Poisonous Plants

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Poisonous Plants
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Irritants - Poisonous Plants
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Urushiol Oil

• Urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol) Main constituent of
  the irritant oil in plants of the Genus
  Toxicodendron. A mixture of several compounds
  which are derivatives of hydrocarbons in the C15
  to C17 range.

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Rash

• Caused by Urushiol oil
• Found in the sap
• Colorless or pale yellow
• Turns brownish-black after exposure to air.
• Oozes from any cut or crushed part of the plant,
  including the roots, stems and leaves
• Oil penetrates within minutes and binds with skin
  proteins
• Rash appears within 12-48 hours
• 2-3 weeks to heal

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Poison IvyGenus Toxicodendron

• Types
• Woody, ropelike vine
• Trailing shrub on the ground
• Free-standing shrub
• Normally Three Leaflets
• Can vary from groups of three to nine.
• White Berries.

3 Leaflets
Waxy Cuticle
White Berries
Ropelike Vine
Berries
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Poison Ivy

• Range (climbing vine)
• East
• Midwest
• South
• Range (shrub)
• Northern States
• Western States
• Canada

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Identifying Poison Ivy

• Leaflets
• Usually three
• Red early spring
• Shiny green later in spring
• Red or Orange in Autumn
• Center leaf stem is longer
• Bottom leaflets opposite each other
• Usually has notched edges
• White berries close to stem, base of leaflets

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Identifying Poison Ivy
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Poison Oak

• Changes appearance every season
• Oak like leaves
• Three Leaflets
• Opposite lower leaflets
• Longer stem central leaflet
• Leaflets with smooth hair underneath
• White flowers
• White berries

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Poison Oak

• Eastern variety
• Southeast
• Low shrub
• Western variety
• Pacific Coast
• 6-foot-tall clumps
• Vines up to 30 feet long

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Poison Oak

• Leaves of three, leave them be..

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Poison Oak - Seasons
Early Spring
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Anytime
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Poison Oak Shrubs and Vines
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Poison Sumac

• Most common in
• Peat bogs of Northern US
• Swampy Southern Regions
• Rangy shrub up to 15 feet tall.
• 7 to 13 smooth-edged leaflets.
• Glossy pale yellow or cream-colored berries.

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Identifying Poison Sumac
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Prevention

• Prevention is the best treatment!!!
• Long pants, long sleeves
• Boots and Gloves
• Barrier Creams may offer some protection (e.g.,
  Ivy Block) before exposure
• Wash immediately (within 5 minutes) with cold
  running water (stream, lake, hose)

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Prevention

• Within the first 30 minutes, soap and water
  helpful, after that.
• Clean clothes, shoes, tools, etc. Oil can last
  on surfaces for 1-5 years!
• If working at a specific location where poison
  ivy/oak/sumac is present
• Wear Modified Level D (gloves, tyveks, boot
  covers, etc.)
• Treat plant as if it is a chemical contamination
  (decon)

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Treatment

• Over the counter
• Prescription
• Home Remedies

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Nettles - StingersGenus Urtica

• Found in waste places and moist thickets, North
  America.
• Stems and leaves armed with hollow hairs
• Brittle
• Gland-tipped
• Easily broken
• If injected, liquid produces burning sensation
• Inject chemical mixture containing
• Histamine
• Acetocholine
• 5-hydrotryptamine
• Formic Acid