UVI Wetlands Reserve Plant List


	A list of plants tagged along the trail at the Reserve, and some of their uses.

We have added some images of the marked plants at the site. If you see an icon of a camera next to the plant's tag number, there are photos that can be viewed. Click on the camera next to the plant you'd like to see. (please note that some images are detailed and large and may take a while to download)

Tag #

Scientific Name (Common Name)


1.	Ateramnus lucidus (crabwood, oysterwood) Related to Poinsettia. Used in some areas as a remedy for toothaches and stomachaches.

2.	Bourreria succulenta (pigeonberry) The fruit is sought by many bird species. Used by some as a remedy for thrush and oral inflammations.

3.	Jacquinia arborea (torchwood) A very good coastal plant with attractive but toxic red fruit, which are sometimes used to stupify fish. It is slow growing.

4.	Coccoloba krugii (wild-grape) Related and similar in appearance to the sea grape tree. Found only at this location on St. Croix.

5.	Croton discolor (maran, white maran) It can withstand wind and salt spray. Young leaves and branch tips have been used in a tea to treat coughs, the sap has been used to cover fresh wounds, and a component of croton oil has been found to inhibit leukemia. Maran is a harmful weed in both pastures and cultivated fields because it has toxic properties.

6.	Lantana involucrata (wild sage, lantana) Used to make bush-tea and an aromatic bush bath. In some areas it is used in a tonic for colic and applied externally for insect stings and snake bites.

7.	Castela erecta (goat-bush) This very branched, spiny shrub is found only on the south side of St. Croix. It has small, thick leaves that are shiny on top and whitish and hairy on the bottom.

8.	Tabebuia heterophylla (pink cedar) Used in boat construction. Leaves are used to make medicinal tea to treat a variety of things including toothaches, backaches, gonorrhea and fish poisoning.

9.	Leucaena leucocephala (tantan, wild tamarind) Used to make charcoal and fish traps. It is a major invader of disturbed habitats. In some areas the pods are cooked and eaten and the seed roasted and used as a coffee. This plant is poisonous to some animals. Also used as a source of several dye colors ranging from yellow to dark gray.

10.	Exostema caribaeum (Caribbean princewood) The bark of this plant is used to make tea, which is said to stimulate the appetite. The bark and roots have been shown to have antibiotic effects.

11.	Corchorus hirsutus (jack-switch) Related to calaloo. The leaves are cooked and eaten green and in tea. The shrub is used for making brooms.

12.	Pisonia subcordata (water mampoo, loblolly) Related to bougainvillea. This plant has a water holding trunk.

13.	Bursera simaruba (gumbo-limbo, turpentine-tree, tourist tree) Fruit eating birds seek the berries. The bark has a grayish resin, which tastes like turpentine. The bark, gum and leaves are much esteemed as home remedies. The resinous gum has been used as incense, an adhesive for mending broken dishes, as a protective covering on canoes and to repel insects and worms.

14.	Eugenia rhombea (eugenia) A very hard, heavy wood, related to Guava and Eucalyptus. the leaves are small and nearly diamond-shaped.

15.	Acacia macracantha (casha) Invades disturbed or cleared land. It is sometimes used for charcoal and to make posts.

16.	Krugiodendron ferreum (ironwood) One of the densest woods in the world. Resistant to decay and attack by termites. Used in carpentry.

17.	Amyris elemifera (torchwood) This hard wood is often used as a torch especially by fishermen for night fishing.

18.	Capparis indica (caper) Used as an ornamental. It has attractive flowers and long silvery-brown pods.

19.	Canella winterana (wild cinnamon) The bark and leaves are used as a stimulant and condiment. The berries are hot like black pepper when dried and crushed. The leaves are used in an aromatic bath and as a medicinal tea.

20.	Bumelia obovata (breakbill) This uncommon plant is related to sapodilla. It has hard, light brown wood.

21.	Adelia ricinella This plant is currently missing, another specimen has not been tagged at this time.

22.	Cordia alba (white manjack) The mucilaginous pulp of the fruit is used as glue, and to help maintain dreadlocks. The flowers and leaves have a variety of medicinal uses.

23.	Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove) The leaves of this mangrove have two salt-excreting glands near the base. The wood has been used for charcoal. The bark, which has a high tannin content, has been used in tanning and medicinally for dysentery. Deer eat the fruit.

24.	Sporobolus virginicus (marsh grass, crab grass) It is used as a nutritious forage for cattle and is readily grazed. In some areas it is used medicinally to relieve urinary irritation and as a gargle. It protects sand dunes. (due to form of plant, this species is not tagged)

25.	Pluchea odorata (cattle tongue, sweet scent) Sold in markets in other Caribbean islands and used for medicinal purposes. Due to the pungent odor of the crushed leaves, it has been used as an insect repellent.

