Scientific names for Dominican trees

[George Holmes]

I am trying to confirm the scientific names for some trees in the Cordillera Central (around Constanza). Can anyone tell me which of these I might have got wrong?
Pino - Pinus Occidentalis
Manacla - Prestoea Montana
Ebano Verde - Magnolia Pallenscens
Aguacatillo - Possibly Alchornea latifolia
Acasia - Anyone know this one?
Guama - Lonchocarpus domingensis
Jina - Inga falifolla
Frijol - Anyone know?
Palo de viento - Didymopanax tremulu
Cara de Hombre - Lyonia spp.
Palo santo - Possibly Guaiacum but not sure which speciease
Palo cruz - Possibly Guaiacum

Thanks

 

[Chirimoya]

George, as it happens, a couple of years ago I did the English version of that DVD set about Valle Nuevo (Madre de las Aguas) and I'm sure most of that was covered there. Have you got a copy? I'm going to send you some excerpts from the text by PM.

Could acasia be a type of acacia, like acacia magna that grows in other parts of the country (introduced species?)

Manacla palm - Prestoea montana.
creole pine - pinus occidentalis
palo de viento or wind tree (Didymopanax tremulus)
pale magnolia (Magnolia pallescens)
palo de cruz (Podocarpus aristulatus)

 

[George Holmes]

Pretty sure the acacia is an introduced species.

By the way, this is for a minor appendix about uses of trees in the cordillera central. One of the uses of Palo de Cruz is that people put a little piece of it above the door frame on the inside of their house as a way of keeping away brujas and other evil spirits. Leaves are used for medicinal teas. It also makes really good axe handles, as does palo de viento.