Photos of Toxicodendron radicans, (syn. Rhus radicans), Poison Ivy.

Toxicodendron radicans, (syn. Rhus radicans), Poison Ivy. Highly variable in form and habit, poison ivy is the best–known of all poisonous plants in North America. Fifty percent of the population is allergic to the plant, which causes, painful, irritating contact dermatitis in about two million people each year. All plant parts (especially the sap) contain irritant, non-volatile, phenolic substances referred to as urushiol or toxicodendrol. Found in resin canals, the oily mixture is released when the plant is bruised, even slightly. The toxins can bind to skin proteins, resulting in the typical reaction many people experience.

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