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The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 12 2024 6:09 am
by Pivo
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a plant that almost everyone reviles.
It has been labeled as noxious, pestilent and repulsive — a plant to be avoided. Despite its bad reputation for causing human misery, poison ivy is a native species of important ecological value. Found throughout continental North America, it is amazingly tough and adaptable.
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/garde ... c%2Fnature
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 12 2024 8:10 am
by big_load
Forests in my area are rife with poison ivy, but for over 35 years it's been fairly easy to keep it out of my yard. That's suddenly no longer true. Proliferation due to bird activity is causing it to pop up all over. On a positive note, the same is true for raspberries.
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 12 2024 8:17 am
by Jim
@big_load
I noticed the same around here. It was around, but not everywhere here 20 to 28 years ago. Now, it seems to be everywhere and people have huge vines of it going up their trees mixed in with their planted vines. It also forms huge trees on old dead trees. Massive leaves practically oozing the toxic oils, too.
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 12 2024 9:30 am
by chumley
@Pivo Mature plants produce small yellowish flowers in late spring that are pollinated by many insects.
Probably mosquitoes and chiggers.
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 12 2024 9:41 am
by big_load
Jim_H wrote: ↑Jul 12 2024 8:17 am
@big_load
I noticed the same around here. It was around, but not everywhere here 20 to 28 years ago. Now, it seems to be everywhere and people have huge vines of it going up their trees mixed in with their planted vines. It also forms huge trees on old dead trees. Massive leaves practically oozing the toxic oils, too.
Yeah, there's a lot like that around here. I killed a bunch on the edges of my yard about 30 years ago and never had more than one or two pioneers every couple years thereafter. Now it's popping up everywhere.
Re: The good, the bad and the ugly of poison ivy
Posted: Jul 15 2024 2:57 pm
by chumley
I'm not sure if this article is behind a paywall or not, but those who are allergic can build up an immunity to it as long as the following sentence doesn't cause dry heaves and convulsions.
“you’re going to absolutely get very bad pumpkin port dermatitis.”
It is a quite fascinating case study to read about.
https://www.wsj.com/style/eat-poison-iv ... y-3207ec3c