"Poison Ivy" ...sometimes mistakenly called "Poison Oak"
Rhus radicans
Cashew family (Anacardiaceae)
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| Grows as a vine, often trailing up a large tree |
| Produces aerial roots |
| Each leaf composed of 3 leaflets that have smooth margins, or a few teeth |
| Distinguishing characteristic is that the terminal leaflet (middle one) has a long stalk supporting it (petiolule) |
| Leaves are alternately arranged on the stem |
| Blooms in June; flowers are greenish-white; white berries in fall |
| Same family as the sumacs |
| Occurs in every county in Kentucky and is on the rise due to its preference for disturbed areas and its dissemination of seed by birds |
| Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a cure for the dermititis caused by poison ivy.....rub it on the contaminated skin |
Comparing Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper vines
