Australian stinging tree toxins similar to venom found in scorpions: Scientists

Team Udayavani, Sep 17, 2020, 7:08 PM IST

Researchers claim that the toxins secreted by the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree found in Australia are similar to the venom found in spiders and scorpions

According Phys.Org, The tree’s scientific name is Dendrocnide which literally means ‘stinging tree’, a member of the nettle family which can be found in Australia from the Northern Rivers region of NSW, through Gympie QLD and all the way to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.

The Australian stinging tree species are particularly notorious for producing excruciatingly painful sting, which unlike those of their European and North American relatives can cause symptoms that last for days or weeks.

Researchers at the University of Queensland said that the tree is covered in needle-like appendages called trichomes that look like fine hairs, but act like hypodermic needles that inject toxins when they make contact with skin