Earlier this year, on Australia Day, I wrote about how ‘dangerous,’ life can be in Australia. By employing a little common sense means nothing dreadful will happen, if you do visit our sun-drenched shores. Almost without exception, Australians live our entire lives without contact with a deadly snake, a Funnel-web Spider or a Death Adder.
So it came as a shock to find that …
[NB. this tale does not involve use of a power hedge trimmer, or chain saw].
Enter Australia’s Stinging Nettle Tree, or Gympie-Gympie.
Called the Gympie-Gympie, by the Gubbi Gubbi First Nation People, it is also known as the Suicide plant. For good reason –
Unlike its European or North American Nettle counterparts, the Australian species are ‘particularly notorious for producing an excruciatingly painful sting.’ Covered in fine hairs like hypodermic needles, Dendrocnide species inject their toxins into skin, at the slightest touch or by brushing up against the leaves.
Horses have been known to die within hours of contact with this plant and one man was purported to have shot himself to end the excruciating pain. He’d inadvertently used the Gympie-Gympie leaf as toilet paper when camping in the forest.
Even inhaling the hairs of a dead 100 year old herbarium specimen caused sneezing, rashes, and nosebleeds and pain! This plant really is dangerous!
Entomologist and ecologist Marina Hurley who has been stung herself, likens the Gympie-gympie’s sting to “being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.” What’s more, the pain can last TWO YEARS!
And…..
Yesterday I discovered one growing in my Garden!
GASP!
Nature’s instrument of torture popped up along my garden fence, germinating shortly after Christmas, waiting to exact revenge on any life form that brushed passed!
That’s my dog’s furry ear is in the bottom right of the photo. How easy it would be to brush up against it while weeding! Being chemical stable, the toxins contained in the hairs are so minute, extracting them is difficult.
Needless to say, the M.o.t.h gowned and gloved up and disposed of the plant promptly. I am relieved the dreadful thing is bagged and safely disposed of.
Researchers are hoping to put this dangerous plant to beneficial use.
The poison in stinging trees was recently discovered to be a peptide, similar to some venomous spiders and cone snails, which also inflict terrible pain.
The poison works by binding to pain receptors in the nervous system, firing them up into a frenzy of activity. It’s hoped that working out how these proteins work may lead to the creation of new painkillers. [www.theguardian.com/e]
I am relieved that you spotted it early enough to make removal fairly easy.
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So am I relieved, Anne. ( breathing an audible sign of relief). I had been walking past this plant for a week since returning from holidays, but didn’t have my phone on me to check the taxonomy – with Google Lens. When I finally did, I thought… OMG
Who would have thought?
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“He’d inadvertently used the Gympie-Gympie leaf as toilet paper” !!!
Wow ! – so he couldn’t even talk about it .. [grin]
Seriously but, it seems that the people with YouTube channels who post about how dangerous it is to visit Oz now have another layer to moan about – like, the flora has been added to the fauna !!
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I probs should not have promoted this, but I did in with altruistic intent!
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And in YOUR garden !! Woids fail. [grin]
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I know. I know. It has been growing there three months, waiting for a victim………………………………………..
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In truth, Amanda, I am extremely glad you were aware of the danger ! I adjure you not to grow any more horrid plants !! 😀
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I didn’t grow this one, as you know. And I don’t think a bird could have passed the seed either as it would be toxic. Thus it must have come within some soil fill when the house was built.
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Of course I know. It’s been there as long as you have: do not be humourless about it, otherwise you might weep about the awful chance ,, [hug]
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The thought of touching it innocently sends shiver up my spine. And me? Humourless – you offend me, ‘Gouyen.’
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ou pale lang manje mwen pi renmen an, ki se dhal pourri ki soti Moris
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If you say so…😂😂
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Wow…. you and the puppies are so lucky.
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I know. It makes my blood run cold to think of it.
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Wow! Glad you where able to get rid of the plant!
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We were quite concerned about HOW we would get rid of it, Aletta. Those darn Australian plants!
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Amazing
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sounds horrible! it’s a good thing that you recognized it and got your husband to get rid of it
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Absolutely. So relieved the toxic plant is gone.
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Yikes!!
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It was a pretty nasty surprise, Jane. I am glad I googled lens – ed it before it grew bigger.
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Wow! Who knew?
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I had an inkling but wasn’t totally sure. It’s normally something you find in the rainforest I’m not sure how it got here.
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Livin’ on the edge Amanda 😲
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It seems so, Brian. It is frontier country in Queensland 🤪- in more ways than just politics. Although I have seen the giant trees at Tambourine Mt. so they may even grow in your neck of the woods?
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There are quite a number of big trees just up the road in the Washpool Rainforest NP. Almost time for another wander up there 🤔
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Watch your step then!
