24. MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
hairs are more dense on new young stems than on older stems. The 
alternate, entire leaves are borne along the stem at 4- to 5-inch inter- 
vals on stout 2-inch leaf stems. The leaf blades are conspicuously 
palmately veined, dark green and sparsely hairy above, light green 
and densely hairy beneath. They are almost round to heart- -shaped, 
being about 31% inches long and the same distance across. The small, 
oreenish, male flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils on short, 
hairy flower stems. The female flowers occur in small, compact 
clusters along a long, stemlike structure. They develop into com- 
pressed round fruits about 14 inch in diameter. The vines are easily 
distinguished by their leaf shape and by the copious soft, white hairs 
on the undersurface of the leaves. Plants blossom most profusely 
during the wet season and the fruits mature at the onset of the dry 
season. In the wettest districts some plants blossom sporadically 
throughout the year. The plant is propagated by seeds which are 
spread by deer, livestock, and birds. 
DistRIBuTION AnD Hasrrar.—This twining vine grows in thickets 
and woods in the higher rainfall belts of all the Virgin Islands. It 
is usually associated with other climbers and is supported by trees 
or smaller undergrowth. Velvetleaf grows equally well in full sun 
and partial shade. The vines seldom grow prostrate on the ground, 
or in the driest, windblown districts. 
Toxiciry AND Symproms.—The bitter alkaloid cissampeline is found 
in roots and stems of velvetleaf (29). It has been used medicinally 
as a tonic and stimulant (44). Although no cases of livestock poison- 
ing have been reported in the Virgin Islands, velvetleaf should be con- 
sidered as potentially dangerous to livestock. 
MANAGEMENT AND ConrTROL. Although this vine occurs in pastures 
and other locations accessible to livestock, its growth habit minimizes, 
to some extent, its potential danger to them. Manual and chemical 
measures are impractical for controlling velvetleaf because of the 
difficulty and cost. Preventative measures in the.management of 
livestock are recommended. The best preventative measure is to 
deny livestock access to areas where velvetleaf commonly occurs. 
However, this is not alw ays practical because of its growth habit and 
wide distribution. There is little likelihood that livestock will be 
poisoned by velvetleaf provided enough good grass is available. 
Anacardiaceae, or Sumac, Family 
Comocladia dodonaea (L.) Urban (fig. 12). 
Christmasbush 
Description.—This large, sparsely branching shrub or small tree is 
10 to 20 feet high. Its twigs and leaf stems are densely covered with 
long, brownish hairs. The light- eray bark on the older, lower portions 
of the stem is smooth or slightly fissur ed; it becomes oreenish near the 
tip. The alternate leaves are 4 to 12 inches long and are once divided 
into 11 to 21 leaflets. The paired leaflets and terminal one are almost 
round, about 1% inch across, and attached directly to the leaf rachis. 
The smooth, thin leaflets are dark green above, pale beneath, and may 
show bright red with age; each is bordered by 2 to 5 short, straight 
spines at ‘the ends of prominent leaf veins. The small, purple flowers 
are borne in clusters on stems usually shorter than the leaves. The 
