• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Universe / Why Is Poison Ivy Poisonous?

Why Is Poison Ivy Poisonous?

May 19, 2020 by Karen Hill

Poison ivy is a vine that straggles over the ground or winds itself around tree trunks, or even forms its own bush if it has nothing to wind itself around.

The poison ivy leaf is made up of three leaflets. These leaflets contain poisonous oil that irritates the skin of anyone touching them. This oil can stick to clothing as well and irritate the skin that rubs against the clothing.

Poison ivy is contagious only if the oil on a person’s skin comes in contact with another person’s skin. After the oil touches the skin, itching and reddening develop, and blisters form. Sometimes this oil can be washed away with soap and water before it penetrates the skin, and the disease can be avoided. However, if the reddening and blisters do develop, they can be eased with calamine lotion, Epsom salts, or bicarbonate of soda.

The best treatment, however, is prevention, and knowing how to recognize and avoid poison ivy can accomplish this.

Poison ivy leaves are red in early spring and a shiny green in late spring and summer. In the fall, they turn red or orange. Small bunches of green flowers grow on the stem in the summer, and later in the season small yellow-white berries form.

Related Facts

  • How Does Ivy Destroy the Mortar Between Bricks Chemically and Physically and How Old is Ivy League Ivy?
  • Is Poison Ivy a Member of the Regular Ivy Plant Family and what is the Difference?
  • What Makes Poison Ivy Poisonous and How Does Urushiol Irritate the Skin and Cause an Itchy Rash?
  • Where does the term "Ivy League" come from and What does Ivy League mean?
  • Is Poison Ivy the Only Dangerous Plant?
  • How is Poison Ivy Beneficial to Anyone besides being the Incessant Pest to Gardeners, Hikers, and Children?

Filed Under: Universe

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Are There Plants That Eat Animals?
Next Post: Is Poison Ivy the Only Dangerous Plant? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy