The Sandbox Tree
What’s covered in spikes, bleeds poison, and shoots off exploding projectiles? A tree, obviously.
Trees are great:
They improve our air quality and give us oxygen to breathe. They provide a home for all sorts of critters and wildlife. On a hot day, they give us a cool, shady place to hide from the sun.
But they can also kill you.
The sandbox tree, scientifically known as Hura crepitans, thrives on sunlight. It is native to a few sunny spots in the Americas and the diverse grounds of the Amazon Rainforest. In other select locations, such as Tanzania, Africa, the sandbox tree has claimed the title of an invasive species. Its presence has taken a significant toll on native Tanzanian ecosystems.
With enough sunlight, these trees can grow up to 130 feet tall. You can easily identify one from its distinct bark that is covered in triangular spikes. These “spikes” are actually the tree’s male flowers which play an important role in helping the trees bear fruit (more on that later!). The prickly nature of the tree’s trunk has led to the nickname “monkey no climb trees.”
But that’s not the only reason why you should steer clear of sandbox trees either. Moreover, the oozing sap of a sandbox tree is toxic. For any curious human or…
