# Please help me identify the tree that must die **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563 "2002-05-30T16:37:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/1 "2002-05-30T16:37:11Z")
I spent my Memorial day weekend in the Mexican jungles of the Yucatan–WAY south of Cancun. I was helping to survey a piece of land which involved cutting survey lines through the jungle. The gentlmen that were doing the actual cutting were natives of the area…they told me that there was a “poison” tree that would make me sick…I don;t soeak much spansih, but that is what I gleaned…I was shown the tree, but dismissed it thinking they were having fun with the gringa (they had played some other fun jokes on me before…) Anyway, now I realize they were telling the truth and I have a bizarre form of what looks like poison ivy all over me…It has raised blisters and itches worse than it though… The gentlemen called it “chinchin” tree, I think…I can find nothing about it online, but I need to read about it and determine if this stuff can spread and to id the tree so I can have them cut down on this piece of land… Thanks for your assistance… BBJ ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/3 "2002-05-30T16:53:49Z")
Could it be a manchineel tree? “This tree is extremely toxic. It causes severe dermatitis in most individuals after only .5 hour. Even water dripping from the leaves may cause dermatitis. The smoke from burning it irritates the eyes. No part of this plant should be considered a food.” [This page](http://www.wilderness-survival.net/Appc.php) lists a whole nasty bunch of poisononus plants. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/4 "2002-05-30T17:04:32Z")
No, it’s not poison sumac; that’s a swamp tree, and it usually doesn’t raise blisters. What Jeanie has encountered is the _chechen_, or “pizza tree.” Click [here](http://www.cambrianfoundation.org/press/au_20020419.html) for a personal testimonial (not mine!). ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/5 "2002-05-30T17:08:00Z")
Eww ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/6 "2002-05-30T17:39:54Z")
Thanks to all… \*\* Nametag \*\* It is the dreaded “pizza tree” and the pictures on that link aint got nothin’ on me… Let’s just say tha my calves have been pizzaed as well as my back and part of my thigh… I’ll be making that salt paste tonight… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-identify-the-tree-that-must-die/111563/7 "2002-05-30T18:27:04Z")
Does FTD carry them for Boss’es Day?