Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE)
147. Bariaco, "ironwood," leadwood Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urban
One of several similar spscies with small leaves,
this small tree or shrub is characterized by:
(1) densely leafy spreading branches in horizontal
layers; (2) mostly opposite, nearly hairless,
elli tic (sometimes ovate) leaves %-2 inches lon
an ci? 1/2-l%
inches broad, rounded at both ends an 8
slightly notched at apex, reddish when immature,
later green or yellow green, shiny on upper sur-
face and dull beneath; (3) yellow-grean 5-parted
flowers S/16 inch across, a few in clusters 34-95 inch
long at leaf bases; and (4) elliptic dark brown or
black fruits inch long.
An e veren tree or shrub commonly 10-15 feet
high and 26 inches in trunk diameter. The gray
bark is smoothish or slightly fissured, becoming
rid d and scaly on large trunks. Inner bark is
red % ' h brown, slightly bitter. The slender twiga
are minutely hairy, gray or light brown, the young
&Tieen portions benring the lateral flowers. Raised
leaf scars and dots (lenticels) make the twigs
sli htly rough.
=l
the leaves have short, finely hai petiolas
4/s-SJ16 inch long and blades usually slig tly thickened,
not toothed on edges.
Flower clusters (cymes) hve 5 or fewer flowers,
each on a stalk about 4/8 inch long. The &ort cupshaped
base (hypanthium) is lw than #. lonp
bearing 5 spreading pointed yellow-green sqa s
l/le inch long and 5 stamens; the pistil xe inch
long bordered by the disk Ins ovary, short style,
and 2 stigmas. Petals are lacking. The fruits
(drupes) are 1-seeded. Flowering and fruiting at
different times during the year.
The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is orange brown to dark brown, streaked. The
wood is exceedingly hard, exceedingly heavy (specific
gravity 1.3-1.4), very fine-kxtured, and very
resistant to decay and to attack by dry-wood termites.
Because of the small size of local trees,
the wood has little use in Puerto Rico except for
posts.
Used elsewhere for cabinetwork, veneer, crossties,
and canes. The wood is one of the den&.&
in the world, the heaviest of the native woods in
the United States and perhaps also of Puerto
Rico.
Thickets and woods in the limestone regions of
Puerto Rico, mostly in the southwest. Also Mona,
Desecheo, Caja de Muertos, Icacos, Culebra, Vieques,
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and
Anegada.
PUBLIO FORE~TB.-GU&~&~&C&, GuAnica.
RANGE.-Southern Florida including Florida
Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lessar Antilles
south to St. Vincent and Bequia, and in Bonaire
and Cuwao. Also in southern Mexico, Guatemala,
British Honduras, hd Honduras.
OTHER COMMON NA~S.--85pejuel0, palo de
hierro, quiebra-hacha (Puerto Rico) ; ironwood,
guatafer, bois de fer (Virgin Islands) ; quiebrahacha,
ciguamo, palo de hierro (Dominican Republic)
; cocuyo, hueso de tortuga, coronel, carny
de costa, palo diablo, acero (Cuba) ; quiebra-hacha
(Guatemala) ; lydwood, black-ironwood (Unitad
States) ; black-ironwood (Jamaica) ; axemaster,
quebracho (British Honduras); bois de far
(Haiti, Guadeloupe) ; manggel corn, ironberry
(Dutch West Indies).
The generic name means Krug's tree. This
genus of a single species mas dedicaw to Leopold
ICrug (1833-98), German consul in Puerto Rico,
businessman, botanist, and patron of science, who
studied the flora of the West Indies.