Thread: Urtica ferox / ongaonga /tree nettle

Originally Posted by Woody

Has anyone tried rubbing vinegar on the skin?
Also, I always carry antihistamine in my pack in case dog gets a dose.

Not sure all the compounds injected are protein based and that vinegar would be effective. Never had to try it, and hope like hell I never have to!

Originally Posted by Brakelie

One of the reasons I dislike hunting in shorts, the others are blackberry and hookgrass

Hookgrass is no bother. It is quickly and easily and painlessly removed useing a comb. (Old cullers trick)

Ive never seen that in pureora, where is it most common?

Hawkes Bay.

You can rub Pepper tree on the effected area I would think that dock leaves would also work.

Haven't seen any in the Kaimias. But Dad said we had some at on the farm. Ive not run into the NZ stuff which a lot of people say is much worse than the British stinging nettle.

You Can make a soup out of Stinging nettle. The Romans also used to rub it on there skin to keep warm....hard buggers those Romans

Originally Posted by Woody

Hookgrass is no bother. It is quickly and easily and painlessly removed useing a comb. (Old cullers trick)

Yes I had a workmate who did that, he was bald but pulled out a comb for his legs! Seemed hilarious at the time

Ureweras are tge hookgrass capital of the world ! Some gullies are also full of tree stinging nettle and I ve also struck it in Waipunga and Tataraakina.

I find it growing mostly around streams?

If you are bored with Seton Nossiter then Wilton Bush has a nice quick circuit that includes a rather old Rimu Tree

Originally Posted by Brakelie

One of the reasons I dislike hunting in shorts, the others are blackberry and hookgrass

I dont know much about NZ flora other than ongaonga (im a pom) but whats that annoying plant that has round spikey balls that stick to your socks and trousers and then it explodes into tiny sticky annoying seeds when you look at it. Whatever that is, i bloody hate it!

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Originally Posted by 308

I find it growing mostly around streams?

If you are bored with Seton Nossiter then Wilton Bush has a nice quick circuit that includes a rather old Rimu Tree

Ongaonga does live around the edges of watwr mostly. There is a place in the rimutakas where i pitch a tent thats surrounded a massive ground spread of it. I got me once while i was staring down a pig in the dark with my headlamp. I also copped it one morning in the aorangis near mangatoetoe hut. Last time was up behind corner creek Campsite. That was the worst one on bare shin.

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Antihistamine taken immediately works for humans and dogs..

Originally Posted by aetchell

I dont know much about NZ flora other than ongaonga (im a pom) but whats that annoying plant that has round spikey balls that stick to your socks and trousers and then it explodes into tiny sticky annoying seeds when you look at it. Whatever that is, i bloody hate it!

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You might be talking about Bidibidi.

It's another claim to fame for NZ, the largest and most poisonous member of the nettle family we also have the largest member of the fuschia species as well.

Konini?

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

It's another claim to fame for NZ, the largest and most poisonous member of the nettle family we also have the largest member of the fuschia species as well.

Back in South Africa, I had an encounter with African poison oak - Smodingium argutum - a mid sized tree. That wasn't a fun day either. During an escape and evasion exercise too... Good thing that it was only half a day from the end. After that, the trees may as well have been made out of hi-vis material - I could tell them from all other trees in the bush and had an almost sub-conscious aversion to them. Pain is an awesome teacher.

Yes, even to those who have never seen it before nettle has the appearence of someone who you shouldnt mess with.