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Gympie gympie Facts

Gympie gympie Facts
Gympie gympie is a type of soft-wooded bush that belongs to the nettle family. This plant can be found in north-eastern parts of Australia, Moluccas and Indonesia. Gympie gympie is also known as stinging tree. It inhabits tropical rainforest and grows near the roadways and streams. Gympie gympie can be found in the lowland forests, but it prefers forests on the higher altitudes and habitats that provide enough sun, and protection from strong wind. Gympie gympie is widely distributed in most of its native habitats, except in the New South Wales, where it is listed as rare and endangered.
Interesting Gympie gympie Facts:
Gympie gympie sometimes grow to the height of 0.3 to 3 feet. More frequently, plants reach the size of 13 to 16 feet.
Small plants are known as "ankle biters" because hikers often brush these plants with their ankles when they walk through the forest.
Whole plant is covered with hairs made of silica and filled with venom. Gympie gympie is the most toxic type of stinging plants in Australia.
Gympie gympie has broad, heart-shaped leaves that are toothed on the edges. Leaves have furry appearance due to dense hairs on the surface.
Gympie gympie produces small, white or purple-red flowers. Male and female flowers grow on the same plant (monoecious species).
Gympie gympie has bright pink or purple, juicy fruit located under terminal leaves. Fruit is edible, but only after careful removal of the hairs.
Each fruit contains one seed that is located on the surface of the fruit. Birds are responsible for active dispersal of seed.
Gympie gympie easily breaks off its stings when touched. Broken sting penetrates the skin and acts like hypodermic needle which injects strong neurotoxin into the body.
Initial pain is not very strong. Unfortunately, symptoms aggravate quickly and result in pain that is often described as one of the worst that human being can experience in life. Skin becomes red and swollen, eyes and nose become watery, person experiences breathing difficulties and excruciating pain that can last for months.
Substance called moroidin, extracted from Gympie gympie, is responsible for the long-lasting effects of the venom. Gympie gympie can sting and induce intoxication even when the plant is dead.
Neurotoxin produced by Gympie gympie can kill dogs, horses and humans.
There are stories which describe horses that were acting madly as a result of intoxication with Gympie gympie. Animals were dying in agony or even end their lives by jumping off the cliffs under the influence of incredible pain.
Some Australian mammals (green possum), birds and insects (weevil, chrisomelid beetle and certain types of butterflies) can eat Gympie gympie without visible side effects.
Antidote for Gympie gympie venom doesn't exist.
Gympie gympie is perennial plant, which means that it can survive more than two years in the wild.


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