Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

VERBENA FAMILY (VERBENACEAE)
Key to the 6 species Illustrated (Nos. S230)
A. Leaves simple.
B. Leaves leas than 6 inches long.
C. Leaves lnneshnped or narrowly elliptic, 24% Inches long, lower surface gray green, hairy; trees of
mangrove s\vnmp forest-226. Avfcerlnia rittida.
CC. Leaves elllptlc; upland trees.
D. Petloles short, less thnn 1 inch long; leaf blndes hnlrless or nearly so, the upper surface ellghtly
shiny.
El. Leaves with few side veins; flowera with definite stalks-226. Cfthareay/lttm caudatum.
EL Leaves with prominent network of small reins when dry, turning red before falling, petiole
pink or ornnge; flowers almost stnlkle-227. Cltharexglum Iruticoeum.
DD. Petioles long, 1-2s inches long; leaf blades rough, lower surface pale yellow green, with minute
scales and hairs nnd prominent reins--228. Petitia domfngenefe.
BB. Leaves very lnrge, elllptlc, 12-16 inches or more In length, thlckened, leathery, and harah, the upper surface
rough, the lower surfnce soft hairy-229. Tector~a grandla.*
AA. Leaves mostly compound with 3 elliptic leaflets, often only 1 or sometimes 2, the end one largest-230. Vitea
d ioaricata
225. Mangle prieto, black-mangrove Avicennia nitida Jacq.
This is 1 of the 4 kinds of mnn~ove trees which and the pistil s/16 inch long has a 1-celled ovary,
form swamp forests at sen level In salt water and slender style, and &-lobed stigma.
brackish water along silty seashores. Mangle The fleshy seed capsule contains 1 large dark
prieto is distinguished by: (1) opposite lance- green seed which is an embgo plant without
shaped or narrowly elliptlc leathery leaves 24% seedcoat. Often the seed rmlnates on the tree,
inches lon and )$-I% inches bmnd, the upper s litt