Found out about Ongaonga Nettle the hard way while out hunting the Mamaku's yesterday. Fell in to a plant on the rivers edge, felt like I was cover in wasp stings in the beginning, followed by a numb arm and leg which I still have 24 hours later! Nasty stuff. Herd through the grape vine it has killed a few dogs... even people. Something to watch out for next time i think.
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andrew-simpson
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #1 - Feb 1st, 2016 at 6:42pm
Had a similar experience in the aorangis recently. nasty stuff indeed. glad i carry some antihistamines. seemed to help the pain at least. the tingling stuck around for a couple of days, especially at night. like how insect bites get itchier when you are trying to go to sleep.
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P38
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #2 - Feb 1st, 2016 at 9:43pm
Also known by its botanical name, Urtica ferox, this killer plant is well-documented. Like all nettles, it is covered in stinging hairs that put poison into the skin of a person or animal that brushes against it. 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.
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. Within an hour one of them had difficulty in walking and breathing, and then lost his sight. He died five hours later in hospital. His friend had similar symptoms, but recovered. Although this is the only fatal incident on record, a number of people have been very ill for two to three days after being stung.
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.......
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XRhunter
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #4 - Feb 2nd, 2016 at 12:22pm
As the Pohangina River, and the mid level track to Mid Po is getting some coverage on another thread, I vaguely remember that some of the biggest stinging nettle trees I have ever had the misfortune to bump into were part way along that track. Nasty nasty stuff.
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Micky Duck
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #5 - Feb 4th, 2016 at 5:49pm
round up fixes it been stung a few times with the big stuff, pleased the stuff we have down here in the south is only babies by comparison,have seen dogs crook even with our wee stuff.
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #6 - Feb 4th, 2016 at 8:31pm
where i work every bit off bush has the shit in it.the worst off ever seen it so thick you can even crawl under it.doesnt take much to get stung even through your pants etc.they just about lost a horse from it and dogs. one was out off action for three months its at its worst around nov- jan ive found.
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #9 - Feb 5th, 2016 at 4:37pm
We used to rub dock leaves on the stings when we were kids. Not sure if it worked though, but that's what people used to do.
Yep, singe the dock leaves with a lighter and squash the leaf and then rub it on the effected area
Dock leaves? come across Ongaonga a few times but was aware of it and gave it a very wide berth. at least it looks dodgy with the white spikes, took me a few times getting hopelessly tangled in bush lawyer before that plant instantly registered in my mind as an asshole.
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #11 - Dec 19th, 2016 at 10:59am
Seen two dogs die from that stuff - both GSP's and both collapsed and were dead by the time we got them to the vet. Also had a mate I hunted with hospitalised after he dragged a deer he shot out of the stuff - came out with huge water blisters/bladders hanging of him and we sat him in the creek to try and ease his pain - didn't know what else to do. Haven't seen it in years - it doesn't grow around where I mostly hang out these days. Do remember reading years ago the toxin is similar to spider or snake venom - one or the other, can't remember. I also know it can hurt for a week.
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Re: Ongaonga Nettle Reply #14 - Dec 27th, 2016 at 5:51am