1. 34. Typical toxins included in nettle tricomes are formic acid, like in many ant species, and neurotransmitters like serotonin, and histamine. We previously reported a human case of acute polyneuropathy due to U. ferox stings. Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a New Zealand tree nettle. References (to follow) Skin cancer and self-examination . 0000048103 00000 n On April 28, a stoical, experienced 60 year old hunter, was on a three day trip deerstalking with two friends in the Kaweka Ranges on the southern side of the remote Mangatainoka River. All three of these types of organisms use … Brief description. Poisonous plants in New Zealand (Landcare Research) Poisonous plants in New Zealand (RNZ Institute of Horticulture) Jason Chase, 25, was found dead following an intense search and rescue effort at the Ruahine Ranges, in New Zealand, on January 3, 2003. During a collection expedition and subsequent sample preparation an emeritus neurologist exposed himself to the fluid in the trichomes (C) and recorded the experience in detail (D). Urtica ferox is a New Zealand endemic that is commonly found in coastal and lowland areas as well as forest edges and shrublands. 2013 Jan;61(1):60-2. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2012.704625. Although nettle may seem a menacing plant, it has been used for centuries in various trades. Skin contact with the hairs is very painful. A species of stinging nettle, Urtica ferox, is indigenous to New Zealand and has caused deaths in animals and humans. Tel. Tree nettle (Urtica ferox) poisoning. Flowers and fruit tiny, in short spikes at base of leaves. If you’ve ever had the misfortune of brushing against a stinging nettle, you know the pain-inducing power of the tiny trichome. Acetic acid, CH 3 COOH, has been known to humankind for thousands of years (at least in water solution). By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. A case of canine poisoning with New Zealand Tree Nettle (Ongaonga, Urtica ferox) A case of canine poisoning with New Zealand Tree Nettle (Ongaonga, Urtica ferox) N Z Vet J. Contact with the stinging hairs of the plant causes painful stinging and allergic reactions in the skin, including welts, hives, itching, burning sensation, and general irritation. Urtica Ferox – Ongaonga. Urtica ferox (tree nettle, ongaonga) For more information see:* Poisonous native plants (Te Ara - Encyclopedia of NZ) Henry Connor and John Fountain. Present address: Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine 3, National Defense Medical College, 3-2 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan. At Gucci! 0000003899 00000 n Most herbivores are discouraged from grazing on this plant because of irritating toxins secreted by the trichomes. Most herbivores are discouraged from grazing on this plant because of irritating toxins secreted by the trichomes. The toxin itself is called triffydin. Ongaonga, Urtica ferox. One recorded human death is known: a lightly clad young man died five hours after walking through a dense patch. 2013 Jan;61(1):60-2. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2012.704625. This toxin contains histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine, the last of which causes powerful stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve system. A species of stinging nettle, Urtica ferox, is indigenous to New Zealand and has caused deaths in animals and humans. Contact us about this record. Latin names: Nettle - Urtica urens, Pellitory-of-the-wall - Parietaria judaica, Perennial nettle -Urtica dioica, Tree nettle - Urtica ferox, Red dead nettle - Lamium pupureum. Young parts covered in white needles that inject a painful toxin. IPNI Life Sciences Identifier (LSID) urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:857569-1 Publication Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus Collation 66 Date of Publication Oct-Nov 1786 Family as entered in IPNI Urticaceae Original Data Remarks N. Zel. The tree nettle or ongaonga, Urtica ferox. These exude a toxin that when makes contact to the skin of humans and animals will cause serious pain and sometimes death. DESCRIPTION: ''The ongaonga is said to begin life as a number of small plants, which spread (papa uku) over the ground, and are afterwards replaced by a single large stem. Tree nettle, Ongaonga, Urtica ferox. endstream endobj 41 0 obj <>/Metadata 7 0 R/PieceInfo<>>>/Pages 6 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/OCProperties<>/OCGs[42 0 R]>>/StructTreeRoot 9 0 R/Type/Catalog/Lang(�� E N - U S)/LastModified(D:20070709102544)/PageLabels 4 0 R>> endobj 42 0 obj <. The nature of the toxin secreted by nettles is not settled. Tree nettle (Urtica ferox) poisoning. Neurophysiological and histological studies were carried out 5, 14 and 28 days after administration. Native plants can pack a serious poisonous punch, and death is by no means quick or. Most herbivores are discouraged from grazing on this plant because of irritating toxins secreted by … 2013 Jan;61(1):60-2. