SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE) 



123. Yaiti, oysterwood 



This poisonous small tree or shrub is character- 

 ized by : ( 1 ) poisonous milky juice which may irri- 

 tate the skin; (2) slightly thickened stiff shiny 

 leaves reverse lance-shaped (oblanceolate) to near- 

 ly spoon-shaped (spatulate), broadest beyond 

 middle, rounded or blunt-pointed at apex and 

 tapering and long-pointed at base, often with a 

 few small teeth toward the apex; (3) scaly or 

 flaky bark on older trees ; and (4) small yellowish- 

 green lateral flowers, the male numerous along an 

 axis (narrow raceme) i^^-l inch or more in length 

 and usually 1 female flower at the base (monoeci- 

 ous). 



An evergreen tree becoming 30 feet high and 8 

 inches in trunk diameter, with a narrow crown. 

 The bark is gray or brown, smoothish on young 

 trees with many thin fissures. Inner bark is light 

 brown and slightly bitter. The gray twigs, green 

 when young, have many raised dots (lenticels). 



The alternate leaves have petioles I/4-V2 i'lch 

 long and leathery blades l^A-Si^ inches long and 

 14-I14 inches broad, green to dark green above 

 and paler beneath. The edges are slightly turned 

 under, and veins are slightly raised in a prominent 

 network on the upper surface. 



The crowded male flowers are borne 3 above a 

 scale (bract) on the axis, each minute (less than 

 %2 inch long and broad) and consisting of a 

 smaller scale and 2-4 stamens. Tliey are faintly 

 fragrant and attract bees. There is 1 female 

 flower (or none or sometimes 2) Vjg inch long at 

 base of flower cluster, on a stalk Vs i^^'i long which 

 lengthens greatly in fruit, and consisting of 3 

 scales and a pistil composed of greenish 3-celled 

 ovary and 3 styles. 



Brown seed capsules, borne on slender stalks 



Gymnanthea lucida Sw. 



1-2 inches long, are rounded but slightly 3-lobed 

 and broader than long, about % inch in diameter. 

 There are 3 or fewer brown seeds %q inch long. 

 Flowering and fruiting from spring to fall. 



The sapwood is whitish or yellowish. The heart- 

 wood is light olive, streaked with dark brown. 

 Tile wood is very fine-gi'ained, very hard, very 

 iieavy (speciflc gravity 1.1), takes a fine polish, 

 and is durable. 



IT.sed in Puerto Rico for fenceposts, the gener- 

 ally small size limiting its values. The wood 

 has been made into various small novelties, includ- 

 ing canes, handles, backs of brushes and mirrors, 

 and ornamental articles shaped by woodturning. 



The white latex is reported to produce inflam- 

 mation of the skin upon contact. It is said that 

 smoke from burning wood is irritating to the eyes. 



Forests and thickets in both limestone regions 

 of Puerto Rico. Also in Mona, Desecheo, Icacos, 

 Culebra, Vieques, St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, 

 and Virgin Gorda. 



Public forests. — Cambalache, Guajataca, 

 Guanica. 



MuNiciP-VLrrv where especially common. — 9. 



Range. — Southern Florida including Florida 

 Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and northern 

 lesser Antilles from St. Eustatius to Antigua and 

 Guadeloupe. Also in southeastern Mexico 

 (Yucatan), Guatemala, and British Honduras. 



Other common names. — ramon, tabaco (Puerto 

 Rico) ; tabacon, palo de hueso (Dominican Repub- 

 lic) ; yaiti, aite (Cuba) ; pij (Guatemala) ; oyster- 

 wood, shiny oysterwood, crabwood (United 

 States) ; crabwood (Bahamas, Jamaica) ; false 

 lignumvitae (British Honduras); bois marbre 

 (Haiti). 



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