Cerbera odollam aka Suicide Tree

Cerbera odollam is an evergreen tree or shrub in Apocynaceae. Its native range runs from southern India to the Pacific. It grows across Southeast Asia and reaches northern Australia. This is a plant of the wet tropics. It lives in secondary forest, often near rivers and streams. It also grows in swamp forest and behind mangroves. These habitats place it near water across much of its range.

The listed garden height is about 33 feet [10 metres]. Some trees reach 98 feet [30 metres] in their native range. The trunk lacks buttresses at its base. Its diameter ranges from about 0.7–3 feet [0.2–0.9 metres]. The plant keeps its leaves through the year. The fruit has a green outer skin over a brown inner part. The source warns that this species is often confused with Cerbera manghas. That confusion makes careful identification important when using plant records.

The cultivation guidance calls for full light and rich loam. Soil should stay moist while allowing excess water to drain. Added leaf mould forms part of the suggested soil mix. The tree grows as an ornamental, including as a street tree. Its evergreen form gives it a lasting place in tropical plantings. Seed is the usual means of raising new plants. Ripewood cuttings offer another way to grow it.

People gather this tree from the wild for several uses. The inner bark yields fibre, while the seeds yield oil. That oil has served as fuel for lamps and as a hair dressing. The wood is easy to work but does not last well. Its uses include indoor work and other short-lived items. The wood also provides charcoal. These uses are separate from its role as an ornamental tree.

Every part of the plant is very poisonous, above all the seeds. No edible uses are recorded. Traditional medicine uses the leaves and bark on skin affected by ringworm. Other recorded uses include seed oil for scabies and head lice. Flowers have also been used for haemorrhoids. Bark, leaves, latex, and seed oil can cause vomiting or purging. These records describe past uses, not proof of safe treatment. The strong poison risk remains central to any garden use.