Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

30. Triplaris, anttree
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE)
This handsome exotic is easily recognized by:
(1) its straight tall trunk and narrow columnar
crowll; (2) smooth mottled brown and light gray
bark peeling off in thin pieces or strips; (3) hollow
twigs ringed at nodes and ending in a long, narrow,
pointed, pale gtvenish or yellowish bud 24
inches long; (4) large oblong lon -pointed leaves
with inany parallel nearly straig T lt lateral veins
and ~vith 2-3 faint lines on each side of and parallel
with midrib; (5) sn~all greenish very hairy
flowers, crowcled in erect clusteis, the male and
female on different trees (dioecious) ; and (6)
sl~o~vy masses of large odd reddish fruits at the top
of the crown, about 1% inch long, consisting of an
elliptic base and 3 oblong pink wings like n small
shuttlecock.
A medium-sized to large evergreen tree becoming
70 feet tall and 1% feet in trunk clinmetsr, the
trunk slightly nngled or fluted. The bark, where
peeled off, exposes a light gray layer beneath.
Inner bark is pinkish and astringent. The green
to brown stout twigs are often slightly zigzag.
The scale (stipule) covering the bud ~nakes t ring
scar around the twig upon falling,
The leaves are alternate on stout, short, flattened
petioles %-3/4 inch long. Blades are mostly 9-14
~nches long and 21/24 inches wide, sometimes only
half as large, short-pointed at base, not toothed at
edges. The faint lines parallel with midrib result
from pressure in the bud when the blade is folded
under. The upper surface is dull to shiny green
nnd hairless or nearly so, and the lower surface
slightly paler dull green tmd with scattered brown
hails on midrib.
Flower clusters (spikes and racemes) are lateral
at base of leaves, 2-8 inches long, densely light
brown hairy, with flowers stallrless or shortatnlkecl.
Nale flowers about S/ln inch long have a
funnel-shaped, tubular, 6-lobed, hairy calyx and
Triplaris americana L.*
9 spreading stamens. Female flowers have a tubular
8-lobed calyx, 3 petals, and pistil with 3-angled
ovary nncl3 slender styles.
The fruit consists of a basal elliptic swollen
hairy calyx tube 3/s inch or more in length with 3
1.ecldish or pink-red, membl-anous, prominently
reined wings 1%-11/2 inclles long, formed from
calyx lobes. Inside are the 3 narrow petals and
1 3-nngled pointed shiny brown seed (akene) . At
~nntunty the fruit falls slowly like a parnchute,
spinning rapidly. Flom-ering in spring from Februaly
to May and in fruit in May and June.
The R-hitish sapwood is soft. The wood of this
or related species is reportedly used for construction
where native. JVhen cut for fuel, the trunks
are replaced by sprouts.
In the natural environ~nent blle hollow twigs are
inhabited by ants, usually vicious or ferocious
stinging ones.
An ornninental in some cit4ies of Puerto Rico,
having been introduced about 1924 and distributed
a few years later. Also tested at St. Croix.
RANGE.-Nort,hern South America, originally
described from eastern Venezuela. Planted in
southern Florida, Puerto Rico, and other tropical
areas.
OTIIER COJIMON saars. - long-john anttree
(English).
There is some doubt about the specific name of
the Puerto Rican trees. According to Britton and
IVilson 3 species were introduced : TripZaris nmeric~tn
L. from Central America though originally
described from Venezuela, T. carncasnna Cham.
from Venezuela, ancl T. cumingiana Fiscll. & AIey.
fro~n P:tn:unn. The Puerto Rican trees appear to
be the same as those planted in the Canal Zone and
Cuba under the last named species, ~vhich originrdlg
was described fmnl Colombia.