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Always do thanks Amanda, the tracks are well maintained
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Oh my word! I guess I’ll not curse our little nettles again, at least we can eat them…
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Gosh yes. The thought of accidentally eating this version of Nettle is terrifying, unless you are a possum!
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🥹
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OMG!
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I know, Cindy. Right?
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Not what you needed!
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We certainly had no use for such a toxic source of withering pain, Helen. Old age is enough of a threat on its own.
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My goodness, scary plants on top of spiders and snakes and crocodiles! Are those ever called Elephant Ears? I have a friend who was terribly upset about some Elephant Ears in his yard? We have Elephant Ear plants here that are really easy fill in plants which I like a lot. They do look sort of similar but are not venomous or prone to attack people. My mom had a cactus with those tiny little needles that I swear it threw at you if you walked too close. They were a bear to get out of your skin.
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Oh yes, Zazzy. Cacti spikes can be trouble and hard to remove. This isn’t elephant ears, but I see those plant species, here. I have one in a pot- high up, away from the dogs. Really hardy plants!
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Like I’ve said before, EVERYTHING in Australia is poisonous! LOL! I’m glad you and the fur babies are alright, Amanda.
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Thanks Alejandro. Almost everything…..
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In this household, we use the phrase ‘lucky to be alive’ mostly in jest. In your case though it’s a bit too realistic for comfort!
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Lucky to be alive – it’s true. Even in modern times where we feel governance has ensured our safety in most instances, nature still withholds surprises that can be deadly.
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Holy sh** I didnt even know this was a thing…I think ive seen these all over the place, they look like a lot of other plants 😳 😬
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It does have similar looking leaves to other plants and I have seen plenty in the tropical rainforests. What region are in located in? Are you in Australia?
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Yes Melbourne 👍
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Awesome. Another Aussie blogger. I am in Queensland.
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Nice to meet you 😊
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Do all Australians recognise the plant? This is scary, indeed. Our nettles here are even used in many home remedies but my husband had an aunt who collected them and hit her legs with it. It helped with circulation, I guess, but I haven’t heard of anybody else doing that.
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I don’t think all Australians know terribly much about our flora unless they studied Botany at University level. That common knowledge of plants is diminishing with the generations and particularly so, with the native Australian varieties of plants, such as this.
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That’s a pity (and probably a world-wide phenomenon) and in this case dangerous!
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Potentially dangerous or at least quite painful.
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Oh yes we were told about them the first time we were WWOOFing and are very careful to avoid them.
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Good advice!! How long were you WWOOFing and where?
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We were travelling around Australia in a small van for about 4 years and wwoofed at various different areas. A great way to get to know the country and learn about things to watch out for 🤭😳
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Was the work arduous? I am wondering if there is an upper age limit to WwooFing?
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I was in my 60’s and Jack in his 70’s so I guess it depends on your fitness level, mainly a much younger category though. Work 4 hours a day for full board and lodging. We had various jobs to do, but nothing too arduous. We loved the variety and as they were all organic farms the owners were real characters. We loved it and have lots of interesting memories
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I have come across this concept and Paul West from River Cottage fame famously talks of it as finding paradise.
I don’t think I could do it now, but would have found it fun!
What locations did you enjoy best?
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Hard to choose a favourite we wwoofed all over and met some memorable people, and had so many unusual experiences. Even went back more than once to some places
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Then the repeat visits must have been a fav?
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Yes they were up there
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Yikes… good thing you saw it and had it removed. We have a stinging nettle plant (really a weed, although I understand that some cook with it) here, but it just irritates your hand for a bit if you touch it.
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I understand some people do cook with the European or North American version of Nettles and it’s quite a useful plant. I am so glad I had it removed. Plants are really amazing – so helpful and useful and edible and yet also others so dangerous!! Thanks for the comment, Janis. How are things up your way?
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Everything is hunky-dory here. We haven’t had the bad rain where we live, just enough to keep our plants – and weeds – happy.
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I had no idea plants could kill people here as well. Not only some animals of the land and sea but also plants. Still – the awesome birds, mammals and reptiles make up for it I think….this a main reason I love living here, and living near the beach in summer is absolutely magical.
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Living anywhere near the water is desirable. I love it.
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I had no idea! It also looks so harmless. This is one of the reasons I’m hesitant to go bushwalking too . Now ANOTHER thing to look out for.
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I think it may only grow in rainforest areas and in most national parks, the trails should be well defined and such threats removed. If you stick to the trails, you would be fine. Plus you know what to look for now. Their leaves are pretty unique.
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Oh ok. Yes, I would stick to trails anyway.
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Pottering in my garden might have inflicted serious injury or death.
I heard the Frist time the Gympie-Gympie is suside plant.
I don’t know the plant.
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The plant is only found in Australia, I think, Raj. My guess is that you are in India?
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Thanks,But it’s plant is very dengerous.
