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Anacardiaceae Comocladia dodonaea (L.) Urban

| | © W.D. Hawthorne

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Species information

Description
Leaflets 1-3cm, overlapping; spiny, with 3-5 spines from mdrib and laterals. Flower parts in 3s, red-purple. Fts 1cm, red.

Interest
Latex posonous, causes dermatitis. http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/BotDermFolder/BotDermA/ANAC.html Comocladia P. Browne The 20 species are natives of Central America and the West Indies. Oviedo reported (Standley 1927) that the Indian women of Santo Domingo used a vesicant paste made of the roots of Comocladia species to soften and lighten the skin of their arms and faces. In 1845, Williams (1845/46) drew attention to a report by Otto in the Gardeners Magazine of May 1842 of intensely severe oedema after minimal contact with the irritant sap of Comocladia species. Dahlgren & Standley (1944) note that the sap of some species causes blistering and prolonged inflammation similar to that caused by poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans Kuntze) whilst Pardo-Castello (1933) notes that at least 17 of the 20 species are said to be capable of producing dermatitis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comocladia dentata Jacq. Guao This species is among the 14 most common causes of plant contact dermatitis in the Dominican Republic (Brache & Aquino 1978). Lunin (1969) has also observed very many cases of dermatitis from this species on the steppes of Russia. The timber, known as bastard brazil, is used locally for general purposes and can cause dermatitis (Standley 1927, Schwartz et al. 1957). The dermatitis may be persistent as the resin contaminates clothing and tools (Pardo-Castello 1962). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comocladia dodonaea Britton (syns Comocladia ilicifolia Sw., Ilex dodonaea L.) Christmas Bush Oakes & Butcher (1962) note that this species has spiny leaves that can cause mechanical injury, and also sap that can produce severe dermatitis. It is among the 14 most common causes of plant contact dermatitis in the Dominican Republic (Brache & Aquino 1978).

Specimen information

Collector
Hawthorne, W.D.

Specimen Number
s.n.