Stinging tree ( lat. Dendrocnide moroidea ) - a large shrub , a species of the genus Dendrocnide of the family Nettle ( Urticaceae ). Poisonous plant .
| Stinging tree |
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Dendrocnide moroidea ( Wedd. ) Chew , 1965 |
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Content
Representatives of the species grow in the tropical rain forests of Australia , the Moluccas and Indonesia .
The plant is a pioneer, appearing first in clearings, burns and sunny places, after the fall of large trees.
Single stalk 1-2 m high.
Leaves are heart-shaped, serrated along the edge, 12-22 cm long, 11-18 cm wide.
The plant is monoecious, male flowers are surrounded by female.
The fruit is a juicy single seed , similar to a mulberry tree .
The plant is very poisonous. Contact with leaves or branches causes severe burns. The injured area is covered with red spots, which gradually merge into one large tumor, which lasts from several days to several months. It is known about one dead person and many dogs and horses. Moreover, several species of marsupials are known, including the red-footed filander , insects and birds, feeding on the leaves and fruits of this plant and having immunity from burns [2] .
The complete composition of neurotoxin is unknown. Plant poison contains , a bicyclic octapeptide containing the unusual C β N bond between tryptophan and histidine . Moroidin was first isolated from the leaves and stems of Dendrocnide moroidea and was subsequently recognized as the main compound responsible for the duration of the lesion.
- β For the conventionality of specifying the class of dicotyledons as a superior taxon for the plant group described in this article, see the APG Systems section of the Dicotyledonous article .
- β Hurley, M. 2000. Growth dynamics and leaf quality of the stinging trees Dendrocnide moroides and Dendrocnide cordifolia (Family Urticaceae) in Australian tropical rainforest: implications for herbivores. Australian journal of Botany 48: 109-201
