Toxicodendron radicans
Family: Anacardiaceae
Plant Description: Deciduous vine or low shrub with trifoliate leaves, alternate. Leaflets ovate, variously toothed, lobed, or entire. Flowers in loose panicles, petals about 3 mm long, greenish yellow, axillary inflorescences. Fruits creamy or whiteish.
Field Identification: Caution should be taken any time one encounters a plant with large trifoliate leaves. Poison Ivy is notorious for having a variety of leaf shapes, as are other plants notorious for having look alike trifoliate leaves to Poison Ivy.
Plant Trivia: All parts of the plant are poisonous on contact. Leaflets usually turn red or white during Fall. Human sensitivity varies. It is best to avoid intentional contact. Fumes from burning are significantly dangerous.
Occurrence: Common in river and creek bottoms, occasionally in motts or coastal oak woods. In our area its southmost extent is San Patricio but may have been unintentionally spread to isolated areas such as Cameron County in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Bloom Period: April – May but can be year-round.
Plant Use:
Key to Genera if needed:
stxflora 