With decorative leaves are widely used not only in gardening, but also in indoor floriculture for vertical gardening and creating original compositions. One of the brightest representatives is ivy. A spectacular plant with trifoliate leaves has an unpretentious disposition and beautiful leaves. However, in addition to this, it does not have a very good reputation, which is interesting, in our country.
It is human nature to associate the events happening to him with the environment and the objects that are part of it. It is much easier to write off the troubles that happened to him to a third person, or better, to an inanimate object. In particular on Can I keep at home? The signs say no. Let's deal with the notoriety of the plant, as well as the features of its cultivation.
What is this plant?
Under the name "ivy" the genus of plants of the Araliaceae family, numbering 15 species, is combined. C. Linnaeus borrowed the Latin name Hedera for these plants from the Romans. Ivy is a creeping shrub that, as it grows, clings to a support (trees, walls, etc.). On the stems are dense leathery leaves of an angular-lobed shape. Color - dark green, there are decorative forms with milky white stripes.
The natural habitat is the countries of the Northern Hemisphere with mild climatic conditions, as well as Australia. In our country, ivy (see photo in text) is mainly indoor plant.
Common types of ivy
- Colchis ivy is an evergreen liana-like shrub with large (up to 25 cm in length) leathery leaves attached to the stem, with suckers. The shape of the plate can be different; when rubbed, a characteristic musky smell appears. It climbs to a height of up to 30 m. It grows quickly, but compared to common ivy less cold hardy. Under natural conditions, it grows in Iran, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor.
- Common ivy (see photo below) is an evergreen liana, leathery leaves, medium in size (up to 10 cm in length), location is alternate. It grows slowly, shade-tolerant and thermophilic, demanding on soil fertility. It has a high decorative effect, in connection with which it has been used for a very long time in landscaping gardens as a ground cover and climbing plant. Many hybrid forms have been bred, differing in color and leaf shape. The photo shows the Calico variety.
- Canarian ivy - evergreen shrub, extremely popular as a houseplant. Spectacular plant with variegated leaves does not tolerate frost, requires good lighting, warmth and fertile soil.
- Pastukhov's ivy is a rare evergreen liana that grows in Eastern Transcaucasia and is listed in the Red Book of Russia. It is distributed both in mountainous regions and in lowlands, spreads along the ground and clings to tree trunks.
Indoor ivy: is it possible to keep at home? Signs
Signs and superstitions of various kinds have always been present in our lives. Some believe in them, others do not, and still others listen. Quite a lot of superstitions are associated with plants in the house, and people often find it difficult to say where they came from. Most of it doesn't make sense at all. For example, about a donated flower, which withered after a couple of months, and therefore, was not presented from the heart. Absolutely untenable argument. Shop flowers often have a weakened immune system and are hard to tolerate a change of scenery and microclimate.
Indoor ivy did not go unnoticed by lovers of signs. Is it possible to keep this plant at home (signs are given in the text)? It is possible, and most of Europeans do just that. They don't need to put him in room conditions, beautiful plant wraps around the house from the outside, covering all the walls with an even carpet of greenery. But is it such a significant difference?
The main superstition about ivy lies in its alleged ability to "drive" men out of the house, to survive them. Agree, the plant is endowed with a very impressive power. The ancient Greeks also treated ivy in a special way, but from a positive point of view. The plant was almost sacred, because according to legend, it was it that saved the life of the god of wine, Dionysus (Bacchus). Since then, his images have been decorated not only with vines, but also with climbing ivy stems. The mythological properties of the plant, however, have a real basis. It is used along with rosemary in France to protect forests from natural fires.
Ivy is a climbing evergreen shrub and, who would have thought, one of the symbols of Christmas. It is with this spectacular plant that Europeans, especially the British, decorate temples and houses. It is interpreted as a symbol of eternity and resurrection, affection and love. Ivy is used in tandem with holly, and the first is considered a symbol of the feminine (requiring support and protection), and the second - the masculine. In practice, the plant is really striking in its unpretentiousness and ability to survive even in the homes of the most negligent flower growers.
Ivy grows a very voluminous green mass, and therefore is considered one of the most effective air purifiers. Enough useful quality for city apartments.
These facts quite reasonably answer whether indoor ivy is harmful, whether it is possible to keep it at home. Signs are most often far-fetched and absurd. Do not blindly trust them, and even more so be guided.
