80 BULLETIN 354^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTUEE. 



s 



81. A group of unimportant genera of this family, each represented by a single species, 

 comprises Hieronymia _clusioides (Tal.) Mull. (Cedro macho), a tree from 45 to 

 100 feet high, occurring in the western parts of the island. Native also to other 

 of the West Indies. -There are no recorded uses for the wood nor descriptions 

 of its characteristics. Alchorneopsis portoricensis Urban. (Palo de gallina), tree 

 from 30 to 50 feet high, known only from the Luquillo, and central regions of the island. 

 It yields a soft wood of little use. Alchornea latifolia Sw. (Achiotillo, Palo de cotorra, 

 Yobillo), a tree from 25 to 60 feet high, quite widely distributed, yielding a wood with 

 properties similaj- to that of Palo de galLina. Sapium laurocerasus Desf. (Hincha- 

 huevos, Lechesillo, Manzanillo, Tabeiba), a tree from 15 to 50 feet high, widely dis- 

 tributed in mountainous regions on the island. 



*82. Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd. (= A. triloba Forst.). Nuez, Nuez de India; 

 Candleberry tree, Candlenut, Indian walnut (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 20 to 40 feet high. Introduced from tropical Asia and the South Sea 

 Islands and planted here and there throughout Porto Pvico. It is useful mainly for 

 shade thi-oughout the Tropics and for the nuts it bears, which are called "kukui" 

 nuts in the Sandwich Islands. Vv^ood little used. 



Wood very Light yellow, soft, light, weak, and not durable in contact with the soil. 

 Pores small, isolated or in groups of two to five, radially disposed, and evenly distrib- 

 uted. Pith rays minute and very inconspicuous. 



*83, Hippomane maneinella L. Manzanillo, Machineel. 



Tree from 15 to 50 feet in height, occurring in the coastal regions. It has a poisonous 

 acid sap wliich necessitates considerable care being taken in felling and in thoroughly 

 seasoning the wood before working. The wood is suitable for fiu-niture and is used 

 largely for veranda floors and weatherboarding because of its durability when exposed. 



Wood yellowish brown, with darker stripes, beautiful, slightly fragrant, straight 

 and very fine grained, resembling in general appearance and textiu'e the boxwood of 

 commerce {Buxus sempervirens L.). It takes a high polish, is hard, varies from light 

 to heavy (from 36 to 50 pounds per cubic foot), strong, tough, very durable, and very 

 easy to work; in all these qualities this wood resembles mahogany. The pores are 

 minute, numerous, solitary, and evenly distributed. Pith rays minute, scarcely 

 visible to the unaided eye on a radial smiace. 



84. Hura crepitans L. Javillo, Molinillo, Havillo, Havarilla; Sand-box tree. Mon- 

 key's dinner bell (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 20 to 50 feet high and from 1 foot to 2h feet in diameter, introduced from 

 South America. It is planted extensively throughout the island for shade, because 

 of its spreading crown. The acid irritant sap necessitates careful felling and season- 

 ing of the wood before worldng. The wood is valued locally for maldng canoes and 

 for interior work in houses. In some parts of the West Indies the trunks are often hol- 

 lowed and used extensively for holding cane sugar. 



Wood very Hght brown, with darker brown stripes, fine and straight grained, taking 

 a fine polish. It is soft, light (about 31 pounds per cubic foot), extremely brittle, 

 and is said to resist the action of water. Pores very small and evenly distributed 

 throughout the annual rings of growth. Pith rays very inconspicuous. 



XXII. Anacardiace^. 



*85. Mangifera indica L. Mango. 



A cultivated and sparingly naturalized tree from 30 to 50 feet high and from 12 to 

 18 inches in diameter, native of southern Asia or the Malay Archipelago. It yields 

 a very common but highly prized fruit of the Tropics, comparable in quality and 

 value with the apple or the orange, though entirely different from either in textm-e 

 and flavor. The wood is useful for the same purposes as our common ash (Fraxinus), 

 gunstocks, tool handles, window frames, etc. . 



Wood grayish brown, fine grained, hard, heavy (about 50 pounds per cubic foot), 

 strong, tough, and elastic. Pores small, isolated or in groups of two to four, evenly 

 distributed. Pith rays narrow, inconspicuous. 



