Poison ivy is a harmful vine or shrub in
the cashew family. It grows plentifully in parts of the United States and southern Canada.
Poison ivy usually grows
as a vine twining on tree trunks or straggling over the ground. But the plant often forms upright bushes if it has
no support to climb upon.
Species related to poison ivy include poison oak, which grows in the Pacific Northwest and
nearby regions of Canada, and poison sumac, which grows in the Eastern United States. The most common
treatment for severe contact dermatitis is with corticosteroids, which diminish the immune
attack and resulting inflammation. A recent recommendation for mild cases is to use
manganese sulfate solution to reduce the itching. Jewel weed is also recommended.
Poison oak and poison sumac
both are shrubs. The tissues of all these plants contain a poisonous oil somewhat like carbolic acid. This oil is
extremely irritating to the skin. It may be brushed onto the clothing or skin of people coming in contact with the
plants. Many people have been poisoned merely by taking off their shoes after walking through poison ivy. People
can get poisoned from other people, but only if the oil remains on their skin. The eruptions themselves are not
a source of infection. Appearance - the leaves of poison ivy are red in early spring. Later in spring, they
change to shiny green. They turn yellow, red or orange in autumn. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets
more or less notched at the edges. Two of the leaflets form a pair on opposite sides of the leafstalk,
while the third stands by itself at the tip of the leafstalk. Small greenish flowers grow in bunches
attached to the main stem close to where each leaf joins it. Later in the season, clusters of poisonous,
berry-like drupes form. They are whitish, with a waxy look.
The appearance of each of these plants can vary considerably
from region to region, and with the seasons. Even dead plants
in underbrush can transmit the toxic oil to your skin.
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Poison ivy is a harmful vine or shrub in
the cashew family. It grows plentifully in parts of the United States and southern Canada.
Poison ivy usually grows
as a vine twining on tree trunks or straggling over the ground. But the plant often forms upright bushes if it has
no support to climb upon.
Species related to poison ivy include poison oak, which grows in the Pacific Northwest and
nearby regions of Canada, and poison sumac, which grows in the Eastern United States. The most common
treatment for severe contact dermatitis is with corticosteroids, which diminish the immune
attack and resulting inflammation. A recent recommendation for mild cases is to use
manganese sulfate solution to reduce the itching. Jewel weed is also recommended.
Poison oak and poison sumac
both are shrubs. The tissues of all these plants contain a poisonous oil somewhat like carbolic acid. This oil is
extremely irritating to the skin. It may be brushed onto the clothing or skin of people coming in contact with the
plants. Many people have been poisoned merely by taking off their shoes after walking through poison ivy. People
can get poisoned from other people, but only if the oil remains on their skin. The eruptions themselves are not
a source of infection. Appearance - the leaves of poison ivy are red in early spring. Later in spring, they
change to shiny green. They turn yellow, red or orange in autumn. Each leaf is made up of three leaflets
more or less notched at the edges. Two of the leaflets form a pair on opposite sides of the leafstalk,
while the third stands by itself at the tip of the leafstalk. Small greenish flowers grow in bunches
attached to the main stem close to where each leaf joins it. Later in the season, clusters of poisonous,
berry-like drupes form. They are whitish, with a waxy look.