76 BULLETIN 354, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Wood 1 light yellow, fine and straight grained, taking a very beautiful polish, hard, 

 heavy (60 pounds per cubic foot), strong, somewhat brittle, and not considered dura- 

 ble for outside work. Pores small, solitary or sometimes grouped in twos and threes. 

 Pith rays very narrow and scarcely visible under the hand lens. 



*62. Fagara flaw. (Vahl.) Kr. et Urb. Satinwood. Yellow wood (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 10 to 30 feet high and from 10 to 12 inches in diameter with a limited 

 distribution in the southwestern part of the island. The wood is used for veneering, 

 cabinetwork, and furniture. It is too valuable for structural purposes. It was for- 

 merly exported as a substitute for the true satinwood (Chloroxylon swietenia DC.) of 

 India. 



Wood light yellow, but darkening with age. _ It has a satiny luster ona longitudinal 

 surface, where it shows when polished a beautiful rippled pattern. It is hard, heavy 

 (about 60 pounds per cubic foot), strong, and moderately tough. Structure of wood 

 similar to the preceding. 



Note. — Other species of this genus in Porto Rico are Fagara caribsea Krug et 

 Urb. (Espino Rubral), a tree from 30 to 60 feet high; Fagara monophylla Lam. 

 (Carubio, Mapurito, Rubia, Espino, Espino Rubial); and Fagara trifoliata Sw. 

 (Espino Rubial), trees from 10 to 30 feet high, each commonly occurring in the 

 foothills and south coast regions. 



63. Ravenia urbani Engl. Tortugo Prieto. 



Tree from 30 to 50 feet high, of rare occurrence, reported only from the high, forest 

 region of the Sierra de Luquillo. 



64. Amyris maritima Jacq. Tea, Palo de tea. 



Tree from 15 to 30 feet high and from 4 to 8 inches in diameter, growing in thickets 

 near the sea. It is very suitable for furniture, and splinters are used as torches by 

 the natives. It is especially useful in exposed situations. 



Wood light yellow, with a spicy odor, very fine-grained, and oily to the touch. It 

 takes a fine polish and is hard, heavy, strong, and durable. Pores minute, isolated 

 or in groups of two to twelve, sometimes more, evenly distributed. Pith rays very 

 small and inconspicuous. 



*Note. — Another species of but slight importance in Porto Rico is Amyris bal- 

 samifera L. (Tea; rosewood or torchwood [Jamaica]), a tree from 15 to 20 feet high, 

 with whitish wood very similar in properties and uses to A. maritima. 



*65. Citrus aurantium L. China dulce, Naranja China; Sweet orange (Br. W. I.). 



A cultivated tree from 15 to 40 feet high and occasionally nearly a foot in diameter. 

 A native of southern Asia, it has been widely introduced throughout the Tropics. It 

 is planted everywhere on the island and to some extent grows spontaneously. The 

 wood is much used for making walking sticks, in cabinetwork, and for knickknacks 

 of various sorts. The fruit varies widely in quality and size, but the best of it is heavy 

 and juicy and has a fine flavor. 



Wood light yellow, close and straight grained, taking a beautiful polish, hard, heavy 

 (about 55 pounds per cubic foot), very strong, tough, and durable. Pores very small, 

 numerous, and more or less evenly distributed. Numerous fine tangential lines of 

 soft tissue visible on a smooth transverse surface under the hand lens. Pith rays 

 very narrow, numerous, and inconspicuous. 



Note. — The principal horticultural varieties also cultivated for their fruit, 

 some of which are to be found growing in the semi wild state, are: Citrus bigaradia 

 Loisel (Naranja; Sour orange [Br. W. I.]); Citrus decumana L. (Toronja, Pomelo, 

 Grapefruit); Citrus hystrir, subsp., acida (Roxb.) Bonavia (Lima, Lime); Citrus 

 limonum Risso (Limon, Lemon); Citrus medica L. (Toronja, Cidra, Citron, Citrus 

 limetta, Bergamota, Limon dulce, Sweet lemon). 



1 See pp. 10 and 11, Forest Service Circular 184, "Fustic Wood: Its Adulterants." 



