MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE) 



190. Hoja menuda, spiceberry eugenia 



One of several known as hoja menuda, this 

 species of dry areas of southwestern Puerto Rico 

 is recognized by tlie small ovate drooping leaves 

 nearly in the shape of a diamond (rhomb), as the 

 scientific name indicates. Other distinguishing 

 characters are: (1) opposite leaves iy4-2 inches 

 long and %-li4 inches broad, bluntly long-pointed 

 at apex and short-pointed at base, lateral veins 

 inconspicuous, and with many gland clots includ- 

 ing black dots on lower surface ; (2) few to several 

 white flowers with 4 petals, i^ inch across the 

 spreading stamens, in lateral clusters at leaf bases 

 or back of leaves; and (3) rounded red to black 

 berries %-% inch in diameter, broader than long, 

 with sepals at apex. 



A small erect evergreen tree 20-25 feet high with 

 trunk 2-8 inches in diameter, or shrubby. The 

 brownish-gray bark is smooth, peeling off in flakes. 

 Inner bark is light brown and slightly bitter. The 

 slender whitish-gray twigs are often drooping. 



The petioles are brown yellow, or reddish tinged, 

 Vs-Vi iiich long. Blades are slightly thickened, 

 leathery, and stiff, not toothed on edges, dull dark 

 green above and yellow green beneath. 



The flower cluster (umbel) without amain stalk 

 is composed of flowers on slender spreading stalks 

 14-% inch long. The flower has a short basal tube 



Eugenia rhombea (Berg) Krug & Urban 



(hypanthium) enclosing the inferior ovaiy, 4 

 rounded sepals less than i/g inch long, 4 white 

 rounded petals %6 u\c\\ long, many spreading 

 stamens, and style. The fleshy 1-seeded fruits 

 change color from red to black as tliey I'ipen. Ee- 

 corded with flowers in July and with fruits in 

 January and July. 



The light brown wood is very hard and heavy. 

 Because of the small dimensions, it is used chiefly 

 for posts, stakes, and fuel. The wood is not dur- 

 able in the ground. 



In cutov-er dry forests and thickets in the dry 

 limestone region of southwestern Puerto Rico. 

 Also in Desecheo, Mona, Muertos, St. Croix, St. 

 Thomas, and St. John. 



Public forest. — Guanica. 



Raxge. — Lower Florida Keys, Bahamas, Cuba, 

 Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto llico and Virgm 

 Islands, and Lesser xlntilles from St. Martin to 

 Guadeloupe. 



Other common names. — guayabilla de costa 

 (Puerto Rico); arrayan (Dominican Republic); 

 mije, guairaje (Cuba); spiceberry eugenia, red 

 stopper, stopper (United States) ; red stoppef 

 (Bahamas); rodwood (Barbuda); myrte, bois 

 myrte (Haiti) ; merisier (St. Bartheleniy) ; meri- 

 sier rouge (Guadeloupe). 



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