Martinique. Mancenillier

At the end of April I passed a too short week in the Martinique, a

beautiful island in the French West Indies (near the Guadeloupe, if

you see, just below). I had promised to bring back some photos. Here

they are. Yes I know, it is difficult to avoid the post-card shot,

and I confess that I have'nt even try to. Thank you to tell me what

you think of this one.

The mancenillier is a very dangerous tree which grows on the beaches

in the south of the island. All is toxic in it : the leaves, the

bark, the fruits and it is extremely inadvisable to shelter from the

rain under it because the water which drips from the foliage is full

of a caustic product which can cause grave bums. Very fortunately

they are all marked by a circle of red paint.