BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (POLYGONACEAE) 



30. Triplaris, anttree 



Tliis handsome exotic is easily recognized by: 

 (1) its straight tall trunk and narrow columnar 

 crown; (2) smooth mottled Ijrown and light gray 

 bark peeling off in thin pieces or strips: (3) hollow 

 twigs ringed at nodes and ending in a long, nar- 

 row, pointed, pale greenish or j'ellowish bud 2-4 

 inches long; (4) large oblong long-pointed leaves 

 with many parallel nearly straight lateral veins 

 and with 2-5 faint lines on each side of and paral- 

 lel with midrib; (5) small greenish very hairy 

 flowers, crowded in erect clusters, the male and 

 female on diiTerent trees (dioecious) ; and (6) 

 showy masses of large odd reddish fruits at the top 

 of the crown, about 1% inch long, consisting of an 

 elliptic base and 3 oblong pink wings like a small 

 shuttlecock. 



A medium-sized to large evergreen tree becom- 

 ing TO feet tall and 11,2 feet in trunk diameter, the 

 trunk slightly angled or fluted. The bark, where 

 peeled otf, exposes a light gray layer beneath. 

 Imier bark is pinkish and astringent. The green 

 to bi-own stout twigs are often slightly zigzag. 

 The scale (stipule) covering the bud makes a ring 

 scar around the twig upon falling. 



The leaves are alternate on stout, shoi-t, flattened 

 petioles i/4-% inch long. Blades are mostly 9-14 

 inches long and 2V'2-5 inches wide, sometimes only 

 half as large, short-pointed at base, not toothed at 

 edges. The faint lines parallel with midrib result 

 from pressure in the bud when the blade is folded 

 under. The upper surface is dull to shiny green 

 and hairless or nearly so, and the lower surface 

 slightly paler dull green and with scattered brown 

 hairs on midrib. 



Flower clusters (spikes and racemes) are lateral 

 at base of leaves, 2-8 inches long, densely light 

 brown hairy, with flowers stalkless or short- 

 stalked. Male flowers about %fi inch long have a 

 funnel-shaped, tubular, 6-lobed, hairy calyx and 



Triplaris americana L.* 



9 spreading stamens. Female flowers have a tubu- 

 lar 3-lobed calyx, 3 petals, and pistil with 3-angled 

 ovary and 3 slender stjdes. 



The fruit consists of a basal elliptic swollen 

 hairy calyx tulse % inch or more in length with 3 

 reddish or pink-red. membranous, prominently 

 veined wings U^-l^o inches long, formed fi'om 

 calyx lobes. Inside are the 3 narrow petals and 

 1 3-angled pointed shiny brown seed (akene). At 

 maturity the fruit falls slowly like a parachute, 

 si)iiniing rapidly. Flowering in spring from Feb- 

 ruary to May and in fruit in May and June. 



The whitish sapwood is soft. The wood of this 

 or related species is reportedly used for construc- 

 tion where native. When cut for fuel, the trunks 

 are replaced by sprouts. 



In the natural environment the hollow twigs are 

 inhabited by ants, usually vicious or ferocious 

 stinging ones. 



An ornamental in some cities of Puerto Rico, 

 having been introduced about 1924 and distribu- 

 ted a few years later. Also tested at St. Croix. 



Raxge. — NortheiTL South America, originally 

 described from eastern Venezuela. Planted in 

 southern Florida, Puerto Rico, and other tropical 

 areas. 



Other coMsrox xa:\ie. — long-john anttree 

 (English). 



There is some doubt about the specific name of 

 the Puerto Rican trees. According to Britton and 

 Wilson 3 species were introduced : Triphirix nmerl- 

 enna L. from Central America though originally 

 described from Venezuela, T. caracasana Cham, 

 from Venezuela, and T. cumingiana Fisch. & Mey. 

 from Panama. The Puerto Rican trees appear to 

 be the same as those planted in the Canal Zone and 

 Cul)a under the last named species, which origin- 

 allv was described from Colombia. 



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