Many plants in the world are very dangerous. Some also contain a lot of poison. This plant named Gympie Gympie does not look like it can be so dangerous but it is known when a person comes in front of it. By doing this, its poison irritates the person so much that he almost goes insane and hence it is also called the suicide plant.
Where is this plant found?
Many people know it as Gympie Gympie plant, but its scientific name is Dendrocnide Moroides. It is originally found in the rainforests of Australia, but is also found in some East Asian countries. Its special feature is that not only its leaves but also its stems, branches and stems have fine fibers or needle-like thorns.
What happens when you touch?
Touching any part of this plant is not without danger. The fine fibers like needles or thorns present in it are highly poisonous which directly affects the brain and can drive a person to insanity.
Touching them feels like an electric shock and a sharp burning sensation for at least the next 20-30 minutes, but the pain can last for days to months.
Man does not die, however
It is clear that a person does not die by touching this plant, but his condition becomes so bad that he prefers to die rather than suffer. Because scientists say that even a single thorn is enough to cause pain to a human like the sting of a scorpion or the venom of a spider. They say that this poison is not an ordinary poison but a neurotoxic poison which directly affects the brain.
What is its history?
According to the New York Times there are many stories about this plant, its fine thorns are said to have been first noticed in Australia in 1866 when its effect was observed on a road surveyor’s horse. Later, during World War II, a soldier was treated for weeks after touching it, but eventually went insane and died. In another incident, it is reported that a man used the leaves of this plant as toilet paper in the forest and finally got fed up and shot himself.
Just last year, the plant was placed with 100 other poisonous plants in a British botanical garden with a warning of its dangers. Considering its danger, it was kept in a glass structure and cared for by a special horticulturist.
Research is ongoing into how the plant’s thorns work, with what fascinates scientists most about how the effect of its touch can last for months? Experts say that this plant also has a good side. Its pain-inducing venom components can be converted into pain relievers or anesthetics. Scientists believe that the pain reliever made from it can be effective for a long time and can be used in many treatments.