-
Hans Hillewaert/Wikimedia7 of 10
THE MANCHINEEL TREE: “THE LITTLE APPLES OF DEATH”
“Manchineel” is an Anglicization of the Spanish “manzanilla” or “little apple,” based on the resemblance between Manchineel fruits and unripe apples. The apple connection ends there, however, as no matter how sour or tart a particular apple species might be, they won’t cause you to suffer severe gastroenteritis, intestinal bleeding, or respiratory edema—not even a Granny Smith will hurt you that bad. Hippomane mancinella is one of the most poisonous trees in the world, to the point that if you stand underneath a Manchineel tree during a rainstorm you’re likely to develop severe skin blisters just from the diluted sap running off the branches. Native Caribbeans tipped their arrows and spears with Manchineel sap to ensure painful death from even slight wounds, and their preferred method of execution was to tie victims to the trunk of the tree, ensuring a slow and horrifically painful death over a period of days. So yeah, don’t mistake these for apple trees, ever.
RULE No32
Try sitting down during a shower once. It will change the way you shower forever.
Show Comments
Add a Comment
9 Comments
All Australians are descended from convicts? The Aboriginal community might beg to differ.
February 10 2013 at 11:00 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyI can vouch that Datura Stramonium aka Jimpson weed is a crappy buzz.
February 10 2013 at 3:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replysnakeroot - not rootsnake
February 09 2013 at 11:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAnd why do we have to see about your hatred for President Obama, Tom Currie
February 09 2013 at 7:59 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyMaybe cause Tom Currie is a sore loser,
February 10 2013 at 5:27 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replyget over it Tom, Remember, its about Plants not politics.
exactly ...what poor loser to write stuff about a sitting president. Just think...4 more years and you\'ll still find yourself on the wrong side of history..Tom you are a sick bass tird.
February 10 2013 at 9:26 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyAmanita Muscaria - the mario mushroom, totally red
February 09 2013 at 5:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyRidiculous. In Fla where I grew up we had oleanders planted in the yard and trimmed them every year. They were planted and grew by the parks on the bay where we swam and had picnics. They are beautiful plants. Just don\'t eat them.... like most plants.
February 09 2013 at 12:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLet\'s not forget those killer tomatoes.
February 08 2013 at 8:02 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply