Cerbera manghas
The sea mango is a common tropical sea drift plant found along the coasts of northern and eastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula, and Orchid Island. It is highly adaptable and often grows on coastal sandy soils or along the banks of rivers near the sea. The mature fruits of this plant have a fibrous, woody outer skin, giving them excellent buoyancy, allowing them to drift long distances with ocean currents and eventually settle on suitable coastlines to take root and reproduce, thereby enabling their widespread distribution along tropical coastlines.
The sea mango has an elegant form and remains evergreen throughout the year. Its dense foliage provides excellent shade and has high ornamental value. From March to October each year, large white flowers bloom in clusters, standing out vividly against the green leaves. After the flowering period, the fruits initially appear green but turn into vibrant purplish-red when mature. They are round and plump, hanging from the branches like tempting jewels, complementing the white flowers and displaying a rich array of color tones.
Although the sea mango has excellent ornamental value, it is a poisonous plant. The entire plant, especially the fruits and the seeds, contains highly toxic cerberin. Ingestion can cause serious arrhythmia and even death. Therefore, when admiring the beautiful flowers and fruit of the sea mango, be sure to keep your distance. Do not pick or break off any part because of its attractive appearance, and never eat it to ensure your own safety.
The sea mango is widely distributed throughout tropical Asia and on many major islands and coastal areas in the western Pacific Ocean. They are commonly planted as landscape trees along roadsides. The trees in our Botanical Garden are located next to the bridgehead in the Littoral Forest Area near the Tropical Rain Forest Greenhouse, creating an excellent landscape effect.