Giant Stinging Tree (also called Gympie Leaf)

Full-size Giant Stinging Tree

​​The Giant Stinging Tree is just that! It is a native tree that grows to 25 metres high and has huge round leaves covered in tiny, poisonous white hairs. The slightest touch of a Stinging Tree leaf on bare skin produces pain that makes stinging nettles seem positively painless. If the leaf touches the skin a little harder, it will produce chemical burns that result in severe pain, severe blistering and the eventual loss of several layers of skin. Basically, its effects are like a severe sunburn. We are not sure what would happen if the leaf touches your eyes but assume it would cause blindness.

Leaves of a Giant Stinging Tree

​The leaves are not the only poisonous part of the tree. The sap in the branches, trunk and roots also produces significant irritation although, from personal experience, nothing on the scale of the leaves. The roots can actually be quite tricky. They spread along the surface and often extend more than a dozen metres from the edge of the tree canopy thus making it very easy to mistakenly cut into one without realising what it is. If a root is long and straight, grey-brown in colour, slightly scungy and anywhere near a stinging tree, beware.

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Giant Stinging Tree root system

​Precautions:

1.  Do not go anywhere near a stinging tree if it can be avoided.

2. Always wear long sleaves and gloves.
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3. Always wear a hat and ALWAYS wear goggles or a full face mask if intending to prune a stinging tree or work under it.

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Stinging Nettles

​ Stinging nettles are actually native to Australia but do often become weeds in moist areas. They are easily recognisable by their lanceolate, serrated leaves, and the poisonous white hairs on their green stems. Most stinging nettles don’t exceed waist height but, when supported by other weeds such as lantana, they can easily surpass three metres. This makes them a face hazard.

Stinging Nettle spines and a group of nettles

Stinging nettles are easiest to remove with Roundup but can be removed by hand (with gloves of course!) by pulling from the base of the plant. A mattock can also be very useful. Nettles have runners, so if complete removal is required, be sure to find and pull out all the runners.
 
The sting of a stinging nettle is painful but not usually that severe. It takes a few minutes for the initial pain to wear off but some tingling does linger for up to a day.
 
Precautions:
1.  Always wear trousers, long sleaves and gloves
​2. Wear eye protection