Cactus tree ID

Discussion in 'Cacti and Succulents' started by scoastrider, Dec 14, 2007.

  1. scoastrider

    scoastrider Member

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    Hi. I live on a tropical island in the Caribbean called Bonaire. It is one of the Dutch Antilles. My neighbor has a large tree I can only describe as a cactus tree. It is probably 25 feet tall, and very bushy, so to speak. It has large wooden type branches and the "leaves" are succulent with very sharp and hard thorns on it. My neighbor doesn't live here, but rents the house out as a vacation home. A large part of the tree snapped and fell onto my property. I went out to clean ut up, and noticed every time I cut a branch or succulent part, a white milky substance came out. That evening my eyes were very iritated and sore to the touch. The next morning I had broken out with what looked like a rash. The following morning, this morning, my eyes had dark circles under them almost like I had a black eye. Since I never experienced anything like this before, my wife and I are sure it is from the tree. I looked around on this site, and the tree looks a little like a samaipaticereus corroanus. The milky substance sounds like mammillaria. I'm not very knowledgable about botany. My question is this. Is the white milky substance poisenous, like poisen ivy, and if so is it contageous? Also, any idea what the tree is? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks, Wes
     
  2. Cactus Jack

    Cactus Jack Active Member

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    It certainly sounds like the sap is poisonous. But don't worry. Poisons are not contagious. As long as your family don't come into contact with the sap, they should be fine.

    You, on the other hand ... ;-)

    I think you'll be fine. It doesn't sound as though your condition is getting worse. So you'll probably survive!

    Can you get a photo of the tree?
     
  3. scoastrider

    scoastrider Member

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    Jack,
    I will get a picture of it today when it stops raining and figure out how to attach it here. The rash is much better and the dark circles are improving. I still need to trim more of the tree so that more of it doesn't fall on my fence. I will cover myself much better for the next round. I just never thought about the sap of the plant being contagious. Some lessons are learned the hard way. Thanks.
     
  4. scoastrider

    scoastrider Member

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    Jack,
    I got the picture, but I am post challenged and don't know how to insert the picture into the reply. Any suggestions? Thanks, Wes
     
  5. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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  6. scoastrider

    scoastrider Member

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    Thanks for the instructions. Here are a couple of pictures of the cactus tree. Wes
     

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  7. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Very nice specimen tree - it's a Euphorbia of some sort, but as to species, I'll have to leave it to someone more expert on these.
     
  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Euphorbias are notorious for having caustic sap that can burn skin. Not contageous, though, nor as bad as poison-ivy.
     

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