Hairy Rope, Don't Be a Dope

Leaves of three, let it be.
Hairy rope, don't be a dope. || Hairy vine, no friend of mine.
Berries of white, run in fright. || Berries of white, danger in sight.

This Eastern Poison Ivy plant does an excellent job of demonstrating plant's hairy vine appearance. Leaves, vines, and berries of this plant all contain urushiol (YOO-roo-shee-awl), a durable chemical that usually causes an allergic reaction when it penetrates the skin.

If anything, this picture illustrates the hairiness too well; I frequently see thinner vines with far subtler degrees of hairiness.

We actually eat seeds of some Eastern Poison Ivy relatives: cashews, pistachios, and mangoes. They all have urushiol or a very similar skin-irritating chemical, though apparently not in the parts we eat.

September 26, 2022 at Washington Valley Park
Photo 248785401, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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