stinging or dangerous contact plants in Australia

Introduction

many plants as well as many mushrooms are toxic if eaten, however this page relates to those which are either painful or otherwise cause issues when touched
some other plants are toxic if burnt and the smoke inhaled such as oleander

Nettle family of plants
- South-East Queensland's giant stinging tree
- Gympie-Gympie stinging tree
- these are covered in tiny 5mm hollow needles or trichomes and it appears they produce unique peptides which causes the persisting pain which in some cases can last intermittently for months
capsaicin family
- chilli plants - mainly a problem in contact with mucous membranes

introduced plants
- chrysanthemums, primula, tomato plants, english ivy and occasionally rhus trees (toxicodendron).
- Japanese pepper tree
- euphorbia, milkweed, naked lady
- dieffenbachia
- arum lily
- oleander
- philodendron
- lantana or vegetables such as parsnip or celery may cause photo-contact dermatitis.
- asthma weed Parietaria Judaica - its pollen may also cause hay fever or asthma
- many others
Australian native plants
- grevillea

this is mainly via pollens (can also be from airborne moulds) from:
- grasses
- flowering wattles
- other plants