Sorry about your experience, but at least the effects are nowhere as long lasting as Poison Ivy/Oak! When I was a kid I used to rub my wrist on stinging nettle plants just to freak-out my friends; showing them the red raised bumps that lasted only 5 minutes. Then when I was in college on a Biology field trip I decided to impress a girl that I liked by pulling the same trick. Only problem was that I must have picked a particularly virulent plant, because it REALLY hurt and lasted much longer. And even worse, the girl thought I was a nut case!

I read a travel/explorer article written in the 40's once that spoke of tropical species that could actually kill a human, (I think it was Borneo), but I don't know if this is true or just the macho ramblings of a "Crocodile Hunter" sort...

Mike

I still see the young leaves being suggested as a salad green. No thanks I havn't pulled or touched one yet that didn't have the sting.