28 FOREST CONDITIONS OF PORTO RICO. 



strength. Water boiled with this wood is an antiveuereal specific and 

 cures ulcers produced by this disease. The resin from the guayacan 

 lignum vita? is highly valued for gout. The Caribbeans apply it to 

 other local ailments, and foreigners extract it freely on the southern 

 coast, equally with the ucar, espinillo, palo- de-Maria, palo-de-Brazil, 

 and others, for dyes and coloring matter. 



Laurel sabino. — Color, clear olive-brown. Ducts occurring singly, 

 evenly diffused in one or two irregular lines, between the indistinct 

 medullary rays. A straight-grained wood, similar in color but finer 

 grained than the heart of tulip and cucumber tree of the United States. 



Oedro.— Color, pale reddish-brown. Large ducts, few, occurring 

 singly, irregularly grouped and scattered. Medullary rays few and 

 indistinct. Wood fibers interlaced, the wood splitting irregularly. 

 Very similar to the mahogany of commerce. Probably Cedrela odorata, 

 the well-known cigar-box wood of commerce. It is no longer abundant 

 in Porto Eico, and is now largely imported from Santo Domingo, cost- 

 ing $150 per 1,000 feet. It still grows in Aguadilla and near Aibonito, 

 Juana Diaz. Cayey, and Luquillo. 



Htteso. — Color, light yellow, with irregular, thin, yellow-brown 

 streaks. Conspicuous ducts in short, detached chains (1 to 2 rows of 

 cells) evenly diffused. Medullary rays minute, but distinct. Wood 

 fibers strongly interlaced (crossgrained). Tough, uncleavable wood. 

 Used for hubs. 



Atjsubo. — Color, clear, dull reddish -brown. Moderately conspicuous 

 ducts in short, detached, long and short chains (single line of cells) 

 evenly diffused; chains usually between two medullary rays. Medul- 

 lary rays very numerous, minute, indistinct. Wood fibers slightly 

 interlaced and appearing straight grained. Resembles somewhat a 

 fine-grained teak. It is the chief and most-used timber on the island, 

 being noted for its great durability. It is used in the making of wagon 

 spokes, which are turned out by machinery in Ponce, and small stocks 

 of it were noticed in several towns. It is close grained and beautiful 

 in color, and should be utilized for veneering; it would make most 

 excellent furniture. 



Ucare negro. — Color, dark umber-brown. Conspicuous ducts oc- 

 curring singly and evenly scattered between the medullary rays; the 

 latter minute, distinct. Wood fibers interlaced, but appearing to be 

 straight grained. Remotely resembles a very fine-grained black 

 walnut. 



Pata de Caba and Algarrobo. — These samples are so similar in 

 details of structure as to be from the same or closely related species. 

 Color, rich blackish-brown, irregularly mottled, and streaked with 

 areas of pale reddish-brown; sapwood (present in pata de caba) light 

 brown. Ducts conspicuous, occurring singly or two together, between 