Site selection, lighting and temperature
Indoor ivy is a unique plant. Choosing it for your home, you can fill even the darkest corner of the room with greenery. He is very shade tolerant. However, variegated forms need sun to maintain a beautiful contrast on the leaves, it is best if it is slightly muted, avoid direct rays on the plant.
Ivy belongs to evergreen, heat-loving plants. Most comfortable temperature for it will be 22-25 ° С in the spring-summer period and cooler (15-18 ° С) - in winter. You can take it out to the balcony or summer terrace.
Ivy soil
The plant prefers light but nutritious soils. Can buy ready ground in a specialized store or cook it yourself. To do this, mix turf and leaf soil, humus, peat and sand in equal proportions. Lay a drainage layer, such as expanded clay, at the bottom of the pot.
Transplantation of adult plants is carried out every two years, and young plants - annually. The most optimal time for the procedure is March-April. Choose a pot 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.
Watering and fertilizing
For active growth ivy requires regular and abundant watering in the summer. But do not flood the plant. Low air temperature and excess moisture are a favorable environment for the development of fungal and bacterial diseases.
In winter, a mild dormant period begins. At this time, the plant is watered less frequently, but the complete drying of the substrate should not be allowed. Spraying and high humidity- this is what indoor ivy prefers. Leaves dry and fall very often due to dry air. If possible, periodically put the plant under the shower, covering the clod of earth with waterproof material. After such a procedure, it looks much more attractive and starts to grow with renewed vigor.
Top dressing should be carried out once every two weeks, from March to the end of August, alternating organic and mineral complex fertilizers.
Reproduction methods
Ivy can be propagated by vegetative or seed method. Moreover, the first is the simplest and can be carried out in three ways.
First, reproduction apical cuttings. Cut off the ends of shoots 10 cm long and immediately plant them in a wet mixture of sand and leafy soil, covering them with a glass or plastic cap on top. Thus, greenhouse conditions are created, and it is important to maintain constant moisture in the soil. You can pre-put the cuttings in water and wait for the roots to appear. Then plant in ready-made soil mixture.
Secondly, propagation by shoots is practiced. Several plants can be obtained from one segment of the stem. To do this, take a shoot with 8-10 leaves and make a cut along it. Not too deep, it should be superficial. On the prepared moist soil, the shoot is placed cut down and pressed into the soil by 1.5-2 cm, leaving the leaves on the surface. Within two weeks, roots form along the entire length of the plant, a sign of this will be the growing top. Then the stem is taken out and cut into several parts, each planted in a separate pot.
Well, the third vegetative method is reproduction by layering. The action algorithm is the same as in the previous version, but with one amendment, an escape from mother plant do not separate, but press down to the ground with staples.
Indoor ivy pruning
Pruning and shaping the bush require, as a rule, street specimens. if desired, you can also renew and rejuvenate, giving desired shape. The procedure is carried out in early spring before the plant enters the active vegetative phase. First of all, remove diseased and damaged shoots, you can simply pinch the young ones in order to stimulate the development of lateral stems. To rejuvenate a shrub, cut old branches at a distance of 1 m from the root in outdoor conditions and half as much in indoor conditions.
As a support for ivy, you can use a wall, specially stretched threads, but they must be strong (the green mass is quite heavy), a decorative trellis, etc.
Poison ivy is a climbing plant with beautiful foliage and white berries. In autumn, ivy leaves change color from green to bright yellow-red. It was his beautiful view makes people touch to this unsafe and poisonous plant.
plant description
Poison ivy or Toxicodendron belongs to the genus of trees, a type of shrub climbing plants and belongs to the Sumakhov family.
There are three types of this family:
- poison ivy;
- poison oak;
- lacquer tree.
wild ivy reminds me of a liana, it wraps around standing trees or spreads along the ground. Young shoots of this plant may not have foliage, or are found covered with hairs. Its leaves are diamond-shaped, and an ovoid shape is also found in the leaves. The leaves are collected in a shamrock, usually have a light green color. The lower surface of the leaf is covered with hairs, somewhat resembling small needles, the upper surface is smooth and shiny.
The leaf length is generally 10 to 14 centimeters. Its flowers are small, collected in small inflorescences, yellow-green in color. Berries are small white color with a large bone (drupes). Wild ivy blooms in June-July, and in early October, berries ripen, somewhat similar to small balls. In sunny areas, it looks more like a shrub, and in shady places wraps around a nearby tree like a liana.
Where does poison ivy grow?
