Vegetative key and description of tree species of Santa Rosa

Bunchosia biocellata Schlecht.; MALPIGHIACEAE Description: Small to medium sized tree. Opposite leaves, usually 10-17 cm in length and elliptic in shape, with a small swollen ‘joint’ at each leaf node. Underside of leaves contain slight, difficult to see ‘hair-like’ pubescence sometimes in patches. Leaves are flimsy and dark to olive green in color. On the underside of the leaf, near the base of the petiole, there are usually a pair of characteristic dark to orange dots (ocellate glands). At first look, they are the size of a pen tip and often look like a blemish. Leaves usually dry yellow-olive in color. Trunk has a fluted, sinuous or roped appearance and tends to be dark and rather ‘dirty’ looking. Habitat and Phenology: Locally rare to somewhat common tree of deciduous forest. Mature fruit mid wet season.

Similar Species: Exostema mexicanum (interpetiolar stipules; no ocellate glands); Coutaria hexandra (interpetiolar stipules; no ocellate glands).

Bursera permollis Standl. and Steyerm.; BURSERACEAE. Description: Small to medium sized tree. Trifolioate leaflets with red tinged rachis and acuminate tip, approximately 15 cm in length. Round to oval leaflets up to 7 cm in length. Rachis and undersides of leaflets are softly pubescent. Crushed leaves may have slight turpentine smell usually commonplace in the Burseraceae but several individuals encountered do not have this smell. Peeling orange to red trunk essentially identical to B. simaruba. Habitat and Phenology: More likely encountered near dry mesa tops, dry secondary forest. Similar Species: Bursera simaruba (similar bark but without trifoliate leaves).

Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. "Indio desnudo”; BURSERACEAE. Description: Medium to large sized tree. Pinnately compound-odd leaves, usually greater than 20-25 cm in length and with 2-9 oval, acuminate, (sometimes asymmetrical) leaflets. Leaves have a pronounced turpentine smell when crushed. Leaf rachis is often red. Bark is extremely smooth and green (especially when young) with fine peeling paper orange bark. Wood is very soft and moist when cut. Infructescences of 9-12 mm long, three lobed, oblong fruits. The fruits remain green throughout the wet season, and ripen in the following dry season. Habitat and Phenology: Deciduous dioecious tree. Tree often used as a fence post (old fence post trees are occasionally seen in regenerating forest). Quite common in deciduous forest, especially in drier areas. Flowers late dry season. Mature fruit the following dry season. Similar Species: Spondias mombin (similar leaves but very different trunk). Comments: Dioecious tree.

Bursera tomentosa (Jacq.) Triana and Planch. "Caraño"; BURSERACEAE. Description: Medium sized tree. Leaf arrangement alternate. Pinnately compound-odd leaf, usually with 9 leaflets, with a winged rachis. Leaflets are elliptical, serrated and pubescent. When crushed the leaves have a strong turpentine smell. Bark smooth and white/gray. Habitat and Phenology: Deciduous. Somewhat rare, although locally common, found generally in dry secondary deciduous forest. Similar Species: Swartzia cubensis (also with a winged rachis, but leaflets lack serrations); Inga vera (also with a winged rachis, pinnately compound-even leaf, leaflets lack serrations).

Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) H.B.K. "Nancite, Nance"; MALPIGHIACEAE. Description: Small to medium sized scrubby tree. Leaves opposite, round to elliptic in shape, usually 5-10 cm in length. Leaf undersides are densely brown pubescent and felt-like (hairs can be easily rubbed off from the upper surface). Small intrapetiolar stipules on young shoots. Bark 30