Fish Poison Tree (ކިނބި)
Barringtonia asiatica
Barringtonia asiatica (fish poison tree, putat or sea poison tree) locally known as "Kin'bi" is a species of Barringtonia native to mangrove habitats from islands of the Indian Ocean in the west to tropical Asia and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is also known as Box Fruit due to the distinct box-shaped fruit it produces.
It has showy flowers with numerous filamentous stamens that are white with pink tips.
The fruit is dispersed in the same way as a coconut – by ocean current – and is extremely water-resistant and buoyant. It can survive afloat for up to fifteen years. When washed ashore, and soaked by rainwater, the seeds germinate.
The fruits and seeds are crushed and used as fish poisons as they contain toxic saponins.
Traditionally the wood of this tree are used for making household furnitures while the bark, flowers, fruits of this tree are used in traditional medicine.
