ELM FAMILY (ULMACEAE) 



16. Guacimilla, false jacocalalu, Florida trema 



This sinnll tree of open forests is recognized by : 

 (1) open spreading crown with hoi'izontal and 

 slightly drooping branches; (2) the lance-shaped 

 leaves 3i/^-6 inches long, long-pointed at apex, the 

 base with 3 main veins and slightly heart-shaped 

 and oblifjue, with finely saw-toothed edges, rough 

 hairy on upper surface and soft hairy on veins be- 

 neath; (3) the leaves arranged flattened in -2 rows 

 on green hairy twigs; and (-l) numerous small 

 greenish flowers and round orange fruits Vg inch 

 in diameter borne in lateral clusters at leaf bases. 



An evergreen tree to 40 feet high and 1 foot in 

 trunk diameter. The light brown bark is smooth- 

 ish with rows of warty dots (lenticels) or becom- 

 ing slightly fissured. Inner bark is brownish or 

 pinkish, almost tasteless or slightly bitter. 



The leaves are alternate on short petioles 14~% 

 inch long with blades I-214 inches broad, slightly 

 thickened, the upper surface green and the lower 

 surface light green. 



Flower clusters (cymes) are lateral and 

 branched, 1/^-% inch across, hairy, with numerous 

 short-stalked small greenish flowers less than i/g 

 incli long, mostly male and female together (mono- 

 ecious). Male flowers about i/g inch across have 5 

 pointed whitish-green sepals. 5 whitish stamens, 

 and a sterile pistil. Female flowers are composed 

 of 5 pointed whitish-green sepals and a pistil with 

 green ovary and 2 whitish stigmas. The round 

 fleshy fruits (drupes) contain 1 black seed more 

 than i/ie inch long. Probably in flower and fruit 

 nearly through the year. 



Trema micrantha (L.) Blume 



The wood is light brown, soft, lightweight (spe- 

 cific gravity O.-i), and weak. Used only for posts 

 and fuel in Puerto Rico. The strong fiber in the 

 bark has been employed for cordage. 



In openings, clearings, woodlands and along 

 roadsiiles in the lower Luquillo and moist coastal 

 regions of eastern Puerto Rico. Also in St. Croix, 

 St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. 



I'liiLic FORESTS. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro. 



Range. — Central and southern Florida and 

 Florida Keys and throughout West Indies from 

 Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago. Also from central 

 Mexico to Argentina and Brazil. 



Other common names. — palo de cabra, cabra 

 (Puerto Rico) ; memizo cimarron, memiso de pa- 

 loma, memiso (Dominican Republic) ; guacimilla, 

 gvuicimilla cimarrona, guacimilla boba, capuli cim- 

 arron (Cuba) ; jaco de cuero, equipal (ilexico) : 

 capulin (Central America) ; capulin negro (Hon- 

 duras) ; capulin macho, capulin montes, capulin- 

 cillo, churrusco (El Salvador) ; capulin bianco, 

 juco, vara blanca (Costa Rica) ; capulin macho 

 (Panama) ; berraco, raspador, majagua colorada, 

 venaco (Colombia) ; masaquilla (Venezuela) ; 

 tortolero, muchichilau (Ecuador) ; aisegerina, ata- 

 dijo, yana-caspi (Peru) ; palo-polvora, afta colo- 

 rada (Argentina) ; Florida trema (United 

 States) ; Jamaican Jiettle-ti'ee (Jamaica) ; white 

 capulin, wild bay-cedar (British Honduras) ; bois 

 de sole (Haiti) ; ceriiiva (Brazil). 



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