#dendrocnide excelsa

[wenbochenphoto]

The Giant Stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa) is one of the most dangerous plants in Australian rainforests. The leaves and petioles are covered with tiny white stinging hairs, which deliver neurotoxin proteins (gympietides) that can cause the most severe pain human bodies can perceive. The pain is so severe that someone was said to commit suicide after touching the plant accidentally. The pain also lasts for a long time, from weeks to months; the victims claim that even after many years, the pain still comes back whenever it's cold and wet. Surprisingly, some animals feed on these leaves without any issues; these include some leaf beetles and the red-legged pademelon (a small forest macropod). The mature trees are not so dangerous, as they can be 40m tall large trees with smooth bark; unless you climb onto the canopy, there is no chance you can touch the leaves. What you should avoid are the young trees, which are at the human body height, and you can easily bump into them when hiking in the forests. The other more painful species is its close relative Dendrocnide moroides, which is a shrub, and they both grow in the subtropical forests of SE QLD (you can see them in Gondwana Tea Mountain). That's why Wearing long-sleeved clothes and long pants is always recommended when hiking.

[thenewsmag]

Θανατηφόρα φυτά Η φύση είναι γεμάτη επικίνδυνα φυτά που μπορούν να σκοτώσουν ό,τι βρουν μπροστά τους. Δείτε βίντεο με μερικά από τα πιο θανατηφόρα φυτά όπως τα Venus flytrap, Nepenthes attenboroughii, Dendrocnide excelsa, Doll's eye, Drosera capensis, Strychnos nux-vomica, Christmas Rose.

[wenbochenphoto]

Most species in Urticaceae are herbs or shrubs, but in NSW and QLD Dendrocnide excelsa is a giant tree, it provides food for many insects, birds and small mammals, and is home to epiphytic orchids and ferns. DO AVOID touching it, its stinging hairs will make sure you regret it.