The Tropical Fruit Tree You'll Want To Stay Far Away From

There are plenty of poisonous plants that look beautiful in gardens, and you don't necessarily have to avoid them entirely as long as you take proper precautions. But there's one tree that's not worth the risk — even touching the surface could leave you in pain. It's called manchineel (Hippomane mancinella), and it has the honor of being dubbed the most dangerous tree in the world. Manchineel's name derives from the Spanish word for "little apple," because the tree's fruits look similar to apples but are only 1 to 2 inches big. But don't be fooled. The full moniker is "little apple of death." The tree is native to southern Florida, Central America, and the Caribbean, where it's so well-known for its toxic qualities that indigenous people historically used it to cover poison arrows. Yet it's not uncommon to see stands of manchineel growing along the beach, in nature preserves, and in parks. It's often used as a windbreak and to protect coasts from erosion; sometimes it's carefully harvested to make cabinetry or other products.

But for the average person, manchineel is a dangerous plant you'll want to stay far away from. Don't touch the bark, don't pick up any leaves, and definitely don't eat the fruit. All of these parts of manchineel are poisonous to humans and most animals. The plant oozes a thick sap that contains phorbols, a chemical that triggers a severe immune reaction in the body. Indeed, spotting a manchineel is a clear sign to walk in the other direction, and you certainly never want to try growing this tree at home.

If you were to accidentally touch the sap of a manchineel, you'd soon experience painful and severe blisters across your skin. If you get it in your eyes, you could go temporarily blind. And if you were clueless enough to take just a small bite of the fruit, you might enjoy the sweet taste in the short term, but that would quickly be followed up with burningand swelling in the mouth and throat, making it hard to swallow or breathe. Manchineel poisoning can also lead to low blood pressure, a slow heartbeat, stomach pain, abdominal bleeding, dehydration, vomiting — and even death. If you accidentally touch or eat manchineel, seek medical attention.

You may see caution signs warning you away from manchineel in public parks or beaches. You can also identify it by its shiny leaves with serrated edges. It grows up to 50 feet tall, with grayish or reddish bark; the flowers are yellow or greenish, and the fruits are typically green, yellow, or reddish. Even standing near a manchineel when it's raining or if the tree is burning can be dangerous, since the sap travels in water and smoke. Of course, manchineel is one beautiful plant you should absolutely never add to your garden. It's just too risky, especially if you have kids or pets. A similarly attractive but safe tree to plant instead is the beach plum (Prunus maritima) — the fruits are edible and delicious (just don't eat the pits, which can be toxic). Beach plum is native North America and is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.