138 



arranged singly bat more often in radial rows cf from a few 

 to 6 or 8, Ihe vessel walls I longitudinal section) where 

 in contact with ray cells and wood parenchyma, hawe large 

 transversely elliptical pits, simple, with transitions to 

 bordered. Large elliptical simple pits are present on the 

 radial surface of vessels.. Perforations simple with occa- 

 sional acalariform perforations of from 1 to 7 bars. Wood 

 fibers arranged in regular radial rows, about 1.321 mm. long, 

 with relatively thick walls and small lumina and small 

 simple pita. «Vood parenchyma rather strongly developed and 

 arranged in numerous narrow tangential lines visible under 

 hand lens on a smooth transverse section. These lines are 

 from 1 to 3, usually 2 rows of cells wide which alternate 

 with from a few to 4 to 10 rows of wood fibers, ilays nume- 

 rous and exceedingly small, barely visible under hand lens 

 on smooth transverse section, from 1 to 3 cells wide and 

 from a few to 10 or more cells high; the rays often termi- 

 nate above and below in wood parenchyma and it is difficult 

 sometimes to say where tho ray ends and the fiber begins. ) 



Distribution, common names and uses 



Most Lucumas, mainly known from Peru and Brazil, bear 

 fleshy, edible fruits, so that the woody pericarp of thia 

 newly discovered Panaman species is a distinct, unusual fea- 

 ture. The tree is gregarious and found scattered along the 

 creeks and on the lower hills of the Jian Bias Coast. The 

 wood is hard and fine grained, but as yet unnoticed by the 

 natives, who do net seem to have any name for it. 



Symplocaceae 

 { Sweetleaf-Family) 



The Ghirican-Symplocoa 



Symplocos chiriquensis Pittier, Contr. U.S. Hat. Herb. 18; 



168. 1916. 



Description of the tree 

 A tree up to about 30 m. high, and 50 cm. or less in 



