LEGUME FAMILY (LEGUMINOSAE) 



CASSIA SUBFAMILY (CAESALPINIOIDEAE; CAESALPINIACEAE) 



79. Cobana negra 



This tree of coastal forests of southwestern and 

 southeastern Rierto Rico is easily identified by : 

 (1) the pinnately compound leaves with 6-12 op- 

 posite lance-shaped to ovate leaflets li/j-Si-o inches 

 lono; and i^^-li/i inches broad, on red stalks with 

 scattered black raised dots (glands) on lower sur- 

 face; (2) the clusters of pale yellow flowers about 

 1-2 inch across the 5 petals; and (3) the odd, ellip- 

 tic, thick and fleshy, red pods 2 inches or less in 

 length, not splitting open. 



A medium-sized evergreen tree 25-50 feet in 

 height and l-li/^ feet in trunk diameter. Usually 

 small, because the large trees have been cut. Bark 

 on small trunks is dark gray and smoothish, be- 

 coming rough, much furrowed, and thick on large 

 trunks. Inner bark is liglit l)rown and bitter. The 

 twigs are brown and liairless, with raised gray 

 dots (lenticels). 



The leaves are alternate, 4-7 inches long, with a 

 yellow-brown axis and with stalks of individual 

 leaflets i/^g inch long. Tveaflet blades are short- 

 pointed at apex, i-ounded and slightly oblique at 

 base, the edges slightly wavy, thickened and leath- 

 ery, shiny on upper surface and dull l)eneath. 



Flower clusters (racemes) are terminal and lat- 

 eral, 3-6 inches long, unbranched, and the flowers 

 with short stalks i/i i'l'^b long. The funnel-shaped 

 base (hypanthium) is about 1% inch long and 

 broad; tliere are 5 slightly hairy sepals 14 inch 

 long; 5 slightly hairy (papillose) petals %-i/^ 

 inch long; 10 stamens; and pistil with 1-celled 

 ovary and slender curved style. 



Stahlia monosperma (Tul.) Urban 



The pods are about 1% inches broad and % inch 

 thick, with odor of ripe apples, light brown taste- 

 less flesh, and 1 large seed. Flowering in spring 

 and early summer (February to June) and matur- 

 ing fruits in summer and fall. 



The sapwood is light brown, and the heartwood 

 is dark brown. The wood is very hard, heavy, 

 strong, durable, and resistant to attack by dry- 

 wood termites. 



Suited for ftirnitTire, although considered hard 

 for this purpose. Mostly used for construction in 

 the past. Because of the demand of this valuable 

 wood, large trees have become scarce. Perhaps 

 this species could be planted both for shade and 

 wood. 



Generally found in low areas and near man- 

 grove in the dry-coastal region of Puerto Rico east 

 to Ceiba. Also Vieques. 



Public fokest. — Boqueron. 



R.\xGE. — Formerly known only from Puerto 

 Rico and Vieques but in recent years found also in 

 eastern Dominican Republic near Macao. 



Other common names. — cobana, polisandro 

 (Puerto Rico) ; coabanilla (Dominican Republic). 



BoT.\Nic.\L SYNONYM. — iSfaMul mriritima Bello. 



The generic name Sfuhlm honors Agustin 

 Stahl (1842-1917), physician and botanist of 

 Bavamcni, Puerto Rico, who wrote "Estudios 

 sobre la Flora de Puerto Rico" (1883-88, second 

 edition 1936-37), an unfinished publication on the 

 plants of the island. This is the only species of the 



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