22 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



312. EXOTHEA PANICULATA RADLK. 



INK-WOOD. BUTTER-BOUGH. 



Ger., Tinten-holz. Fr., Bois d'encre. Sp., Guacaran, Gaita. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : See generic description, this being the only species. 



The Ink-wood tree attains the height of 40 or 50 ft. (15111.), with 

 dense rounded umbrageous top and reddish-brown branchk-ts thickly 

 covered with small white lenticels. The trunk is sometimes 15 or 16 

 in. (o.4om.) in diameter and is vested in a rather thin reddish brown 

 bark which 'exfoliates with age in broad irregular plate-like scales. 



HABITAT. The hammocks of the coast region of southern Florida 

 south of about the latitude of 29 N., the southern Keys, Bahamas and 

 Antilles at least as far south as St. Vincent, and it is also found in 

 Guatemala. 



, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood very heavy, hard, strong, close- 

 grained, with very fine medullary rays and uniformly distributed very 

 small open apex ducts. It is of a pinkish brown color with lighter sap- 

 wood and is susceptible of a beautiful polish. Specific Gravity, 0.9533 '> 

 Percentage of Ash, 1.25; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.9414; 

 Coefficient of Elasticity, 111144; Modulus of Rupture, 1190; Resist- 

 ance to Longitudinal Pressure, 666 ; Weight of Cubic Foot in Pounds, 



5941. 



USES. The wood is used for piles, and in boat building, the handles 

 of tools, etc. 



Its leaves possess to some degree it he* saponiferous properties found 

 in other members of the family and are said to be sometimes used as a 

 substitute for soap. 



O::DER RHAMNACE^: BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 



Leaves simple, mostly alternate and often 3-nerved ; stipules small, mostly 

 deciduous. Flowers small, greenish, mostly perfect; calyx 4-5-lobed valvate; 

 petals 4-5 inserted on the calyx; disk annular and lining the calyx-tube or none; 

 stamens opposite the petals and inserted with them on the edge of the fleshy 

 disk ; anthers introrse, versatile ; ovary superior, 2-5-celled with i anatropous 

 ovule in each cell ; style columnar with terminal stigma. Fruit a drupe or 

 drupe-like, tipped with the remnants of the style ; seed usually with albumen. 



Trees and shrubs with watery bitter juice and of about 575 species, 

 grouped in 45 genera. They are natives of warm and temperate 



