Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Hippomane mancinella
manzanillo, árbol de la muerte, manchineel, poison apple
Known as death chamomile, it is an evergreen tree that grows up to 15 meters tall, with a straight trunk and grayish bark. Its leaves are alternate, simple, elliptical to ovate, with entire margins and prominent veins. It produces small, unisexual flowers grouped in axillary inflorescences and globular fruits that turn yellow when ripe. This species is highly toxic due to its milky sap, which contains irritating and poisonous compounds that can cause severe irritation in humans and animals. Despite its dangerousness, it plays an important ecological role by providing shelter and food for specialized insects, although its toxicity limits interaction with many other species.
Abundant around the shores of Academy Bay, Isla Santa Cruz, and seen along margins of lagoon at James Bay, Isla San Salvador. Rarely collected owing to the poisonous latex, which causes severe dermatitis (Wiggins and Porter, 1971).
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Euphorbiales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Hippomane
Species
mancinella
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: The native range of this species is Florida Keys to Caribbean, Mexico to N. Venezuela, Galápagos (POWO, 2023).
- Abbott, I. Abbott, L.K. (1973) New distribution records of 65 plant species within the Galapagos Archipelago. Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), unpublished.
- Alcivar, W. (1983) Evolution of the behavior of Tectona grandis, Piscidia carthagenensis, Hippomane mancinella in Experimental Plots on Santa Cruz Island. Anual Report 1986-1987. Charles Darwin Research Station. Pg 49-50
- Anderson, E.F. (1967.) An Account of My Cactus Collecting Trip to the Galapagos Islands. Cactus and Succulent J. Amer. 39:186-199.
- Andersson, N.J. (1861-1862) Ueber Die Vegetation der Galapagos-Inseln Linnaea 31: 571-631
- Andersson, N.J. (1858) Flora of the Galápagos Islands (translated from Swedish). Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Academien Botanik 1: 3-34
- Andersson, N.J. (1855) Om Galápagos Öarnes Vegetation. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps Akademien Handl., Stockholm: 61-256.
- Atkinson, R. Guézou, A. & Jaramillo, P. (2009) Siémbrame en tu jardín - Plantas nativas para jardines en Galápagos. Fundación Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador, 151 pp.
- Blake, S. Wikelski, M., Cabrera, F., Guézou, A., Silva, M., Sadeghayobi, E., Yackulik, C. & Jaramillo, P. (2011) Gardeners of Galapagos? Seed dispersal by giant tortoises. Journal of Biogeography (submission): 1-41.
- Burger, W. Huft, M. (1995) Family 113 Euphorbiaceae. Fieldiana, Bot., n.s. 36: 1–169.
- Cayot, L. J. (1987) Ecology of Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus)in the Galápagos Islands. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the Graduate School of Syracuse University.
- Escobar, J. (1985) Physical Characteristics, Germination, and Survival at Transplanting of three Timber Species on Santa Cruz Islands Annual Report 1986-1987. Charles Darwin Research Station. Pg 45-47
- Jaramillo, P. (1998) Distribución Espacial de la Vegetación Vascular y Dispersión de Especies Introducidas dentro del Parque Nacional Galápagos. Tesis de Doctorado en Biología, Universidad Central del Ecuador. Especialización ECOLOGIA DE POBLACIONES.
- Jørgensen, P.M. León-Yánez, S. (eds.) (1999) Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 75. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, 1181 pp.
- Lawesson, J.E. Adsersen, H. & Bentley, P. (1987) An updated and annotated check list of the vascular plants of the Galapagos islands. Rept. Bot. Inst., Univ. Aarhus 16: 1-74.
- Lawesson, J.E. (s.a.) Pers. obs. field notes, collections 1985-7.
- McMullen, C.K. (1999) Flowering plants of the Galapagos. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 370 pp.
- Nowak, J.B. (1987) Final report on studies in burnt area, Sierra Negra, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands Ecuador. Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished.
- Nowak, J.B. Lawesson, J., Adsersen, H., de Vries, T. (1987) Dos años de estudio de la dinámica de la vegetación posterior al incendio en el sur de Isabela, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador. Memorias. Taller sobre Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 139-153.
- Restrepo, A. Bush, M., Correa-Metrio, A., Conroy, J., Gardener, M. R., Jaramillo, P., Steinitz-Kannan, M., Overpeck, J. & Colinvaux, P. (2011) Impacts of climate variability and human colonization on the vegetation of the Galápagos Islands. Ecology: 1-42.
- Robinson, B.L. (1902) Flora of the Galapagos Islands. Papers from the Hopkins-Stanford Expedition to the Galapgaos Islands. Proc. Amer. Acad. 38(4): 78-270.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2022) Plants of the world online POWO (2022): Plants of the world online. Published on the Internet; Https://powo.science.kew.org/
- Schofield, E.K. (1984) Plants of the Galapagos Islands. Field Guide and Travel Journal. Universe Books, New York, 159 pp.
- Schofield, E.K. (1971) Field Guide to Some Common Galápagos Plants. Lindblad Travel, Inc., NY: 1-42.
- Schönitzer, K. (1975) Galápagos Plants. Privately Published, Quito: 1-43.
- Stewart, A. (1911) A botanical survey of the Galápagos Islands. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4th Series, 1: 7-288.
- Svenson, H.K. (1935) Plants of the Astor Expedition, 1930 (Galapagos and Cocos Islands). Am. J. Bot. 22: 208-277.
- Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
- Wiggins, I.L. Porter, D.M. (1971) Flora of the Galapagos Islands Standford University Press, Stanford.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Hippomane mancinella", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=450. Accessed 16 February 2026.