Poison ivy is in the same family as mango and cashew nuts (Anacardiaceae), and incredibly common around here. You probably can't go more than a meter or two in the forest without seeing some. This is how it looks, if you don't know this plant, and some hard-core sceince facts:
" It's the world's most common allergy, affecting nearly half of all Americans. Each year, about 50 million people get a reaction from poison ivy, sumac and oak — including many people who aren't allergic to anything else.
The wicked itch and bothersome rash are the result of urushiol oil, a potent toxin. Get as little as one-billionth of a gram on your skin and you might be scratching yourself silly. "

Holy evilness of veggies, Batman!
ReplyDeleteI guess I was very lucky when I was crawling on the ground rubbing my face in the poison ivy leaves, without getting any rash.
How long will it last, do you think?
They say the rash last 3 weeks! And that new blisters will show up for 1-8 days after you get it on you. I am itchy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletePoor you!
ReplyDeleteI will be even more careful this time, last time I definitely took some risks, not being sure what it looked like and weeding all the flowerbeds!
It is getting bigger! The rash I mean!
ReplyDeleteTerrible - never heard of it! Do we have poison ivy in the Old World? Are there no medicines - antihistamins or something you can take to calm this itching?
ReplyDeleteOlle