Sea Mango

Description

Cerbera manghas, the sea mango, is a small evergreen coastal tree growing up to 12 metres (39 ft) tall. It is native to coastal areas in Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific islands. It is also widely cultivated and introduced elsewhere in suitable environments. The shiny dark-green leaves grow in a spiral arrangement, and are ovoid in shape. The flowers are fragrant, possessing a white tubular five-lobed corolla about 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) in diameter, with a pink to red throat. They have five stamens and the ovary is positioned above the other flower parts. The fruits are egg-shaped, 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long. At maturity they turn bright red. The leaves and the fruits contain the potent cardiac glycoside cerberin, which is extremely poisonous if ingested. Long ago, people used the sap of the tree as a poison for animal hunting. Goffin's cockatoo is one of the creatures known to eat sea mangos. In addition, the Coconut crab can become toxic to humans if it eats too much sea mango due to a buildup of cardiac cardenolides.