The Tree That Will Leave You Blind

Summary

The video script narrates a chilling encounter with the 'Manchineel' tree, deemed the world's most dangerous by Guinness World Records. It details the perils of its poisonous fruit, which can cause severe internal damage, and the deadly toxins in its sap that can cause burns and lung damage. The story includes a dramatic account of a medical emergency and historical anecdotes, emphasizing the tree's deadly nature while also discussing its ecological importance and the efforts to preserve it.

Takeaways

• 🌧️ A person sought shelter under a tree during a downpour, which turned out to be the dangerous manchineel tree, leading to severe pain and temporary blindness.
• 🌳 The manchineel tree, or Hippomane mancinella, is native to regions between Southern North America and Northern South America, with a high concentration in the Florida Everglades.
• 🍂 The tree has long, yellow-green, glossy, and leathery leaves with finely serrated edges, and it bears sweet-smelling fruits that are deceptively pleasant tasting but highly toxic.
• 🏥 In 2011, the manchineel was named the most dangerous tree in the world by Guinness World Records due to the toxins present in every part of the tree.
• 🍏 The fruit's toxins can cause severe internal damage if ingested, as experienced by radiologist Nicolas Strickland and her friend, who described their ordeal in a medical journal.
• 🚫 The tree's milky white sap contains toxins that can cause facial burning, lung damage, and even tumor growth or inflammation if touched or inhaled.
• 🔥 The tree is so toxic that even burning it can release harmful toxins through smoke, similar to mustard gas, poisoning anyone in the vicinity.
• 🌊 Despite its toxicity, the manchineel tree plays a crucial role in coastal ecosystems by providing natural defenses against erosion and serving as a windbreak.
• 🐢 The manchineel's fruit is not eaten by most animals, but some species like the Galapagos giant tortoise and the black spiny-tailed iguana are exceptions.
• 📉 The manchineel tree is listed as an endangered species in Florida, highlighting the need for its preservation despite its dangerous nature.
• 📖 The story of Spanish explorer and Conquistador Juan Ponce de León, who died after being struck by an arrow coated with manchineel sap, illustrates the historical recognition of the tree's deadliness.

Q & A

What is the Manchineel tree also known as?

The Manchineel tree is also known as the Hippomane.

Where is the Manchineel tree primarily found?

The Manchineel tree is primarily found in various regions between Southern North America and Northern South America, with a high concentration in the Florida Everglades.

What are some characteristics of the Manchineel tree's leaves?

The leaves of the Manchineel tree are long, yellow-green, oval, glossy, and leathery, with very finely serrated edges.

Why was the Manchineel tree named the most dangerous tree in the world by Guinness World Records in 2011?

The Manchineel tree was named the most dangerous tree in the world because every single part of it can be hazardous to human health, from its roots to its leaves and everything in between.

What happened to radiologist Nicolas Strickland and her friend after consuming the fruit of the Manchineel tree?

After consuming the fruit, they experienced a burning tearing sensation, difficulty swallowing, and enlarged lymph nodes in their necks. It took 8 hours for their symptoms to subside, and they were fortunate that their airways were not completely blocked, which could have been fatal.

What is the harmful compound found in the sap of the Manchineel tree?

The sap of the Manchineel tree contains a range of toxins, including a compound that can activate protein KY C in the body, potentially leading to tumor growth or inflammation.

Why is it dangerous to burn the wood of the Manchineel tree?

Burning the Manchineel tree releases toxins from within the tree through smoke, creating a sort of mustard gas that poisons anyone within range.

What happened to Spanish explorer and Conquistador Juan Ponce de León after being struck with an arrow coated with Manchineel sap?

Juan Ponce de León was struck with an arrow coated with Manchineel sap during an encounter with a local tribe in Florida. He escaped to Havana, Cuba, but soon passed away due to the poison.

How does the Manchineel tree propagate its seeds despite having poisonous fruit?

