What are the effects of mancenilheira (tree of death) on the body

The Tree of Death also known as Mancenilheira da praia or Mancenilheira da Areia is one of the deadliest trees in the world, as all parts of this plant, especially its fruits, are poisonous, and can cause burns, blindness, breathing problems or death.

The scientific name of this tree is Hippomane mancinella , and it grows in South America and North America, from the coast of Florida to Colombia in beach regions, its presence being often signaled with warning signs or with red crosses that they signal death and imminent danger. So, in order to protect yourself from this deadly plant that has already entered the record book, it is necessary to know its dangers well, which include:

Dangers of the Death Tree

1. Poisonous fruits

The fruits of this plant despite being similar to apples and having a pleasant smell and taste, they are extremely toxic, causing pain and burning in the mouth and throat, even when ingested in small amounts.

In some situations the ingestion of these fruits can lead to death, believing that a single fruit can cause the death of 20 people.

For this reason, it is important not to eat fruit from trees that you do not know or do not know where they come from, especially if they are small and green, very similar to a small English apple, which grows on larger trees and different from the apple tree.

In case of accidental ingestion of the fruit, it is important to seek medical help quickly, so that the remains of the fruit can be eliminated from the body before being absorbed.

2. Toxic sap

The sap of this tree is not only poisonous, it is also extremely toxic and corrosive to the skin, because when placed in contact with the skin it can cause severe allergy reactions, redness, irritation, swelling, blisters or severe burns.

To protect yourself from the sap of this plant, you should not touch or get close to its trunks or leaves, or stay under the tree to protect yourself from the sun or rain. Sheltering under that tree can be dangerous as the sap can run and burn your skin, especially on rainy or dew days, where water ends up diluting the sap, which runs off more easily and causes severe skin rashes.

3. Smoke that can blind

Choosing to burn this plant is also not a good idea, as the smoke released when inhaled is toxic, and can cause blindness and serious respiratory problems. Thus, in these situations it is best to move away from smoking, but if this is not possible, you should cover the thread with a cloth or use an oxygen mask for protection.

In addition, when the wood of this plant is cut, it remains toxic, and its danger is only eliminated when the wood is dried in the sun.