Poison Ivy

The word “urushiol” comes from the Japanese word for lacquer.

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Leaves and stems. From Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington, D. C. n.d.

fl.9944.65.dr

Overview

Poison Ivy is a plant in the family Anacardiaceae. The name is sometimes spelled "Poison-ivy" in an attempt to indicate that the plant is not a true Ivy (Hedera). It is a woody vine that is well known for its ability to produce urushiol, a skin irritant that causes an itching rash for most people, technically known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. Formerly common only in the Southern United States, poison-ivy is now becoming increasingly prevalent in the North. Kudzu is also seeing a similar geographic extension of its naturally occurring habitat.

“Urushiol” comes from the Japanese word for lacquer.