COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 187 
Marunguay. See Zamia erosa and Z. portoricensis. 
Masa. See Hedwigia balsamifera. 
A tree from the eastern part of the island; height, 35 to 40 feet (11 or 12 meters) ; 
diameter, 15 to 20 inches (37 to 50 centimeters). Wood ash-colored, hard; 
specific gravity, 0.827; used in building houses. (Exp. 1857.) 
Mastic. 
The true mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus, is a native of the Mediterranean region, 
and is not known to have been introduced into the West Indies, where the name 
is applied to Bursera simaruba, also called the West Indian mastic. 
Mastuerzo. See Lepidium virginicum. 
Mata de niguas. See Tournefortia hirsutissima. 
Mata de peo. See Lasianthus lanceolatus. 
Mata de seda. See Calotropis procera. 
Mata-gallinas. See Solanum caribaeum. 
Matayba domingensis. Raton. 
A tree of 10 to 15 meters; family Sapindaceae. Reported from Adjuntas, 
Utuado, and Sierra de Luquillo. M. apetala is also reported from Utuado and 
Luquillo. (Urban, Symb. 1: 351.) 
Matillo. 
A tree from all parts of the island; height, 25 to 30 feet (8 to 9 meters); diam- 
eter, 12 to 15 inches (30 to 37 centimeters). Wood red, rather hard; specific 
gravity, 0.613; used forlumber. (Exp. 1857.) (Grosourdy, 2: 401.) 
Mato. See Dioclea reflexa. 
Mato amarillo. See Caesalpinia bonducella. 
Mato azul. See Caesalpinia bondue. 
Mato blanco. See Caesalpinia bondue. 
Mato colorado. See Canavalia rusiosperma. 
Red sea beans on sale by an herb dealer in the market of Ponce as a remedy for 
piles, used in combination with the gray beans of Caesalpinia bonducella, as 
described under ‘‘ tortera.”’ 
Mato de la playa. See Canavalia obtusifolia, 
Mato palo. 
A moderately abundant wild tree, 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) high, witha 
rather long, straight trunk 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter. It furnishes a 
rather light soft wood, fibrous in texture, soft and fine-grained. Yellow, or some- 
times light cinnamon-colored, with numerous parallel lines, giving it a very beauti- 
ful aspect. Its mostcommon use isin making small boats, tubs, and wash basins. 
Specific gravity 0.450. Also called ‘‘ gaguey’’ and referred to the genus Ficus. 
(Grosourdy, 2: 392.) 
Matos. See Ormosia krugii and Mucuna wrens. 
Matos colorados. See Canavalia ensiformis. 
Matos de playa. See Caesalpinia bonduc. 
Matraca. 
The Spanish word for rattle; applied in Porto Rico to rattles made from the 
calabash tree, Crescentia cujete, and also to Crotalaria retusa, the ripe seeds of 
which become loosened and rattle in the pod. 
Mauricia. See Mauritia flexuosa. 
Mauricio. See Magnolia portoricensis. 
