Tree Species Information

Hura crepitans bark
Hura crepitans flower
Hura crepitans fruit

About

Species Name
Hura crepitans
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Local Name
Sandbox tree

Description

The sandbox tree is a tree can grow to 60m, with trunk covered in long, sharp spike that secretes poisonous sap

LEAVES: It has large ovate leaves that can be up to 60cm and its leaves grow to 60cm wide.

FLOWERS: They are monoecious, with red, un-petaled flowers. Its male flowers grow on long spikes, while female flowers grow alone in leaf axils.

FRUITS: Its fruits are large, and pumpkin-shaped capsules, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long. The capsules explode when ripe, splitting into segments.

Uses

1. Fishermen uses the milky, caustic sap from this tree to poison fish.

2. Its wood is used for furniture making.

3. Before modern forms of pens were invented, the trees’ unripe seed capsules were sawn in half to make decorative pen sandboxes (also called pounce pots), hence the name ‘sandbox tree’.

Locations (Institutions)

Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria (FUTA)

©Copyright 2023 Tech4Forest Team