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2012.704625. $�@��9:��b`� dS�l9bX400v�$��030h3�3*1/��e�kf�l��8��#��=��ۤk�5l�}`�XY�1�]�`���L��4#P�6�pF17�(�#@� K�� from the New Zealand Medical Journal106, no. Category Botany 2011. A human death was also recorded. TOXIC SHOCK: Naomi Fergusson with her dog Nalu, with the white feet, and Rocky, who also fell sick after coming into contact with the ongaonga on Te Mata Peak. It is a shrub that reaches up to three meters tall and often occurs in dense thickets. 1993 Jun 9;106(957):234. It’s covered in an array of poisonous syringe-like spines. Keep an eye out for Urtica incisa, another NZ stinging nettle species common around Wellington, looking just like a small version of Urtica ferox. N Z Vet J. The show invitation was a linen baseball cap, packed in a shoebox emblazoned with the words URTICA FEROX. A case of canine poisoning with New Zealand Tree Nettle (Ongaonga, Urtica ferox). N Z Med J. x�b```b``y�� Toxin-injected nerves at days 5 and 14 showed a reduction in the number of myelinated fibres compared to the saline-injected nerves and frequency distributions of myelinated fibres showed a shift to smaller fibres. Skin contact with the hairs is very painful. 1993 Jun 9;106(957):234. Ongaonga are like stinging nettles carrying tasers. DESCRIPTION: ''The ongaonga is said to begin life as a number of small plants, which spread (papa uku) over the ground, and are afterwards replaced by a single large stem. Roberts, Nelson, New Zealand. 0000007687 00000 n 66 (1786). There are five native stinging nettle species and, unfortunately, they grow in places where people like to go. Urtica ferox contains several chemicals that may account for the acute pain but not for the evolving neurological features. The New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox), showing secretory (glandular), or stinging, hairs (trichomes). : +64 3 474 0999; fax: +64 3 474 7625. BHL POWO . The combined total of enquiries for these 15 species was 2754 calls (representing approximately 25% of all enquiries regarding plant exposures). : +81 4 2995 1617; fax: +81 4 2996 5202. The stinging hairs of most nettle species contain formic acid, serotonin and histamine; however recent studies of Urtica … We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Tel. Leaves and stems are armed with white, stinging hairs, each hair fed by a tiny bladder of toxin. A species of stinging nettle, Urtica ferox, is indigenous to New Zealand and has caused deaths in animals and humans. xref It’s a plant found only in New Zealand, a tree nettle whose spines have a sting that, in sufficient amounts, can kill a small dog. Like all nettles, it is covered in stinging hairs that put poison into the skin of a person or animal that brushes against it. 0000000016 00000 n The stings of Urtica ferox, the ongaonga or tree nettle of New Zealand, have been known to kill horses, dogs and at least one human. 0000001669 00000 n Urtica species is a genus of plants in the family of Urticaceae.Urtica species are found worldwide, and U dioica (stinging nettle, common nettle) is the most common species found in the British Isles.1 The stems and leaves are covered by stinging hairs, also called trichomes, which act like hypodermic needles. 40 23 On Boxing Day 1961, two young hunters stumbled into a thick swathe of nettles in the Ruahine Range. Male Wistar rats received either normal saline or fluid from U. ferox trichomes by injection into the epineurium of the left sciatic nerve. Some species (such as Urtica ferox of New Zealand) ... promoting the elimination of phlegmatic and phlegmatic-bilious toxins and accumulations ("stasis"), even where there is a melancholic component that "hardens" them; it is a regulator of Melancolia (which also acts at the level of the Blood); it is a stimulant of metabolic functions in general. Roberts, Nelson, New Zealand. Also known by its botanical name, Urtica ferox, this killer plant is well-documented. They raise red welts that itch, called hives. 