Martin Dies, Jr.

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park All About: Poison Ivy What does poison ivy look like? Poison ivy typically has 3 leaves that meet on a single red stem. When ripe, the berry is white. “Leaves of 3, let it be” The central leaf is symmetrical from the mid-vein line, whereas the outside leaves are mirror images. The vine has an extremely large amount of hair, allowing it to cling tightly. Poison ivy “If it’s hairy, it’s scary!” The leaves, stem, vine, hairs, seeds, and roots all contain urushiol (pronounced yr-oo-shee-aal), an oil that can cause a rash. How do I treat the rash? As soon as you realize you’ve come in contact with poison ivy, flush the area with large amounts of cold water and soap. The oil usually takes up to 5 to 15 minutes to bond with your skin, and can be effectively rinsed (but not rubbed) off. If there’s no water, rubbing alcohol can remove it. If a rash forms, very warm water seems to relieve itching and aid in drying out blisters. The park store sells products that are meant to reduce itchiness. Do we have poison oak and poison sumac here? Yes, but they’re very rare and difficult to find. Poison oak has 3 leaves similar to poison ivy, but the leaf is rounded. Poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves. Poison oak berries are green and sumac go from green to white as they mature. Poison sumac Poison oak Peppervine Paul Nelson Is this poison ivy? No, this is peppervine. This vine creates a small round hard berry resembling a peppercorn. The berries are dark blue to black and are poisonous. Is this poison ivy? No, this is Virginia creeper. This 5-leaf vine occasionally grows among poison ivy and may contain traces of the rash-producing oil. It has dark blue berries. I have poison ivy at my house. How can I get rid of it? Virginia creeper Wearing two layers of disposal gloves, place vines in trash bag, and dispose of them. Take a cold shower immediately after, and wash clothes as soon as possible. Remember to remove oil from shoes. Never burn poison ivy as this allows smoke to spread oil through the air.