Three Dangerous Trees of the World
There are so many types of trees around the world, and they are an important part of the local environment. Providing homes and food for many animals, as well as the fact that trees provide the earth with oxygen, they are a crucial part of our lives.
Trees come in many shapes and sizes and if you are planning to have a tree in your garden or have one in your garden, then you will know that you need to care for them to keep them healthy – from keeping them well watered to ensuring that you get the help of a professional like this tree surgeon Bournemouth Kieran Boyland to cut them back when necessary.
Most of the trees that we have in our gardens are fairly safe to be around and are a pleasant part of the garden. However, not all trees are this safe – here are some of the deadliest trees in the world…
The Sandbox Tree – This tree is found in warmer regions of North America and South America and is easy to spot with its bark covered in conical spikes. The sap and fruits of the tree are both poisonous – if you get the sap into the eyes, it can cause blindness, which is why this tree has been used to make poison darts in the Amazon rainforest. The other way that you can be harmed by this tree is by one of the seed pods – once mature, they can explode violently with a loud bang and their seeds can inflict injury on anyone unfortunate enough to be in their path.
Cerbera Odollam – This tree is commonly known as the suicide tree and can be found in warm and damp areas such as Southeast Asia and Madagascar. The bitter tasting fruits and seeds of this tree have a toxin called cerberin which affects the heart, working in the same way as the toxin found in the foxglove. It is believed that this tree is responsible for more suicides and murders in the parts of the world where it grows than any other plant.
The Manchineel Tree – This tree is said to be so poisonous, that even breathing in the air around it for too long can cause health issues. It is found in Florida, parts of the Caribbean and some areas of South America, and the toxins come from the white sap within the tree. The fruits, the leaves and the bark should not be touched as this sap causes burning and blistering almost instantly.