Poison ivy is found everywhere, and in North America, and especially often in its eastern part. On the territory of Russia from the genus Sumakhov, only two species grow that are found on Southern Kuriles. There it is a tree with a height of two to eight meters with a thin trunk. He also has compound pinnate leaves, which are collected at the top of the plant. Because of this, wild ivy in appearance has some resemblance to a palm tree.
Why is poison ivy dangerous?
Toxicodendron contains a milky sap, this sap oxidizes and turns black when exposed to air. The milky juice is very poisonous and in contact with it a person can get a severe burn, with blisters. The bark of this plant also contains poisonous substances such as lobitin, phenolic compounds and glycosides. Absolutely all parts of this plant are poisonous, from the stem to the berries, but despite this they make medications. Back in the 18th century, homeopathic doctors with the help of poison ivy tincture treated diseases such as influenza, rheumatism and, oddly enough, skin diseases.
Poisoning can be expressed not only in the defeat of burns of the skin, but even with severe metabolic disorders. Interesting fact, but not all people get burned after touching this bush. About three out of ten people do not have an allergic reaction to poison ivy sap.
Wild ivy can cause not only burns on the skin, but also be food poisoning culprit, in case of contact with leaves, berries or parts of plants in food. Even a dead plant retains its poisonous properties for a few more days.
Symptoms of wild ivy poisoning
First of all, poisoning manifests itself in the form of a rash on the skin, which has a vesicular type. Subsequently, inflammation skin. The burn from contact does not appear immediately, but after about seven days. Symptoms of poisoning take a long time to pass, they can manifest themselves for a month. The poison of a plant that has fallen on human skin, fortunately, will not spread to other parts of the body.
The toxins that this shrub contains can lead to mucosal damage gastrointestinal tract, which can cause inflammation of the stomach and even intestines. It is not recommended to burn wild ivy, when burning, toxic substances can enter the respiratory tract and cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the throat, as well as the appearance of a dangerous rash in the lungs, and cause severe inflammation of the respiratory tract. In some cases, poisoning can lead to anaphylactic shock.
Treatment for wild ivy poisoning
The main methods of treating poisoning are:
- wash hands thoroughly with soap;
- the use of antihistamines;
- application of ointments for burns.
Treatment of poisoning should first of all begin in order to reduce itching on the skin. To do this, it is necessary to wash the burn as soon as possible. detergent or use soap. Washing damaged areas of the skin with soap is mandatory because the substances that cause burns simply do not dissolve with water, which means they will not be washed off the victim's skin. It is also advisable to use ointments and creams containing antihistamines. You can also use burn creams that cool the skin.
Blisters formed during burns should not be pierced, this can lead to infection of the wound, as well as the contact of tight and pressing clothing with the burn site is unacceptable. If the blister has burst, and there is a possibility of damage to the wound by clothing, the wound must be wrapped with a sterile bandage. To avoid joining secondary bacterial infection the use of antibiotics cannot be ruled out. When feeling unwell, pain or discomfort in the throat, lungs or stomach, seek immediate medical attention.
Ivy is poisonous due to the presence of urushiol, a skin irritant.
What does poison ivy look like photo, oak and sumac
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac all produce oil that can be very dangerous for you. This oil can be found on every part of the vine. Sometimes, the slightest touch can trigger an allergic reaction. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are all from the same family but grow in different areas. Poison ivy grows primarily as a vine along river banks.
Allergy to ivy causes
Allergic reactions can occur when:
- Any, even a small touch to any part of the vine.
- Any touch of clothing or pets that come into contact with the vine and then with your body.
- If you inhale the smoke of a fire into which vine branches are thrown, then an allergic reaction can also occur.
Ivy allergy symptoms
How can ivy allergy symptoms manifest? The reaction to ivy may be as follows:
- Severe itching, which is accompanied by red rashes.
- The appearance of rashes in the form of veins or spots on the affected areas.
- Affects may take some time to appear and may last depending on the severity of the reaction.
Allergy to ivy what to do
- Learn more about poison ivy, oak and sumac before heading out for a walk in the woods.
- Avoid touching skin or any clothing that still contains the poisonous oil.
- You should always have wet wipes or water with you to wash the affected area.
https://youtu.be/ePNov0Dvcig - Wash clothes in hot water to remove any oil residue you are allergic to.
- Apply an itching cream.
- You can not sweat, otherwise the itching will manifest itself with greater force.
Allergy to ivy what to do at home
Top remedies for poison ivy:
- You can apply Calamine lotion to the affected areas.
- The use of calendula in the form of a lotion, it will help eliminate itching and the appearance of new rashes.
