The gympie-gympie stinging tree has effective, needle-like hairs, referred to as trichomes, which inject toxin into the pores and skin.
University of Queensland researchers discovered the plant has a brand new class of neurotoxin miniproteins, dubbed ‘gympietides’, which has similarities to the venom of harmful spiders and cone snails.
“The Australian stinging tree species are particularly notorious for producing excruciatingly painful stings, which unlike those of their European and North American relatives, can cause symptoms that last for days or weeks,” Associate Professor Irina Vetter stated.
“Although they come from a plant, the gympietides are similar to spider and cone snail toxins in the way they fold into their 3D molecular structures and target the same pain receptors—this arguably makes the Gympie-Gympie tree a truly ‘venomous’ plant.”
Source: www.9news.com.au
