Possibly a Pink-eyed Pong Pong Tree

Sometimes Facebook Ain't Such a Bad Deal

 

 

When my brain doesn't feel like working, I go over there and get inspiration.

If it hadn't been for someone asking to identify a plant, I wouldn't know what to blog about today.

Flowers that looked something like this, got me going.

There are lots of photos, of these plants in my pending folders so, I did some research.

Whenever, I find some unusual flower on a tree, I shoot the leaves and fruits, too.

These were spotted on the other side of the island.

If I had some in my backyard, I'd shoot them year round just to show seasonal changes. 

There's plenty of information about this tree on a Singapore Government Website.

They give common names, Latin and even Chinese, if you need some.

It can be called: Sea Pong Pong, Pink-eyed Cerbera, Pong-pong, Buta Buta or, Tanghin Poison. 

Latin: Cerbera manghas L.

Chinese: 海芒果

Poison Rang a Bell with Me

 

 

So, I did a little more investigating because that stuff could be dangerous.

 If you have one of these trees growing in your yard you should know something about it.

The leaves and fruits are extremely poisonous.

Some dingbats, intentionally, kill themselves with it.

REF: US National Library of Medicine

Another common name for it is Sea Mango (ミフクラギ) for the Japanese audience.

The flowers are fragrant but, if you are the proud owner of a Pong Pong Tree...

Don't Eat the Fruits or Leaves !

Why You Should Let Someone Else Do the Fishing

It's not much fun posting flowers of Okinawa, unless a good story goes along with them.


Today, I found out the goodies on these red-eyed devils. 

The trees grow in coastal areas, often around mangrove forests.

Too bad, there were no fruits, hanging on this one.

Maybe, I'll shoot some when they're in season.

You should know what they look like.

They call this plant "Suicide Apple" in Hawaii.

Dangerous and Poisonous 

 

The leaves, fruits and sap from the tree are deadly.

Folks in Madagascar had some rituals where they poisoned kings and queens with the stuff !

Over in Singapore, they say the trees are rare.

 

Wild Singapore, claims they are "Critically Endangered" plants.

The Wiki folks tell me, people ate the stuff to commit suicide in the Marquesas Islands.

Other Than Ornaments What Are These Good For ?

 

Well, I suppose a talking doctor could help someone with them.

If he had a patient who had constant problems with (ahem-ahum) imaginary friends.

Just take these leaves and make some tea.

After your little party, they'll never come back again !