Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

SWEETLEAF FAMILY (SYMPLOCACEAE)
215. Aceituna blanca, candlewood Symplocos martinicensfs Jacq.
A small to medium-sized tree characterized by: Widely distributed in moist to moderately dry
(1) shiny elliptic leaves 2%-5 inches long and forests at lo\\. to high elevations in Puerto Rico.
1-2% inches broad, abruptly short-pointed at apex Also in St. Thomas and Tortola.
and base, and with scattered inconspicuous wavy PUBLIC mm~8.-Guajatacn, Luquillo, Maricao.
teeth along edges; (2) small 5-lobed white flowers RANGE.-Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas,
nearly 1/2 inch long and broad, a few to several to- Tortoln, nearly throu hout Lesser Antilles from
gether in clusters at bases of leaves; and (3) the Sabn to Grenada, and 5 rinidad and Tobago. Also
oblong bluish-black fleshy fruits 5/8-3/4 inch long Central America in British Honduras, Guatemala,
and y' inch in diameter, with 5-lobed calyx re- and Honduras, and in British Guiana and French
maining at apex.
Guiann.
An evergreen tree 20-30 feet high and to 6 inches OTIIER COBL>LON ~~~rm.-aceituna cimarrona
or more ili trunk diameter, wit11 spreading crown. (Puerto Rico) ; Mnrtinique sweetleaf (English) ;
Bark is smoothisl~ or \\.it11 small fissures, light gray white-box (St. ICitts) ; whitewood Nev~s) ; whiteto
brown. Inner bark is pinkish and bitter. beech (Montserrnt) ; caca rat, 6 ois bleu (St.
Twigs green and sometimes finely hairy when Lucia) ; graines bleues (Dominica, Martinique,
young, becoming light gray or brown.
Gundeloupe) ; bois blanc (Grenada) ; blueberry
The lenves are alternate on petioles %-I,-$ inch (Saba, St. Eustntius) .
long. Blades are thin or slightly thickened, often Three related species of small trees are found
turned upward at midrib, Ilairless, shiny green on only in Puerto Rlco. One called palo de cabra
upper surface and slightly paler beneath.
(Symploco~ polyantha Krug & Urban), rare and
nt flowers are attached a few to ser- collected but once in Luquillo Mountains, has
eral toget frnfn ler in short-stalked clusters (cymes). young twigs short hairy, elliptic leaves 21/2-45/2
The preen tubular base (hypanthium) is about 4/8 ~nchcs long, hairless, and larger flower clusters
inch long, with 5 rounded calyx lobes minutely about. 2 inches long bearing many flowers mith
on edges; the white corolla S/8-% inch long corolla 1/2 inch long.
lmiri: and road wlth n wide tube and 5 oblong spreading The other 2 species have twigs and petioles mith
lobes; there are many stamens with flattened white long, stiff hairs. Nispero cimarrtin (Symplocos
filaments united to corolla tube and projecting 4/8 lnnntn Kru k Urban), confined to mountaln forinch
beyond; and pistil with inferior 3-&celled ests of the 8 entral Cordillem, has the young twi
ovary, slender style % inch long, and enlarged and petioles densely covered with long stiff reddis T
hairs ; el 1 i tic leaves 21,-$-2% inches long, hniry be-
Sti~$ts nre mostly single, peen when immature, neath, wit \ petioles ys-% inch long; and flowers
and contain us~~ally 1 seed e/s inch long. In flower with corolla about inch long.
from late spring to fnll and in fruit from summer The closely related species called aceitunillo
to fnll.
m locos mhrntha Krug & Urban), known
The mood with ellowish-brown sa wood is on y T rom molintain forests of eastern and central
moderately henvy &ecific grnvit 0.8f. Little Puerto Rico, differs in tlle young twigs and petioles
used in Puerto Rico except for fuet probably be- less hairy, the lon er etioles %-3/8 lnch long, and
cause of scarcity and generally small dimensions. the slightly smnl F or A
owers wit11 corolla 1/8 inch
Elsewhere a recorded use is for vehicles.
long.