Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

136, Palo colorado, swamp cyrilla
Pslo colorado, a large tree common in the higher
mountains, is characterized by : (1) leathery,
lance-shaped to narrowly elli tic leaves lX-3lh
inches long, blunt and nlinutef notched at apex,
usually turning red before falying; (2) reddish-
brown, smoothish thin bark on the large crooked
and twisted trunks which splits off in thin plates
or scales, becoming whitish pink, spon at base
of tree; (3) leaves confined chiefly to t le top of
CYRILLA FAMIL Y (CYRILLACEAE)
T
a many-branched crown, which resembles a broom
in appearance ; and (4) numerous crowded, small,
urhito, 5-parted flowers 4/g long in very narrow
lateral flower clusters 3-6 inuhes long and only
S/g inch broad.
This evergreen tree generally becomes 50 feet
high and 3 feet in diameter, rarely 60 feet in height
and 6 feet in trunk diameter. On ex osed moun-
tain ridges and summits it may &, small or
B
shrubb . The bark on small trunks does not have
the re dish-brown color noted above but is gray
to brown, smoothish and minute1 fissured. The
inner bark is reddish to brown an bitter. Young
twigs are brown, turning gray. i
The alternate leaves have petioles 4/s-1/2 inoh
long. The leaf blades are variable in form and
size, commonly yg-1 inch broad, sometimes smaller,
pointed at base, with edges curved under. They
are green and shiny on upper surface and pale
green on lower surf ace.
One to 10 flower clusters (spikelike racemes on
a twig are located below most of the leaves. T)hei:
bear numerous short-stalked flowers s/16 inc
across and spreading slightly. There are 5 short,
P
pointed se als; 5 pointed petals 4/8 inch long,
white or a so tinged with pink; 5 stamens; and
pistil wit.11 a 2-celled ovary, short style, and 2
stigmas.
The many small, dry, egg-shaped fruits
(drupes) l/s inch long are pink to red and contain
2 or 3 light brown seeds. Flowering and fruiting
probably during most of the year.
The sapwood is light brown, and the maned
heartwood attractive dark reddish brown. This
very hard, moderately heavy wood (specific
gravity ap roximately 0.53) has fine uniform tex-
ture, heavi! interlocked grain, and prominent an-
nual yowt 1 rings. The rate of air-seasoning is
very s ow, but degrade is exceptionally severe, and
shrinkage is very high. Because of severe warp-
ing, ,air-dry lumber is unfit for most commercial
uses. Machining characteristics are ns follows:
Cyrilla racemiflora L.
planing and resistance to screw splitting are excellent;
shaping, turning, borin% and mortising
are ood; and sanding is fair. he mood is suscepti
% le to dry-wood termites.
In Puerto Rico the wood is seldom used except
for fuel, because of the great warping in sewning.
Also, the large, very old trunks are short,
often crooked, and usually hollow. However, in
Cuba the handsomely colored wood has been made
into furniture. The s ongy bark at the base of
trunk is absorbent, plia 6 le, and astringent and h9.s
been recommended as a styptic.
Sometimes planted in the United Statm ns an
ornamental because of the graceful white flower
clusters and showy autumnal coloration of the foliage.
The flowers produce dark honey, and in
Cubs the hollow trunks serve as beehives.
IVidely distributed in the forests of the upper
mountain regions of Puerto Rico, chiefly in the
Luquillo 3lountains. The wild parrots native only
in the Luquillo Mountains nest in these I~ollow
trees.
PUBLIC FORESTS.-Carite, Luquillo, Maricao,
Toro Negro.
RAN~E.-Southeastern IJnited States (near
const from-southeastern Virginia to Florida and
southeastern Texas), Greater Antilles, and Lesser
Antilles in Guadeloupe, Aartinique, and St. Vincent.
Also in southern Mexico (Oaxaca) and
British Honduras and from Venezueln to Guianas
and northern Brazil.
According to its unusual northward distribution,
this species is one of the hardiest native trees
of Puerto Rico in resistance to cold. Growing
wild north to soubhertstern Virginia it has been
cultivated farther north in eastern dnited States
to New England. Over most of the wide range a
small tree or shrub of swamps and river banks but
in the mountains of the Greater Antilles it becomes
a large tree.
OTHER COBf BION NA~~.LEB.--CO~O~O (Puert0
Rico) ; pnado, palo colorado, sabina macho (Dominican
Republic) ; barril, clavellina, Ilorona,
yanilla (Cuba) ; piojillo, piojito (Venezuela) ;
swamp cyrilla, American cyrilla, leathermoo
southern leatherwood, titi, white titi (Unite 3
States) ; bloodwood, beetwood (Jamaica) ; warimiri
(British Guiana) ; bois couch6, olivier montagne
(Guadeloupe) .
BOTANICAL SYNONY~~.-C'~T~U~ nnti22ana Michx.