LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE) 



43. Canelilla 



This species is readily distinguished from other 

 trees of the hxurel family by the narrow leaves. 

 Other characters for identification include: (1) 

 spicy foliage, twigs, and bark; (2) narrow acute 

 pointed crown on most trees; (3) lance-shaped 

 leathery leaves, dark green or shiny green on upper 

 surface, and graj' green and finely hairy beneath; 



(4) densely reddish-brown hairy young twigs; 



(5) small, whitish-gre«n hairy flowers more than 

 Vig inch long and broad, several in short lateral 

 clusters; and (6) blackish elliptic flesliy fruit % 

 inch long and Yi inch broad, in a spreading gray 

 cup almost i/4 J^c^^ long find broad, with double 

 rim. 



A small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 50 

 feet liigh with a straight trunk to 1 foot in di- 

 ameter. The dark gray or reddish-brown smooth- 

 ish bark has many small warts ( lenticels) and peels 

 oif in large irregular flakes 1-6 inches long. Inner 

 bark is light brown, spicy and bitter. Older twigs 

 are slender, bi-own, and hairless. 



The alternate leaves have short reddish-brown 

 hairy petioles V8-% inch long. Blades are l^/^-Ayo 

 inches long and Vj-1 inch broad, long-pointed at 

 apex and short -pointed at base, not toothed on 

 edges, the upper surface becoming hairless, and the 



Licaria salicifolia (Sw.) Kosterm- 



lower surface remaining finely hairy with a net- 

 work of many raised small veins. 



The small flower clusters (panicles) nt leaf bases 

 liave several flowers on densely hairy branches. 

 Calyx lias 6 hairy lobes less than i/ig inch long; 

 there are 3 stamens with additional sterile stamens 

 (staminodes) ; and pistil of 1-celled ovary and 

 slender style. The elongate fleshy fruits (berries) 

 have a single large seecl. Flowering and fruiting 

 from latter part of February to September. 



The sapwood is light brown. The heavy wood 

 (specific gravity 0.8) is used only for poles, posts, 

 and fuel in Puerto Rico. 



In the moist limestone, dry coast, and lower 

 Cordillera regions, chiefly in western Puerto Rico. 

 Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Jolin, 

 and Tortola. 



Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, Gu- 

 anica, Maricao, Rio Abajo, Susua. 



Rance. — Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and 

 Lesser Antilles from Antigua to Martinique. 



Other common names. — canela, canela del pais, 

 canelillo (Puerto Rico) ; bois chique, bois fourmi 

 (Guadeloupe). 



BoT.\NiCAL synonym. — Acrodiclidtum salicifo- 

 1 ill in (Sw.) Griseb. 



U2 



