 

speciosa,  170 

subcordata,  170 

I/lei,  16,  171 

WtKiamm,  171 
Couma,  20,  421,  425 

spp.  421,  422 
Cowssappa,  79 

grandiceps,  79 
CoMSsarea,  462 

brevicaulis,  462 

hirticalyx,  463 

megalocarpa,  463 

ovalis,  463 

tenuiflora,  464 

tricephala,  465 
Coutarea,  465 

hexandra,  18,  465 
Crataeva,  166 

Tapza,  23,  166 
Cremastosperma,  120 

gracilipes,  120 
Crepidospermum,  232 

Goudotianum,  232 
Crescentia,  444,  445 

Cujete,  445 
Crops,  34,  38,  39,  40 
Crokm,  26,  264,  271 

cuneatus,  271 


Croton  glabellus,  272 

matourensis,  272 

palanostigma,  273 

peruvianus,  24 
Crudia,  199 

parivoa,  199 
Cube-barbasco,  53 

analysis  of,  54 

exports  of,  55 
Cultivated  land,  39 

trees,  23,  59 
Cumbasa,  12 
Cupania,  292,  295 

cinerea,  295 
Cuphea,  16 

speciosa,  16 
Curatella,  325 

americana,  26,  325 
Custard  Apple  family,  116 
Cuzco,  Department,  46 
Cymbopetalum,  120 

longipes,  120 

Tessmannii,  121 
Cynometra,  200 

bauhiniaefolia,  200 
Cyperaceae,  26 
Cyphomandra,  440,  442 

sp.,  443 

Daguas,  30 
Dalbergia,  211 

inundata,  16,  211 
Density  (table),  512 
Department,  Amazonas,  14,  34,  38,  39, 
47 

Cuzco,  46 

Loreto,  8,  16,  34,  38 

San  Martin,  10,  34,  39,  41 
Descriptions  of  woods,  60 
Desmodium,  16 
Dialium,  200 

acuminatum,  201 
Dichapetalaceae,  262 
Dichapetalum  family,  262 
Diclinanona,  121 

calycina,  121 
Dictyoloma,  224 

peruvianum,  26,  224 
Didymopanax,  400 

Morototoni,  26,  400 
Dilleniaceae,  325,  403 
Dillenia  family,  325 
Diospyros,  416 

peruviana,  416 

Poeppigiana,  417 
Diseases,  30 
Dodonaea  viscosa,  30 
Dogbane  family,  419 
Dry-land  formation,  20 
Drymonia,  448 

sp.,  448 


INDEX 


579 


Duguetia,  122 

quitarensis,  122 

Spixiana,  123 
Duroia,  22,  466 

hirsuta,  466,  467 

longifolia,  466 

trichocarpa,  467 

Ebenaceae,  416 
Ebony  family,  416 
Echites,  422 

spectabilis,  422 
Ecuador,  15,  52 
Elaeocarpaceae,  299 
Elaeocarpus  family,  299 
Elm,  432 
Elm  family,  71 
El  Morro,  13 
Embothrium,  99 

mucronatum,  30 

Weberbaueri,  99 
Endlicheria,  20,  149 

anomala  16,  150,  151 

WiZh'arasii,  150 
Entada,  181 

polyphylla,  181 
Erythrina,  22,  212 

esculenta,  212 

glauca,  213 

[/Zei,  213 
Erythrochiton,  225 

brasiliense,  225 
Erythroxylaceae,  218 
Erythroxylon,  218 

amplum,  219 

Coca,  52,  218 

lucidum,  219 

macrocnemium,  219 

macrophyllum,  220 

Mamacova,  220 

paraense,  221 

Shatona,  221 
Eucalyptus,  30,  374 
Euphorbiaceae,  264 
Euterpe,  16 

Evening  Primrose  family,  399 
Exploitation  of  forest  products,  40 
Explorers,  earlier  botanical,  7 

