6l2 



The California Mahogany 



Fig. 563. Poisonwood, Inagua, Bahamas. 



to May, the staminate and pistillate on different trees; the stout flower-stalks are 

 from 2 to 4 mm. long; the calyx has 5 round blunt sepals, much shorter than the 5 

 ovate blunt petals, which are yellowish green; in the staminate flowers the 5 sta- 

 mens are somewhat shorter than the petals; the pistillate flowers have a globular 

 i-celled ovar}' with a short style and 3 short stigmas, the usually 5 stamens very 

 short and abortive. The fruits are oblong, orange-yellow shining drupes i to 1.5 

 cm. long, the stone thin-walled; the bunches of fruit are spreading or pendulous. 

 The wood is weak, dark brown, heavy, its specific gravity being about 0.80. 

 The tree is also locally known as Doctor- gum and Coral sumac. 



IV. THE CALIFORNIA MAHOGANY 



GENUS NEOSTYPHONIA SHAFER 



Species Neostyphonia integrifolia (Nuttall) Shafer 

 Styphonia integrifolia Nuttall 



S the name Styphonia (in reference to its astringent bark), given to this 

 tree by Nuttall in 1838, had already been applied to a genus of the 

 Mint family by Aledicus in 1791, Nuttall's name is invalid. The 

 genus includes about 5 species of trees and shrubs, natives of Cali- 

 fornia, Lower California, and Mexico. Their leaves are simple, or rarely 3-folio- 



