The Gympie-Gympie Plant Stings For Months

The gympie-gympie tree possesses one of the world's most agonizing stings, which can cause intense, burning pain that persists for weeks or even months. Brushing against this Australian shrub feels like being simultaneously burned by acid and electrocuted.

This plant is covered in tiny, needle-like silica hairs that penetrate the skin like hypodermic syringes. These hairs stay embedded and continue to release a potent toxin whenever the area is touched or even moved by wind. Local reports describe the sensation as being far worse than typical insect stings. Even dried leaves found in herbarium specimens have been known to deliver painful stings decades after they were collected.