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Machineel

Der Schmerzbaum oder, wie wir ihn in Chiapas kennen, Pochota (Ceiba speciosa) ist eine Laubbaumart, die in den tropischen und subtropischen Wäldern Mittel- und Südamerikas beheimatet ist und zur gleichen Familie wie der Affenbrotbaum und die Ceiba gehört.
Er ist resistent gegen Trockenheit und mäßige Kälte, wächst schnell, wenn es reichlich Wasser gibt, und erreicht eine Höhe von mehr als 25 Metern. Sein flaschenförmiger Stamm mit einem Umfang von bis zu 2 Metern ist mit dicken, spitzen, konischen Dornen bedeckt, die verhindern, dass wilde Tiere den Baum erklimmen.
Der Stamm ist bei jungen Bäumen aufgrund seines hohen Chlorophyllgehalts, der die Photosynthese auch ohne Blätter ermöglicht, grün, wird aber mit zunehmendem Alter grau. Er ist der heilige Baum der Maya-Kultur.

The Manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella) is a highly toxic plant native to the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America. It is often regarded as one of the most dangerous trees in the world due to the extreme toxicity of its sap and other parts.

Key Features of the Manchineel Tree:

  • Appearance: The Manchineel tree can grow up to 15 meters (49 feet) tall. It has broad, shiny, dark green leaves, and small, greenish flowers. The tree produces small, round, yellow-green fruit that resembles an apple. The fruit is also toxic and can cause severe reactions if consumed.

  • Toxicity: Nearly every part of the Manchineel tree is highly poisonous:

    • Sap: The sap of the Manchineel is a powerful irritant and can cause severe skin burns. Contact with the sap can result in blistering, redness, and inflammation. It can be particularly dangerous if it gets into the eyes, causing temporary or permanent blindness.

    • Fruit: The fruit is also toxic, and while it may look somewhat appetizing, eating it can cause intense internal damage, including nausea, vomiting, and even death in extreme cases.

    • Smoke: Even the smoke from burning the tree can cause respiratory problems, severe eye irritation, and other health issues.

Safety Warning:

Due to its toxicity, the Manchineel tree is often marked with warning signs in areas where it grows. People are advised to stay away from the tree, not to touch it, and not to stand underneath it when it is raining, as rain can wash the toxic sap onto the ground.

Historical and Cultural Significance:

  • Name: The name "Manchineel" comes from the Spanish word manzanilla, meaning "little apple," due to the tree's fruit resembling apples. However, the name is misleading as the fruit is far from safe.

  • Traditional Uses: Despite its toxicity, some indigenous groups have used the tree for medicinal purposes, though its dangerous properties have made it difficult to use safely.

While the Manchineel tree is not commonly found in urban areas, it is an important example of the dangers of certain plants in tropical and subtropical regions. It serves as a reminder to always be cautious in unfamiliar environments, especially in nature.

Would you like to know more about its habitat or specific ways it has been studied?

Here’s a detailed overview of the manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella), one of the world’s most dangerous plants, based on the search results:

1. Overview

  • Scientific Name: Hippomane mancinella (from Greek hippomane, meaning "horse madness," and Spanish manzanilla, "little apple")

  • Nicknames: "Little apple of death" (manzanilla de la muerte), "beach apple," or "poison guava" due to its deceptively sweet, apple-like fruit 

  • Family: Euphorbiaceae (spurge family), related to poinsettias and rubber trees 

  • Guinness World Record: Holds the title for "most dangerous tree" 

2. Toxicity

All parts of the tree are lethal:

  • Sap: Contains phorbol esters and other toxins causing severe skin blisters, blindness if it contacts eyes, and respiratory distress if inhaled (e.g., from burning wood) 

  • Fruit: Ingestion leads to burning mouth/throat, vomiting, internal bleeding, and potential death. No modern fatalities are documented, but historical accounts describe agonizing deaths 

  • Rainwater: Dripping sap can blister skin, making it dangerous to stand under the tree during rain 

  • Smoke: Burning wood releases toxins that can blind or suffocate 

Historical Poisoning Cases:

  • Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León allegedly died from a manchineel-sap-poisoned arrow in 1521 

  • Shipwrecked sailors and conquistadors suffered after eating the fruit or using branches as fans 

3. Identification

  • Appearance:

    • Fruit: Small (1–2 inches), green/yellow, resembling crabapples 

    • Leaves: Glossy, oval, finely serrated, with small glands at the stem 

    • Bark: Reddish-gray and fissured 

  • Habitat: Coastal beaches, brackish swamps, and mangroves in Florida, the Caribbean, and Central/South America 

  • Warning Signs: Many trees are marked with red paint, "X" symbols, or caution signs 

4. Ecological Role & Uses

  • Benefits:

    • Black-spined iguanas (Ctenosaura similis) are immune and eat the fruit 

  • Human Uses:

    • Furniture: Wood is sun-dried to neutralize sap 

    • Arrow Poison: Indigenous peoples used sap for hunting/warfare 

    • Medicine: Historically treated edema and venereal diseases (though risky) 

5. Survival Tips

  • Avoid: Touching, eating, or standing under the tree (especially in rain) 

  • First Aid:

    • Skin contact: Rinse with rubbing alcohol or degreasing soap; use hydrocortisone cream 

    • Eye exposure: Flush with water and seek emergency care 

    • Ingestion: Immediate medical help is critical

6. Cultural & Historical Significance

  • Featured in operas (L'Africaine), literature, and TV (Death in Paradise) as a symbol of danger 

  • Colonial-era experiments (e.g., by Jean-Baptiste Ricord) tested antidotes like the nhandiroba vine, with brutal methods on animals and enslaved people 11.

7. Conservation Status

  • Endangered in Florida due to habitat loss, but stable elsewhere (IUCN: Least Concern) 18.

 

 

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