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Metopium toxiferum (L.)Krug &. Urb.
Florida Poisontree
Poisonwood
Florida native
An occasional evergreen tree of hammocks and pinelands in south Florida from Martin and Collier Counties into the Keys. The range extends into the Bahamas and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.
Growing up to 12m (40 ft.) tall with scaly reddish-brown bark that may have black spots where the sap has oozed out. Leaves are alternate and compound, with three to seven leaflets that are opposite with a terminal leaflet. Leaflets are shaped like a rounded triangle up to 8cm (~3 in.) long, shiny green on top and often exhibiting black spots. The small, five-petaled creamy white flowers appear in clusters. Fruit is a yellow-orange drupe 1-1.5cm (4/10 to 6/10 in.) long, also appearing in clusters.
Metopium toxiferum is a member of the Anacardiaceae - Cashew and Sumac family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Dec 25, 2023
