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Poisonous Aussie Plants! Trivia Quiz

Many plants the world over are poisonous and should never be eaten, let alone touched! From the descriptions given can you name the poisonous Aussie plant? All multiple choice.

A multiple-choice quiz by Engadine. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Engadine

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
110,019

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
477

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A rainforest tree from northern New South Wales and Queensland, it is grown for its shade in Western and South Australia but its fruits are poisonous to humans. What is its name? Hint

Red Nut

Black Bean

Gidee-Gidee

White Cedar

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Question 2 of 10

2. Captain Cook's men became very ill after eating the seeds from this species of Australian plant - unlike the local Aboriginals who found them a rich source of nutrients. What is the common name of this species? Hint

Crab's Eye

Cycad

Tie Bush

Cunjevoi

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Question 3 of 10

3. This yellow flowering bush, found in forests in northern New South Wales and the Northern Territory has been blamed for at least two reported deaths in Australia. What is its name? Hint

Common Burrawang

Cape Lilac

Jequirity Bean

Tie Bush

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Question 4 of 10

4. Found in rainforests in New South Wales and Queensland, all parts of this plant are poisonous! By what name is it known? Hint

Gympie Bush

Scrub Nettle

Red Nut

Cunjevoi

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the rainforests of northern Queensland grows a tree with yellow to red coloured toxic fruit. What is its name? Hint

Bottle Tree

Giant Burrawang

Finger Cherry

Mulberry Leafed Stinging Tree

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Question 6 of 10

6. Growing in coastal heathlands of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, this plant has been blamed for several deaths. It is known by several common names, but, what is its scientific name? Hint

Cycas revoluta

Abrus precatorius

Anthocercis littorea

Brachychiton rupestris

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Question 7 of 10

7. Urtica incisa is a poisonous rainforest plant commonly known as what? Hint

Gympie Bush

Giant Stinging Tree

Shining Leafed Stinging Tree

Stinging Nettle

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Question 8 of 10

8. Growing mainly in Queensland and in parts of northern New South Wales this bush can exceed four metres in height and has raspberry-like fruits. What is its common name? Hint

Black Bean

Sago Palm

Gympie Bush

Native Loquat

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Question 9 of 10

9. This artificially hybridised 'garden' native that flowers all year round has horrible effects on sensitised people. It is called what? Hint

Darling Pea

Hoya Australis

Grevillea Robyn Gordon

Bowen Mango

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Aboriginal name for this plant translates literally to 'Blind-Your-Eye'. What is its common name? Hint

Milky Mangrove

Gidee-Gidee

Caustic Bush

Common Burrawang

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A rainforest tree from northern New South Wales and Queensland, it is grown for its shade in Western and South Australia but its fruits are poisonous to humans. What is its name?

Answer: White Cedar

Melia azedarach australasica, or the White Cedar, is more commonly known in Western and South Australia as the Cape Lilac. Its yellow coloured fruits cause gastro enteritis, drowsiness and convulsions in humans and brain and intestinal damage in pigs.

Answer: Cycad

The seeds of Australia's more than thirty cycads are highly poisonous but the Aboriginals knew how to carefully prepare them before cooking and eating them and as such, avoided any illness. The chemicals in untreated cycad seeds are not actually toxic themselves but bacteria in the intestine yield a toxin which is very potent.

3. This yellow flowering bush, found in forests in northern New South Wales and the Northern Territory has been blamed for at least two reported deaths in Australia. What is its name?

Answer: Tie Bush

The reddish fruits of the deciduous Tie Bush, Wikstroemia indica, cause severe gastro-enteritis.

4. Found in rainforests in New South Wales and Queensland, all parts of this plant are poisonous! By what name is it known?

Answer: Cunjevoi

Exhibiting an attractive yellow anthurium-like flower, the Cunjevoi, Alocasia macrorrhiza, if chewed (any part thereof), causes pain and swelling of the mouth and the throat.

5. In the rainforests of northern Queensland grows a tree with yellow to red coloured toxic fruit. What is its name?

Answer: Finger Cherry

The fruit of the Finger Cherry or Native Loquat, Rhodomyrtus macrocarpa, is full of a toxin that attacks the optic nerve and has been blamed for many cases of permanent blindness.

Answer: Abrus precatorius

Crab's Eye, Gidee-Gidee or Jequirity Bean, Abrus precatorius, has bright red seeds that if chewed, even just one, can cause severe gastro-enteritis, muscle weakening, accelerated heart rate and circulatory failure, i.e., death. But, if swallowed whole the seeds will 'pass' without any ill effects.

7. Urtica incisa is a poisonous rainforest plant commonly known as what?

Answer: Stinging Nettle

The Stinging or Scrub Nettle which is closely related to the common weed Urtica urens produces toxins that cause itching, swelling and a burning sensation.

8. Growing mainly in Queensland and in parts of northern New South Wales this bush can exceed four metres in height and has raspberry-like fruits. What is its common name?

Answer: Gympie Bush

The Gympie Bush, Dendrocnide moroides, is covered in 'hairs' which have brittle tips that snap off and lodge in the skin causing an itch that is followed by a prickling sensation which is quickly replaced by excruciating pain that radiates out from the site of first contact.

9. This artificially hybridised 'garden' native that flowers all year round has horrible effects on sensitised people. It is called what?

Answer: Grevillea Robyn Gordon

Neither parent species of this Grevillea was ever a problem, but, since the 1970s, Robyn Gordon has been causing a type of plant dermatitis across Australia.

10. The Aboriginal name for this plant translates literally to 'Blind-Your-Eye'. What is its common name?

Answer: Milky Mangrove

The Milky Mangrove, Excoecaria agallocha, grows along tidal streams in tropical regions of Australia. The sap, either in liquid or dried form, can cause intense pain and temporary blindess, lasting for days in severe cases, if it accidentally gets into the eyes.

Source: Author Engadine

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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