Recognize, Prevent and Treat Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac

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Eastern poison oak (Toxicodendron toxicarium, also T. quercifolium).
Eastern poison oak (Toxicodendron toxicarium, also T. quercifolium).
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Poison ivy can be hard to recognize: not even botanists can agree on how many varieties there are.
Poison ivy can be hard to recognize: not even botanists can agree on how many varieties there are.
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Western poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum).
Western poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum).
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Western poison oak territory in the U.S.
Western poison oak territory in the U.S.
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Poison sumac (Toxicodendtron vermix).
Poison sumac (Toxicodendtron vermix).
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Poison sumac territory in the U.S.
Poison sumac territory in the U.S.
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Common poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
Common poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
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Eastern poison oak territory in the U.S.
Eastern poison oak territory in the U.S.
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Poison ivy territory in the U.S.
Poison ivy territory in the U.S.

Finally, you yank out the last few stubborn weeds–a bunch of vines with stringy roots–and stand to admire the new perennial bed you’ve just cleared along the edge of woods bordering your driveway. “Whew, it’s hot,” you think, wiping your brow. You rub your back, aching from hours of stooped-over labor, and massage a near-terminally kinked neck. Still, it feels good to have that work done; with the area grubbed out you can start planting tomorrow. Now for a nice cold drink and maybe a little nap.

You walk into the garage, toss your work gloves onto a bench and dust your shirt and pants off a bit before going upstairs. On your way to the refrigerator you stop off in the bathroom–nature calls. A few minutes later, frosty mug in hand, you settle back in an easy chair. Ahhhh. A half-hour later, you’re asleep.

Poor, miserable devil.

You don’t know it yet, but you’ve just joined at least 2 million other Americans who, in 1989, will become all too well acquainted with the power of poison ivy or one of its near relatives–poison oak and poison sumac. Sometime within the next six to 96 hours, you’re likely to find yourself agonized by an itching, watering rash on your back, neck, face, arms, legs and, um, elsewhere. If you’re lucky, the rash will heal after a week or two–or maybe three.

Recognizing Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

  • Published on May 1, 1989
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