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Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans or formerly Rhus toxicodendron or Rhus radicans) is a plant in the family Anacardiaceae. The name is sometimes spelled "Poison-ivy" to indicate with the hyphen that the plant is not a true Ivy or Hedera. It is a woody vine that is well known for its ability to produce urushiol, a skin irritant that causes an itching rash for most people, technically known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. Poison ivy is a plant (notably NOT of the ivy species of plants, Hedera); it has, however, lent its name to many other meanings, including: Poison Ivy a female comic book villain from Batmans gallery of foes. ...
Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ...
For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ...
Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ...
Orders See text. ...
Families See text Sapindales is a botanical name for an order of flowering plants. ...
Genera See text Anacardiaceae is a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes. ...
Species See text. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ...
Otto Carl Ernst Kuntze (June 23, 1843 - 1907) was a German botanist. ...
Genera See text Anacardiaceae is a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes. ...
Species Hedera algeriensis – Algerian Ivy Hedera azorica – Azores Ivy Hedera canariensis – Canaries Ivy Hedera caucasigena Hedera colchica – Caucasian Ivy Hedera cypria Hedera helix – Common Ivy Hedera hibernica – Irish Ivy Hedera maderensis – Madeiran Ivy Hedera maroccana Hedera nepalensis – Himalayan Ivy Hedera pastuchowii – Pastuchovs Ivy Hedera rhombea – Japanese Ivy Hedera sinensis...
For other uses, see Wood (disambiguation). ...
This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...
For information on urushiol poisoning, see Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. ...
Toxicodendron pubescens (Atlantic Poison-oak), one of a large number of species containing urushiol irritants. ...
Taxonomy Poison ivy is subject to frequent taxonomic reclassification and confusion; it is currently divided into eastern and western species in the Toxicodendron genus. At least six distinct subspecies of Toxicodendron radicans are recognized. Complicating identification and taxonomy are the fact that the species (even a particular subspecies) can be highly variable in growth habit and leaf appearance. Binomial name Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small ex Rydb. ...
Species See text. ...
Habitat and range Found normally in wooded areas, especially along edge areas, poison ivy grows vigorously throughout much of North America, including all Canadian provinces (but not the territories) and all U.S. states except Alaska. It also grows in exposed rocky areas and in open fields and disturbed areas. The plants can grow as a shrub up to about 1.2 meters (4 ft) tall, as a groundcover 10–25 centimeters (4–10 in) high, or as a climbing vine on various supports. Older vines on substantial supports send out lateral branches that may at first be mistaken for tree limbs. North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ...
Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ...
Groundcover is any plant used for the purpose of growing over an area of ground to hide it or to protect it from erosion or drought. ...
Poison ivy is more common now than when Europeans first entered North America. Real estate development adjacent to wild, undeveloped land has created "edge effects", enabling poison ivy to form vast, lush colonies in such places. It is listed as a noxious weed in the U.S. states of Minnesota and Michigan. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...
An edge effect is the effect of the juxtaposition of contrasting environments on an ecosystem. ...
This article is about unwanted plants. ...
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 states which have membership of the federation known as the United States of America (USA or U.S.). The separate state governments and the U.S. federal government share sovereignty. ...
Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area Ranked 12th - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 400 miles (645 km) - % water 8. ...
Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Largest metro area Metro Detroit Area Ranked 11th - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 491 miles (790 km) - % water 41. ...
Poison ivy rarely grows at altitudes above 1,500 meters (5,000 ft).
Effects on the body The reaction caused by poison ivy, urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, is an allergic reaction. Around 15%[1] to 30%[2] of people have no allergic response, but most if not all will become sensitized over time with repeated or more concentrated exposure to urushiol. Toxicodendron pubescens (Atlantic Poison-oak), one of a large number of species containing urushiol irritants. ...
An allergy is an abnormal, acquired sensitivity to a given substance, including pollen, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers. ...
