T.Atkins

Bad Plant

Poison sumac is in the phylum anthrophyta. Its scientific name is Toxicodendron vernix, commonly called poison sumac. It is often found in very wet areas of the eastern United States. It is a tree looking plant that can grow to be 30 feet tall. All parts of the plant contain a resin called urushiol that causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans. When burned, inhalation of the smoke may cause the rash to appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty. Poison Sumac is not very common. Really woody and it actually grows into a tree instead of a small plant or shrub like poison ivy and poison oak. The leaves of the plant are smooth. There are no hairs on the stems. 7-9 leaves per stem. This plant is very bad. It only takes 1 nanogram of oil from this plant to cause a rash, and the average human get 100 nanograms of oil every time they come in contact with the plant. All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the bark. Some people are not affected by the plant. According to some people, poison sumac is the most dangerous plant in the United States.

"Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron Vernix)." Home Duke University. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/tove.html.

Untitled Document. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://poison-sumac.org/.