Yes, your guess is right, live in India!
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Glad we don’t have those here in USA😱 and good thing you spotted just in time!
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Indeed, Giselle. Your nettle are nowhere near as venomous. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve never heard of such a plant, and an innocent looking one at that. What a thing! I’m glad you found it and dealt with it, but its mere existence is unnerving.
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It certainly was unnerving to think how this could have played out had I not checked its taxonomy. But now we know. The unsolved mystery was how the seed got here in the first place for it to germinate from. There are no possums around here and they are the only ones who can eat this plant, so it could not have come via an animal or bird dropping.
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Very interesting post. I can’t believe that something that looks nothing beyond the ordinary plants can be this toxic. I learned something new today.
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I knew a little about these highly venomous plants but was still gobsmacked by the extent of their killer capabilities. Thanks so much for stopping by Stpa.
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” I admire no doubt it is a real fact Excellent 100% You are the best 🏆🎖️🏆
“
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What a frightening experience. When I was there, Carol told me of some of the very dangerous plants as she lectured Glen and me about the people walking in their flip flops. She had me thoroughly convinced not to touch much of anything in Australia unless I asked her first. That and the fact that I used indoor toilets. I came away without a scratch. I did enjoy some of the signs found inside the loos, though. I laughed so hard that all of us were crying after I explained what the signs seemed to mean. https://alwayswrite.blog/2017/01/18/how-do-you-use-the-bathroom-in-australia/
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There really isn’t that much that can kill you here. Common sense and some bush sense is helpful. I had my suspicions about this plant and lucky I listened and double-checked before touching it.
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That was lucky!
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That looks unnervingly like the UK nasturtium us schoolkids were given seeds for in my youth (ancient history) to grow at home.
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The leaf does resemble a nasturtium leaf but th edifference lies in the size. The Gympie Gympie or Giant Stinging Nettle tree has much much bigger leaves, Cathy. Up to a foot in diameter or even larger. I hate to think what would happen if you ate the seeds of this venomous plant.
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Wow! Who knew an innocent-looking plant could cause so much harm?
On another topic … I’ve been trying to respond to the comments you left last night, but for some reason none of my responses are going through! More Akismet or WordPress glitches, I presume. Anyway … here is one of the comments I left, as we were talking about cell phones and how we’ve come to be so comfortable with them … “Ah yes … I was telling my granddaughter the other night about back in the days before personal computers, before cell phones, and she was amazed … wondered how we ever managed to communicate in those days! I still hate texting on my phone, but I have a program, Mighty Text, that allows me to use my computer to send and receive texts, which makes it much easier than trying to hit those tiny buttons on the phone with my shaky hands!”
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Yes it is so frustrating your comments are seen as spam.
I find the phone
keyboard so small that the microphone and dictation function helps immensely.
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I lived as a child in Brazil near the equator. My parents reminded me not to put my hand outside the window of our jeep when we drove through the jungle area. Well, you may have guessed I eagerly held out my hand and screamed loudly when a leaf put stingers on the palm of my hand. Luckily it wasn’t as dangerous as your stinging tree, but I had those welts for several weeks. For years after, I had a recurring nightmare that involved that incident. But I digress…
What I came to say was that I am looking forward to following your blog. Thank you for connecting. We are on a grand adventure – life. It is good to find kindred spirits along the pathway.
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Hi Rebecca, Digressions are very welcome here!
Thanks for sharing that story of your nasty encounter with plants. I can imagine the jungle is full of less than friendly plants (and animals). Putting a hand outside the car window to catch the breeze, and challenge parental cautions, is something many kids do at some stage! Fortunately for them they don’t have the same experience as you. Those welts sounded nasty and the plant might even have been a familial class relative of this stinging tree. After I wrote this post, a friend told me she had inadvertently pulled out one of these plants from her garden. To stop the pain, she quickly scrubbed her hand with a rough scourer for quite some time, until she was sure she had removed all the fine hairs that had penetrated her hand. She was lucky she did that.
I am really happy you popped in to StPA!
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I am happy to be here!!! Looking forward to the adventures ahead!
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Thanks for a well curated summary, Marsha. I got lots of ideas from the chat. The most surprising revelation for me was the nuances the readers attached to the word ‘attracted.’ It led to so many readers to think of romance when Holly and Manfred were at that point in the story only a fond friendship. I think Manfred had too many other issues to think of romance, but perhaps things could have developed.
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How did you recognize it? Looks like any old plant to me! 😮
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I googled it. I had learnt taxonomy at University, and had a seen a large labelled specimen a few years ago at a forest facility, so I was suspicious enough to investigate. The taxonomic description was spot on.
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Pretty scary how easy it would be to miss!
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I know, right? There was a few times we walked past it and thought “oh I should pull that plant out.” So glad we hesitated and checked first.
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