Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

seed and growing rapidly. However, an objection
to further lantlng of this species in Puerto Rico
is that the ! oliage often is attacked by an aphid or
plant louse. These tiny insects spread and multiply
rapidly, secreting a sweet liquid wl~ich attracts
ants and causes growth of a black fungus or soot
mold over the leaves. &Mny blackened leaves fall:
and automobiles parked beneath the trees may be
damaged by the Ilquid.
As the commo? name mata-rathn (mouse killer)
suggests, the toxic seeds, bark, leaves, and roots are
used to poison rats, mice, and other rodents.
Another use of the freshly crushed leaves is in
poultices in home remedies. The leaves are reported
to be nutritious for cattle and also to be
poisonous for horses and dog. The flowers,
though not fragrant, are visited by bees and are
a source of honey. In a fen. countries the flowers
are fried or boiled and eaten.
The names madre de cacao and mother-of-cocoa,
applied to this species is some areas, indicate that
the trees are grown also as shade trees in cacao
plantations. Before the Spanish conquest, the
Aztec Indians of Mexico had observed that cacao
grew well under these trees, which they named
cacahuanantl or mother of cacao. These trees
have nodules on their roots containing nitrogenfixing
bacteria which enrich the soil.
Another use of mata-xatbn is support for vanilla
vines. In a few countries the trees, though not
evergreen, have been planted for coffee shade.
In Puerto Rico this species is common along
roads, in fence rows and as an ornamental in the
moist and dry coastaI regions, the moist limestone
region, and lower mountain regions. It may be
naturalized locally. Also planted occasionaliy in
St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola.
RANGE.-Native from Mexico to Colombia,
Venezuela, and Guianas. Introduced and becoming
naturalized in West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Curacao.
Planted also in southern Florida and in
South America south to Brazil. Also introduced
into the Old MTorld tropics, including Africa and
soi~therxi Asia and recorded as naturalized in the
Philippine Islands.
OTHER
COMBZON NAB~ES.-madre
LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE)
de cacao (Puer-
to Rico) ; pea-tree (Virgin Islands) ; mata-rat6n,
mndre de cacao (Spanish) ; pifi6n de Cuba (Dominican
Republic) ; pifi6n amaroso, pifi6n florido,
bien vestida, pi5611 violento (Cuba) ; cacahuananche,
cocoite (Mexico) ; madem nep (Honduras,
Costa Rica, Panama) ; madriado, madrial,
caca lance, cacngua Honduras) ; palo de hierro,
a~ca P" luannnce (El Sa \ vador) ; madrlado (Nicaragun)
; bala, balo (Panama) ; St. Vincent plum,
quick-stick (Jamaica) ; Nicaragua cocoa-shade,
madura (Trinidad) ; quick-stick (British Guiana)
; lilas Btranger (Haiti) ; gliricidin, gliceridia
(Guadeloupe) ; yerba di tonka, mataraton, ratonera
(Dutch West Indies).
BOTANICAL GYNONPM.-G~~~~!~&~
B. IC.) Steud.
mdcuikta (H.
PEA SUBFAMILY (LOTOIDEAE; FABACEAE)
86. Retama Lonchocarpus latifolius (Willd.) H. B. K.
This uncommon though widely distributed tree
is characterized by : (1) alternate pinnate leaves
with 5-9, usually 7, elliptic leaflets on thick stalks,
2-6 inches long, pale light green and finely hairy
beneath, paired exce t at end; (2) numerous
crowded purple pen-s f lnped flowers 6/,, inch long
in lateral clusters which usually are several together
near end of twigs; and (3) the distinctive
light bromn oblon flat pods 11/24 inches long and
y8-1 inch wide, s f lort-pointed at both ends, very
thin and like parchment, 13-seeded but not splittin
open, often produced in large numbers and
rat f; er conspicuous.
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree 15-30
feet high and 4-8 inches in trunk diameter with
crown. The bark is gra to brown,
smoothis , becoming slightly fissure2 The light
brown inner bark is slightly bitter. The brown
twigs are finely hairy when young.
The leaves are 7-14 inches long, with finely hairy
green axis and leaflet stalks l/g-% inch Ion . Leaflet
blades are ll/q-2y$ inches wde, most f y shortpointed
at apex but varying from blunt to long-
pointed, rounded or short-pointed at base, the
edges not toothed, thin or very slightly thickened,
above green to dark green and hairless, and be-
neath pale light green and finely hairy.
Flower clusters (racemes or panicles) are 24%
inches long at base of leaves, the axis usually finel
brown hairy and the flower stalks about l/le inc K
long, also hairy. The flowers have a bell-shaped
5-toothed calyx 4/8 inch long, finely brown hairy;
dark reddish-purple to ,mnish-purple corolla of
5 stalked petals about 1/4 inch long, the rounded
standard notched at apex and finely brown hairy
on outside, 2 oblong wings, and 2 elliptic slightly
united Ireel petals; 10 stamens inch long with
filaments united; and pistil with narrow brown
hairy ovary and bent style.
The minutely hairy pod is thickened and darker
bromn around the flat seeds, which are bromn,
kidney-shaped, and 7/la inch long. Recorded in
flower from March to June and in fruit nearly
through the year.
The sapwood is whitish and the heartwood red-
dish. The wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity