822 



The Strongbacks 



the calyx is bell-shaped, 6 to 7 mm. long, the lobes oblong to ovate or lanceo- 

 late-oblong, shorter than the tube; the corolla is white, i cm. long, the tube longer 

 than the calyx, its lobes orbicular or kidney-shaped. The fruit is subglobose, 9 

 to 14 mm. in diameter, subtended by the persistent calyx. 



The plant was described and illustrated by Nuttall as Cordia floridana, and 

 erroneously stated to have yellow flowers. 



2. STRONGBACK Bourreria havanensis (Roemer and Schultes) Miers 

 Ehretia havanensis Rcemer and Schultes 



Also called Strongbark, this tree inhabits the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and 

 other West Indies, reaching a height of 12 meters and a trunk diameter of 2 dm., 

 but is often only a bushy shrub. 



The trunk is usually short, its branches spreading, round and slender. The 



bark is about 2 mm. thick, reddish brown. 

 The twigs are slender, round, slightly hairy, 

 soon becoming smooth, red or grayish. The 

 leaves are thick and firm, obovate to ob- 

 long or oval-obovate, 4 to 12 cm. long, 

 rounded or notched at the apex, narrowed 

 at the base, entire, revolute on the margin, 

 dark green and smooth above, pale green 

 and prominently reticulate veined beneath; 

 the leaf-stalk is slender, stiff, grooved, 11 to 

 15 mm. long. The flowers, appearing at al- 

 most all seasons, are in terminal cymes 5 to 

 10 cm. across; pedicels 4 to 12 mm. long; 

 the calyx is bell-shaped, 5 to 6 mm. long, 

 the 5 teeth irregular, blunt; the corolla is 

 about I cm. long, its tube sHghtly longer than 

 the calyx, the spreading lobes nearly orbicu- 

 lar; the fruit is subglobose, 10 to 13 mm. in diameter, capped by the remnants 

 of the style and subtended by the persistent calyx-lobes; the skin is thick and 

 tough, orange-red; the flesh is thin, enclosing 4 thick-walled nutlets. 



The wood is hard, strong, dense and brown; its specific gravity is about 0.80; 

 it is used principally for fuel. 



Fig. 751. Strongback. 



