LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE) 



50. Nemoca 



This species of the eastern and central mountains 

 is identified by: (1) branches forming distinct 

 horizontal layers; (2) narrow buttresses at base of 

 large trunks; (3) spicy leaves, twigs, and bark; 

 (4) leaves clustered at or near ends of twigs, shiny 

 and leathei'y, spoon-shaped (spatulate) or olx>- 

 vate, IVo-Si/^ inches long and %-lV2 inches broad, 

 widest beyond middle; (5) greenish-yellow, rusty 

 hairy flowers about 1/4 inch broad, in lateral clus- 

 ters shorter than the leaves; and (6) large round 

 or elliptic fruits %-li/4 inches long with shallow 

 double-margined cup. 



A small or medium-sized evergreen tree to 45 

 feet high and li/4 feet in trunk diameter. The 

 gray or brown bark is scaly, becoming thick and 

 fissured on larger trunks. Inner bark is light 

 brown and slightly spicy and bitter. 



Though crowded at ends of the brown twigs, the 

 leaves are alternate. Petioles are short, only Vs-Vi 

 inch long. The blades are blunt-pointed or 

 rounded at apex and long-pointed at base, with 

 edges turned undei'. Upper surface is dark green, 

 with slightly sunken midrib and slightly raised 

 lateral veins, and the green lower surface with 

 raised veins. 



Flower clusters (panicles) are in the cluster of 

 leaves, 1-2 inches long, branched and liairy, bear- 

 ing several short -stalked flowers. The calyx has 

 6 widely spreading hairy lotes about y^ inch long; 

 there are 9 stamens; and pistil with 1 -celled ovary 

 partly enclosed and style. 



The fleshy fruit (berry), green when immature, 

 has 1 large seed and a bi-own cup %-V2 inch high. 

 Flowering and fruiting perhaps irregularly 

 through the year. 



Ocotea spathulata Mez 



Nemoca is the most unusual and perhaps the 

 most attractively figured commercial wood of 

 Puerto Rico. The uniform sapwood is yellowish 

 brown near the outside and pinkish brown toward 

 the wide interior. The highly variegated heart - 

 wood ranges from light pinkish brown to yellow- 

 ish brown and greenish brown and has dark brown 

 to black stripes, spots, or irregular lines. The 

 wood is hard, heavy (specific gravity 0.62), fine- 

 textured, and sti'ong, but very susceptible to attack 

 by dry-wood termites. It is moderately difficult 

 to work but polishes satisfactorily. Rate of aii-- 

 seasoning and amount of degrade are moderate. 

 Machining characteristics are as follows: planing 

 is fair; shaping, turning, boring, sanding, and re- 

 sistance to screw splitting are good; and mortising 

 is excellent. 



The wood is used for furniture, but few remain- 

 ing trees are large enough to produce lumber of 

 good size. It is suitable for furniture, cabinet- 

 making, paneling, turnery, boat planking, farm 

 implements, handles, heavy construction, and 

 bridges. 



Forests of the upper Luquillo and upper Cor- 

 dillera regions of Puerto Rico, ascending into the 

 dwarf forests on summits of the peaks in Sierra de 

 Luquillo and Sierra de Cayey. 



Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro. 



Range. — Known only from Cuba and Puerto 

 Rico. 



Other common n.\mes. — nemoca macho, nuez 

 moscada macho, nemoca cimmarron, canelillo 

 (Puerto Rico). 



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