Poisonous Plants

Some residents may be concerned about poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, in the woodlands and along the trails. Firstly, if you stay on the trails, your chance of accidentally touching any type of plant is small. The trails are clear of vegetation and are generally wide enough to keep you away from vegetation on the sides. Secondly, practically all the poison ivy plants alongside the trails have been killed by spraying them with a solution of saltwater and dish soap, and, during my daily walks, I snip any separate plants I see growing, so your chance of contacting any poison ivy is practically zero as long as you stay on the trails. You are not afraid to drive your car on highways at high speeds while passing within inches of other cars coming from the opposite direction at the same speed. If you are not afraid of dying in a car accident every time you drive, then don’t be afraid to walk in the woods.

The following is some information about poison ivy and other contact poison plants in this area of the state and how to identify them.

North Carolina has over 600 different species of poisonous plants that have the potential to be dangerous to animals and humans. However, for this article, the discussion will be limited to the five plants that are poisonous to the touch.

The first three types of poisonous plants are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, which produce an oily substance called urushiol. The last two types of poisonous plants use different substances.

URUSHIOL

Urushiol is an oily irritant produced by certain plants that is released when a leaf or other plant part is bruised, damaged, or burned. When the oil gets on the skin an allergic reaction, referred to as contact dermatitis, occurs in most exposed people as an itchy red rash with bumps or blisters. When exposed to 50 micrograms of urushiol, an amount that is less than one grain of table salt, 80 to 90 percent of adults will develop a rash. First comes itching, then a red rash, and then blisters. Typically, it takes 1-2 days for the rash to appear, and 2-3 weeks for it to subside.

Urushiol must make contact with the skin to cause a reaction, it is not blown around by the wind. The rash caused by the urushiol is not contagious, however, if the oily area on the skin is scratched, it can spread the rash. Once the urushiol is washed away with soap and water or alcohol. there can be no more spread, to yourself or others; there is no urushiol in the blisters. If an urushiol plant is burned, the smoke particles may carry urushiol molecules on them, which can cause a problem if it is breathed or if it contacts the skin or eyes.

Poison Ivy

Technically, there are two types of poison ivy: eastern poison ivy and western poison ivy. It grows all over most of the United States, except for Alaska, Hawaii, and California. Poison ivy thrives on “disturbed ground,” so it can grow just about anywhere in North Carolina. It grows in the Salemtowne woodlands and possibly other areas around the campus.

Poison ivy starts as a single or double stem and may grow into a vine (eastern variety) or a small shrub (western variety). It grows as three glossy leaves on one stem, with one leaf at the end of the stem and a leaf on both sides of the center leaf, forming a triangular shape. The leaves are oval-shaped and come to a point at the end. The edges of the leaves may have a smooth or sawtooth appearance or they may be slotted.

The key for the identification of poison ivy is that it only three leaves and they are at the end of a stem. If the plant in question looks like poison ivy but the stem has two smaller leaves just below the three upper leaves, it is Virginia Creeper, which is not harmful to touch. Remember: Three leaves bad – five leaves good.

Poison ivy leaves are typically green in the spring and summer but can become red during the fall. During certain seasons, the plants may have yellow-green flowers or gray-white berries.

Poison Oak

Like poison ivy, there are two types of poison oak: western poison oak and Atlantic poison oak. The plant grows in the same types of habitats as poison ivy but is only found in the southeastern quarter of the United States and in the states that border the Pacific Ocean. It grows as a low shrub in the Eastern and Southern United States, and in tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific Coast. In North Carolina, poison oak is often found on the coastal plain.

Poison oak grows as a low shrub in the Eastern and Southern United States, and in tall clumps or long vines on the Pacific Coast. Its fuzzy green leaves grow in clusters of three on one stem and have lobed or deeply toothed edges with rounded tips. The leaves resemble those of the oak tree, hence the name poison oak.

The color of poison oak leaves can range from copper to green to red, and the plant will sometimes grow green or tan berries. I am not aware of any poison oak on Salemtowne property. If anyone sees any near the trails, please email me.

Poison Sumac

Poison sumac grows as a tall shrub or small tree in bogs or swamps in the Northeast, Midwest, and parts of the Southeast. It is not nearly as common in North Carolina as poison ivy or poison oak; it’s typically found in wet, low-lying habitats, such as swamps.

Each reddish-brown stem always comes in clusters of odd numbers, typically 7-13 leaves at a time. There is a single leaf at the end of each stem, with the other leaves arranged in pairs down the sides of the stem. The leaves are orange in spring, green in summer, and yellow, orange, or red in fall. The plants may have yellow-greenish flowers and grey or white berries during some seasons. I am not aware of any poison sumac on Salemtowne property. If anyone sees any near the trails, please email me.

Stinging Nettles

Also known as the common nettle, the stinging nettle is an herbaceous perennial found throughout the southeastern United States. They are common in North Carolina, found most often in shady areas or fields where there is plenty of moisture. I am not aware of any stinging nettles on Salemtowne property. If anyone sees any near the trails, please email me.

Stinging nettles are typically thin and tall, standing between 2-4 feet on average, and can be covered with chains of tiny, green-white flowers. The leaves have a jagged appearance that resembles mint. The bottoms of the leaves are covered in small hairs that are hollow and are filled with both formic acid and histamine. When these chemicals contact the skin, a common result is a painful, burning itch that can last for several hours; contact may also cause the skin to become red and blistered.

Wild Parsnips

Wild parsnips can be found in most areas of the United States, except for Hawaii and the Deep South. Being a resilient plant, it can survive in a wide variety of habitats, both wet and dry.

Wild parsnips can grow to between four and five feet tall. Its stalks are long and hollow with deep grooves and tiny hairs. At the end of each stalk are clusters of tiny yellow-white flowers, bunched together in a rosette shape.

Wild parsnips contain sap filled with furanocoumarin. This irritant causes the victim to suffer a chemical burn, not an allergic reaction. The burn results in severe blistering, redness, and pain. Wild parsnips can also cause the skin to be irritated by sun exposure for several years after contact. I am not aware of any wild parsnips on Salemtowne property. If anyone sees any near the trails, please email me.