TREES OF PORTO RICO. 83 



distributed throughout the mountainous interior from the Luquillos to Maricao and 

 Anasco. Reported also from several other of the West Indies. No local uses for the 

 wood are reported. Pores of wood small, isolated, or in groups of from two to eight. 

 or more. Pith rays small, inconspicuous. 



XXVIII. PvHAMNACEiE. 



100. Colubrina ferruginosa Brongn. Abelluello, Abejuelo, Achiotillo, Aguacatillo, 



Aguaytaran, Guitaran, Quitaran, Mabi, Raton, Sanguinaria; Snakewood, Iron- 

 wood, West Indian greenheart (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and sometimes 2 feet in diameter, quite generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the island. The wood is used for building and occasionally for 

 piling on account of its resistance to decay in water. 



Wood light yellowish-brown, very fine and wavy-grained, taking a very good pol- 

 ish, very durable in contact with the soil, hard, heavy (about 60 pounds per cubic 

 foot), strong, and tough. Pores very small, somewhat more numerous in the early 

 wood than in the late wood. Pith rays very narrow and inconspicuous. 



*Note. — Another species of little economic importance is Colubrina reclinata 

 (l'Her.) Brongn. (Mabi, Palo mabi). a tree 15, rarely 30, feet high from the south- 

 western part of the island. Wood similar to the preceding. | 



XXIX. Elcecarpace^. 



101. Sloanea berteriana Choisy. Cacao motilla, Cacao otillo, Cacao roseta, Cacaillo, 



Motillo. 



Tree from 25 to 90 feet high and sometimes over 2 feet in diameter, occurring chiefly 

 in mountain forests. The wood is used locally for fuel and building purposes. 



Wood white, taking a high polish, very hard, heavy, strong, tough, and very durable 

 in exposed situations. 



XXX. Malvaceae. 



*102. Hibiscus tiliaceus L. {=Hibiscus elatus &w.=Paritium tiliaceum A. Juss.) 

 Emmajaqua, Emajagua, Majagua, Mahagua; Blue or mountain mahoe (Br. W. 

 I.)* Mahot, Mahot franc (Haiti); Hau (Hawaii). 



Tree from 10 to 30 feet high, growing in moist situations, widely distributed through- 

 out the uplands of the island. Common also in the other West Indies and throughout 

 the remaining tropical world. The bark furnishes a strong and flexible fiber com- 

 parable to jute, which is often used in making cordage. Nearly all the ropes in Porto 

 Rico are made from this tree. It has also been highly recommended as a raw material 

 for paper making. The wood makes handsome furniture, cabinetwork, and flooring, 

 and is used largely for shingles and railway sleepers. 



Wood dark bluish green, with dark and light streaks, (about 47 pounds per cubic 

 foot), straight and fine-grained, taking a fine polish, hard, heavy, beautiful when pol- 

 ished, strong, tough, and very durable. Pores small or in groups of two or three, 

 evenly distributed. Pith rays minute, inconspicuous. 



103. Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. Emajaguilla, Palo de Jaqueca, Santa Maria. 

 Tree from 30 to 60 feet high, occurring on the north and west coasts in moist situations. 

 It is a common tree on the seashore of most eastern tropical countries and throughout 

 the West Indies. The inner bark of the young branches yields a tough fiber which 

 is used for cordage. The wood is little used locally, but elsewhere in the Tropics is 

 used for cabinetwork, building, and a variety of other purposes. 



Wood dark brown, tinged with red, beautiful, ''satiny," fine-grained, resembling 

 in general appearance our black walnut (Juglans nigra L.). It is hard, heavy, tough, 

 and very durable, especially in water. Pores small, solitary, or in groups of two or 

 three, evenly distributed. Pith rays moderately narrow, distinct, clearly visible on 

 a polished radial surface, where they appear as light flecks and give a pleasing 

 appearance. 



