Canyon Country Plants
Forests and Plains: Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
This page contains basic information on Poison Ivy and Poison Oak and what to do in case on contact.
Poison Ivy
Scientific Name: Toxicodendron radicans
This plant can cause an irritating rash if it is touched. Avoid this vine at all costs.Not everyone is allergic to poison ivy, but its reaction can be very uncomfortable. Learn to recognize this plant and wear long sleeves and pants when hiking in wooded areas or along streams.
Poison Oak
Scientific Name: Toxicodendron diversilobum
Leaves of three, let them be: good advice for this rash-inducing plant common below 5,000 feet west of the Sierra and Cascade Range crests. A cousin of poison ivy, which is more common in the Great Basin and Rockies.
Photos
Notes
- The main photo on this page was taken in one of the moist canyons on the Colorado Plateau in Utah. The drawing of Poison Oak was borrowed from an Internet site.
- The best defense against both plants: cover up on the trail; don't touch; and rinse off well after hiking.
Related Sites
Remember to bookmark this site before you venture off down these side trails. They lead to other Web sites that we do not control. We cannot vouch for the content on, nor do we endorse, these sites. The following links are intended to assist you in your quest for further related information. If you discover a broken link, or a link with inappropriate content, or know of a link that should be listed here, please let us know.
|
More Outside Links |
||