The Manchineel tree's proximity to water allows its buoyant fruit to be easily scattered by ocean currents, spreading the seeds far and wide.

Why is the Manchineel tree listed as an endangered species in Florida despite its dangerous nature?

The Manchineel tree is listed as an endangered species in Florida because of its important role in the ecosystem, including its robust roots that help prevent coastal erosion and serve as a natural barrier against wind.

What advice is given to people who happen to stumble upon a Manchineel tree?

People are advised to give the Manchineel tree a respectful nod but to maintain a safe distance to avoid any potential harm.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 The Dangerous Manchineel Tree

This paragraph describes a harrowing experience of seeking shelter under the manchineel tree during a downpour, leading to severe pain and temporary blindness due to the tree's toxic sap. The manchineel, or Hippomane mancinella, is identified as the world's most dangerous tree, with every part of it being poisonous. It grows in regions from Southern North America to Northern South America, predominantly in the Florida Everglades. The tree's attractive appearance, with glossy leaves and sweet-smelling fruits, belies its deadly nature. The paragraph recounts the story of radiologist Nicolas Strickland and a friend who suffered after consuming the tree's fruit, highlighting the tree's deadly toxins that can cause severe internal damage, swelling, and even death. The manchineel's sap contains a range of toxins, including one that can trigger protein KYC, potentially leading to tumor growth or inflammation. The dangers of the tree extend to its smoke, which can release a mustard gas-like substance when burned.

05:01

🏞️ The Ecological Importance of the Manchineel Tree

Despite its deadly nature, the manchineel tree plays a crucial role in the ecosystems where it grows. Its robust and deep roots offer significant protection against coastal erosion, serving as a natural barrier against wind and water. The tree's proximity to water bodies allows its buoyant fruits to be dispersed by ocean currents, ensuring the spread of its seeds. Although the manchineel is poisonous to most animals, it is an important part of the habitat for the Galapagos giant tortoise and the black spiny-tailed iguana. The paragraph also mentions the efforts being made to preserve this endangered species in Florida, emphasizing the balance between recognizing its dangers and acknowledging its ecological value.

Keywords

💡Manchineel Tree

The Manchineel Tree, also known as Hippomane, is a tropical tree native to the Americas, particularly concentrated in the Florida Everglades. It is central to the video's theme as it is described as the most dangerous tree in the world due to its poisonous properties. The tree's leaves, bark, sap, and fruit all contain toxins that can cause severe harm to humans and animals. The script describes the unfortunate experience of someone seeking shelter under this tree during a rainstorm, leading to painful consequences.

💡Toxic Sap

Toxic Sap is a key concept in the video, referring to the milky white substance found in the Manchineel Tree that contains a range of harmful toxins. It is dangerous not only when ingested but also when touched or inhaled, as it can cause skin irritation, lung damage, and other severe health issues. The script mentions that even burning the tree can release these toxins into the air, creating a harmful environment.

💡Formic Acid

Formic Acid is a compound found in the toxic sap of the Manchineel Tree. The video explains that it can activate protein KY C in the body, potentially leading to tumor growth or inflammation. This compound exemplifies the tree's deadly nature, as even minor contact can have serious health implications, as illustrated in the script with the story of someone who experienced burning sensations after seeking shelter under the tree.

💡Endangered Species

Despite its dangerous nature, the Manchineel Tree is listed as an endangered species in Florida. This term is important as it highlights the video's message about the need for conservation and the complex relationship between danger and ecological importance. The tree plays a significant role in its ecosystem, such as preventing coastal erosion and providing a natural barrier against wind.

💡Coastal Erosion

Coastal Erosion refers to the wearing away of coastlines by the action of the sea. In the context of the video, the Manchineel Tree's robust and deep roots help to combat this natural process, demonstrating the tree's ecological value despite its dangerous characteristics.

