Not all plants can be used for wiping.

Not all plants
can be used for
wiping.

A field guide to
butt-wiping plants!

"The Gold Skin Tree
Murder Case"

In 1941, an Australian soldier in World War II casually picked some leaves to wipe with after relieving himself during the night. Little did he know that this seemingly mundane act would lead to his demise just a few hours later!The area that came into contact with the leaves started to experience intense pain, rendering him unable to control his screams. His comrades rushed him to the operating room, but there was no way to alleviate his agony, and eventually, he was driven to madness, ending his own life with a gunshot.As humans, we often categorize species in the natural world according to discretion, with plants often considered the least threatening of species. However, neglecting plants can sometimes result in a painful price. At the very least, we should be aware that not all plants can be used for wiping and learning to identify which plants can serve as a substitute for toilet paper might save our lives in critical situations.

The leaves that cost the soldier his life came from the "Gympie-Gympie" tree, which grows in northeastern Australia, the Moruga Islands, and Indonesia. Also known as the Australian stinging tree, it is recognized as the world's most poisonous and painful tree, earning it the nickname "suicide plant."

Many legends surround the Gympie-Gympie tree. Rumor has it that horses that have been stung by it have leaped off cliffs in agony, while forest workers who come into contact with it have resorted to getting themselves heavily intoxicated just to escape the pain. The heart-shaped leaves of the Gympie-Gympie tree may appear harmless, but they are covered in hair-like fine needles that contain potent neurotoxins. Even a light touch can pierce the skin, causing a burning sensation that intensifies within 30 minutes. Entomologist Marina Hurley, who conducted research on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, was once stung by the Gympie-Gympie tree. She described the sensation as "literally like being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time."

In 1963, Ernie Rider, a ranger with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, was struck by the Gympie-Gympie tree in the chest. The following three days were filled with pain so intense that he could hardly sleep, describing the experience as "like having a broken rib that was pushing in and out, like it was on a hinge." The stinging persisted for two years, and every time he took a cold shower, it would flare up again. Researchers have claimed that even dried leaves that have been stored for a century can still induce stinging pain.

TP Plant:

A Sustainable Alternative to Toilet Paper

The TP plant, also known as the Toilet Paper Plant, is a botanical alternative to traditional toilet paper. While toilet paper is a necessity in modern life, there are instances when opting for leaves might be the only choice.In fact, the TP plant is not as distant from our lives as you might first think. There are many situations where it can come in handy:

Saving valuable backpack space

In the wilderness, backpacks are crucial in helping carry equipment over long distances and for specialized outdoor activities. However, space is a premium, and while toilet paper isn't particularly heavy, it can be bulky. Some meticulous individuals might choose to carry small packs and plan their schedules rigorously, but the outdoors is full of uncertainties. Knowing how to identify TP plants can provide a lot of convenience and peace of mind in situations where you might run out of toilet paper due to diarrhea or injury.

Save carrying used paper

Even if you employ ingenious packing methods to fit enough tissues into your backpack, there are places where you might prefer not to use them. Many national parks and forests around the world have regulations for camping and hiking in the wild that require you to take used toilet paper away with you.

For example, Yosemite National Park's wilderness permit stipulates that all waste must be buried at least 6 inches deep, at least 100 feet away from water sources, campsites, and trails, and used toilet paper must be packed out.

While toilet paper is biodegradable, complete degradation can take considerable time, especially in dry seasons and regions. During this period, the pit may be exposed by wind or dug up by animals, becoming an environmental hazard. Burning trash in the wild can have detrimental effects on air, plants, and animals, and in situations where time is tight, leaving requires extinguishing the campfire, and unburned garbage becomes a leftover pollutant. Therefore, some experienced lightweight backpackers opt for the primitive method of using plants instead of toilet paper.

Environmental conservation

In fact, not only in the wild but also in their own homes, some environmentally conscious individuals have started cultivating TP plants. This is because the impact on the environment in the manufacturing and transportation of toilet paper is significant. The equivalent of 270,000 trees are flushed and dumped in landfills every day, with about 10% of this due to toilet paper usage. The production of toilet paper also requires a large amount of water and pulp, as well as electricity, which is backed by the use of fossil fuels. Alongside this, significant fuel consumption and exhaust emissions are generated while transporting the paper across the globe. While we purchase and use toilet paper, the cost and waste contribute to resource wastage and environmental burden.

