COOK AND COLLINS-——ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 97 
yellowish white wood, very strong and flexible, cominonly used for shelves in 
houses and for mallets and woeden cogs; also used for knees in boat building. 
Native name “ hucar blanco.’’? (Grosourdy, 2:390.) 
Under the native name ‘‘ucar,’”’ on page 362, the same author describes the 
wood of this species as olive-colored, more or less dark, with stripes and undula- 
tions, and adds that from its compact and fine-grained texture it would appear 
suitable for polishing. It has, however, the defect of cracking easily. Specific 
gravity, 1.009. 
Buenoceo. 
Spelling doubtful; applied at Caguitas to Thunbergia erecta. 
oe 
Buenos dias. See Hibiscus bifurcatus. 
Bullock’s heart. See Anona reticulata. 
Bully tree. 
A name used in the British West Indies, according to Grisebach, for Savota 
sideroxylon, Myrsine laeta, and several species of Dipholis. 
Bumelia krugii. 
Family Sapotaceae; a recently described species from the vicinity of Guanica. 
Bunchosia glandulifera. 
Family Malpighiaceae; from Sierra de Jabucoa and Anasco, in cultivation. 
Bunchosia glandulosa. 
From Guanica, Penion, and near Ponce. <A variety (latifolia) is known from 
Fajardo and Pefiuelas. Bunchosia nitida is reported from Guanica. 
Bureria. See Bourreria. 
Burro. See Capparis portoricensis. 
Burro blanco. See Capparis portoricensis. 
Bursera gummifera. See Bursera simaruba. 
Bursera simaruba. ALMACIGO. PuaTE XXI. 
This species, better known as Bursera gummifera, is one of the commonest and 
most characteristic trees of Porto Rico. It is native in the forests of the lime- 
stone foothills, where it grows to considerable size, but is more conspicuous as a 
shade tree extensively planted along the improved roads. especially on the south 
side of the island. It may be recognized at once by the thin reddish bark, which 
loosens in shreds and sheets like that of some species of cherry and birch, and is 
on this account called ‘‘ West Indian birch’’ in some of the British islands. As 
in case of the jobo tree (Spondias lutea) cuttings root readily, even when large 
stakes are used, rendering these species very easy of propagation, and accordingly 
popular for fence posts and similar uses requiring permanence. As a shade tree 
Bursera is seldom a success, the top being too small and irregular. Even when 
still young it fruits abundantly. The wood is soft and of little value. 
Bursera simaruba is the largest tree of the thin forest growth which covers the 
dry limestone hills of the south side of the island. This is composed mostly of 
slender Leguminosae—Pictetia, Pithecolobium unguis-cati, and several others. 
In some islands a somewhat aromatic sweetish balsam, supposed to have medici- 
nal properties, is obtained from this species. According to Engler this is dried 
down to a sort of resin and goes into export trade as chibou, cahibou, or gomart. 
but it is not stated where these names are used. The leaves, bark, buds, and 
roots are also believed to have medicinal properties. 
Button tree. See Conocarpus erecta. 
Buxus vahlii. 
Family Buxaceae; from Rincon, in thickets near the shore. 
Byrsonima crassifolia. 
Family Malpighiaceae; a tree collected near Mayaguez by Mr. Heller. 
