Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Extensively planted for ornament and shade.
This attractive tree is easily propnpted from seed
and cuttings, sprouts from stumps, and firoms mp-
idly. Ho\\-ever, it is short-lived; and the brittle
limbs are easily broken by the mind.
This species is poisonous and has insecticidal
pro erties, the leaves and dried fruits having been
use 1 to protect stored clothing and other articles
against insects. Various parts of the tree, includ-
ing fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots, have
been employed medicinally in different countries.
The berries are toxic to animals and have caused
deaths of pigs. An oil suitable for illumination
\vas extracted experimentally from the berries.
The hard, angular, bony centers of the fruits,
\rhen removed by boiling, are dyed and strung as
beads. In parts of Asia this is a sncred tree.
In Puerto Rico planted and locally naturalized
in the coastal and lower mounhiin regions. Com-
nlonly planted and escaping in the Virgin Islmds.
Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortoltt.
MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELIACEAE)
R~Na~.--Native of southern Asia, probably
from Iran and I-Eiinnlayn to China, but cultlvated
and naturalized in tropical and subtropical
countries over the world. Bermuda and throughout
West Indies. Also from southern United
States and Mexico south to Argentina and Brazil.
Hardy also in warm temperate regions, this
tropical species is naturalized in southeastern
Url~ted Stntes and grows north to Virginia and
Olrlaho~na and \vest to California.
OTHER ConrnroN ~~~rm.-lilaila, pasilla (Puerto
Rico) ; lilac (Virgin Islands) ; paraiso (Spanish) ;
alilaila, lila, lilnyo, violets (Dominican Republic) ;
jacinto (Panama) ; deli (Venezuels) ; flor de
pnraiso (Peru) ; chinaberry, chinatree, pride-of-
China, pride.-of-India, umbrella chinaberry, umbrella-tree
(United Stntes) ; hoop-tree, JTesbIndian-lilac,
beacl-tree (Jamaica) ; chinaberry, West-
Indinn-lilac (Trinidad) ; paradise-tree (British
Honduras) ; lilas (Haiti) ; lilas, lilas du pays
(Guadeloupe) ; lilns des Indes (French Guiana) ;
nleli, anesital lilac (Dutch West Indies) ; cinnamom0
(Brad).
111. Caoba'hondureiia, Honduras mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Ring*
Mahogany, the world's premier cabinet wood
and probably the most valuable timber tree in tropical
America, mas not original1 known from
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islan LT s, but 2 species
have been widely planted. Honduras mahogany
is recognized by : (1) usually dense crown of shiny
green leaves, which are even pinnate and 8-16
mches long with 6-12 paired, unequal-sided leaflets
21h-6 Inches long; and (2) erect egg-shaped
or pear-sha ed seed capsules 41/24 inches long and
about 3 inc f les in diameter, splitting upward from
the base into 5 parts. Leaves and fruits are much
larger than in West Indies mahogany (Swietenia
mahagoni Jacq.) .
A medium-sized to large deciduous tree 60 feet
or more in height with clear, stmight, erect trunk
to 2 feet or more in diameter, becoming buttressed
at base. The bark is rough, deeply fissured into
flat scales, light brown, and about inch thick,
the inner bark dark reddish and bitter. The stout
bra\\-n twigs hare many raised dots (lenticels).
The alternate leaves have a slender round yellow-green
axis ending in a narrow dertd point,,
bearlng leaflets on short stalks less than yl inch
long. Blades are 1-2% inches wide, elliptic to oblong,
short-pointed at b'me and abruptly longpointed
at apex, noticeably broader on side toward
axis, not toothed on edges, slightly thickened or
leathery, green to dark reen and slightly shiny
on upper surface, and pa F er beneath.
Flower clusters (panicles) 4-6 inches or more in
length at base of new leaves bear many small,
short-stalked, fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers
1/2 inch across. The light green calyx '/lo
inch ligh is 5-toothed; there are 5 oblong, slightly
concave, greenish-yellow petals inch long,
greenish-yellow stamen tube nearly 1/4 inch long,
bearing inside apex 10 tiny brown stamens between
as many teeth; and pistil 3/16 inch lon
orangered basal disk, light green roun 5 ed wi? 5-
celled ovary, style, and broad flattened stigma. A
few flowers have arts in 4's.
P
The seed capsu es are borne on long stout stalks,
thick-walled and heavy, and the large, 5-angled
axis remains on the tree. The numerous flat, longwinged,
brown seeds are 33% inches long and %-I
inch broad, about 000 to the pound. Flowers
borne in May and June, and seeds produced generally
in the late fall.
The thin sapwood 1-2 inches wide is yellowish
white. The heartwood is pinkish when freshly
cut, later becoming light reddish brown with a
golden luster. The wood is moderately lightweight
(specific gravity 0.5-0.6), strong, of medium
to fine uniform texture, with interlocked pin ancl attractive figure, and growth layers indistinct.
It is one of the easiest woods to work and takes an
excellent polish. Rate of air-seasoning is ra id,
and amount of degrade very minor except w R Fn
tension wood is present. Machining charnctenstics
are as follows: sanding is excellent; p!aning,
shaping, turning, boring, mort~sing, and resistance
to screw splitting are good. The heartwood is
resistant to decay and generally is resistant to at-