Sea Mango, Grey Milkwood
Cerbera manghas

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree up to 8 m tall. It can reach 20 m high. It spreads to 2-5 m across. The stem is erect and branching. It has milky sap. The bark is grey brown. The branches come out in whorls, and they are marked with leaf scars. The leaves are bright green. The leaf stalk is 3-6 cm long. The leaf blade is oblong, and narrowing towards the tip. It is 6-37 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. Leaves are deeply veined and arranged in spirals around the stem. The flowers are white with a yellow throat. They are like tubes and 7.5 cm long by 2.5-5 cm across. They occur in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The flowers have a strong scent. The fruit are round and fleshy berries, which are 7.5 cm across. They are pink, tinged with purple. Often the fruit occur in pairs. They hang down.

The seeds are poisonous. There are 3-4-7 Cerbera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows best in rich, moist, well drained soils. It needs a sheltered and partly shaded position. It is drought and frost tender. It is often near swamps, near the sea and on rocky and sandy coasts. It can tolerate exposure near the coast, but is cold sensitive. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit, and especially the seed, are very poisonous and contain hydrocyanic acid and the cardiac glycosides thevetin and cerberin. The leaves have been recorded as being eaten.

The leaves are sometimes used but more as a medicine.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, seeds very poisonous

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Baraibai, Batano, Bentan, Bintaro, Bintaru, Cande, Chattankaya, Chemeridech, Dabur, Derei-yongo, Dhakur, Dog bane, Dteen-ped-nam, Hahoo, Kalwa, Kameduangel, Kassi Kattarali, Khakhou, Kodalma, Kottuma, Laholaho, Leva, Magkana, Monde, Native Frangipani, Pink eyed Cerbera, Pompong, Pong-pong, Reva, Rewa, Rubber tree, Salut, Sukanu, Te reiango, Tiin-pet-lek, Tin ped, Tok-tok kalau, Toto, Truc dao, Utalam, Vasa, Vasavasa, Za-lat

Synonyms

Cerbera odollam Gaertn.; Cerbera lactaria Buch.-Ham.; and others