Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

MELASTOME FAMILY (MELASTOMATACEAE)
197. Camasey peludo Heterotrichum cymosum (Wendl.) Urban
This distinctive shrub or small tree limited to
Puerto Rico is ensil recognized by:
straight, bristly, &ic$ (glandular), re$l)llti%
1/,i-Y8 inch long (an also dense minute starshaped
hairs) on twigs, petioles, flower stalks,
flowers, and fruits; 2) the opposite, longbristly
hairy, broad y ovate leaves reddls 1 tinged
above, nit11 7 veins from base; (3) large white
flowers 3/q inch long and broad, with 6-8 spreading
petals, several in terminal clusters; and (4) the
edible, purplish, very juicy berries 1/2 inch in
diameter.
An evergreen tree commonly less than 15 feet
high and 3 inches in trunk diameter, sometimes
lar er, ~vibh spreading crown. The brownish-gray
bar% is smoothish and slightly fissured and thin.
Inner bark is light brown and almost tasteless.
The twigs are greenish and reddish tinged, becoming
brown, wit11 long straight red hairs.
The leaves have petioles 11/2-3y2 inches long, and
thin but stiff blades 4-7 inches long and 34%
inches wide (smaller belo~v flowew), long-pointed
with slightly heart-shaped or rolinded base. The
edges are finely toothed and wit.h bristly hairs, the
upper surface is pen and bristly hairy, and the
lower surface yellow green.
Flower clusters (panicles) are br:lnched, 3-5
inches long and broad. The very hairy tubular
\ f"tiO1"d,
base (hypnnthium) encloses the inferior ovary
more than l/g inch in diameter and extends l/le
inch above; the calyx tube is about l/s inch long
and 1h inch across, widely spreading, wit11 6-8
very nnrro\\-, very hairy, green lobes %inch long;
there are 6-8 spreading white petals tlnged w~th
pink, almost 1/2 inch long; tvice as many stamens
as petals, pink, with yellow anthers; and pistil
composed of inferior, several-celled ovary and
slencler, curved style 7i6 inch long.
The berries, rounded with a flattened spreading
top of calyx tube and lobes remaining, are. slightly
sweet to the taste. There are numerous tiny light
brown seeds. In flower and fruit nearly through
the year.
The sap\vood is light brown, moderately hard,
and mediumweight (specific gravity 0.6). Because
of the small size and spreading form of the tree
the wood is little used.
Common and widely distributed in open areas,
such ,as roadsides in the mountain forest regions
of Puerto Rico.
PUBLIC FO~STS.-Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo,
Alaricao, Rio Abnjo, Toro Negro.
Rasa~.-I~no~~*n only from Puerto Rico.
OTHER COJIMON NAJIES.-~~~~R, terciopelo, camasey
de paloms (Puerto Rico).