The main difference is size and leaf attachment: Gympie-Gympie (Dendrocnide moroides) is a smaller, straggly shrub (up to 5m) known for its notoriously potent sting, while the Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa) is a large rainforest tree (up to 40m) with a less severe, though still painful, sting, distinguished by its leaf stalk attaching at the margin (notch) of the leaf, whereas the Gympie-Gympie's stalk attaches away from the margin. Both have stinging hairs and are in the same genus, but vary greatly in stature and sting intensity, with Gympie-Gympie often considered the most painful.
The two species are similar, but can be distinguished by the leaf stalk, which is attached at the margin of the leaf in giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), while in the stinging tree or Gimpie-gimpie (Dendrocnide moroides), the leaf stalk is attached some distance from the margin.
Dendrocnide moroides. Dendrocnide moroides, commonly known in Australia as the stinging tree, stinging bush, or gympie-gympie, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae found in rainforest areas of Malaysia and Australia. It is notorious for its extremely painful and long-lasting sting.
To treat a Gympie Gympie sting, do not rub the area, instead, carefully remove hairs with tweezers, wax strips (or even strong tape) to pull embedded stinging hairs out, and manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol, as the neurotoxin can cause severe, long-lasting pain. Some sources suggest applying diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to break down the hairs, but this carries risks and should be discussed with a doctor, while other folk remedies like Cunjevoi sap are ineffective.
Appearance. The Gympie-Gympie has broad, oval or heart-shaped leaves (which appear furry due to a dense covering of stinging hairs) with saw-tooth edges, and white or purple-red fruit. The stems and fruit are also covered in the stinging hairs.
Yes, you can absolutely use your phone's camera to identify plants using built-in tools like Google Lens or dedicated apps like PictureThis or iNaturalist, which use AI and photo databases to recognize species from a picture, providing details and suggestions for further confirmation.
The Gympie Regional Council area is named from the Aboriginal word “gimpi” meaning “stinging tree”.
The Gympie-Gympie stinging tree is one of the world's most venomous plants and causes extreme long-lasting pain.
If you've fallen in stinging nettles or taken a reaction to something you've touched which has made you itchy, rubbing on toothpaste will bring instant relief and help the healing process. Stain remover. Just like toothpaste can clean your teeth, it can also remove stains from fabrics like clothing or carpets.
It's generally safe to sleep after a scorpion sting if symptoms are mild. However, avoid sedatives and monitor symptoms closely. Keeping the sting site elevated can help reduce swelling and discomfort. If you notice any worsening symptoms during the night, seek medical attention immediately.
Gympie-gympie (Dendrocnide moroides)
The pain is so intense – described as like being simultaneously electrocuted and set on fire – victims have been known to end their lives rather than live with the torture, giving it the grim nickname, 'the suicide plant'.
There is no agreed upon first aid treatment for a stinging tree sting. If you're stung by a stinging tree use hair-removal wax strip to remove the fine hairs. You can buy hair-removal wax strips from the supermarket or a pharmacy.
A sting of a hornet hurts more than a sting of a bee or a wasp. This statement is probably true to anyone who has ever been stung by these insects. All the more surprising is the fact that the sting of a hornet is up to 50 times less toxic than that of a bee. Nevertheless, the sting of the hornet hurts more anyway.
More research is needed, including more clinical trials of the effects of stinging nettle in people (instead of just animal studies). It's possible stinging nettle may increase testosterone by inhibiting proteins in the body that interact with and lower testosterone levels.
Bushman's poison is one of the most poisonous plants in New Zealand. All parts are toxic, especially the shoots and roots.
As with many common garden, house and wild plants, ivy isn't food and is mildly poisonous if eaten. If you were to eat some, you might get an upset stomach.
Remedies for this sting include a plant that often grows next to it called jewelweed. Applying the crushed stem of this plant to the affected area soothes the irritated skin. Another method for alleviating the pain is to apply a mixture of baking soda and water.
Baking soda, when mixed with water, is said to help neutralize bee venom, reducing pain, itching, and swelling. Mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste, then apply a generous amount onto the affected area. Cover the area with a bandage, then leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Reapply, as needed.
A dose of antihistamine (such as Piriton) will relieve the itching. Topical creams like calamine lotion or hydrocortisone can also be applied to reduce redness and itching (but be careful to gently dab the cream instead of rubbing).
CAUTION: May cause phytophotodermatitis where sap touches the skin and is exposed to sunlight; wear long sleeves if handling. Also can easily be confused with the native, yet deadly, poison hemlock. Queen Anne's lace should be reported.
Prohibited invasive plants
The bullet ant has the distinction of delivering the most painful sting in the insect world, as evidenced by the Schmidt Sting Pain Index. 6 Some even believe that a bullet ant sting might be the most painful sting, period.
Before 1788, the continent we call Australia was known by different names, primarily "New Holland" by the Dutch (who explored its west and north coasts) and the theoretical "Terra Australis Incognita" (Unknown Southern Land) by Europeans; the British later named the east coast "New South Wales" in 1770, leading to a mix of these names until Matthew Flinders successfully promoted "Australia" in the early 1800s.
Gympie is a beautiful country town with the modern-day conveniences that you will find in most cities. Gympie is a city of around 22,000 people and it's growing. James Nash discovered gold in 1867 in Gympie and it was originally called Nashville (the name Gympie comes from the gimpy-gimpi plant).
Shortly after this, your joints may ache, and you might get swelling under your armpits, which can be almost as painful as the original sting. In severe cases, this can lead to shock, and even death. Stories abound of gympie-gympie's notorious side effects. Stung horses have been known to die within hours.