76 MISC. PUB. 882, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
in length; they are thick in the middle and have rather pointed ends. 
The fruits turn yellow at maturity and rupture lengthwise, exposing 
the yellow or orange pulp in which are flat, brownish or black seeds, 
about 14 inch long. Reproduction is by seeds, which are scattered 
by birds and rodents. 
DIsTrRIBUTION AND Haxrrrar.—This herbaceous vine occurs through- 
out the Virgin Islands. It is usually found on fences; however, it 
also occurs on hedges and underbrush in thickets and waste grounds. 
It commonly occurs around house sites and in cultivated fields. The 
plants thrive well in full sunlight, but are shade tolerant. Maiden 
apple grows and fruits throughout the entire year in most areas 
although it is more commonly found during the wet season. The 
tender shoots, leaves, and immature fruits are eaten as a vegetable 
(45) and the plant is reported to have medicinal properties (39, 45). 
Toxiciry AND Symproms.—The leaves of maiden apple contain a 
substance which is capable of reducing the amount of sugar in the 
blood. Decoctions of leaves have been used to treat sugar diabetes 
in humans. The fruit, if given in large doses, is reported to be a 
drastic purgative and is considered an abortifacient (39). The plant 
is apparently of no particular hazard to livestock, but humans should 
use it. with caution because large amounts could prove to be very 
harmful. 
MANAGEMENT AND Controt.—Maiden apple occurs in pastures and 
waste grounds where it is available to livestock, thus making it a 
potential danger. Its widespread distribution increases the proba- 
bility of its being eaten by livestock, especially during the dry season. 
Its copious seed production makes repeated control measures neces- 
sary. Grubbing out the plants is practical in areas where only a 
few vines are found. Ordinary cultivation practices will kill the 
plants when they are young. The plants are especially sensitive to 
selective herbicides; both ester and amine forms of 2,4-D and 
2.4,5-T are effective. 
Apocynaceae, or Dogbane, Family 
Nerium oleander L. (fig. 42) 
Oleander 
Description.—Oleander is an ornamental woody shrub. When 
allowed to grow naturally it produces a large number of stems, which 
range in height from 5 to 20 feet. If all its lower branches are re- 
moved regularly, oleander will form a small tree. All parts of the 
plant exude a milky, acrid sap when injured or cut. The bark on 
voung stems and twigs is smooth and green, but on older branches it 
becomes gray and roughened. The numerous smooth, short-stemmed 
leaves usually occur in whorls of 3 or 4 around the twigs. They are 
3 to 10 inches long, about 1 inch wide at their middle, with slender 
tapered points at both ends; dull dark-green above, hght-green 
beneath. The flowers, which are borne in upright clusters at the tips 
of the branches, vary from white through pink to deep red: they 
average about 1 to 2 inches across. Both single and double (many 
petals) forms are planted as ornamentals; the plants blossom through- 
out the year, but most profusely during the wet season. The paired 
straight fruiting pods are cylindric, and have creases which run 
