Three Of These Plants Are Poisonous!
WHICH IS WHICH?
First, take the check test at the right.
If the test indicates that you cannot identify at
least 2 of the 3 poisonous plants shown, your
chances of plant poisoning are high. Although
there are many varieties of poisonous plants, there
are 3 which possess the basic characteristics found
in most sub-types—poison ivy, poison oak and
poison sumac. Learn to identify them and pre
vent possible plant poisoning.
POISON IVY. Generally grows as climbing
vine in wooded regions, or as running vine along
fences, or in fields. May also take form of low
growing shrub. Leaves are always composed of 3
leaflets. Only one 3-parted leaf extends from each
node on plant stem, never occurring paired. Leaf
lets may have either even or lobed (indentations
part way down the leaflet) margins. Flowers,
when produced, appear in clusters on side of stem,
directly above a leaf. Berry-like fruits, if produced,
afford a positive identification, being white and
waxy in appearance.
POISON OAK. Usually found in shrub form,
occasionally in vine form, in same type areas
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POISON IVY ()()()()()()
POISON OAK ()()()()()()
POISON SUMAC ()()()()()()
favorable to poison ivy. Three leaflets, with much
irregularity of lobing. Leaflet surface usually un
even and quite glossy. Greenish-white flowers ap
pear in clusters. Fruit may appear as greenish or
creamy-white berries.
POISON SUMAC. Form of small tree or shrub,
usually found on edges of swamps or bogs. Leaves
are composed of 7 to 13 unlobed leaflets, ar
ranged in pairs. Leaves are orange in spring,
green in summer and red-orange in fall. Flowers
are yellowish-green, hanging in long clusters.
Fruits resemble those of poison oak and ivy, but
hang in long clusters, from 10 to 12 inches long.
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