340 VEGETATION 



Passing northward from the toAvn along the coast and tlien turning to 

 the left and ascending the hill, we came to an old field covered with an 

 extremely dense growth of Leuccena glauca (L.) Benth. (Jumby bean) and 

 Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (Stinking pea) in almost pure association. The 

 tops of the plants, which were about 7 feet and 6 inches high, formed an almost 

 level floor. On the top of the ridge beyond this field there is a rather high 

 coppice composed largely of different species from those so far mentioned 

 from this point. The most abundant constituents of the higher growth were 

 Lysiloma hahamensis Benth. (Wild tamarind), Rapania guyanensis Aubl. 

 (Beef -wood), Guaiacum sanctum L. (Lignum vitae), Krugiodendron ferreum 

 (Vahl.) Urban (Iron-wood), ErytliroxyJon hrevipes DC. (Sareto), Tetrazygia 

 bicolor (Mill.) Cogn. (Wild guava), Tecoma hahamensis Northrop, Ccesalpinia 

 vesicaria L. (Braziletto), Fagara flava (Vahl.) Kr. & Urb. (Yellow-wood), 

 Reynosia septentriotuilis Urban, Amyris elemifera L. (White torch), Gym- 

 nanthes lucida Sw. (Grab-wood), Maytenus huxifoUa (Rich.) Griseb. (Spoon- 

 wood), Hypelate trifoliata Sw. (Eed-wood), Exostemma caribwum (Jacq.) E. & 

 S. (Prince-wood), Torrubia longifoUa (Heimerl) Britton (Blolly), and Bur- 

 sera simaruha (L.) Sarg. (Gum-elemi). The height of these trees is about 15 

 to 20 feet. In nearly all cases the bark of the trunks was white from crus- 

 taceous lichens. In fact, it was hard to find a square inch of bark that was not 

 covered with these lichens. The trunk of the gum-elemi is an exception. 

 Its habit of defoliating its bark in thin, papery sheets prevents the lichens 

 from securing a foothold. As a consequence, its red trunks show in sharp 

 contrast among the white ones of its neighbors. The wild guava is peculiar 

 in having white bark that is natural and not due to a covering of lichens. 

 This is true also, by the way, of Jacquinia heyensis Mez (Joe-bush), and to a 

 less extent of Coccolobis laurifolia Jacq. (Pigeon plum). The undergrowth 

 of the above coppice consists principally of Fagara fagara (L.) Small (Wild 

 lime), Catesbece spinosa L., Fagara coriacea (A. Rich.) Kr. & Urb. (Doc- 

 tor's club), Bumelia micropJiylla Griseb., Bunchosia glendulosa Rich., EritJinlis 

 fruticosa L. (Black torch), Chiococca parvifoUa Wullschl., Cordia baliamensis 

 Urban, PhAjllanthus epipliyllantlius L. (Hard-head), and Croton longifolia. 

 The vines Triopteris rigida Sw., Smilax beyrichii Kunth, and Jacquemontia 

 jamaicensis (Jacq.) Hall were also abundant. 



It will be observed that the growth in this coppice differs from any that 

 have been before described. It possesses, on the one hand, the character of 

 the low xerophytic condition, and on the other, the peculiarities of what we 