Fabaceae,  179,  211 
Faramea,  20,  467 

amplifolia,  468 

anisocalyx,  469 

capillipes,  469 

glandulosa,  469 

maynensis,  470 

quinqueflora,  470 

rectinervia,  471 
Ferdinandusa,  471 

chlorantha,  471 
Festuca,  28 


Ficzts,  72,  80 

anthelminthica,  81 

caballina,  81 

gemina,  26,  82 

glabrata,  82 

Mathewsii,  83 

paroensis,  83 

Ruiziana,  84 

sp.,  85 

Weberbaueri,  84 
Field  crops,  39 

numbers,  60 
Fish  poisons,  53 
Flacourtiaceae,  350 
Flacourtia  family,  350 
Flood-free  formation,  20 
Flood  periods,  38 
Forest,  composition,  15 

high  rain,  26 

low  rain,  26 

primary,  16 

secondary,  16 

products,  40 
Formation,  flood-free,  20 

intermediate,  18 

secondary,  22 
•     swamp,  16,  26 
Formations,  15 
Fortaleza,  12 
Four-o'clock  family,  112 
Fourcroya,  30 
Funtumia  elastica,  419 

Gaultheria  erecta,  30 
Genipa,  472 

americana,  472 
Geography  of  Peru,  14 
Gesneria  family,  448 
Gesneriaceae,  448 
Gilibertia,  401 

WiHiamsii,  401 
Ginseng  family,  399 
Gloeospermum,  347,  348 

Sprucei,  348 
Gonzalagunia,  473 

cornifolia,  473 
Gouania,  298 

Lupuloides,  298 
Government  of  Peru,  14 
Graffenrieda,  379 

limbata,  379 
Grasses,  28 
Grassland,  24 
Grias,  370 

Neuberthii,  370 
Guarea,  22,  242 

aligera,  242 

filiformis,  243 

fissicalyx,  243 

grandifolia,  244 

maynasiana,  244 

trichilioides,  245 


580  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Guatteria,  123 

hyposericea,  123 

microcarpa,  124 

phanerocampta,  124 
Guayapurima,  12 
Guazuma,  318 

crinita,  23,  319 

ulmifolia,  23,  26,  30,  318,  319 
Gustavia,  53,  369,  371 

caballoensis,  371 
Guttiferae,  337 
Gynerium,  16 

Hamelia,  473 

Zutea,  473 
Hancornia,  425 
Hasseltia,  358 

laxiflora,  358 
Hedyosmum,  67 

racemosum,  67 
Heisteria,  102,  103 

cauli  flora,  103 

cyanocarpa,  104 

densifrons,  104 

pallida,  105 
Heliconia,  26,  28 
Heliocarpus,  302,  304 

popayanensis,  304 
Helicteres  pentandra,  24 
Henriettella,  380 

verrucosa,  380 
#et>ea,  15,  18,  48,  264,  273 

brasiZtensis,  274 

brasiliensis  var.  janeirensis,  275 

membranacea,  275 

microphylla,  276 
High  rain  forest,  26 
Hibiscus,  307 

tiliaceus,  307 
Hippotis,  474 

brevipes,  474 
Hirtella,  167,  168,  171 

americana,  172 

americana  var.  hexandra,  172 

americana  var.  latifolia,  173 

americana  var.  oblongifolia,  173 

pilosissima,  173 
Holly  family,  289 
Huallaga  River,  10,  12,  14,  24,  34,  36, 

38,  39,  41,  44,  46,  48,  51,  54,  246 
Hufelandia,  151 

sp.,  151 
Huro,  277 

crepitans,  18,  53,  277 
Hymenaea,  202 

palustris,  22,  202 
Hypericaceae,  344 
Hyptis,  16 

Icacinaceae,  291 
Icacina  family,  291 
//ex,  290 
sp.,  290 


Indian  tribes,  34 
Indoche  River,  13 
/nga,  23,  182 

edulis,  183 

gracili flora,  183 

ingoides,  184 

marginata,  16,  184 

pilosiuscula,  185 

plumifera,  185 

punctata,  185 

quaternata,  186 

Ruiziana,  186 

sertulifera,  187 

stenoptera,  187 

strigillosa,  188 

velutina,  188 
Inhabitants,  34 

Inter-Andean  valleys,  slopes,  30 
Intercellular  canals  (table),  526 
Intermediate  formation,  18 
Ipomoea,  16 

