60 MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
shrub unless pruned. The large leaves are roundish in outline and are 
borne on long leaf stems near the tips of the branches. They are 
deeply lobed into 7 to 11 prominently veined lobes. Each leaf lobe is 
very narrow and thin; the larger lobes, which may reach 7 inches in 
length, may also be partially subdivided. Small clusters of long, 
conspicuous hairs occur on the twigs where the leaf stems arise. The 
small, bright-red flowers are borne in dense, compact clusters. They 
do not all open at once, so the cluster looks red for a considerable time. 
The flowers develop into triangular fruits, which are 1 inch deep and 
about 114 inches across. The fruiting capsules are smooth and green 
when young, turn yellow, and become almost black at maturity; each 
capsule usually contains 3 oval, brown seeds. The plants blossom and 
fruit sporadically throughout the year. They reproduce by seeds or by 
cuttings. 
DistriBuTION AND Hapirat.—This attractive shrub is found on all 
of the Virgin Islands, where it is planted as an ornamental. With its 
attractive foliage and flowers, ease of reproduction, rapidity of growth, 
and general adaptation, coral plant ought to be more popular among 
gardeners and homeowners than it now is. The plants thrive equally 
well in full sun or partial shade; they may be grown successfully on 
shallow and deep soils, in high and low rainfall belts, and in exposed, 
windblown sites. The plants thrive on shallow, rocky soils that are 
high in lime. Volunteer plants occur in refuse heaps, flower gardens, 
and in waste grounds. 
Toxiciry AND Symproms.—Coral plant is reported to have toxic 
properties similar to those of physicnut (36). (See Jatropha curcas 
MANAGEMENT AND ContTrou.—Because of the scarcity of plants, 
serious control measures are unnecessary; however, livestock should 
be denied access to the plant. Undesired plants may be easily pulled 
up by hand when young; older plants must be grubbed out or killed 
with selective herbicides since they form regrowth following cutting. 
Verbenaceae, or Vervain, Family 
Lantana camara L. (fig. 33) 
Yellow Sage 
Description.—This prickly, or sometimes unarmed, branching 
shrub is 3 to 6 feet high. The 4-sided stems and leaves are thinly 
covered with short, simple, whitish hairs. The prickles, which occur 
randomly along the stem, are short, stout, recurved, and have a much- 
thickened base that makes them appear triangular in outline. The 
thin, opposite leaves are rounded at the base and pointed at the tips, 
1 to 4 inches long and about 1 inch wide; they are rough to the touch, ~ 
with blunt-toothed margins. The leaves, which are borne on 14-inch 
stems, are dark green above, pale beneath. The dense flower heads, 
each bearing several small, yellow or orange flowers, are 14 to 1% inch 
across. ‘They are borne on short stems in the leaf axils near the tips 
of the branches. Individual flowers are small, less than 14 inch 
across, and crowded together so that many people think of the flower 
heads as one flower. The small, fleshy, black fruits are almost 4% 
inch in diameter. Races of this plant differ in size and shape of leaves, 
In presence or absence of prickles, and in size of flowers. The smaller 
