Sandbox Tree (Hura crepitans)
Scientific Name: Hura crepitans — Sandbox Tree, also called Monkey-no-climb.
Native Home: Tropical forests of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Height: 20–40 m.
Lifespan: Several decades, sometimes over 100 years.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Used for lightweight construction, furniture, and wooden products.
Harvesting: Mature trees are felled for timber where permitted.
Age to Harvest: Approximately 20–30 years for timber, depending on growing conditions.
Products: Timber, furniture, boxes, and plywood.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Its dried, segmented seed pods were historically used as containers for sand used in ink blotting.
Global Spread: Native to tropical America and introduced to some tropical regions elsewhere. Warning: Its milky sap and seeds are poisonous, and its explosive seed pods can be hazardous.
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