Oleander
Oleander (Nerium oleander, Apocynaceae)
Ibicencan: baladre
French: laurier rose
Swedish: oleander
The oleander grows wild on Ibiza (contrary to the other Balearic Islands), mainly in the northern half, regularly in a community with the chaste-tree or vitex. Its flowers are pink. As an ornamental plant it is very frequent, also with red or white flowers.
It is highly poisonous, even lethal, therefore as a medicine it may only be applied by experts. So this text is only of theoretical interest.
Oleander products are applied to strengthen the heart. Rumour has it that in ancient times the plant was used as an arrow poison. Yet it is fairly improbable that it has ever been used to kill animals meant to be eaten for their meat would have become poisonous.
Rumour even has it that people died from eating meat they had roasted on oleander wood embers.
On Ibiza the traditional flutes were made of oleander wood.
