92 FLORA OF ST. CROIX AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS^ 



749. Tragia volubilis, L. (v. Nettle, Bran-nettle). 



Fl. Feb., Sept. Male flowers often transformed into a globose mon- 

 strosity. The plant is believed by the negroes to give them luck in 

 marketing. In thickets and along roads, common. All islands. 



750. Ricinus communis, L. a) (v. Castor-oil tree). 



Fl. all the year round. Seeds used for pressing castor-oil. Natural- 

 ized on waste places, common. All islands. 



751. Manihot utilissima, Pohl (Plant. Bras, i, 32) (v. Cassava). 



Fl. March-May. Root used for manufacturing starch and flour, which 

 is made up into flat, thin cakes (bambaui). Naturalized, and culti- 

 vated. All islands. 



752. Jatropha Curcas, L. (v. French Physic-nut, Skitnetchi). 



Fl. all the year round. Seeds very drastic. A low tree, often planted 

 on graves. Naturalized near dwellings, common. All islands. 



753. J. gossypiifolia, L. (v. Physic-nut), o) staphysagriaefolia, /3) elegans. 



Fl. all the year round. The whole plant has a disagreeable smell. 

 Suffrutescent, l'-4' high. ' A troublesome weed near dwellings and in 

 fields. Very common everywhere. All islands. 



754. J. multifida, L. (v. Coral-bush). 



Fl. all the year round. Naturalized in gardens. St. Croix; St. 

 Thomas. 



755. Sebastiania lucida, Mull. (DC. Proclr. 1. c. 1181) (Exccecaria, Sw.). 



Fl. Feb.-June. A shrub or low tree, 5'-20' high. In thickets and 

 forests, common. All islands. 



756. Hippomane Mancinella, L. (v. Manchineel-tree). 



Fl. precocious, Feb.-April, coetanous, May-June. Wood affording 

 excellent timber, but very little used on account of the caustic milky 

 juice. On sandy shores, often gregarious, sometimes in the interior of 

 the islands on hills. St. Croix (common) ; Virgin Islands (uncommon). 



757. Exccscaria Laurocerasus, Mull. (1. c. 1202). j ) laurifolia. 



Not seen flowering. A high tree ; bark smooth, white. In dense 

 forests, rare. St. Jan (Cinnamon Bay). 



758. Hura crepitans, L. (v. Sandbox-tree). 



Fl. Sept. Leaves deciduous in Jan. -April. Seeds drastic. A high 

 tree with horizontal branches and prickly stem. In forests and near 

 dwellings, common. All islands. 



