Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

160. Maricao verde
This tree native only in Luquillo Mountains is
distinguished by: (1) alternate elli tic leaves
24% inches long and 7/8-1% inches wi B e, rounded
at apex and long-pointed at the ve short-stalked
base, with slightly wavy-toothed e ges, the lower
TEA FAMILY (THEACEAE)
7
surface with 2 faint lines parallel with midrib, and
orange red when new; (2) fragrant showy white
flowers nearly 2 inches across the 6-9 petals, al-
most stalkless and single at base of leaves; and (3)
oblong dark brown capsule 3/4-1 inch long and
3/8-1, inch in diameter, 6-10-ridged, remaining at-
tached after opening.
A medium-sized evergreen tree to 40 feet in
height and 1% feet in trunk diameter. Bark on
old trunks is gray and fissured. The twigs are
gmy, finely hairy when young. The terminal bud
is long and narrow and covered by a hairy scale
(stipule) .
The dark green leaf blades are often broadest
above middle, turned under a little at edges, only
slightly thickened, and beneath with prominent
veins and paler and sparsely hairy.
The large flowers are very conspicuous and at-
tractive, contrasting with the foliage. A flower
Laplacea portoricensb (Krug & Urban) Dyer
has 5 overlapping, 'unequal, rounded, leathery,
finely hairy sepals %-% inch in diameter; 6-9
bright white unequal obovate petals about s/4 inch
long, some notched, soon fallmg; more than 100
unequal stamens 1/ inch long with yellow anthers;
and pistil more than 3/ls inch long with broad,
rounded, hairy, 6-10-celled ovary and 5 or 6 styles.
The finely hairy capsule splits open along the
ridges to release many thin, narrow, winged,
brown seeds nearly 1, inch long. These old o en
capsules serve as an aid in identification. iecorded
as flowering and with fruits in several
months nearly through the year.
This tree perhaps is worthy of trial as an ornamental
for its showy flowers. The wood is little
used.
Found only in the lower Luquillo forest region.
PUBLIC FOREST.-LU~~U~~~O.
R~~a~.-Restricted to eastern Puerto Rico.
O~WER COMMON N~M.-maricno, niiio de cota
(Puerto Rico) .
BOTANICAL SYNONMTS.-H~~~~U)C~&
portoricensis
ICrug & Urban, Wicks6roemia portoricemi8
(ICrug & Urban) Blake.