139. Negra lora 



SOAPBERRY FAMILY (SAPINDACEAE) 



Matayba domingensis (DC.) Radlk. 



Tliis medium-sized tree of mountain forests is 

 characterized by: (1) pinnate leaves with 2-8 

 paired elliptic or lance-shaped stiff and leathery 

 leaflets IVo-Wi inches long and 1/4-11/4 inches 

 broad, on a slender reddish or dark brown axis, 

 rounded or blunt -pointed at apex and short- 

 pointed at base, the upper surface shiny green and 

 with many slightly raised lateral veins, pale or 

 with a brownish cast beneath; (2) minute 4- or 

 5-parted flowei-s less than Yg inch long and broad, 

 numerous in lateral branched flower clusters; and 

 (3) odd, reverse heart-shaped (obcordate) dark 

 brown or blackish seed capsules i/2-% inch long 

 and broad, mostly flattened and less than %6 inch 

 thick. 



An evergreen tree attaining 30-60 feet in height 

 and 11/4 feet in trunk diameter, with a compact, 

 slightly spreading crown. The bark is dark 

 brown, smoothish, about I/4 inch thick, often spot- 

 ted with an orange-red lichen. Inner bark is red- 

 dish brown, bitter and gritty. The twigs are red- 

 dish brown or dark brown, finely hairy when 

 young. 



Some leaves are alternate and othere opposite, 

 3-8 inches long. Leaflets have short stalks %-i/4 

 inch long and blades with minute lighter dots, not 

 toothed on edges. 



Flower clusters (panicles) are 1-4 inches long, 

 with finely hairy branches. The numerous hairy 

 flowers are male, female, and bisexual (polyga- 

 mous). There are 4 or 5 pointed sepals, 4 or 5 

 smaller petals, 8 stamens on a disk, and pistil 

 with usually 2-celled ovary, style, and 2 stigmas. 



Seed capsules are slightly stalked, hard, com- 

 monly 2-lobed and 2- or 1 -seeded, reported as also 

 3-lobed. The shiny black seeds are %6 inch long 



and flat. Flowering and fruiting nearly through 

 the year. 



The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood 

 uniform pinkish brown or reddish brown. The 

 wood is attractive, very hard, heavy (specific 

 gravity 0.70), strong, fine- textured, of usually ir- 

 regidar and interlocked grain, and has a distinc- 

 tive foul odor. The rate of air-seasoning is low, 

 and amount of degrade is moderate. Machining 

 characteristics are as follows : planing and resist- 

 ance to screw splitting are fair; and shaping, turn- 

 ing, boring, mortising, and sanding are good. The 

 wood is moderately difficult to saw and dulls cut- 

 ting edges. It is vei-y susceptible to damage by 

 dry -wood termites and other insects and is not 

 durable. 



Chief uses in Puerto Rico are posts and poles, 

 though preservative treatment is recommended. 

 The wood is suitable far furniture, cabinetwork, 

 turnei-y, interior trim, flooring, handles, agricul- 

 tural implements, vehicle bodies, and light and 

 heavy construction. 



Forests of the transition zone between the lower 

 and upper mountain regions of Puerto Rico. 



PiTBLic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo, 

 Maricao, Toro Negro. 



Range. — Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. 



Other common names. — doncella, tea cima- 

 rrona, raton, escoba (Puerto Rico) ; raton, guara 

 (Dominican Republic) ; caraicillo, macurije 

 (Cuba). 



A second species known as doncella (Matayba 

 oppositifoUa (A.Rich.) Britton) has oblong leaf- 

 lets short- or long-pointed at apex and the leaves 

 opposite. It apparently is rare in mountain 

 forests of Puerto Rico. 



304 



