COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 93 
of food, but so little cause is there to fear its effects that when in season it is to be 
found generally on the tables of both rich and poor throughout Jamaica. The 
cases in which the fruit has produced poisonous effects are generally found to be 
such as show a careless preparation of the fruit for food. The arillus when in 
good condition is of a wholesome, nutty flavor, and should be quite firm and not 
easily broken. If, however, it is kept too long it readily becomes soft and decays, 
and such decayed parts are doubtless poisonous as any other decayed vegetable or 
animal matter and quite as likely to cause irritant poisoning. Care should there- 
fore be exercised by the housewife in preparing such a delicacy for table, and if 
such is taken it may be eaten without the slightest fear, and with the satisfaction 
of haying partaken of one of the finest bonne bouches that come to a West Indian 
table. The writer speaks of it from experience of some twenty years, during 
which time he has missed no opportunity of securing a share of it when in 
season.” 
Blood flower. See Asclepias curassavica. 
Bocagea laurifolia. 
Family Anonaceae; from Guajataca and Sierra de Lares. 
Bocconia frutescens. PALO DE PAN CIMARRON, 
Family Papaveraceae; an herb with a disagreeable odor. (Stahl, 2: 34.) 
Boehmeria cylindrica. 
An urticaceous plant of interest chiefly because related to the next species; 
known from Aybonito. 
Boehmeria nivea. RaMIE. 
Family Urticaceae; the now celebrated ramie plant or Chinese hemp, the culti- 
vation of which has been so widely advocated. Notwithstanding the numerous 
attempts at commercial utilization of the fine fiber produced by this species, prac- 
tical success has not yet been attained, the satisfactory processes and machinery 
for degumming the fiber being too complicated and expensive to permit ramie to 
compete in the manufacture of cheap fabrics. The Porto Rican specimens were 
found by Sintenis in cultivation, near Cabo Rojo. It is not known whether any 
local use has been made of the fiber. 
Boerhayvia paniculata. Toston. 
Family Nyctaginaceae; this species and B. hirsuta are common tropical weeds 
known from Porto Rico, but without recorded local names, ‘‘ toston’’ being given 
as Cuban only. (Urban, 3: 307, 308.) 
Boerhavia scandens. PEGA POLLO. 
A shrubby herb of about 4 feet (1.2 meters), widely distributed throughout the 
American tropics. (Urban, Add. 3: 309.) 
Boje. See Antirrhoea coriacea. 
A wild tree not infrequently met with in the northeast part of the island. Not 
more than 45 or 50 feet (14 or 15 meters) in height, with a straight trunk 18 to 24 
inches (45 to 60 centimeters) in diameter. It furnishes a heavy durable wood, 
very strong and much appreciated for carpenter work, furniture, framework of 
houses. etc., yellow in color, brittle, breaking horizontally. Also called ‘‘ quina”’ 
and referred to Coutarea coccinea, a species that does not appear in Index Kewen- 
sis. (Grosourdy, 2: 367.) 
Bombija. See Cardiospermum halicacabum. 
Boniato. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.7 meters); 
diameter 12 to 15 inches. Wood, dark, streaked with yellow; hard; specific 
gravity, 0.049 (1.0497); used in cabinetmaking. (Exp. 1857.) 
Borreria parviflora. See Spermacoce ocymoides. 
