\'^g^y^^i!3K!!;^i;^^U^;teTOm^^^:a^«^«^o!^ 



jyp^^^»l^l ^ew Central American Hardwoods 



liSPAVE 



Among the hardwoods of Central America there is one that has 

 quite recently attracted considerable attention. It is the espave, 

 or Anticnrdium rhirioairpn.i, wliicli is an evergreen tree belonginfj 

 to the same family as our sumac and poison ivy. It appears to 

 be a tree which is increasing in degree of 

 representation; at least there are parts of 

 Central America where the increase in its 

 numbers has been very perceptible, espe- 

 cially along the Bayano river in Panama, 

 where this tree attains its best develoji- 

 ment. Here, it is said, this species, which 

 is now being exploited, yields from 20,000 

 to 40,000 feet an acre. Its habitat is the 

 eastern slope of the continental divide and 

 sometimes is found at an elevation of 3,000 

 feet above sea level. The tree is usually 

 found in the dense forests, where the trunks 

 lengthen into tall cylindrical columns, often 

 without limbs for a distance of from forty 

 to sixlj' feet, reaching a total lieight of from 

 eighty to one hundred feet. A diameter of 

 from three to five feet breast high is noth- 

 ing unusual for a tree of this species. 



The wood of the espave has generally 

 been used locally only for making kitchen 

 utensils and for fuel. Recent investigations 

 hiive shown that it is worthy of a higher 

 rank among the woods of Panama than 

 has hitherto been assigned to it. The wood 

 has a very pleasing texture and is light 

 brown at first, with a shade of yellow, but 

 will turn considerably darker upon exposure 

 to the light and air. It is moderately fine 

 but very cross-grained, which add to the 

 figure of the wood. The alternate streaks 

 of light and dark shades on a smooth radial 

 surface stand out very plainly and remind 

 one of mahogany, and for this reason the 

 wood is often called false or espave mahogany. It takes a fine 

 polish, and being of rather more than medium hardness and tough- 

 ness it has recently found applications to many purposes where 

 strength and elasticity are essential. It has been used for making 

 furniture aud cabinet work aud doubtless will sooner or later find 



LAUHEL SABINO TREES ON THE EDGE OF 

 A DEADENING 



its way into use for interior finish. The wood has great lasting 

 qualities and has for many years, formed one of the chief ma- 

 terials in Central America from which boats and dugouts were 

 made. 



Kspave has recently been introduced into the New York mar- 



kets as another furniture wood, and it 



comes very opportunely, for espave is des- 

 tined to take the place of some of the less 

 valuable mahogany substitutes. 



L.MIKEL SABIXO WOOD 



Among the few commercially important 

 trees of Porto Rico is the laurel sabino 

 (Magnolia splendens). As its botanical 

 name indicates, it is closely related to our 

 magnolias and like them is an evergreen. 

 The tree is a noticeable one wherever seen, 

 more as an ornamental, in a good many^ 

 parts of Porto Rico, than as a lumber tree. 

 Its habitat is the sunny slopes of the Lu- 

 quillo mountains and foothills, being sel- 

 dom seen on the lowlands near the sea or 

 on the dry arid region along the southern 

 part of the island. While it is often a 

 tree that is branching too near the ground, 

 or is otherwise rendered unfit for lumber, 

 it frequently rises to the dignity of a large 

 tree with a trunk from eighteen to thirty 

 inches in diameter and reaching the height 

 of from eighty to one hundred feet, with a 

 crown often conical in general outline. 



The foliage is peculiar to the magnolias 

 in the United States. The leaves are of a 

 dark green color on the upper surface and 

 of a lighter color on the under side. They 

 are oblong, more or less pointed at both 

 ends, thick, and glossy. The flowers re- 

 semble those of our cucumber tree, only 

 they are much smaller and, therefore, less 

 conspicuous. They are pure white and during the time of blossom- 

 ing render the tree very ornamental. 



The wood of the laurel sabino is of a light brown color, mixed 

 with a shade of blue. It does not resemble the wood of cucumber 

 in general aspect, but favors more nearly certain grades of our 



TWIG OF LAUREL SABINO 



WOOD OF ESPAVE 



