Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)
139. Negra lora Matayba domiragenets (DC.) Radlk.
This medium-sized tree of mountain forests is
characterized by: (1) pinnate leaves with 2-8
aired elliptic or lance-shaped stiff and leathery
feaflets 1%-3% inches long and y-1
2 % inch?
broad, on a slender reddish or dark brown axis,
rounded or blunt-pointed at apex and short-
pointed at base, the upper surface shiny green and
with many slightly raised lateral vems, pale or
with a brownish cnst beneath; (2) minute 4- or
5-pasted flowers less than % inch lon and broad,
numerous in lateral branched flower c 7 usters; and
(3) odd, reverse heart-shaped (obcordate) dark
brown or blackish seed capsules 1/2-6/8 inch lon
and broad, mostly flattened and less than s/le inc
thick.
An evmgreen tree attaining 30-60 feet in height
and 1% feet in trunk diameter, with a compact,
slightly spreading crown. The bark is dark
brown, smoothish, about inch thick, often spotted
with an orange-red lichen. Inner bark is reddish
brown, bitter and gritty. The twip are reddish
brown or dark brown, finely hairy when
Young-
Some leaves are alternate and others opposite,
3-8 inches lon Leaflets have short stalks 4/&l/a
inch long and tlades with minute lighter dots, not
toothed on edges.
Flower clusters (panicles) are 1-4 inches long,
with finely hairy brnncl~es. The numerous hairy
flowers are male, femde, and bisexual (polygamous).
There are 4 or 5 pointed sepals, 4 or 5
smaller petals, 8 stamens on a disk, and pistil
with usually 2-celled ovary, style, and 2 stigmas.
Seed ca sules are slightly stalked, hard, commonly
2-10 % ed and 2- or 1-seeded, reported as also
3-lobed. The shiny black seeds are Ks inch long
f
and flat. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the ear.
TK~ sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
uniform pinkish brown or reddish brown. The
wood is attractive, very hard, heavy (specific
gravity 0.70)., stron fine-textured, of usually irregular
and interloc % ed graint and has a distinctive
foul odor. The rats of mr-seasoning is low,
and amount of degrade is moderate. Machining
characteristics are as follows: planing and resistance
to screw splitting are fair; and shapi turning,
baring, mortisin and sanding are g a The
wood is moderately gfficult to saw and dulls cut
ting edges. It is very susceptible to damage by
dry-wood termites and other insects and is not
durable.
Chief uses in Puerto Rico are posts and poles,
though preservative treatment is recommended.
The wood is suitable far furniture, cabinetwork,
turnery, interior trim, floorin handles,. agricultural
implements, vehicle boges, and light and
heavy construction.
Forests of the transition zone between the lower
and upper mountain regions of Puerto Rico.
PUBLIC F O R E B T S . ~ ~ Guilarta, ~ ~ ~ , Luquill0,
Maricao, Toro Negro.
RANGE.--Cuba, Hispaniola., and Puerto Rico.
O ~ E COBIMON R NA~S.--doncella, tea cimarrona,
ratdn, escoba Puerto Rico) ; rathn, para
Dominican Repub \ ic) ; caraicillo, macurije
[Cuba).
A second species known as' doncella (Natayba
oppositifolia A. Rich.) Britton) has oblon leaflets
short- or \ ong-pointed at apex and the 4 eaves
opposite. It ap arently is rare in mountain
forests of Puerto 1P ico.