Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

A shrub or small tree known ns cerezas blancas Britton) is a popular planted ornamental along
and whits manjnck (Cordia dantata Poir. ; C. fllba rodsides of Puerto Rico and the Virh Islmds
nuth., C07~~trctcordin nlbn nuth.) is f~und ill dry but not native. It hns ovate thick leaves 31/24
fomsts of southwestern Puerto Rim, St. Croix, rind inches long, ofkn taothed on edps, long-poinbd
St. Thomns through the West Indies, and from
Mexico to ?f
at til~ex, rough on upper surhce, and egg-shaped
1 enezuela. It has elliptic eaves 1%pointed
,.bib fruit 1-IM inClles long.
4% inches long, coarsely toothed, rough Ilalry
above
San nnrtolom6 (Cordin r.ickeeck& Millsp.;
; terminal b'an"?d ~'ust'rs of "Umerol!s
slio~vy wliite flolvers y8 ~ncli ncross; and elliptic synonym fiebeaten dckeeckeri ill^^, ) i it.^^)
\vhitish fruits about 1/2 inch long.
is a closely related small tree of coastal thickets
The 2 species bclolv Ilave very sllowy flowers 1- llt~t,ive only in Puerto Rico, Culebm, Vieques, St.
11/2 inches long and broadl with tubular omnge Tllonlns, and Tortola. It has elliptic leaves uscorolla.
Anaconda or Geigor-tree (Cordin se- iinlly very rough on upper surface, orange-red
bestem L.* ; synonym Sebeeten eebestenu (L.) corolla, and yellow or orange fruit.
BORAGE FAMILY
A small tree of wet forests mostly in mountains,
known only from Puerto Rico, distinguished by:
(1) erect axis with horizontal brnnching frequently
in 3's; (2) thick and leathery, most1
large, elliptic or obovate, shi~~y green leaves wlt K
rominent network of many raised veins and vein-
I)ets on both sides; (3 small white flowers more
than j/4 inch long and b roacl, with tubular 5-lobed
corolla, several to many in branched flat-topped
terminal clusters, mnle and female on different
trees (dioecious) ; and (4) fleshy orange-red
rounded fruit 3/s inch in diameter, broader than
long, and oblique and swollen on side.
Usually about 20 feet tall and 5 inches in trunk
diameter but recorded as becoming larger, sometimes
flowering when only 5 feet h~gh, evergreen.
The grn bark is smooth with raised dots (lentieels),
mxitish n~ithin, and tasteless. The stout
twigs are en and minutely hairy when young,
becoming f? rown.
Leaves are alternate, with stout p n petioles
Y2-1 inch long, grooved above, and minutely hairy.
Blades are 3-10 inches long and ll/q+h2 inches
broad, rounded or short-pointed at both ends,
een above and slightly lighter beneath, turning
%ll yellow before falling.
Flower clusters (panicles) are 14% inches
broad and high, with slender curved near1 horizontnl
branches bearing almost stalkless omers.
d
(BORAGINACEAE)
Cordia borinquemb Urban
The bell-shaped tubular calyx about S/16 inch long
on 1 side. Within the orange-red flesh is a brown
nutlet. Flowering and fruiting nearly through
the year.
The \\?hitis11 or light yellow mood is hard and
heavy (specific gravity 0.7). It is used for posts
and tool handles.
An understory tree in the mountain forests of
I'uerto Rico.
Purtr.rc FORESTS.-Cnrite, Luquillo, Maricno, Toro
Negro.
RAX~E.-Puerto Rico only.
OTIIER COiUMON NABLES.--4Xlp6, cap6 ~~UladIl
(Puerto Rico) .