MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE) 



191. Guayabota 



Known only from Puerto Eican mountains, this 

 medium-sized tree is identified by: (1) erect dense 

 columnar crown; ('2) light gray or whitish bark, 

 scaling off in plates; (3) opposite, elliptic, thick 

 and leathery leaves 21/2-31/2 inches long and li/4- 

 21/9 inches broad, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex 

 and short-pointed at base, with minute gland dots, 

 and on short petioles 1/4-% inch long; (4) large 

 spreading white -i-petaled flowers about 1 V2 inches 

 across the numerous stamens, few at or near ends 

 of twigs or singly at nodes; and (5) rounded ber- 

 ries %-Ys inch in diameter, with 4 unequal sepals 

 at apex, resembling small guayabas. 



An evei'green tree reaching 60 feet in height and 

 more than 1 foot in trunk diameter. The stout 

 twigs are light gray. Leaf blades have margins 

 which may be slightly turned under, the upper 

 surface green and slightly shiny, the lower surface 

 paler. 



Flowers ai-e borne on stout, often flattened, 

 stalks 1/2-11/4 inches long. The bell-shaped base 

 (hypanthium) is nearly I/4. inch long and broad, 

 with 4 persistent, rounded concave, yellow-green 

 sepals, 2 nearly % inch long and 2 half as long; 

 there are 4 spreading rovmded petals i/2-% inch 

 long; numerous spreading stamens; and pistil 

 with 2-celled inferior ovary and long style. 



The fleshy fruit, dark green when immature, is 

 minutely warty on the surface, with 1 large irreg- 

 ularly rounded brown seed. Flowering and fruit- 

 ing nearly through the year except in spring. 



Eugenia stahlii (liiaersk.) Krug & Urban 



This attractive wood has pinkish-brown sap- 

 wood, gray-brown heartwood, and growth rings 

 marked by narrow darker bands. It is very hard, 

 heavy (specific gravity 0.73), tough, strong, fine- 

 textured, with irregular grain, and with mild 

 pleasant odor. Rate of air-seasoning and amount 

 of degrade are moderate. Machining character- 

 istics are as follows: planing and mortising are 

 good; shaping, turning, and boring are excellent; 

 sanding is poor; and resistance to screw splitting is 

 very poor. The wood has high but uniform 

 shrinkage during seasoning and is moderately dif- 

 ficult to work because of its hardness. It is very 

 susceptible to attack by dry-wood tennites and is 

 reported to be variable in decay resistance. 



Uses include general construction, crossties, ox- 

 cart tongues, poles, and posts. The wood is suit- 

 able also for furniture, cabinetwork, turnery, carv- 

 ing, interior trim, tool handles, farm implements, 

 and boatbuilding. 



Commonest in the transition zone between the 

 lower and upper mountain forests of Puerto Rico, 

 between 1,500 and 3,000 feet elevation. Appar- 

 ently a slow-growing tree. 



Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo, 

 Toro Negro. 



Mt'NICIPALITIES WHERE ESPECIALLY COMMON.— 



13, 30, 44. 



Range. — Mountains of Puerto Rico only. 



Named for Agustin Stahl (1842-1917), Puerto 

 Rican physician and botanist, who collected speci- 

 mens of this species. 



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