POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS 71 
tiny, black specks; they are about 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches 
thick, and become soft and hght yellow or red and yellow at maturity. 
The trees are conspicuous when in a fast state of growth because their 
young leaves near the ends of the branches are reddish. The rainfall 
distribution appears to influence blossoming, because the trees blossom 
at sporadic intervals throughout the year. Mango belongs to the 
same group of plants as cashew, Christmasbush, and the well-known 
poison-ivy. 
DIsTRIBUTION AND Hapitat.—Mango trees are common in the wetter 
districts of all the Virgin Islands. They occur spontaneously over 
wide areas and are commonly planted for shade, ornament, and their 
edible fruit. Individual trees are found in yards, around house sites, 
in public parks, and along streets and roadsides. Mangos do not occur 
naturally in the drier districts. 
Toxiciry AND Symproms.—Sap of the mango tree contains an uni- 
dentified material that is irritating to the skin of susceptible persons 
(50). The disease is called mango dermatitus, and causes a rash or 
irritation around the mouth and face. The rind of all fruits and 
the flesh of unripe fruits are also poisonous to susceptible persons 
(45). Though cases of severe poisoning are uncommon, susceptible 
persons should avoid contact with the sap of the tree or the rind of 
the fruit. 
MANAGEMENT AND ConTROL.—It is not feasible to eradicate mango 
trees in order to prevent their potential danger to, livestock. Pre- 
ventative measures such as denying livestock access to the plants 
should be the common practice. Gattle have choked to death on 
mango seeds. 
Meliaceae, or Mahogany, Family 
Melia azedarach L. (fig. 39) 
Lilac, Chinaberry 
Descrretion.—Lilac, as it is called in the Virgin Islands, is a small, 
rangly tree, from 20 to 40 feet high. The trunk reaches 1 to 2 feet in 
ameter and is often divided near the ground into several spreading, 
slightly drooping branches. The dull-reddish wood is soft and very 
brittle. The gray, or dark gray-brown bark appears speckled with 
white; it becomes lighter in color and furrowed with age. The large, 
alternate leaves are roughly triangular in outline, 8 to 24 inches long, 
and are twice divided into numerous leaflets. The opposite, thin leaf- 
lets have pointed tips, rounded bases, and sharply toothed margins; 
they are approximately 1 to 2 inches long and 4% inch wide, dark green 
above, pale beneath. The small, long-stemmed flowers are produced in 
many-branched clusters in the leaf axils. Each flower, about 14 inch 
across, is composed of 5 or 6 narrow, slightly purplish petals. The 
fruit, about 14 inch in diameter, is globular and green when young, and 
becomes wrinkled and dull yellow when mature. The fruit contains 
one stone in which there are several small seeds. The trees blossom 
most profusely during the fall wet season: however, occasional blos- 
= are found throughout the year. Lilac trees are propagated by 
s. 
Distrinction anp Haprrar.—The seeds of lilac trees are spread by 
animals, birds, and water. Lilac trees have escaped cultivation since 
