12 FLOKA OF ST. CROIX AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. 



Centrosema, Terammis, Vigna, Ehyncliosia, and otbers; grasses, as Lap- 

 pago, Aristida, Sporobolus, Eleusine, Dactylocteuiimi, and Eragrostis ; 

 orSyiiautbereaf,asEl«'i)liaiitopius,Distieptus, BideusjaiidPectis. AVliilst 

 all these latter forms llower during the greater part of the year, the beau- 

 tiful Coiivolvulaeeai, such as Iiwmoca fastigiata, Nil, umhcUata, disnecta, 

 violacca, and otbers, arc in blossom only during the winter months, from 

 December to February. 



In some places that are moist enough, sedges and semi-aiiuatie plants 

 will be seen growing; in a few rivulets which contain water all the year 

 round, and which are limited to Vieques and St. Croix, a few a(juatic 

 forms occur, such as Ecliinodorus cordifolius, Lemna minor, Tijplta iin- 

 (jmiifoJia, and Xymphaa ampla. 



The pastures, which occupy a considerable extent of the hind, are 

 either artificial, — planted with Guinea-grass {Panicum maximum), a 

 perennial plant, and, like most of the cultivated West India plants, in- 

 troduced from tlie Ohl World, — or natural, covered with various forms of 

 indigenous Graminece as well as low shrubs and trees, tliat have con- 

 tinually to be cleared away to prevent the land becondng overrun by 

 them. Tlie artificial pastures as a rule are fenced in, and often protected 

 against the dry season by the plantingof Tliibet-trees (.Icrttm Lcbbel), now 

 commonly naturalized everywhere; the natural ones, on the contrary, are 

 generally open and abandoned to the cattle, whilst the artificial ones are 

 cut regularly, and the stock is not allowed to enter them. 



The grasses composing the natural pastures are several species of Pa- 

 nicum, Paspalum, Dactyloctenium, and Sporobolus; some, as Trichola-na 

 imnhiri.s, being very bitter and unfit for herbage. The roaming about 

 of the cattle everywhere effectually prevents the re-establislmient of trees 

 or woods, which, for climatic reasons, would be desirable in many jdaces; 

 for the young buds are destroyed by sheei) i^"<^ goats, wliich no doubt 

 have contributed largely to deteriorating even the stdl existing woods. 



Around dwellings are found planted and nalmalizcd most of the plants 

 now c^unmon to nearly all tropical countries, — some fruit-bearing, as 

 Tamarinditfi indiai, Mani/ifem iiidica, Corlva Tapacja, FcrKca firati.ssima, 

 Crcavcntia Cujctf, Melicucca hijuga; others ornain<'ntaI, as roiticiana rcgia, 

 CaUiandra mman, Cccmlpinia pnleherrimn. and others Actual gardens 

 are now vi>ry rare, tlowers being mostly enlti\;itrd in p(»ts or boxes. 

 Some few vegetables of colder climates are cultivated in shady i>laces 

 where water is abundant, such as salad, radishes, cabbage, and others. 



In waste places are found most of the tropical weeds, as liicinm com- 



