sea-cruise Posted September 17, 2008 #1 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Once in a while I try to post this for anyone who isn't aware of the poisonous trees that grow on the beaches of the Caribbean islands. It's better to be safe than sorry, and I feel that it's an important thing to know. Many years ago, one of my shipmates sat under this tree during a rain shower, on a beach at Tortola, and her skin became very blistered from the runoff. Here is the warning again for those who haven't heard about the Machineel trees. One particular toxic plant worth mentioning is the manchineel tree, Hippomane mancinella, also known as the beach apple or death apple. This tree grows on the shores of islands and coastlines of the Caribbean Sea. A large deciduous tree that has a small green apple-like fruit, it is considered to be one of the most poisonous plants on earth. Given this distinction, it is a tree worth being able to recognize when traveling in this part of the world. Do not sit under it, even during a rain storm, as the droplets of water falling off it contain enough toxic latex to cause a severe contact dermatitis. For the same reason do not touch the leaves, the bark, or burn the wood. The apple-like fruit of the tree contains a potentially deadly poison. The two adventurers mentioned in the preceding paragraph might well have expired from their experimental taste-test. This tree contains tigliane phorbol esters. Skin contact can cause blistering, burns, erythema, swelling, and inflammation. If ingested, it will cause burning and swelling of the oral mucosa, esophageal ulcerations, edema, and cervical lymphadenopathy, making it impossible to swallow, difficult to talk, and hard to breathe. Treatment consists of cleansing the skin with soap and water to remove the plant latex, being careful to avoid further exposure and using antihistamines to minimize the immune response and the edema. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze21 Posted September 17, 2008 #2 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I had no clue that something like this existed. TY for the information. Glad I looked at this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayman5446 Posted September 17, 2008 #3 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Thanks for the advice, I'm headed to Tortula next week!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanuak Posted September 17, 2008 #4 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Thanks for the information, I had no idea that this tree existed or that it could do so much damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousmindy Posted September 17, 2008 #5 Share Posted September 17, 2008 OMG I will look out for this next week!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VentureMan_2000 Posted September 17, 2008 #6 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphakitty Posted September 17, 2008 #7 Share Posted September 17, 2008 There is one of these trees at Trunk Bay beach on St. John. It was all the way to the left on the beach, facing the water. There was a sign posted just beneath the tree that explained to stay away from it! I wish I'd taken a photo of the tree/sign. I'd never heard of it before...we stayed away from it for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea-cruise Posted September 17, 2008 Author #8 Share Posted September 17, 2008 You're all very welcome. I've been to 29 of the islands, and many of them have these trees. Most don't have signs posted. I have posted this thread on 6 different boards (RCCL, HAL, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, Disney, Carnival, & Crystal) but it looks like some of them have been pulled or moved, so please pass the word being some pax don't go to the Ports Board at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted September 18, 2008 #9 Share Posted September 18, 2008 There is one of these trees at Trunk Bay beach on St. John. It was all the way to the left on the beach, facing the water. There was a sign posted just beneath the tree that explained to stay away from it! I wish I'd taken a photo of the tree/sign. I'd never heard of it before...we stayed away from it for sure! :D We saw that same tree! It wasn't even raining BUT we stayed FAR away from it! :eek: sea-cruise! Thank you for this WARNING! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea-cruise Posted September 18, 2008 Author #10 Share Posted September 18, 2008 You're welcome OCruisers. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea-cruise Posted September 22, 2008 Author #11 Share Posted September 22, 2008 bumping up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted September 23, 2008 #12 Share Posted September 23, 2008 The correct spelling is MANCHINEEL... Grows on the West(leeward) Coast only(in Barbados!) You won't see them on Barbados' South or East coasts, for some strange reason.. Many hotels post warning labels on the trees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomko2 Posted September 23, 2008 #13 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Thanks for the warning.:eek: Kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sea-cruise Posted September 24, 2008 Author #14 Share Posted September 24, 2008 You're welcome, Kathy. :) Have a great week. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybean Posted January 4, 2009 #15 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Thanks for the warning - why don't they get rid of the trees though?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorDestiny Posted January 4, 2009 #16 Share Posted January 4, 2009 You don't get rid of everything that's poisonous or harmful. It's the natural order of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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