Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

48. Laurel geo
One of the commonest laurels, this species is
characterized by: (1) spicy foliage, t~vigs, and
bark; (52) a very dense rounded crown; (3) elliptic
leathery leaves 4-9 inclies long and 11/2-31/2
inches broad, the apex short-, long-, or bluntpointed,
the base short-pointed or rounded, slightly
shiny dark green on apl~er sr~rfnce and paler
beneath, often wit11 scattered rnised dots, which
are insect galls; (4) brnnched clusters of nnmer-
LAUREL FAMIL 'Y (LAURACEAE)
Ocotea leucoxylon (Sw.) Mez
The sapwood is pale yello~vish brown or cream
colored, and the heartwood uniform light golden
brown \\-ithout figure. The \vood is moderately
soft, lightweight (specific rarity 0.45), moder-
ntely strong, and eas~ly n-or f ed. It is not durable
ttnd is susceptible to attnck by dry-wood termites.
Rate of air-seasoning is moderate, and amount of
degrade is considerable. ,1Inchining characteristics
arc as follows: planing, shaping, turning,
011s small yello~~ flowers s/lo inch across near ends mortising, nncl resistance to scretv splitting are
of twigs; and (5) very mnny round black fruits good ; nncl boring ancl sanding are fair.
5/10 inch in diameter, in 11 red or brown cup 3/g inch
'I'ho \vood is used mainly for posts but also in carlong
covered nvith light brown \!-arts.
A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to
pentry nnd construction. It is suitable for inex-
50
feet high and 10 inches in trunk cliameter. The pe~tsive gl.;ides of furniture and cabinetwork and
bark is brown or gmy, smoothish or becoming for interior trim, general carpentry, light consliglitly
fissured. Inner bnrk is light, brown, with stn~ction, boses and cmtes, plywood, sheathing,
bitter spicy taste. Twigs tire green and finely nncl collcrete forms. A general utility wood in
hairy when young, becoming brown, sliglit,ly Tobago. Formerly made into shingles in Jamaica.
an led.
In Dominican Fbpublic it is reported that the
!$he leaves arc alternnte on petioles ?&-% inch fruits tire an important food for hogs.
long. Blades are llnirless or nearly so and not Widely distributed in forests of the moist const,
toothecl on edges. Insect galls forming scattered ~noist, limestone, and lower moantain regions of
raised dots on the upper letif surface we s~~fficiently 1'uert.o Rico. Also.in St. Thomas and Tortola.
chnracteristic of this species to serve in identifica- 1'u1%1,1c FORESTS.-Cambalacho, Cnrite, Guajat
ion.
tnca, Guilarte, Luquillo, Mnricno, Sushn, Toro
Flon-er clusters (panicles) are 2-6 inches long,
broad and much branched, single at leaf bases and
Negro, Vega.
ttppearing terminal, the branches green, angled, ~IUNICII*~\LITIES WtIERE ESPECIA1.I.Y C03LMON.-
99
and finely hairy. Tile very mnny fragrant. almost
62. -d,
stalkless flowers are male nn