90 The Timbers of British Guiana. 



ANATOMICAL CHARACTERS. 



Practically identical with those of the true Letterwood, No. 60,. 

 with the trifling differences below, which are given for what they 

 are worth. The woods are, however, easily distinguishable by those 

 who have an acquaintance with either. 



Transverse Section. (cf. Stone 27a., PL XIII., fig. 112.) 

 Nearly as light in shade as the other sections. 



Radial Section. The Pores are rather reddish in the Sapwood. 



Type Specimens. Authenticated by Bell, No. 87/2743. The 

 leaves which accompany the specimen are like Brosimum. 



88. (ENOCARPUS BACABA. MART. 

 Nat. Ord., PALM^:. 



Alternative Names. " Tooroo-palm " (2); " Koemboe, 

 Bacaba " (3a). 



Salient Features. Not a wood in the ordinary acceptation of 

 the word. A transverse section of the trunk shows a wide ring 

 of hard tissue containing a mass of hard, black strands, surround- 

 ing a central core of soft and stringy tissue. Hardness of the 

 outer wood, Grade 2, extremely hard; compare Boxwood. 



Bark. -J-J in. thick; smooth but broken up by narrow, 

 spindle-shaped fissures into innumerable areas of the same shape 

 and size; flakes off in scales, exposing the brown layer within. 



Uses, Qualities, etc. " Is used to make walking-sticks " (2). 

 This is almost the only use that can be suggested for it, as it is 

 excessively fissile, there being no strength in the tissue between the 

 black strands. No tests made. Very hard to work in any way 

 and chiefly suitable for purposes where the trunk can be used 

 whole, or at least in large pieces. The name of this palm might 

 possibly be confused with the Tourou-tourou tree, Sterculia pru- 

 riens. Aubl. 



Authorities. 2. Bell, p. 10. 3a. Berkhout, p. 53. It is often 

 referred to by travellers. Specimen, No. 88/2744. 



89. NECTANDRA SP. 

 Nat. Ord., LAURINE^E. 

 Native Name, " WAIBAIMA " (2). 



No. 89, FRONTISPIECE. 



Salient Features. A fine-grained, light-coloured wood with 

 sometimes a suggestion of green. 



Physical Characters. Weight (so far recorded), 48J-57 Ibs. 

 per cubic ft. Hardness, Grade 6, firm. Smell, none as regards 

 the wood, but that of the bark is spicy when sawn. Taste 

 slightly astringent. 



Colour of Heartwood, light-brown to sulphur yellow or even 

 green. Apparently a Sapwood tree, or else the Sapwood merges 

 into the Heartwood very gradually. Surface bright to lustrous. 



