Hura crepitans, the sandbox tree,[2] also known as possumwood, monkey no-climb, assacu (from Tupiasaku) and jabillo,[3] is an evergreen tree in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to tropical regions of North and South America including the Amazon rainforest. It is also present in parts of Tanzania, where it is considered an invasive species.[4] Because its fruits explode when ripe, it has also received the colloquial nickname the dynamite tree.[5][6]
The sandbox tree can grow to 60 metres (200 ft),[7] and its large ovate leaves grow to 60 cm (2 ft) wide. They are monoecious, with red, un-petaled flowers. Male flowers grow on long spikes, while female flowers grow alone in leaf axils. The trunk is covered in long, sharp spikes that secrete poisonous sap. The sandbox tree's fruits are large, pumpkin-shaped capsules, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long, 5–8 cm (2–3 in) diameter, with 16 carpels arranged radially. Its seeds are flattened and about 2 cm (3⁄4 in) diameter. The capsules explode when ripe, splitting into segments and launching seeds at 70 m/s (250 km/h; 160 mph).[5] One source states that ripe capsules catapult their seeds as far as 100 m (330 ft).[8] Another source states that seeds are thrown as far as 45 m (150 ft) from a tree, averaging about 30 m (100 ft).[7]
Habitatedit
This tree prefers wet soil, and partial shade or partial to full sun. It is often cultivated for shade. Sandbox trees are tropical trees and prefer warmer, more humid environments.
Usesedit
Its wood is light enough to make indigenous canoes.[9] Fishermen have been said to use the milky, caustic sap from this tree to poison fish.[10] The Caribs made arrow poison from its sap.[11] The wood is used for furniture under the name "hura". Before more modern forms of pens were invented, the trees' unripe seed capsules were sawn in half to make decorative pen sandboxes (also called pounce pots), hence the name 'sandbox tree'. It has been documented as a herbal remedy.[12]
The seeds contain an oil that is toxic for consumption but can be made into biodiesel and soap, its starchy leftovers can be made into animal feed after cooking.[9]
^ abVogel, Steven (March 2008). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-08.
^Allard, H. A. (1950). "The Sandbox Tree and Its Armament". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 77 (6): 509–515. doi:10.2307/2482185. JSTOR 2482185.
^ abSwain, M. D.; Tom Beer (1977). "Explosive Seed Dispersal in Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae)". New Phytologist. 78 (3): 695–708. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1977.tb02174.x. JSTOR 2434538.
^"Hura Brasiliensis. From Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke. Homeopathy".
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hura crepitans.
(in Portuguese) University of São Paulo: Hura crepitans photos
www.maya-ethnobotany.org seedpod explosion video
February 15, 2024
hura, crepitans, sandbox, tree, also, known, possumwood, monkey, climb, assacu, from, tupi, asaku, jabillo, evergreen, tree, family, euphorbiaceae, native, tropical, regions, north, south, america, including, amazon, rainforest, also, present, parts, tanzania,. Hura crepitans the sandbox tree 2 also known as possumwood monkey no climb assacu from Tupi asaku and jabillo 3 is an evergreen tree in the family Euphorbiaceae native to tropical regions of North and South America including the Amazon rainforest It is also present in parts of Tanzania where it is considered an invasive species 4 Because its fruits explode when ripe it has also received the colloquial nickname the dynamite tree 5 6 Hura crepitansScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily EuphorbiaceaeGenus HuraSpecies H crepitansBinomial nameHura crepitansL Synonyms 1 Hura brasiliensis Willd Hura crepitans var genuina Mull Arg Hura crepitans var membranacea Mull Arg Hura crepitans var oblongifolia Mull Arg Hura crepitans var orbicularis Mull Arg Hura crepitans var ovata Mull Arg Hura senegalensis Baill Hura strepens Willd Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Uses 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksDescription editThe sandbox tree can grow to 60 metres 200 ft 7 and its large ovate leaves grow to 60 cm 2 ft wide They are monoecious with red un petaled flowers Male flowers grow on long spikes while female flowers grow alone in leaf axils The trunk is covered in long sharp spikes that secrete poisonous sap The sandbox tree s fruits are large pumpkin shaped capsules 3 5 cm 1 2 in long 5 8 cm 2 3 in diameter with 16 carpels arranged radially Its seeds are flattened and about 2 cm 3 4 in diameter The capsules explode when ripe splitting into segments and launching seeds at 70 m s 250 km h 160 mph 5 One source states that ripe capsules catapult their seeds as far as 100 m 330 ft 8 Another source states that seeds are thrown as far as 45 m 150 ft from a tree averaging about 30 m 100 ft 7 Habitat editThis tree prefers wet soil and partial shade or partial to full sun It is often cultivated for shade Sandbox trees are tropical trees and prefer warmer more humid environments Uses editIts wood is light enough to make indigenous canoes 9 Fishermen have been said to use the milky caustic sap from this tree to poison fish 10 The Caribs made arrow poison from its sap 11 The wood is used for furniture under the name hura Before more modern forms of pens were invented the trees unripe seed capsules were sawn in half to make decorative pen sandboxes also called pounce pots hence the name sandbox tree It has been documented as a herbal remedy 12 The seeds contain an oil that is toxic for consumption but can be made into biodiesel and soap its starchy leftovers can be made into animal feed after cooking 9 Gallery edit nbsp Large sandbox tree in Honolulu nbsp Hura crepitans in Vietnam nbsp Hura crepitans in Saint John U S Virgin Islands nbsp Spiny trunk of Hura crepitans nbsp Leaf of Hura crepitans nbsp Hura crepitans fruit carpel nbsp Hura crepitans fruit carpel opposite sideReferences edit Hura crepitans L Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 8 August 2022 Hura crepitans Germplasm Resources Information Network Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 24 December 2017 Hura crepitans at the Encyclopedia of Life Factsheet Hura crepitans Sandbox Tree a b Vogel Steven March 2008 The Flight of the Seed of Hura crepitans PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2013 06 08 Allard H A 1950 The Sandbox Tree and Its Armament Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 77 6 509 515 doi 10 2307 2482185 JSTOR 2482185 a b Swain M D Tom Beer 1977 Explosive Seed Dispersal in Hura crepitans L Euphorbiaceae New Phytologist 78 3 695 708 doi 10 1111 j 1469 8137 1977 tb02174 x JSTOR 2434538 Feldkamp Susan 2006 Modern Biology United States Holt Rinehart and Winston p 618 a b Cruz Eniel David Martinez Gladys Beatriz December 2018 Germinacao de sementes de especies amazonicas assacu Hura crepitans L Comunicado Tecnico in Portuguese Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation 302 2 3 Handbook of South American Indians Vol 3 1948 Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 19 February 2019 via biodiversitylibrary org Jones David E 2007 Poison Arrows North American Indian Hunting and Warfare University of Texas Press ISBN 978 0 292 71428 1 Hura Brasiliensis From Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke Homeopathy External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hura crepitans Center for Wood Anatomy Research details about the wood of the Sandbox tree in Portuguese University of Sao Paulo Hura crepitans photos www maya ethnobotany org seedpod explosion video Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hura crepitans amp oldid 1183778260, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
