Thanks for your response, CI. I did some more searching:
Chinaberry Tree
(Melia azedarach)
Fruits are poisonous to humans if eaten in quantity.[2] ... The first symptoms of poisoning appear a few hours after ingestion. They may include loss of appetite, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, bloody faeces, stomach pain, pulmonary congestion, cardiac arrest, rigidity, lack of coordination and general weakness. Death may take place after about 24 hours. ...
(pics here)
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link to en.wikipedia.org]
All parts of Chinaberry tree are poisonous. Eating as few as 6 berries can result in death. Birds (including mockingbirds, robins, and catbirds) that eat too many seeds have been known to become paralyzed.
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link to www.floridata.com]
This deciduous tree produces purplish fragrant flowers, afterwards followed by yellow fruits (berries), that are very poisonous.
The hard seeds are easily dispersed by birds; these seeds are also very poisonous.
Medicinal applications
Bark - and fruit extract is used to kill parasitic roundworms.
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link to www.tropilab.com]
Best Pic of Chinaberry Tree:
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link to www.smugmug.com]
Compare Pic with Chinese Tallow! They look to be identical:
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link to www.galvbayinvasives.org]
If they are not the same, except for the botanical names, then they must be cousins. However, both are poisonous.
My thought here was to determine what species I have in my yard. Perhaps either can be used for soap.
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OMGosh, you got me all paranoid and self doubting ! LOL After re-reading your findings and cleaning my entire laundry room from the busted pipe, I went through a huge moment of self doubt. Never a bad thing when we are talking about possibly poisonous stuff !
My niece got cranky and I even wondered if I had lost a few berries and she found them... but I think she was just stressing over me stressing about the broken pipe deal.
I went ahead and boiled some of my berry things, let it cool and then put it in a bottle to shake up- sure enough it got sudsy and even held them for about 15 minutes :)I feel a little bit re-assured now ( even though, mine match the ones many people are selling and I swear I did my homework).
Did you find out anything about the tree you have in your yard ?
