Gympie-Gympie sounds adorable, but if you pay any attention to its scientific name Dendrocnide moroides, you would know its to be avoided. Dendrocnide is derived from the Ancient Greek word déndron, meaning “tree”, and knídē, which means “stinging needle.” Indeed, Dendrocnide moroides, with its soft and fuzzy heart shaped leaves, is believed to be Australia’s most poisonous plant. The plant’s fuzzy appearance is due to it being covered by thousand of small hair-like stingers which carry a toxin so potent that victims have writhed in pain for weeks.
Botanist Marina Hurley who studied the plant for three years in the rainforests of Queensland describes its sting as “being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.”