957 (9 June 1993): 234. Clark FP. We previously reported a human case of acute polyneuropathy due to U. ferox stings. Tel. In New Zealand the genus is represented by 5 species one of them the tree nettle, Urtica ferox. The brittle tip of the hair breaks off on contact, and as the hair is pushed into the sac of toxins at its base the toxins are forced up its hollow shaft. A case of canine poisoning with New Zealand Tree Nettle (Ongaonga, Urtica ferox) A case of canine poisoning with New Zealand Tree Nettle (Ongaonga, Urtica ferox) N Z Vet J. New Zealand's native plants are not all harmless. Others, such as Solanum, are rarely eaten. Keep an eye out for Urtica incisa, another NZ stinging nettle species common around Wellington, looking just like a small version of Urtica ferox. His epiphany came to him when he spoke to a colleague and friend by the name of John Coutts, who related a strange case of two young men who had a harrowing encounter in the same area back in 1961 after wandering through a patch of tree nettles native to the area called Urtica Ferox, which grow to up to 10 feet high and which are covered with stiff, stinging hairs that can administer a poison called … After cooking, some plants with stinging hairs, such as Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), are eaten as vegetables. Sampleessays.org includes the best research paper examples and essay samples on Chemical Reaction. 0000007847 00000 n Neither species seems troubled by the plants’ spines and toxins (see sidebar, page 62). Within an hour, one was struggling to breathe, then he went blind. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated markedly reduced compound muscle action potentials and prolonged distal motor latencies. The very worst account of extreme poisoning leading to death was reported on Boxing Day in 1961. Contact with the stinging hairs of the plant causes painful stinging and allergic reactions in the skin, including welts, hives, itching, burning sensation, and general irritation. It does not sequester toxins like the monarch but uses ongaonga or stinging nettle (Urtica ferox) as its larval food plant. The toxins they … foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and ongaonga/New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox). 40 0 obj <> endobj The identity and mechanism of action of the toxin responsible for neuropathy are uncertain. Ins. startxref Category Botany 2011. 0000065117 00000 n Also known by its botanical name, Urtica ferox, this killer plant is well-documented. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. Full Record. The pain lasts for 3 days! The pain or itch goes away in a few hours. 1. Published by Manaaki Whenua Press. The stings of Urtica ferox, the ongaonga or tree nettle of New Zealand, have been known to kill horses, dogs and at least one human. x�bbbf`b``` J b After cooking, some plants with stinging hairs, such as Urtica dioica (stinging nettle), are eaten as vegetables. 3. Urtica ferox is a New Zealand endemic that is commonly found in coastal and lowland areas as well as forest edges and shrublands. Urtica ferox (tree nettle or ongaonga) is endemic to New Zealand. We developed an experimental animal model of U. ferox toxin neuropathy to determine its neurophysiological and pathological characteristics. In at least Sophora and Corynocarpus, the foliage and N Z Med J. 0000059656 00000 n Anyone who’s brushed carelessly against its barbed hairs knows its fierce burn. Take for instance Ongaonga, the New Zealand tree nettle. (I'm speaking from experience, unfortunately.) It’s science black humour – ongaonga, or Urtica ferox (from the Latin ‘to burn’ and ‘fierce’), is a remarkably poisonous plant, one of the deadliest in New Zealand, and one of a handful of plants in the world that have been responsible for killing someone just by coming into contact with them. 2009. G.R. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 62 0 obj <>stream : +81 4 2995 1663; fax: +81 4 2996 5208. The nature of the toxin secreted by nettles is not settled. Most herbivores are discouraged from grazing on this plant because of irritating toxins secreted by the trichomes. Urtica ferox G.Forst., Fl. These unsaturated alcohols have a strong carrot-like odor and are noncompetitive antagonists for the gamma-aminocutyric acid (GABA) neural transmitter in the central nervous system. The observed sequence of events suggests a capsaicin-like response with initial burning pain and paraesthesias, followed by numbness that persists for several days. Plants that poison - a New Zealand guide. PMID: 8367088 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication Types: Jagged-leaved, stinging, large shrub to 3 m tall, sometimes forming extensive thickets, bearing pairs of thin sharply toothed pointed leaves on long stems. 