164 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
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for interior work in houses. In working this wood care should be taken that the — 
dust does not enter the eyes or nose, as it is very irritating and produces con- 
siderable inflammation. It is sufficient that the face be covered with a gauze. 
The native name is here spelled ‘‘ javillo.”” (Grosourdy, 2: 392.) 
Huso. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 35 to 40 feet (11 to 12 meters); diam- 
eter, 12 to 15 inches (30 to 37 centimeters). Wood greenish, very hard; specific 
gravity 1.114; used for cabinetwork. Also called ‘‘espinillo.”’ (Exp. 1857.) 
Color, light yellow, with irregular, thin, yellowish-brown streaks. Conspicuous 
ducts in short, detached chains (1 to 2 rows of cells) evenly diffused. Medullary 
rays minute, but distinct. Wood fibers strongly interlaced (crossgrained). 
Tough, uncleavable wood. Used for hubs. (Hill and Sudworth.) 
Huso amarillo. 
Specific gravity 0.88, according to Captain Hansard. 
Huso blanco. 
Captain Hansard says that this wood has a specific gravity of 0.89. 
Huso colorado. 
Specific gravity, according to Captain Hansard, is 1.30. 
Hydrocotyle. 
This is a genus of small umbelliferous herbs, growing in moist, shady places, 
and usually creeping by means of long rhizomes. 
Hydrocotyle asiatica. See Centella asiatica. 
Hydrocotyle hirsuta. YERBA DE CUARTO. 
Hydrocotyle spicata. See Hydrocotyle hirsuta. 
Hydrocotyle umbellata. YERBA DE CUARTO. 
A creeping herb found in rivulets and swamps. Used by Brazilian natives to 
produce vomiting; also said to be an antidote for poison. Kills sheep if they feed 
upon it. 
Hygrophila portoricensis. HIGROFILA DE PUERTO RICO. 
Family Acanthaceae; an herbaceous annual somewhat fleshy, found in ponds 
and on sides of ravines. Peculiar to Porto Rico. (Stahl, 4: 243.) 
Hymenaea courbaril. ALGARROBO. PuaTE XLI. 
Also called *‘courbaril’’ and in Jamaica ‘‘locust tree.’’ It belongs to the 
family Cassiaceae and is a large tree 15 or more meters high. The fruit is a short, 
thick, and very hard pod, the seeds of which are embedded in a dry, sweet pulp, 
eaten by children. The pods frequently appear in the markets. This tree is said 
to produce the **gum animae’’: of commerce, which is thought to be a finer yar- 
nish than shellac. ; 
Specific gravity of the wood, 1.06. (Hansard.) Jacquin says that the wood is 
very hard and tough and is used for cogged wheels in sugar mills. Lunan attrib- 
utes a variety of medicinal virtues to the different parts of this tree. (Stahl, 3: 
129.) 
Grosourdy describes two varieties, which he calls *‘algarrobo amarillo’’ and 
‘‘algarrobo colorado.” 
Hypelate paniculata. Gaira. 
Family Sapindaceae; a low or middle-sized tree. (Stahl, 2: 161.) 
Hyptis. See Wesosphaerum. 
Iaya jabico. See Hrithalis fruticosa. 
Ibatia maritima. Popon. 
A densely pubescent, climbing, asclepiadaceous plant preferring forests and 
thickets near the coast. 


