| Leaves of three, leave them be! Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans) is abundant
in forests of Middle Tennessee: a good reason to stay on the trail.
Usually this skin irritant can be found trailing up the trunks of
trees, but sometimes it grows up to two feet off the ground, like
an herb. A rash from contact can occur even in winter months. Some
people may not develop a rash for years or with repeated contact.
A widespread southern fallacy is that Poison Oak also resides in our
area. The mistaken plant is actually the five-leaved vine, Virginia
creeper (Partenocissus quinquefolia) and is not dangerous to touch. |