Batatas,  39 
Iquitos,  8,  10,  14,  30,  34,  36,  38,  42,  44, 

46,  47,  51,  54,  55,  246 
Iryanthera,  22,  130 

juruensis,  131 

leptoclada,  131 

macrophylla,  131 

paraensis,  132 

sessilis,  132 

Tessmannii,  133 
Iseriia,  474 

a?6a,  475 

rosea,  475 
Itaya  River,  8,  10 
Ixora,  476 

Finlaysoniana,  476 

Killipii,  477 

peruviana,  477 

Jacaranda,  22,  26,  445 

filicifolia,  446 
Jacaratia,  366 

digitata,  366 
Jacquinia,  53 
Jaen,  36 

Jalca,  13,  28,  30,  32 
Jatropha,  26,  264,  278 

Cwrcos,  278 

Javary  River,  10,  20,  30,  38,  48 
Juan  Guerra,  12 
Juanjui,  12 
Juglandaceae,  68 
Juglans,  68,  431 

neotropica,  16,  30,  47,  68 
Jurua  River,  44 
Jussiaea,  399 

latifolia,  399 

Lacistema,  65 
aggregatum,  66 
Nena,  66 
rosidiscum,  67 


INDEX 


581 


Lacistemaceae,  65 
Lacistema  family,  65 
Ladenbergia,  478 

magnifolia,  478 
Laetia,  359 

suaveolens,  359 
Lagerstroemia  indica,  367 
Lamas,  12,  13,  24,  32,  34,  40 
La  Merced,  36 
Land,  cultivated,  39 
Landolphia  Kirkii,  419 

owariensis,  419 
Lantana  Camera,  24 
Laticiferous  canals,  525 
Lauraceae,  28,  146 
Laurel  family,  146 
La  Victoria,  10,  39 
Lawsonia  inermis,  367 
Leaf  characters  (table),  533 
Leandra,  376,  381 

sp.,  381 

Leatherwood  family,  366 
Lecythidaceae,  369 
Lecythis,  20,  372 

sp.,  372 

Leguminosae,  178 
Leonia,  347,  348 

glycycarpa,  348 
Licania,  167,  168,  174 

data,  174,  175 

octandra,  175 
Lichens,  28 
Lima,  36 
Lindackeria,  359 

maynensis,  359 
Linden  family,  301 
Lippia,  435,  438 

virgata,  24,  438 
Liriodendron,  315 
Liriosma,  102,  106 

gracilis,  106 

Spruceana,  106 
Local  names,  536 
Local  uses  of  timbers,  40,  55 
Loganiaceae,  417 
Lonchocarpus,  214 

confertiflorus,  214 

Nicou,  53,  215 
Loosestrife  family,  367 
Loreto,  Department,  8,  15,  16,  34,  38, 

246 

Low  rain  forest,  26 
Lowland,  tropical,  16 
Lucuma,  407,  408.  409 

bifera,  20,  409 

Caimito,  18,  410 

dolichophylla,  411 

huallagae,  411 
Luehea,  302,  304 

tarapotina,  305 

Tessmannii,  305 


Lunania,  360 

cuspidata,  360 
Lythraceae,  367 

Mabea,  264,  278 

stt&smiZzs,  20,  279 
Machaerium,  215 

sp.,  215 
Machaonia,  478 

WiMiamsu,  478 
Madura  aurantiaca,  78 
Macoubea,  20,  422 

paucifolia,  422 
Macrocneraw?n,  479 

roseum,  479 
Macrolobium,  203 

acaciaefolium,  203 

taxifolium,  204 
Madder  family,  451 
Madre  de  Dios,  15 
Mahogany,  18,  22,  41,  245 

Brazilian,  44 

distribution  of,  41 

exploitation  of,  41 

exports  of,  42 

family,  236 

insect  damage  to,  44 
Mainas,  10 
Malachra,  308 

alceifolia,  308 
Mallow  family,  306 
Malmea,  125 

cuspidata,  125 

sp.,  125 
Malouetia,  423 

furfuracea,  423 

furfuracea  var.  grandifolia,  424 

Tamaquarina,  18,  424 
Malpighiaceae,  257 
Malpighia  family,  257 
Malvaceae,  306 
Manaos,  38,  44 
Mangifera,  284 

indica,  24 

Manihot  utilissima,  264 
Manilkara,  407,  412 

bidentata,  20,  26,  412 
Maprounea,  279 

guianensis,  279 
Maranon  River,  10,  30,  34,  38,  47,  51, 

69,  246 

Marantaceae,  28 
Marcgravia,  334 

Wiliiarnsu,  334 
Marcgraviaceae,  334 
Marcgravia  family,  334 
Masan  River,  8 
Matayba,  296 

purgans,  296 
Mathews,  Alexander,  13 
Matisia,  310,  312 

cordato,  18,  312,  313 
ochrocalyx,  313 


582  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY— BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Mauria,  22,  284,  286 

suaveolens,  286 
Mayna,  361 

echinata,  361 

Mayo  River,  12,  13,  24,  34,  36,  41 
Melastomaceae,  28,  376 
Melastome  family,  376 
Melastomes,  16 
Melia,  237 
Meliaceae,  236 
Menispermaceae,  115 
Meriania,  376,  381 

