Do You Know This Plant? A Horticultural PSA from All American Blogger

Do you know what this plant is?

This post has absolutely nothing to do with politics. Nothing.

But I want you all to know about this plant. This picture was taken on the north side of my property, an area that borders a wooded area. I hadn’t done my upkeep in this area, because frankly, it is outside the city limits and I never, ever go down there.

But about a week ago I did.

In shorts.

This is Poison Ivy.

It is a very nasty plant:

For those who are affected by urushiol, it causes a very irritating rash. In extreme cases, corticosteroids can be needed to treat rashes and severe itching. The first symptom of contact is a severe itching of the skin that develops into reddish colored inflammation or non-colored bumps, and then blistering of the skin occurs. In severe cases, clear fluids ooze from open blistered sores. Once the urushiol poison has had contact with the skin, it is quickly bound to the skin.

The oozing fluids released by itching blisters do not spread the poison. The appearance of a spreading rash indicates that some areas received more of the poison and reacted sooner than other areas. The blisters and oozing result from blood vessels that develop gaps and leak fluid through the skin; if the skin is cooled, the vessels constrict and leak less. If poison ivy is burned and the smoke then inhaled, this rash will appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty. If poison ivy is eaten, the digestive tract, airway, kidneys or other organs can be damaged.

There is a picture of what this plant can do to your skin if you are severely allergic to it. It is disgusting. I’m not kidding. If you have eaten anything that can be easily regurgitated, do not look at this picture.

Here is the Mother of All Skin Rashes.

I thought I had a bad case until I saw that picture. Now I feel kinda like a big baby. Here is the complete gallery from Poison Ivy.org.

Another really good site for poison ivy info is the Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Information Center. Their section on care and control of the itch lead me to “Extra Strength Benadryl Cream containing 2% Diphenhydromine Hydrochloride…” This stuff is a blessing. As the site says, look for 2% Diphenhydromine Hydrochloride. (As a funny aside, I can’t help but mumble “It puts the lotion on the skin” as I coat my legs in this stuff. I know…psycho.)

Ivarest is also a good product, but I need a lot and it comes in such a small tube. I have relied quite heavily on Calagel Maximum Stregth Anti-Itch Gel. This is some good stuff.

Anyway, I guess I just want you all to be aware of this evil plant. Yeah, I said evil. Know this plant and know these sayings:

• “Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, danger in sight.”
• “Leaves of three let it be; hairy vine, no friend of mine.”
• “Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, run in fright”

Run in fright? Take a look at the Mother of All Skin Rashs and tell me I’m being hysterical.