Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE)
50. Nemocl Ocotea spathulata Mez
This species of the eastern nnd central mountnins Nomocd is the most unusunl and perlinps the
is identified by : (1) bmnches forming distinct most, nt,tractively figured commercinl mood of
horizontal layers; (2) nnrro\v buttresses at base of Puerto Rico. The uniforni snpwd is yellon-is11
large trunks; (3) spicy lenl-es, twigs, and bnrk; bro~vn nenr tlie outside and pinkish brown townrd
(4) leaves clustered tlt or nenr ends of t~vigs, sliiny tlie wide interior. Tlie higlily vnriegtted heartand
leathery, spoon-shaped (spntulnte) or olm- wood innges from light pinkish brown to yellowvate,
11/2-31h inches long and ql-llh inches broad, ish brown nncl greenish brown nnd has dnrk brown
widest beyond middle; (5) greenish-yellow, rusty to bltlck stripes, spots, or irregular lines. The
hairy flowers about l/j inch broad, in lnternl clus- ivood is hard, lieuvy (specific gravity 0.62), fineters
shorter than the lenves; and (0) lnrge rouncl textured, and strong, but very susceptible tn attack
or elliptic fruits inches long with sliallotv by t11.y-\vootl tenriites. It is nioderntely difficult
double-mnrgined cup.
to work but polislies satisfactorily. Rate of air-
A small or medium-sized evergreen tree to 45 seasoning and nniourit of degrade nre moderate.
feet high nnd 11/2 feet in trunk dinmeter. Tlie
Akcliining clinrncteristics nre ns follows: planing
gmy or brown bnrk is scaly, becorning thick and
fissured on larger trunks. Inner bnrk is light
is fnir; shaping, turning, boring, sanding, and rebrown
and slightly spicy and bitter.
sistnnce to scrow split,ting nre good; anel mo~%ising
Thougli cromdecl nt ends of the brown twigs, the is excellent.
leaves are alternate. Petioles are short, only '/8-% Tlie wood is used for furniture, but few remaininch
long. The blades are blunt-pointed or ing trees are 1:1rge enollgli to produce lumber of
ronndecl nt npes and long-pointetl nt base, ~vitli good size. It is suitable for furniture, cnbinetedges
turned under. Upper s~lrface is dnrk green, mnking, paneling, turnery, bont planking, farm
with slightly sunken midrib ntitl slightly r~~ised irnple~rients, littndles, llenvy constiuction, and
laternl veins, and tlie green lower surface wit11 bridges.
rilised veins.
Forests of the upper Luqnillo nnd upper Cor-
Flower clusters (panicles) am in the cluster of dillern regions of Puerto Rico, nscending into the
loaves, 1-2 inches lon bmnched nnd hniry, bear- dwnrf forests on summits of tho peaks in Sierra de
ing severcll short-stal F