Colubrina arborescens (Mill.) Sarg.

OCR>>>Ceanothus arborescena Mill*
3. Pol 11b ovatIs 8«8slll'bU3 nervosua florlbus alarlbus. Ceanothus with oval nervous leaves set close to the ’branches, flowers proceeding from the wings of the leaves, commonly ca led Red-*wood.
The third sort grows naturally in the Bahama Islands, from whence the late Ur. Catesby brought the seeds to England. It also grows naturally in Barbadoos, and some other islands in the West Indies, from whence I have received the seeds. This, in tne countries of its natural growth, rises to the height of forty or fifty feet, with large trunks, which are “by the inhabitants fawn into boards, and were at first esteemed for the beauty of their colour; but being exposed to the air, their colour vanished and they bedarae pale, so Have not since been much regarded, . , ,
Gard. Diet. ed. 8. 1768.
(Oolubrina ferruginosa?, see. Eew Index)
Bahamas
THE “BOIS PELÉ” OF HAITI
RHAMNACE^E.
Colubrina Colubrina (Jacq.). Comb. hop. Millsp*.Ficld Mu £•' C. ferruginosa Brongn. Am. Sc. Nat. 10:369. Plentiful along the sea beach, second line of vegetation. The Creek. Cayman Brae (1150), where it is called “ Black Velvet” and is used in infusion in lieu of tea, and along the south shore of the island (1230); shores north of Georgetown, Grand Cayman (1256). Vi • I ■
“ Bois pelé,” Colubrina ferruginosat Brong., known as “naked wood” in Monda and the Bahamas, is not found generally over the Republic of Haiti j but exists in considerable quantities in the foothills of the nigh mountains north of the town of Cayes, near the end of the southwest peninsula.
In that section the natives are unusually intelligent and progressive. They make a practice ofgrowing “ bois pelé ” near their homes, usually in a lot 50 to 100 feet square behind the house. The seeds are planted about six feet apart each way and the trees grow very tall and straight with clean boles and little taper. They do best on a rich well-watered soil, such as is suitable for bananas, and apparently are free from insect attacks and disease. Tl* • WQS• I i/9
It requires about ten years to grow a tree with a usable length of 40 feet or more and a diameter (breast high) of about six inches. These poles are used solely for rafters and ridgepoles for the wattle-and-daub huts or “cayes.” The wood is hard, very stiff, works fairly well, is not badly attacked by termites, and lasts a long time when not exposed.—William R. Barbour, Directeur, Division de Sylviculture, Haiti.
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