Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Characteristics of a Plant
• Part 2 of 3: Identifying Poison Ivy and Oak Accurately on Expeditions and Other Locations
• Part 3 of 3: Additional Points to Watch Out for
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Poison ivy (Rhus radicans), mostly found in North America. A similar plant, poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), mainly found in northwestern and northeastern America. Both plants contain urushiol oil, which is allergic to nearly half of the United States population. The oil is transmitted by touching or inhaling smoke when such a plant is on fire. By learning to recognize this plant, you can avoid encountering it.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Characteristics of a Plant

1. 1 Find a plant. Poison ivy and oak can be found everywhere–– forests, fields, your own garden, wastelands. It all depends on where you live. These plants are especially fond of growing along fences and stone walls, they like to grow in secluded corners of forests, fields, and also in sunny places.
   • Poison ivy is a climbing plant that can grow as a bush or as a single plant. If the plant has sprouted in a mountainous area, it will often twine around other plants. If a plant has sprouted near a tree or fence, it will encircle itself and grow into a hedge through which it is not so easy to get through.
2. 2 "Have you seen the triple leaves? Do not touch them! "Or" "One two three? Put your hands away" ", these sayings appeared because these plants have three leaves at the end of a long stem. You can recognize a plant by leaves by the following signs:
   • The leaves grow in groups of three on a long stem.
   • The leaves are wide, two lateral leaves are smaller than the average leaf.
     
     
   • The central leaf often (almost always) has a small stem from which two lateral leaves grow, which, in turn, do not have a small stem.
   • When viewed from above, the leaves can be bright or dark, soft green. When viewed from the bottom of the sheet, they are lighter and more blurred. In the spring, the leaves are usually bright green, and in the fall they turn red (poison ivy) or bright red or orange (poison oak).
     
     
   • Although the foxes of these plants usually shine, you should not rely on this alone. Do not pay attention to the shine, especially if it has been raining recently.
   • "Climbing vine, not my friend.", And a few more sayings:
     • "Long and medium stems; stay away from them." - the central leaves have a long stem, while the leaves on the sides of the stem are practically nonexistent.
     • "Rough stem, don't let yourself be drugged!" Poison ivy trees and bushes are rough and slightly fluffy.
     • "White berries, run without looking back" and "White berries outside, dangerous inside"
     • "Red leaves are dangerous in spring." - young leaves in spring sometimes red. Later, in summer, the leaves turn green, and by autumn they can turn red-orange.
     • "The leaves with a boxing glove sting like devils." This means that some poison ivy leaves are shaped so that the two side leaves have a notch that makes them look like a "finger" boxing glove. (Attention: the whole plant is itchy, not just the leaves.)
3. 3 Look at the berries. If the plant has berries, then the following signs will tell you that it is ivy:
   • Both plants have translucent berries.
   • Poison oak berries are usually fleecy
   • Poison ivy berries are white or creamy
   • The berries remain on the plants all winter and spring.
4. 4 Remember that even when Poison Ivy or Oak changes color, they are still Poisonous. Although the color changes, the leaves still contain urushiol oil.

Part 2 of 3: Identifying Poison Ivy and Oak Accurately on Expeditions and Other Locations

1. 1 Take a close look at the stem before touching or walking through the bushes. If poison ivy grows as a bush, it can grow on top of other plants. If ivy grows like this, then a bunch of small processes of a poisonous plant leave the stem. If you need to go through the bushes or walk nearby, always look at what grows in them.
2. 2 Stay alert even during the winter months. In winter, the leaves fall from the poisonous oak tree and all you can see are bare branches. It can cause rashes too. If you don't know what kind of plant it is, don't touch it!

Part 3 of 3: Additional Points to Watch Out for

1. 1 Note that poison oak can be easily confused with other plants. Some plants have the same triple leaves, but this is not a poison oak. They may have pointed leaves (holly or mahonia) or thorns on their stems (blackberries).
   • If you see a plant that is similar in all descriptions, but there is still something like pointed leaves, most likely it is not poison ivy. Along the edges of poison ivy leaves, between the leaf needles, there are many slightly curved, chaotically scattered needles.
2. 2 Don't assume a plant is safe for humans just because other animals can eat it. These plants are not poisonous to everyone. Deer and other animals are happy to eat poison ivy. Don't be silly into thinking that a plant is not dangerous just because animals eat it.

Tips

• Teach children while walking to avoid touching plants that they do not know. This is how you should behave in nature. This is especially important in winter, when there are no leaves to identify.
• If you are allergic to these plants, learn to recognize them. An acute attack of an allergic reaction can seriously harm your health. Until you can immediately recognize the plant, carry a photo of it with you.
• Carry Technu soap or other specialty soap with you and use it right away if it flares up.
• If the rash does go away, try to keep it in the air for as long as possible. Fresh air speeds up healing.
• After walking, gently rinse any exposed skin. Before touching your body with your hands, wash them first. Wash in warm water and soap. Regular bar soap won't help. You can use liquid dish detergent. To wash off poison ivy oil, apply detergent and rinse thoroughly.
• If you're into poison ivy, change your shoe laces. The oil can remain on the laces and continue to irritate.
• Within two, three days after possible contact, see if a rash has appeared. If it does appear, start treating it immediately. To do this, read How to Treat Poison Ivy and Oak Irritation.
• You may also become infected or have an allergic reaction from street cats.
• Watch your dog as you release it from the leash.Allergy to oil, poison ivy leaves, not only in humans. You may not notice this in the dog's skin, which is hidden under the coat: check its belly. Feed your dog carefully so that oil particles do not get on your skin. If you think your dog may have allergies, bathe it thoroughly. To avoid all of these problems, keep your dog on a leash when walking through the woods or thickets. Just like you do when walking your dog in a public place. It will be polite to other people!
• These plants can also be found in Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Warnings

• Never burn poison ivy to get rid of it. The oil on the leaves will burn, you inhale the smoke, and chances are it will enter your throat and lungs, making breathing painful and difficult.
• Poison ivy can get confused with wild grapes, so never walk through wild grapes just like that, or the consequences can be serious. Keep in mind that it is very easy to confuse poison ivy with wild grapes. Even though wild grapes cinquefoil, it is still easy to confuse it with poison ivy.

What do you need

• a photograph or picture that you will carry with you to recognize the plant. You can easily store photos on your smartphone or other device.
• When walking in nature, hiking or climbing, first aid for a rash from contact with poisonous plants is very important.
• Degreasing agent, such as dishwashing detergent or poisonous plant soap (not regular soap)