Pitch Apple - Fleshy Round Fruit That Opens to a Star Shape With Seeds Set in Center Chambers

The Pitch Apple Tree: Plump, Pretty, and Poisonous

Walking the beach or tromping through the snow - what's your jam?

With the first snows blanketing the mountains this time of year, it's all about boots, skis, and warm fires instead of sandals and surfboards but, those toes will soon be yearning for the freedom of a beach walk, a smooth wave to ride, and sun on the skin.

Beachcombing for some is an important form of meditation, a source of endless fascination of what humans leave behind, and what nature washes up. Hours and hours can pass by as you ask yourself "What is this?" "What was that?" and "Where did this come from and why is it here?"

The story of a beach is much like that of an iceberg; what you see is just the tip of well, the iceberg! The beach out front of our resort is very much alive and great insight not only to the beach itself but to the surrounding eco systems.

I like to explain to kids that the tides coming in and out are like a fast food delivery system for all the life living above and below the surface of the sand. The tides wash up a lot of crazy stuff but especially little tiny microorganisms and big ones too like this here pitch apple. Such a bright and beautiful fruit, it easily catches the eye on our brown volcanic sand beach.

The Pitch Apple tree is like a super clingy BFF to other trees, starting her life as an epiphyte - meaning she sprouts her seeds in the crook of a tree eventually growing a large web of roots that, like a strangler fig, will encircle and overtake the host tree thereby losing its BFF status for good.

Known scientifically as Clusia rosea, it is a remarkable species native to the tropical regions of the Americas, particularly thriving in Panama. This tree is not only admired for its intertwining root system and beautiful fruits, the leaves are said to be great for writing on. So much so, that it's commonly called the autograph tree because you can write on the leaves with a branch and it stays. Very cool.

Now, if you find one of these trees, and break off the leaves, you will notice a thick latex milk that, when dried stains your clothing forever and is so strong it can be used a type of plaster. If you're hungry and thinking that this apple would be a good snack, you'll need to keep on moving to something a bit less poisonous.

An important species for habitat, nutrition, erosion control, and medicinal uses. We invite you to come and sit beneath her shade after a long surf session, waterfall hike, or a day combing the beach. We still have availability for New Years Eve and January too surely there's an all-inclusive package perfect for you.

With love from Panama,

Cari and Ryan Mackey

Owners and hosts