Manchineel

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/manchineel

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Hippomane mancinella
2. What is the family?Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
3. What does the Manchineel tree look like?It looks like a small to medium tree up to 15 meters tall, with smooth gray bark and simple, oval leaves that have finely toothed edges. It also has small greenish‑yellow fruit that resembles a little apple.
4. Why is the Manchineel tree called the Tree of Death?Its sap and fruit are extremely poisonous, causing painful skin blisters, stomach upset, and potentially dangerous health problems if touched or eaten.

Diterpene Esters: A class of organic compounds found in plants, known for their diverse biological activities, including toxicity.
Vesicant: A substance that causes blistering of the skin.
Contact Dermatitis: An inflammatory skin reaction caused by direct contact with an irritant or allergen.