Today I thought I would issue a bit of a warning for those cruising or planning to cruise the Caribbean.  The Manchineel tree is very common in the southern USA and across most Caribbean islands. It is also known as the Beach Apple tree because it likes to grow on beaches and has small green apple like fruit that it drops onto the sand regularly.

 

This tree is in the Guinness Book of Records as the most dangerous tree in the world.  Every piece of this tree is poisonous.  The sap of the leaves, bark, tree and fruit will cause serious blisters when in contact with skin.

• Do not stand under this tree when it is raining as even water running off the leaves will pick up some of the sap.
• Do not pick up or step on the apples.  You may track the sap around and eventually get some on your skin.
• Do not use the tree as hand holds when hiking
• If ingested, it will cause blistering of the entire digestive track.
• If you burn it unknowingly in your beach BBQ and you get the smoke in your eyes, you will have a very uncomfortable few days.
• If you think you may have come in contact with a part of this tree, wash immediately with soap and water. Be careful not to rub the sap onto your clothes.
• While it is not dangerous to use it for shade, standing under it means you are walking on the fruit.  Sitting under it offers similar dangers and simply setting down your backpack may pick up some of the sap from the fruit.

The Carib people used the tree as weapons against their enemies.  Dropping a few apples in the water supplies would be devastating for opposing troops.   Imagine a whole troop of soldiers with blistered intestines….. Ugh.

In some cases, the trees are marked with warnings like the sign above, but in many areas they are not and simply grow wild.   It is a good idea to commit the tree to memory and avoid it aggressively.

Hippomane mancinella, the evergreen manchineel tree, grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall. It has reddish-grayish bark, small greenish-yellow flowers, and shiny green leaves. The leaves are simple, alternate, waxy looking, very finely serrated or toothed, and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long.

Spikes of small greenish flowers are followed by fruits, which are similar in appearance to an apple, are green or greenish-yellow when ripe.

Please be cautious and look actively for this tree while spending a pleasant day on the beach or doing a leisurely hike.  Be very careful if you have children as they can be very likely to pick up the poisonous fruit.  Also be careful around beach fires or BBQs where others may have used the twigs of this tree to start or burn the fires.  This tree can ruin your day.

Do not live in fear, but arm yourself with knowledge.