Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

FLACoURTIA FAMILY (FLACOURTIACEAE)
172. Cafeillo Caaearia sylvestris Sw.
This rather common and widely distributed
shrub or small tree is recognized by: (1) the
shiny green lance-shaped to elliptic leaves longer
than 2% inches, mostly long-pointed, thicker than
those of related species, edgw wavy and inconspicuously
toothed but appearing as if without
teeth, hairless, in 2 rows in a flattened arrangement
on long, unbranched twi (2) many minute
greenish or yellowish-white Pi owws about 4/8 inch
across, crowded on short stalks at leaf bases; and
(3) rounded, red, fleshy seed capsules 4/8 inch or
more in diameter, containing usually 3 brown
seeds.
Evergreen shrub or small tree 10-15 feet high
and to 4 inches in trunk diameter, also recorded as
up to 65 feet in height, with rounded spreading
crown, sometimes several trunks, hairless throughout.
The thin gray bark is smoothish with warty
dots (lenticels). Inner bark is whitish and tasteless
or slightly bitter. lJhe long, slender, unbranched
twigs common1 are horizontal or slightly
drooping, green and a 3 terwards becoming gray.
Leaves are alternate on short green petioles 1/4
inch long. The blades vary in size as well as shape,
21/24' inches long and 1-3 inches broad, mostly
with a Ion nmm point at apex and shortpointed
at % ase, the upper surface with sunken
veins, and the lower surface light green. When
examined with a hand lens against the light, the
leaves show numerous minute lighter gland dots
and lines within the network of veins.
Flower clusters (umbels) are lateral, about 1,
inch across, with numerous small greenish or yellowish-white
flowers about 4/8 inch across on
slender stalks of the same color, 4/8 inch long and
'ointed near middle. Each flower consists of usual-
& 5 spreading calyx lobes more than '/la inch long;
about 10 stamens inserted near base of calyx and
alternating with sterile stamens (staminodes) ;
and pistil composed of green ova with short style
and %lobed stigma. The round2, red, flesll seed
capsules split into 3 parts and have usually 3 E rown
seeds '/la inch long. Flowering a~ld fruiting
throughout the year.
Sapwood is light brown, heartwood dark brown.
The wood is hard, heavy, strong, and fine-textured.
Clnssed as fuelwood. Suitable for small handles
and elsewhere used in carpentry and for poles.
A honey plant, the fragrant flowers attracting
bees.
Very common, especially in open areas, roadsides,
and also in forest understory, in moist coastal
and lower mountain regions in Puerto Rico. Also
in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and
Tortola.
PUBLIO FORESTS.-Cambalmhe, Carib, Guajataca,
Luquillo, Rio Abajo, Susfia, Toro Negro.
RANGE.-Cuba, Jamaica His aniola, Puerto
Rico and Virgin Islands, throug R out Lesser Antilles,
and Trinidad and Tobago. Also from
southern Mexico to Peru, Argentina, Uruguay,
and Brazil. Botanical varieties have been distinguished
in different areas.
OTHER COMMON NAMES.--CB~~ silvestre, cafeillo
cimardn, palo blanco (Puerto Rico) ; sarnilla., la
colorada, juba rom ehueso (Cuba) ; guayabil l' o,
palo de cotona ( %f exico) ; cordlilo, sacmuda
(Guatemala) ; barredera (El Salvador) ; sombra
de armado, sombra de conejo (Honduras) ; comida
de culebra (Nicaraya) ; corta lingua (Panama) ;
dondequiera, mahajo (Colombia) ; tortolito, -
unteral, tacasito, pabito (Venezue a) ;
yabitO, %
gua
avqti-tim ati, palo rajador, azaturnba, cambagui
(Argentina) ; wild-coffee Kinidad) ; wild-sage
British Honduras) ; pa lite (Haiti) ; crack-open
[Saba) ; yassatunga ( 1$ razil).
BOTANICAL SYNONYM. - Casearia parviflora
auth., not (L.) Willd.