Poison Ivy Description

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are allergic skin irritants due to the plants of the same name. All three plants secrete strong irritating oil known as urushiol that accounts to blistering and severe itching once it goes to the skin.
The allergic irritation of poison ivy, oak, and sumac is featured by red blisters and extreme itching. The rash usually is seen within one to two days of first contact with the plant’s oil. Although it may take a longer time to be seen in areas where the skin is thicker, it may last from one to three weeks or longer in extreme cases. It begins as itchy, inflamed red patches or streaks, and as the oil enters into the skin.
Poison ivy rash cannot be communicated from person to person by contact with the rash or fluid from that the blisters and scratching does not spread the rash (although it can cause scarring and potential infection). Only urushiol oil can cause the rash.

Poison ivy is best known for its leafage, but it’s best to begin with the growth shape of the plant. It is a short, straight, woody stems that are 10 – 30 cm high shrub, from which grows a few leaves. The woody, aboveground stem of the plant emerges only a cm or two annually. The plant has a below the ground, woody rootstock that crawls along, distributing to make a patch. Most patches are in just one plant that is spreading underground.
What we only see as are just one leaf segregated into three leaflets. Each stem makes one to several segregated leaves each year. Each leave has a long stalk that sticks the leaf to the stem and the leaf is divided down to the main vein, so it appears like three separate leaves. The leaflets which may be 3 up to 10 cm long, are coarsely touched towards the base and smooth near the end. The veins within each leaflet are clearly shown. During spring, the young leaves may be seen as bright green and glossy, but the color may blanch and the leaf surface become waxy at the end of season. The leaves usually give lovely fall-form in the autumn. They may become yellow to bright red, depending on the location they are generating and the weather conditions annually.
The flowers of poison ivy are in short panicles with branching thorns that start from where the leaf attaches the stem. There may be 10 or more flowers on each panicle. They bloom in middle months of the year. Each flower’s size is about 3-5 mm in diameter, and is greenish-yellow in color. The size, color and even location of the flowers which are under the leaves make them hard to see most of the time when we are outdoors doing something. It grows around lakes and streams in the Midwest and East. Keen observation on the plants we see outdoors and having the knowledge on the appearance and effect on us will prevent us from being harmed.