0000003636 00000 n Discussion. A species of stinging nettle, Urtica ferox, is indigenous to New Zealand and has caused deaths in animals and humans. Annals of Botany (London), 98:57-65. • Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) Description-Commonly known as ongaonga or New Zealand tree nettle, Urtica ferox is a native species of stinging nettle. Authoritative facts from DermNet New Zealand. The toxin from five Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) spines is enough to kill a guinea pig. Urtica ferox is a tree nettle growing >2 m tall, endemic to New Zealand (A), with trichomes that contain a putative neurotoxin (B). I think urtica ferox had evolved the large size and toxic stingers, because moas ( extinct flightless birds, related to kiwis) ate nettles and nettles got fed up being foods for moas, so when tree nettles arrived, moas ate the leaves, but got stung in mouth, so moas and birds learnt to leave the newly evolved tree nettles alone. The New Zealand tree nettle ( Urtica ferox ), showing secretory (glandular), or stinging, hairs (trichomes). U. ferox neurotoxin thus produced a transient neuropathy in rat peripheral nerves with neurophysiological and pathological features suggestive of axonopathy. 0000065371 00000 n Chemical Warfare and Examples paper sample. Identification of oxalic acid and tartaric acid as major persistent pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of the nettle,Urtica thunbergiana. Two of the plant species mentioned by the hosts of Caustic Soda are members of this family – ongaonga (Urtica ferox) and gympie gympie (Dendrocnide moroides) – both of which are on the extreme side of the scale. "unusually large stinging spines that can result in a painful sting that lasts several days" and "The toxin from 5 spines are enough to kill a guinea pig". On Boxing Day 1961 two young men hunting in the Ruahine Range stumbled through a patch of tree nettle and received a number of stings on their limbs. Photo by Craig Baxter. 0000001153 00000 n 1. 0 endstream endobj 61 0 obj <>/Size 40/Type/XRef>>stream %%EOF PMID: 8367088 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication Types: 0000000756 00000 n Recovery occurred over a period of a few weeks. Multiple stingings can have a very painful reaction which causes inflammation, a rash, itching, and in high concentrations loss of motor movement, paralysis, drop in blood pressure, convulsions, blurred vision and confusion. ; March 2004; Own work; Avenue; 0000003382 00000 n Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a New Zealand tree nettle. The New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox), showing secretory (glandular), or stinging, hairs (trichomes). Within an hour o… 0000059924 00000 n Urtica dioica produces its inflammatory effect on skin (stinging, burning sensation often called "contact urticaria") both by impaling the skin via spicules – causing mechanical irritation – and by biochemical irritants, such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, among other chemicals. Most notorious is the tree nettle or ongaonga, Urtica ferox. I thrilled when I read this. : +64 3 474 0999; fax: +64 3 474 7625. References Urtica ferox aspera Pseudowintera axillaris Cheilanthes sieberi 10 0.6 0.15 0.2 10 creeping 3 1 3 prostrate creeping 2 0.4 8 creeping Some species are seasonally palatable and relatively harmless to livestock (notably Coriaria spp and Urtica). More dramatic effects of Urtica stings are typified by Urtica chamaedryoides Pursh, possibly the most toxic Urtica species, which has poisoned dogs with excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, pawing at the face, epistaxis, respiratory distress, slow and irregular heartbeat, ataxia, muscular weakness, and fasciculations (Coile, 2010), a similar syndrome to that reported with U. ferox (Clark, … A species of stinging nettle, Urtica ferox, is indigenous to New Zealand and has caused deaths in animals and humans. Tel. Toxin-injected rats developed paresis of the