66 MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
MANAGEMENT AND Controu.— Where this weed occurs in fields, gar- 
dens, or provision grounds, the most practical control measure is fre- 
quent cultivation. The weeds may be easily eradicated either by hand 
or with mechanical tools. Hand pulling the plants is practical where 
small patches of plants are involved. Cutting the plants before they 
mature seeds removes the seed supply but does not kill the plants. 
Hollowstalk is susceptible to the selective herbicides commonly found 
on the market. 
Leguminosae, or Legume, Family 
Leucaena glauca (L.) Benth. (fig. 36) 
Tan-Tan, Wild Tamarind 
Description.—This fast-growing shrub is usually 6 to 20 feet high; 
in the higher rainfall areas it may become a small tree. The green 
bark of the young twigs, covered with short hairs, becomes brown 
and slightly rough with age. The large, alternate, doubly compound 
leaves borne on stout stems have 3 to 10 pairs of “arms,” each with 10 
to 20 pairs of small leaflets. The leaflets, which are light green above 
and pale beneath, are attached directly to the “arms,” and are about 
1% inch long and 4% inch wide. The entire leaf may reach 12 inches 
in length. The flowers are borne in compact, spherical heads about 1 
inch in diameter. The flower heads are borne on branching stems; 
they occur laterally in the leaf axils or at the tips of the branches. 
Each flower head produces several fruiting pods, which are flat, al- 
most straight, 14 to 34 inch wide, and 5 to 6 inches long. They are 
green when young and turn brown and split open at the edges at — 
maturity, releasing many flat, brown, shiny seeds. The inner coating 
of the pods is tan and the seeds are arranged transversely in the pods. 
Tan-tan is reproduced by seeds, which are scattered by rodents and 
livestock. 
DIstTRIBUTION AND Hazirar.—Tan-tan is extremely widespread in 
all the Virgin Islands. Its whitish flowers and dry pods are seen along 
roadsides throughout the entire year. Natives are frequently seen 
cropping the young*branches from plants growing along the road- 
sides for livestock feed, especially during the dry season. Tan-tan 
occurs as a weed in cultivated fields, vegetable gardens, provision 
grounds, along streams, around house sites, and in waste grounds. 
Thickets of the plants are common in pastures and along fence rows. 
Tan-tan thrives under all combinations of soils and rainfall, but can- 
not grow in heavy shade. 
Toxiciry AND Symproms.—The leaves and seeds of tan-tan contain 
mimosine, a material known to be poisonous to horses, mules, donkeys, _ 
swine, and rabbits (55). Cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry are not | 
affected. The toxic material is concentrated in the seeds and young | 
leaves. Tan-tan poisoning acts rather slowly and affected animals 
usually recover shortly after the plant is eliminated from the diet. _ 
Poisoned animals lose large patches of hair from their bodies. Horses | 
and mules frequently lose hair from their manes and tails. Prolonged 
feeding of tan-tan to rabbits may cause death. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controt.—Its good palatability and high protein | 
content make tan-tan an excellent feed source for ruminants. Its 
presence in pastures is desirable if it is kept low enough for livestock to _ 
