Leaves of three, let it be?

[dodge man]

I think that second pic is poison ivy also. Like you have figured out, it can look a lot different depending mostly on the size of the leaves. The leaves can get as big or bigger than your hand. The larger it is, the harder it is to see the leaves of three. I figure I've had poison ivy as many as 100 times. Most of those times have been very minor but I've had a few bad cases, luckily not in the eyes badly.

 

[KTurner]

I was told that the center leaf has a stem the other 2 don't... I believe that is true for all the poison ivy/oak... that is what I use and so far no ichy

I was hoping this would work, but it doesn't narrow things down any more than leaves of three (for my test cases). I went outside this weekend and took a few pictures. These are all plants within 100 ft of my house that I already knew about. I'm sure there are others around.

first pic / plant_a - I'm pretty sure this is the only poison ivy in these pictures. Some leaves have teeth and some do not. They are different sizes. The middle leave has a stem while the other two do not.
second pic / plant_b - Not positive what this is - possibly hog peanut or some type of ticktrefoil/desmodium. The leaves are the same shape as some of the ones in plant_a. It too has stems on the middle leaves, but not the other leaves.
third pic / plant_c - blackberry or raspberry. but it fits the 'leaves of three', and the middle leave has a stem while the other two do not.
fourth pic / plant_d - ticktrefoil/desmodium. again, leaves of three and the middle leave has a stem while the other two do not.

To me, its obvious that c and d are not poison ivy, just because I've been around them. b? not so obvious and I'm still not 100% certain. I did see some flowers once and they did "appear" to come from this plant, and they were not like poison ivy flowers. However, I would have had to walk through 5 ft of the stuff to get to the flower to make sure it was from the three leaved plant and not some other plant. Might as well just rub a leaf on my arm and wait an hour to see what happens.

Keith

 

[Inspector507]

I'm pretty sure picture A is the only poison ivy in the bunch.

 

[JRobyn]

Yup

- Jay

 

[JamesHW]

No OTC treatment works as well once you start to blister.

Wanted to point out a new OTC product, Zanfel which I discovered this recently. Made of microscopic plastic beads which you vigorously rub into the blistering skin. Helps with the itching (blessed relief) and speeds the healing process. Expensive though, but when I was suffering blisters on my arm earlier this year, this stuff was the only thing that helped (did not go to doc). There is a less expensive version of the stuff, Mean Green Scrub which has a lot of the same properties as the Zanfel. I have both and use the Mean Green first for cleaning skin and follow up with the Zanfel for actual exposure.

Fels Naptha soap can be used to wash skin as well as can be added to laundry to clean the bad oils off clothing,

 

[teg]

Growing up a friend said "this isn't poison ivy", rubbed it on his chest... come to find out a few days later, yes it was!!! You can try that trick to find out which one is!

 

[hosspuller]

One factor I use to determine poison Ivy is the red spot at the junction of the three leaves. In Kturners set of pics, Only #1 has the red spot.

Anybody have a pic of poison ivy, oak or sumac without the red spot?

 

[PhysAssist]

Yup

- Jay

I agree with both Jay and the inspector from hard won personal experience.

But, to my eyes, EVERYTHING, (not just the circled part) is Poison Something (ivy,oak, sumac) and I don't really care which it is, because they all act the same and the reaction crosses over from any one to any other.

We always recommend Technu if you know you have been exposed (and can wash within 30-120 minutes), Zanfel, once you get the rash, especially if it is just one or a fewsmall spots (so you don't have to bathe in it), topical (cream or ointment on skin) if not responding to Zanfel, or oral steroids (chiefly prednisone) for 12-14 days if the rash is:

A) Generalizing or spreading widely enough to affect large areas of skin.
B) Involving the face/eyes, genitals, or hands.
C) Compromising breathing or other vital functions.

It really needs to be a longer course than the 5 or 7-day "Medrol Dose-Pack" because if the course of steroids doesn't last the minimum 10-14 days that it takes for your body to calm down cpmpletely, it is very common for it to rebound severely.

BTW, we never give people the often-requested "Shot of Cortisone", because the oral medicine works just as quickly, lasts longer, and has less risk.

We also regularly recommend Zyrtec (Cetirizine) along with the steroid because it stops the itch and returns normality to life long before the steroids can do so.

Fiinally, if you really want a weed to be afraid of, take a look at this one:

Giant Hogweed - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Heracleum mantegazzianum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Giant hogweed: 8 facts you must know about the toxic plant - Photo 1 - Pictures - CBS News

'nuf said!
Thomas

 

[KTurner]

By the way, the reason I circled that one set of three leaves in the first picture is because of the shape and how close they are to the leaves in the second picture. Pretty sure that everything in that first pic is poison ivy. I just figure there has to be a way to positively identify poison ivy that is a little more specific than 'three leaves' and a little less painful than 'rub a piece on your arm'.

Keith

 

[breadtrk]

All of the above would have been sprayed here.