Poison Sumac
Poison Sumac leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Anacardiaceae Genus: Toxicodendron Species: T. vernix
Binomial name
Toxicodendron vernix Kuntze

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a woody shrub growing to 3 m tall. All parts of the plant contain a toxic resin called urushiol that causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans. When burned, inhalation of the smoke causes diarrhea and other internal irritations. The leaves are pinnate, 25-50 cm long, with 7 - 13 leaflets; the leaflets are 4-10 cm long and sometimes mistaken for individual leaves. The veins from which the leaflets grow are always red. The fruit is a small white or grey berry, produced in panicles 10-20 cm long; this distinguishes it from other sumacs which have red berries. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x600, 62 KB) Summary Poison Sumac Source: Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1991. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Divisions Green algae Chlorophyta Charophyta Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta—liverworts Anthocerotophyta—hornworts Bryophyta—mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) †Rhyniophyta—rhyniophytes †Zosterophyllophyta—zosterophylls Lycopodiophyta—clubmosses †Trimerophytophyta—trimerophytes Pteridophyta—ferns and horsetails Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta—seed ferns Pinophyta—conifers Cycadophyta—cycads Ginkgophyta—ginkgo Gnetophyta—gnetae Magnoliophyta—flowering plants... It has been suggested that Angiospermae, and Anthophyta be merged into this article or section. ... 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. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Otto Carl Ernst Kuntze (* June 23, 1843 in Leipzig; † 1907 in San Remo) was a German botanist. ... Species See text. ... A broom shrub in flower A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 6 m tall. ... For information on urushiol poisoning, see Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. ... “Foliage” redirects here. ... A leaflet in botany is a part of a compound leaf. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... Several types of berries from the market. ... White-fruited Rowan (Sorbus glabrescens) corymb; note the branched structures holding the fruits. ... Species About 250 species; see text Rhus is a genus approximately 250 species of woody shrubs and small trees in the family Anacardiaceae. ...

Poison Sumac

Poison sumac grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs, in the eastern United States and Canada. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x900, 68 KB)Poison Sumac Drawing (Toxicodendron vernix) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x900, 68 KB)Poison Sumac Drawing (Toxicodendron vernix) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lütt-Witt Moor, a bog in Henstedt-Ulzburg in northern Germany. ...

In the U.S., it can grow as far west as Idaho, where it is found only in the southern part of the state. In the U.S., it is listed under the Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), as a "noxious weed". Most U.S. states list this plant in similar categories. It is considered one of the "U.S. Invasive Weeds" [1]. In terms of its potential to cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, poison sumac is far more virulent than its relatives poison ivy and poison oak. According to some botanists, poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is the most toxic plant species in the United States (Frankel, 1991). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 became U.S. Public Law 93-629 on January 3rd, 1975, and established a federal program to control the spread of noxious weeds. ... Toxicodendron pubescens (poison-oak), one of a large number of species containing urushiol irritants. ... Binomial name Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans or Rhus toxicodendron), in the family Anacardiaceae, is a woody vine that is well-known for its ability to produce urushiol, a skin irritant which for most people will cause an agonizing, itching rash. ... 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. ...

Avoidance, treatment, and safety

For specific information on prevention and treatment of Toxicodendron rashes, see Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.
Toxicodendron pubescens (poison-oak), one of a large number of species containing urushiol irritants. ...

References and external links

• Entry for "TOVE" on PLANTS Database, USDA.
• Wisconsin page for poison sumac.
• Poison ivy / oak / sumac in "The Medicinal Herb FAQ".
• The Poison Sumac Page Photos and facts about poison sumac.
• Poison Oak at Wayne's Word
• Toxicodendron Dermatitis: Identification, Immunologic Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
• Frankel, Edward, Ph.D. 1991. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac and Their Relatives; Pistachios, Mangoes and Cashews. The Boxwood Press. Pacific Grove, CA. (call #QK 495.A498 F73 1991). 98pages.