- Cold compresses will provide great relief as it helps in controlling the itching.
- You can also put a piece of watermelon on the affected area of the skin.
- Make a thick paste from half a cup baking soda and a proportional amount of coffee. Pour cool coffee into a bowl of baking soda to make a thick paste, apply a thin layer of this paste to the affected area. Let this mixture dry and you will immediately see the difference.
- Apply Vicks VapoRub to the affected area.
- Boil some peach tree leaves. Wait for the broth to cool down. Spread the skin with cotton wool and the itching will no longer bother you.
- You can also apply milk of magnesia to the affected parts to stop itching and provide a soothing effect.
- Rubbing a banana peel on the affected area can help you with itching and rashes.
- In order to provide relief, pour in aloe vera juice or apply tofu to the affected area. It gives a calming effect.
Exercise all precautions, follow the instructions for preparing home remedies. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. Have you experienced an allergy to poison ivy? Leave your opinion or feedback on the forum.
Everyone knows that indoor plants are a source of beauty and benefit for the people who grow them. Plants give us their beauty and at the same time fulfill a number of useful features: participate in the process of photosynthesis (absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen), and also maintain an optimal microclimate in the room (moisturize the air).
However, not everything is so rosy: the plant world also has its own outsiders - dangerous plants that can cause significant harm. Animals and children are especially affected by such representatives of the flora, because they are not able to distinguish potentially dangerous plant. That is why families with children and animals need to be especially careful in choosing houseplants.
So, here are the 20 most dangerous indoor plants:
- ivy evergreen- liana-shaped evergreen shrub belonging to the Araliaceae family. The stems are long, curved, the leaves are dark green with a carved edge. The leaves and berries of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Especially cats suffer from ivy, which are attracted by the lush greenery of the plant.
- - a very beautiful plant with bright greenery and magnificent flowers of white, pink or red, belonging to the heather family. The leaves of the plant are poisonous, they contain a toxic substance - a glycoside, which causes poisoning. It is necessary to place pots with azalea in places inaccessible to children and animals. Azalea is not recommended to keep in the bedroom.
- - a plant with large decorative flowers and dense dark green leaves. The family to which cyclamen belongs is primroses. Cyclamen tubers are especially poisonous, they contain a poison similar to that of curare. These tubers are often used in traditional medicine while taking all precautions.
- Trichocereus- erect cactus with long curved spines. It blooms with strong white flowers. The cactus contains hallucinogens and alkaloids that cause paralysis of the central nervous system. In the wild, with the help of toxic substances, cacti are protected from being eaten by animals.
- Croton is a member of the euphorbia family. Very popular home plant with large beautiful leaves of the original color. Like many members of the Euphorbiaceae family, Croton is poisonous. The poison is contained in the seeds and milky juice of the plant, which appears if the leaf or stalk of the croton is broken off. If croton juice gets on the skin, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Spurge- a very popular house plant, which gave the name to the whole genus (euphorbiaceae). It looks like a mini palm tree: a bunch of dense green leaves is located at the top of a thick stem. Like the previous croton plant, seeds and milky juice are poisonous in milkweed. Special care must be taken when transplanting the plant and other work with it.
- - the most popular house plant, very beautiful and decorative. Dieffenbachia is an evergreen shrub with large oval variegated leaves. Grows up to two meters in height. Unfortunately, all green parts of the plant (petioles and leaves) contain poison. You can get serious poisoning if dieffenbachia juice gets into your mouth. Animals are especially affected, which, through negligence, can feast on the plant.
- brunfelsia- a houseplant, especially common in America and Europe, a representative of the nightshade family. Smells great and blooms beautifully lilac color. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially in the fruits and seeds of brunfelsia.
- - a spectacular plant that has recently become widespread in our homes. At the top of a thick, woody stem is a bunch of green leaves and bright and large red flowers. Adenium is one of the most poisonous plants. Until now, adenium poison is used by African tribes to poison arrowheads. All parts of the plant are toxic and poisonous, but its milky juice is especially dangerous. If your family has pets, children, or someone in the family with asthma, think carefully before you start growing adenium.
- - a magnificent house plant, blooming with very beautiful flowers, grouped in an umbrella of 12 or more flowers. The leaves of the plant are dense, glossy, elongated. The most poisonous parts of clivia are the leaves and roots. Great care must be taken when working with the plant and be sure to use rubber gloves.
