This is probably the most dramatic blog title we’ve ever used, and with good reason. The manicheel tree is beautiful, found in idyllic tropical locations, and absolutely dangerous. By that we mean “it’s dangerous to stand underneath its branches”, let alone touch it or eat its fruit. As we might expect, there’s a lot of myth, legend, and—yes—drama around this particular plant. It’s the sort of thing that makes for a fun gardening exploration, so let’s dig in and learn a bit more about the true story of the manicheel “death tree”.
Hippomane mancinella: The “Little Death Apple”
We’re talking about a plant, so let’s start with some botany. The scientific name for the manicheel tree is Hippomane mancinella. It’s also known as “beach apple” or the Spanish “mazanilla”. The latter means “little apple” in Spanish and in addition to being the likely root of the names “manicheel” and “manichella” it also speaks to the plant’s Spanish nickname: “manzanilla de la muerte” or “little death apple.” Names aside for the moment, the manicheel is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, making it a relative to candlenut (Aleurites moluccana), jatropha or Barbados nut (Jatropha curcas) and our old friend the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima).
Manicheel trees have a wide native range, found from the tropical portions of North America across the Caribbean to the coastal tropical regions of northern South America. They’re impressive in stature, reaching up to 50 feet/15 meters in height with lovely reddish-gray bark, shiny green 2-4 inch/5-10cm leaves, and small greenish flowers which grow on spikes and produce a fruit much like a small green apple.
Despite this visual appeal manicheel is extremely dangerous. The sap—which present in all parts of the tree—is toxic to humans and animals, containing numerous substances to which we react badly. When it comes in contact with the skin, manicheel produces painful blistering. Getting the sap or smoking from burning wood in the eyes can cause serious eye damage or blindness. Eating the fruit is the worst, causing severe gastroenteritis, swelling of the throat and closing of the airway, and/or death. This is the most likely source of its Spanish nickname, and a good reason to avoid contact with this tree if at all possible. Even standing under the tree is risky; rain or dew dripping off the leaves and branches is enough to cause a bad reaction in humans.
If a person or pet into physical contact with manicheel or consume any part of the plant, seek emergency medical care immediately.
So What Does Manicheel Taste Like?
We admit that we’re curious too, but one more time: DO NOT EAT OR TOUCH ANY PART OF THE MANICHEEL TREE. This plant is dangerous to humans and animals, so avoid contact for safety’s sake.
Nevertheless, foolhardy souls have tried to eat the fruit of the “little death apple” and reported on the experience. A vacationing radiologist and her travel companion impulsively sampled fruit from a wild manicheel in Tobago, with the following reported result:
I rashly took a bite from this fruit and found it pleasantly sweet. My friend also partook (at my suggestion). Moments later we noticed a strange peppery feeling in our mouths, which gradually progressed to a burning, tearing sensation and tightness of the throat. The symptoms worsened over a couple of hours until we could barely swallow solid food because of the excruciating pain and the feeling of a huge obstructing pharyngeal lump. Sadly, the pain was exacerbated by most alcoholic beverages, although mildly appeased by pina coladas, but more so by milk alone.
Over the next eight hours our oral symptoms slowly began to subside. . . recounting our experience to the locals elicited frank horror and incredulity, such was the fruit's poisonous reputation.
These two travelers were lucky; while manicheel deaths are rare due to modern medical treatments they still happen and recovery can be a painful, time-consuming process. While the fruits of manicheel may taste good, the proverbial juice is not worth the squeeze and no flavor is worth risking our lives.
Manicheel: Not a Garden Plant, But a Good Lesson
Manicheel is not a bad plant; as we’re fond of saying there are no bad plants, just plants that grow where we don’t want them. Like the much-less-dangerous poison ivy, manicheel is a plant to treat with caution and respect. We strongly recommend avoiding getting close to it or making contact with it, but it’s still part of its ecosystem where it helps prevent coastal erosion and preserve tropical wetlands. Not all plants are good for human interaction, but all plants are part of the natural world we share. If you see one in the wild, appreciate it from a distance.
Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you! In this case we’re curious to hear from our Florida and Gulf Coast readers who might have some experience with Hippomane mancinella. Get in touch with the comments with your manicheel stories—or any other comments, suggestions, or questions!
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