its resin, which was used principally as an incense in re- 
ligious ceremonies and which is still of considerable im- 
portance in highland Guatemala (194). Although the 
tree is reported as having been cultivated at the time of 
the conquest (196), the resin is now obtained from wild 
sources. P. Copal is restricted to southern Mexico and 
northern Central America and is doubtless native there. 
(192, 194*, 196*) 
Prunus serotina hr). subsp. Capuli (Cav.) 
McVaugh (P. Capuli Cav., P. salicifolia HBK.): Capu- 
lin, cereza, capulin cherry. 
The Mexican cherry was noted by the early European 
observers as equal in size and quality to the European 
cherries but of a different flavor (49, 98, 191). It is ap- 
parently native to the Mexican highlands, though early 
introduced into South America, where it is now much 
grown, especially in Ecuador (154, 194). Cobo (50) tells 
of its introduction into Peru. McVaugh (120) has re- 
emphasized the close relationship of the capulin to P. 
serotina subsp. serotina, a wild cherry of the United 
States and Mexico. (49, 50, 120*, 188, 158, 154*, 158, 
191, 194*) 
Psidium Guajava L.: Xalxécotl, jalocote, guayaba, 
guava; P. Sartorianum (Berg.) Niedenzu; Arrayan, 
guayabilla. 
The guava is a shrub or small tree which is widely dis- 
tributed in tropical America and, though valued for its 
edible fruit, may occur in such abundance as to be a weed 
and a nuisance. P. Guajava, the best known species, 
ranges from Mexico to Peru. Whether or not man played 
a part in bringing about this range, it is difficult to deter- 
mine. P. Sartorianum, of Mexico and Central America, 
is also cultivated to some extent. 
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