Piscidia piscipula aka Fish Poison Tree

Piscidia piscipula is a tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves each year. Common names include Jamaica dogwood and West Indian dogwood. Some sources call it Jamaica fishpoison tree as well. Its native range covers Mexico, Central America, Florida and the Caribbean. It grows in the tropics where there is a dry season. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant can form a large shrub or a tree. One source gives a height of about 33 feet (10 metres). Another gives a top height of 49 feet (15 metres). These figures do not show its usual size in gardens. Useful Tropical Plants shows a tree grown in cultivation. It has a broad, dense crown. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the tree forms seedpods. The supplied sources do not say when it blooms. Nor do they describe the flowers in detail.

In Guatemala, wild plants grow in lowland woods and thickets. They grow below about 984 feet (300 metres) there. In Jamaica, they grow on dry sand or gravel sites. They also grow in woods on limestone. These facts describe wild sites, not tests of garden care. The sources give no firm guide to water or light needs. They give no hardiness rating or notes on pests and disease. Growers can use seeds to raise new plants. The sources do not say how to do this.

People gather the wild tree for wood and medicine. Its heartwood is yellow-brown, and its sapwood is grey. The wood is hard, heavy, strong and long-lasting. It can be hard to shape but takes polish well. People use it for boats, vehicles, posts and piling. They burn it as fuel or make charcoal from it. People sometimes trade the root bark for use as medicine. Reported bark uses include relief from pain and muscle spasms. They also include help with loss of sleep. These records of use do not prove self-treatment is safe.

The plant is toxic, and the sources list no edible uses. Too much can cause numbness, shaking, too much saliva and sweating. People have used the bark and leaves to poison fish. The bark has several active compounds, such as isoflavones and tannins. It also has narcotic substances, including one called piscidin. The root bark has a strong, foul smell. It can also burn the mouth.