246 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
vegetative branches render the tree easily distinguishable. The specific identity 
of this fruit is uncertain. It is, however, quite distinct from the fruit called sweet 
lemon in Florida. 
Sweet orange. See Citrus aurantium. 
Sweet potato. See Ipomoea batatas. 
Sweet sop. See Anona squamosa. 
Sweet william, Barbadoes. See Quamoclit quamoclit. 
Swietenia mahagoni. MAHOGANY. CaAoBA,° 
Family Meliaceae; the distribution of the true mahogany extends from Florida 
and the Bahamas to Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Peru. It is now believed that 
the mahogany which comes from Mexico and Honduras is the wood of closely 
allied but distinct species. An oil used as a purgative is said to be extracted from 
the seeds, and the bark is employed as a tonic. In Cuba this tree is said by 
Pichardo to yield a gum equal to gum arabic. 
It is not known that the mahogany exists at present in the island. Cordova, 
however, refers to the ‘‘ caoba’’ as one of the trees growing in the highlands of 
Porto Rico. 4 
Grosourdy recommends the replanting of mahogany, leaving 30 or 40 feet 
(9 to 12 meters) between the trees. These prefer level, rather stony, ground, grow 
rather quickly, and are usually met with in the low altitudes of the mountains as 
well as in the lower forests. 
Plantations on a large scale prove a source of riches. The tree is of the highest, 
and the long, straight trunk reaches 2 yards (1.8 meters) or more in diameter. It 
furnishes a rather light, hard wood that is without doubt very strong. The grain 
may be coarse or fine, according to the class. In countries where it grows the 
wood is used in building houses. Specific gravity, 0.819. (Grosourdy, 2: 370.) 
Symplocos lanata. NisPERO CIMARRON. 
Family Symplocaceae; a native forest tree, 25 to 30 feet (7 to 9 meters) high; 
from Adjuntas and Penuelas. A related species, S. micrantha, is reported from 
the Sierra de Luquillo and Aybonito. (Urban, Add. 1: 52.) 
Symplocos latifolia. AcrrruNna. 
Family Styracaceae; a native forest tree the height of 60 feet (18 meters). 
Separated by Urban from Symplocos martinicensis as understood by Stahl (6: 58). 
Reported from Sierra de Yabucoa, near Aibonito, Adjuntas, Las Marias, Utuado, 
and Manati. 
Symplocos martinicensis. ACEITUNA. 
Family Symplocaceae; a shrub or tree native from Cuba to Trinidad. Also 
called ‘‘aceituna cimarrona”’’ and ‘‘aceituna blanca.’? (Urban, Add. 1: 50; 
Stahl, 6: 58.) 
Symplocos polyantha. Pawo DE CABRA. 
A native forest tree, collected by Eggers in the Sierra de Luquillo. (Urban, 
Add. 1: 49.) 
Synedrella nodiflora. SarRBATANA. 
An herbaceous annual composite, 50 centimeters high, found in pastures 
(Stahl, 5: 148.) 
Syzygium jambolanum. JAMBOLIN. 
A myrtaceous tree, bearing an edible fruit. It was introduced from the Malay 
region into Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, and the French islands, and has fre- 
quently escaped from cultivation. but is not known from Porto Rico. 
Tabaco. See Nicotiana tabacwm. 
«Cordova, Memorias de la Puerto Rico, 1: 183, 229. 


