Fontainea picrosperma, commonly known as the blushwood tree, is a rainforest tree in the family Euphorbiaceae endemic to Queensland in Australia, where it grows on the Atherton Tablelands.[2]
| Fontainea picrosperma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Fontainea |
| Species: | F. picrosperma |
| Binomial name | |
| Fontainea picrosperma C.T.White [1] | |
Uses
An anti-cancer drug known as EBC-46 has been developed from an extract of the fruits of Fontainea picrosperma. Trials have shown that it has activity against four different types of tumours, including basal-cell carcinoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and breast adenocarcinoma. The fruits are toxic to humans if eaten.[2]