Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
POISON APPLES
In 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh paused at St Croix with a party of settlers on their way to
North America. After the long sea voyage, the colonists were tempted by an abund-
ance of fruit that looked like small light-green apples hanging from trees near the
shore. A number of Raleigh's men and women ate the poisonous fruit and 'were fear-
fully troubled with a sudden burning in their mouths and swelling of their tongues so
big that some of them could not speak.'
The colonists' nemesis was the fruit of the manchineel or 'poison apple' tree. The
sap of this tree is so toxic that the Caribs used it to poison their arrows. On French
Caribbean islands, locals often mark the tree with a skull and crossbones. Although
the manchineel has been eradicated from many public areas in the Virgins, it is still
around, especially on St John and less developed islands.
Because touching any part of this tree can yield caustic burns (the sap takes paint
off cars), humans must avoid the manchineel. Even rain dripping off the leaves and
bark will burn if it touches your skin. Although manchineels can grow as tall as 40ft
and spread broad branches in a radius of 15ft from the trunk, most trees are much
smaller. You will always find these trees near beaches or salt ponds, and you will
know a manchineel by its small, green apples and shiny green elliptical leaves.
