North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

Anacardiaceae > Toxicodendron

"Leaves of three, let it be" is a common warning for poison ivy. Variable in appearance, leaflets may be lobed or unlobed, shiny or dull, light green or dark green!

All parts of the plant produce the chemical "urushiol", which produces a very itchy rash in many people. Poison Ivy grows along the ground as well as climbs up trees.

Clusters of pale flowers appear in the spring with fruits developing in the fall. The berries are devoured by birds, helping to disperse this plant widely.

Flower detail.

"Hairy" vines with branches and leaves along tree trunks are a common sight.

In the fall, Poison Ivy leaves turn bright colors as the leaf chlorophyll breaks down.

Poison Ivy in the crown of a palm tree

Roots are covered with small rootlets, creating a hairy appearance.

Recent studies at Duke Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Research Site show that Poison Ivy produces significantly more growth under conditions of higher atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Considering that CO2 is rising in the Earth's atmosphere faster than it ever has, that's just swell.

Very similar to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak grows in sandy habitats, is more hairy, and has hairs structured differently than Poison Ivy. It produces the same skin irritant, urushiol.

With unripe fruit.

Distinguished in part by being a shrub and never a vine, having leaves nearly as wide as long, and entirely lacking aerial roots (amonth other characters).

Reported from North Carolina but there is doubt about the validity of its occurrence here. Widespread across North America except in the southeast.

Small tree with grayish bark and usually dark red rachis supporting the leaflets of the compound leaves.

The allergic reaction to Poison Sumac is reported to be even worse than for Poison Ivy, although it is the same chemical (urushiol) that causes the reaction.

Clusters of white flowers appear in May and fruits develop in the early fall.