Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

7
FOURIO'CLOCK FAMILY (NYCTAGINACEAE)
Key to the 3 speclcs illuntrnted (Sos. 31-33)
A. I.enves thin or slightly tlilcl;e~lcd, rounded or slli)rt-~mintcvl [lt both ends, hairy at least when young; fruits dry.
narroir, with 5 rows of clotlike glands.
B. Leares about half as broad as long, the lo\ver surfncc clenaely fine hairy--31. Pfsonia albida.
BB. Leares nearly as brond ns long, rusty brown hairy when young but becoming hairless or nearly 60-32.
Pisorria eubcordata.
hi\. Leaves slightly tblckened and succulent, short-pointed at both ends, hairless; fruits fleshy-*. Tomrbfa fmgraw.
31. Corcho bob0 Pisonia albida (Heimerl) Britton
This tree of dry areas is characterizecl by: (1) in widely forking brnnclled clusters have slender
brittle twigs; (2) opposite elliptic leaves 2-6 stalle I/g-% inch or more in lengtll; t,he greenish,
i~iclies long ancl 1-3 inches b~-otld, roundecl or finely hairy, 8-toothed tubillnr cillyx y8 inch long,
sliort-pointed at both ends, the upper surface and pistil wit11 1-celled, 1-ovuled ovary, style, and
sliglltly shiny green and hnirless, nild the lo~ver sti mn.
surface paler rind densely fine hairy; (3) mnny bruits (akenes) are numerous in a spreading
fragrant. small greenisli flowers in terminn1 cluster of widely forking bmnches 23% inches
hrnnched cllisters \vllen lenres are slled or form- 1011 and broad, tlie \vliole cluster breaki~lg off toing:
and (4) numerous dark bro\vn dry fruits % get F ier. The tubular calyx remains outside of the
inch long and ?Il6 inch in din~neter, tlie upper half very narrow dnrk brown 1-seeded fruit. Flon-erwith
5 rows of raised glnads nncl slightly sticky. ing ~vlien leafless or with new lenves, from Febru-
-4 deciduous, usunlly snlnll tree to 30 feet in nr to IIay, and maturing fruits in late spring.
height and 6-12 inches in trunk diameter wit11 tile sapwood is yellowish or ivliitisli. The lieartspreading
crown, or slirubby. Base of trunk and wood is yellowish, coarse-textured, with silvery
roots are often enlnrged, suggesting an eleplit~nt's gum in the pores, nnd moderntely soft. Used only
foot with toes. The bnrk is \vlutisll gray and as fuelwood in Puerto Rico.
smooth. Inner bnrk is yello~v or light brown, It is reported that the sticky fruit clusters fallen
gritty, nnd tasteless. Twigs nre light green and on tlie ground can cause death of young cllickens
finely hairy, becoming light gray.
tlitit get ta~igled in them.
The leaves have finely linir , pale yello\!- petioles
%-!% inches long. The f
In forests and tllickets in the dry const and lime-
)lades nre tliin or a
little thickened and not tootlied on ed es.
stone regions of southern and western Puerto Rico.
Flowers are male and femnle on di f erent trees
Also conimon in JIo~ia and in Cnja de Ifuertos.
(dioecious) in terminal brnncl~ed clusters (cymes) PUISLIG FORESTS.-GUR~~~BCB, Guiinicn, Sus6a.
on R stalk abont. 1 inch long. IInle flowers are RANGE.-I