TREES OF PORTO RICO. 89 



XLII. Myrtace^:. 



*128. Psidium guajava L. Guayava, Guayaba, Guayava pera; Guava (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 15 to 25 feet in height and from 6 to 8 inches in diameter. It is culti- 

 vated throughout the island and in the Tropics generally and is well known on account 

 of its fruit. The wood is used for making agricultural implements for structures 

 where strength and elasticity are required, and_J'or posts, fuel, and charcoal. 



Wood brownish gray, tinged with red, compact, fine and straight grained, with a 

 mottled and often very beautiful appearance. It is hard, heavy (about 45 pounds 

 per cubic foot), strong, and tough. Pores very small, not numerous, and distributed 

 in rather wide inconspicuous zones, visible only under the hand lens. Pith rays very 

 inconspicuous. 



*129. Amomis caryophyllata (Jacq.) Krug et Urb. Auzu, Ausu, Guayavita, Limon- 

 cillo, Malagueta, Pimienta malagueta; Bayberry tree, Bay rum tree, Wild 

 cinnamon (Br. W. I.). 



Tree from 20 to 45 feet high and about 2 feet in diameter, occurring in mountainous 

 parts of the island and throughout the West Indies. The wood is suitable for car- 

 pentry, cabinetwork, posts, sills, cogs, rollers, and other millwork, and was formerly 

 exported. The leaves have the taste and odor of lemon, and an essential oil of bay 

 or bay oil is obtained by distillation. 



Wood dark, mottled, compact, fine and occasionally cross grained, taking a beautiful 

 polish. It is very hard, heavy (about 60 pounds per cubic foot), strong, tough, and 

 very durable. Pores very small, numerous, evenly distributed throughout the wood. 

 Pith rays very narrow and inconspicuous. 



*Note. — A variety of this species is also recognized, Amomis caryophyllata vox. 

 grisea (Kiaersk.) Krug et Urb. (Limoncillo, Malagueta, Pimienta), a tree some- 

 times 50 feet high in mountainous regions, the wood of which is very similar to 

 that of the preceding. 



130. Myrcia. 



The genus is represented in Porto Rico by the following four species, which attain 

 tree size: Myrcia leptoclada P. DO. (Guayabacon, Guayavacon); Myrcia splendens 

 (Sw.) P. DC. (Rama menuda, Hoja menuda); Myrcia? pagani Krug et XJrb. (Ausu); 

 and Myrcia defiexa (Poir.) P. DC. (Cieneguillo, Guayavacon). 



Trees from 15 to 60 feet high, found in the mountainous regions of the island. 

 The wood is used very little except for fuel and charcoal. Wood reddish brown, 

 hard, heavy, and strong. 



131. Calypiranthes sintenisii Kiaersk. Hoja menuda, Limoncillo, Limoncillo de 



monte. 



Tree from 15 to 25 feet high and from 6 to 10 inches in diameter, occurring in the 

 Luquillo region. The wood is used in carpentry and for fuel and charcoal. 



Wood fine and straight grained, hard, heavy, strong, and flexible. Pores small and 

 numerous. Pith rays inconspicuous. 



133. Eugenia aeruginea P. DC. Guasavera, Guayabacon. 



Tree from 30 to 60 feet high and from 1 foot to 2 feet in diameter, rather widely 

 distributed on the island. 



Wood light brown or chestnut colored, fine and straight grained, beautiful when 

 polished, hard, heavy, strong, and flexible. Pores very small and arranged singly or 

 in radial rows of from two to three between the very narrow inconspicuous pith rays. 



Note. — Other species of this genus very similar to the above but of slight 

 importance are Eugenia stahlii (Kiaersk.) Krug et Urb. (Guayabota, Limoncillo), 

 tree from 15 to 60 feet high and from 1 to 2 feet in diameter; Eugenia sintenisii 

 (Kiaersk.) Krug et Urb., from 45 to 60 feet high; and Eugenia floribunda West 

 ^ (Murta) 30 feet high. All are common throughout the island and their woods 

 are similar to the preceding. 



