COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. I61 
Higuero. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 20 to 25 feet (6 to 8 meters); diameter, 
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters). Wood light, soft; specific gravity 0.638; 
not used. (Exp. 1857.) 
Higuillo. See Plumbago scandens. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 15 to 20 feet (5 to 6 meters); dia- 
meter, 5 to 6 inches. Wood white, soft; specific gravity, 0.689; not used. (Exp. 
1857.) 
Higuillo amargo. See Piper citrifolium. 
Hippocratea ovata. BEJUCO PRIETO. 
Family Hippocrateaceae; a woody climber. (Stahl, 4: 39.) 
Hippocratea scandens. 
A woody climber; reported from Sierra de Luquillo. 
Hippomane mancinella. MANCHINEEL. MANZANILLO. 
Reported by Hill as a tree of the coast region. A member of the Euphorbiaceae 
and related to the tallow tree, Sapium sebiferuwm. The wood makes handsome 
furniture and takes a high polish. The abundant milky juice is extremely poison- 
ous to most persons, although some are not affected by it. In the eye it is said to 
cause temporary and even permanent blindness. Its deleterious properties have, 
however, been greatly exaggerated, to the effect that sleeping in its shade is con- 
sidered fatal. The fruit has somewhat the appearance of a small apple, whence 
the Spanish name. The acrid juice attacks the mouth and prevents one eating a 
fatal quantity. Hill’s account may be quoted as well illustrating the popular 
belief, page 38: 
“The alleged effects of the guao tree upon man and animal have just been 
related, but more serious still are said to be the results of resting in the shade of 
the manzanillo or manchineel. This tree spreads throughout the seacoasts and 
river banks; is covered with regular leaves; its stem almost two feet in circum- 
ference; its bark smooth and delicate; the flowers rese-tinted. It is loaded with 
small, apple-like fruit of a pleasant appearance and odor; the leaves resemble 
those of the pear tree; the entire tree is full of a milky juice, which exudes in the 
heat of the sun. According to current belief, as frequently related by the writer, 
the incautious traveler, attracted by the beautiful appearance of the manzanillo, 
reposes in its shade, soon finds himself poisoned, and if lacteal substance falls 
upon him from the leaves, or if he touches the leaves he suffers as from the appli- 
cation of some blistering substance. It is also said that a fish which eats the fruit 
becomes infected, the gills becoming yellow and black, and one who eats the fish 
in this state is said to fall into a profound lethargy, with a general relaxation of 
all the limbs. according to the quantity of the fish he has eaten. This effect, 
according to popular belief, continues twenty-four hours, and frequently results 
in death. The use of brandy or other spirituous liquors or the drinking of sea 
water is considered beneficial as an antidote.”’ 
Furnishes a valuable wood for fine furniture, as easy to work as mahogany, 
whose properties and durability it possesses. It is of ordinary weight and hard- 
ness, fine-grained, and somewhat fibrous in texture. Its color is a handsome yel- 
lowish gray tinged with brown, with brown or black lines. This wood should 
not be worked until thoroughly dried and seasoned. Specific gravity, 0.674. 
(Grosourdy, 2: 401.) 
Hirtella. 
A genus, according to Stahl, of two Porto Rican species, H. triardra and H. 
rugosa, both bearing the common name ‘‘tete de burro.’’ They are shrubs or 
small trees and are related to Chrysobalanus, which Stahl considers the type of a 
distinct family of Leguminosae, although the prevailing tendency is to place it in 
the Rosaceae. 
