also in the moist limestone and moist coastal re- 

 gions. Growing mainly in openings in the forests 

 and along roadsides where there is plenty of light. 

 Also in Tortola. 



Public forests. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo, 

 Maricao, Rio Abajo, Toro Negro. 



Municipalities where especially common. — 

 1, 4, 5, 10, 19, 22, 23, 35, 43, 52, 58, 64. 



Range. — Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto 



Rico, and Tortola. Also from southern Mexico to 

 Panama. Planted in southern Florida. 



Other common names. — palo de cotorra (Puerto 

 Rico) ; aguacatillo (Dominican Republic, Cuba^ ; 

 bacona, chote (Cuba) ; palo mu]er (Mexico) ; 

 carreton, cajeton (Guatemala) ; canelito (Hon- 

 duras) ; pochote, tambor (El Salvador) ; dove- 

 wood (Jamaica) ; bois crapaud, bois vache 

 (Haiti). 



SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE) 



119. Palo de gallina 



This small to medium-sized tree of mountain 

 forests is recognized by : (1) thin, light or yellow- 

 green, elliptic leaves with 3 prominent veins from 

 base of blade, the midrib and 2 long and curved 

 lateral veins, short-pointed at both ends, and with 

 inconspicuously wavy-toothed edges; (2) numer- 

 ous small greenish or yellow-green flowers borne 

 on very short stalks along slender lateral axes 1-3 

 together and 1-2 inches long, male and female on 

 different trees (dioecious) ; and (3) brown seed 

 capsules ^/je inch in diameter, 3-seeded. Distin- 

 guished from achiotillo (A/chornea Jafifolia Sw.) 

 by the smaller and narrower leaves with few lat- 

 eral veins and with less prominent teeth and by the 

 smaller seed capsules with 3 short styles. 



A generally erect evergreen tree 20-50 feet in 

 height and to II/2 feet in trunk diameter. Bark on 

 small tiiinks is smoothish, slightly fissured, and 

 light gray. Inner bark is brownish, with gritty 

 and slightly bitter taste. The light brown twigs 

 are finely hairy when young. 



The alternate leaves have slender petioles %-li/4 

 inches long and blades 3-51/2 inches long and 

 l%-2% inches broad, slightly shiny. 



Alchorneopsis portoricensis Urban 



The flower clusters (narrow racemes) and flow- 

 ers are minutely hairy. Male flowers 1-4 together 

 have a calyx splitting into 3 or 4 lobes and have 

 5-8 (usually 6) stamens. Female flowers have a 

 4-lobed calyx and a pistil composed of a romided, 

 finely hairy, 3-celled ovary and 3 short styles. The 

 seed capsules have 3 whitish seeds i/g inch long, 

 the surface with irregular ridges. Flowering and 

 fruiting perhaps nearly through the year. 



The sapwood is soft and whitish, and the heart- 

 wood is pale brown. The wood is moderately soft, 

 lightweight (specific gravity 0.4—0.5), and perish- 

 able. It does not plane well. Used occasionally 

 for fuel. 



Forests of the upper and lower mountain regions 

 in the eastern half of Puerto Rico. A light- 

 demanding tree generally found in openings in the 

 forest, and often in or beside swampy areas. 



Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo, Toro Negro. 



Range. — Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. 



Other common name. — palo de gallina (Do- 

 minican Republic) . 



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