escapinp; from cultivation and naturalized almost 

 throughout Puerto Rico with the exception of the 

 mangrove, dry limestone, and upper mountain 

 regions. Throiigh the Virgin Islands commonly 

 planted and also spontaneous except in the drier 

 areas. Mona, Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. 

 Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. 



R.\xGE. — Native of tropical Asia probably from 

 India east to Vietnam. Planted and escaped from 

 cultivation tliroughout the tropics, including 

 southern Florida and Florida Keys, West Indies, 

 and from Mexico to Peru and Brazil. Grown also 

 in southern California. 



Though the exact date of introduction into the 

 New World is uncertain, mango reportedly 

 reached Mexico and Brazil before the end of the 

 17th century. About 174'2 this fruit was first in- 

 troduced into the West Indies at Barbados from 

 Brazil and in 1782 reached Jamaica. It is thought 

 that mangos have been cultivated by man for 4,000 

 years. 



Other roMirox n.ames. — mango, mango (Span- 

 ish) ; mango (United States, English) ; mangue, 

 manguier (French) ; mangot, mangotine (Guade- 

 loupe) ; manggo, manggaboom (Dutch); manja, 

 kajanna manja, bobbie manja (Surinam) ; manga, 

 mango, mangueira (Brazil). 



CASHEW FAMILY (ANACARDIACEAE) 

 132. Papayo, Florida poisontree Metopium toxiferum (L.) Krug & Urban 



This small tree related to poison-ivy of the 

 United States, with caustic sajj poisonous to the 

 touch, is abundant in Mona but uncommon in 

 Puerto Rico. It is characterized by: (1) smooth- 

 isli light gray bark mottled with yellow to brown 

 spots; (2) a broad rounded crown of widely 

 spreading stout branches; (3) pinnate leaves with 

 usually 5 (3-7) mostly ovate leathery leaflets 

 blunt-pointed or sometimes minutely notched at 

 a])ex and nearly straight at base on yellow-green 

 axes and leaflet stalks; (4) many small 5-))artecl 

 greenish flowers about %6 i'^ch across in branched 

 lateral clusters; and (5) numerous elliptic or ob- 

 long fruits %-J/2 inch long and 14 i'lch in diam- 

 eter, green turning to orange brown at maturity. 



An evergreen tree 15-20 feet in height and 6-12 

 inches in trmik diameter. The distinctive bark 

 peels off in thin scales or flakes, exposing the yel- 

 low to brown thin inner layer. Inner bark is pink- 

 ish. The stout twigs are brown with many raised 

 orange-brown dots (lenticels), finely haii-y when 

 young. The poisonous watery sap turns black 

 upon drying. 



The alternate leaves clustered near ends of twigs 

 are 6-11 inches long and have leaflet stalks 14-I 

 inch long. Leaflets are paired except the terminal 

 one. Leaflet blades are V/j-Wi inches long and 

 I-21/2 inches broad, not toothed at edges, above 

 shiny green, and beneath yellow green and slightly 

 shiny or dull. Some leaflets have scattered black 

 dots composed in part of black dried sap at in- 

 jured places. 



The slender, narrow flower clusters (panicles) 

 at base of leaves are 6-10 inches long, bearing 

 flowers on short stalks. Flowers are mostly male 

 and female on different trees or partly bisexual 

 (polygamous). There are 5 rounded sepals %2 

 inch long, 5 yellow-green elliptic petals less than 

 i/g inch long and with dark lines within, 5 stamens 

 Vie inch long, and pistil (rudimentary in male 

 flowers) on a disk, consisting of 1 -celled ovary, 

 short style, and slightly 3-lobed stigma. 



290 



Fruits (drupes) retain the sepals at base and 

 have 1 seed about i/4 i'lch long. Pigeons feed upon 

 the great quantities of fruits on ]\Iona. Recorded 

 with flowers in February and with fruits in sum- 

 mer and fall. 



Sapwood is yellowish or light brown, and heart- 

 wood dark brown streaked with red. The hard, 

 heavy wood is easily worked, takes a fine polish, 

 and is reported to be durable. It is little used in 

 Puerto Rico but has served elsewhere for fence- 



])OStS. 



This species is of interest primarily as a poison- 

 ous tree to be avoided and to be recognized in areas 

 where found. The genus is closely related to that 

 of the well-known poison-ivy and ]3oison-oak 

 (Toncodf)uJi'on or RhuA) in the United States. 

 The sap of all parts of the plant is irritating to 

 the skin of many persons and often ])roduces a 

 painful rash or swelling u]>on contact with leaves 

 or twigs. For example, men clearing land where 

 this tree grows have suffered inflammation of the 

 skin. 



Sometimes the trees are seen as ornamentals in 

 southern Florida, where they may have persisted 

 from the original forest. A resinous gmn from the 

 bark is said to have medicinal jiroperties. Also a 

 honey plant. 



In" forests and thickets of the di-y limestone re- 

 gion and rare in the moist limestone region of 

 Puerto Rico. One of the commonest trees of 

 Mona. Absent from Culebra, Vieques, and Virgin 

 Islands. 



Public forest. — Cambalache (very rare). 



Raxoe. — Southern Florida including Florida 

 Keys, through Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola. Mona 

 and Puerto Rico, and Anguilla in Leeward 

 Islands. 



Other common xames. — almendron, c e d r o 

 prieto (Puerto Rico) ; giiao de cost a (Cuba) ; 

 Florida poisontree, poisonwood. West Indies 

 poisontree (United States) : poisontree, poison- 

 wood (Bahamas); mancenillier (Haiti). 



