The Sierra Maestra. 247 



io 3 feet diameter averaging 400 feet to the tree, quite frequent 

 especially on dry slopes, and furnishing a most durable hard, yel- 

 lowish to dark-red wood. This valuable and quite common tree was 

 first collected about 1866 by Wright on the northern slope of the 

 Sierra, and seems since then to have escaped notice by botanists. 

 The latter species with large yellow flowers turning red, and a broad 

 l>asswood-like leaf is also frequently met and is of somewhat larger 

 size than the former, averaging more especially in moist woods, 500 

 feet to the tree. It is a species most highly prized in Cuban markets 

 not only for the unusual bluish-green color of its heartwood, but on 

 account of its toughness and elasticity which fits it for spokes and 

 axles and as a substitute for our Hickory where these qualities are 

 required. Its price in Habana ranges from $100 to $150. 



A shrub or low tree of the same genus, Paritium tiliaceum A. 

 Juss., the Emmagua of Porto Rico, is found near the shore, very 

 much resembling its congener. 



Another species, used also for spokes, but with white wood, Guar- 

 ANO {Cwpania macrophylla Rich?) of the Soapberry family, is a rare 

 tree of the same size as the former. Spoke billets, 2 x 4 x 40, bring 

 25 to 30 cents a piece in Habana. 



Still one of the very generally distributed and rather common 

 trees, of established commercial value is the Roble blanco. The name 

 usually denotes in Spanish an Oak, but this is a relative of the Cataipa 

 and Trumpet Vine,Teco7na pentaphylla D. C, a large tree with 

 diameters up to 4 and 5 feet, the light brown, black oak-like fissured 

 bark resembling somewhat the Cedar. Its yellowish hard vv^ood is 

 especially prized for wagon work, ox yokes, tables, etc., bringing 

 from $40 to $80, or, for ox yoke billets, $1 apiece. 



Three more excellent timber trees may be mentioned as of estab- 

 lished value and frequent enough to be a comercial factor, 

 namely the Jucaro — Bucida Buceras L.of the Comhretaceae. It is 

 mostly found near the shore, reaches diameters of 3 and 4 feet, and 

 furnishes a very hard, yellow or black wood fit for spokes and other 

 wagon work, but is especially prized for its resistance to the teredo 

 as wharf timber ; the Jatia whose botanical identity is still in doubt, 

 quite a common and ubiquitous tree of similar size as the former and 

 prized for the same use; the Caguani (Mastic) Sideroxylon Mas- 

 tichodendron Jacq., a ubiquitous, large tree with up to five feet di- 

 ameter, furnishing a maroon red to yellow wood, hard and durable. 



Since it is necessary to know also the weeds, that is the trees 



