Family: Hernandiaceae
Jack in the box is a medium-sized tree with a round crown densely packed with leaves. This fast-growing tree is drought tolerant once established. It makes a perfect street tree near the ocean.
A native of the Mariana Islands, the seeds are dispersed by the Mariana flying fox. It is traditionally used for fishing implements, firewood, and medicine.
Plant Uses:
- Aquatic plant
- Erosion control
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Privacy / screening
- Specimen
Plant Dangers:
- No dangers
High Risk Traits:
- Seeds are skin irritant; leaves and seeds may cause purging/dizziness if eaten
- Tolerates shade (rainforest emergent)
Low Risk Traits:
- No evidence of naturalization outside native range
- No weediness reported
- No spines, thorns, or burrs
- No field allelopathy
- No toxicity to animals
- No dense thickets
- No vegetative fragmentation
- Large fruit (1.5–3 cm) limits accidental dispersal
- No prolific seed production
- No persistent seed bank
