Page 41 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 41
son Ivy
(Toxicodendron radicans)
Description Poison Ivy sap causes an itchy and
painful allergic skin reaction in most
This perennial, deciduous woody vine people upon contact. If you have
can grow along the ground and up trees been in an area with Poison Ivy,
and buildings. Leaves are alternate and wash your skin with cold water and
compound. Leaf shape, texture and color soap as soon as possible to remove
vary, but leaves are always comprised of any oil. Once the oil is washed off,
three leaflets. Each leaflet cluster grows Poison Ivy cannot be spread by
on its own stem. Tiny yellowish-white touching the rash. If you are one
flowers are produced May to July, of the lucky few (approximately 15
and become dull white berries in percent of people) who do not “get”
the fall. It reproduces by seed and Poison Ivy, you should still avoid
rhizomes. contact with this plant. Each time
you touch it you may become more
Distribution and Habitat sensitive to it.
It is found in all five physiographic
provinces. Poison Ivy thrives in
partial shade to full sun and can
tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
It is commonly found growing along
the edge of the forest, fence rows,
roads and other areas disturbed
by human activity. It can grow up
trees and buildings, as well as along
the ground.
Role in Food Web
The berries are a food source for
many bird species including Wild
Turkeys, Common Crows, American
Robins, Carolina Chickadees and
Eastern Bluebirds, and mammals such
as Raccoons, White-tailed Deer and
Eastern Cottontail Rabbits.
r 37 r
(Toxicodendron radicans)
Description Poison Ivy sap causes an itchy and
painful allergic skin reaction in most
This perennial, deciduous woody vine people upon contact. If you have
can grow along the ground and up trees been in an area with Poison Ivy,
and buildings. Leaves are alternate and wash your skin with cold water and
compound. Leaf shape, texture and color soap as soon as possible to remove
vary, but leaves are always comprised of any oil. Once the oil is washed off,
three leaflets. Each leaflet cluster grows Poison Ivy cannot be spread by
on its own stem. Tiny yellowish-white touching the rash. If you are one
flowers are produced May to July, of the lucky few (approximately 15
and become dull white berries in percent of people) who do not “get”
the fall. It reproduces by seed and Poison Ivy, you should still avoid
rhizomes. contact with this plant. Each time
you touch it you may become more
Distribution and Habitat sensitive to it.
It is found in all five physiographic
provinces. Poison Ivy thrives in
partial shade to full sun and can
tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
It is commonly found growing along
the edge of the forest, fence rows,
roads and other areas disturbed
by human activity. It can grow up
trees and buildings, as well as along
the ground.
Role in Food Web
The berries are a food source for
many bird species including Wild
Turkeys, Common Crows, American
Robins, Carolina Chickadees and
Eastern Bluebirds, and mammals such
as Raccoons, White-tailed Deer and
Eastern Cottontail Rabbits.
r 37 r
