39 



The pits are slit-like and exceedingly small. Wood 

 parenchyma abundantly developed around the pcres and in 

 broken and continuous tangential lines of a few to five 

 cells in vvidth. Pith rays very numerous and arraiig^ed in 

 regular tiers as may be seen on a smooth tangential surface. 

 Rays usually two cells wide and up to 5 times as high. 



Distrioution, comiaon names and uses 



This largo tree, not uncommon in the forests of Darien 

 is remarkable for its broad area of dispersion. Ilnown at 

 first only from Brazil, it has sixccessively been discovered 

 in {Guatemala and in Panama and probably exists everywhere 

 in the unexplored forests of the intervening region of 

 northern ijouth America. In Panama the natives call it 

 tamarindo de monte or wild tamarind, while in .3cme partd 

 of 3razil it is known as ltd . The wood is tough, very 

 hard and used v/henever a strong and incorruptible mate- 

 rial is needed. The bariC as will as the pulp surrounding 

 the seeds are considered as medicinal, the latter being used 

 the same ways as the common tamarind. 



Dividivi-Tree 



Gaesalpinia coriaria '.'■illd., Sp. Pi. xid . 2,532. 1306. 



Description of the tree 



A small, unarmed tree; trunk short, seldom straight, 

 up to 35 cm. in diameter; crown rounded and spreading; young 

 branchlets mere or less ;>ubescent. Leaves alternate, bipin- 

 nate, eglandulose, the rachis pubescent; pinnae 9 to 11, sub- 

 opposite; leaflets 16 to 22-Jugate, sabsessile, lineal, oppo- 

 site, about 5 mm. long, obtuse, black-dotted beneath, r'lov/ers 

 yellow, in terminal racemes, with the rachus s^jarsely hairy; 

 pedicels about 2 min. lon^i , articulate at the base; calyx 

 turbinate, glabrous, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes obtuse; pe- 

 tals unguiculate or spatulate, equal to the calyx, the su- 

 perior one larger; stamens 10, free, the filaments hairy at 



