30 The Timbers of British Guiana. 



Physical Characters. Weight (so far recorded) 58-75 Ibs. per 

 cubic ft. Hardness, Grade 2, extremely hard; compare Boxwood. 

 Smell or taste 0. Surface lustrous and cold to the touch. The 

 Sapwood is ill-defined from the Heartwood, and is about 5 ins. 

 wide. 



Bark. About J in. thick, hard and woody, of one layer (plus 

 the epidermis); brown within, covered externally with small warts. 

 Outside of log beneath bark finely striated. 



Uses, Qualities, etc. " Ship-building (rated first-class at 

 Lloyd's) submerged works of all kinds, piles, wharves, etc. 

 cracks when exposed to the sun" (21). "Resists Limnora tere- 

 brans and Teredo, and ranks next to Teak in resisting White Ants " 

 (23o). According to the Kew Bulletin (166), it is occasionally 

 severely attacked by a worm. " Subject to Star-shake, but is- 

 free from shakes down the sides " (17 a). Planes well when of good 

 quality; turns hard and badly; polishes indifferently. Fissile, takes 

 nails badly, being so hard. Darkens little, if at all, on exposure to 

 the air. McTurk reported in 1878 that it was getting scarcer, since 

 when, restrictions have been put upon the felling of trees less than 

 12 ins. in diameter. Frequently confused with the next species, 

 Sipiri. 



Authorities. 2. Bell, p. 5. 4a. Boulger, p. 440. 106. Gamble, 

 p. 313. 12. Hawtayne, p. 385. 13. Royle, p. 85. 16a, Kew Bull., 

 1878, p. 33. 166, Kew Guide, pp. 36, 38. 17. Laslett, p. 451. 

 17o. Ibid, p. 270. 21. Miers. 22. McTurk, No. 27. 23a. Oldrieve, 

 27a, Stone, p. 176, PL XL, fig. 99. 



ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS. 

 The same as other species of Nectandra. 



Transverse Section. Much darker than the other sections. 



Pores. Appear green, conspicuous, large, practically uniform. 

 Evenly distributed ; some single and oval in shape, but mostly sub- 

 divided, also compact groups of 3-4; few; 4-13 per square m/m. 



Bays. Need the lens. Fine, uniform, equi-distant, less than 

 the width of a Pore apart, yet scarcely avoiding them ; gently un- 

 dulating; long, many 4-6 m/m. 



Rings. Rarely, if ever, traceable. 



Soft Tissue. Sheathing the Pores, and in very small lines or 

 patches close to them. 



Pith.( ?) 



Radial Section. Much lighter than the Transverse Section. 

 Pores prominent as hoary lines or chambered grooves, containing 

 drops of dark-coloured gum. Rays very inconspicuous, small, dull 

 flakes. Rings rarely traceable. Soft tissue just visible as hoary 

 borders to the Pores. 



Tangential Section as the Radial, but the Rays need the lens, 

 being minute lines about '5 m/m. high. 



Type Specimens. Bell, No. 29/2685. Laslett's Collection, Nos. 

 2312 and 2354. 



