Cnidoscolus stimulosus from Libby South Carolina

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All over our pastures stinging leaves started blooming early spring still blooming animals avoid

Hi Libby,

this plant will sting animals in the nose if they try to eat it, and will also sting people like a nettle. It is Cnidoscolus stimulosus, the second word meaning ‘stimulating’ as in stinging. I learned it in the tropics as ‘Mala mulher’ which means ‘bad woman’ in Spanish. It is also called, in English, bull nettle. It is in the plant family Euphorbiaceae and it is native.  The stinging hairs protect it from being eaten or even touched.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS

 

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