Is this poison ivy?

[jsfinn]

I see plants like this sprout up from time to time in my mulch beds - I just spray them with weed killer, and stay clear of them.

Well, I got curious today and figured I'd do a little research to figure out if this is poison ivy or not... I'm starting to think it's a box elder sapling.

Anyone have an opinion?

I took the picture with a camera phone the quality isn't that great - I can post a better picture later if it'll help.

 

[mike64]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

looks like oak leaves to me...could be plain old baby oak trees or could be poison oak...here's a pic i found online of poison oak from va
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&prev=/images?q=poison+oak+va&um=1&hl=en&sa=G

 

[642mx]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

Poison ivy normally has a glossy, darker look to it. I don't think thats PI, but I wouldn't grab it and rub it on my face to find out. Put some gloves on and grab a sample and take it to your local DNR, they can tell you exactly what it is.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

i don't think so either. i think the 3 points are to pronounced.....http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/skin_poison.html

 

[bhammer]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

It's not PI or PO. PI looks more like an arrow head with the 2 points towards the stem and one at the tip. Pi grows 3 leaves to a main stem. PO has three as well but is more rounded.

It looks like a Box Elder.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

I hate to bust all yall's bubble but that IS Poison Ivy. Take heed of the old adadge of "Leaves of Three....leave it be".

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

Hahahaha - this is why I'm having so much trouble with it! Sometimes I'm sure it is poison ivy, and sometimes I'm sure it's not... I'm still not brave enough to touch it!

 

[tommays]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

It is so mixed in with everything here you NEED to wear rubber gloves and long pants and shirt OR you will find some ivy in a day or two

 

[bhammer]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

I hate to bust all yall's bubble but that IS Poison Ivy. Take heed of the old adadge of "Leaves of Three....leave it be".

There is more than one species that have leaves of three. Kind of like the ole addage of catch more flies with honey than vinager....

Box Elder - The box elder tree (a type of maple) has compound leaves with 3-5 leaflets.

 

[i386]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

It sure looks like it to me. Don't count on glossy leaves as a tell tale sign. Leaves don't generally get stiff and glossy until they're mature. IANAB, but that's true for most trees/plants.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

It definitely does not look anything like poison ivy or poison oak to me, other than having the three leaflets, which as alreay noted is NOT a for sure determining factor. It IS a good rule of thumb and will keep you safe if you avoid anything with three leaves, but that was never meant as an identifying trait. There are a lot of plants with three leaves. It looks a lot like box elder to me as well. And it would also be more likely when you take the location into account (mulched flowerbed).

 

[ehenry]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/picqna.html

A good site. Lots of pics of poison ivy, oak, sumac and imposter plants.

 

[mscher]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

Here is an easy, basic way I learned to ID poison ivy, using an old (I believe) saying.

"If it's hairy, it's scary"

Look at the vines. Little vines have reddish hairs protruding, that attach the vines to walls or trees. Mature poison ivy vines, are completely covered with "hairs".

Had it everywhere, when I cleaned my fence rows.

 

[Rinkerguy24]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

yes poison ivy!!!!!!! you can always tell poison ivy by taking(imagining)the two outside leaves and placing them together on top of the center one, the two outside leaves make the center one...that make sense??--overlap the two outside ones..you will notice that the outside leaves have one smooth edge facing the center leaf.....i got a little on my arm this past weekend...

 

[Rinkerguy24]

Re: Is this poison ivy?

heres a case of it from last deer season...i got it all over me had to go to the doc to get a shot.....

 

[SgtMaj]

Removed

Removed

Removed