When I first came across this tree, I thought it was a berries tree or some kind. With help from LK, I got its id.

Hura crepitans, with many common names such as monkey's dinner-bell, sand-box tree, possum wood, dynamite tree, etc. It is recognized by the many dark, pointed spines and smooth brown bark. These spines have caused it to be called Monkey no-climb too.




The irritant latex is used as a barbasco and arrow poison, and is said to cause ailing teeth to fallout. the latex is used to treat skin diseases, rheumatism, and intestinal worms and was formerly used in the United states to prepare tear gas. The poisonous seeds, eaten by macaws, are used as a purgative in Costa Rica. they are used to poison noxious animals. The dry leaves are eaten by cattle during the dry season. A bark extract is used for leprosy. The wood is used locally in light construction, and for dugouts. Burning wood repels insects. (source from Webster)

Where is this tree?
ReplyDeleteI have been working on a Power Point on poisonous plants in south Florida and I wasn't familiar with this one.
Julia Morton in the 1958 Florida State Hort Soc. states, "the sap and seeds contain hurin or crepitin which resembles some snake venoms in action. The sap is very irritating to the skin.
I'd like to use a couple of your images!!!
Thanks,
Doug Caldwell
Univ. Florida Collier County Extension
dougbug@ufl.edu
These articles are fantastic; the information you show us is interesting for everybody and is really good written. It’s just great!! Do you want to know something more? Read it...: Great investment opportunity in Costa Rica
ReplyDelete