BUCKTHORN FAMILY (RHAMNACEAE) 



147. Bariaco, "ironwood," leadwood 



One of several similar species with small leaves, 

 this small tree or shmb is characterized by: 

 (1) densely leafy spreading branches in horizon- 

 tal layers; (2) mostly opposite, nearly hairless, 

 elliptic (sometimes ovate) leaves %.-2 inches long 

 and V^-1V4 inches broad, rounded at both ends and 

 slightly notched at apex, reddish when unmatm-e, 

 later green or yellow green, shiny on upper sur- 

 face and dull beneath; (3) yellow-green 5-parted 

 flowers %6 i'lch across, a few in clustere Vi-V2 i"ch 

 long at leaf bases; and (4) elliptic dark brown or 

 black fruits i/4— % inch long. 



An evergreen tree or shrub commonly 10-15 feet 

 high and 2-6 inches in tnuik diameter. The gray 

 bark is smootliish or slightly fissured, becoming 

 ridged and scaly on large trunks. Inner bark is 

 reddish bi-own, slightly bitter. The slender twigs 

 are minutely hairy, gray or light brown, the youiig 

 green portions bearing the lateral flowers. Raised 

 leaf scars and dots (lenticels) make the twigs 

 slightly rough. 



The leaves have short, finely hairy petioles 

 Vs-yie inch long and blades usually slightly tluck- 

 ened, not toothed on edges. 



Flower clusters (cymes) have 5 or fewer flowers, 

 each on a stalk about Vs inch long. The short cup- 

 shaped base (hypanthium) is less than y^e long, 

 bearing 5 spreading pointed yellow-green sepals 

 Vie inch long and 5 stamens; the pistil ^g inch 

 long bordered by the disk has ovary, short style, 

 and 2 stigmas. Petals are lacking. The fruits 

 (drupes) are 1-seeded. Flowering and fruiting at 

 different times during the year. 



The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood 

 is orange brown to dark brown, streaked. The 

 wood is exceedingly hard, exceedingly heavy (spe- 

 cific gravity 1.3-1.4), very fine-textured, and very 



Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urban 



resistant to decay and to attack by dry-wood ter- 

 mites. Because of the small size of local trees, 

 the wood has little use in Puerto Rico except for 

 posts. 



Used elsewhere for cabinetwork, veneer, cross- 

 ties, and canes. The wood is one of the densest 

 in the world, the heaviest of the native woods in 

 the United States and perhaps also of Puerto 

 Rico. 



Thickets and woods in the limestone regions of 

 Puerto Rico, mostly in the southwest. Also Mona, 

 Desecheo, Caja de Muertos, Icacos, Culebra, Vie- 

 ques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and 

 Anegada. 



Public forests. — Guajataca, Guanica. 



Range. — Southern Florida including Florida 

 Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles 

 south to St. Vincent and Bequia, and in Bonaire 

 and Curaciao. Also in southern Mexico, Guate- 

 mala, British Honduras, and Honduras. 



Other common names. — espejuelo, palo de 

 hieiTo, quiebra-hacha (Puerto Rico) ; ironwood, 

 guatafer, bois de fer (Virgin Islands); quiebra- 

 hacha, ciguamo, palo de hierro (Dominican Re- 

 public) ; cocuyo, hueso de tortuga, coronel, carey 

 de cost a, palo diablo, acero (Cuba) ; quiebra-hacha 

 (Guatemala) ; leadwood, black-iron wood (United 

 States) ; black-ironwood (Jamaica) ; axemaster, 

 quebracho (British Honduras) ; bois de fer 

 (Haiti, Guadeloupe) ; manggel cora, ironberry 

 (Dutch West Indies). 



The generic name means Krug's tree. This 

 genus of a single species was dedicated to Leopold 

 Krug (1833-98), German consul in Puerto Rico, 

 businessman, botanist, and patron of science, who 

 studied the flora of the West Indies. 



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