26.	Conocarpus erectus (buttonwood) This mangrove is found the furthest inland of the four species of mangrove found in the VI. This heavy wood makes high-grade charcoal. The bark is used for tanning leather and medicinally for treating fish poisoning and diarrhea.

27.	Sesuvium portulacastrum (sea purslane) This fleshy, sprawling herb is used elsewhere as a vegetable and sold in markets. Stranded fishermen have used it's succulent leaves as a source of water. It is also used medicinally as a remedy for fever and scurvy. Because it often forms mats, it is an excellent binder of sand against movement by wind and waves. (due to form this species is not tagged)

28.	Thespesia populnea (haiti haiti) This coastal introduced species has edible fruit and flowers and is resistant to termites. Rope has been made from the tough fibrous bark, cork from the inner bark, and the leaves have been used for a variety of medicinal uses. It is a host to a red insect, which stains cotton and so has been eradicated in many areas where cotton is an important crop.

29.	Batis maritima (saltbush) Fresh tender shoots and leaves may be eaten raw or boiled and eaten as a vegetable. It is also used to make a medicinal tea. (due to form this species is not tagged)

30.	Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) This is one of four species of mangroves found in the VI. It often has pencil-like projections (pneumatophores) around the trunk, which help the tree exchange gases. it has been used for charcoal and the bark for tanning. The nectar from the flowers is a major source of honey. This tree is an important coastal soil stabilizer and promotes the deposition of sediments. This tree is an important roosting and nesting habitat for many species of birds.

31.	Haematoxylum campechianum (logwood casha) This introduced species was once an important source of dye. It is used to make the biological stain haemotoxylin.

32.	Tamarindus indica (tamarind, tarmon) The edible pods of this introduced species are used to make a popular local drink, candy, chutney and preserves. Mature plants make good shade trees. The fruit, leaves, bark ad roots are used medicinally for a variety of remedies.

33.	Capparis flexuosa (limber caper) This plant has distinctive white flowers, which release their fragrance in the evening. The root of this plant has a taste of horseradish and has been used in home remedies. The twigs are used as "chewsticks" on other islands.

34.	Pithecellobium unguis-cati (bread and cheese) This is a good native ornamental used for hedges since grazing animals do not eat it. The seeds are made into necklaces. (plant is currently missing tag)

35.	Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) This introduced species is often used for animal forage, although the young grass contains hydrocyanic acid and is poisonous to grazers.

36.	Hippomane manicella (manchineel) This plant is the most poisonous plant in the VI. The caustic sap is irritating to the mouth, eyes and skin. The Caribs poisoned their arrows with this toxic liquid.

37.	Erithalis fruiticosa (blacktorch) The wood is used for torches, which tend to smoke when burned. The leaves are parched and pulverized and applied to sores.

38.	Argusia gnaphalodes (sea lavender) Fishermen use the leaves for "black tea". It has been used elsewhere to induce abortions in women and to treat venereal diseases in men. (plant is currently missing tag)

39.	Suriana maritima (bay cedar) This small shrub has narrow succulent leaves and a dark red, hard wood, which polishes well and is used to make small articles. The bark and leaves are also used medicinally. (plant is currently missing tag)

40.	Ipomoea pes-caprae (goatfoot, beach morning-glory) This coastal vine protects sand dunes. The shape of the leaf resembles the footprint of a goat and the flowers, which are open in the morning, are bell shaped. It is often found growing with the beach pea but is dominant closer to the water. It is sometimes used in medicinal baths. (due to form this species is not tagged)

41.	Scaevola plumieri (half flower, inkberry) This plant has small fanlike white flowers. The roots have been used in home remedies. (plant is currently missing tag)

42.	Borrichia arborescens (sea ox-eye) A tea prepared from the leaves and branch tips is used elsewhere for relief of colds, coughs and fish poisoning. the leaves have been eaten to prevent scurvy. (plant is currently missing tag)

43.	Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape) The female trees bear fruit, which can be eaten raw, made into a jelly or a wine like beverage. The astringent roots and bark have been used in medicines. These trees are more tolerant to salt than most trees. Hummingbirds and Bananaquits nest in them. (plant is currently missing tag)

44.	Caesalpinia bonduc (gray nickers) This shrub has many hooked spines. The seeds are roasted, ground and boiled and used as a diuretic, for diabetes, for hypertension, and formerly used as quinine in treating malaria. The seeds are also used in a traditional African game Wari, widely played in the West Indies.

45.	Canavalia rosea (beach pea, bay bean) This creeping vine helps prevent beach erosion. It has pink/purple flowers, thick, long seedpods, and alternate leaves composed of 3 leaflets. The leaflets lie open and flat in the morning but fold along the midrib as the sun rises. (due to form, this species is not tagged)

Print out our plant list to take along with you on your trip to the Reserve. (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader)

This page was created by P. Rothenberger, and was last updated on 03-11-02 by K. Garland.