💡Galapagos Giant Tortoise

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise is one of the few animals that can safely consume the Manchineel Tree's fruit without harm. This unique relationship is mentioned in the script to illustrate the tree's ecological niche and the fact that its toxicity is not universally lethal, only to most animals and humans.

💡Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

The Black Spiny-tailed Iguana, like the Galapagos Giant Tortoise, is another exception to the Manchineel Tree's toxicity. It can eat the tree's fruit without adverse effects, showcasing the tree's role in the food chain and the adaptation of certain species to its poisonous nature.

💡Guinness World Records

Guinness World Records is mentioned in the script as the authority that named the Manchineel Tree the most dangerous tree in the world in 2011. This recognition adds to the video's emphasis on the tree's deadly reputation and provides a benchmark for its notoriety.

💡Tobago

Tobago is a Caribbean island where a real-life incident involving the Manchineel Tree's fruit is recounted in the script. Two friends experienced severe discomfort and pain after consuming the fruit, highlighting the tree's danger and serving as a cautionary tale within the video's narrative.

💡Mustard Gas

Mustard Gas is a chemical warfare agent that the video likens to the smoke produced when burning the Manchineel Tree. The comparison is used to emphasize the extreme danger of the tree's toxins, as the smoke can poison anyone in its vicinity, similar to the effects of mustard gas.

💡Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer, is mentioned in the script as having died after being struck by an arrow coated with the Manchineel Tree's sap. This historical anecdote underscores the tree's deadly nature and provides a dramatic example of its lethal potential.

Highlights

A man was blinded by taking shelter under the 'Manchineel Tree' during a downpour.

Manchineel Tree, also known as 'Hippomane', is considered the most dangerous tree in the world.

It is native to regions between Southern North America and Northern South America, particularly in Florida Everglades.

The tree can grow up to 49 ft tall and is found along coastal beaches and in brackish swamps.

Manchineel's leaves, flowers, and fruits are attractive but contain toxins that can cause severe harm.

In 2011, the Manchineel Tree was named the most dangerous tree by Guinness World Records.

Consumption of the tree's fruit can lead to severe internal damage and swelling of the throat.

A medical case study detailed the experience of radiologist Nicolas Strickland after consuming the fruit.

The tree's sap contains toxins that can cause facial burning, lung damage, and even tumor growth.

Even burning the Manchineel Tree can release harmful toxins through smoke.

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León died after being struck by an arrow coated with Manchineel sap.

Despite its dangers, the Manchineel Tree plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, preventing coastal erosion.

The tree is listed as an endangered species in Florida, and efforts are being made for its preservation.

Manchineel's proximity to water helps in the dispersal of its seeds through ocean currents.

The tree's roots are robust, providing a natural defense against coastal erosion and a barrier against wind.

The Manchineel Tree is poisonous to nearly all animals except the Galapagos giant tortoise and the black spiny-tailed iguana.

Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and stay updated on future videos for more intriguing content.

