IE 



many-flowered terminal paiij/iicles, the raohis hairy tomentose, 

 Male flowers sessile, each provided with 2 clasping, ovate- 

 acute, hairy bracteoles, about 5.5 mm. long; perianth funnel- 

 shaped, 6-lobulate, pubescent, about 4.5 mm. long; stamens 8, 

 exserted, the filaments hairy, adnate at the base with the 

 perianth. Female flowers sessile, provided with a single, 

 caducous bract, the ^jerianth about 1 cm. long, broad, 3-loba- 

 te, hairy; staminodes 3, laciniate, hairy inside, shorter 

 than the perianth; ovary globose-triangulate; styles 3. Acha- 

 niura 3-winged, glabrous, zlossy, about 11 mm. long, crowned 

 with the ijersistent styles and surrounded by the acctescent 

 perianth, this red, about 5 cm. long, the tube hairy, the 

 lobes s_farsely so and reticulate. 



■Description of the Wood 



Sapwood thick and yellowish white; heartwood yellow tinged 

 with red turning darker with age. 7/ood very hard, heavy, 

 strong, tough, straight and fine-grained, taking a good polish, 

 Annual rings of growth clearly visible under high power of 

 microacope. 



Pores (transverse section) not very numerous, (about .E2 

 mm. in diameter) round, Oi^en, and arranged singly, in pairs, 

 or in very short radial rows. Vessel walls (longitudinal 

 section) with numerous very small round bordered pits; pit 

 opening slightly elongated transversely. Perforations simple, 

 wood fibers about .71 mm. long with rather thick walls and"^ 

 small cavities. I'he pits are exceedingly minute and obli- 

 quely slit-like. vYood ijarenohyma very sparingly developed. 

 Pith rays very small and invisible with the hand lens on a 

 smooth transverse surface. They are only 1 or 2 cells wide 

 and from 6 to 12 cells high. 



Distribution, common names and uses 



Triplaris caracasan a Cham, extends along the coast of 

 northern South iimerica, from Venezuela into Central America, 

 usually appearing in old clearing-s. In Panama, it is common 

 along the railroad in the Canal Zone, being especially con- 

 spicuous at the fruiting time, on account of the showy red 

 bunches loading the female individuals. This tree is char- 

 acterized also by the presence of hosts of v;arlike, stinging 

 ants, which inhabit the hollow branches and fall thick as 



