TREES OF PORTO RICO. 75 



*57. Piscidia piscipula (L.) Sarg. Ventura. 



Tree often 60 feet high and about 2 feet in diameter. It has a very limited occur- 

 rence along the shores of the island. Wood is light yellow-brown, very fine and 

 straight grained, taking a very good polish, hard, heavy (about 54 pounds per cubic 

 foot), strong, tough, and very durable in contact with the ground. Pores rather 

 large, not numerous, and surrounded by softer tissue which is clearly visible in 

 transverse surface as numerous tangential bands. 



58. Andira jamaicensis (W. Wr.) Urb. Moca, Moca blanca; Cabbage tree (Br. W. I.); 



Bastard cabbage-bark, Angelin (Jamaica). 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and from 12 to 30 inches in diameter, quite generally 

 distributed in the forests throughout the island. The wood is very suitable for piles, 

 bridges, boat construction, the hubs of wheels, flooring, and all kinds of carpentry 

 work. Its most common use in Porto Rico is for the framework of country houses. 

 The wood is imported into Europe and this country for walking sticks and umbrella 

 and parasol handles and for the turned parts of cabinetwork. 



Wood reddish-yellow with dark streaks, cross and coarse-grained, capable of a high 

 polish, hard, heavy (from 47 to 55 pounds per cubic foot), strong, tough, and espe- 

 cially durable in water. _ Pores moderately large, isolated or sometimes in groups of 

 two to four, evenly distributed, and connected by tangential branching lines of wood- 

 parenchyma fibers. Pith rays narrow, indistinct. 



59. Erythrina. 



A genus represented in Porto Rico by two native and one introduced species. Of 

 the native species Erythrina corallodendron L. (Bucare, Pinon espinoso; Red bean 

 tree [Jamaica]; Coral wood, Arbol madre [Mexico]) is a shrub or small tree from 10 to 

 20 feet high, found chiefly on limestonehills, while Erythrina glauca Willd. (Bucago) 

 is from 30 to 40 feet high, with a limited occurrence, usually along rivers. Both 

 species occur quite generally throughout tropical America. Their wood is made into 

 corks, floats for fishing nets, light ladders, etc., and is light in color, coarse-grained, 

 corky, soft, light, and weak. _ Pores of medium size, isolated or in groups of two or 

 three, evenly distributed. Pith rays easily distinguishable on a smooth transverse 

 surface. Erythrina micropteryx Poepp. (Bucare, Palo de boyo; Bois immortelle, Madre 

 de cacao [S. Am.]) is a tree from 45 to 60 feet high, cultivated in many localities on the 

 island, mostly on coffee plantations, for its shade. Indigenous in Peru. Wood soft, 

 similar to the other two species. 



XV. Zygophyllace^e. 

 *60. Guajacum officinale L. Guayacan, Lignum-vitae. 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and from 12 to 18 inches in diameter, occurring chiefly 

 along the southern coast. The wood is highly esteemed for its wearing qualities, and 

 is widely used for pulleys, rollers for casters, wooden cogs, mortars, hubs for wheels, 

 and wherever great strength and hardness are required. 



Wood dull yellowish-brown with dark olive-brown streaks, very fine, close and 

 cross grained, greasy to the touch, takes a fine polish, and is extremely hard and 

 heavy (about 85 pounds per cubic foot), very tough, and durable. < Pores minute, 

 isolated, and easily distributed. Pith rays minute and very inconspicuous. 



Note. — Another species said formerly to have been abundant by now of only 

 limited occurrence along the south coast is Guajacum sanctum L. (Guayacan 

 bianco, Guayacancillo), a shrub or tree from 30 to 45 feet high, having a wood 

 similar to that of the preceding. 



XVI. Rutace^e. 



61. Fagara 1 martinicensis Lam. Cenizo, Espino, Espino rubial, Ayua; Prickly ash 

 (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 40 to 80 feet high and from 1 foot to 3 feet in diameter, found in the moun- 

 tain forests throughout the island. The wood is used for furniture and cabinetwork 

 and also for house building. The bark contains a dye. 



1 Fagara= Zanihoxylum. 



