SAPODILLA FAMILY (SAPOTACEAE) 



212. Caimitillo verde 



This tree found only in the eastern mountains 

 of Puerto Rico is characterized by: (1) small el- 

 liptic leaves II/4-21/2 iiiclies long and %-l% inches 

 broad, stiff and leathery, rounded or slightly 

 notched at apex, hairless or nearly so when ma- 

 ture, green on both surfaces, witli numerous 

 straight lateral veins very close together and par- 

 allel; (2) small greenish and rusty-brown cup- 

 shaped flowers about %6 in^'^ ^ong and broad 

 borne laterally on short stalks; {?>) elliptic green 

 fruits I-IV2 inches long, pointed at both ends and 

 5-angled; and (4) a small amount of milky sap. 



Small to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-50 feet 

 higli, witli straight trunk to II/2 feet or more in di- 

 ameter, buttressed at base wlien large. Tlie bark 

 is smoothisli or sliglitly fissured, bi-own or dark 

 gray. Inner bark is reddisli brown, slightly bitter, 

 with small amount of wliite latex. The twigs are 

 rusty-brown liairy when young, becoming brown 

 or gray and finely fissurecl. 



The alternate leaves have brown hairy petioles 

 1/8-% inch long. Leaf blades are rounded at base, 

 with edges turned under, finely hairy when young 

 but becoming liairless or nearly so, dark green and 

 slightly shiny on upper surface, and yellow green 

 on lower surface. 



One to 5 flowers are borne at the base of a leaf 

 on rusty-brown hairy stalks about 14 i^^^'i long. 

 Sepals 5, Vs inch long, rusty-brown hairy; the 

 green corolla with tube and 5 short, rounded, 

 spreading lobes nearly 14 i'^ch across, hairless or 

 with a few hairs on outside; 5 small stamens on 

 the corolla tube opposite tlie lobes and 1 short 

 appendage (staminocle) between each 2 lobes; and 

 pistil with hairy 5-cellecl ovary and short style. 



Micropholis garciniaefolia Pierre 



Tlie berry has thin flesh and 5 or fewer pointed 

 dark brown seeds about % inch long. Flowering 

 from June to November, the fruits maturing in 

 summer and fall. 



The wood is very similar to that of the preceding 

 species of caimitillo. The heartwood is uniform 

 light yellowish brown, and the sapwood lighter 

 brown and not clearly differentiated. The wood 

 is hard, moderately heavy (specific gravity 0.64), 

 strong, tough, fine-textured, straight-grained, and 

 witli indistinct growth rings. It is considered 

 vei-y susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. 

 The rate of air-seasoning is rapid, and the amount 

 of degrade is moderate. Machining characteris- 

 tics are as follows : planing, turning, boring, mor- 

 tising, sanding, ancl resistance to screw splitting 

 are good ; ancl shaping is excellent. The wood is 

 moderately difficult to saw and machine because 

 silica dulls te«th and cutting edges. However, it 

 takes a high polish. 



The wood is used for posts and in constiiiction. 

 It is suitable also for veneer, plywood, furniture, 

 cabinetmaking, turning, interior trim, flooring, 

 fai-m implements, tool handles, and general car- 

 pentry. 



In the upper mountain forests of eastern Puerto 

 Rico, chiefly in the Luquillo Mountains. 



Public forests. — Carite, Luquillo. 



Range. — Known only from mountains of eastern 

 Puerto Rico. 



Other common names. — caimitillo cimarron, 

 caimitillo (Puerto Rico). 



Botanical synonym. — Pouteria garciniaefolia 

 (Pierre) Baehni. 



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