Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Toluca Árbol de Manitas (Little Hands Tree)

Árbol de Manitas (Little Hands Tree)

The curious flowers of this hard-to-find tree are shaped like little hands.

Toluca, Mexico

Added By
Mario Yair T.S.
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Manitas flower   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Manitas flower   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Arbol de manitas   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Taking care of the tree   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Flowers   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Little hands tree   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the 1980s, a curious tree native to Mexico was declared endangered. It was discovered that a specimen was kept alive in the city of Toluca and the city council declared it an emblem of the city.

It is called Árbol de Manitas ("tree of the little hands") for its unusual flowers, which resemble small hands. In 1803, explorers Alexander Von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland traveled to Mexico, where they first came across this curious tree. Bonpland classified it as the world's first tree of the Sterculiaceae type (tropical softwood trees with hermaphrodite flowers).

The story says that when the Baron de Humboldt described what was seen in New Spain (Mexico), he named the tree as one of the three wonders of the region. They also say that it was exactly the Toluca tree that both academics studied. It is believed that the Nahuas knew it as ezmaitl, which means "bleeding hand."

When their flowers fall, in different parts of Mexico they are used to make tea (which they assure improves circulation) and their leaves to wrap tamales.

The tree was declared in danger of extinction for some time, but it has been discovered that it has managed to reproduce in various parts of the country, with the help of pollinating bats. However, the emblematic specimen found in Toluca has slowly dried up.

Related Tags

Endangered Species Flora Plants Flowers Trees
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan: Astronomy, Pyramids & Mayan Legends

Mayan legends, ancient craters, lost cities, and stunning constellations.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Mario Yair TS

Published

January 5, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Árbol de Manitas (Little Hands Tree)
149 Árbol de Las Manitas
Toluca, 50060
Mexico
19.297636, -99.64683
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Museo del Alfeñique

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Cosmovitral Botanical Garden

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Manuel M. Villada Museum of Natural History

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Toluca

Toluca

Mexico

Places 4

Nearby Places

Museo del Alfeñique

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Cosmovitral Botanical Garden

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Manuel M. Villada Museum of Natural History

Toluca, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Toluca

Toluca

Mexico

Places 4

Related Places

  • Hanegi Park plum blossoms

    Tokyo, Japan

    Hanegi Park

    The 650 red and white Japanese plum trees of this Tokyo neighborhood blossom each spring.

  • A movable glasshouse protects the camellia in winter.

    Dresden, Germany

    Pillnitz Camellia

    An engineering wonder at Pillnitz Castle protects a precious 230-year-old flowering shrub.

  • Beautiful yellow flowers drape down to form the tunnel.

    Conwy, Wales

    Laburnum Arch

    A breathtaking flower tunnel bursts with beautiful golden blossoms.

  • Cherry blossoms create enchanting flower tunnels.

    Bonn, Germany

    Bonn Cherry Blossoms

    Thousands of flowers create enchanting pink tunnels over the city streets.

  • Lilypads on the miniature Sea of Galilee.

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden

    This Old Testament garden features 100 plants from biblical times.

  • Elaeocarpus bojeri

    Mauritius

    The Last Bois Dentelle Trees

    Only two of these trees remain in the natural world, found high in the cloud forest of the island of Mauritius.

  • Tulare County, California

    Mark Twain Stump

    The last remnant of a tree that helped prove to the world that sequoias are real—and they’re spectacular.

  • The Much Marcle Yew Tree

    Much Marcle, England

    Much Marcle Ancient Yew

    One of the oldest and most majestic living trees in Britain, thought to be over 1,500 years old.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.