For those who are affected by urushiol, it causes a very irritating rash. In extreme cases, corticosteroids can be needed to treat rashes and severe itching. The first symptom of contact is a severe itching of the skin that develops into reddish colored inflammation or non-colored bumps, and then blistering of the skin occurs. In severe cases, clear fluids ooze from open blistered sores. Once the urushiol poison has had contact with the skin, it is quickly bound to the skin. The poison can be washed off within a short time after contact, but once bound to the skin, it cannot be washed away. In physiology, corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. ...
For the packaging type, see Blister pack. ...
The oozing fluids released by itching blisters do not spread the poison. The appearance of a spreading rash indicates that some areas received more of the poison and reacted sooner than other areas. The blisters and oozing result from blood vessels that develop gaps and leak fluid through the skin; if the skin is cooled, the vessels constrict and leak less. If poison ivy is burned and the smoke then inhaled, this rash will appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty. If poison ivy is eaten, the digestive tract, airway, kidneys or other organs can be damaged.
Understanding why new lesions may develop for two weeks (studied on forearm) after one exposure was made clear by a Univ of Miami scientist: larger amounts have earliest onset and largest reaction, smallest produce a delayed reaction. The overall severity 'progresses' with the combined active lesions. Therefore, the last new lesion should occur at two weeks after last exposure, the total rash (untreated) may go on for 3-4 weeks.
Urushiol oil can remain active for several years, so handling dead leaves or vines can cause a reaction. In addition, oil transferred from the plant to other objects (such as pet fur) can cause the rash if it comes into contact with the skin.[3]
People who are sensitive to poison-ivy can also experience a similar rash from mangoes; the skin of mangoes has a chemical compound similar to urushiol. [4]
Similar reactions have been reported occasionally from contact with the related aromatic sumac or Japanese lacquer tree.
Characteristic appearance The leaves are ternate with three almond-shaped leaflets. The berries (actually drupes) are a grayish-white color and are a favorite winter food of some birds. Hence the mnemonic, Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Binomial name (Mill. ...
A leaflet in botany is a part of a compound leaf. ...
This article is about the fruit. ...
The peach is a typical drupe (stone fruit) In botany, a drupe is a type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp or skin and mesocarp or flesh) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. ...
Not to be confused with pneumonic. ...
"Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, danger in sight." Another version is: "Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, poisonous sight." The color ranges from light green (usually the younger leaves) to dark green (mature leaves), turning bright red in fall. The leaflets are 3-12 cm long, rarely up to 30 cm. Each leaflet has a few or no teeth along its edge, and the leaf surface is smooth. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...
 Box Elder on the left, poison ivy on the right
 Poison ivy vine with typical reddish "hairs" Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2059x1847, 218 KB) photo by John Knouse, May 2005 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2059x1847, 218 KB) photo by John Knouse, May 2005 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...
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Confusion with other plants - Boxelder (Acer negundo) saplings can look almost indistinguishable from poison ivy. While box elder trees often have five or seven leaflets, three leaflets are also common. The two can be differentiated by the fact that poison ivy has alternate leaves, while the boxelder has opposite leaves; in other words, by observing where the leaf stalk (the "branch" the three leaflets are attached to) meets the main branch. Another leaf stalk directly on the opposite side is characteristic of Box elder. If the three-leaflet leaves alternate along the main branch, it may be poison ivy.
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vines can look like poison ivy. The younger leaves can consist of three leaflets but have a few more serrations along the leaf edge, and the leaf surface is somewhat wrinkled. Most Virginia creeper leaves have five leaflets, however. Virginia creeper and poison ivy very often grow together, even on the same tree.
- Western Poison-oak leaflets also come in threes on the end of a stem, but each leaflet is shaped somewhat like an oak leaf. Western Poison-oak only grows in the western United States and Canada, although many people will refer to poison ivy as poison-oak. This is because poison ivy will grow in either the ivy-like form or the brushy oak-like form depending on the moisture and brightness of its environment. The ivy form likes shady areas with only a little sun, tends to climb the trunks of trees, and can spread rapidly along the ground.
- Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a non-toxic edible vine that scrambles extensively over lower vegetation or grows high into trees. Kudzu is an invasive species in the southern United States. Like poison ivy it has three leaflets, but the leaflets are bigger than those of poison ivy and are pubescent underneath with hairy margins.
- Blackberry and raspberry vines bear a passing resemblance to poison ivy, with which may share territory. The chief difference between blackberry vines and poison ivy is that blackberry vines have spines on them, whereas poison ivy is smooth. Also, the three-leaflet pattern of blackberry vine leaves changes as the plant grows: the two bottom leaves both split into two leaves, for a total of five in a cluster. They have many teeth along the leaf edge, and the top surface of their leaves is very wrinkled where the veins are, and the bottom of the leaves is light minty - greenish white, while poison ivy is all green. The stem and vine of poison ivy are brown and woody, while blackberry stems are green with thorns.
- The thick vines of grape, with no rootlets visible, differ from the vines of poison ivy, which have so many rootlets that the stem going up a tree looks furry.
Binominal name Acer negundo Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo), also known as Ash-leaved Maple or (confusingly) Boxelder, is a species of maple, which occurs throughout most of North America. ...
Binomial name Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a woody vine native to the East Coast of the United States and Canada. ...
Binomial name Toxicodendron diversilobum (Torr. ...
Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus (from Latin oak tree), and some related genera, notably Cyclobalanopsis and Lithocarpus. ...
Binomial name Toxicodendron vernix Kuntze Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a woody shrub growing to 3 m tall. ...
Binomial name Kuntze Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a woody shrub or small tree growing to 7 m (20 ft) tall. ...
For other uses, see Kudzu (disambiguation). ...
Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ...
The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services. ...
Cultivated raspberries The raspberry (plural, raspberries) is the edible fruit of a number of species of the genus Rubus. ...
Binomial name Vitis riparia Vitis riparia Michx, also commonly known as River Bank Grape or Frost Grape, is a native American climbing or trailing vine, widely distributed from Quebec to Texas, and Montana to New England. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 2 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Velocicaptor I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 2 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Velocicaptor I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...
Use in homeopathy Extremely dilute forms of Rhus toxicodendrom are used in homeopathic medicine, most often as a remedy for musculoskeletal complaints with progressive stiffness that worsens with cold, wet, or inactivity and improves with motion, warmth, and use. The patient may have a red tip of the tongue or a red triangle on the tongue, herpetic outbreaks, and itchiness that improves with very hot water.[5] Homeopathy (also spelled homœopathy or homoeopathy), from the Greek words homoios (similar) and pathos (suffering), is a controversial system of alternative medicine involving the use of remedies without chemically active ingredients. ...
The human musculoskeletal system is the musculoskeletal system that gives us the ability to move. ...
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There are numerous historical accounts of North American natives' use of the sap from R. toxicodendron to cure warts (see immunomodulators).[6] A wart is generally a small, rough tumor, typically on hands and feet, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. ...
An immunomodulator is a drug used for its effect on the immune system: drugs may be immunosuppressants or immunostimulators. ...
Treatment For a discussion of prevention and treatment options, see the -
Toxicodendron pubescens (Atlantic Poison-oak), one of a large number of species containing urushiol irritants. ...
See also Binomial name Toxicodendron diversilobum Western poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum or, previously, Rhus diversiloba) is found only on the Pacific Coast of the United States and of Canada. ...
Binomial name Toxicodendron vernix Kuntze Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a woody shrub growing to 3 m tall. ...
References - ^ http://science.howstuffworks.com/poison-ivy.htm
- ^ http://mic-ro.com/plants/
- ^ http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/Poison_IvyOakSumac.htm
- ^ Mangos and Poison Ivy (New England Journal of Medicine Web Article)
- ^ Morrsion, MD, Roger (1993). Desktop guide to keynotes and comfirmatory symptoms. Grass Valley, CA: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing, 323-327.
- ^ Plants for a Future.
http://www.cwss-scm.ca/Weeds/cashew.html Poison ivy, western poison-oak, and poison sumac.
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