Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

by Michael Kuo

Unfortunately for mushroom hunters, poison ivy and related plants are common and abundant in most areas. Contact with these plants can cause minor rashes or serious dermatitis--although some people seem not to be "allergic." Even these people, however, should learn how to recognize the plants and stay clear of them.

Look for the following features:

• Shiny leaves in groups of three.

• The two lateral leaves without a distinct stem.

• Leaves apple-green in spring, dark green in summer, red in fall.

• Notches on some leaves, creating a mitten-ish shape.

These features apply to Toxicodendron radicans, the most common and widely distributed of the poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants. For help identifying the other species, many of which are geographically restricted, see the links below.

Further Online Information:

The Toxicodendrons, by Bill Brooks

Everything You Wanted to Know about Poison Ivy, compiled by Ron Rushing

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2002, June). Poison ivy. MushroomExpert.Com. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/poison_ivy.html