By: Sarena-Rae SantosContributor Write
Growing up in the late 90’s early 2000’s, I played outside, A LOT! I loved exploring the woods, playing in the dirt, and nature. I loved finding mushrooms and bringing them to school to show my science teachers and trying to figure out what was growing in my backyard.
Unfortunately, no one ever taught me what plants to be careful around.
So of course every summer I got the worst possible case of poison ivy, oak or sumac. I usually got it at the end of the summer, and when September rolled around and school started again, the school nurse would always send me home until the rash went away. One year it was so bad that the rash appeared near my eyes, mouth and genitals; it was terrifying to say the least.
Today I want to share some tips about plants to be careful to save children from the misfortune that I have always suffered.
#1 Poison Hemlock
I don’t think I’ve ever come across poison hemlock, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know about it. Poison hemlock has been found along roadsides, edges of cultivated fields, in riverbeds and irrigation ditches, and in waste areas. Poison hemlock is toxic and can poison pets and humans when consumed, even in small amounts (1:)
Unlike the other plants in this article, poison hemlock is usually safe to touch. Those with sensitive skin may experience dermatitis. In rare cases, helo poisoning can occur after toxins enter the bloodstream through a cut, eyes, or nose. Hemlock poisoning usually occurs minutes to hours after ingestion, and symptoms can range from vomiting to seizures to respiratory failure and even death.2:)
Furthermore, poison hemlock can be mistaken for wild carrot, parsnip or parsnip. Poison hemlock can be identified by its bright green leaves that look like ferns and have serrated edges. When crushed, the leaves have a strong, musty odor. Poison hemlock stems are hairless and hollow with reddish or purple spots and stripes. Small, white umbrella-shaped flower clusters are often attached to the ends of the stems (3:)
#2 Poison Ivy
Who heard the phrase? “Tuesday leaves, let it be” grow up Maybe my parents missed the memo because I didn’t hear the phrase until much later in life, but I sure wish I had heard it sooner.
Poison ivy is found throughout the United States, except for Alaska, Hawaii, and parts of the West Coast. Poison ivy can grow as a vine or small shrub that trails along the ground or climbs low plants, trees, and poles (4:)
Contact with poison ivy can cause a rash due to an allergic reaction to the urushiol resin. Reactions to poison ivy usually occur within 12-48 hours of exposure. A poison ivy rash usually appears in a straight line with accompanying symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling, and blisters. If you inhale smoke from a burning poison ivy plant, you may have difficulty breathing (5:00) Not everyone is allergic to poison ivy, so not everyone reacts to its effects.
Contrary to popular belief, poison ivy does not spread and is not contagious. The rash only occurs where the plant’s oil has touched the skin, so a poison ivy patient cannot spread it over the body by scratching.
Furthermore, poison ivy can be confused with aromatic sumac (skunkbush), Virginia creeper, and boxelder (6:00) Poison ivy can be identified by its compound leaves with three leaflets with smooth or coarsely toothed edges. All leaflets have their own stems and their surface can be shiny or dull. The middle leaflet is attached to a much longer stem, while the two on the side are much shorter (7:00)
#3 Poison Oak
Poison oak is very similar to poison ivy and the same rules apply. let there be leaves of three. Poison oak grows as a low shrub in the eastern and southern United States and as tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific coast (4:)
Like poison ivy, contact with poison oak can cause a rash due to an allergic reaction to the urushiol resin. Again, not everyone is allergic to poison oak, so not everyone reacts to contact exposure. Reactions to poison oak are the same as poison ivy and usually occur within 12-48 hours of exposure. Common symptoms of poison ivy rash include redness, itching, swelling, and blisters, usually in a straight line. If you inhale smoke from a burning poison ivy plant, you may have difficulty breathing (5:00,8 o’clock)
Like poison ivy, poison oak does not spread and is not contagious. A rash will only occur where the plant oil has touched the skin, so a person with a rash cannot spread it by scratching.
Furthermore, poison oak, like poison ivy, can be confused with aromatic sumac (skunkbush), Virginia creeper, and boxelder (9:00) Poison oak can be identified by its dull green compound leaves with three leaflets that are more lobed or toothed than poison ivy. Poison oak leaflets have their own stems, but unlike poison ivy, they have hairs on both sides and rounded ends. Like poison ivy, the middle leaf is attached to a much longer stem (but shorter than poison ivy), while the two on the side are much shorter. In addition, poison oak may have grayish-white fruits that are unsafe for consumption (10:00)
#4 Cool Sumac
Poison sumac is found primarily in the eastern United States. It tends to grow in wet areas such as swamps. Contact with poison sumac can cause a rash due to an allergic reaction to the urushiol resin. Not everyone is allergic to poison sumac, so not everyone reacts to exposure (11:00)
Reactions to poison sumac are the same as poison ivy and oak and usually occur within 12-48 hours of exposure. Common symptoms of poison sumac rash include redness, itching, swelling, and blisters, usually in a straight line. If you inhale smoke from a burning poison ivy plant, you may have difficulty breathing (5:00,8 o’clock,11:00)
Furthermore, poison sumac can be confused with smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), horned sumac (Rhus typhina) and dwarf sumac (Rhus copallinum).12:00) Poison sumac can be identified by its leaves, which grow in clusters of 7 to 13 oval leaflets. Poison sumac leaves have smooth edges and are attached to red stems. The bark of the plant is smooth and gray. Poison sumac grows as a shrub or small tree with yellow-green flowers that bloom into shiny, drooping pale-yellow or cream-colored berries (13:00)
Prevention is the best way, so I recommend sprinkling some vinegar on these plants if you have them growing in your yard. If you come across any plants that cause topical reactions, I recommend checking out our blog, 6 natural remedies to have for summer, for some effective natural remedies (even anti-itch soap is mentioned).