70 BULLETIN 354;, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



34. RoUinia mucosa (Jacq.) Baill. Anon; Lancewood (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 30 to 50 feet high and from 8 to 12 inches in diameter, of limited occur- 

 rence in Porto Rico. Indigenous also to several islands in the Lesser Antilles, to 

 Trinidad, and to Mexico. The wood is said to be occasionally used as a substitute 

 for the true lancewood {Oxandra lanceolata), which it resembles. Wood light yellow, 

 moderately hard, heavy, strong, and tough. 



IX. Laurace^. 



35. Persia americana Mill (=P. gratissima Gaertn.). Aguacate, Avocate, Avo- 



cado; Alligator pear, Butter pear (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 30 to 40 feet high and from 12 to 18 inches in diameter introduced from 

 Mexico and now growing spontaneously throughout the island. It is widely planted 

 throughout tropical and subtropical regions for its edible pear-shaped fruit. The 

 fruit yields an abundance of oil for bm-ning and for soap making. A deep indelible 

 black juice used for marking linen is obtained from the seeds. The wood is suggested 

 for use in cabinetmaking. 



Wood light reddish-brown, beautifully figm'ed and fine grained, soft, light (about 

 40 pounds per cubic foot), and brittle. Pores small, numerous, isolated or in groups 

 of two or three, evenly distributed throughout the annual rings of growth, which are 

 only faintly visible. Pith rays very minute and inconspicuous. 



Note. — Persea krugii Mez. (Canela) is reported as a tree from 30 to 50 feet high, 

 with a very limited occurrence on the island. Wood similar to that of the above. 



*36. Phoebe elongata (Vahl.) Nees. Avispillo, Laurel, Laurel bobo, Laurel geo-geo. 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and from 1 foot to 2 feet in diameter, from the Luquillo 

 region. Wood light brown, fine, and cross-grained, taking a good polish; hard, heavy, 

 strong, and tough. Pores very small, evenly distributed. Pith rays very narrow and 

 inconspicuous. 



Note. — Phoebe montana (Sw.) Griseb. (Laurel, Avispillo), another species of 

 this genus is of Limited occurrence in the interior of the island and is similar in 

 size and in the character of its wood. 



37. Ocotea. 



A genus of limited occurrence and little known uses in Porto Rico, is represented by 

 the six following species: Ocotea wrightii (Meissn.) Mez. (Canela, Canelon); Ocotea 

 moschata (Meissn.) Mez. (Nemoca, Nuez moscada, Nuez moscada cimarrona, Nuez 

 moscada del pays, nutmeg) ; Ocotea cuneata (Griseb.) Urb. (Sassafras, Laurel sassafras) ; 

 Ocotea floribunda (Sw.) Mez. (Laiuel); Ocotea leucoxylon (Sw.) Mez. (Cacaillo, Laurel, 

 Laurel bobo, Laurel geo. Laurel geo-geo); Ocotea portoricensis Mez. (Laurel, Laurel 

 avispillo, Laurel geo). Trees from 30 to 90 feet high and from 1 foot to 3 feet in diam- 

 eter, occurring in mountain forests. The wood resembles that of Phoebe elongata. 



38. Nectandra. 



The following five species of this genus are reported from Porto Rico: Nectandra 

 sintenisii Mez. (Laurel, Laurel amarillo. Laurel bianco, Laurel geo, Laiirel macho); 

 Nectandra krugii Mez. (Laurel, Laurel canelon); Nectandra membranacea (Sw.) Griseb. 

 (Laurel, Laurel geo-geo, Laurelillo); Nectandra patens (Sw.) Griseb. (Lam'el, Laurel 

 roseta); Nectandra coriacea (Sw.) Griseb. (Avispillo, Laurel). Trees from 30 to 70 feet 

 high, occm'ring mostly in the mountains of the Luquillo region, and relatively unim- 

 portant. Wood light brown. Pores small, isolated or in groups of two or three, 

 evenly distributed. Pith rays minute, inconspicuous. 



39. Hufelandia pendula (Sw.) Nees. Aguacate cimarron, Cedro macho, Laurel, Palo 



Colorado. 



Tree from 50 to 60 feet high and from 1 foot to 1^ feet in diameter, occurring in 

 mountainous regions. Wood yello wing-brown turning darker with exposure to air and 

 light. It is fine and straight-grained , hard , moderately heavy, strong, and tough. Pores 

 numerous, small, and evenly distributed. Pith rayS narrow and inconspicuous. 



30. Acrodiclidium salicifolium (Sw .) Griseb . Ganelsi, CaneUllo. 



Tree from 25 to 50 feet high. Common in the mountainous districts, but of shght 

 economic value. 



