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HURA CREPITANS L. - SANDBOX TREE.
Common nameOchoo, arbol del diablo, acacu, monkey's dinner-bell, habillo, ceiba de leche, sand-box tree, possum wood, dynamite tree, ceiba blanca, assacu, posentri. Family Euphorbiaceae (spurge family). Overview A tropical tree, reaches heights of 90 to 130 feet, with a spiny trunk and spreading branches. The grey bark is covered with conical spines. The long-stemmed, leaves are papery thin, heart-shaped and up to 2 feet long. It has red flowers. The plant secretes a yellowish milky juice used by Amerindians to poison darts. The juice contains two lectins, which have haemagglutinating activity; that inhibits protein synthesis. The pumpkin-shaped seedpod explodes with a loud bang so that the flat seeds are dispersed over a wide area. These seeds are emetic and when green, very purgative. Oil extracted from the dried seeds are also used as a purgative. It's pale, yellow or brown, soft wood is used for furniture under the name hura. In Suriname, the sandbox tree often can be found in nearly pure stands on moist sandy loam in the flat coastal region. Suriname's traditional medicine The leaves are used against eczema. Hardiness USDA zone 10 A - 11. Propagation Seeds and cuttings. Due to recalcitrant nature of the seeds, they have a short viable life, can not be dried well and can not withstand low temperatures. Culture Partial / full sun; moist soil, sandy loam. |
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