92 BULLETIN 354^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and the West Indies, ranking as a very valuable timber. The wood is used locally 

 for all purposes requiring great strength and durability, such as beams and rafters, 

 also for all parts of wheels, axles and other parts of native bull carts, for ox yokes 

 and other native uses, and somewhat for furnitui'e. 



Wood maroon-red, very fine and straight grained, susceptible of a good polish, 

 easily worked considering its hardness, and very durable in the Tropics; in the 

 temperate climate it is less dm-able. Wood hard, heavy (about 65 pounds per cubic 

 foot), strong, and tough. Moderately conspicuous ducts in short detached long and 

 short chains (single lines of cells) evenly diffused; chains usually between two 

 medullary rays. Medullary rays very numerous, minute, indistinct. Wood fibers 

 slightly interlaced and appearing straight-grained. Resembles somewhat a fine- 

 grained teak. (Hill and Sudworth.) 



Note. — Another species of very limited distribution is Sideroxylon portoricense 

 Urb. (Tabloncillo), a tree from 75 to 90 feet high, reported only from the vicinity 

 of Utuado and Lares. Wood similar to that of Sideroxylon /(r.tidissimum, and 

 probably similarly used. 



*143. Dipholis salicifolia (L.) A. DC. Almendron, Tabloncillo. 



Tree from 30 to 40 feet high and from 12 to 18 inches in diameter, occurring in dry 

 limestone soils near the coast. It is common in southern Florida and throughout 

 the West Indies. The wood is used locally principally for fuel and charcoal. 



Wood dark brown-red, fine a,nd straight grained, taking a beautiful polish, hard, 

 heavy (about 55 pounds per cubic foot), strong, and tough. 



Note. — Another rather incidental species is Dipholis sintenisiana Pierre 

 (Espejuelo), a tree from 60 to 70 feet high, from the northwestern part of the 

 island, having a wood similar to that of D. salicifolia. 



*143. Chrysophyllum cainito L. Cainito, Caimito, Caimito morado; Star apple (Br. 

 W. I.)'. 



Tree from 45 to 60 feet high and fi'om 12 to 18 inches in diameter. It is a cultivated 

 and wild tree and found in most parts of the island. The wood is suited to a variety 

 of uses and particularly in exposed situations. 



Wood red or reddish-brown, very fine and ciuiy gi-ained, taking an excellent poKsh, 

 hard, heavy, strong, tough, and very dnrable in contact with the soil. Pores very 

 small and arranged in short radial rows between the rather inconspicuous pith rays. 



*144. Chrysophyllum oliviforme L. Teta de biura, Lechesillo. 



Tree from 30 to 40 feet high and about a foot in diameter from the southwestern 

 part of the island. It is distributed throughout the West Indies "and southern Florida, 

 but is nowhere common. 



Wood light brown tinged with red, fine and straight grained, taking a good polish 

 hard, heavy (about 58 pounds per cubic foot), very strong, and tough. Pores small 

 and arranged in short radial rows, which are easily seen on a smooth transverse surface 

 under a hand lens. 



Note . — Other species of this genus are Chrysophylluvi bicolor Poir. (Caimitillo, 

 Lechesillo), from 30 to 50 feet high, occurring verj^ locally and in Porto Rico 

 only; Chrysophyllum argenteum Jacq. (Caimito verde, Lechesillo),' from 25 to 

 60 feet high, occurring rather widely distributed throughout the island and 

 others of the West Indies, and Chrysophylluvi pauciflorum Lam. (Caimito de 

 perro), from 40 to 60 feet liigh, reported only from the southern part of the island. 

 Wood of each is similar to that of the above. 



145. Mimusops. 



Two species of this genus occur in Porto Rico, Mimusops nitida (Sesse et Moc.) 

 Urb. (Acana, Ausubo '), a tree from 20 to 50 feet or more high, occm-ring in moun- 

 tainous regions; and Mimusops duplicata (Sesse et Moc.) Urb. (= M. globosa Griseb.) 

 (Mameyuelo, Sapote, Sapote de costa, Zipote, Balata), from 40 to 60 feet high, occur- 

 ring along the north coast. Both are local species. 



1 See footnote under Sideroxylon fatidissimum. 



