Poisonwood

Organisms / Plants / Flowering Trees & Shrubs

Metopium toxiferum

Pinelands Trail, Everglades National Park (25.423N, 80.680W)

March 23, 2006

Photograph by David McGill

Descriptive Information

    Field Marks: Scaly, reddish-brown bark with black spots where poisonous sap seeps out. The leaves are compound, dark green, and some have dark splotches. They occur clustered in groups of 3-7 leaflets.
    Size: 40 feet (12 m) tall.
    General Habitat: Hammocks and pinelands.
    Range: Southern coastal Florida and the Keys.

Field Observations
The trees observed were generally young because of the fire regulation characteristic of the pineland range. The average height was about 16 feet. The bark had a reddish-brown color and there were clearly identifiable black spots where the sap was seeping out. The leaves were about 3 inches long and most had dark spots on them. They were leathery in texture with an oily shine and deep green color. Almost any part of this tree is poisonous to the human touch and has an effect similar to that of poison ivy, producing a rash. This is expected since the two are close relatives, Only about one in ten people are not allergic to the tree. There were small yellowish-green berries towards the tops of the trees. These berries are not poisonous to animals.

References
Alden, Peter, Richard B. Cech, Amy Leventer, Gil Nelson, and Wendy B. Zomlefer. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.

Nelson, G. The Trees of Florida A Reference and Field Guide. Sarasota: Pineapple Press, 1994.

Additional Photographs
Bark
Leaves
Berries

Page developed by David McGill and Lana Lucht