MYRSINE FAMILY (MYRSINACEAE) 



Key to the 3 species illustrated (Xos. 202-204) 



A. Leaves elliptic to obovate, with flattened or winged petiole ; flowers and fruits many in terminal clusters — 202. 

 Ardisia oborata. 

 AA. Leaves lance-shape<l or elliptic, clustered near ends of twigs, with slender petiole ; flowers and fruits many in 

 almost stalkless clusters along twigs. 

 B, Twigs rusty-brown hairy ; leaves slightly hairy beneath, lance-shaped, short-pointed — 203, Rapanea 

 fcmiginca. 

 BB. Twigs hairless; leaves hairless, elliptic, rounded or blunt-pointed — 204. Rapanea guianensis. 



202. Mameyuelo 



Ardisia obovata Desv. 



W-^ie 



This shrub or small tree is characterized by : (1) 

 elliptic or obovate .slightly shiny leaves, leathery 

 and slightly succuler.t, with inconspicuous veins, 

 with minute gland dots on both sides, blmit-pointed 

 or rounded at apex, often broadest above middle, 

 and gradually narrowed at base to the broad or 

 winged petiole ; (2) erect, terminal, much branched 

 flower cluster 3-5 inches long and broad, with very 

 many small greenish flowers % inch across, with 

 tiny black dots; and (3) many black 1-seeded fruits 

 %e inch in diameter. 



An evergreen shrub or small tree 10-20 feet high 

 and to 4 inches in diameter, hairless throughout. 

 The stout twigs are greenish when young, becom- 

 ing light gray. Bark on small trunks is smoothish, 

 gray, and thin, with pinkish, tasteless inner bark. 



The alternate leaves have flattened or winged 

 petioles 1/4-% inch long. Blades are 2I2-5V2 

 inches long and 1-2 inches broad, with edges slight- 

 ly turned under, green on upper surface and paler 

 beneath. 



The flower cluster (panicle) contains crowded, 

 short -stalked flowers. Calyx is composed of 5 



rounded lobes 



Vie 



inch long; corolla with short 



tube and usually 5 elli]3tic lobes nearly %6 inch 

 long, which are spreading or ttirned backwards 

 and % inch across; 5 stamens inserted near base 

 of corolla tube and opposite the lobes; and pistil 

 with 1-celled ovary and short style. 



The numerous berries are round or slightly 

 broader than long, with short point (style) at end, 

 turning from green to red to blackish at maturity, 

 with thin dark red flesh and 1 large round brown 

 seed %6 iiich in diameter. Flowering and fruiting 

 throughout the year. 



The sapwood is pinkish, and the heartwood is 

 light reddish brown. The hard, heavy wood is 

 used only for posts in Puerto Rico. 



In the moist and dry limestone forests at lower 

 and middle elevations in Puerto Rico. An under- 

 story tree or shrub. Also Vieques, St. Croix, St. 

 Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda. 



Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Susiia. 



Range. — Bahamas (North Caicos only), His- 

 paniola, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and Les- 

 ser Antilles from Saba to St. Lucia. 



Other cojiMox names. — badula (Puerto Rico) ; 

 Guadeloupe marlberry (Bahamas). 



Botanical synonyms. — Ardisia guadalupensis 

 Duch., Icacorea guadahipensi.s (Duch.) Britton. 



Another species of mameyuelo {Ardisia glaiici- 

 fora Urban; synonym Icacorea gJauHflora 

 (Urban) Britton) is a small tree known only from 

 mountain forests of Puerto Rico. It has larger, 

 elliptic, thick, leathery leaves 4-8 inches long with 

 I)rominent network of veins, and many larger 

 flowers about 14 "^ch across. 



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