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Cressler, Alan

Hippomane mancinella

Hippomane mancinella L.

Manchineel, Beach-apple, Death-apple, Tree Of Death

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: HIMA2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

All parts of this plant are very poisonous to touch or ingest. Rain dripping off the plant can cause severe skin and breathing irritation.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Typically grows as a shrub, but may reach 50 feet in height as a tree.
Flower: Flowers monoecious with inflorescence arrangement androgynous.
Fruit: The fruits are very poisonous and are remarkably similar in appearance to apples, Malus spp..

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Flowers are greenish-yellow.

Distribution

USA: FL

Benefit

Use Other: Dried wood (once detoxified) has been used in cabinetry.
Warning: All parts of this plant are very poisonous and can cause severe skin irritation and death if contacted or ingested.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Poisonous: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC			FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hippomane mancinella in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hippomane mancinella in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hippomane mancinella

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-30
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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