LETHAL ” SEA” MANGO

The Tranquil backwaters of Kerala ,India provide an Ideal Habitat  for a  Deadly Tree from the Oleander family to flourish in the Wild. ( for more pictures on the Poovar region to read up an earlier blog titled RIVER OF FLOWERS and TRANQUILITY )

Bearing beautiful White Flowers which resemble “Temple Flowers” ( Frangipanni) , the Tree flourishes and adorns  Coastal Swamps,  Salty Marshes and the Banks of all the Water Channels.( do see the Tree in the previous blog titled PRETTY RED TOES as well ).

flower and fruit
Deathly Beauty

The Jungle Mango or Sea Mango ( English), othalanga maram ( Malyalam, language spoken in Kerala) , Cerebra odollam ( Scientific name) is native to Southern India and South East Asia.

The “Periwinkle” Like Pretty White Flowers with their discrete yellow centres however  hide a deathly secret .

white flowers
Whorls of Green and White

Resembling delicious raw Green Mangoes ( check out an earlier blog titled “KING and I” do check out pictures of green mangoes)  from a distance ,the Oval Fruits have perfected the art of BIO MIMICRY in deceit.

However, Beware ,these are No mangoes and are in fact bearers of a Lethal Poison that will Kill a Human in but a few hours.

So Lethal and Swift is the poison  ( called cerebrin ) that the Pong Pong ( so called in South East Asia)  Tree is also called Suicide  Tree.

round or oval
Sea Mangoes

The Enchanting Poovar Backwaters in Southern Kerala, India looks so tranquil, calm and beautiful who would have guessed that the Perfect Murder weapon grows here with Free Abandon.

 

Published by

mukul chand

51 year old entrepreneur who has traveled extensively around the world for work and pleasure , is based in New Delhi, India. A passionate traveler born with a love for flora and fauna, is an active naturalist and amateur photographer. Here he shares his unique insight into Incredible India revealing its mysterious and exotic treasures. Writing from his heart he shares his experiences as he crisscrosses this vast and amazing land.

38 thoughts on “LETHAL ” SEA” MANGO”

  1. WOW!!! This post was wonderful… being a biologist, and having studied in Southern India, one would have thought I’d know this tree, but this is the first time I have heard of it or read about it…. thanks for sharing…

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  6. I see these are in the oleander family… Oleander grows in the southern regions of the U.S. and many times (back in the day) it was used by the slaves to kill their owners by putting it in their food.

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    1. Interesting. That is what I have read about the seeds of The Jungle Mango as well. They are mixed with Spicy Food, so their natural bitter taste is masked. Death Follows within a few hours. The Poison is virtually untraceable in a Post Mortem.

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      1. Thanks. I wonder why government has not put the warning signs..

        I had been to Poovar and took a long boat ride in back waters.. I was so tempted to grab one of those flowers and fruits but couldn’t reach out.. Lucky me. I now think how dangerous it would have been..

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      2. I saw them in Ashtamudi too, but in Poovar they were seen in larger numbers. It is best to leave Flowers and life in its natural state, why should you Pick them, let all see them .

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