Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

44. Palo de misanteco, Gulf licaria
Found 1oc;llly in nortltern parts of Puerto Rico,
this species is characterized by : (1) spicy foliage,
twigs, and btlrlc; (2) twigs reclclish when young;
(3) narron~ly elliptic lerivest slightly thickened,
mnny \\-it11 a long tapering po~nt and short-pointed
nt base; (4) the snlnll svhttish flo\vers more than
1/1,3 inch long and brond, lttnll-y in bmnched clnsters
11h-3 inches long j and (5) the elliptic pet1
or dark blue fruits :% ~ncll or more in len#h, in a
large thick red cup about 1h inch long arid broad
wit11 double rim or margin.
A smnll evergreen tree to 30 feet high and 8
inches in diameter nyith brond rounded crown.
The bark is dark brown and flaky or scaly. The
slender twigs :Ire finely 11niry and with raised dots
(lenticels) .
The leaves arc alternate on petioles %-I,$ inch
lotig. I3latlcs ;tre 3-5 incl~es long and 1-1% inches
broatl, the edges not tootl~ed, shiny dark green
itbove, paler beneath.
Flo~rer clusters (panicles) ale terminal and latcri~l,
and have groups of small flowers on short,
slender, liairy stalks. The tubular calyx has 6
lobes: tlie 3 stamens itre united into a fleshy hairy
tube or columti; and tlie pistil ltr~s a 1-celled ov:lry,
slender style, and protruding flattened stigma.
LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)
Licaria triandra (Sw.) Kosterm.
The fleshy fruits (berries) are few in a cluster
itnd 1-seeded. The cup has a second rim about 4/8
inc.11 below the ed~e and is warty. Recorded in
flo~~~er in Riay and in fruit in Mag and July.
Tllo woocl is clescribed as ash colored or greenish
yellow, strong, and llenvv (specific gravity 0.9).
ITsecl for posts in Puerto Rico. Reported as suitable
for interior construction and used for matches
iintl niatcltboses in Dominican Republic.
This species has been suggested as a shade tree
for soutliern Florida and Cuba.
In forests of the moist limestone region of
Paerto Rico, Also in Vieques.
PUISLIC FOREST.-Guajatncn.
RANGE. - Greater Antilles and blnrtinique.
.tlso very rare in southern Florida.
OTHER CO~MON ~~11~s.-misnnteco, palo misnnteco
(Puerto Rico) ; cigun prietn (Dominican Re-
; lebisa, leviza, laurel de loma, laurel
rtnco (Cuba) ; Gulf licnrin, Gulf misantecn
(United States) ; sweetmood (Jamaica) ; laurier
jnnne (Haiti).
I~OT~INICAL SYE;OXYJIS. - Nisanteca triandra
( SW. ) Mez, Am*odicZidium trirtndtum ( Sw. ) Luntlel
I, -4. jnf~raicen~e Nees, Licaria jamaicendG
( Nees) Rosterm.