Fish Poison Tree

What did I find most interesting on this walk? The Fish Poison Tree! The poison can stun the fish.  Doesn't this remind you of anesthesia??

The Fish Poison Tree is a large tree that grows on sandy and rocky shores. It has large leaves held in circular arrangement at the ends of the branches.  The young leaves are bronze colour with pinkish veins.

The flowers are like puff balls of white stamens tipped with pink.  They open at night, attracting large moths and nectar-feeding bats with their scent.  The next morning, the flower stamens are usually found strewn beneath the tree.

The fruits have a lantern shape and can float on water.  The fruit can survive drifting on the sea for long distances and for up to 2 years!  The outermost layer of the fruit wall is green, turning brown when ripe.  The middle layer is spongy and contains air sacs to help the fruit float.  The innermost layer is hard and thick to protect the seed.  The layers of spongy and hard coverings are similar to the coconut.

 All parts of the tree contain a poison called saponin.  The seeds and other parts of the plant are pounded, pulped or grated to release the poison and used to STUN fish in freshwater streams.  What a great way to catch fish!!  Don't worry, you will not die from eating the fish caught by this method because the poison will fade away after a few minutes.