186 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
Maria. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 45 to 50 feet (13 to 15 meters); diam- 
eter, 25 to 30 inches (62 to 75 centimeters). Wood pinkish, hard; specific gravity, 
0.800; used in building houses. (Exp. 1857.) 
Enumerated by Hill among trees yielding resin. Perhaps the same as ‘“‘palo de 
Maria.”’ 
According to Captain Hansard this species yields the balsam of Tolu. The 
extract is not made in Porto Rico, but extensively used by the druggists. Specific 
gravity of wood, 0.91, 
Marias. See Calophyllum calaba, 
Marialva elliptica. See Tovomita elliptica. 
Maricao. See Byrsonima spicata. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 40 to 45 feet (13 to 15 meters); diam- 
eter, 25 to 30 inches (62 to 75 centimeters). Wood dark, hard; specific gravity, 
0.730; used in building houses. (Exp. 1857.) (Grosourdy, 2: 401.) 
Captain Hansard gives the specific gravity at 0.78, and says that itis a good 
firewood, 
Marimbo. See Lagenaria vulgaris. 
Marimbo is the name applied to a Central American musical instrument resem- 
bling a xylophone, which in former times had gourds hung beneath the keys. In 
some parts of Africa the name is given to a kind of drum. 
Marimbo amargo. See Lagenaria vulgaris. 
Marlierea dussii. 
A small indigenous myrtaceous tree, known in Porto Rico only from the neigh- 
borhood of Adjuntas. In Guadeloupe the same species is said to grow as a shrub 
of 15 feet (5 meters) or less, half the size it attains in Porto Rico. M. sintenisii, 
an allied species, is known only from Luquillo, (Urban, Add. 108.) 
Marmelluelo. 
Captain Hansard mentions this wood as having a specific gravity of 1.02. 
Martinezia. 
Specimens of the flowers and fruit supposed by Dr. Drude to belong to Martine- 
zia or Bactris (Sintenis no. 2500) were collected in the forest of Monte Hormigas 
near Jauco, The spathe is unarmed; the branches are long, slender, and attenu- 
ute. This may be the species collected by us at Vega Baja. There are no leaves 
with this specimen. Another specimen (Sintenis no. 2628) from Hato Grande. on 
slopes toward Monte Gregorio, has a much larger and thicker inflorescence with the 
main axis beset with slender black spines from one-quarter to 1 inch (6 to 25 milli- 
meters) in length. The branches are much coarser than in the other specimen 
and the pinnae have irregularly crowded plications at base, showing a tendency 
to the grouped condition found inthe South American species. There are no spines 
on the pinnae, and very scattering slender ones on the median carina of the rachis. 
Marrubio. See Mesosphacrum suaveolens and M, spicigerum 
Marrubio blanco. See Mesosphaerum lantanaefolinm. 
Marrubio-boton. See Mesosphaerum capitatum. 
Marrubio oscuro. See Mesosphaerum atrorubens. 
Marsypianthes hyptoides. Orrena. 
An herbaceous suberect annual of the mint family, found in sandy places. 
(Stahl, 6: 191.) 
Martin avila. See Chione glabra. 
Martynia diandra. UNa DE GATo. 
Family Martyniaceae; an annual herb found on the south coast. Bello gives 
the common name ‘‘ escorzonera.”’ (Stahl, 6: 265.) 