left leg by 14 days with recovery by 28 days. … trailer Botany Circular No. Almost everyone is affected by nettles, which have a stinging or numbing effect when touched, sometimes leaving red marks. %PDF-1.4 %���� Austr. And the Greek word for nettle is “cnida,” as in cnidarians – like the jellyfish and coral we talked about two weeks ago. pleasant. Urtica ferox: Family: Origin: New Zealand: Description: Uses: Allergens: Toxic (acetylcholine, 5-HT, histamine) Allergy: 2 fatalities: Cross reactions: Other information: Patch test: See smartphone apps to check your skin. This case demonstrates that cutaneous exposure to Urtica ferox can cause an acute polyneuropathy and that its stinging hairs contain an unidentified neurotoxin. 0000001481 00000 n It may also have a white bump (s)that will maybe spread a little. The toxin present in the spines is triffydin (or tryfydin). Urtica is the Latin word for “nettle,” and the ongaonga tree is also known as the tree nettle or Urtica ferox. The stiff stinging hairs are like little (not so little in ongaonga) hypodermic needles that inject the toxins under the skin. Two young men hunting in the mountain ranges of the central North … Triffids! The plant grows in coastal and regenerating shrublands up to 600 metres above sea level, where it may form dense thickets up to 2 metres tall. It’s covered in an array of poisonous syringe-like spines. Epub 2012 Sep 18. Present address: Department of Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, P.O. Then there’s Urtica ferox, the stinging nettle, or ongaonga. It is a message that repeats itself for up to a week, every time you wash the offending part of your anatomy. 0000002469 00000 n If you live in New Zealand, Ongaonga (Urtica ferox) is a plant you try to avoid. 0000000986 00000 n Urtica is the Latin word for “nettle,” and the ongaonga tree is also known as the tree nettle or Urtica ferox. <<8361F18E5277CA4DA85D848404FCDD76>]>> Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Known as Ongaonga by the native Mãori, Urtica ferox or tree nettle is a largely woody shrub is covered in nettles that inject anything that rubs against them with poison. Clark FP. The plant grows in coastal and regenerating shrublands up to 600 metres above sea level, where it may form dense thickets up to 2 metres tall. If that wasn’t bad enough, the plant is able to grow to heights of 3 meters or more, and they form huge, impassable thickets. Most common in gardens is the introduced stinging nettle, whose "bite" is unpleasant, while the nastiest is native ongaonga (Urtica ferox).Cleavers or sticky burr weed (Galium aparine) will leave scarlet lines on skin but fortunately most fade quickly. There are stories of people lightly brushing this thing and being crippled to the point of wishing for suicide within an hour. Compound muscle action potentials amplitudes on the left side of toxin-administered rats at day 14 were significantly reduced compared to the right uninjected side. We developed an experimental animal model of U. ferox toxin neuropathy to determine its neurophysiological and pathological characteristics. Most animals will not approach ongaonga because of its vicious needles. They were to be collected by helicopter at a prearranged time, and carried no means of emergency communication. 0000004142 00000 n Nettle has been used to treat hay fever. The toxin from five Ongaonga ( Urtica ferox) spines is enough to kill a guinea pig. The New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox), showing secretory (glandular), or stinging, hairs (trichomes). While the exact makeup of these toxins is under investigation, the effect is certain. We previously reported a human case of acute polyneuropathy due to U. ferox stings. It is the larger-growing Urtica ferox that has justifiably given the genus a deadly reputation, but for most encounters it merely sends a stinging message that it is not to be tangled with. Native plants can pack a serious poisonous punch, and death is by no means quick or pleasant. The red admiral lays its eggs on the nettle leaves, even on the sides of the stinging hairs. Like all nettles, it is covered in stinging hairs that put poison into the skin of a person or animal that brushes against it. Urtica ferox) poisoning Urtica chamaedryoides Pursh: a stinging nettle, or fireweed and some related species. G.R. G.R. The toxins they release can reportedly lead to convulsions and death. [Sponsored content] Related information .