274 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 



Hymenaea Courbaril. Algarrobo. A very hard and heavy- 

 wood, of dark yellowish color with some greenish veins; it has straight 

 fibers and is free of knots, so that it can be easily worked. It is used 

 especiall^^ for crushing-wheels and similar things in coffee estates. 

 Height usually 20 to 25 m., with a clear trunk 7 to 8 m. On Margarita, 

 however, the only specimens observed were very low trees. 



Laguncularia racemosa. Mangle amariUo. Wood hard and 

 heavy, fibrous and compact in texture. Color gray with many black 

 points. Common about the lagoons. 



LoNCHOCARPUS SP. Mahomo. Very hard and elastic. The spe- 

 cies on Margarita are from 15 to 20 m. high. Few trees. 



INIalphigia punicifolia. Wood very compact, light, not very 

 durable, of a clear brown color. Few trees. 



Melicocca bijuga. Mamon. Wood hard and heavy, compact 

 and close-grained, color yellowish with very narrow and somewhat 

 darker veins. Its fruit is usually valued more highly than the wood. 

 Common. 



Morisonia sp. Wood white, soft and light. Scarce. 



Nectandra coriacea. Very strong and resistent, not heavy, with 

 good grain, and a more or less agreeable odor. Is easy to work, being 

 used in carpentry and cabinet work. Scarce. 



Oreopanax capitatum. Candelero. Wood whitish, brittle and 

 light. Scarce. 



PisoNiA iNERMis. Wood of little weight, light in color, good for 

 use under water. Common. 



Rhizophora Mangle. Mangle Colorado. Wood red, strong, and 

 heavy. Much used for rafters. Very abundant about lagoons. 



Tabernaemontana psychotrifolia. Berraco. The wood is 

 fibrous, not very hard, and of an olive color, sometimes with darker 

 veins. It is easily worked and takes a good polish. Common. 



Other trees found in small numbers on Margarita and not much used 

 are Inga ingoides, Guettarda scabra, Morisonia Johnstonii, 

 Acacia macracantha, and Linociera latifolia. 



FIBER PLANTS. 



All of the following grow rather sparsely in Margarita : — 

 Agave Americana. Cocuy. 



BoMBAX ceiba. Ceiha. The fibers are short and are used solely 

 for stuffing pillows, etc. 



