Giant Stinging Tree

Description:

The Giant Stinging Tree is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It is a medium to large-sized tree with a buttressed base, sometimes over 40 metres tall and in excess of 6 metres wide at the butt. The hairs of the tree exist on all aerial parts, and can cause a severe reaction when in contact with human skin, and it's also a hazard to wildlife and livestock. Apparently, the pain can last for weeks. Nasty!!! Indigenous Australians used the tree's fibrous inner bark to make hunting and fishing nets. The Satin Bower Bird is one of the few creatures that can feed on the tree's mulberry-like fruit, and they seem unconcerned by the stinging hairs. Dendrocnide stings have been known to kill dogs and horses that have brushed against them.

Habitat:

Found in sub-tropical rainforest, on the Pitta Circuit in D'Aguilar National Park. Thick forest canopy of native tree species such as Strangler Fig, Queensland Red Cedar, and Coachwood to name but a few.

Notes:

First aid for the sting is to apply wax hair-removal strips and then yank them off to remove the hairs. An interesting article on how stinging trees actually work.... https://theconversation.com/the-worst-ki...