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Tree nettle...A brush with death!


Tree nettle...A brush with death!
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 146 N: 3791] (12143)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-16
Categories: Rain Forest
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ-2-S
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-03-03 4:40
Viewed: 7928
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
There is very little in the New Zealand wild that will hurt you. We have no snakes at all, no scorpions and only one tiny poisonous spider.
This native tree nettle, Urtica ferox, is the exception.
Several hunting dogs, and at least one tramper are known to have died after brushing past this plant.
Urtica ferox, known in Maori as Ongaonga, is found in lowland and coastal forests,throughout the North and South Islands. It can grow to 3 metres tall and is a daunting sight with its numerous stinging hairs.
As a caver, I am always looking out for these,especially as they often occur around cave entrances. New Zealands deepest cave, Nettlebed, is named for the giant tree nettles outside the lower entrance.
red45, Janice, pgmoni, milloup, sAner, honza, hummingbird24, dew77, Luc, JeanMichel, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Hi Howard!LordPotty 1 03-05 00:35
To dew77: other plants in photoLordPotty 1 03-03 14:38
To Jancie: Whitetail spiders and deadly tree nettles.LordPotty 1 03-03 05:26
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2732 W: 74 N: 8956] (30561)
  • [2005-03-03 4:54]

Really scary plant Steve! How long needles has it got? Very good picture of this beast, I hope you did some close-ups of its also. This is very interesting post so I did little investigation and found few usefull links in google about Urtica. TFS!

This I never knew about, Steve. And it looks so nice too. I'll have to try and remember what it looks like. By the way, we now have 2 poisonout spiders in NZ - the red back and now the White tailed/back spider from OZ. Becoming quite frequent up this way. What did you do with this plant when you saw it?
TFS Steve.

Nice and sharp capture, just a small pity you couldn't avoid the burnt-out bit top right.
Sounds like quite a disgusting plant, this one, I shall keep my eyes peeled for it, should I ever be lucky enough to visit NZ ;-)
I remember when stepping off the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania and onto the bus for Hobart way back; The busdriver greeted us like this: "Welcome to Tasmania! Of the 10 most poisonous snakes in the world 7 are to be found here.." - and there was I scared stiff of snakes even at the best of times.. ;-))

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 537 W: 0 N: 716] (4191)
  • [2005-03-03 7:56]

Nice photo - nice composition and sharpness. Very interesting plant species. In my country we have two forbs Urtica - both with very burning spines.

Interesting post Steve, I'd like to see a closer view on a leaf.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4635 W: 248 N: 4025] (13237)
  • [2005-03-03 11:26]
  • [+]

Interesting note of Urtica ferox...I see some other kind of plants there.
Do they have any effect on plants or just on animals?

Very interesting note! And of course very interesting plant, unparalleled! Thank you Steve!

Looks indeed ferocious! How tall was this friendly creature? Would have been nice to see the plant a little more isolated, to see it as a whole, but there is really bothing you could do about that! Good shot!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1488 W: 72 N: 1428] (4748)
  • [2005-03-04 4:51]

What a beautiful yet scary plant Steve. The colors are great and so is your composition. Thanks for the note too. :)

Very interesting subject and very good photography. The elegant and innocent fern behind let's me think of a kind of "beast and beauty" association. Perfect exposure and special mention to the DOF, outstanding for a f/2,8 aperture. Very well done and useful note, Steve.

Interesting plant Steve..Good exposure & detail. Thanx!!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1872 W: 304 N: 4301] (14733)
  • [2005-03-04 23:35]

I do not know why some plants like this over-protect themselves. Urtica ferox, what a name!
A very interesting post, Steve.
Thanks.

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