Hura Crepitans, The Sandbox Tree, also known as Possumwood and Jabillo, is an Evergreen Tree of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native to tropical regions of North and South America including the Amazon Rainforest.
Large Sandbox Tree in Honolulu
Hura Crepitans in Vietnam
Spiny Trunk of Hura Crepitans
Hura Crepitans in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Leaf of Hura Crepitans
Sandbox Tree at Puentes Colgantes near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
It is also present in parts of Tanzania, where it is considered an invasive species. It can be recognized by its smooth brown bark covered in many dark, pointed spines which have led to its being nicknamed monkey no-climb. Because its fruit Explodes when Ripe, it has also received the colloquial nickname The Dynamite Tree.
इस पेड़ को 'Possumwood' के नाम से जाना जाता है। इसकी सबसे खतरनाक बात ये है कि इसपर लगे हुए फल पकने के बाद किसी बम की तरह धमाका करते हुए फट जाते हैं, जिसके बाद इसके बीज 257 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से हवा में फैल जाते हैं।
अगर गलती से भी कोई इंसान इसकी चपेट में आ जाए तो वो गंभीर रूप से घायल हो सकता है।
ये पेड़ उत्तर और दक्षिण अमेरिका सहित अमेजन वर्षावन में पाए जाते हैं।
The Sandbox Tree can grow to 60 metres (200 ft), and its large ovate leaves grow to 60 cm (2 ft) wide. They are monoecious, with red, un-petaled flowers. Male flowers grow on long spikes, while female flowers grow alone in axils. The Sandbox Tree's fruiting bodies are large capsules which can explode when ripe, splitting into segments and launching seeds at 70 m/s (250 km/h). One source states that ripe capsules catapult their seeds as far as 100 m (330 ft). Another source states that seeds are thrown as far as 45 m (150 ft) from a tree, averaging about 30 m (100 ft).
Its fruits are Pumpkin-shaped capsules, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long, 5–8 cm (2–3 in) diameter, with 16 carpels arranged radially. Its seeds are flattened and about 2 cm (3⁄4 in) diameter.
एक स्रोत में कहा गया है कि जब फल पकने के बाद फटता है तो इसके बीजों 100 मीटर (330 फीट) दूर तक जा सकते हैं।
