Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

larger flowers about 4 inches long and brond.
The petals are dark red at base, changing in color
from pink to yellow and red.
This genus is represented also by 10 or more
species of native and introduced shrubs and herbs,
MALLOW FAMII
I*fagn, a widely planted native tree is easily recognized
by its very large red spreading flowers
331h inches long and 31/24 inches broad, with 5
rounded overlapping petals. Though generally in
flower, identification may be made also by : 1 the
long-petioled heart-shaped leaves with 6)ades
4V2-g inches long and 66% inches broad and usually
7 main veins from base; and (2) the nearly
round pointed pen fruit 134-2 inches in
diameter.
A medium-sized evergreen tree becoming 30-50
feet tall and f3-18 inches in trunk diameter, formerly
larpr. The gray or brown bark is rough
and relatively thick (4/2 inch), deeply furrowed
on large trunks. Inner bark is light brown, fibrous,
and slightly bitter. The stout, warty twig
are green when young, turning brown; young
twigs and other p n
parts have scattered ml-
nute brown scales.
The alkrnnte leaves have yellow-peen petioles
2-5 inches long. Leaf blades nre abruptly long- or
short-pointed at apeq heart-shaped at base, with
edges not toothed, slightly thickened, p n
yellow ,men above and paler beneath.
Flowers are solitary at leaf bases on stout stalks
4-5s inches long, longer than petioles. Though
several are formed on a twig, only 1 flower opens
at a time. The cup-shaped reen calyx is about
% inch long and broad, slig f tly thickened, shed-
ding as a ring after flowering, with 3 narrow grean
scales (bracts) Ys inch long at base falling from
the bud. The 5 very large petals are 33% inches
long and 2-3 inches broad, rounded but broader
on 1 side, wibh minute star-shaped hairs on out-
side. Stamens many, 3/le inch long, on a whitish
column about 294 inches long united nt base with
petals and shedding with them. The pistil is com-
posed of a slightly conical yellow-pn ovary
about % inch long and broad, 4- or 3-celled, slen-
der white style 2% inches long, and 4 or i) yellow
united stigmas inch long.
The fruits are fleshy or lenthery, not splitting
open. There are a few brown seeds 1/2 inch long,
averaging abut 1,200 to the pound. They lose
viability within a month. Flowering and fruiting
throughout the year.
The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood
is rich chocolate brown resembling old mahogany.
The wood is rather hard, heavy (specific gravity
0.7), he-textured, very durable, and very resist-
or
including the vegetable okra (Hibiscus es&ntua
L.). Amapola or Chinese hibiscus (8. rosasinen&
L.''') is a popular ornamental shrub with
purple, rose, or white petals, introduced from
tropical Asia.
Montezuma speciosissima S d
& Moc.
ant to attack by dry-wood termites. A now scarce
furniture wood used also occasionally for turnery,
musical instruments, posts, and poles.
This tree was formerly widely planted along
roadsides and for timber in the public forests. As
it proved to be an alternate host of the pink bollworm
(Pectinophora gossq&eEla Saunders) , its
lanting was discontinued in the cotton region.
Eubsequent1y, propagation of this species has nearly
terminnted except for landscaping. Forest
plantings stopped when it was found that trees
which at first grew straight and rapidly later nearly
ceased growth, became excessive1 branchy, and
produced numerous cankerlike d efects on the
trunk. Trees in plantations on good soils in the
moist limestone re ion averaged 3.6 inches in diameter
at an age o f 9 years. Another objection to
extensive planting even for the flowers is that the
trees are ve susceptible to a scale insect which
deforms trun '% and branches and sometimes causes
death. In southern Florida and elsewhere the trees
have been introduced for ornament and shade.
This handsome tree is Puerto Rico's own a?d
should be a candidate for adoption as the official
tree. When originally described, it was confused
with Mexican collections by the same Spanish
botanists, and the range was erroneously Dven as
Mexico. The scarcely appro riate name for this
enus of a single species con En* MI to Puerto Rico
Ronors Montezuma, Aztec ruler in Mexico at the
time of the Spanish conquest in 1513, but the specific
name means very beautiful.
Native in the moist limestone forest region of
Puerto Rico. Extensively planted on the humid
coast, lower Cordillera, and lower Luquillo forest
Cultivated also in St. Thomas.
re$~~c m~m.-Wild and lanted in Cambalache,
Guajataca, and Rio A E ajo. Planted in
Carite, Luquillo, and Tom Negro.
MUNIOWALITIE~ WHm EBPECIALLY COMMON.-
49,53.
Ra~a~.-Native only in Puerto Rico. Planted
in St. Thomas, Dominican Re ublic, Cuba, Jamaica,
southern Florida, and B ritish Honduras,
and perhaps elsewhere.
OTHER COMBION NA~.-maga colorada (Puerto
u le haiti-haiti (St. Thomas) ; tulipfin
f:BEY&t'n ~ominican Republic).
BOTANIUAL s~~o~~~s.-Theap&a qmndijkra
DC., Nontezztm& mndifEora (DC.) Urban, Maga
gmndifbra (DC.~ urban.