Varronia curassavica

Botanical Description

Varronia curassavica is an erect shrub, branching mainly from the base and growing up to 3 metres tall[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. , 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre. A popular herbal treatment, it is sometimes sold in local markets[ 922 Title Non-timber forest products of the North-West District of Guyana Publication Tropenbos-Guyana Series 8a Author van Andel T.R. Publisher Tropenbos-Guyana Programme; Georgetown, Guyana Year 2000 ISBN 90-393-2536-7 Description A very detailed study of the peoples and the plants they use, it includes a field guide to almost 500 species of useful plants. ]. In the early 20th century, it was grown as a biological control, being planted in the borders of sugarcane fields to attract parasitizing wasps for biological control of an insect pest[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. Today it is only a troublesome weed.