Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

\
Tho narrow flower clusters (panicles) 1%-7
inches long are near ends of twigs, the individual
flower stalks about l/k inch long and jointed belom
mic\dlp. The sliglitly frngrnnt cup-shaped to
s~wenclinp flo\\-ers lit~ve n light pen minute
5-Idbed ciilys less tluui '/la inch long; 5 greenishwhite
or pale yellow oblong petals ?is inch long;
10 stamens I/s inch long, wit11 white linlry filaments
flattened and united io~~~arcl base* and on a yello~v
disk the light green pistil inore than % inch long
including routided hniry 3-celled ovnly, style, nnd
rounded stigma. '1'110 elliptic seeds are 5/16 inch
long, wit11 fleshy coats. Flowering and fruiting
over most of the year.
The snp\rood is light brown and lieart\vood red-
dish brown \{-it11 darker veins. Tlie wood is de-
scribed as resembling cedro (Cedt-ela) in color,
moderntely lightwe~glit (specific pvity 0.5).
Henrt~rood very resistant and sapwood resistant to
attack by dry-wood termites.
Used chiefly for posts and fuel in Puerto
Rico. Broom handles hnvo been made from youn
stems. In Venezuela oars or paddles (canaletes7
\rere made from the mood, which nTns recommended
as suitable for intsrior finish, furniture,
implements, and ply~vood. Planted for shade and
on~nment in southern Florida. Also a honey plant.
Open forests in tlie limestone and constal
(chiefly dry coast) regions of Puerta Rico. Also
in ITieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, nnd St. John.
MAHOGANY FAMILY (MELLACEAE)
Pon~rc ~o~~s~s.-Canibnlaclle, Guinica, Susiia.
R.iso~.-Cuba, Jamaica, Hispnnioln, Puerto
Rico nnd Virgin Islands, and Grenadines and
Gmnndn. Also from ALevico and Tres hiarias Islnnds
to Ecuador, Peru, Brnzil, and JTenezuela.
Intm1ucecl in southem Florida.
OTIIER co~r;\ro~ NAXES.--~~~~O de hachn, guaita,
retnmo, p10 de nnnstnsio (Puerto Rico) ; broom-
\rood (\ Ir in Islands) ; jojoblin (Dominican Republic)
; jlgabfin, cnbo de hnchn (Cuba) ; cab0 de
liaclin, gttrbnncillo,. jumay, mapahuite (Mexico) ;
mapaliuite, tromplllo, cedrillo, cedro colorado
(Gnateninla) ; cedro espino (Hondurns) ; cola de
pn\:o, jocotillo, cedrillo (El Salvador) ; mnta piojo
(N~cnrngun) ; cnnalete, cnznbito, cedrillo, tmmpillo,
pan de trigo (lTenezueln) ; pata de rnca (Colonibin)
; gajigua (Ecuador) ; redcedar (British
Hondurns) ; mombin biitsrd (Hniti) ; carrnpeta
(Bmzil).
BOTANIOA~ s~~o~m.-Tm'Chilia 8pondwide8
Jncq.
Bnrinco ( Trichilia triacantha Urbnn ) , called
also gunynbnccin, the third representative of this
genus, is known only from the dry southwestern
pnrt of Puerto Rico. This sli~ub or small tree is
onsily recognized by the spiny tips of tllo leaflets.
Tlie pinnate leaves have .3-7 obovate or wedgesllnped
lenflets 1/2-1% inclies long nnd %-% inch
wide, broadest at the spiny 3-toothed apex.
114. Gaeta Trichilia pallida Sw.
A small tree, recognized by: (1) the alternate
innate leaves with 3 or 5 (or 7) elliptic leaflets
Eavieg veins sunken and prominent beneath, cnusing
a \\-rinkled appearance, tho end leaflet largest
and others paired and smnller toward bnse; (2)
tlie few 4-parted spreading greenish-white flowers
almost 1/2 incli across; and (3) the nearly round
seed capsules S/8-1/2 incll in diameter, light brown
nncl finely hairy, with 1-3 briglit ornnge-red seeds.
Evergreen, commonly 15-30 feet high and 3-6
inches in trunk dinmeter. nark on smnll trunks is
clnrlr brown, smooth, wit11 many llorizontal clots
and lines (lenticels), and the inner bnrlr whitish
and bitter. The t\\.im nro light to dark brown,
with raised dots (lenticels), hairy when young.
The leaves are 4-9 inches long. The leaflets are
short-stalked or almost stalkless, 11/24 inclies long
and YL-2$5 inches broad, sliort-pointed at apex
and bnse, edges often slightly turned down,
sliglltly thickened, dark green or green on upper
surfnce and paler beneath.
The small flower clusters (like umbels) are latoral
at bnse of leave?, 3/J-11/2 inches long and
broad, with slender ha~ry branches. Flowers are
finely hniry and slightly frngrant. Calyx is
4-tootlied ; petals 4, % inch long, whitish, minutely
Ilniry; stamens 8 on a cup-shaped stamen tube;
rind pistil with 3- or
stigma. The fern
widely into 3 or 2 parts,
1h inch long. Flowering and fruiting nearly
througllout the year (BInrch to December).
The wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.7),
nnd fine-textured, the snpwood whitish. Though
seldom used because of the small dimensions, the
wood is very resistant to attack by dry-wood
termites.
Usunlly an understory tree in forests of the
lower mountain and moist limestone regions of
Puerto Rico.
PUI~LIC FORESTS.-Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
SusGn, Toro Negro.
Ra~a~.-Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
OTIIER COXMON NAMES.-rnmoncillo, camolillo
(Puerto Rico) ; cnracolf, pnlo amnrgo, almendro,
almendrillo (Dominican Re ublic) ; siguarnya
(Cuba) ; bois urada, dom g, u, Marie-Jeanne
(Haiti).