poisonous plant from tropical North and South America

The manchineel tree ( Hippomane mancinella ) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ). Its native image stretches from tropical southern North America to northern South America. [ 3 ] The name “ manchineel ” ( sometimes spelled “ manchioneel “ or “ manchineal “ ), american samoa well as the specific name mancinella, is from spanish manzanilla ( “ little apple ” ), from the superficial resemblance of its yield and leaves to those of an apple tree. It is besides known as the beach apple. [ 4 ]

Reading: Manchineel

A contemporary spanish name is manzanilla de la muerte, “ short apple of death ”. This refers to the fact that manchineel is one of the most toxic trees in the world : the tree has milky-white sap which contains numerous toxins and can cause blistering. The run down is present in every part of the tree : the bark, the leaves, and the fruit. [ 5 ] [ 6 ]

distribution [edit ]

Manchineel is native to the Caribbean, the U.S. in the department of state of Florida, the Bahamas, Mexico, Central America, and northerly South America. [ 7 ] The manchineel tree can be found on coastal beaches and in brackish swamps, where it grows among mangroves. It provides excellent natural windbreaks and its roots stabilize the backbone, therefore reducing beach erosion. [ 6 ]

description [edit ]

Hippomane mancinella grows up to 15 metres ( 49 foot ) tall. It has reddish-greyish bark, minor greenish-yellow flowers, and glistening green leaves. The leaves are simpleton, alternate, very finely serrated or toothed, and 5–10 centimeter ( 2–4 in ) long. [ 8 ] Spikes of small green flowers are followed by fruits, which are exchangeable in appearance to an apple, are greens or greenish-yellow when good. The fruit is poisonous, as is every other depart of the tree. [ 8 ]

perniciousness [edit ]

Botanical study, captioned “ The Manzanilla Tree taken at Bocca chica to show / the men that they might neither cut not rest near it, a bow was / pin ’ d at the circus tent of every Sergeant ‘s tent, in order to make the soldiers / acquainted with and to avoid it… F.M : J.G : ( ? ) March the twelfth 1741 ” – a reference to Vice Admiral Edward Vernon ‘s invasion fleet, before the Battle of Cartagena de Indias All parts of the tree contain potent toxins. [ 9 ] Its milky white sap contains phorbol and early peel irritants, producing solid allergic contact dermatitis. [ 10 ] Standing beneath the tree during rain will cause vesiculation of the hide from bare contact with this liquid : even a small neglect of rain with the milky kernel in it will cause the skin to blister. The blackjack has besides been known to damage the paint on cars. [ 11 ] Burning the tree may cause ocular injuries if the smoke reaches the eyes. [ 12 ] Contact with its milky sap ( latex paint ) produces bullous dermatitis, acute keratoconjunctivitis and possibly large corneal epithelial defects. [ 13 ] Although the fruit is potentially fatal if eaten, no such occurrences have been reported in the modern literature. [ 14 ] consumption can produce hard gastroenteritis with run, electric shock, and bacterial superinfection, a well as the likely for respiratory tract compromise due to edema. [ 15 ] When ingested, the fruit is reportedly “ pleasantly fresh ” at beginning, with a subsequent “ strange peppery feel … gradually progress [ ing ] to a burn off, tearing sense and constriction of the throat. ” Symptoms continue to worsen until the affected role can “ scantily swallow solid food because of the excruciating pain and the find of a huge obstruct guttural swelling. ” [ 5 ]

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In some parts of its roll, many trees carry a warning polarity – for model on Curaçao – while others are marked with a crimson “ X ” on the trunk to indicate risk. In the french Antilles the trees are frequently marked with a painted red dance band roughly 1 metre ( 3 foot ) above the establish. [ 16 ] Although the plant is toxic to many birds and other animals, the black-spined common iguana ( Ctenosaura similis ) is known to eat the fruit and even live among the limbs of the tree. [ 9 ] The tree contains 12-deoxy-5-hydroxyphorbol-6-gamma-7-alpha-oxide, hippomanins, mancinellin, and sapogenin, phloracetophenone-2,4-dimethylether is present in the leaves, while the fruits possess physostigmine. [ 17 ] A poultice of arrowroot ( Maranta arundinacea ) was used by the Arawak and Taíno as an antidote against such poisons. [ 18 ] The Caribs were known to poison the water provision of their enemies with the leaves. [ 12 ] spanish internet explorer Juan Ponce de León died concisely after an injury incurred in battle with the Calusa in Florida —being struck by an arrow that had been poisoned with manchineel fool. [ 19 ]

custom [edit ]

Despite the implicit in dangers associated with handling it, the tree has been used as a source of wood by caribbean furniture makers for centuries. It must be cut and left to dry in the sun to dry the sap. [ 6 ] To avoid dangerous contact with the poisonous parts, the tree may be burnt at the base to fell it. [ 20 ] A gingiva can be produced from the bark which reportedly treats edema, while the dry fruits have been used as a diuretic drug. [ 11 ]

conservation [edit ]

The manchineel tree is listed as an endangered species in Florida. [ 21 ]

Literary and aesthetic references [edit ]

Inside the Poison Dome we grow some of the deadliest plants on the satellite, including water hemlock, deadly nightshade, elephant ‘s ear, death cap mushrooms and beaver beans. The manzanilla corner has attractive fruit which you may choose to swallow. If you do thus, it will kill you immediately. There is besides a whiten resin dripping out of it which will blister your skin and blind you .

  • William Ellis, ship’s surgeon for James Cook on his final voyage, wrote:

On the fourth, a party of men were sent to cut wood, as the island apparently afforded plenty of that article ; amongst other trees they unfortunately cut down respective of the manchineel, the juice of which getting into their eyes, rendered them blind for several days. [ 22 ]

  • Alexandre Exquemelin wrote in The Buccaneers of America of his experience with the “tree called mancanilla, or dwarf-apple-tree” when in Hispaniola:

One sidereal day being enormously tormented with mosquitoes or gnats, and as yet unacquainted with the nature of this tree, I cut a branch thereof, to serve me alternatively of a fan, but all my face swelled the future day and filled with blisters, as if it were burnt to such a degree that I was blind for three days. [ 23 ]

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  • Nicholas Cresswell, in his journal entry for Friday, September 16, 1774, mentions:

The Mangeneel Apple has the smell and appearance of an english Apple, but little, grows on boastfully trees, generally along the Seashore. They are rank poison. I am told that one apple is sufficient to kill 20 people. This poison is of such a malignant nature that a single dangle of rain or dew that falls from the tree upon your skin will immediately raise a blister. Neither Fruit or Wood is of any use, that I can learn. [ 24 ]

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]