Spruceana,  381 
Mestizos,  34 
Miconia,  20,  382 

amazonica,  382 

amplexans,  383 

aulocalyx,  384 

aurea,  384 

bubalina,  384 

calvescens,  385 

cannabina,  385 

capitata,  385 

chrysophylla,  386 

clavistyla,  386 

crassifolia,  30 

dichrophylla,  386 

Donaeana,  387 

egensis,  387 

heteromera,  387 

juruensis,  388 

lepidota,  388 

longifolia,  389 

longiracemosa,  389 

Macbridei,  391 

macrophylla,  390 

minuti flora,  390 

moHis,  391 

parvi  flora,  391 

Pilgeriana,  391 

Poeppigii,  392 

prasina,  392 

pteropoda,  393 

puberula,  393 

scorpioides,  394 

serialis,  394 

spennerostachya,  394 

stelligera,  395 

stenostachya,  395 

tetrasperma,  395 
Mimosaceae,  179 
Mimoseae,  179 
Molinobamba,  14,  30,  40 
MofZia,  302,  306 

sp.,  306 
Mollinedia,  140 

casca,  141 

caudata,  141 

simulans,  142 
Monimiaceae,  140 
Monimia  family,  140 


Montana,  15,  22,  28,  34,  36,  38,  44,  46, 
48,  53 

area  of,  15 

Moonseed  family,  115 
Moorland,  13,  28 
Moraceae,  71 
Morales,  12,  40 
Morona  River,  38,  44 
Morro,  El,  13 
Morws,  78 
Mouriria,  376,  396 

grandiflora,  396 
Moyobamba,  12,  13,  14,  24,  32,  34,  36, 

40,  41 

Mulberry  family,  71 
Muniches,  village,  12 
Muntingia,  300 

Calabura,  300 
Musaceae,  26 
Myriocarpa,  97 

densiflora,  97 
Myristicaceae,  129 
Myroxylon,  216 

balsamum,  22,  216 
Myrsinaceae,  402 
Myrsine  family,  402 
Myrtaceae,  374 
Myrtle  family,  374 

Nanay  mills,  44 

River,  8,  10,  20,  38,  48,  51,  246 
Napo  River,  10,  34,  38,  39,  40,  48,  51 
Navigable  rivers,  36 
Navigation,  36,  38 
Nauta,  10 
Nectandra,  152 

acutifolia,  152 

globosa,  153 

maranonensis,  153 

Pichurim,  154 

pulverulenta,  154 
Nmz,  112 

divaricala,  113 

floribunda,  113 

Zaxa,  113 

parvi  flora,  114 

Spruceana,  114 

subpubescens,  114 
Negro  River,  13 
Nettle  family,  95 
Nothopanax,  401 

sp.,  401 

Nutmeg  family,  129 
Nyctaginaceae,  112 

Occurrence  of  raphides,  525 
Ochnaceae,  326 
Ochna  family,  326 
Ochroma,  14,  23,  72,  310,  314 

boliviano,  26,  30,  315 
Ocimum  americanum,  24 


INDEX 


583 


Ocotea,  154 

cuprea,  155 

grandifolia,  155 

laxiflora,  156 

licanioides,  156 

maynensis,  157 

minutiflora,  157 

opifera,  158 

rubrinervis,  158 

tarapotana,  158 

Tessmannii,  159 

Trianae,  159 
Odor  (table),  514 
Ogcodeia,  22,  85 

Tamamuri,  85 

Tessmannii,  86 

£7Jei,  86 
Oil  cells,  525 
Olacaceae,  102 
Olax  family,  102 
Otea,  30 
Oliganthes,  505 

discolor,  23,  506 

Karstenii,  506 
Olmedia,  87 

aspera,  87 
Onagraceae,  399 
Ophiocaryon,  297 

heterophyllum,  297 
Orchidaceae,  28 
Oreopanaz,  402 

WiMiamsii,  402 
Oryza  latifolia,  16 
Ossaea,  376,  396 

micrantha,  396 
Osteophloeum,  133 

platyspermum,  133 
Ouratea,  326,  327 

iquitosensis,  328 

pendula,  328 
Overland  routes,  36 
Oxalis,  24 

Pacasmayo,  47 
Pachisa,  12 
Pachystachys,  449 

Riedeliana,  449 
Pacific  coast,  12,  36,  40,  47 
Paita,  36 
Palicourea,  479 

