254 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
shores of most eastern tropical countries, and also in western Africa, the West 
Indies, South Aamerica, and the Pacific islands. It forms a tree 40 or 50 feet (12 
or 15 meters) high, and has a dense head of foliage, on account of which it is 
‘alled the wimbrella tree in some countries, and is planted in many tropical 
districts for the sake of its shade and for forming avenues. Its leaves are large, 
roundish, heart-shaped,and pointed: and its flowers, which like those of many 
mallowworts are large and showy, are at first yellow with a purple central spot. 
but change altogether to purple before they die off in the evening, Several parts 
of the tree are applied to useful purposes. The inner bark of the young branches 
yields a tough fiber, fit for cordage, and used in Demerara for making coffee bags, 
and the finer pieces of it for cigar envelopes. The wood is considered almost 
indestructible under water, and is therefore used for boat building: besides 
which its hardness and durability render it valuable for cabinetmaking and 
building purposes, while in Ceylon it is employed for gunstocks. The flower 
buds and unripe fruits yield a viscid, yellow juice, useful as a dye, and a thick 
deep red colored oil is expressed from the seeds.” 
The name ‘Santa Maria’ was used near Ponce. 
Thevetia nerlifolia. CapaLonaa, 
Family Apocynaceae; a shrub, 3 meters high, but green throughout. The 
flowers are large and saffron-colored, causing it to be cultivated for an orna- 
mental. The milky juice is said to be a dangerous poison; also the fruits, while 
the bark has been used as a febrifuge, (Stahl, 6: 68.) 
A small tree, 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters) high, rather dense, with a trunk about 
6 feet (1.8 meters) long, 5 to 6 inches in diameter, The wood is not hard, rather 
light, fibrous in texture, with « rather fine grain. Specific gravity, 0.813. 
(Grosourdy, 2: 867.) 
Thibaudia portoricensis. ; 
Family Ericaceae; known from Sierra de Luquillo, This genus contains several 
ornamental shrubs, some of which have been introduced to hothouse cultivation. 
Thouinia portoricensis. SERRA-SUELA,. 
A sapindaceous shrub of 3 to 5 meters; Yauco, Guanica, Cabo Rojo; called 
also quiebra hacha.”’ ** quebracho,” and ‘‘ax breaker.”" This species 7. striata 
has very hard wood. 
Thouinia striata. SkBUROQUILLO. 
An indigenous tree, & to 20 meters high. Reported from numerous localities 
on both sides of the island. (Urban, Symb, 1: 349.) 
Thouinia tomentosa. CrBoRUQUILLO. 
A tree, 5 to 8 meters high, growing on hills. Flowers in April and May. Bello 
gives the the common naine ** quebra hachas** or “tax breaker.’ which doubtless 
alludes to the very hard wood. (Stahl, 2: 158.) 
Thringis laxa. Yaray, 
Family Sabalaceae; a small slender fan palm said to be used in the neighbor- 
hood of Vega Baja for the manufacture of hats and other articles in the same 
way that nodes caustarim is employed farther west. 
Thuja occidentalis. Arbor VITAF. 
Though a native of northern latitudes this species seems to thrive in the Tropics, 
while never attaining large size. It is occasionally planted for hedges and as 
an ornamental in Porto Rico, and a specimen from Jayuya ix in the National 
Herbarium. 
Thunbergia alata. 
Family Acanthaceae; an ornamental vine introduced from India. This has 
now escaped from cultivation in Porto Rico and is almost as common as Momor- 
dica (* cundeamor’’), (Stahl. 6: 253.) 
