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

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