Australian stinging trees and cone snails share something in common, Queensland researchers say

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 Australia's stinging trees are notorious for delivering excruciating pain that can last for days, weeks or even months and researchers now say they know why.


Key points:

Researchers discover Australian stinging trees carry a venom similar to that found in marine cone snails

Australia has two species of stinging tree with needle-like hairs that act like syringes to inject venom

Scientists hope to develop new types of painkillers from the new discovery

South-East Queensland's giant stinging tree and its northern cousin, the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree are both members of the nettle family and are covered in needle-like hairs filled with toxins.


"When you brush past them, the needles act like a hypodermic syringe, penetrating your skin to inject what we now really consider a venom," Professor Irina Vetter said.


Read more:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-17/stinging-tree-toxins-similar-cone-snail-venom-queensland/12669088

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