POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS 25 
BN-—13197 
FIGURE 12.—Christmasbush (Comocladia dodonaea (L.) Urban) 
roundish fruits are about 14 inch long. The sap of this species is poi- 
sonous and can cause severe skin lesions, as can scratches by the spiny 
leaves. In addition to being poisonous, the plant can cause mechanical 
injury to humans and livestock. Christmasbush belongs to the same 
group of plants as mango, cashew, and the well-known poison-ivy. 
DistrisuTIon AND Haprrat.—This noxious weed is common to all the 
Virgin Islands: it occurs from near sea level to the highest elevations 
in the driest and the wettest areas. The plants occur singly or in small 
patches: they are most common on rocky hillsides, in fence rows, along 
roadsides, and in thickets. They are also found in waste and dumping 
grounds, around house sites, and along streams. They are less common 
as undershrub in woods, because they are not very tolerant of shade. 
On rare occasions the plant is grown as an ornamental around the 
home. 
Toxiciry AND Symptoms.—Christmasbush is highly irritating to the 
skin of susceptible persons (10,57). The exact nature of the poison is 
not known to the authors. The severity of Christmasbush poisoning 
ranges from a slight irritation of the skin to open oozing and crusting 
sores. Severe itching and burning are common, and the open sores are 
subject to secondar | infection. The irritating agent is sometimes 
absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to other parts of the body 
where new sores or blisters may occur. Christmasbush should be 
avoided if at all possible, and particularly by persons known to suffer 
from allergy of any kind. 
MaNnacEMENT AND ContTrot.—Livestock usually avoid this plant in 
their search for forage; neither domestic livestock nor deer have been 
