Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE)
142. Serrasuela Thouinia portoricensis Radlk.
This small tree or shrub restricted to dry southwestern
Puerto Rico is distinguished by: (1) few
slender s rending branches und without a definite
crown ; &) lentheq elli tic leaves simple (some-
f
times compound with 3 enflets), rounded at apex
and short-pointed at base, the edges finely toothed,
shiny green above and pale p en and densely soft
hairy with prominent veins beneath; (3) many
small whitish flowers 3/16 inch across, 4- or 5-
parted, in narrow branched lateral clusters 1-2s
inches long; and (4) brown narrow key fruits 4/?-
5/8 inch long, usually 3 attached together. Th~s
species is closely related to the next
quillo ( TItouinia stria.ta
ing compound leaves with 3
smaller flowers. Intermediate individuals have
been found.
A deciduous tree becoming 15 feet high and 3
inches in trunk diameter. The grny bark is rough,
fissured and divided into thin scaly plates. Inner
bark is brownish and slightly bitter. Twigs are
brownish green, finely hairy when young, becom-
ing gray.
The alternate leaves have finely brownish hairy
petioles inches long. The blade is usually
simple and 24 inches long and 1-2 inches wide,
the upper surface nearly hairless except on veins.
Sometimes there are 3 stalkless leaflets at end of
petiole, the 2 lateral leaflets much smaller, 7/8-11/2
inches long.
The densely hairy flower clusters (thy~ses) are
attached along the twi often at leaf bases.
Flowers are male, femn Y' e, and bisexual (polygamous)
borne on short stalks less than 1/8 inch
long. $here are 4 or 5 greenish hairy sepals more
than '/la inch Ion and rounded at apex; 4 or 5
white petals less t f lan 1/8 inch long; 8 stamens I/s
inch long on a disk; and pistil 4/s inch long with
hairy %-celled ovary of 3 near1 sepnrnte lobes and
3-forked style rising between lo 5 es.
The dry fruits (mmaras) , usunll 3 developing
from a flower, are finely ha~ry, enc 'I' osed 1 seed at
base, and hnve a long narrow curved wing inch
wide. Flowering and fruiting nearly through the
year.
The sapwood is light brown and hard. The
mood is little used.
Forests and thickets of the dry limestone region
of southwestern Puerto Rico.
PUBLIC ~o~~a~.-Gu&nica.
MUNICIPALITLEB WHERE ESPECIALLY COD~BION.-
28, 38, 54.
RANGE.-Confined to southwestern Puerto Rico.
OTHER COMLIMON ~ a~~-quebracho (Puerto
Rico) .
BOTANICAL SYNONYM. - Thyana portoricemitt
(Radlk.) Britton.