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The Most Dangerous Tree in the World Lives in Florida

WLRN 91.3 FM | By Katie Lepri

Published May 23, 2016 at 1:43 PM EDT

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The fruit from the Manchineel trees can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, digestive tract damage and even death

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Have you seen this tree? It is considered one of the most dangerous in the world

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The Spanish conquistadors dubbed the fruit of Florida’s Manchineel tree the Manzanita de la Muerte or ‘the little apple of death'.";s:

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Even the smoke from burning the Manchineel tree tree can cause blindness

It's not just the Gators that will kill you in Florida…. Turns out the plants will too.

This summer the 2017 Guiness Book of World Records will come out. And, for the sixth year in a row, it looks like a native tree of Florida will take the title of the world's most dangerous tree.

Spanish conquistadors dubbed the fruit of Florida’s Manchineel tree the Manzanita de la Muerte or ‘the little apple of death.’ One bite can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding, digestive tract damage or possibly kill you.

Although it can look harmless, contact with tree sap can cause a breakout of blisters even if it’s diluted with rainwater.

While its reputation keeps many away, some have found use for its wood in carpentry and used parts of the tree as medicine too.

But don’t burn that Manchineel bookcase - the smoke could blind you.

In addition to Florida, you can find the tree in the Caribbean and Central America too.