Transcripts

you're caught in a sudden downpour in

the middle of the night instinctively

you rush to the nearest tree for shelter

but that's when everything goes wrong it

begins as a burning sensation on your

skin that quickly moves into your eyes

as the pain intensifies your vision

starts to get hazy the next thing you

know you're being carried to the medical

ward blind and terrified that you may

never see again all because the tree you

had chosen to take shelter under just so

happened to be the most dangerous tree

in the world the manchel tree or Hippo

manella grows in the various regions

between Southern North America and

Northern South America but is most

concentrated in the Florida Everglades

reaching as tall as 49 ft it is found

along Coastal beaches and among the

mangroves of brackish swamps where fresh

river water and salty seawater meat the

leaves of the manchal tree are long

yellow green oval glossy and leathery

with very finely serated edges its

branches often have similarly colored

flowers which bear sweet smelling fruits

that range in color from green to

reddish gold it's a beautiful tree but

in 2011 it was named the most dangerous

tree in the world by Guinness World

Records because every single part of it

will put your life in danger if you let

it take for example the fruit one small

bite and the innocent looking Pleasant

tasting fruit will begin to tear at your

insides don't believe me it is not

relevant whether or not I believe well

you don't have to radiologist Nicolas

Strickland and her friend lived out the

very unfortunate experience of consuming

the of death and wrote about their

experience in a British medical journal

article back in 2000 while on vacation

to the Caribbean island of Tobago the

two friends stumbled upon a deserted

beach and came across a small green

fruit laying on the ground I rashly took

a bite from this fruit and found it

pleasantly Sweet Moments Later we

noticed a strange peppery feeling in our

mouths which gradually progressed to a

burning tearing sensation and a

tightness of the throat the symptoms

worsened over a couple of hours until we

could barely swallow solid food they

were both in EXC cruciating pain and had

the feeling of large lumps in their

throats they were able to find some

relief by drinking P coladas though milk

brought the most Comfort it took a

frightening 8 hours for the symptoms in

their mouths and throats to subside but

by then the lymph nodes in their necks

were tender and enlarged Nicola and her

friend were lucky they had only ingested

a small amount since the swelling in

their throats would have caused their

airways to be completely blocked and the

gastrointestinal swelling could have led

to internal bleeding and bacterial

infection so it is a tree with poisonous

fruit how terrifying oh no the fruit

isn't the only dangerous part of the

manchal tree not by a long shot from the

roots to the leaves and everything in

between the tree is filled with a milky

white sap that Harbors a range of toxins

one of those being formable a compound

that can activate protein KY C in the

body potentially leading to tumor growth

or inflammation merely touching the

trees bark or inhaling near it can

expose you to the toxic sap potentially

causing facial burning and lung damage

you can't you can't even burn the tree

without the risk of hurting yourself or

others using the manal's wood for fire

releasing toxins from within the tree

through smoke creates a sort of mustard

gas that poisons anyone within range of

it and it can get even worse redditor

local case study who had to shelter

under a manal tree in the rain noted

that had the experience taken place

during the day they surely would have

identified the tree and avoided using it

as shelter from the rain staying far far

away unfortunately due to the darkness

of night this was not the case while

under the tree rain water that had mixed

with the sap coating the branches

dripped into his eyes and at no time he

couldn't see luckily he didn't receive

any severe burns from the experience and

after 2 days of treatment he regained

his eyesight in many of these cases of

exposure to the manino the consequences

could have been more severe even fatal

if they had not sought medical help but

back in 1521 Spanish explorer and

Conquistador Juan pontoon wasn't as

lucky he was 5 months into colonizing

southwestern Florida looking for the

Fountain of Youth when he and his people

had a runin with a local tribe of

indigenous peoples during the encounter

it said that Pon was struck with an

arrow he escaped to Havana Cuba where

the celebrations of survival were

short-lived once it was discovered that

the arrow that hit him had been coated

with the sap of a manal tree and he soon

passed

away ah astute observation my great a

tardigrade it does at first seem odd

that a tree would be able to propagate

its seeds and reproduce effectively with

fruit that no animal would want to eat

while well it's true that the manial is

poisonous to nearly every animal that

crosses its path except for the

Galapagos giant tortoise in the black

spiny tailed iguana it's the trees's

proximity to water that has allowed it

to continue to flourish the currents of

the oceans that the manchal grow next to

easily scatter the buoyant fruit as they

fall into the water allowing the seeds

to be spread far and wide despite this

ability to persevere the binal is listed

as an endangered species in Florida

great question being even though the

tree is incredibly dangerous efforts are

being made to preserve the manchal tree

because of the important role it has in

the ecosystems where it grows it seems

that the manal's roots are so robust and

deep seeded that they become a

significant natural defense against

Coastal erosion Additionally the trees

serve as a sturdy natural barrier

Against the Wind and humans I guess so

if you happen to stumble upon a manchal

tree go ahead and give it a respectful

nod But be sure to give it a safe

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