- Gloriosa luxury- an exotic plant with very showy and unusual flowers that change color throughout the flowering. At the same time, gloriosa is one of the most poisonous domestic plants. All parts of Gloriosa deluxe are poisonous. Once in a living organism, the poison of the plant causes nausea and vomiting, and also leads to disruption of the kidneys and hair loss. To avoid such unpleasant consequences poisoning, you should be very careful when handling the plant. In addition, it is necessary to protect pets and children from contact with gloriosa.
- ficus- a well-known inhabitant of many houses, one of the most popular plants in the world. Luxurious rich ficus greenery attracts many flower growers. Is this one too pet poisonous? Of course, it is impossible to say so categorically. Ficus is on this list because the plant is a powerful allergen. Ficus juice is especially dangerous: once on the skin, it can irritate and even burn. Do not be afraid to plant ficuses in your homes, but still try to take precautions.
- Philodendron- a plant of the aroid family. Some philodendrons are vines, and some are bushy plants. The Philodendron is especially prized for its beautiful, dense greens. Unfortunately, philodendron juice, like many representatives of the aroid family, is poisonous, but only when it comes into contact with the skin and mucous membranes. If the plant is not damaged, it is not at all dangerous.
- Akalifa- a genus of plants of the Euphorbiaceae family, uniting about 400 plants. A feature of Akalifa is leaves with patterns of unusual color and inflorescences in the form of fluffy earrings. Akalifa is a slightly poisonous plant, the milky juice of which contains dangerous substances.
- - a large shrub plant, perfect for large rooms, greenhouses and winter gardens. Shefler, like Akalifa, is weakly poisonous plant. It is unlikely that the chefler will burn you much harm, but still try to wash your hands whenever possible after contact with the plant.
- Primrose- a very beautiful plant with flowers of the most different shades surrounded by velvety green leaves. Often, primrose is placed in children's rooms because of the bright colors of the plant. However, all parts of the primrose are poisonous and potentially dangerous. Firstly, during flowering, the primrose releases special substances - alkaloids, inhaling which you can feel nausea and dizziness. Moreover, if there are several plants, their effect is enhanced. Secondly, the poison is contained in the hairs of the primrose leaves. If you touch the leaves of the plant, the poison can lead to burning and itching. If, after contact with the plant, you always rinse your hands under water, the primrose will not cause any harm.
- - a plant belonging to the nightshade family. Represents small shrub, reaching a height of 35 cm, blooming with purple, blue and white flowers. Brovalia beautiful is a poisonous plant. All parts of the brovalia contain poison, which negatively affects the body, getting inside or on the mucous membranes. Most often, children and pets suffer from contact with the plant, so it is very important to keep the plant in a hard-to-reach place.
- Monstera- a popular houseplant, reaching an impressive size. Usually, monstera is grown in public places, as well as in greenhouses and winter gardens. Monstera leaves are large, dense, rich green in color, with cuts along the edge. Before you start growing monstera in your home, think carefully. The plant has a very poisonous juice that can burn the skin of the body or even damage the eyes. Symptoms of monstera poisoning are burning in the mouth, strong salivation, and inflammation of the digestive system.
- Pachypodium Lamera, the second name of the plant is Madagascar palm. The lamera has a thick, thorny cactus-like stem, topped with a rosette of elongated leaves. Pachypodium has a poisonous and toxic milky sap that is released when the plant is damaged. However, this juice has no effect on the skin and can be dangerous only if it gets on wounds and mucous membranes. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the plant and it will not harm you in any way.
- is a plant of the aroid family. The main value of the plant is luxurious greenery: large, dense leaves of rich color, often with a bizarre pattern. The plant perfectly cleans the air in the apartment and kills many pathogenic bacteria. However, at the same time, it must be remembered that the milky juice of aglaonema is dangerous. Juice is released when the plant is damaged, for example, when a leaf breaks, therefore, when transplanting aglaonema, be sure to use rubber gloves.
An attentive reader must have noticed that some plant families are repeated in this list especially often: aroid, euphorbia, kutrovy, nightshade. Indeed, representatives of these particular families are especially poisonous and require the most careful handling.
Kutro family considered the most dangerous family in the world of domestic plants. Bright representatives of the kutras are adenium and pachypodium, this family also includes diplatia, plumeria, allamanda, strophanthus, carissa and other plants. When working with plants of the kutrovy family, be extra careful, always use rubber gloves and grow these plants in places inaccessible to children and pets.