condensata,  480 

crocea,  481 

lasiantha,  481 

nigricans,  482 

paraensis,  482 

punicea,  482 
Palms,  10,  16,  24,  26,  28 
Panama  hat  palm,  13,  26 
Panicum  barbinode,  16 
Panopsis,  99,  100 

rubescens  var.  simulans,  100 
Papilionatae,  179,  211 


Para,  8,  38 

rubber,  20,  48,  264,  274 
Parahancornia,  424 

Amapa,  20,  424 
Paraiso,  10 
Paramo,  28 
Paranapura,  10,  54 

Parenchyma,  arrangement  (table),  520 
Parinarium,  168,  175 

parile,  175 
Passiflora,  16 
Pastasa  River,  38,  44 
Patrisia,  351,  362 

pyrifera,  362 
Pavonia,  307,  308 

leucantha,  308 
Pawpaw  family,  365 
Paypayrola,  347,  349 

grandiflora,  349 
Pebas,  10,  34 
Pentagonia,  483 

velutina,  483 
Pepper  family,  62 
Pera,  280 

sp.,  280 
Perebea,  88 

Chimiqua,  88 

Perforations,  vessel  (table),  527 
Persea,  160 

americana,  23,  160 
Peru,  14,  52 

geography  of,  14 
Peruvian  Amazon,  20,  34 

bark,  459 

-Brazilian  border,  10 
Pests,  insect,  32 
Phoebe,  160 

pichisensis,  160 
Phyllanthus,  281 

grandifolius,  281 
Physiographic  zones,  14 
Physocalymma,  368 

scaberrimum,  367,  368  „ 

PhyUlephas,  26,  51 
Pichis  Trail,  36,  47 
Picramnia,  229 

lineata,  229 

macrostachys,  230 

magnifolia,  230 

martiniana,  231 
Piper,  62 

arrectispicum,  62 

fortalezanum,  62 

granuligerum,  63 

nanayanum,  63 

pebosense,  63 

Sellertianum,  64 

sericeonervosum,  64 

Stuebelii,  64 

yurimaguasanum,  65 
Piperaceae,  62 


584  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Piptadenia,  189 

flava,  18,  189 
Piscohuanuna,  13 
Pithecolobium,  189 

laetum,  190 

Mathewsii,  26,  191 

Saman,  26,  191 
Pits,  vessel-ray  (table),  528 

vestured  (table),  527 
Platanus,  403 
Pleurothyrium,  161 

densiflorum,  161 

Williamsii,  162 
Plumeria,  425 

tarapotensis,  425 
Poeppigia,  204 

procera,  204 
Polygonaceae,  106 
Pongo  de  Manserriche,  47 
Population  of  Peru,  14 

of  Departments  of  Peru,  34 
Poraqueiba,  291 

sericea,  291 
Posoqueria,  483 

latifolia,  484 

longiflora,  484 
Potalia,  418 

amara,  418 
Potato  family,  439 
Pourouma,  88 

cecropiaefolia,  88 

t/Jei,  89 

Primary  forest,  16 
Principal  rivers,  38 
Prockia,  22,  362 

septemnervia,  362 
Proteaceae,  98,  403 
Protea  family,  98 
Protium,  231,  232 

Car  ana,  22,  233 

crassifolium,  233 

glaucum,  233 

Llewelyni,  234 

medianum,  234 

puncticulatum,  22,  235 

subserratum,  235 

tenuifolium,  236 
Prunus,  175 

Psammisia  Ulbrichiana,  30 
Pseudolmedia,  20,  22,  89 

multinervis,  90 

sp.,  90 
Psidium,  374 

Guajava,  23,  375 
Psychotria,  480,  485 

atoa,  486 

alboviridula,  486 

capitata,  487 

cupularis,  487 

falcata,  488 

invoZucrata,  488 

japurensis,  489 


Psychotria  macrophylla,  489 

Mathewsii,  489 

nigricans,  490 

racemosa,  490 

viridis,  24,  490 
Pterocarpus,  217 

f/fei,  22,  217 
Puca-yaco,  12 
Puerto  Arturo,  12,  39 

Bermudez,  36 

Ocopa,  36 
Puna,  13,  28,  32 
Purus  River,  40,  44 
Putumayo  River,  10,  34,  38,  40,  51 
Put/a,  28 

