• A perennial, high-climbing, woody vine.
• Leaves are alternate, deciduous, pinnately compound; leaflets three, thin, bright green, shiny, ovate to elliptic, 1.5 to 4.75 inches long, 1.5 to 4.75 inches wide, entire to serrate to shallowly lobed.
• Flowers small, yellowish green, in clusters of axils.
• Fruit a scarcely fleshy drupe, glabrous to short pubescent, 0.15 to 0.20 inches broad.
• Found throughout the southern states east of the Mississippi River; most abundant in moist woods but also in pastures, fence rows, roadsides, and waste places.

• Low shrub, 1 to 6.5 feet tall; very similar in appearance to Poison Ivy; however,  it does not climb.
• Leaflets are thicker, dull green, hairy on both surfaces, broadest above the middle, and often lobed or coarsely serrate.
• Fruit is densely pubescent rather than glabrous or short pubescent.
• Found throughout the South; most abundant on relatively dry, sunny sites in woodlands, thickets, and old fields.

• All parts of the plants are poisonous.
• The toxic principle is a phenolic compound called urushiol.  It is a skin and mucous membrane irritant and is found in all parts of the plant.
• Some humans are quite sensitive to the effects of the toxin while others show no ill effects from coming into contact with the plant.
• The toxin has little or no effect on animals, but pets may carry the irritating substance on their hair and thereby transmit it to humans.

• The Poison Ivy and Posion Oak toxin oil is found in its stems and leaves. 
• The reaction and rash in susceptible humans usually starts with itchiness and swelling, followed by the reddish inflammation of tiny pimples or formation of blisters at the areas of contact.  Animals are rarely affected.
• The rash can vary in severity from person to person and from year to year on an individual.
• The rash can begin as early as an hour after contact or up to five days after contact.
• The oil can even be transmitted from a pet's fur or through the smoke from burning Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

• If you come in contact with Posion Ivy or Posion Oak, wash your skin with strong soap and hot water immediately, and remove and wash all clothes, including shoes and socks in a strong detergent and warm or hot water.
• Also, keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and face.
• If you develop a rash, don't scratch it. You can apply calamine lotion, zinc oxide ointment or a paste made with baking soda and water to the rash. If these measures don't work, call your doctor.
• Some people have severe allergic reactions to the these plants and can have swelling in the throat, breathing problems, weakness, dizziness and bluish lips. Some people even fall into unconsciousness. If any of these reactions occur, seek emergency medical care.

• May and June are the best times to apply control measures to these poison plants, but it can be done any time of the year.
• Always identify the plant before attempting any control measures.
• Burning can be dangerous and is not recommended for disposal or as a control measure because the toxic oil from the plant can be carried in smoke.
• Spraying the foliage with glyphosate (sold under the trade names of Roundup or Kleenup and others) is recommended.
• To kill poison ivy on trees, cut the vine above the ground and treat plants on the ground with Roundup. This will kill the roots and prevent sprouting.
• Remember that the vine left on the tree or fence still has oil in it so be careful if you pull the vine down. Even if the vine is brown and looks dead, it still may have oil in it.
• Always follow directions on the label when using these herbicides. Glyphosate will kill almost any plant that it contacts.

---------------------------  Always Read the Label  ------------------------

Poison Oak doesn't climb.