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Legume Family Leguminosae: In the New World the tropical montane forest extends in a narrow band down the cordil-lera from Mexico southward on both sides to Ecuador and on the east side of the Andes to Peru and Bolivia. Characteristic families are the laurel family (Lauraceae), myrtle family (Myrtaceae), legume family Leguminosae family (Leguminosae), and madder family (Rubiaceae). Podocarp (Podocarpus) is scattered in this type and also in the Old World with other conifers. Evergreen oaks range south in this forest from Mexico to Colombia. One of the world's largest oaks is Copey oak (Quercus copeyensis) in the Costa
The wealth of trees includes thousands of tropical American species classified among many plant families, of which the legume family Leguminosae family (Leguminosae) perhaps is best represented. The woods of this mixed forest vary greatly in quality from hard and heavy to soft and lightweight woods. Mahogany (Swietenia), the world's premier cabinet wood, is scattered in this forest from Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil and in the West Indies. Spanish cedar (Cedrela), also in the Mahogany family (Meliaceae), is perhaps the most important timber for domestic use in tropical America.
SAPPANWOOD or SAPANWOOD, sa>an'wo6d, the hard, dark-red or orange-red leartwood of a tropical Asiatic shrub or small ree of the legume family Leguminosae family (Leguminosae), Cae-alpinia sappan; also, a red dye derived from he wood. Sappanwood was the first red dye-rood to be used in Europe. Later, similar woods if various tropical American trees were discov-red in South America. To remove the dye, sap-ianwood is powdered or cut into chips and teeped in hot water. The extract is then allowed o ferment before use. The dye is fugitive and ; little used today. |
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