Death Apple Tree Facts
- The striking term of Death Apple Tree represents only one of the common names applied to this particular variety of tree. The choice does, however, unquestionably form the most attention-grabbing of the several most frequently used names for the fascinating flora.
- Its multiple other names include those of the beach apple and the Manchineel. The official scientific name for the species, though, remains somewhat difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because scientists know this wonder by the title Hippomane mancinella.
- This spectacular, and surprising, flora owes its original classification to the noted Swedish botanist and zoologist, Carl Linnaeus. The highly respected scientist accomplished the first known formal acknowledgement of it as a separate and distinct species in the year 1753.
- By whatever name one chooses to use to refer to it, though, one fact about the tree stands out from all the rest. That’s the fact that it also ranks as toxic in nature. In point of fact, this otherwise lovely plant currently represents one of the most poisonous trees known to man.
- For the moment, the somewhat deceptive Death Apple Tree appears to be maintaining a sufficient and stable population. That trend also seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its native range. The IUCN, therefore, list it as Least Concern on its published Red List.
- The plant nevertheless does face certain threats that could change that status in the near future. The most severe of these, like most other species, remains the danger posed by ongoing climate change. It also faces the strong threat of habitat loss, due to man’s ongoing expansion.
Related Articles
Death Apple Tree Physical Description
The astounding Death Apple Tree accomplishes something that not every species found on earth does. That’s true since the flora impresses those who know of it in several different ways. One of those is its sheer size, because mature specimens manage to achieve a relatively significant height.
Exceptional individual examples, in fact, sometimes attain heights of as much as 49 ft (15 m). That’s certainly not huge, of course, but it nonetheless merits appreciation. The great majority of specimens, however, typically remain somewhat shorter than this in terms of total height achieved.
The bark of the awesome Death Apple Tree, meanwhile, most frequently presents as a reddish-gray in color. Its leaves also typically display a finely-toothed structure along the edges. This foliage further averages between 2 -4 in (5 – 10 cm) in length, and develops as a light green in color.
Its most highly noted feature, though, unquestionably remains the one from which its primary common name derives. That’s its remarkable fruit, which eventually follows its greenish-yellow flowers. While all parts of the tree, remarkably, contain toxins, the fruit remains the most toxic.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Angiosperms
- Class: Eudicots
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Genus: Hippomane
- Species: H. mancinella
Death Apple Tree Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Most fortunately, both for the flora and scientists, the Death Apple Tree evolved as native to a relatively broad section of the surface of the world. That region actually covers a significant portion of the Northern Hemisphere. Its population therein, however, remains somewhat scattered.
More precisely, though, the botanical marvel appears in portions of northern South America, Central America, Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. A relatively small population of the dangerous but visually appealing tree also appears in part of the state of Florida, in the United States.
Although forced to adapt to other habitats in some locations, it nonetheless shows a very strong preference for where it appears. In the majority of its range, the tree therefore usually grows in one of three regions. These consist of brackish swamps, coastal beaches, and mangrove forests.
The highly toxic nature of the remarkable Death Apple Tree renders it immune to the depredations of most creatures. A few hardy species, however, do manage to interact with the dangerous tree safely. One species of iguana, in fact, manages to live in the canopy, and also eat the fruit safely.
For most other creatures, though, it’s an extremely hazardous variety of tree. The powerful toxins contained in all parts of it qualify as extremely potent. Its own sap, in fact, often causes severe burns to skin when exposed to it. It’s even been known to occasionally peel the paint off of cars!
Even taking shelter beneath one of these trees in a rainstorm presents great danger. Exposure to even a single drop of water, as it absorbs the toxins before falling, typically causes the skin to blister. If parts of the tree are burned, exposure to the smoke can also cause severe eye irritation.
Species Sharing Its Range
Check out our other articles on Saint Mary’s Islands, Wood Frog, 6 Geological Wonders of India, Conehead Mantis, Swift Fox, Crocodilefish, Rainbow Snake, Pesquet’s Parrot, Eyelash Viper