Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)
49. Nuez moscada Ocotea moschata (Meisn.) Mez
Known only from Puerto Rico, this aromatic spring to fall, the fruits maturing from winter to
tree is characterized by: (1) spicy foliage, twigs, summer.
and bnrk; (2) pronounced buttresses; (3) short- Tlie sapwood is yello\\.isli to light brown, and
stalked, lenthery, obovnte or elli tic lenves mostly tlio liettrtwood extremely variable, from medium
,videst beyond tlie middle, bunt-pointed ,or bro~\v~i to dark brown with irregular darker brown
rounded at ttpes :tnd sliort-pointed at base, sh~ny to blnck streaks or patches. The wood is hard and
on both sides, dark preen on upper surfnce and yel- lieavy (specific gravity 0.59) and hns medium to
low green to bro~vnisli green benenth with raiser1 fine texture. It takes a high polish but is very susveins
011 lower si~rfnce mostly tinged reddish nenr ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. Rate of
the base; (4) yello~visli flowers about inch nipseasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade is
ctcross, rusty-brown hairy, in laternl clusters Inlnqr. Iincliining charncteristics are as follows:
shorter tlian the leaves; and (5) large ell~ptic plnn~ng is fair; shaping, turning, boring, and refruits
to 11h inches in lengtli, with liem~splier~cnl sistnnce to screw splitting are pod; and mortising
double-margined cup.
tuid sinding are excellent.
-4 large evergreen tree to 80 feet in height and This nttrnctive timber formerly was much used
21,4 feet In trunk cliameter, with a compnct narrow for cabinetwork. It is recommended for turning,
crown and buttresses to 3 feet high and 2 feet furniture, cabinetmaking, and novelty items and
broad. The brown bnrk is smootliish, becoming sliould bo suitnble for light nnd heavy construcfissured
nnd sliglitly rougli. Inner bnrk is reddisli t ion, bridge timbers, heavy crating, and packing
brown, with slightly spicy odor nnd taste. The
1)oxes. The fruits are used for medicinal purposes.
bro11-11 twigs nre finely lin~ry when young.
Tlie alternate lenves linre stout petioles 1/S-3/8
Forests of the lower mountain region of Puerto
inch long and blades 3-6 inches long and 1%-31/2
Rico, commonest in and near the transition to the
inches brond, not toothed at edges. The upper sur- upper mountain forests.
face is hairless and lias sliglitly sunken veins, and I'nsr.~c FORESTS.-Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
tlie lower surfnce is hairless or nenrly so.
Toro Negro.
Short-stalked flowers nre borne in brnnched Rl\sae.-ICnown only from mountains of Puerto
clusters (panicles). Cnlyx Iitis 6 11airy lobes more Ixico.
than l/g inch long; there nre 9 stamens; arid pistil OTIIER COJL~LON ~~~f~s.-netnoc~, nuez moscada
has 1-celled ovary ~vitli style. The fleshy fruit (:i~lit~rronn, nilez moscndn maclio, nuez moscada del
(berry) contains 1 large seed. Flowering from 111th (Puerto Rico) .