West 11 Street Park

Tour Stop 7: Poison Ivy

                                        

 

 Hear Wireless Wilderness Audio for:  Stop #7

 

"Leaves of three, let it be."    That old saying sums up the most recognizable thing about poison ivy: its three leaflets.  The middle leaflet is a little larger than the other two, but each measures 2 to 4 inches in length. The smooth leaves are a glossy or dull green, changing color to red in autumn.

 

Poison ivy can grow as a low, non-woody plant, an upright 3-foot-tall shrub, or a woody vine like the one you see here that attaches to a tree trunk and winds its way upward. Don’t touch this vine but do examine it. You will see that there are aerial roots on all sides of the vine, making it look like a fuzzy rope.  These aerial roots distinguish the poison ivy vine from some of the other common vines that you will see at West 11th Street Park. The beautiful orange-flowered trumpet vine also has anchoring aerial roots, but only on one side, the side where they are needed next to the tree. These aerial roots are only for support of the vine, and do not generally damage the supporting tree.

   

During summer, poison ivy produces white berries that are enthusiastically eaten by birds, including the Downy Woodpecker. Birds don’t seem to be affected by the toxins in the plant. 

 

All parts of poison ivy are toxic to humans. In addition to “Leaves of three, let it be,” you should also remember: “Hairy rope, don’t be a dope,” and “Berries white, take flight.” The rash that can result being exposed to poison ivy is no fun. 

We spray poison ivy plants along the forest trails with herbicide, but it usually shows up again somewhere else. It’s easy to avoid if you learn to recognize it.

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To view: Tour Map

To learn more about:  Poison Ivy

Hear Wireless Wilderness Audio for:  Stop #7

 

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