
COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 13 
Almacigo rojo. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 10 to 12 feet (3 to 4 meters); 
diameter, 12 to 15 inches (30 to 37 centimeters). Wood pinkish, soft; specific gray- 
ity, 0.274; not used. (Exp. 1857.) 
Almendra. 
The fruit of Terminalia catappa. 
Almendrillo. See Prunus occidentalis. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 35 to 40 feet (11 to 13 meters); 
diameter, 15 to 20 inches (37 to 50 centimeters). Wood light-colored, rather 
hard; specific gravity, 0.742; not used. (Exp. 1857.) 
Almendro. See Terminalia catappa. 
In Cuba this name is applied to several species of Haemocharis, handsome trees 
of the tea family, Theaceae. In Porto Rico, however, it seems that ** almendro ”’ 
and ‘‘almendron”’ both refer to Terminalia catappa, although the account of 
the collection of Porto Rican woods of the exposition of 1857 gives different data 
under ‘*‘ almendro’’ and ‘*‘ almendron.”’ 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 40 to 50 feet (13 to 15 meters); 
diameter, 20 to 22 inches (50 to 55 centimeters). Wood light-colored, rather 
hard; specific gravity, 0.644; little used. (Exp. 1857.) 
Almendron. See Terminalia catappa. 
A tree from the southern part of the island; height, 45 to 50 feet (14 to 15 
meters); diameter. 12 to 15 inches (30 to 37 centimeters). Wood cinnamon- 
color, hard; specific gravity, 0. Pee used in cabinetmaking. (Exp. 1857.) 
According to Bello the name ‘‘almendron”’ is also applied to Prunus occi- 
dentalis. 
Almidon. 
The Spanish word for starch, in the West Indies commonly made from *‘ cas- 
sava”’ (Manihot utilissima). 
Almond. 
The true almond, Amygdalus amygdalus, is closely ineleningel to the onc and 
does not grow in Porto Rico, but the name *‘almendron”’ is applied instead to 
Terminalia catappa, the fruit of which is called ‘*‘almendra”’ and is commonly 
believed to be the genuine article. 
Aloe. 2 : 
This name is sometimes incorrectly applied to the various species of Agave or 
“century plants,’ which are native of Mexico, South America, and the West 
Indies. The genus Aloe belongs to the Liliaceae and is of African origin. Some 
of the species have been introduced into cultivation, and Aloe vera in particular 
is now widely spread throughout the more arid tropical and subtropical regions. 
As early as 1596 specimens were taken to England from Barbados and the plant 
was long supposed to be native in that island, receiving the name Aloe barba- 
densis.* It is also naturalized, according to Grisebach, in Jamaica, Antigua, and 
St. Vincent, and very probably in Porto Rico, although not yet reported. 
Aloe-wood. See Cordia sebestena. 
Alpinia nutans. PLATE XVI. 
Family Zingiberaceae; native in East Indies, but now widely cultivated for the 
beauty of its flowers; apparently naturalized in Porto Rico. Collected near 
Bayamon by Sintenis. Our specimen was obtained near Cayey. 
Altea. See Nepsera aquatica. 
Alternanthera repens. ARDOSNA JARDIN. 
Family Amarantaceae; specimens from Catafio (no. 989). The flowers are 
straw-colored. 
