307. ICHTHYOMETHIA PISCIPULA JAMAICA DOGWOOD. 13 



particularly handsome tree when bearing its abundance of flowers, 

 which considerably resemble those of our common locust though in 

 more upright clusters. 



HABITAT. The coast region of southern Florida southward from 

 the vicinity of Bay Biscayne on the east coast and Peace Creek on the 

 west, the southern Keys, the Bahamas, many of the islands of the \Yest 

 Indies and the coast of southern Mexico. It is one of the most abun- 

 dant of the tropical trees of southern Florida. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, close-grained, with 

 few scattered open ducts and inconspicuous annual rings and medullary 

 rays. It is of a yellowish brown color, usually darkest next the sap- 

 wood, which is light yellow. Specific Gravity, 0.8734; Percentage of 

 Ash, 3.38; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.8439; Coefficient of 

 Elasticity, 85079; Modulus of Rupture, 752; Resistance to Longitudinal 

 Pressure, 597; Resistance to Indentation, 337; Weight of a Cubic 

 Foot in Pounds, 54.43. 



USES. The wood of the Jamaica Dogwood is very durable and is 

 a favorite timber for piles, in making wharves, boat-building, etc. Its 

 flowers yield an abundance of honey and its rapidity of growth as 

 well as attractive habit give it value for ornamental planting. 



The bark of the tree has long been used by the Caribs, and more 

 recently by the 1 negroes, in catching fish on account of its strong nar- 

 cotic properties. When reduced to a pulp and placed in a bag or basket 

 beneath the water it has a stupefying effect upon the fish, and as they 

 come helpless to the surface they can be easily captured. The effect 

 on large fish is said to be generally only temporary, but that it kills 

 many of the small fish. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES are not officinally recognized of this species, 

 though it possesses strong astringent properties. It is also sedative 

 and hypnotic, and has been found effective in producing sleep without 

 injurious effects. A fluid extract of the bark is sometimes used for 

 alleviating toothache. 



ORDER SIMARUBACE^: QUASSIA FAMILY. 



LEAVES generally alternate and pinnate, not glandular-punctate, without 

 stipules. Flowers mostly in axillary racemes or panicles and dioecious or 

 polygamous, regular; calyx 3-5-lobed or parted, imbricated in the bud; petals 

 3-5 (rarely wanting), hypogenous ; disk annular or elongated; stamens as many 

 as the petals or twice as many, with distinct filaments each with a scale or hairs 

 at base and inserted under the disk; anthers 2-celled introrse; pistils composed 

 of 2-5 united carpels each of a single cell and containing a single anatropous 

 ovule; style 1-5. Fruit a drupe or samara. 



