CHOCOLATE FAMILY (STERCULL\CEAE) 



Key to the 3 si)ecles illustrated (Nos. 156-158) 



A. Leaves deeply 5-lobed, with 5 maiu veins from heart-shaped base ; petiole nearly as long as blade — 157. StercuUa 

 apetala.* 

 AA. Leaves not lobed. 



B. Leaves with 3 or sometimes 5 main veins from the oblique base, with edges finely saw-toothed — 156. Ouazuma 

 tilmifoUa. 

 BB. Leaves with 1 main vein or midrib, not toothed on edges — 158. Theoiroma cacao* 



156. Guacima, jacocalalu 



This tree is recoji;nizecl by: (1) long widely 

 spreading branches, horizontal or slightly droop- 

 ing, with the alternate leaves in 2 rows in a flat- 

 tened arrangement; (2) bark becoming furrowed 

 and rough or slightly shaggy; (3) young twigs 

 covered with minute rusty-brown or light gray 

 star-shaped hairs; (-1) the ovate to lance-shaped 

 leaves 21^-5 inches long and 1-21/4 inches wide, 

 long-pointed, finely saw-toothed, and witli 3 or 

 sometimes 5 main veins from the rounded oblique 

 base; (5) small brown-tinged yellow 5-parted 

 flowers in clusters at base of leaves; and (6) fniit 

 round to elliptic, hard, very warty, black, %-l 

 inch long. 



A small to medium-sized tree to 50 feet high and 

 2 feet in trunk diameter, with spreading roimded 

 crown. The bark is gray or gray brown, 14 i^cli 

 or more in thickness. Inner bark is light brown, 

 fibrous, and slightly bitter. Evergreen except in 

 areas with long diy seasons. The long slender 

 twigs become dark brown. 



The slender petioles Y%-V2 ii^cli long are covered 

 with minute rusty-brown or light gray star-shaped 

 hairs. Leaf blades are thin, nearly hairless or 

 sometimes densely hairy, green on upi^er surface 

 and paler beneath. At night the leaves hang 

 vertically. 



Branched flower clusters (panicles) are 1-2 

 inches long at base of leaves and bear many small, 

 slightly fragrant flowers on minutely hairy stalks. 

 The spreading flowers are about % inch long and 

 half as broad, consisting of a 2- or 3-lobed rusty- 

 brown or light gray hairy calyx less than y^ inch 

 long, turned back and then greenish, 5 yellow 

 petals each witli a slender 2-forked appendage, and 

 yellowish stamen column with about 15 antihers 

 surrounding the pistil, composed of hairy light 

 green 5-celled ovary, style, and 5 miited stigmas. 



The warty seed capsules, which mature in fall 

 and winter, are 5-celled, open at the apex or irreg- 

 ularly by pores, and contain many seeds % inch 

 long. Flowering from spring to fall (March to 

 October) and with fiiiits throughout the year. 



This is a variable species with differences in 

 shape and amount of hairiness in the leaves and 

 in shape and method of opening of seed capsules. 

 Some botanists distinguish 2 species, both widely 

 distributed with almost the same range and both 

 occurring in Puerto Rico. Trees in moist areas 

 have nearly hairless foliage with rusty-brown 



Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. 



hairs, while those in diy areas have densely light 

 gray haiiy foliage and have been separated as a 

 different species (G. tomentosa H. B. K.). 



Sapwood is light brown and heart.wood is pink- 

 isli to brownish. The wood is moderately soft, 

 lightweight to moderately heavy (specific gravity 

 0.5), easily worked, and not durable. It is very 

 susceptible to attack by dry- wood termites. 



In Puerto Rico the wood is used chiefly for posts. 

 Various uses of the wood elsewhere include gen- 

 eral carpentry, interior construction, furniture, 

 barrel staves, boxes and crates, tool handles, gun- 

 stocks, shoe lasts, violins, and charcoal for gun- 

 powder. 



The trees sometimes serve as shade in pastures. 

 Immature fruits and foliage are browsed by 

 horses and cattle, especially in dry periods, and the 

 fruits are fed to hogs. These mucilaginous green 

 fruits, fresh or cooked, are edible, and it is re- 

 ported that a beverage can be prepared by soak- 

 ing the crusiied fruits in water. In some areas 

 rope and twine are made from the tough fibrous 

 bark and young stems. The flowers attract bees 

 and are a source of honey. Different parts of the 

 plant are employed in home medicines. 



This species is characteristic of openings, stream 

 banks, clearings, and second growth of disturbed 

 areas and is less common in forests. It requires 

 light, grows rapidly, and is hardy in dry as well 

 as moist areas. Thus, it has been classed as a 

 weed tree. It is reported to be one of the com- 

 monest and most widely distributed tree species in 

 Cuba and one of the commonest plants of Central 

 America. 



Along stream courses and in thickets, pastures, 

 and forests in the coastal and lower mountain re- 

 gions of Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, 

 St. Thomas, St. John, and Tortola. 



Public forests. — Aguirre, Cambalache, Guaja- 

 taca, Guanica, Luquillo, Maricao, Rio Abajo, 

 Susua. 



Municipalities wheke especially common.— 

 8, 21, 66. 



Range. — Throughout West Indies (except Ba- 

 hamas) from Cuba to Trinidad and Tobago and 

 cultivated in Dutch West Indies. Also from 

 Mexico to Ecuador, Peru, northern Argentina, 

 Paraguay, and Brazil. 



Other common names. — guacima, guacimo 

 (Spanish) ; guacima cimarrona (Dominican Re- 

 public) ; guacima de caballo (Cuba) ; tablote. 



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