POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS Se 
fence rows, and in waste grounds. Small patches of plants are 
occasionally found in open pastures. 
Toxicrry AND Symproms.—The seeds of physicnut contain a violent 
purgative, plus the toxalbumen curcin (36). Chick-feeding trials 
show the leaves, roots, and stems of the plant to be poisonous also. 
A dose of 1 to 4 seeds is considered a mild purgative (39, 45). Over- 
doses lead to vomiting, violent purging, and severe inflammation 
of the mucous membrane of the stomach. Because of the danger of 
producing severe results, physicnut is an unsafe therapeutic agent. 
Physicnut poisoning most frequently occurs among humans, particu- 
larly among children who consume the seeds out of curiosity. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controt.—This small tree is planted both as 
an ornamental and as a growing fence post, which makes it accessible 
to livestock. Livestock ordinarly do not browse on this plant, but 
may eat it when tethered or confined where other forage is not avail- 
able. Caution should be taken in tethering livestock so as not to allow 
them access to the plants. Unwanted plants must be grubbed out be- 
cause they form regrowth when cut. Selective herbicides are recom- 
mended where the danger to other surrounding vegetation is 
negligible. 
Euphorbiaceae, or Spurge, Family 
Jatropha gossypifolia L. (fig. 31) 
Wild Physicnut 
Descrietion.—This perennial shrub is 2 to 4 feet high. Its alter- 
nate, long-stemmed leaves are fairly deeply cut into 3 to 5 lobes, 
which are pointed at the tips. Long, stiff hairs are conspicuous on 
young new growth, leaf stems, and lower leaf surfaces; the upper 
surface is more or less smooth. Plants with reddish-tinged leaves 
occur In varying proportions in localized areas. The small, male flow- 
ers are borne on the upper portion of the branching flowering stems 
at the tips of the branches; the female flowers occur on the lower 
portion. The separate spreading, small, roundish petals are deep 
purple. The 3-seeded fruiting capsules are about 14 inch long and 
abruptly flattened at each end. Wild physicnut is reproduced by 
seeds, which are mottled grayish in color and about 14 inch long. 
The plants produce copious seed crops. They live through the dry 
season but shed most of their leaves, becoming semidormant. Plants 
may be found in flower and fruit throughout the year. 
DistrisutTion AND Hapsrrat.—Wild physicnut occurs in waste 
grounds, pastures, and cultivated fields throughout the Virgin Islands 
in all but the lowest rainfall belts. The plants are considered a serious 
pest in pastures where they occur in thick stands. They thrive equally 
well in deep, well-drained soils and in shallow, poorly drained soils. 
The plants grow best in full sunlight but are shade tolerant. Thick 
stands frequently occur spontaneously along the edges of streams, 
mm waste grounds, and along roadsides, ditechbanks, and fence rows. 
Toxiciry AnD Symproms.—Wild physicnut possesses the same toxic 
properties as physicnut, but is said to be less potent in its action (36). 
(See Physicnut.) 
MANAGEMENT AND Controu.—This noxious weed is easily killed in 
the seedling stage by cultivation or with hand tools. Older plants 
