Sea mango (Cerbera manghas)
An evergreen shrub or small tree to 10m commonly found in coastal habitats and scrubs close to the foreshore.
Fragrant flowers are white with a pink throat, tubular with five petals, 3 to 5cm in diameter and held at the ends of the branches.
Leaves are prominently veined, glossy dark green, 7.5cm to 20cm long and 2 to 6cm wide tapered to a fine tip, oblong to obovate in shape and spirally arranged.
Toxicity category: 1, 3
Warning: Seek urgent medical attention if any part is chewed or eaten.
Common name: Sea mango
Botanical name: Cerbera manghas
Other common names: Native frangipani
Family: Apocynaceae
General description: An evergreen shrub or small tree to 10m commonly found in coastal habitats and scrubs close to the foreshore.
Flowers: Fragrant flowers are white with a pink throat, tubular with five petals, 3 to 5cm in diameter and held at the ends of the branches.
Leaves: Leaves are prominently veined, glossy dark green, 7.5cm to 20cm long and 2 to 6cm wide tapered to a fine tip, oblong to obovate in shape and spirally arranged.
Fruit/Berries: Ellipsoid fruit are up to 7cm long and 5cm wide, ripening reddish purple to black, with a smooth succulent outer coat and a woody one-seeded kernel.
Other: –
Symptoms: All parts of the plant are poisonous particularly the unripe fruit. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, slow heart beat and drowsiness The white latex can also irritate skin and eyes.
Toxicity category: 1, 3
Warning: Seek urgent medical attention if any part is chewed or eaten.
