TREES OF POETO EICO. 85 



from 0.120 (or about 7^ pounds per cubic foot) to 0.240. Pith rays quite conspicuous 

 on a transverse section; they are also plainly visible on the radial surface and give 

 figure to the wood, resembling the character of beech or sycamore, only they are 

 more numerous. 



*108. Theobroma cacao L. Cacao. 



A cultivated and seminaturalized tree from 12 to 30 feet high occurring locally on 

 the north and west sides of the island. It is native to tropical America and is grown 

 commercially in a number of the West Indies. It is said to grow best under thor- 

 oughly tropical conditions of moisture and warmth at or near sea level (below 500 feet). 

 It is commonly grown under the shade of some one of the leguminous trees, usually 

 Erythrina micropteryx (or E. umbosa) . 



XXXII. STERCULIACEyE. 



*109. Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (=Guazuma guazuma Cock). Gudcima, Gu^cima del 

 norte; West Indian elm, Guazuma plum (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and from 15 to 18 inches in diameter, very common 

 throughoat the island, the Antilles generally, and on the continent. Wood used for 

 oars, posts, staves, fuel, and charcoal. 



Wood light grayish-brown, fine and straight-grained, rather soft, light (35 pounds 

 per cubic foot), moderately weak but tough. Pores small, solitary or in groups of two 

 or three, rarely more, evenly distributed. Pith rays distinct, but rather inconspic- 

 uous, plainly \dsible on a smooth radially cut surface. 



110. Guazuma tomentosa H. B. K. Gu4cima, Guacima del sur; Bastard cedar (Br. 



W. I.); Orme d'Amerique (Fr. W. I.). 



Tree from 45 to 60 feet high and from 1 foot to 2 feet in diameter, very common along 

 the southern coast of the island and distributed quite generally throughout tropical 

 America. In Jamaica the wood is said to be used largely for staves of sugar hogsheads, 

 and the best of the young shoots is used extensively for cordage. 



Wood light or grayish-brown, rather fine and straight-grained, fissile, taking a 

 fairly good polish, moderately soft, light, rather tough and durable in exposed situa- 

 tions. Pores small, solitary or in radial rows of from two to three. Pith rays narrow 

 and inconspicuous. 



XXXIII. Ternstroemiace^. 



111. Represented in Porto Rico by three genera and five tree species, none of which 



are commercially important. 



These are Ternstroemia peduncularis P. DC, from 20 to 30 feet high; Ternstroemia 

 heptasepala Krug et Urb., from 15 to 25 feet high; Ternstroemia luquillensis Krug et 

 Urb. (Palo Colorado), from 30 to 60 feet high; Cleyera albopunctata (Griseb.) Krug et 

 Urb. (Teta prieta), from 25 to 30 feet high; and Haemocharis portoricensis Krug et Urb. 

 (Maricao, Nino de cota), from 15 to 60 feet high; all common in the Siexra de Luquillo, 

 the second last extending through the Cordillera Central to Maricao. 



XXXIV. GUTTIFERiE. 



*113. Mammea americanalj. Mamey, Mammea; Mammee apple (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 30 to .j60 feet high and from 18 to 24 inches in diameter, common in all 

 parts of the island. Its fruit is very highly regarded by the natives and it is very gen- 

 erally planted on this account here and elsewhere throughout the American Tropics. 

 The tree also produces a medicinal gum. The wood is well adapted for house build- 

 ing, posts, and piles. 



Wood reddish brown, beautiful, wavj^, and fine-grained, taking a good polish, hard, 

 heavy (61 pounds per cubic foot), resinous, and very durable in damp situations. 

 Pores small, solitary, or occasionally in pairs, evenly distributed. Pith rays narrow, 

 very inconspicuous. 



