141 



Singly in small circular groups, or in short tangential lines. 

 Vessel walls (longitudinal section) of unifora structure with 

 numerous small bordered pits. 3nd walla of vessel segments 

 nearly horizontal and completely absorbed. v7ood fibers about 

 1.52 mm. long with thick cell walls and small cell cavities. 

 Wood-parenchyma fibers very highly developed and surrounding 

 all vessels and scattered in groups throughout the v/ood. 

 Pith rays very numerous and conspicuous under the hand lens, 

 usually from 2 to 6 cells wide and from 10 to 30 times as 

 high. The regular ray cells in the center of the pith rays 

 are small and around in tangential section; those above and 

 below as well as on the sides are from 2 to 4 times as wide; 

 radially usually much shorter.^ 



Distribution!^ comiTion names and uses 



The prince-wood tree is found growing all over tropical 

 America, including the Jest Indies, and it grows either iso- 

 lated or in small clumps up to an altitude of about 1.200 

 meters, always on hills slopes or on well-drained flats. In 

 Central America, including Panama and part of Mexico, it is 

 known under the Misleading name of laurel, in Cuba it is the 

 baria ( var illa?) , in the French West Indies the Bois de Cypre 

 or Cijje, and in Venezuela the pardillo . The wood is said to 

 be incorruptible and is used extensively for beams, flooring, 

 ceiling, as well as for finer work. 



It is also variously known in other parts of tropical 

 America as Prince-wood , Spanish elm , Dominica rose-wood , boi s 

 de Rhodes. 



The Panaman grince-wood 

 Gordia lasiocalyx Pittier, Contr, U.S. Hat. Herb. 18:251. 1917 



Description of the tree 

 A small or middle sized tree, with a low trunk and a 



