Taking a walk among nature is, of course, one of life’s great joys. In certain parts of the world, though, venturing into the wilds can cause you more pain than pleasure.
To give you an example, we’ve rounded up the world’s most dangerous trees to humans. From exploding fruit to impassable thorns, these forest fiends have numerous ways to cause injury and worse.
World's most dangerous trees to humans
Cerbera odollam
Native to parts of South and South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and Queensland, Australia, the Cerbera odollam is known as the ‘suicide tree’ due to its historic – and continued – use as a means to poison oneself. Rising to 12 metres in height, it bears white flowers and green shells, the latter of which contain highly toxic seeds that, when ingested, produce symptoms ranging from a burning sensation in the mouth to coma and death.
In 18th and 19th-century Madagascar, the Cerbera odollam was also used in trials by ordeal, where suspects were administered with a dose of the tree’s poison, and whether they lived or died determined if they were innocent or guilty. It’s estimated that over 3,000 people a year perished during the trials.
Gympie-Gympie (Dendrocnide moroides)
Primarily found in Australian rainforests, the Gympie-Gympie has a sweet-sounding name and, at a maximum of 10 metres tall, is one of the smallest trees on this list. However, cute and cuddly it most certainly is not. Its stem, leaves and fruit are all covered in fine hairs that, when touched, inject toxin into the skin, causing severe stinging that can last for days, weeks or even longer.
Indeed, after conservation officer Ernie Rider was slapped in the face and torso by one of the tree’s branches in 1963, he reported that the pain persisted for two years, describing it as “ten times worse than anything else”. Even if you don’t touch the tree, you’re not necessarily out of the woods, so to speak – just being in the close vicinity will put you in danger of inhaling those horrid hairs, which can lead to respiratory complications.
Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii)
While most of the trees on this list are dangerous due to their toxicity, the Araucaria bidwillii is best avoided for an altogether different reason. Found almost exclusively in Queensland, Australia, this giant, evergreen conifer (it can grow to 50 metres) drops large cones that weigh up to 40 pounds apiece – more than heavy enough to kill a passer-by.
While the so-called Bunya pine is a prehistoric plant that's been around since the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, we highly doubt it was responsible for their extinction – though it might well have taken out an unsuspecting raptor or two.
Dynamite tree (Hura crepitans)
In the tropical Americas, there are plenty of things that can hurt you – from spiders and snakes to frogs and fish. You might also want to steer clear of the Hura crepitans. Rising to 60 metres in height, this monoecious species is known as the ‘Sandbox tree’ due to its seed shells historically being used to make sandboxes (once popular for their ability to dry pen ink).
What makes it so dangerous is the fact that its pumpkin-shaped fruits explode when ripe, firing said seeds in all directions at speeds of up to 160mph – hence its more notorious nickname, the ‘Dynamite Tree’. Being hit by one of these projectiles can lead to an angry red rash or, if you were to get one in the eye, blindness. No wonder the Kalinago used the toxin from the seeds to make poison darts.
Manchineel (Hippomane mancinella)
The nickname of this species – the ‘Tree of Death’ – tells you everything you need to know about its lethality. Native to the Caribbean, Florida, the Bahamas, and parts of Central and South America, the Manchineel can grow as tall as 15 metres, with every part of the tree containing strong toxins. Stand underneath its branches during rainfall and you can expect your skin to blister. Rub its sap in your eyes and temporary blindness is likely to ensue. It's no surprise that we deemed it the most poisonous tree in the world.
However, eat one of its small, apple-shaped fruits and the consequences will be even worse – in his journal, 18th-century explorer Nicholas Cresswell wrote: “They are rank poison. I am told that one apple is sufficient to kill 20 people.” Thankfully, these days, the Manchineel is often marked with a red cross or band to warn of its hazards.
European yew (Taxus baccata)
The only non-toxic part of the European yew is the aril (the red flesh of its berries) – but considering how dangerous every other part is, you’re probably better off avoiding the tree altogether.
Primarily native to Western, Central and Southern Europe, but also found in parts of Africa and Asia, this woodland species contains numerous toxic compounds, and ingestion of its leaves or seeds – or even inhalation of its sawdust – will require urgent medical attention. While human casualties are thankfully rare, the same can’t be said for livestock, with animals frequently being found dead next to yew trees and bushes.
Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica)
The fact that strychnine – one of nature's deadliest poisons – is used to make rat poison should be warning enough to avoid this deciduous tree that's native to India and South East Asia. The compound can be found in the seeds contained within the Strychnos nux-vomica’s large, apple-like fruit, and, while it’s only a trace amount, taking a bite from said fruit is strongly advised against.
But that’s not the only potential hazard with this medium-sized tree – its bark also contains brucine, ingestion of which can lead to symptoms such as muscle spasms, convulsions and acute kidney injury.
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
In the same way that you wouldn’t attempt to climb a fence if it had barbed wire attached to the top of it, you’d be a fool to try and scale the honey locust due to the risk of being impaled on its thorns.
Found in central North America, this deciduous tree can produce clusters of huge spikes, some growing to eight inches long. To date, there haven’t been any well-known cases of people being injured by the species – but that’s probably because no one’s been brave (or daft) enough to try and climb one in the first place.
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