Manchineel 603 



tered staminatc flowers occupy the upper portion of the spike and are subtended 

 by broad bracts; the perianth is small, membranous, 2- or 3-lobed; stamens 2 or 

 3, their filaments more or less united into a short column below, se])arate and 

 spreading above; anthers exserted, yellow, ovoid, extrorse, opening lengthwise. 

 The pistillate flowers are very smafl, few or solitary, in the axils of [hv l^racts be- 

 low the staminate flowers and consist of an ovoid, 3-parted perianth surrounding 

 the glandular, 6- to 8-celled ovary, which is contracted above into a short, cylin- 

 dric style, with 6 or 8 stigmatic lobes; ovules solitary in each cavitv. The fruit 

 is drupaceous, globose, 2.5 to 3.5 cm. in diameter, shghtly 6- to 8-lobed, yellow- 

 ish green or light yellow and shaded with red; flesh thin, pulpy and milky juiced; 



Fig. 554. Manchineel. 



pit depressed, bony, 6- to 8-celled, with many thorn-hke projections on its thick 

 walls; seeds ovoid, flattened, dark brown. 



The wood of the Manchineel is soft, close-grained, dark brown; its specific 

 gravity is about 0.53. It is said to be harder and heavier in the tropics, and to 

 be used there for cabinet work. The acrid milky juice is very poisonous and was 

 used by the Caribs to poison their arrows. The juice, and the smoke from the 

 burning wood is ver\' injurious to the eyes. 



The genus is monotypic; its name is Greek, and was applied to this tree by 

 Linnaeus, but used by ancient authors for some wholly different plant, reputed to 

 excite horses. 