Quararibea,  310,  316 
guianensis,  316 
Wittn,  317 

Rain  forest,  high,  26 

low,  26 
Rainfall,  32 
Randia,  491 

armata,  491 

Ruiziana,  492 

spinosa,  53 

Tessmannii,  492 

Wt'ZfiamsM,  492 
Rapanea,  403,  404 

chartacea,  404 

leuconeiira,  404 

Sprucei,  405 

Raphides,  occurrence  of  (table),  525 
Rauwolfia,  426 

Duckei,  426 
Rays,  broad  (table),  522 

type  of  (table),  530 

uniseriate  (table),  532 
Regions,  collecting,  60 
Remijia,  493 

peruviana,  493 
Resin  cells,  525 
Resources,  forest,  40 
Rhamnaceae,  298 
Rhamnidium,  299 

elaeocarpum,  299 
Rhamnus  pubescens,  30 
Rheedia,  22,  337,  341 

floribunda,  342 

macrophylla,  20,  342 
Ricinus  communis,  264 
Ring-porous  woods  (table),  519 
Rinorea,  22,  347,  348,  350 
Rioja,  13,  24 

Ripple  marks  (table),  524 
River  Amazon,  8,  36,  38,  41,  51 

Azupizu,  47 

Huallaga,  10,  12,  14,  24,  34,  36,  38, 
39,  41,  46,  48,  51,  54 

Indoche,  13 

Itaya,  8,  10 

Javary,  38,  48 


INDEX 


585 


River  Jurua,  44 

Maranon,  10,  34,  38,  51 

Masan,  8 

Mayo,  12,  13,  24,  34,  36,  41 

Morona,  44 

Nanay,  8,  10,  38,  41,  48,  51 

Napo,  10,  34,  38,  39,  40,  48,  51 

Negro,  13 

Paranapura,  10 

Pastasa,  38,  44 

Purus,  40,  44 

Putumayo,  10,  34,  38,  40,  51 

Tambo,  36 

Tambo-yaco,  13 

Tigre,  10,  38,  44 

Tonchiman,  13 

Ucayali,  34,  36,  38,  39,  40,  44,  46,  47, 
48,  51,  53 

Uquihua,  13 

Urubamba,  34,  36,  41 

Utcubamba,  30,  47 
Rivers,  36 
Rollinia,  126 
Roupala,  99,  100 

complicata,  101 

Dielsii,  101 
Rosaceae,  167 
Rose  family,  167 
Route,  8 

Routes,  overland,  36 
Rubber,  20,  48,  264,  274 

exports  of,  48 

production  of,  48,  50 

tapping  season,  50 

trees,  20,  48 

varieties  of,  48 
Rubiaceae,  451 
Rudgea,  24,  493 

amazonica,  16,  494 

canephorantha,  494 

ciliata,  495 

loretensis,_  495 

Poeppigii,  496 

retifolia,  496 
Rue  family,  222 
Rumisapa,  12,  40 
Rutaceae,  222 
Ryania  pyrifera,  362 

Sabiaceae,  297 

Sabia  family,  297 

St.  Johnswort  family,  344 

Salicaceae,  68 

Salix,  68 

chilensis,  30,  68 
San  Antonio,  10 

Martin,  10,  15,  39,  41,  54,  246 

Ramon,  36 

Roque,  12,  13,  14,  24 
Sanchezia,  450 

rubriflora,  450 

Williamsii,  451 


Santa  Rosa,  12 
Sapindaceae,  292 
Sapindus  Saponaria,  30 
Sapium,  22,  264,  282 

