STANDLEY TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 561 



This species, the " Honduras mahogany," is the most important in the genus 

 commercially at the present time. 



5. CEDBELA L. Syst. Nat. ed. 10. 940. 1759. 



References : C. De Candolle in DC. Mouogr. Phau. 1 : 735-747. 1S78 ; Rose, 

 Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 5: 189-191. 1S99; C. De Candolle, Ann. Cons. Jard. 

 Geneve 10: 168. 1907. 



Leaves abruptly pinnate, the leaflets entire ; flowers panicled ; calyx teeth 5 ; 

 petals 5, connate below with the disk ; ovary and stamens borne on a columnar 

 disk longer than the ovary ; stamens 5, the filaments free ; ovary 5-celled, the 

 cells 8 to 12-ovuled ; fruit a 5-valved capsule ; seeds with a terminal wing. 



The species of Spanish cedar are widely distributed in Mexico. They are 

 large trees with light coarse soft wood, which is widely employed for making 

 cigar boxes. The wood is distinctive in appearance and has a characteristic 

 odor. Large amounts of it are exported from Mexico, chiefly for making cigar 

 boxes, and it has been employed locally for canoes, shingles, interior finish of 

 houses, doors, sugar casks, rafters, and other purposes. The trees grow rapidly 

 and sometimes form pure stands. The root bark is very bitter and has been em- 

 ployed for treating fevers and epilepsy. A decoction of the leaves is held in the 

 mouth to relieve toothache. A resin which exudes from the trunk is used for 

 affections of the chest. The seeds are reputed to have vermifuge properties. 



The usual name for these trees in Mexico is " cedro." The following additional 

 names are reported, but it is impossible to decide to what species they belong: 

 " Kuch§," " kulche " (Yucatan, Maya) ; "cedro Colorado" (Oaxaca, Veracruz) ; 

 "cedro chino " ; "cedro liso " ; "cedro macho" (Oaxaca); "cedro de la 

 Habana " ; " calicedra " ; "cedro fino " (Veracruz, Oaxaca); "cedro oloroso " 

 (Oaxaca) ; " cobano " (Oaxaca) ; " cedro hembra." 



Cedrela odorata L., a West Indian species, has been reported frequently from 

 Mexico, but is not known to occur in the region. It is to this species that 

 Oviedo (Lib. IX, Cap. VII) refers, in what is probably the first account of 

 Spanish cedar: "In Hispaniola and other islands and on the mainland there 

 are certain trees which, because they have a pleasant odor, the Christians call 

 cedro; in truth I do not believe they are cedars, but because the wood has a 

 better odor than that of other trees, our carpenters have given it this name. 

 It is an easily worked wood, good for making chests and door and window trim- 

 mings and for other purposes, and it is a wood not much attacked by worms ; 

 for this reason some say that it is never attacked by worms, but they are 

 much mistaken, for it has often been proved that it does suffer in this respect 

 like other woods ; although to the tongue it seems more bitter than other woods, 

 the taste of a worm and that of a man are not the same thing." 



Leaflets broadly oval to suborbicular, broadly rounded or obtuse at apex, nonrly 



as broad as long 1. C. rotunda. 



Leaflets lanceolate to oblong, acuminate or acute, much longer than broad. 

 Petiolules 4 mm. long or less. 



Leaflets very densely and finely canescent-pilosulous beneath, glabrous 



above; corolla S to 9 mm. long; anthers not apiculate 2. C. discolor. 



Leafiets sparsely or rather densely cinereous-pilosulous or green beneath, 

 at least the costa puberulous above ; corollas 5 to 6 mm. long ; anthers 

 minutely apiculate. 

 Leaves sparsely pilosulous beneath, chiefly on the primary and secondary 



veins; capsule 2.2 to 2.5 cm. long 3. C. saxatilis. 



Leaves rather -densely pilosulous beneath, on the .surface as well as the 



veins; capsule 3.5 to 4 cm. long 4. C. oaxacensis. 



7808—23 4 



