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63. Black Poison Wood 

 Metopium toxiferum 

 POISON 



The sap of the black poison wood causes blisters and pro- 

 longed inflammation similar to that of poison ivy of the United 

 States. The smoke from the burning wood is as dangerous as 

 the sap. The tree is common in many parts of the West Indies, 

 but on the mainland is known only in British Honduras and 

 Yucatan. This bush or small tree has thin russet bark, small 

 white flowers, and yellow-orange berries. In Jamaica it is 

 called poison wood, burn wood; in British Honduras and Yucatan 

 chechem; and in Cuba guao de costa. 



