POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS 24. 
and fall; reproduction is by seeds. In the Virgin Islands most of 
the plants die after producing one seed crop. 
DistripeTion AND Hanrrat.—Wild coffee occurs as a weed through- 
out the Virgin Islands in waste grounds, around house sites, and along 
ditchbanks and roadsides. It is commonly found as a pasture weed in 
the wetter areas. Its copious seed production and competitive ability 
often make it a serious pasture weed where the soil has just been culti- 
vated or otherwise disturbed. The plants thrive equally well in full 
sun and partial shade and grow on a number of soil types. Dense 
stands often occur on pond margins and other wet areas, but sparse 
stands or individual plants are occasionally found in the drier areas. 
The plants do not occur in the driest districts. 
Toxiciry aNp Symrroms.—Raw wild coffee seeds contain the toxic 
material chrysarobin, which is destroyed by roasting the seeds (5). 
Roasted seeds are frequently used as a substitute for coffee, and the 
drink is said to be an excellent tonic for stomach disorders (7). Cer- 
tain medicinal properties are ascribed to the roots, leaves, and stems of 
the plant (24). However, chick-feeding trials show these plant parts 
are toxic in large amounts, and their use as therapeutical agents is 
considered inadvisable. Livestock rarely eat the plant because of its 
unpleasant odor and taste. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controu.—All classes of livestock have been ob- 
served to browse on wild coffee but rather sparingly, and no known 
eases of livestock poisoning have been reported in the Virgin Islands. 
Denying livestock access to the plant is not practicable because of its 
widespread occurrence. Where plants occur singly or in sparse stands 
they should be pulled up or grubbed out before they produce seeds. 
Chemical control measures are recommended for plants scattered over 
large areas or where they occur in dense stands. The plants are 
easily killed by herbicides containing 2,4—D or 2,4,5-T. These herbi- 
cides may be applied by spot-spraying individual plants with knap- 
sack sprayers or by using boom power sprayers where more extensive 
areas are to be covered. 
Leguminosae, or Legume, Family 
Cassia siamea Lam. (fig. 10) 
Description.—This yellow-flowering tree is used as a windbreak, 
and for shade and ornament. It growsrapidly and may attain a height 
of 50 feet with a trunk 1 foot in diameter. “The bark is smooth and 
green on the young twigs, and becomes rough and gray with age. The 
large, opposite, compound leaves have 6 to 10 pairs of oblong leaflets. 
The leaves are dark green above and pale beneath; they are smooth 
throughout. The pretty, yellow flowers are borne in large clusters on 
long, flowering stems in the leaf axils. The flowering stems are often 
longer than the leaves. The fruiting pods are narrow, flat, and 
elongated; they become 8 inches long and about 1% inch wide. The 
seeds are arranged transversely in the slightly curved pods with 
distinct separations between them. The pods turn brown and split 
along the edges at maturity releasing many flat, brown seeds, which 
are about 14 inch wide and 14 inch long. The trees reproduce by seeds. 
_ Disrrinution anp Haprrar.—This fast-growing tree was introduced 
into the Virgin Islands and is found on all of the islands. It is 
