The Sierra Maestra. 249 



seen, said to grow to 3 feet) ; the Ebony itself, or at least a tree 

 called Ebano, with specimens up to to 2 feet diameter; the Ocuje, 

 Calophyllum Calaba Jacq., of the Clusiaceae, a large (3 to 4 foot) 

 tree of the higher altitudes, resembling the butternut in its bark, the 

 reddish brown wood of which brings $160 in Habana; Fustic 

 (Fustete) Chlorophora (Madura) tinctoria (L.) Gaud., a dyewood 

 growing to 4 feet diameters, and ubiquitous ; another dyewood, 

 Sangretoro, Maytenus ovifolia Rich, and Ayua (Ironwood), Zan- 

 toxylum marticinense (Lam) D. C, with its peculiar pyramidal 

 thorns which beset the trunk even of old trees. 



These and a number of undoubtedly valuable species occur, how- 

 ever, only in small numbers. Some of those of goodly size, the 

 value of which is either locally known or is suspected, need only to 

 be properly introduced to the market to find ready employment. 



Of these we may mention Almendro. Laplacea Wrightii? Griseb, 

 which occurs rather frequently, a large tree (3 feet), with black 

 bark resembling as also its foliage our Black Cherry, with a soft 

 yellowish wood emitting a strong almond smell ; Baria — Cordia 

 nitida Vahl? also quite frequent, resembling the Basswood in bark, 

 and our Elm in character of wood; Cuariduro — Cassia eviarginata 

 L,., with a white, hard wood, used for wagon parts. Yamaguey, 

 Belairia spec, a smaller tree (1 to 2 feet) of the dry slopes, with 

 ebony-black heart. There are a number of these dry-slope trees 

 which can, no doubt, properly be substituted for Lignum vitae, 

 Ebony, Box and other hard species that are accepted in this market. 



Of the smaller trees of value there is also to be mentioned 

 Dagame, Rondeletia, arhorescens Griseb., occasionally growing be- 

 yond 2 feet diameter, of wide distribution, and especially adapted 

 for spars. 



As mainly botanically of interest, we should mention first of all 

 the two curious parasitic trees, which have the habit of engulfing 

 the trunk of other trees, or, as the case may be, of each other, finally 

 smothering the victim, namely the well-known Copey — Clusia rosea 

 L., found all through the tropics, and Jaguey {Jabe or Avey), prob- 

 ably represented by several species of Ficus. They grow also to 

 self-supporting trees of considerable diameter (3 to 4 feet) and the 

 wood of the Copey at least is found valuable for posts. Two other 

 trees of large size, not at all infrequent, with a copious milky sap, 

 Maboa, Cameroria latifolia L,.}, and Lechero, suggest the possibil- 

 ity of rubber production. 



