It grows in tropical and temperate regions all over the world. Approximately 250 species of sumac are known, from all of the continents, and they follow one simple, very handy generalization. The most prominent feature is the clusters of bright red berries that top the trees in the late summer and early fall. Poison sumac is considered more allergenic than both poison ivy and poison oak. The fruit and leaves of the poison sumac plant contain urushiol, an oil that causes an allergic rash upon contact with skin. Smart tip about staghorn sumac Planting this unique tree in your garden will bring lots of color to your garden! Thankfully, poison sumac is much less common than poison oak and poison ivy. The plant will quickly recover with new growth after mowing. Just like poison ivy, sumac also contains urushiol. They mature to an off-white color in the fall. But there are also a few identification features that you should know to help you tell the two plants apart (at least at certain times of the year). A poison sumac rash is an allergic reaction caused by poison sumac plant. If the rash is on the face or genitals, spreads over a large part (30–50 percent) of the body, or you have a high fever (over 101°F), see your doctor. Knowing how to tell poison sumac apart from staghorn sumac could save you from getting a terrible skin rash. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Everything You Need to Know About Poison Ivy, Is This Rash Contagious? People who work outside in the woods or swamp areas are particularly susceptible to poison sumac rash. Both plants can be responsible for a nasty rash that you wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Poison sumac, poisonous shrub or small tree of the cashew family, native to eastern North America. The vast majority of people (estimates range from 60-90%, depending on your source) react to contact with urushiol by developing a distinctive allergic rash with oozing blisters. Poison sumac grows as a shrub, 10-25 inches (25 to 60cm) tall. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. (1, 2) Image 1: A poison sumac plant with grey to ivory white fruits. Staghorn sumac has bright orange or red berries growing at the edge of its stems. Poison oak also typically comes in leaves of three. If the oil is inhaled, which may occur if the plant is burned, it can lead to a dangerous lung irritation. So learning the differences between their leaves and twigs is even more helpful. While poison sumac likes to grow in wetlands, most other sumacs prefer drier areas with well-drained soils. Poison sumac is a type of plant that can cause an allergic skin reaction. Poison sumac is a plant of very wet areas. Poison sumac may be identified by its white drupes, which are quite different from the red drupes of true Rhus species. A staghorn sumac leaf will have at least 13 leaflets on it (usually more); a poison sumac leaf will have at most around 13 leaflets (usually fewer). © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Don’t confuse the sumac spice with poison sumac. You should also make a visit to your doctor if you think your rash has become infected due to scratching. Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is a native plant that grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs.Every part of the plant contains an oil that inflames skin and results in painfully itchy blisters and rashes. While poison sumac is related to the variety of sumac that is consumed as a … This latter genus ialso ncludes a sumac impostor that does cause rashes, poison sumac (T. vernix). Learn the…, Sometimes your immune system will identify a substance as harmful, even though it isn't. Don’t wait until a reaction appears on your skin to take action; a rash could take hours to develop. It's called \"allergic contact dermatitis\" because the rash is caused by contact with a substance to which you're allergic. Poison sumac is dangerous and scary, but ornamental sumac is delightful (if a bit intrusive). Poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix, is related to the poison ivies and poison oaks, not to the other sumacs. American sunscreen may also be less great at sun and skin protection than brands from other countries. Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin, resulting in an itchy rash, which can appear within hours of exposure or up to several days later. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Poison sumac sports groups of separate berries (not fused together) that droop down from small stems. Itching, also known as ‘pruritus’ in the medical world, can be more than a small annoyance. Poison ivy and poison oak are two other commonly known poisonous plants that can cause a rash, but they look different from poison sumac. Difference is, poison sumac has clusters of grayish white berries that hang down, and the plants grow exclusively in low, wet, or flooded areas such as swamps and peat bogs. Its scientific name is Toxicodendron vernix. Despite these similarities, it is important to appreciate their differences. An allergy to mangoes or cashews indicates that you are likely to also have an allergy to sumac. Yes, some varieties are poisonous, but many are not, and it’s not difficult to distinguish them. Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) looks similar to poison sumac, but is nonallergenic (doesn’t cause an allergic reaction). When the plant is bruised or damaged it releases an oil, called urushiol which causes an allergic skin reaction. Symptoms can interfere with a person’s day-to-day activities depending on where the rash occurs on the body and how much it spreads. Native to North America, sumac is a rugged, easy-to-please, good looking, useful addition to a large yard or garden. It can be found along the eastern and southern quadrants of the United States. There is no cure for the rash. A doctor may prescribe oral or strong topical steroids to help reduce inflammation. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Symptoms, Treatment, and More, 10 Natural Ingredients That Repel Mosquitos, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Why You Need to Reconsider That Sunscreen You’re Using, leaves that consist of 7–13 leaflets arranged in pairs with a single leaflet at the end, elongated leaflets with a smooth, velvety texture, smooth edges, and a V-shaped point, bright orange leaves in the early spring that later become dark green and glossy, and then turn red-orange in the fall, ivory-white to gray fruits that are loosely packed, topical anesthetics, such as menthol or benzocaine, oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). The differences in toxicity in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are due to differences in the side chains of the chemicals in these plants. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that can cause a rash if you come in contact with the urushiol oil found in them. Learn more about the plant and its allergenic properties. Poison sumac is more similar to poison ivy and poison oak than it is to other sumacs. Poison sumac is toxic thanks to the … Poison sumac is actually more closely related to two other rash-causing plants than it is to staghorn sumac: Realizing that these two plants usually are found in quite different habitats is step one in distinguishing between them. Sumac is a fairly common plant, and you were probably taught for years that it is poisonous and should be avoided. Indeed, the plants are related. Most commercial bug repellents can cause health and environmental problems. The most widespread sumac — staghorn sumac — is non-poisonous. Species with red berries, including smooth and fragrant sumac, produce edible berries, while species with white berries, including poison ivy, have poisonous berries. The word sumac is derived from the Arabic summãq, meaning red.And sumac is the common name for shrubs belonging to the Rhus genus; they bear fruit in clusters of orange to russet, and their leaves turn vividly scarlet in fall. Typically, they are around 4 to 5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.20 in) in size. Poison sumac is one of the most toxic plants in the United States, causing a horrible skin reaction that can persist for weeks. Some bad native Sumacs or Sumac relatives that you should know about are Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, formerly Rhus radicans) and Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix, formerly Rhus vernix). Most sumac shrubs are quite harmless (nonpoisonous) and potentially desirable landscaping elements, which is another reason why you should identify poison sumac properly: There is no reason to pass up the great fall color of nonpoisonous sumac simply because they have "sumac" in their common name. See pictures and learn about remedies. It is a frequent inhabitant of stretches along the roadside where the soil is dry. You’ll have to wait for the symptoms to pass. If it surprises you that rash-causing poison sumac has family ties with a plant that bears edible nuts, be prepared to be surprised again: Mango trees (Mangifera spp.) The twigs on poison sumac are smooth; those on staghorn sumac are covered in tiny hairs. All rights reserved. The leaflets of poison sumac have smooth margins; those of staghorn sumac are toothed. Staghorn Sumac, like many of our favorite edibles, is technically classified as a weed! Some people may only be familiar with the poisonous variety of sumac that can cause a serious rash much like poison oak and poison ivy do. What are the complications of poison sumac rash? Mowing of sumac is not a good control measure, since the wood is springy, resulting in jagged, sharp-pointed stumps when mown. Scratching the skin can lead to an infection. The very genus name of poison sumac indicates its toxic nature. Its leaves also have saw-toothed edges, unlike poison sumac. Poison sumac also goes by the name thunderwood in the southeastern US.. The spice we see in brick and mortar specialty stores and online is usually imported and derived from a Mediterranean sumac species, Rhus coriaria. Sumac is a spice that is popular in the Middle East. Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant causes an allergic skin reaction known as contact dermatitis. It is related to the poisonous shrub by the same name, but the culinary variety is safe to use and easily identifiable by its vibrant red berries (poisonous sumac … Poison sumac is actually more closely related to two other rash-causing plants than it is to staghorn sumac: Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) Poison sumac is particularly abundant along the Mississippi River and swampy areas of the Southeast. Not Poison Sumac. This rash is a form of allergic contact dermatitis. Most strikingly, they share a trait that draws much attention to them in autumn: extremely colorful fall foliage. There are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments available for … Chiggers live in tall weeds and grass, berry patches, and wooded areas. Now, however, we are getting back to discovering the truth behind this plant. Poison sumac is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3b through 8b. Their high levels of energy, endless curiosity, and remarkable ability to bounce back from stumbles can put kids at risk. Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room immediately if your eyes swell shut or you have difficulty breathing. You can get the rash by coming into contact with poison sumac at any time of year, including winter. It is commonly seen in the southern and eastern parts of America. Unlike sumac spice, poison sumac is not edible and can actually be extremely dangerous to health. Learn about natural repellents that actually work. In fact, most species are harmless shrubs or trees. It's not just the ingredients. A poison sumac is a plant similar to poison ivy and poison oak. They are packed tightly together in soft, cone-shaped tufts that grow upright. By contrast, if you visit New England in autumn to view the fall foliage, it would be difficult to avoid seeing staghorn sumac. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are all plants that can cause a temporary, irritating rash when they come in contact with your skin. Inhalation of smoke from … Poison sumac fruit are creamy white and part of a cluster. When this happens, it's called an allergic reaction. Moreover, they both are tall shrubs (sometimes reaching about 30 feet tall), deciduous, and native to eastern North America. If you work or spend a lot of time in wetlands, swamps, or shady hardwood forests, being able to identify local types of poison sumac throughout the seasons is key to avoiding exposure. Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant causes an … Because it spreads to form massive colonies, you usually do not see a single plant standing alone. Poison sumac is one of the most toxic plants in North America. Even when dried-up, their leaves and stems can cause a rash.Here are a few things that may help you recognize them: Poison ivy: It can be a vine or shrub, and it can be found throughout most of the states except in Alaska and Hawaii. Family Ties Between Poison Sumac and Staghorn Sumac, How to Tell Poison Sumac and Staghorn Sumac Apart, How to Remove Poison Sumac From Your Garden, 12 Trees With Brilliant Fall Color Plus Other Advantages, Growing Tips for Arrowwood Viburnum Shrubs. Poison ivy typically has three shiny green leaves (or red in the fall) budding from one small stem. In terms of its potential to cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, poison sumac is more toxic than its relatives poison ivy and poison oak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends rinsing with rubbing alcohol, specialized poison plant washes, degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap), or detergent, along with lots of water. Clean all contaminated clothing, shoes, and gear with detergent several times. Sumac is a general name for the 250 species of flowering plants in the Rhus genus. Staghorn sumac trees are short – between five and 15 feet tall – and the branches have between 4 and 15 pairs of long, pointed leaves. When burned, this substance is released into the air, and can cause severe lung irritation. One such plant is poison sumac, a deciduous, woody shrub or small tree. What to do if you’re exposed to poison sumac, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Does Poison Sumac Look Like? They may be in your backyard, by the lake, and along your favorite hiking…. as this could lead to an infection. This gives us another contrast with poison sumac, a solitary specimen of which you may very well find growing in a swamp. This can be fatal. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) inhabits swamps and other wet areas as well as pinewoods and hardwood forests. It is relatively rare compared to the other members of the family. If you’re exposed to poison sumac, the first step is to remove the oil from your skin. Poison sumac is rare and grows in moist woodland areas or near streams. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) grows as a large shrub or a small tree. Poison Sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, is a common North American plant that causes skin irritation to people.Like its better-known cousin poison ivy, the green leaves of poison sumac sure to put a damper on an otherwise pleasant camping trip or another outdoor excursion. To scratching plant standing alone found along the roadside where the soil is dry that you likely! 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