Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)
191. Guayabota Eugenia stahlii (Kiaersk) Krug & Urban
ICnown only from Puerto Rican mountains, this
medium-sized tree is identified by: (1) erect dense
columnsr crown; (2) li ht gray or whitis11 bark,
scaling off in plates; (6 opposite, elliptic, thick
and leathery leaves 2%-31/2 ~nclies long and 1%-
21/2 inches broad, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex
nnd short-pointed at bnse, mith minute gland dots,
and on short petioles lLl-s/A inch long; (4) largo
spreading white 4-petaled flowers about 11, inches
across the numerous stamens, few at or near ends
of twigs or singly at nodes; and (6) rounded berries
%-7/8 inch in dialneter, with 4 unequal sepals
at apex, resembling small gunyabas.
An evergreen tree reilching 60 feet in height and
more than 1 foot in trunk diameter. The stout
twigs are light gray. Leaf blades have margins
which may be slightly turned under, the upper
surface green and slightly shiny, the lower surface
paler.
Flowers are borne on stout, often flattened,
stalks 1/2-11/4 inches long. The bell-shaped base
(hypnnthium) is nearly ?,$ inch long and broad,
with 4 persistent, rounded conca~~e, yellow-green
sepals, 2 nearly s/s inch long and 2 half as long;
there are 4 spreading rounded petals inch
long; numerous spreading stamens; and pistil
with 2-celled inferior ovary and long style.
The fleshy fruit, dark green when immature, is
minutely warty on the surfnce, with 1 large irregularly
rounded brown seed. Flowering and fruiting
nearly through the year except in spring.
This attractive wood has pinkish-brown sap-
~vood, gray-brown heax-twood, and growth rings
marked by narrow darker bands. It is very hard,
lienvy (specific gravity 0.78), tough, strong, finetostured,
mith irregular grain, and with mild
plensnnt odor. Rate of sir-seasoning and amount
of degrade are modernte. Machining characteristics
are as follo\vs: planing and mortising are
good ; shaping, turning, and boring are excellent ;
sanding is poor: and resistnnce tb screw splitting is
vel7 poor. The wood has high but uniform
shr~nltabw during seasoning and is moderately dif-
ficult to work because of its hardness. It is very
susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and is
reported to be variable in decay resistance.
Uses include genernl construction, crossties, ox-
cart tongues, poles, and posts. The wood is suit-
able also for furniture, cabinetwork, turnery, carv-
ing, interior trim, tool handles, farm implements,
and boatbuilding.
Comlnonest in the transition zone between the
lower and upper mountain forests of Puerto Rico,
between 1,500 and 3,000 feet elevation. Appar-
ently a slow-growing tree.
Pun~rc P~REBTS.-Cnrite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Toro Negro.
11 ti SICIPBLITIFA WHERE ESPECIALLY coxa1oN.-
13,30,44.
R~sa~.--J1ountains of Puerto Rim only.
Nnnled for Apstin Stahl (1842-1917), Puerto
Rican physician and botanist, who collected speci-
mens of this species.