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Kids with rhus dermatitis, caused by exposure to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, can be miserable. Even with treatment, they can expect several days or weeks, of itching.
And since most people are sensitive to, and have a reaction when exposed to poison oak and these other plants, avoiding them is important. But to avoid them, unless you plan on never going outside, you have to learn what they looks like.
To avoid these plants, in addition to the basic 'leaves of three, let it be', you should look for these characteristics of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac:
Poison Oak Identification
- grows in the eastern United States (from New Jersey to Texas) as a low shrub and in the west (along the Pacific coast) as 6-foot-tall clumps or vines up to 30 feet long
- oak-like leaves, usually in clusters of three
- can have clusters of yellow berries
Poison Oak Photos
This photo of poison oak can help you identify and avoid this plant:
Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South National Technical Center, Fort Worth, TX.
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