POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS 31 
1 inch across, are borne vertically in a loose arrangement along a 
long, terminal flowering stem. The inflated, oblong, beaked pods are 
hairy: they are 1144 inches in length and about 1% inch in diameter 
and contain many small, shiny, kidney-shaped seeds. This species, 
like its relatives, is reproduced by seeds. The seeds usually germinate 
in the fall and mature pods in the early spring. The plants die after 
producing a seed crop. 
DistrisuTIon AND Haprrat.—Although this species is more widely 
distributed in the Virgin Islands than is Crotalaria ineana L. or C. 
retusa L., it occurs more commonly in the drier areas. The plants 
thrive best in full sun though they are shade tolerant. They grow in 
open pastures and along roadsides and ditchbanks. Apparently the 
seeds remain viable for long periods, as plants may be found in fr eshly 
plowed fields or pastures. This species tolerates a hard compact 
soil that is not well drained, and is often found in rocky soils. The 
plants are most conspicuous during the winter and early spring months 
when they are in blossom and fruit. 
Toxiciry AND Symptoms.—C rotalaria verrucosa L.. has toxic prop- 
erties similar to those of (. retusa L. (41). (See Crotalaria retusa 1.) 
MANAGEMENT AND ControL.—This species of crotalaria constitutes 
a potential danger to livestock in open pastures as the plants are eaten 
from the seedling stage through maturity. Livestock should be kept 
from infested areas. Because of their copious production of highly 
viable seeds capable of prolonged dormancy, the plants require con- 
stantly recurring contro] measures. Manual control is practical for 
sparse stands. Chemical control with selective herbicides is recom- 
mended where stands are abundant. Ester forms of both 2,4-D and 
2,4,5-T are effective. Young,small plants are easily killed by ordinary 
cultivation practices. 
Euphorbiaceae, or Spurge, Family 
Croton astroites Dryand (fig. 16) 
Maran 
Descrirption.—This branching shrub is usually 6 to 8 feet high. 
The young branches, leaf stems and blades, flower stems and flowers 
are covered with starlike, light-brown hairs. The bark on older stems 
is smooth and gray. The thick leaves, which are 214 inches wide and 
4 to 5 inches long, are light green above and dull white beneath. The 
alternate leaves are heart shaped at the base and taper to slender points 
at the apex. The under surface of the leaves is more densely covered 
with hairs than is the upper surface. The leaf margins are smooth 
on young leaves, but become slightly serrated as the leaves grow older. 
The small flowers occur at the tips of the branches; they are borne 
along flowering stems that are 1 to 3 inches long. Both male and 
female flowers are borne on the same flowering stem: the female 
flowers occur below the male flowers. The small, nearly spherical 
capsules usually contain 3 seeds. This species, like ‘all other types of 
maran, is reproduced by seeds. Plants flower and fruit throughout 
the year. The plants often go into a semidormant state by shedding 
their leaves and rolling them up, especially during extreme drought 
or where they occur in the driest areas. 
