LECYTHIDACEAE

The Lecythidaceae or brazil-nut family consists of about 300+ species of tropical softwood trees. They have alternate leaves, showy but short living flowers, and fruits that are large drupes. Well-known species include the edible brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsia) and Mebrillo (Gustavia superba), and the curious looking cannon-ball tree (Couroupita guianensis). Only a handful of Lecythidaceae are poisonous, mainly the genus Barringtonia, which comprises some 60+ tropical or mangrove species. Barringtonia asiatica is called the sea-poison tree because its seeds are used by native fishermen to poison fishes in shallow ocean. This is due to the presence of steroidal toxins called saponins, which act like soap. When ingested, saponins severely irritate the gut, but upon injection, they cause cells to rupture (lyse). Fishes are killed by saponin because it damages their gill. B. asiatica produces big waxy leaves and massive pom-pom like flowers which bloom at night. The flower attracts bat and flying fox as pollinator, it drops at the first ray of sunlight. The fruit is large and shaped like an archbishop’s cap. It is fibrous and highly buoyant to disperse its seeds far across the ocean.

Sea poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica), flower.

Barringtonia asiatica, seedling.

Barringtonia asiatica, fruit.