The geography, climate and elevation in cottage country Ontario is the perfect breeding grounds for Poison Ivy. Yes, that's right folks Poison Ivy exists in this beautiful Canadian nook but you needn't fear the infamous 'leaves of three' and retreat indoors. It's far more important that you are become aware it's existence then take the necessary precautions. Your knowledge of local plant life in most cases is enough however if you, your children or pets tend to wander off the beaten track you need to know more.
Poison Ivy (see Wiki for indepth info) is a plant belonging to the Anacardiaceae family or the Cashew / Sumac family of flowering plants that bear fruits known as Drupes (fruits with a soft fleshy exterior and a hard pit center such as the plum and peach. In some cases, the Anacardiaceae plants produce an irritant known as Urushiol (an oily organic allergen) or Toxicodendron found in flowering plants and woody trees, shrubs and vines like Poison Oak, Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac.
Poison Ivy grows along the edges of wooded areas, roadways and pathways, on and around exposed rocks and open fields hidden amongst the tall grasses or tucked near dappled shade. It can also be found in the forest undergrowths but is not shade tolerant and does rely on sunshine to thrive. Previously rooted up, natural areas such as subdivisions and real estate developments are commonly found to have Poison Ivy.
This itchy nightmare can grow in the form of a shrub (about 4' tall), as a groundcover (4 - 10" tall) or as a climbing vine and despite it's awful side effects is only known as a noxious weed. It grows in thick, lush colonies along roadsides, pathways, in long grasses and sometimes dappled shade and sadly is extremely hearty and durable making it very difficult to get rid of.
When seeking out your next hiking trail or afternoon picnic be sure to search the area first, before trudging through what could be a Poison Ivy colony. Look down! Search for plants with leaves of three, that are almond shaped and typically redish in colour depending upon the time of year. The plant's berries (drupes) are whitish grey in colour. Poison Ivy is decidous, meaning the leaves tend to change colour throughout their lifespan. They can be redish orange in the spring, then switch to a light or dark green in the summer and back again to yellow, orange and bright red in the late summer through early fall. The leaves also have a tendency to droop.
How to Spot Poison Ivy...
Look down! There aren't many plants on or near the ground that have the following attributes.
a) have three almond shaped leaves that are usually smooth, shiney and have minimal jagged edges
b) that change colours as the season progresses (much like a Maple tree does)
c) and has foliage that looks sad (drooping down, as though it's depressed)
d) growing in groups or clusters
Symptoms of Poison Ivy...
When you've got a case of Poison Ivy you are having an allergic reaction caused by contact with Urushiol. When this agent makes contact with your skin it causes severe itching that develops into inflammed red skin along with red and/or non-coloured bumps that then morph into clear, molten blisters. You can treat the lesions with Calamine Lotion or oatmeal and baking soda baths but absolutely do not scratch the itch! If you've come in contact with Poisin Ivy, I'd suggest you visit the doctor with anything beyond a slight case.
If you think you've come in contact with Poison Ivy you need to immediately cleanse the exposed area/s with rubbing alcohol, rinse thoroughly with water then have a warm shower with both soap and water (using soap immediately can spread oils around on the skin, use alcohol first). Oils could cause irritation within 10 minutes of contact and it will also remain on your clothing and your pets. Once you are cleaned up, put gloves on and wipe down everything else that has come in contact such as shoes, socks, pants, tools etc. Keep in mind that the rash itself isn't contagious, it's the oils that have been transferred from the leaves that causes the rash. The symptoms of Poison Ivy can last anywhere from 1 - 4 weeks or longer depending upon the severity, in some cases hospitilization is necessary.
- Do not burn clusters of Poison Ivy in an attempt to rid the area. If the smoke in inhaled into the lungs a rash could appear on the inner lining of your lungs which is extrememly painful and potentially deadly.
- Do not eat Poison Ivy for any reason, it can damage your entire digestive tract, airway, kidneys and other organs used to digest.
Personally...
I've had two, non severe cases of Poison Ivy which luckily stayed contained to my hands and of course occured 'accidently' ;) while collecting rocks for my gardens (and yes, ooops I also knew what it looked like). My symptoms were just a few tiny, raised yet partially clear bumps on my skin that went totally unnoticed by me. It was my spouse who spotted them and alerted me as to what he thought it was. Considering he's an avid bushman, I took his word for it and popped a couple of allergy pills as he suggested. The bumps never did itch nor break open, they just vanished. Two other people that I know, one a local man and the other a visitor, both had extreme cases of Poison Ivy. And yes, they too were aware of it's existence in the area. Sadly though, these two souls both sat in Poison Ivy while relieving themselves in the great outdoors. I understand that sometimes you just gotta go, but watch where you're stooping! That has got to be the utmost of cruel places to be adorned with Poison Ivy!! Both of these gentlemen visited the doctor and the hospital regularily for the next month and were extremely uncomfortable the entire time. Well, you'd think one would learn after a lesson such as that but our local boy just had stumble across it again and you guessed, de ja vu!! OMG once, but twice geez as a female, I'm sooo so lucky... and that's all I can say about that!
Keep these 'old' sayings in mind when venturing outdoors...
- Leaves of three, let it be.
- Hairy vine, no friend of mine.
- Raggy rope, don't be a dope! (the climber's)
- One, two, three? Don't touch me.
- Berries white, run in fright!
- Longer middle stem, stay away from them.
- Red leaflets in the spring, it's a dangerous thing.
Whenever you spend time living life, it's always best to be prepared for accidents. Wether on a road trip, at the cottage or just playing at home having a first aid kit that contains a minimal amount of medicinal goodies for minor injuries, scratches, scrapes and in this case rashes, is imperative.
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