Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

140, Quenepa, kinep, Spanish-lime
SOAPBERRY FAMII ,Y (SAPINDACEAE)
Quenepa is a familiar exotic tree planted for its
edible fruit and shade. It is distinguished by : (1)
erect form and a dense symmetrical globular crown
of dull light green foliage; (2) pinnate leaves with
4 paired elliptic leaflets 3-5 inches long and 1%-
234 inches broad, long- or short-pointed at both
ends and sliehtly oblique at base, almost stalkless
along an axis sometimes winged; md (3) small
greenish-white fragrant flowers about inch
numerous in terminal branched clus-
:E2n?z) round or elliptic gwn fruits l/kl%
inches in diameter with thin, sweet and acid, juicy
flesh and 1 (sometimes 2) large seed.
An evergreen tree becom~ng 40-60 feet hi h,
with trunk 1-2 feet in diameter, slightly ang f ed
and fluted. T_he bark is gray and smoothish, the
inner bark orange brown, gritty, and tasteless.
Twigs are brown or gay, peenlsh when young.
The alternate leaves are 6-43 inches lon with
light green axis 2s-3 inches long. Lea if' ets are
thin, not toothed on edges, the pair at apex larger.
Flower cllisters (panicles) are 3-6 inches long
and broad, with several to man narrow brnnches.
Flowvers are mostly male and 9 emale on different
trees but partly of both sexes (polygamous), on
spreading stalks 1/ inch long. Calyx is deeply 4-
or 5-lobed, the loBes more than K6 inch lon ;
there are 4 or 5 rounded greenish-white peta 7 s
about 4$ inch long; 8-10 stamens on a disk; and
pistil composed of 2- or 3-elled ovary with short
style and 2- or 3-lobed stigma.
Fruits (dm es , borne in clusters, are marketed
for their thin ii es L , which is gelatinous and slightly
fibrous, yellowish to salmon colored, and su -
gestive of grapes. The pale yellow elliptic sea 8 s
Melicoccus bi jugatw Jacq.*
inches long are edible when roasted.
Flowering in spring (April to June), the fruits
maturing frdm June to September.
The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
light brown or pale yellow gray. The wood is of
medium weight and fnirly hard but reportedly not
resistant to decay. Elsewhere it has been used in
construction, interior work, and cabinets.
Besides furnishing fruit and shade, the trees are
honey plants, their plsasantly scented flowers at-
tractlng bees.
Plantad as a fruit and shade tree and along
highways in Puerto Rico and esmping from culti-
vation. Commonest in the dry coastal re 'on.
Also in Mona, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. ghn,
and Tortola.
RANa~.-.Nahive of Colombia, Venezuela, and
Guianas. Widely planted and escaping or na-
turalized throughout West Indies from Bahamas
and Cuba to Trinidad and Curacao. Cultivated