Aroid family also distinguished by a large number of poisonous domestic plants: alocasia, aglaonema, monstera, dieffenbachia, philodendron, spathiphyllum, anthurium, syngonium. Almost all plants of the aroid family contain toxic substances: oxalic acid, proteins and enzymes, which are often used as components of preparations. household chemicals because of their caustic properties. The juice of such plants is especially dangerous, so if the plant is damaged, handle it as carefully as possible.
Euphorbiaceae family includes many plants popular on our windowsills: spurge, croton, akalifa. The poisonous substance euphorin is part of the milky juice of almost all euphorbia. In case of contact with the skin and mucous membranes, euphorin can cause burning, burns and inflammation. Be careful with the plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, always wash your hands thoroughly after handling them.
Nightshade family probably everyone knows, because the most popular edible plants - potatoes and tomatoes - belong to this family. Home plants of the nightshade family - browallia, brunfelsia, capsicum, often grown at home. The most poisonous part of the nightshade is the berries, which, if ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and subsequently unhealthy drowsiness and lethargy. Be careful not to let your child or your pet eat the berries of these plants.
And in conclusion: very many plants are poisonous, to a greater or lesser extent, however, most of them are successfully cultivated by man. It may not be worth buying a plant that can harm you and your family. However, if you decide to grow a potentially dangerous plant, make every effort to minimize its danger. Do not allow children and animals to come into contact with such a plant, do not place it near the bed, always wash your hands after working with it, use rubber gloves. Subject to such simple rules, the plant will not be able to cause any harm and will delight you with its natural beauty.
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General information about the plant
In nature there is whole line plants dangerous to humans, among which poison ivy occupies one of the first places. Fortunately, in our climatic zone it is rarely found, but still, every person should know how to protect themselves from contact with him. Any contact of exposed skin with this plant leads to serious consequences, which are expressed in general intoxication of the body and local skin lesions. Poison ivy has a corresponding name - rooting toxicodendron. It belongs to the Sumac family. In Greek, its name means "poison tree". Despite such an eloquent name, poison ivy is a small shrub or woody vine. Its thin and flexible stems often climb the trunks of closely growing trees and shrubs or spread along the ground. Adventitious roots help him cling to the support.
plant description
The rooting toxicodendron is considered to be the birthplace of North America. In the CIS countries, this plant is grown in botanical gardens for research purposes. In the wild on the territory of the CIS countries, there are two species of plants from the genus Toxicodendron (Oriental toxicodendron and hairy-fruited), but they are distributed in a small area - in the South Kuriles. Both of these species are no less poisonous and dangerous to humans. Despite the fact that the distribution range of toxicodendrons is considered limited, no one can guarantee that poison ivy cannot be found anywhere else. The fact is that at present many species of plants are found even where they could not have been imagined 15-20 years ago. Poison ivy is a plant with characteristic trifoliate leaves. The leaves are rhombic or ovoid in shape. They are located on petioles, the length of which is 2-4 cm. The total petiole of the leaf reaches a length of 20 cm. The foliage of poison ivy in the summer has a dark green color, which turns crimson-orange in autumn. This plant blooms with yellowish-green flowers collected in small paniculate inflorescences located in the axils of the leaves. Poison ivy produces fruits that are rounded drupes of a grayish-yellow hue. They are collected in dense clusters. This plant blooms in June, and the fruits ripen in September. In more northern latitudes, flowering begins in July. Some extreme gardeners breed this very ornamental plant in their gardens. Poison ivy, which requires the utmost care, will not cause harm if contacted with tight clothing, rubber gloves, and precautions are taken. For animals, this plant is harmless.
Contact with poison ivy
This plant is often used for medicinal purposes (most often in homeopathy). Poison ivy preparations are prescribed for neuralgia, rheumatism, colds, diseases of the eyes and skin. The milky juice contains resin - urshiol, which has toxic properties. The bark of this ivy also contains such poisonous substance like a lobitin. Not all people are hypersensitive to the toxins of this plant, although there have even been cases of contact with poison ivy having a fatal outcome. Poisoning is expressed by the appearance of dermatitis and blisters. There is further deterioration general condition, long-term metabolic disorder. It should be remembered that clothing, equipment, and even animal hair that has been in contact with poison ivy can also cause poisoning. After contact with the juice of this plant, it is necessary to immediately treat the skin with soapy water, a solution of potassium permanganate or a 5% solution of ferric chloride. The first signs of intoxication appear after 1-3 days. Severe itching is relieved with hydrocortisone. The degree of skin damage depends on the amount of toxic substance, age and immunity of the person. In severe cases, medication is prescribed.
