14 



a fairly good polish and not durable in contact v/ith soil. 

 Animal ring of growth clearly visible under hand lens en a 

 smooth transverse surface. 



Pores (transverse section) very numerous, rather small, 

 ( .13 mia. in diameter) round except when arranged in radial 

 rows, open, and arran^^^ed sin^ily or in small round groups of 

 from 2 to 4 6r in radial row3. Vessel walls (longitudinal 

 secticii) where in contact with other vessels bear scalariform 

 bordered pits and where in contact with pith rays or wood pa- 

 renchyma have simple pits; spiral thickening present. Perfo- 

 ration scalariform with numerous simple or branched bars 

 across the long slanting ends. 7/ood fibers about 1.71 mm. 

 long with thin walls and relatively large cell cavities and 

 few simple pits, Yood-parenchyma very scantily developed, 

 occasionally present in early wood or around vessels, Rays 

 narrow hardly visible under hand lens, from 1 to 5 cells 

 wide and from 4 to 6 times as high. 



Distribution, common names and uses 



Our knowledge of the specific value and of the distribu- 

 tion of the several recorded forms of the genus Talauma in 

 Central America is so imperfect, that it is not possible to 

 determine for the present their respective areas, neither to 

 fix their true relationship, Apparently they are distinct, 

 very much localized types and scarcely represented v/ithin their 

 natural habitat. Of the tree described above, a single spe- 

 cimen was found and designated Ta^r our Ghoco Indian guides 

 under the name of Ilakua biui . The wood, white and rather 

 soft, is not known to be of any use whatever. 



