Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

ROSE FAMILY (ROSACEAE)
57. Icaquillo Hirtella rugosa Pers.
This small tree of mountain forests in Puerto
Rico only is identified by : (1) ovate, long-pointed,
shiny green, hairy lenves with veins much sunken
In upper surface and raised beneath, spreading in
2 rows on long, slender, sparsel branched, bristly
hairy twigs; (2) pink and red fowers r 7/g inch long
\rith 5 petals, a few or several in clusters almost,
hidden under the end leaves of a twig; and (3)
dark red, elliptic, slightly flattened, 2-pointed,
fleshy fruits 1/12-5/8 inch long.
An evergreen tree generally less than 20 feet
high and 3 inches in trunk diameter. The bark
is gay and smooth, inner bark bro\vn and tasteless.
The tllternate letives are stalkless or with very
short hairy petioles less than 1/8 inch long. Leaf
blades are 1%-3% inches long and 3/4-1y2 inches
broad, rounded or slightly heart-shaped at base,
wit11 edges turned under, the upper surface bristly
hairy on midrib, and the lower surface paler and
bristly hairy on veins.
Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal or lateral,
1y2 inches or less in length, ~vith few flowers
on sle~~der hairy stalks I,-% inch long. The hairy
bnsttl tube (hypnnthium) is about 4/8 inch long and
broad; there are 5 pinkish hairy sepals s/lo inch
long; 5 elliptic red petals more than 1/4 inch long,
slightly spreading; 3 long red stamens % inch
long; and pistil consisting of hairy 1-celled ovary
lnterally placed and slender style attached near
base.
The fruits (drupes) are finely hai composed
of thin, almost tasteless, juicy flesh an 7" 1 brownish
stone S/s inch long. Flowering and fruit.ing nearly
throughout the year.
The sapwood is light brown. The wood is hard,
strong, and lleav (specific gravity 0.9), but becttuse
of the smnl ?' size of the trees is little used except
for posts :tnd fuel.
An understory tree in forests of the lower mountain
regions of Puerto Rico.
PUBLIC F~RESTS.-Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Maricao, Toro Negro.
R~~~~.-&founkbins of Puerto Rim only.
OTHER COJCJION NAMES.-hicaquillo, jicaquillo,
junnilla (Puerto Rico) .
Tlle other native species of this genus (19irtella
fl-inndru. Sw.) is distinguished by the narrower,
lance-shaped to elliptic leaves very long-pointed
at apex and short-pointed or rounded at base, the
veins not sunken. It is found in moist forests but
not, confined to the mountains.