Hippomane,  282 
Sapodilla  family,  406 
Saposoa,  12 
Sapotaceae,  406 
Sapote-yaco,  12 
Sassafras  officinalc,  146 
Savanna,  24 
Schinopsis,  178,  284 
Schizolobium,  205 

excelsum  var.  amazonicum,  205 
Schoenobiblus,  22,  366 

peruvianus,  366 
Sclerolobium,  206 

panic ulatum,  206 

Uleanum,  26,  206 
Seasons,  32 
Secondary  forest,  16 

formation,  22 
Securinega,  283 

congesta,  283 
Serjania,  53 
Setaria  geniculaia,  24 
Shapaja,  12,  14 
Sickingia,  22,  496 

tinctoria,  497 

Williamsii,  497 
Sida,  26,  307 

cordifolia,  24 
Sideroxylon,  20,  407,  413 

cylindrocarpon,  414 

Quinilla,  414 

Ulei,  415 

Williamsii,  415 
Silk-cotton  Tree  family,  309 
Simaruba,  26 
Simarubaceae,  229 
Simaruba  family,  229 
Siparuna,  142 

bifida,  142 

cervicornis,  143 

Gilgiana,  143 

guianensis,  24,  144 

magnifica,  144 

plana,  145 

Poeppigii,  145 

thecaphora,  145 

Williamsii,  146 
Sloanea,  22,  300,  301 
Soapberry  family,  292 
Solanaceae,  439 
Solanum,  16,  20,  440,  443 
Sommera,  498 

sabiceoides,  498 
Sorocea,  91 

Briquetii,  91 

hirtella,  92 

muriculata,  92 

opima,  92 


586  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — BOTANY,  VOL.  XV 


Souari-nut  family,  329 
Spachea,  257,  262 

tricarpa,  262 

Special  structure  (table),  525 
Sphagnum,  28 
Sphinctanthus,  499 

maculatus,  499 
Spondias,  284,  286 

Mombin,  23,  287 

purpurea,  23,  287 
Spruce,  Richard,  12 
Spurge  family,  264 
Staphyleaceae,  290 
Sterculia,  318,  320 

Tessmannii,  320 
Sterculiaceae,  317 
Steriphoma,  166 

peruvianum,  166 
Sticta,  28 

Stigmatophyllon  tiliifolium,  16 
Storied  structure  (table),  524 
Strychnine  family,  417 
Strychnos,  418 

Poeppigii,  418 
Stylogyne,  405 

amplifolia,  405 
Subtropical  zone,  28 
Sugar  cane,  39 
Sunflower  family,  504 
Swamp  formation,  16 

upland,  26 
Swartzia,  22,  207 

amplifolia,  207 

calophylla,  208 

myrtifolia,  208 

pendula,  209 

triphylla,  210 
Swietenia,  237,  245 

Krukovii,  44 

macrophylla,  16,  18,  22,  26,  238,  245 

Tessmannii,  245 
Symmeria,  107,  109 

paniculata,  109 
Symphonia,  343 

globulifera,  343 

Tabalosos,  12,  13 
Tabebuia,  22,  444,  446 

spp.,  447 
Tabernaemontana,  426 

Benthamiana,  427 

olivacea,  427 

Poeppigii,  428 

Sananho,  428 
Tachigalia,  210 

paniculata,  210 
Tagua,  51 

exports  of,  52 
TaZma,  297 

peruviana,  297 
Tambo  River,  36 
Tambo-yaco,  13 


Tanniniferous  tubes,  525 
Tapirira,  284,  288 

guianensis,  288 

myriantha,  289 
Tapura,  262 

guianensis,  262 

Tarapoto,  12,  13,  14,  24,  32,  34,  40,  54 
Tarma,  36 
Taste  (table),  514 
Tea  family,  335 
Tecoma,  444,  446 
Temperate  zone,  28 
Temperature,  30 
Tephrosia,  53,  217 

toxicaria,  217 
Terminalia,  372 

Catappa,  373 

oblonga,  373 
Ternslroemia,  335,  336 

sp.,  336 
Tessaria,  507 

integrifolia,  507 
Tetrasida,  307,  309 

polyantha,  309 
Tetrathylacium,  363 

macrophyllum,  363 
Texture  (table),  517 
Theaceae,  335 
Theobroma,  22,  318,  321 