BLUE SPUR FLOWER

[ Scientific Name ]：
Plectranthus barbatus
[ Type ]：Shrub
[ Distribution ]：
East Africa - Eritrea to Tanzania, across the Arabian Peninsula to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Southern China, and Thailand
[ Growing Environment ]：
Open semi-arid areas

Robin Greenfield refers to it as the "Earth's gift of toilet paper." It is a large shrub belonging to the mint family, capable of reaching a mature height between 1.8 and 2.4 meters. It has stout stems and oval-shaped leaves that feel velvety, thick, and very soft. The edges have irregular serrations, and from midsummer to mid-autumn, small blue-purple tubular flowers bloom. According to Robin, "It’s softer than any tissue you can buy in a supermarket," and it carries a delightful minty fragrance.

MULLEIN

[ Scientific Name ]：
Verbascum thapsus
[ Type ]：Herbaceous plant
[ Distribution ]：
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, introduced to the Americas and Australia
[ Growing Environment ]：
Thrives in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils but can grow in various habitats including shores, meadows, roadsides, forest clearings, and pastures.

Mullein is a fuzzy biennial herbaceous plant that can grow to two meters or more. It has thick, soft, oblong basal leaves that are 10-20 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. From the basal leaves, it sends up a flowering stem that can reach 1-2 meters, and in the summer, it produces cylindrical flower spikes with fuzzy seed capsules opening into yellow flowers.

LAMB'S EAR

[ Scientific Name ]：
Stachys byzantina
[ Type ]：
Perennial herbaceous plant
[ Distribution ]：
Native to Armenia, Iran,
and Turkey
[ Growing Environment ]：
Well-draining soil with ample sunlight or partial shade

Stachys byzantina, commonly known as Lamb's Ear, has large leaves that are soft and velvety, resembling the ears of a rabbit or lamb. They are covered with a white, soft, fuzzy coating, while the leaves are thick, somewhat wrinkled, and can grow up to ten centimeters in size. The stems are upright, often branching and relatively square, and can reach up to 80 cm in height. In late spring and early summer, it produces light purple flowers in spikes.

THIMBLEBERRY

[ Scientific Name ]：Rubus parviflorus
[ Type ]：Deciduous shrub
[ Distribution ]：Western North America
[ Habitat ]：Habitat: Thrives in rich, slightly acidic, and well-draining soil with moisture; commonly found along roadsides, riverbanks, and lake shores, as well as along roadsides, railways, and in forest clearings.

Thimbleberry is a dense shrub that can grow up to 2.5 meters tall. It has large, multi-lobed leaves, typically divided into 3-5 palmate lobes, lacks thorns, and possesses a soft, fuzzy texture with a diameter of up to 20 centimeters. Fragrant, five-petaled white flowers (two inches in diameter) cluster together and bloom in late spring to early summer (May to July). By mid-summer, it bears edible red fruits that resemble raspberries but are shorter and nearly hemispherical in shape. These fruits can be consumed directly or used to make delicious jams and jellies. However, their delicate nature makes them challenging to package and transport, which is why they are rarely commercially cultivated. In some regions, thimbleberries are grown as landscape plants.

COMMON MALLO

[ Scientific Name ]：
Malva Sylvestris
[ Type ]：Malvaceae
[ Habitat ]：Northern Europe, North Africa, Southwest Asia
[ Environment ]：Sunlit areas such as wastelands, field edges, roadsides, slopes, or near buildings

The stems of the Common Mallow are upright, with large and deeply colored leaves that can grow to a height of 15-61 centimeters. On long stems, there are hollyhock-like flowers in pink or white, which bloom profusely and have a long flowering period, extending from summer all the way to the first frost. It is highly adaptable and robust, often seen in some barren and infertile wastelands, and its leaves are generally heart-shaped or round, with wavy edges. They are smooth on both sides without thorns, with only short fuzz on the stems.Common Mallow leaves can be used medicinally, possessing excellent soothing properties. They are particularly suitable for inflammation in the urinary system, digestive system, or respiratory system. Using it outdoors as an alternative to toilet paper not only feels safe but also brings a sense of natural and healthy luxury.

There are many other plants like these that can be used as TP. While the plants listed above are non-toxic, some individuals may be sensitive. It is important to exercise caution when selecting plants, so start by rubbing the leaf against your hand or wrist to see if there is any discomfort. You should also carefully inspect the leaves for insects to avoid being bitten or causing other infections.Identifying which plants can be used for personal hygiene is basic and practical knowledge. Over billions of years, plants have accommodated numerous lives, shaping the habitat we call home today. They span time and space, continuing to impact countless lives with their own existence and influencing the colors and scents of the world.

Returning to our natural habitat, we still need to carefully peruse the "green book" of the mountains and fields, allowing more names of natural species to reintegrate into our lives.