Sebastiania pavoniana is a species of tree in the spurge family[4][5] native to Mexico[1][6][4][7] and northwest Costa Rica.

'[5][4][9] It was difficult to determine the species of plant responsible for the novelty item at first, as the C. saltitans larva leaves the seed sterile.

[12] Johannes Müller Argoviensis when he originally described the species first placed it in Gymnanthes sect.

The seeds do have a spot that might abstractly resemble the eyespot on a peacock's tail feathers.

The most likely etymology honors José Antonio Pavón Jiménez, from whose collection the species was originally described.

[1][7] S. pavoniana is a slender tree or large shrub that grows up to 10–12 metres (33–39 ft) tall.

[15] Initially it can resemble Excoecaria indica, but the female calyx is eglandulose (lacking glands) inside.

[8] S. pavoniana is native to northwest Costa Rica[3] in Guanacaste Province,[15] and Mexico,[4][1][7][3][6] including the states of Baja California Sur,[5] Puebla,[5][1] Sonora,[5] Jalisco,[5] and Veracruz.

[5] White-headed capuchins (Cebus capucinus) eat the fruit of S. pavoniana,[16] as does Cydia saltitans.

[13] An American entrepreneur in Havana once tried to sell the flour mixed with chicle to make an energizing gum, but was stopped over concern for accidentally introducing the moth to the island of Cuba.

[13] If a true biological effect is taking place, it would be similar to chewing coca leaves or drinking very strong coffee.