Cnidoscolus stimulosus (Michx.) Engelm. & A. Gray - Tread Softly, Finger Rot

Flowering – Nearly all year along the coast. Spring – fall elsewhere.

Habitat – Sandhills, beaches, scrub, dry hammocks, dry pastures, fields, roadsides.

Origin – Native to North America and tropical America.

Other information – This attractive but painful species can be found mainly in the southern half of Alabama. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its big white flowers, three to five-lobed leaves, and painful stinging hairs.

A modern synonym is Cnidoscolus urens var stimulosus

The genus name Cnidoscolus derives from the Greek “cnid(o)” meaning “a nettle” and “scolus” meaning “a thorn.”

The species epithet stimulosus derives from the Latin “stimul(us)” meaning “goad (prod, to urge, a stimulus).”