The tree of death is the most dangerous on Earth (8 photos)

You can’t chop, it’s forbidden to burn, it’s not recommended to even just stand nearby. Not to mention eating an apple.





The fruits of the manchineel tree, found in countries The Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas are really similar for apples. Not so straight heavenly, but quite attractive with mind.



Manchine grows in splendid isolation, less often in pairs. It has a spreading crown, reaches 15 meters in height, and thanks to unpredictable winds can take on the most bizarre shape.





The tree of death, as it was popularly called, is considered evergreen, but during periods of winter drought it can shed its foliage. Manchine belongs to euphorbia, so all parts of the tree contain viscous and very dangerous juice. Even the dew drops on the leaves pose a threat to life. Upon contact with the skin, the juice causes irritation and burn, and the force of the impact is so great that it can gently burn through thin tissue. It is especially dangerous if it hits mucous membranes and retina - can cause blindness.



Juan Ponce de Leon

There is a legend that the conquistador Juan became a victim of a dangerous poison. Ponce de Leon, who arrived in Florida in search of gold. He claimed to lands, believing that he discovered them. The locals had their own about this opinion. And they argued it with a poison-soaked arrow. non-hazardous wound in the leg in the end and killed de Leon.

In general, more than one died from sweet, but very insidious apples. a dozen conquistadors, pirates, and ordinary sailors too. After all, people tried to satisfy hunger and thirst with the help of these pleasant-looking fruits. A found their death.



In the XVIII century, when they learned about the dangerous properties of this breed, people even tried to exterminate the infection, as they say, under the root. But the attempt was unsuccessful: the lumberjacks, who came out to fight the threat, received serious burns and even lost their sight.

The attempt to use fire was also unsuccessful. Trunks and branches made the smoke poisonous, it provoked severe headaches and poisoning.



That is, people were defeated in an unequal struggle with these insidious green giants. Now in the regions where the tree grows death, the authorities set up warning signs for tourists: do not stop, do not breathe, especially do not eat.



But thanks to modern technology, people have been able to curb insidious manchineel and even use rare valuable wood when furniture production. True, this is preceded by a long serious processing, in particular, preliminary fumigation of trees with smoke, partially drying out the wood. Why do they burn for a long time in the cutting zone bonfires. True, there are exceptions - some reptiles crawl quietly along dangerous branches and trunks, and even settle down in the crown of the tree of death on overnight stay.



For its toxicity, the manchineel is even included in the Book of Records. Guinness. Therefore, approaching this modest, but deadly dangerous tree to make sure his threat was true, certainly not costs.