62 



Of both watersheds in the eastern part of the Republic of 

 Panama. The specimens were collected mainly in the Canal 

 Zone, but it was observed also and notes tal:en in the i'atd 

 Valley and around Port Obaldia on the Goaat of San 31as, in 

 the violnity of Ghepo and in the Sainbu Valley on the Pacific 

 side. Although it was not seen during the recent botanical 

 survey in the western x^art of x'anama, it aay occur here and 

 there. It grows always on well drained hill sides up to 

 an altitude of about 400 m. above sea level, ^t the blooming 

 time, from the latter ^lart of June to the first days in 

 August, it is conspicuous dots on the sides of the v/ooded 

 hills. Later on, the fruits, scattered over the ground, 

 indicate its Presence everyvihere, 



Coumarouna panamensis is knc.vn all over the country under 

 the name of almendro , i.e., almond- tree, The fresh seed is 

 eaten by the natives, being extracted from the hard shell 

 and prepared by roasting on a live fir«. The wood is not 

 used extensively on account of its hardness and resistence to 

 the ax, but it is fine grained and takes a beautiful polish. 



It may be mentioned here that the Panaraan almond tree 

 is a near relative to the I^boe Tree of the Llosquito Coast 

 ( Gouqtarouna oleifera Taubert. ) , to the Tonka-Bea xi 

 (Ci. odcrata Taubert) of Venezuela, 



foiiau-SJauh3e«fii4 . Of late, the seeds of both the .aboe and 

 the a Imendrc have acquired some importance as the scurce of 

 a very fine oil, which is said to be used neinly in the ^>re- 

 paration of perfumery supplies. oX to"^^ ik^^ 



7ii2^ 



Malpighiaceae 

 Cuming's :>olden J^oon 

 Byrsonima Oumingiana 1. Juss., Ann. 3er. 2,13:332. 1840. 



Descri^ition of the tree 

 A small or middle sized tree, usually low, the crown 



