Poison Sumac ( Toxicodendron vernix ) is a fellow member of the cashew nut family and is related to envenom Hedera helix and poisonous substance oak . Although all three of these plants are commonly seen in Georgia , the poison shumac plant is more prominently found in the Eastern part of the United States . It is also more preponderating in the South .

Description

Poison sumac grows as a little tree or large bush and has nine to 13 leaflets that originate on a reddened rachis ( stem that connects the leaflets ) . It produces small , greenish - white flowers that are followed by white yield that often last through the wintertime . In downfall , the dark-green foliage turn to brilliant nicety of red , orangish and even cherry - purple . All portion of poison sumac are considered poisonous .

Locations In Georgia

The United States Department of Agriculture ’s ( USDA ) Plant Database lists 18 counties in the land of Georgia that have support observation of poison shumac . This datum does not account for population that have not been documented . Counties with support observations let in : Ben Hill , Bulloch , Charlton , Clarke , Cook , Grady , Gwinett , Habersham , Hall , Harris , Jackson , Lanier , Lowndes , Terrell , Tift , Wayne and Worth .

Symptoms

hypersensitive reaction from poison sumac are due to the plant ’s oil which is called , urushiol . Possible symptom can include , rash , itchiness , redness , red streak , hive , or bulla . Symptoms typically come along eight to 48 hours after the hide has come into inter-group communication with the flora ; however , in some cases it can also take up to 15 days for these symptoms to look .

Treatment

Areas of the peel that have number into contact with poison sumac should at once be washed . Since the oil has to be absorbed through the skin for the rash to go on , washing the hide can sometimes help keep a rash from appear . All particular of clothing that have come into contact with the industrial plant should also be lave the right way forth . If it is too late and a rash seem , antihistamines and calamine lotion may facilitate to subside the itching and serve to excuse other symptoms .

False Poison Sumac

put on poisonous substance sumac ( Rhus michauxii ) or Michaux ’s sumach is a bush that closely resembles poison sumac , however , it is not poisonous . False poisonous substance sumac is an endangered plant . There are only two known populations in the Department of State of Georgia . A hard effort of reintroduction of this industrial plant is currently under agency at Fort Bragg in North Carolina , as well as historic sites in Georgia .

References

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