Many say that Aussie fauna and sea life can be dangerous no matter where you go from the coast to inland. Some real killers out there too.
Here I want to bring to attention a certain plant that has reportedly sent people mad with pain, caused the death of animals and is said to have led to a suicide.
In opening I will say there have been circumstances where the call of nature in the bush may require a large leaf to clean ones self up if there isn't a creek available. I admit to taking a dump in a water course and while fishing off a boat by stripping down and hanging off the side of the small vessel.
When you gotta go you gotta go. Now what has this to do with the topic I have presented. I'll cut and paste a small write up about the Gympie Gympie tree.
Also known as the mulberry-leaved stinger and stinging brush, Gympie, Gimpy Gimpy, Gympie stinger, the suicide plant, or moonlighter, is a plant that thrives in the rainforest areas of the northeast of Australia.
https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/is-the...icide.html
Hope the link works. Anyway, many times I have been stung by multitude of plants while walking in the bush. One brushed up on my arm, causing powerful pain. Took a week to get over it.
But the poor guy in this story used the leaf to clean himself up. The madness caused him to shoot himself so I guess I shouldn't laugh.
Gimpy Gimpy Suicide Plant Mystery: Can A Plant Really Make People Commit Suicides?
Updated On: 11 Mar 2020 By Dev Lunawat
The stinger that caused me the pain wasn't identified as I delicately got out of there rather quickly to seek a form of relief.
Moving on,
Stories abound of the gympie-gympie's notorious side effects. Stung horses that have been known to die within hours, even jumping off cliffs to escape their suffering. One man was purported to have shot himself to end his pain after having foolishly used the leaf as toilet paper. Even breathing in any floating hairs can cause sneezing, rashes and nosebleeds. Entomologist and ecologist Marina Hurley, who studies various species of Australian stinging trees, has likened the gympie-gympie's effect to "being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time." Yet, there are some marsupial species, insects and birds that consume the plant's leaves and fruits with no problem.
So when visiting the shores and taking in the breath taking scenery while trekking through remote areas just don't look down, or up, look ahead and be mindful of brushing up against a broad leaf innocuous looking plant.
Kind regards,
Bally
Here I want to bring to attention a certain plant that has reportedly sent people mad with pain, caused the death of animals and is said to have led to a suicide.
In opening I will say there have been circumstances where the call of nature in the bush may require a large leaf to clean ones self up if there isn't a creek available. I admit to taking a dump in a water course and while fishing off a boat by stripping down and hanging off the side of the small vessel.
When you gotta go you gotta go. Now what has this to do with the topic I have presented. I'll cut and paste a small write up about the Gympie Gympie tree.
Also known as the mulberry-leaved stinger and stinging brush, Gympie, Gimpy Gimpy, Gympie stinger, the suicide plant, or moonlighter, is a plant that thrives in the rainforest areas of the northeast of Australia.
https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/is-the...icide.html
Hope the link works. Anyway, many times I have been stung by multitude of plants while walking in the bush. One brushed up on my arm, causing powerful pain. Took a week to get over it.
But the poor guy in this story used the leaf to clean himself up. The madness caused him to shoot himself so I guess I shouldn't laugh.
Gimpy Gimpy Suicide Plant Mystery: Can A Plant Really Make People Commit Suicides?
Updated On: 11 Mar 2020 By Dev Lunawat
Quote:The Gympie-Gympie stinging tree is one of the world’s deadliest plants, and can leave you in agony and pain for months; death itself would seem like a better option.
The stinger that caused me the pain wasn't identified as I delicately got out of there rather quickly to seek a form of relief.
Moving on,
Stories abound of the gympie-gympie's notorious side effects. Stung horses that have been known to die within hours, even jumping off cliffs to escape their suffering. One man was purported to have shot himself to end his pain after having foolishly used the leaf as toilet paper. Even breathing in any floating hairs can cause sneezing, rashes and nosebleeds. Entomologist and ecologist Marina Hurley, who studies various species of Australian stinging trees, has likened the gympie-gympie's effect to "being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time." Yet, there are some marsupial species, insects and birds that consume the plant's leaves and fruits with no problem.
So when visiting the shores and taking in the breath taking scenery while trekking through remote areas just don't look down, or up, look ahead and be mindful of brushing up against a broad leaf innocuous looking plant.
Kind regards,
Bally