Plants

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Aloe

Originating on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, Aloe thrives in climates such as the Caribbean as well as Central and South America. It has large, fleshy, strap-like leaves close to the ground edged with spines and a pointed tip. In the Virgin Islands, the external uses are numerous. It is used as an emollient, a bath, hair conditioner, sunscreen, and treatments of burns, cuts, and sores. Internally, it has been used for the treatments of colds and fevers, coughs, intestinal worms, and even food. When stewed, Aloe has immense benefits to the hair, nails, and especially skin. However, it doesn't do much for your teeth but add a yellowish tint. In South America, it is often worn as a mosquito repellent, and whole plants hung upside down to repel insects.

Cactus

Many different types of cacti are present throughout St.Croix, mostly on the dry terrain of the East End. The "prickly pear" (a) can be found throughout the island. Many use it for it's decorative properties. This particular cactus possesses jointed stems formed of flattened segments covered with hairs. The flowers are yellow or orange, sometimes blushed red near the base. The fruits are purple. During harvesting, gloves can be worn to avoid being wounded by the spines and hairs. The sweet fruit is usually eaten raw, alone or placed in fruit salads. The Turks Cap (b) is completely covered with spines, has a short, stubby, barrel-like bottom with a taller, cylindrical top usually red and bristly. It can grow as large as 30 cm in height by 8 cm in diameter. Pink flowers develop among the bristles and spines so it makes for a great ornamental cactus. It thrives in arid, rocky areas along the coasts. Night-Blooming Cactus (c) is flaccid with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm, and usually requires the stability of another plant, so it is often found wrapped and hanging from other plants. It grows as a vining shrub with fleshy stems that are covered with silky spines up to 1.5 cm long and with deciduous white or yellow hairs. At night the white flowers bloom. Native to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba, it inhabits the scrub woods near the coast. It has been sold throughout the states for its ornamental purpose, and is also subject to large-scale cultivation since it yields a medicinal substance that stimulates the cardiovascular system. The Pipe Organ cactus (d) also commonly seen throughout the east end of the island stands tall and thin and is covered with woody, needle-like spines, varying in lengths to 2 inches long. Fluting is an adaptation to provide the plant with a greater green surface.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Casha Bush

This very intimidating thorn-covered bush is seen almost everywhere on the island. Its leaves are numerous, each about ¼ inch long and blunt tipped. Casha also holds cylindrical tiny yellow flowers and a nearly cylindrical legume pod, 4 to 5 inches long. The stem is thin and woody, usually contorted and covered with whitish thorns an inch or more long on mature stems. Be careful when hiking, as the casha thorns can do some damage to exposed knees, legs, and feet.

Century Plant

The century plant resembles an Aloe plant, except it is much larger and possesses sharper spines on the leaves' edges and its pointed tip is sharp and strong. Until flowering, each plant has a single stem bud which produces leaves in clusters near the ground. When the plant has stored enough food, usually after a decade or so, the stem bud starts to grow. This is called "flowering". At "flowering", the main stem elongates rapidly to 20 feet. Flowers grow in lateral groups of tubular, 6-parted yellow clusters that look like upturned candelabras. When it is done, it dies and the whole plant dies with it, although a new plant usually sprouts from the roots. The Century Plant is commonly found as an ornamental plant.

Tan-Tan

This prolific plant can be found almost everywhere on the island... on roadsides, open fields, woodlands, even inside houses growing like a weed beside your favorite house plant. It grows fast and thick, starting as a small twig and eventually, if left alone, can grow to a great size. It's branches are covered with little green oval leaves and sporadically filled with clusters of flat green, then brown, pods, each about six inches long. Inside the pods are numerous shiny seeds, changing color with the pod, in a ladder-like linear series. The stems have no thorns, which makes the pods easy to get to. The seeds can be strung into quite interesting and unique necklaces. Although this bush can be considered a nuisance, it is a nitrogen fixer, which helps to build the soil. However, it also contains an alkaloid, which over a period of time, can cause loss of long hair in livestock.