Florida is home to some freaky creatures. This state is inundated with giant palmetto bugs, spiders the size of an adult hand, razor toothed panthers and bears, even killer trees. Killer trees? Yes, Florida is one place to find the manchineel, the world’s most dangerous tree. This tree is so deadly, it often comes with a warning sign. Spanish Conquistadors called the fruit of this tree manzanilla de la muerte, or “little apple of death.”
This unusual tree is native to Florida and other tropical environments like the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. It bears a small fruit resembling a green apple, but you don’t want these in your mom’s apple pie. They may start off as a sweet bite, but even a tiny amount can cause a host of horrors from a burning sensation in the mouth, to vomiting, restricted airways, bleeding, and even death.
Even coming in contact with the sap can be a very unpleasant experience. Getting the sap on your skin can cause a rash, breathing difficulties, and headaches. Getting it near your eyes can cause temporary but painful blindness. Don’t walk under these trees during or right after a rain storm. People have reported being burned by sap being washed off the trees by rainwater. It’s even been known the take the paint off cars!
In fact, famed explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, seeker of the Fountain of Youth, found himself defeated by the manchineel. When attempting to colonize Florida in the early 16th century, de Leon’s forces found themselves unwelcome by the natives, who liked to use the sap of the tree to make poison arrows. Poor Ponce was shot in the thigh and died soon afterwards.
Attempts to wipe out the world’s most dangerous tree have pushed in onto the endangered species list. But, despite the threat, the manchineel isn’t all bad. It acts as a natural windbreak on the beaches, helping to curb erosion. It has also been used by intrepid carpenters to make furniture. They carefully cut the wood and let the sap dry out before using it, eliminating the harmful effects. Some native peoples even use the tree for medicinal purposes, making a gum from the bark to treat ailments like edema, or using dried fruit as a diuretic.
Related articles: Flowers That Kill: 3 Lovely Flowers that Secretly Want to Kill you, Keep Your Distance From These Poisonous Plants
Featured Image from Stephen Orsillo/Shutter Stock
