Pepper Tree

The Peruvian pepper tree is an evergreen tree of the cashew family, up to 15 metres tall, native from the Peruvian Andes to southern Brazil and now naturalised widely. Wikipedia says its bright pink fruits are often sold as pink peppercorns though the tree is unrelated to black pepper, and that it is mainly planted as an ornamental. Cunningham calls it masculine, with Mars and fire, and gives the powers of purification, healing and protection. He says its branches are used in healing rituals by curanderos, its leaves in purification baths, and its red berries are carried for protection. His other names include California Pepper Tree, Jesuit's Balsam and Peruvian Mastic Tree. Wikipedia records hazards from the fruit, set out in the safety notes. Kynes gives the pepper tree no entry.