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Vegetation of Parcel 6-4-1 Estate Carolina, St John, Virgin Islands October 2023 Prepared By: Eleanor Gibney PO Box 93 St John, VI 00831 eleanorfgibney@gmail.com (340)244-4400 This parcel was surveyed for the presence of any plant Species of Concern or Heritage Trees, on October 27th, 2023. The thorny early secondary nature of the vegetation made access difficult, but the right-of-way, previously cleared portions and surrounding roads and trails facilitated access. Confidence in findings is very high. Findings: A total of 59 species were inventoried (see Appendix); none are of any conservation concern. Weedy secondary growth prevails across the parcel. No trees of significant size or cultural significance were found.. Due to the well-documented intensive use of the area for plantation agriculture and livestock grazing over the past 300 years, this parcel and the surrounding area have highly degraded vegetation, dominated by non-native trees and invasive vines. A few woody native species are present, but all in small numbers and most as very young individuals. A herd of sheep from a nearby property were grazing in the right-of-way, where numerous wrecked and abandoned vehicles have been left. The most common tree species present is casha, (Vachellia (Acacia) macracantha), an intensely spiny small tree. Native to Tropical America, it was encouraged in the VI for the nutritious pods that helped sustain cattle and other livestock during droughts. Its presence is strongly linked to historic grazing; seeds can stay viable for many decades,sprouting when previously grazed land is disturbed. The more open areas, including the right-of-way and the recently disturbed section, all have thick growths of invasive vines, notably Madagascar rubber vine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis) and Mexican creeper or coral vine (Antigonon leptopus). Along with these invasive species there are numerous smaller weedy plants, particularly species that are toxic or unpalatable to livestock, such as belly-ache bush (Jatropha gossypifolia) and other toxic or spiny plants. The only trees of any size are two flamboyants,(Delonix regia) near the entrance off Centerline Road, close to a previously excavated area where fresh water collects in rainy periods. They will have grown fast in these wet conditions and probably are no more than 25 years old. The only slightly noteworthy species is a young manchineel (Hippobroma manchinella) and several seedlings. Growing on the eastern side of the area of more recent disturbance. This tree is very rarely seen more than 20 meters from the coastal vegetation line; it seems possible that the storm surge of Hurricane Irma may have carried seeds inland, a considerable distance from the fringing mangrove area of Coral Harbor. Appendix List of Plant Species found on Parcel 6-4-1 Estate Carolina October 2023 Scientific Name Common Name Acryanthus dubius man-better-man Adelia ricinella adelia Alternathera tennella alternathera Barleria cristata hop-head Bastardia viscosa viscid mallow Bothrichloa pertusa hurricane grass Bouchia prismatica bouchia Bourerria succulenta pigeon-berry tree Chloris inflata finger grass Corchorus siliquosus bata-bata Cissus verticilata pudding vine Citharexylum spinosum fiddlewood tree Cleome viscosa sticky cleome Coccothrinax alta tyre palm Commelina erecta day flower Cordia dentata white manjack Cordia collococa red manjack Croton flavens maran bush Cryptostegia madagascariensis Madagascar rubber-vine Cuscuta americana love vine Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass Cynophalla (Capparis) flexuosa limber caper Dalechampia scandens bull nettle Delonix regia flamboyant tree Erythroxylum brevipes brisslet Eugenia monticola rodwood Euphorbia hypericifolia chamaesyce Ginoria rohrii sugar-ant bush Guapira fragrans black mampoo Guettarda odorata fragrant velvetseed Hippomane manchinella manchineel Indigofera suffruticosa wild indigo Ipomoea triloba three-lobe morning glory Jacquemontia pentantha clashi-malashi Jatropha gossypifolia belly-ache bush Heliotropium angiospermum eye-bright Kalanchoe daigremontiana mother of thousands Lantana involucrata pink sage Leucaena leucocephala wild tamarind, tan-tan Matelia maritima coast milk-vine Megathyrsus maximus Guinea grass Ocimum campechianum wild basil, balsam Passiflora suberosa ink vine Physalis angulata ground cherry Piscidia carthagenensis fish-poison tree Pluchea carolinensis cattle-tongue Portulaca oleracea purslane, pusley Quadrella (Capparis) indica white caper Randia aculeata Inkberry Ruellia tuberosa minny-root Sansevieria trifasciata snake plant Senna occidentalis stinking weed Sida acuta wire weed Tabebuia heterophylla white cedar Tournefortia microphylla twining soldier bush Turnera ulmifolia ram-goat bush Urochloa fasciulata signal grass Vachelia macracantha casha Vachelia westiana catch-and-keep