Notes respecting the Isthmus of Panamà.
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quite so much prized by the natives as cedro real; has a long spotted grain; is softish, brittle, and covered with prickles on the outside.
Cedro papallo.—One of the many species of cedar.
Cedro real amargo.—The finest cedar of the country; of a strong fragrant smell, and long grain; used for many purposes in carpentry, and boat and canoe building; grows to five or six feet diameter, and is very common.
Caoba.—Bastard mahogany; not very common in the vicinity of Panamà, but brought, in immense quantities, in canoes, from the coast, where it is very abuudant, and grows to an immense size.
Corotu.—Like elm; grows to a large size; used for canoes.
Corotu prieto.—Soft and porous, like walnut; long-grained; grows to an enormous size; is generally used next in preference to cedar for the largest bongs and canoes, and is very abundant in all parts.
Caraǹo.—Close.grained, like holly; light brownish yellow; tough; grows to a small size, and is common; is most excellent for scales.
Carati.—Hard, close grain; brownish, tough, heavy; grows to the size of one foot six inches diameter, and is very common.
Calmitillo.—Like birch; grows to about one foot six inches diameter, and is very common.
Ciruela.—Very white, long grain, soft, spongy, not tough, small size, and scarce; the bark used medicinally as an astringent.
Ciromo.—
Ciquarri.—A fine wood; hardish and tough; something like bastard mahogany, but a more shiny grain.
Espino di mata.—Like birch; dirty, white, long-grained, soft, not tough; grows to a small size, and is scarce.
Espino colorado.—Like walnut-tree; a dark wood, nearly the colour of cedar, but much harder, and a close grain; grows to about three feet diameter; beautiful wood for boat-building.
Espabé mulato.—A softish, long-grained, close, tough, very knotty and refractory wood, bu? very lasting; grows to an immense size, and used universally for flooring and wainscoting; is very common.
Espabé prieto.—One of the common woods of the country; I think something like elm; grows to the size of five feet diameter, and is used in every branch of house-building; it has rather a rough grain to work.
Frijollillo.—Soft grain.
Faustin.—Like birch.
Guallacan.—Lignum vitæ; very common, close-grained, hard, heavy, and tough; works exceedingly well when rather green; grows to the size of from four to five feet diameter, and is much used for gun-carriages, wheels, &c.
Guachapali.—Soft, open grain, like walnut; brownish, tough, and
