16 MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
and coworkers (3/) estimated that more than 5,000 people in Jamaica 
have been fatally poisoned from eating the fruit. They also reported 
that the seeds of the plant are highly poisonous at all times. The 
green immature fruits are toxic, whereas the ripe “yawning” fruits 
are safe for human consumption. Akee fruits should be selected for 
eating only by those who are thoroughly familar and experienced 
with the selection of edible fruits. ven those experienced with the 
fruit should use extreme caution in its selection. No cases of live- 
stock poisoning by akee have been reported in the Virgin Islands. 
The most common symptom is severe vomiting. Hemorrhaging occurs 
in the internal organs. The lungs often become congested with blood 
and breathing becomes difficult. Many cases of akee poisoning are 
fatal. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controut.—The scarcity of akee trees throughout 
the Virgin Islands renders control measures unnecessary, but livestock 
should be kept away from them when they are in fruit. 
Asclepiadaceae, or Milkweed, Family 
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. (fig. 7) 
Giant Milkweed 
Description.—This shrub is 5 to 15 feet high. Bark on the young 
stems is smooth and light green; it becomes light gray with age. 
The plants contain a milky acrid sap. A few long branches often 
arise near the base of the plant, giving the appearance of multiple 
stems; the upper branches are much shorter. The thick, leathery, 
gray-green leaves are borne in pairs attached directly to the stem. 
The leaves are borne near the tips of the branches; many of 
the lower ones fall during each dry season leaving long, bare stems. 
The leaves are white-felted when young but smooth when old. The 
blunt-tipped leaves are roundish in outline, 3 to 4 inches wide, and 
4 to 6 inches long; they have large, prominent, whitish midveins 
from which conspicuous lateral veins arise. The clustered small, 
light-purple flowers are borne on short, cottony flower stems at the 
ends of the branches. Each flower is about 34 inch across and has 
5 purple-tipped petals. The plants blossom throughout the year, but 
most profusely during the wet. season; their fruits mature during 
the winter months. The smooth, green fruits, which usually occur 
in pairs, are slightly kidney-shaped, up to 114 inches thick and 3 to 
4 inches long. They turn light tan at maturity, and split longitudi- 
nally to release many tufted seeds, which become airborne. The 
plants are normally propagated by seeds although cuttings grow 
very readily. 
Distrinution AND Haprrrar.—Giant milkweed occurs most fre- 
quently throughout the drier districts of the Virgin Islands. It is 
commonly found in pastures, along roadsides and ditches, and along 
the landward edge of sandy beaches. Plants occasionally occur in 
fence rows and in cultivated fields. They rarely occur in the wetter 
areas or in woodlands. The plants grow singly or in small patches, 
usually not closely associated with other woody weeds. Its drought 
tolerance coupled with the attractiveness of the plant make it worthy 
of consideration as an ornamental. 
Toxticrry anp Symrroms.—The juice of giant milkweed, which was 
used in the deadly arrow guns of certain African tribes, contains 
