COOK AND COLLINS——ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 129 
Crescentia cucurbitina. HIGUERILLA. 
Family Bignoniaceae. From Aguada. (Stahl, 6: 184.) 
Crescentia cujete. HiGUERA. CALABASH. PLATE XXXII. 
A tree, according to Lunan, growing about 20 feet (6 meters) high. The fruit 
is used for receptacles of various kinds, while the juice acts as a purge and is said 
to cause abortion in cattle. The pulp with other ingredients forms an excellent 
coughremedy. The wood is used in Jamaica for shafts, saddles, chairs, and other 
articles that require a tough, flexible wood. (Stahl, 6: 183.) 
In Mexico and other Spanish-American countries the common name is “‘ jicara.”’ 
Crescentia microcarpa. HIGUERITO. 
(Stahl, 6: 184.) 
Cresta de gallo blanco. See Teramnus uncinatus. 
Critonia dalea. See Hupatoriwm dalea. 
Critonia parviflora. 
The variety portoricensis is reported from Maricao. 
Crotalaria incana. CASCABELILLO VAC{o. 
An herbaceous, pubescent annual with trifoliate leaves, growing in dry, rocky 
places. From Cayey, along the road. (Stahl, 3: 24.) 
Crotalaria lotifolia. CascABELILLO AXILAR. 
A slender, small-leaved shrub, 75 centimeters high; found at San Juan, Fajardo, 
Coamo, and Guanica. (Stahl, 3: 25.) 
Crotalaria retusa. MarTraca. 
A common leguminous weed with showy yellow and maroon flowers; frequent 
in open waste places. In India this species is cultivated for its fiber. A near 
relative, C. juncea, is the sunn hemp plant of India, a shrub 10 feet or more in 
height, extensively grown for its fiber, which is said to be better than jute. It 
was introduced by the Department some years since for planting in the Southern 
States, but the fiber did not prove to be of good quality except in Florida. An 
experiment in Porto Rico is desirable, particularly since C. jwncea is considered of 
value in India for forage as well as for fiber. According to Stahl the common 
name of C. retusa is ‘‘ cascabelillo grande,’’ while Bello calls it ‘‘ sonajuelas.’’ 
Crotalaria stipularia. CASCABELILLO ALADO. 
An herb 50 centimeters high. (Stahl, 3: 22.) 
Croton. 
Family Euphorbiaceae; numerous species of shrubs of this genus are known in 
Porto Rico. C. discolor is reported from Ponce. 
Croton flavus rigidus. 
This plant is said to be used in baths, for nervous weakness. From Guanica. 
Croton humilis. 
A shrub 1 to 2 feet (80 to 60 centimeters) high. Called *‘ seaside balsam’’ in 
Jamaica. From vicinity of Guanica. 
Croton lucidus. 
A shrub 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) high. From Salinas de Cabo Rojo. 
Cryptomeria. 
Like most tropical countries, Porto Rico is deficient in coniferous trees. It is 
not, however, impossible that Cryptomeric¢ japonica, the largest and perhaps the 
most beautiful of Japanese evergreens, might be found to flourish at the higher 
altitudes. This species, while it will endure frost, thrives also in mild, moist cli- 
mates, and has been very successfully cultivated in the Azores for its valuable 
timber. 