Cocao,  18,  318,  321 

ferruginea,  322,  323 

grandiflora,  322 

Mariae,  323 

quinquenervia,  324 

swMncana,  18,  324 
Theophrastaceae,  406 
Theophrasta  family,  406 
Thevetia,  428 

peruviana,  53,  428 
Thymelaeaceae,  366 
Tibouchina,  397 

ochypetala,  397 
Tierra  baja,  16,  18 
Tigre  River,  10,  38,  44 
Ti/ia,  301,  345 
Tiliaceae,  301 
Tobacco,  40 
Tococa,  398 

e^ensis,  398 

juruensis,  398 
Tocoyena,  499 

amazonica,  16,  500 
foetida,  500 

WzMtamsii,  501 
Tonchiman  River,  13 
Torchwood  family,  231 
Torrubia,  115 

myrti  flora,  115 
Transition  stage,  28 
Trees,  cultivated,  59 
Trema,  71 

micrantha,  23,  71 


INDEX 


587 


THE  HBP'**  OF  THE 

JAN  1 1 1937 

[UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOI 


Tribes,  Indian,  34 
Trichanthera,  448,  449 

gigantea,  449 
Trichilia,  22,  249 

flava,  250 

iquitosensis,  251 

Macbrideana,  251 

maynasiana,  252 

peruviana,  252 

Riedelii,  253 

Ruiziana,  253 

sexanthera,  254 

singularis,  254 

tocacheana,  255 

t/lei,  256 

Wi^iomsn,  256 
Triplaris,  110 

Pavonii,  110 

peruviana,  111 

Poeppigiana,  111 
Trophis,  93 

americana  var.  meridionalis,  93 

racemosa,  94 
Trymatococcus,  95 

amazonicus,  95 
Turpinia,  290 

heterophylla,  290 
Type  of  rays  (table),  530 

Ucayali  River,  20,  36,  38,  39,  40,  44,  46, 

47,  48,  51,  53,  246 
Ulmaceae,  71 
t/Zmws,  71,  432,  445 

/utoo,  316 
Uncaria,  501 

guianensis,  501 
Uniseriate  rays  (table),  532 
Unonopsis,  126 

floribunda,  127 

spp.,  127 

Upland  region,  24 
Upper  montana,  28 
Uquihua  River,  13 
t/rera,  97 

caracasana,  97 

caracasana  var.  Miquelii,  98 
Urticaceae,  95 
Urubamba  River,  34,  36,  41 

Valley,  46 

Uses  of  timber,  40,  55 
Usnea,  28 
Utcubamba  River,  30,  47 

Vegetable  ivory,  51 

exports  of,  52 
Ventana,  13 
Ventilla,  14 
Verbenaceae,  435 
Verbena  family,  435 
Vernonia,  26,  508 

bacchar aides,  508 

brachiata,  509 


Vessel  perforations  (table),  527 
Vessel-ray  pit-pairs,  528 
Vestured  pits  (table),  527 
Violaceae,  347 
Violet  family,  347 
Virola,  134 

calophylla,  135 

cuspidata,  135 

cuspidata  var.  membranacea,  136 

loretensis,  136 

Mocoa,  137 

mollissima,  137 

officinalis,  138 

sebifera,  139 

Weberbaueri,  139 
ia,  23,  344 
,  435,  439 

triflora,  439 
Vochysia,  263 

Haenkeana,  26,  263 
Vochysiaceae,  263 
Vochysia  family,  263 

Walnut,  16,  47,  68,  431 

exploitation  of,  47 

family,  68 

local  uses  of,  47 
Warscewiczia,  22,  502 

coccinea,  502 

cordata,  503 

Schwackei,  504 
Wedelia,  16 

West  Indian  boxwood,  454 
Willow  family,  68 
Woods,  descriptions  of,  60 

Xylological  characters  (table),  533 
Xylopia,  127 

aromatica,  24,  128 

peruviana,  128 
Xylosma,  364 

pilosa,  364 

Salzmannii,  365 

Yurimaguas,  10,  12,  14,  34,  36,  38,  39, 
54 

Zanthoxylum,  22,  24,  222,  225 

juniperinum,  226 

Pterota,  26,  227 

Ruizianum,  227 

Sprucei,  228 

patens,  228 
Zingiberaceae,  26 
Zones,  Amazon,  7 

physiographic,  14 
Zschokkea,  22,  425,  429 

floribunda,  429 

gracilis,  430 

peruviana,  430 

ramosissima,  431 


BOTANICAL  SERIES 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

FOUNDED  BY  MARSHALL  FIELD,  1893 

VOLUME  XV 


WOODS  OF  NORTHEASTERN  PERU 


BY 

LLEWELYN  WILLIAMS 

ASSISTANT   CURATOR   OF  ECONOMIC   BOTANY 


B.  E.  DAHLGREN 

CURATOR,  DEPARTMENT  OP  BOTANY 
EDITOR 


PUBLICATION  377 


CHICAGO,  U.S.A. 
DECEMBER  31,  1936 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  URBANA 


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