Nature’s Thorny Armory: Beware of These Deadly Trees and Their Sinister Secrets
Most Dangerous Trees You Should NEVER Touch
For some people, the peace and quiet of a forest can be soothing. However, the fact is that not all of these trees are safe to stand near. Some trees produce deadly poisons, have spines lining their trunks, and seeds that blast passersby with incredible force. My advice is to stay away from these plants and trees – don’t touch them if you can help it!
(upbeat music) The Little Apple Of Death.
The Strychnos Nux Vomica, commonly known as the Strychnine Tree, produces a potent poison found throughout the entire tree. Ingesting strychnine in large amounts can cause involuntary skeletal muscle contractions, leading to death. Native to India and Southeast Asia, this deadly tree limited the spread of the bubonic plague in these regions by decimating European rat populations that carried the virus. Today, it’s primarily used as rat poison. In Australia, even the trees pose a threat. Bunya Pines, ancient trees dating back to the Jurassic era, can grow over 100 feet tall with sharp leaves, making them hazardous to those wandering in the Australian woods. Stay safe and watch out for these natural dangers!
When dealing with the Sandbox Tree, protective gear is a must, especially for your hands. These menacing trees, native to the tropical regions of the United States and South America, can grow up to 100 feet tall and are aptly nicknamed the “monkey no-climb tree” due to their bark covered in sharp spikes and thorns. The Sandbox Tree is not to be touched unless you want to risk acquiring some serious injuries. In fact, handling this tree can lead to painful consequences, as its spikes can cause severe wounds. However, this tree does have an intriguing aspect: its grenade-like fruit. The tree produces large, explosive fruit pods, which, when ripe, explode, scattering seeds in all directions. So, while it’s best to avoid physical contact with the Sandbox Tree, its unique natural grenades serve a purpose in seed dispersal.
The Pisonia Tree, found in the Caribbean, has its own dangerous reputation. These trees, known for their thick canopies that attract nesting birds, release sticky seeds designed to hitch a ride on bird feathers for dispersal. However, something in this plan goes terribly awry. The seeds are so adhesive that they immobilize the birds, stranding them with more than 200 seeds attached. Unable to fly, move, or liberate themselves, the unfortunate birds eventually succumb to starvation, exhaustion, or fall prey to opportunistic predators. What’s perplexing is that botanists have yet to unravel the tree’s motivation for this macabre strategy. Scientific studies have failed to find any discernible benefit for the tree in this cruel process. It remains a mystery whether this behavior evolved to deter now-extinct predators or if it’s simply an eccentric quirk of evolution – or perhaps, the tree holds a deep-seated grudge against birds.
As for the infamous “killer coconuts,” the urban legend that suggests they cause more than 150 deaths annually by falling from great heights and striking people on the head is entirely false. This fabrication was popularized to underscore the comparatively low number of shark-related fatalities (averaging 10 per year). While coconuts are not the culprits of a global threat, they can indeed pose risks in certain situations.
In reality, coconuts can be surprisingly dangerous. A four-pound coconut falling from an 80-foot height can reach an impact velocity of 50 mph, exerting a force equivalent to a ton. Such incidents have led to traumatic injuries, including those to the head, shoulders, and back, prompting emergency room admissions. Tragically, there have been fatal incidents involving falling coconuts. In 1973, a child in Hawaii lost their life when a coconut fell from a nearby tree while they were playing in a park. Similarly, in 2002, a fatal incident occurred on a beach in Northern Queensland, Australia, prompting authorities to remove coconut trees from all their beaches. So, it’s crucial to be cautious about where you relax during your holiday – an ill-placed nap could turn a peaceful moment into a perilous one, making falling coconuts a hazard that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Introducing the Honey Locust Tree, a seemingly picturesque sight across the US with its vibrant orange leaves in the fall. However, beneath its foliage lies a perilous surprise – sharp spear-like thorns, some reaching up to 11 inches in length. Flick knives with such long blades are typically illegal in most US states, making this tree a formidable natural weapon. Its flowers emit a sweet scent, but getting too close could lead to an encounter with these formidable thorns. They are not just a threat to curious passersby; these thorns are strong enough to puncture tractor tires and have been reported to pierce through human skin, even fracturing bones in the process. Interestingly, these thorns are believed to be an ancient defense mechanism evolved to ward off giant animals like woolly mammoths during the last ice age, although these creatures are long extinct. Despite the absence of mammoths, the Honey Locust Tree has retained its arsenal, making it a tree not to be trifled with.
In the realm of thorny adversaries, the black locust tree, a close relative to the honey locust, takes an even darker turn. While it may have fewer and shorter spikes, it arms them with a sinister phytotoxin known as “robin,” capable of inducing muscle weakness and kidney failure. Encounter this prickly tree with caution, as its thorns, though originally evolved to deter woolly mammoths, pose a different kind of threat to unsuspecting beings.
Meanwhile, on the serene savannas of equatorial East Africa, a haunting whistle cuts through the calm, not the song of any bird, but the eerie sound of the Whistling Thorn, an Acacia tree standing up to 18 feet tall. This tree has an unusual feature: swollen vines adorned with numerous pairs of three-inch-long spikes. Yet, it’s not the thorns that should give you pause. The hollow bases of these thorns have become a haven for various insects, particularly fire ants. In a mutually beneficial arrangement, the ants nest inside the tree, acting as its defenders. They swarm out of their thorny homes to fiercely repel any intruders, inflicting searing, immediate pain. A fire ant attack can lead to hours of itching and intense skin irritation. These determined ant soldiers persist until the threat is vanquished.
Every few years, the ant colonies migrate to new thorny vines, leaving behind hollow thorns. When the wind rustles through these abandoned thorns, it creates an eerie whistling sound, lending the tree its ominous name. If you ever find yourself in the African savannahs and hear this unsettling whistle on the breeze, heed the warning and head the other way. Have you encountered any of these perilous trees in person? Share your thoughts in the comments, and thank you for reading.