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Submitted by: Donna M
Date Submitted: 5/31/2003
Location: Central NH
Question Asked: Thank you so much for your site! This is the best site I've come across for trying to identify poison ivy. I got this plant growing all over my shaded, oak, maple, pine, hemlock, near a pond, yard. Last year I took pictures and asked around, "Is this poison ivy?"...The answers I got were "I don't think so"..well I'd like to know for sure! Today I started pulling it up with heavy gloves on, but am still suspicious of the plant. It grows on trailers from a spread-out root system, and stands sometimes a foot tall. I haven't seen any berries, but being springtime in Central NH I thought it might be early for berries, yet. What confuses me is the three-leave like, small-jagged edges, and the young plants look very glossy, reddish color (unless that is also something totally different). If this isn't poison ivy, what characteristics of the plant determine that? If these pictures aren't sufficient, let me know and I'll try to take larger/better ones, as I'd like to get to the bottom of this since I have so much of it growing on my half acre lot! Thank you, Donna
Answer: Hi Donna,
I'm in the "I don't think so" camp as well. The leaves are whorled on the stem (clear to see in the second picture). This means that the 3 leaves (each with multiple leaflets) originate in the same spot (arranged in a circle about a single node). Poison ivy is alternate - each leaf starts at a different spot and on alternating sides of the vine. As to exactly what this is - I'm not sure. My field guides refer to things like leaf scars for identification which I'm not able to see here. Also, a little more info on the trailers (how long, are there tendrils, rootlets, etc.) would help. If you'd like to know what this is, contact me via the Feedback form link below and we can chat about more info on the plant. |
