Plants of Texas: Poison Sumac
The poison sumac (Toxicodenron vermix Kuntze) plant, found primarily in the eastern United States, is extremely poisonous to humans. Poison sumac plants grow in swamps, bogs, depressions and other wetlands. Other habitats where poison sumac plants are found include acidic pine woods and shady hardwood forests in Texas. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Warning
-
Poison sumac and other species within the Toxicodenron family have a severe poison that causes inflammation, swelling and itching when skin comes into contact with it. All parts of the plant contain this poison, including the stems. Poison sumac plants have reddish stems, which are their main identifying feature. However, as they age, these stems may turn light gray.
Solution
-
If you believe you’ve come into contact with poison sumac, wash your skin with hot water and strong soap as quickly as possible, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
-
Characteristics
-
In the fall, poison sumac plants have brilliant orange and red leaves, according to the University of Florida. Small berries ripen in September and last on the plants until the following spring.
Considerations
-
Poison sumac is significantly more poisonous than poison ivy, according to the University of Florida. When sap comes in contact with skin, it usually dries and is spread to other parts of the body by the hands.
Size
-
Poison sumac plants grow between 5 and 10 feet tall. Leaves range from 2 to 4 inches in length and are 1 to 2 inches wide. The fruit of this plant is small, only 1/4 inch in diameter.
Pets
-
Poison sumac is non-toxic to cats, non-toxic to dogs and non-toxic to horses, according to the American Society for Protection against Animal Cruelty. However, if sap from a poison sumac plant gets on a dog’s fur and you pet the dog, you can get an allergic reaction from the poison sumac sap.
Taxonomy
-
The poison sumac plant belongs to the Plantae kingdom, Tracheobionta subkingdom, Spermatophyta superdivision, Magniolophyta division, Magnioliopsida class, Rosidae subclass, Sapindales order and the Anarcardiaceae family.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sumac image by Valeriy82 from Fotolia.com
