CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDLACEAE) 



134. Jobo, hogplum, yellow mombin 



Jobo, which grows wild and is planted as a 

 fence row tree and for its fruit, is recognized by : 

 (1) numerous spinelike projections i/4~% "''ch 

 long on the thick, corky bark of the trunk; (2) a 

 very spreading yellow-green crown, usually with 

 few nearly horizontal branches; (3) pinnate leaves 

 8-16 inches or more in length with 9-19 asymmet- 

 rical ovate or lance-shaped, short or long-pointed, 

 thin leaflets; (4) numerous small, fragrant, yel- 

 lowish-white, 5-parted flowers nearly I/4 inch 

 across in showy branched terminal clusters; and 

 (5) clusters of yellow, cylindrical, soft, juicy fruits 

 11/4-114 inches long and %-l inch in diameter, 

 edible though inferior. 



A small to medium-sizetl deciduous tree to 60 

 feet in height and 2i/^ feet in trunk diameter. 

 The whitish-brown or gray bark is smoothish ex- 

 cept for numerous spinelike projections i/4-% inch 

 high, becoming rough and furrowed. Inner bark 

 is light pink and slightly bitter. A resin exudes 

 from cuts. The stout twigs are hairless or finely 

 hairy. 



The alternate leaves have slender and finely 

 hairy axes. The leaflets are more or less paired 

 except for the terminal one, on stalks Vs-Vi inch 

 long. Leaflet blades are 2-4 inches long and 1-1% 

 inches broad, short-pointed or rounded and oblique 

 at base, the edges not toothed or slightly wavy, 

 yellow-green on upper surface and paler beneath. 



The spreading flower clusters (panicles) are 6- 

 12 inches or more in length, with flowers on short 

 stalks 1/16 inch or more in length. Flowers are 

 male or female and bisexual on the same tree 

 (polygamous) . The minute hairy calyx is 5-lobed ; 

 there are 5 yellowish-white petals nearly Vs inch 

 long, spreading and curved back; 10 stamens; and 

 pistil on a disk, composed of ovary and 4 styles. 



The pleasantly odorous f raits (drapes) have a 

 thin yellow edible flesh with slightly sour pungent 

 taste and a large few-seeded stone about 1 inch 

 long. Flowering chiefly from winter to summer 

 and maturing fruits from summer to winter. 



The sapwood is whitish or cream colored, and 

 the heartwood similar when first cut but turning 

 golden brown. Sap-staining fungi in seasoning 

 often turn the wootl to a blue-gray color. The 

 wood is soft., lightweight (specific gravity 0.41), 

 with straight to slightly interlocked grain, coarse 

 texture, and numerous pores. It is tough and 

 strong for its weight. Rate of air-seasoning and 

 amomit of degrade are moderate. Machining 

 characteristics are as follows : planing is excellent; 

 shaping, turning, boring, and mortising are poor ; 

 sanding is fair; and resistance to screw splitting 

 is good. The wood is perishable and very sus- 



294 



Spondias mombin L. 



ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites and other 

 insects. 



In Puerto Rico the wood serves for fenceposts 

 and fuel. It is used also for soft-drink cases, 

 packing boxes, and matches. It will produce pulp 

 for white paper and utility plywood and could be 

 utilized for cheap furniture and light construction 

 where protected. Other uses elsewhere are as a 

 cork substitute and for charcoal, and the bark as 

 an astringent. 



The trees are planted as living fenceposts and 

 for shade and ornament, being readily propagated 

 by cuttings and fast growing when not in deep 

 shade. The fruits can be eaten, though inferior 

 to the smaller fruits of puiple mombin (Spondias 

 purjmrea L.), and serve to fatten hogs and cattle. 

 A honey plant. 



Along roadsides and fence rows and in pastures 

 and forests in the coastal, moist limestone, and 

 lower mountain regions of Puerto Rico, perhaps 

 naturalized rather than native. Also in St. Croix, 

 St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. 



Ptjbijc forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Carite, 

 Guajataca, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, San 

 Juan, Susua, Vega. 



Municipalities where especially common. — 

 8, 25, 30, 44. 



Range. — Throughout West Indies except Ba- 

 hamas and from southern Mexico to Peru and 

 Brazil, in part cultivated or naturalized. Planted 

 in southern Florida. Also in Old World tropics, 

 perhaps introduced. 



Other common names. — jobillo, jobo gusanero, 

 jobo vano, jobo de perro (Puerto Rico) ; jobo 

 (Spanish, commerce) ; ciraela amarilla (Domini- 

 can Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador) ; jobo de 

 puerco, joboban, ciruela (Dominican Republic) ; 

 jobo hembra (Cuba) ; jocote jobo, jobo jocote 

 (Guatemala) ; ciruela de monte, jocote (Hon- 

 duras) ; jocote, jocote de jobo, ciruela de jobo, 

 jocote montanero (Nicaragua) ; hogplum, wild- 

 plum (Costa Rica, Panama) ; jobo bianco, jobo 

 Colorado, jobo de castilla (Colombia) ; cuajo, 

 guama zapatero (Venezuela) ; yellow mombin, 

 hogplum (United States) ; hogplum (English) ; 

 Bequia-plum (Bequia) ; hoba, hubu, plum-bush 

 (British Guiana) ; mombin, monbin (French) ; 

 mombin franc, myrobalane (Haiti) ; mombin 

 fruits jaunes, prane mombin, prime Myrobolan 

 (Guadeloupe) ; prunier mombin, monbinier 

 (French Guiana) ; macaprein, hoba, yellow-plum 

 (Dutch West Indies) ; mope (Surinam, com- 

 merce) ; moppe, monbe, hooboo (Surinam) ; caja, 

 caja-mirim, caja seira (Brazil). 



Botanical synontm. — Spondias lutea L. 



