PlantFiles: Stinging Nettle, Tread Softly, Finger Rot
Cnidoscolus stimulosus

My 15-year-old daughter "discovered" this plant when she jumped into it wearing shorts and sneakers, to avoid being run over by a cow in a pasture. She immediately suffered the agonizing burning and ensuing welts over both legs. Ended up in the emergency room and now 3 days later is starting to have the intense itching to accompany this.

The "Tread Softly" is prevalent throughout the coastal areas of the Florida panhandle. I experienced, first-hand, how dangerous it can be to those who are hyper-sensitive by having a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. I nearly died with-in one hour of stepping on this plant. I didn't know about Epi-Pens back then nor did the EMS crew administer anything throughout the 30 ambulance ride to the ER. Needless to say I'm not much of an outdoors' type anymore because of this and the threat of Fire Ant stings (one will kill me as well).

@ barj

check this web site out:

[HYPERLINK@plants.usda.gov]

Stinging tettle tastes better than spinach! ;-)

I've heard the seeds are very tasty.

I just returned from Kansas, where I harveted and ate some sting nettle. My grandparents taught me to eat this as a child, and I would love to find some in the Waco, Texas area.Please let me know if you know where I can find some... thanks..

I both respect and admire this plant. I've found it best to leave it where it wants to grow unless it happens to be in a spot where someone might brush against it. To me, the long-lasting burning sensation it produces when touched is nearly as bad as a bee sting and not worth the risk of pulling it up even with gloves. As an artist, I can greatly appreciate the "pure" white of its flower (or pseudo flower from what I've read in the descriptions here). Most other white flowers seem to have a slight tinge of pink, yellow, or green, whereas the Stinging Nettle is an unadulterated white similar to lead white in oil paint.

The Stinging Nettle, or Bull Nettle can be dangerous if not handled properly, but in the right situation it is a fascinating plant, because of such beautiful flowers on such a dangerous plant.
The flowers look and smell like Stephanotis, and are not caustic at all.
I love to carefully pick them and smell them. A beautiful fragrant corsage can be made with them.
Bull Nettle is native to Texas and other States.

I have stinging nettle in my yard and it is such a pest. Once, before I knew how it could hurt you, I pulled a plant up with my bare hand. The itching was agonizing! My neighbor told me to get three different types of leaves and to rub the affected places with it and that it would stop the itching. I did as he said and it worked. I guess the oils of the other leaves acted as a type of neutralizer. Now if only I could get rid of these pesty plants! Laney

"Cnidoscolus" means "spiny kiss"... It´s highly recomended that the gardeners should use gloves to manipulate it and keep this plant away from children and animals

This plant is a weed here. I have yet to see any form of wildlife utilize this plant. I am always removing it from the garden--very carefully because the stings are painful if "got."

All over my yard and not even pretty. I'm sure it does, but I have not observed birds feeding on the seeds which come from a green tomato like fruit. VERY invasive and painful stings.

This member of the family Euphorbiaceae, commonly called Stinging Nettle or Tread Softly, is one southeastern native to watch out for. It is an erect, weedy perennial that grows to 3' tall and is covered with tiny, stinging hairs. These hairs cover the plant and can cause a painful, stinging, reddish rash when touched. While not serious, the pain may continue for up to an hour.

The blooms are white and first appear in early spring and continue into early fall. The showy part of the flower is actually the calyx of the male flower which has no petals. The female flowers are lower and have neither petals nor showy calyx. The seeds of this plant are eaten by Bob white quail and several species of songbirds. Seeds are distributed by wildlife and the plants will regrow prolifically from the fleshy tap root.

Euphorbiaceae, or spurge, is known for its toxic substances. Some have toxic sap, latex, or seed oils, others, like the nettles, have venomous hairs. The tubers of the plant are edible but the plant should be avoided.