Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE)
212. Caimitillo verde Micropholis garciniaefolia Pierre
This tree found only in the eastern mountains
of Puerto Rico is chamcterized by : (1) small elliptic
leaves 1%-21/2 inches long and inches
broad, stiff and leathery, rounded or slightly
notclled at apex, hairless or nearly. so when mature,
green on both surfaces, \~lth numerous
straight lateral veins very close together and parallel;
(2) small greenish and rusty-bro\vn cupshaped
flowers about 3/le inch long and broad
borne laterally on short stalks; (3) elliptic green
fruits 1-11, inches long, pointed at both ends and
5-angled; and (4) a small amount of milky sap.
S~nall to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-50 feet
high, with stmight trunk to 11/2 feet or more in diameter,
buttressed at base \rhen large. The bark
is smoothish or slightly fissured, brown or dark
gray. Inner bark is reddish brown, slightly bitter,
with small amount of white latex. The twi
rusty-bro\rn hairy \\.hen young, becoming I? row are
or gray and finely fissured.
The alternate leaves have brown hairy petioles
inch long. Leaf blades are rounded at base,
with edges turned under, finely haii*y ~vhen young
but becoming hairless or nearly so, dark reen and
slightly shin on upper surface, and ye1 ow green
on lower sur !
f
ace.
One to 5 flowers are borne at the base of a leaf
on rusty-brown hairy stalks about 1/4 inch long.
Sepals 5, y8 inch long, rusty-brown hairy; the
green corolla with tube and 5 short, rounded,
spreading lobes nearly % inch across, hairless or
with a fen? hairs on outside; 5 small stamens on
the corolla tube opposite the lobes and 1 short
appendage (stnminode) between each 2 lobes ; and
pistil wit11 hairy 5-celled ovary and short style.
The berry has thin flesh and 5 or fewer pointed
dark brown seeds about s/4 inch long. Flowering
from June to November, the fruits maturing in
summer ancl fall.
The wood is very similar to that of the preceding
species of caimitillo. The heartwood is uniform
light yello\vish brown, and the sapwood lighter
brown and not clearly differentiated. The mood
is hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.64),
stmng, tough, fine-textured, straight-grained, and
with indistinct growth rings. It is considered
very susceptible to attack by dry-mood termites.
The rate of air-seasoning is mpid, and the amount
of degrade is moderate. Machining characteristics
m as follo~vs : planing, turning, boring,.mortising,
sandin and resistance to screw splitting
are good; an if' shaping is excellent. The wood is
moderately difficult to saw and machine because
silica dulls teeth and cutting edges. However, it
takes a high polish.
The wood is used for posts and in construction.
It is suitable also for veneer, plywood, furniture,
cabinetmaking, turning, interior trim, flooring,
farm implements, tool handles, and general carpentry
*
In the upper mountain forests of eastern Puerto
Rico, chiefly in the Luquillo Mountains.
PUBLIC FOREST^.-^^^^^, Luquill0.
RANGE.-Known only from mountains of eastern
Puerta Rico.
OTHER OOXMON ~~~~~8.-caimitillo cimardn,
caimitillo (Puerto Rico) .
BOTANICAL s~~o~~~r.-Poutet.ia garciniaefolia
(Pierre) Baehni.