DC Comics OCT160335 Designer Series Bombshells Poison Ivy Action Figure

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Figure 2. Poison oak looks similar to poison ivy, but the teeth along the edges of the leaflets are more rounded, leaves often are not as shiny, and the form is more shrub-like (photo by John Byrd, bugwood.org). Mohan J, Ziska L, Clark JS. Biomass and toxicity responses of poison ivy to CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006; 103:9086–9089. [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Eating the plants can cause severe internal irritation, and inhaling particles of urushiol released by burning poison ivy, oak, or sumac can cause swelling of the respiratory passages, which can even result in death. These cases require specific and immediate medical treatment. Control Caution! Even at this stage take care as poisoning may be brought about by handling the dead plants. These herbicides are usually most effective if applied anytime from when the foliage is fully developed until the plants begin to go dormant, usually from about June 15 to July 31. Some regrowth of the weed may occur after it has been treated. Therefore, examine the area periodically and the repeat treatment as often as any regrowth appears. In this manner, poison-ivy can often be eliminated from an area.

Figure 1. Poison ivy leaves have three leaflets. Leaflets have scattered, jagged teeth along the edges and may have a larger tooth or lobe close to the bottom edge of the leaflet, giving it a mitten-like shape. There is often a red spot where the bottom two leaflets join together.Sideshow presents the Poison Ivy Premium Format™ Figure, an irresistible, exclusive DC Comics collectiblethat’s sure to ensnare your senses.

Although the leaflets are somewhat oval, they vary greatly in shape and size. Their margins vary from perfectly smooth ( Figure 3A) to finely or coarsely toothed ( Figure 3D), to deeply and irregularly lobed ( Figure 3E). Undersides of the leaflets may be finely hairy all over, or just along the veins and veinlets, or may be virtually without hairs. Petrides GA. Vol. 1986. New York(New York): Houghton Mifflin; A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. p. 130. [ Google Scholar] Touching any of the three poisonous species may result in a red, swollen, and painful rash of itchy blisters. Rashes can occur in patches or in streaks and lines.Figure 7. Virginia creeper vines are generally less “hairy” than poison ivy vines. There are some short rootlets. Note the clasping rootlets that have what look like small suction cups at the tips. History. Poison ivy is neither poisonous nor a true member of the Ivy family (Hedera). Instead, it is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, which also includes pistachios, cashews, and mangoes. All members of the Anacardiaceae family contain various forms of pentadecylcatechols within their sap, which is collectively termed urushiol, an oleoresin released from the injured leaves, stems, vines, or berries of these plants. 7 Nancy Loewenstein, Extension Specialist, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University; Amber C. Dunn, former 4-H Regional Extension Agent; and Mark D. Smith, Professor, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University. However, all of the herbicides which kill poison-ivy may also kill or damage other plants growing nearby. If poison-ivy is growing among perennial ornamentals, in a hedge, or entwined about a favorite tree, one must resort to cutting and digging to destroy it. Wear gloves and other protection while cutting and grubbing. Take care also to prevent other persons from being inadvertently contaminated by the tools, the roots, stems and leaves, or by the smoke if the material is burned (see section on Harmful Effects). Templeton D. Climate change is making poison ivy bigger and badder. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2013/07/22/Climate-change-is-making-poison-ivy-grow-bigger-and-badder/stories/201307220149 22 Jul 2013. Pittsburg Post Gazette. Accessed 22 Sep 2020.

About 85 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, the oily compound responsible for the skin reaction. Urushiol is found in all parts of these plants. Simply touching the leaves may expose you to the oil, and additional oil is released when plant parts are crushed or damaged. The oil resists breakdown and may cling to clothing, tools, and pet fur for long periods of time, even a year or more. Exposure to the oil on these secondary sources can also cause an allergic reaction. Curtisa G, Lewis AC. Treatment of severe poison ivy: a randomized, controlled trial of long- versus short-course oral prednisone. J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):429–434. [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar]

Distribution in Ontario

Poison ivy’s original classification, Toxicodendron radicans (T. radicans), was first established by the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in the 17th century. Later, Carl Linnaeus, considered the “Father of Taxonomy,” classified poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac under the Rhus genus in 1737. 8 However, by the 18th century, 27 species of Rhus had been identified, with numerous variations, creating the need to better clarify the taxonomic designations of plants falling into the Rhus genus. Thus, the genus Toxicodendron, which means “poison tree,” was reprised for what we know today as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, with radicans and rydbergii being the most common species. Poison oak ( T. diversilobum) is more common in western United States, and poison sumac ( T. vernix) is primarily confined to marshy areas of eastearn and southeastern United States, but numerous types of Toxicodendron plants can be found in temperate climates all over the world. 7

Poison-ivy is a woody perennial. It may grow as dwarf, shrubby plants only a few centimetres high and carpeting the ground ( Figure 1), or as upright plants 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) high, or the vine-like form may twine around trees, shrubs and posts, and reach a considerable distance above the ground. These vines often develop root-like structures which act as attachments, but apparently do not damage the living plants to which they cling. Figure 3. Poison ivy vines, ranging in size from the thin new one on the right to the large hairy ones on the left. Note that the new stems are not as hairy. (Photo by Amber C. Marable)

Look-alikes

The increased atmospheric CO2 level caused by global warming not only promotes the growth of these plants (poison ivy and related plants thrive off of CO 2), but also cause the plants to produce more potent forms of urushiol. The number of these plants is expected to double again when atmospheric CO 2 levels, now at 410ppm, the highest in three million years, reach 560ppm. 3 , 16 hog-peanut and ground nut are vines with alternate leaves (like poison-ivy) but with clusters of small whitish to purplish or brownish flowers like those of the sweet pea. Over-the-counter treatments for symptoms of poison ivy include external analgesics, such as benzocaine, pramoxine, and benzyl alcohol; protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, calamine (a combination of zinc oxide, ferric oxide, mixed with phenol and calcium hydroxide), baking soda, and colloidal oatmeal; aluminum acetate (an astringent); hydrocortisone; Burow solution (an aqueous solution of aluminium triacetate); and oral diphenhydramine. 1 , 9 It is not advised to apply topical antihistamines (e.g., topical diphenhydramine) to the rash due to its potential to worsen the symptoms. 7 Unfortunately, while many of these OTC treatments might assist in drying out the weeping, oozing blisters associated with poison ivy, they often do not provide sufficient relief, especially in severe cases. 1 , 9 , 13 While there is no entirely satisfactory treatment for TCD other than the “tincture of time,” longer-course glucocorticoid therapy, such as triamcinolone or prednisone, has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms associated with TCD. 8 Short courses of low-dose methylprednisolone (so-called “dose paks”) are too brief and too weak to offer effective relief. Glucocorticoids should be administered using a 2- to 3-week taper starting with 60mg daily (preferably taken in the morning with food to avoid gastritis) for five days that is reduced to 40mg daily for five days and then down to 20mg daily for five days. 9 , 8 Contraindications for glucocorticoids include concurrent infection, peptic ulcer disease, poorly controlled hypertension, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. 9 Dementia can also be made worse with systemic steroids (so-called “steroid psychosis”). 9 Less serious side effects of systemic glucocorticoids include an increase in appetite, retention of fluid (edema), irritability, and insomnia. Adrenal suppression associated with prolonged systemic steroid use is rarely a problem when using a 2- to 3-week course of glucocorticoid therapy for poison ivy. 9 Prevalence. Prevalance of poison ivy has doubled since 1960, and its potency is rapidly increasing, making this rash a common complaint in dermatology offices. Several factors contribute to this increase in prevalence: