Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

CHLORANTHUS FAMILY (CHLORANTHACEAE)
13. Azafrhn Hedyosmum arborescens Sw.
This distinctive small tree or shrub of the eastern
niountains of Puerto Rico is rendily identified
by the following clinmcters: (1) tlie leaves, twigs,
and other parts are pleasantly fmgmnt when
crushed; (2) the opposite, elliptic, sliglltly fleshy,
dark green leaves linve finely snw-toothed edges,
and tlie petioles of n pair are united nt base into
:LII etilt~rged sheath incli long ~iround twig;
(3) stalkless small green flowers less than 1/8 inch
long. male and female on different trees (dioecioas),
the male flowers cro\vded in narrow clusters
:~nd tlie female flon-ers in groups of 2 or 3 surronnded
by 3 wales :dong nn axis; and (4) whitish
watery fruits about s/s inch in dinmeter, with 3
fleshy scales on outside.
An evergreen t ~re to 20 feet higli nnd 4 inches in
trunk diameter or shrubby. The bark is brown,
s~riootl~isli and thin, often covered wit11 ~nosses :~nd
liverworts. Inner bark is light brown or pinkisli,
a~irl witli spicy or bitter taste. Ttie clarlt greet1
flesliy twigs have etilnrged ringed nodes and large
pith cuid are brittle.
Petioles are +s/s inch long, tlie leaf blades
1Yi-'5 inches long n~id 7/84? inches broad, shortpointed
at both ends, with the edges slightly
tanled under.
Flower clusters are terminal and lateral. Male
flowers nre in a stalked cylindrical cluster (spike)
inches long and 9i6 inch or more in diameter,
each flower consisting merely of 1 stamen less
than l/g i~icli long and without calyx. The axis
(spilte) of female flowers is 1-2 inclies long, the
flowers composed of 3-an led inferior ovary less
rlian % incli long corer8 by green tubular base
(hypanthium) and bearing minute 3-toothed calyx
at apex.
The fruits are composed mninlg of tlie enlarged
fleshy scales, ellclosing 2 or 3 individual 3-angled
fruits (clrupelike) about I/g inch long, each from
R sepnrate flower and containing 1 bro\vn seed.
Flo\vering nnd fruiting nenrly through the year.
The liglit brown sapwood is hard and is not
llsed.
In openings in the forests in the upper Luquillo
:mcl eastern upper Cordillern regions of Puerto
Rico, asce~idi~ig to near tlie summits of the peaks.
PU~LIC ~o~t~srs.-Carite, Luquillo.
R-~sa~.-.Jamaica, Puerto Rico, nnd Lesser
Antilles from St. Ritts to St. Vincent.
OTHER CO~IMOS NAM~;Y.-~O~S fragile, bois de
I'eau, bois senti (Guadeloupe) .