The Sierra Maestro. 243 



Tree Species. 



The whole range from base to top is densely covered with ar- 

 borescent vegetation. From the Royal Palms at the shore to the 

 Manaca Palms at the top a variety of tree species most bewildering 

 in number and in lawless sporadic distribution, as is the rule in tropic 

 forest, calls for identification, classification and valuation. 



Over 100 species were found, more or less, of commercial size and 

 Talue, although not more than a dozen perhaps are known to the 

 market. There is no handy Silva by the aid of which to become ac- 

 quainted with these, even if the exigencies of a commercial inspec- 

 tion permitted the time to make a botanical study. We have, there- 

 fore, to reverse the order; first learn what different things are in 

 existence and then try to find out what they are. With the aid of 

 some native woodsmen, "practices," as they proudly called them- 

 selves, not only the Spanish names but the signs of recognition in 

 the woods, and, for the most important species, their real botanical 

 character and identity could be determined, yet many of the species 

 are still known to the writer onlj^ by their local Spanish name and 

 by the appearance of their bark in the tree. Only one-third of the 

 number has been identified from specimens collected by Mr. Taylor, 

 another third has been more or less surely or doubtfully identified 

 hj the study of check lists. The difficulties in determining them are, 

 first, the usual difficulty of securing material for identification from 

 trees, and especially at a season when flowers and fruit are scarce, 

 for the statement that flowers and fruit are found in the tropics all 

 the year round is in this locality at least and, we believe, elsewhere 

 only very partially true. Identification by foliage is well-nigh hope- 

 less, because so many of the species belong to the same families and 

 hence vary little in their foliage. (Recognition in the woods from 

 the foliage is moreover impeded by the foliage of parasitic plants 

 which intermingles with that of the host so as to obscure the latter). 

 Finally, the floras which treat of the trees are so imperfect, that, 

 even with good material, one may be left at sea. Unfortunately, too, 

 there is no uniformity in the vise of the Spanish names, so that the 

 identifications by name from check lists made by some Spanish au- 

 thors, are to be used only with caution. There is also little doubt 

 that, although the native guides were remarkably observant and pre- 

 cise in their distinction of species, often more than one botanical 

 species figures under the same name, and again, differences in the 

 -character of the wood, would lead as with us to differentiation in 



