Family: Lecythidaceae
Common name: Sea poison tree, Fish poison tree, Putat, Duppy coconut, Sea putat, Box fruit tree
Sea Poison Tree is a medium-sized, evergreen tree commonly seen in coastal regions of India, producing pretty white flowers and poisonous fruits.
Tree characteristics
They can reach a height of about 25 meters with a straight trunk and smooth brown bark.
Leaves are green, large, and leathery, elliptical in shape, about 20-25 cm long. They don’t have a petiole and are connected directly to the stem. Sea poison trees are also used as landscape trees in gardens because of their dense foliage and large green leaves. Tender leaves are glossy, copper-pink in color.
Flowers are very pretty, like little pom-poms because of numerous white stamens with a shade of pink and yellow bulbous tip. They also have a prominent pink style in the center of the flower. Sea poison flowers open at night attracting moths, bats, and other pollinating insects with their scent and color.
Growing in bunches of 3-10, these large, showy flowers have small pale pink to white petals which are not very prominently seen because of the stamens.
Once they are pollinated, the Sea Poison tree flowers produce spherical fruits that are box-like at the base giving the fruit the name ‘Box fruit’. Fruits are initially green later turning brown on maturity.
Like Coconuts or Cocos nucifera, these fruits are covered with a rough husk and fibrous pulp enclosing the large seed. Fruits are 8-10 cm in diameter and capable of floating in water so that they can be carried to distant shores for propagation.
These fruits and seeds are not consumed by humans since they are toxic in nature. The seeds are ground to pulp or powder, and added to water to stun fish and slow them down making them easy to catch.
Gardening tips
Sea poison trees can be grown as ornamental trees in gardens because of their beautiful, dense crowns and pretty flowers. They can be grown as shade or avenue tree since they prefer bright sunlight. Make sure to space the trees well, giving appropriate distance of about 10-15 meters between trees.
Once they are established in the soil, the Sea Poison trees are very non-fussy thriving in all kinds of weather conditions, though they are happiest along coastal areas. They are tolerant of saline conditions, salty wind, and wet marshy areas.
Uses
Though the plant has toxicity, it is used in the treatment of wounds, sores, stomach pain, malaria, and bronchitis. Dry fruits can be used as floats for fishing since they can stay in water for long periods. Wood is used for making bowls, small furniture and utensils.
Propagation is through seeds.
Photographed at: Bandstand, Mumbai and Lunuganga, Sri Lanka
