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Guilandina bonduc
Gray Nicker
Sea Bean
Fever Nut
Synonym(s): Caesalpinia bonduc
Florida native
A frequent plant of coastal strands in the central and southern peninsula of Florida. The range includes Texas, Louisiana, Mexico and much of the Caribbean. Introduced in Hawaii. Also found in other mostly tropical locations worldwide.
Gray nicker is a spiny shrub with vine-like branches that typically sprawls over other vegetation. The leaves are opposite and twice compound with oblong to ovate leaflets and conspicuous stipules. The fragrant flowers have five yellow-brown petals and appear from spring into fall on crowded stalks. The fruit is a flatish spiny reddish-brown pod. The poisonous gray seeds are smooth and hard.
Guilandina bonduc is a member of the Fabaceae - Pea family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Jan 25, 2022
