49. Nuez moscada 



LAUREL FAMILY (LAURACEAE) 



Ocotea moschata (Meisn.) Mez 



Known only from Puerto Eico, this aromatic 

 tree is characterized by: (1) spicy foliag^e, twi^, 

 and bark; (2) pronounced buttresses; (3) short- 

 stalked, leathery, obovate or ellii^tic leaves mostly 

 widest beyond the middle, blunt-]iointed or 

 rounded at apex and short-pointed at base, shiny 

 on both sides, dark preen on upper surface and yel- 

 low green to brownish irreen beneath with raised 

 veins on lower surface mostly tinjjed reddish near 

 the base; (4) yellowish flowers about 14 iiich 

 across, rusty-brown hairy, in lateral clusters 

 shorter than the leaves; and (5) large elliptic 

 fruits to IV4 inches in length, with hemispherical 

 double-margined cup. 



A large evergreen tree to 80 feet in height and 

 21/^ feet in trunk diameter, with a compact narrow 

 crown and buttresses to 3 feet high and 2 feet 

 broad. The brown bark is smoothish, becoming 

 fissured and slightly rough. Inner bark is reddish 

 brown, with slightly spicy odor and taste. The 

 brown twigs are finely hairy when young. 



The alternate leaves have stout petioles V8-% 

 inch long and blades 3-6 inches lon<r and 1^/^-31/2 

 inclies broad, not toothed at edges. The upper sur- 

 face is hairless and has slightly sunken veins, and 

 the lower surface is hairless or nearly so. 



Short -stalked flowers are borne in branched 

 clusters (panicles). Calyx has 6 hairy lobes more 

 than i/g inch long; tliere are 9 stamens; and pistil 

 has 1-celled ovary with style. The fleshy fruit 

 (berry) contains 1 large seed. Flowering fi-om 



.spring to fall, the fruits maturing from winter to 

 summer. 



The sapwood is yellowish to light brown, and 

 the heartwood extremely variable, from medium 

 brown to dark brown with irregular darker brown 

 to black streaks or patches. The wood is hard and 

 heavy (specific gravity 0.59) and has medium to 

 fine texture. It takes a high polish but is very sus- 

 ceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. Rate of 

 air-seasoning is rapid, and amount of degrade is 

 minor. Macliining characteristics are as follows: 

 planing is fair; shaping, turning, boring, and re- 

 sistance to screw splitting are good; and mortising 

 and sanding are excellent. 



This attractive timber formerly was much used 

 for cabinetwork. It is recommended for turning, 

 furniture, cabinetmaking, and novelty items and 

 should be suitable for light and heavy construc- 

 tion, bridge timbers, heavy crating, and ^jacking 

 boxes. The fruits are used for medicinal purposes. 



Forests of the lower mountain region of Puerto 

 Rico, commonest in and near the transition to the 

 upper mountain forests. 



Pn5Lic FORESTS. — Carite, Guilarte, Luquillo, 

 Toro Negro. 



Range. — Known only from mountains of Puerto 

 Rico. 



Other common names. — nemoca, nuez moscada 

 cimarrona, nuez moscada macho, nuez moscada del 

 pais (Puerto Rico). 



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