POISON-IVY AND VIRGINIAN CREEPER.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 3, 20 September 1917, Page 162

POISON-IVY AND VIRGINIAN CREEPER.

Owing to various accounts that have appeared in print during the past year or two —statements incomplete rather than inaccurate—many people have been led to think that the Virginian creeper is poison-ivy, and are thus inclined to shun a very desirable climbing plant. The “poison-ivy,” “poison-oak,” or “poison-tree,” as it is variously called, is a species of sumach botanically known as Rhus toxicodendron. Some of the species of sumach are prized for autumn-tinted leaves, but they are mostly shrubs. The “ smokebush ” (Rhus cotinus) is a very fine garden-plant, its masses of tiny panicled flowers when viewed from a distance having the appearance of smoke. Rhus toxicodendron is the only species that is poisonous, and that only in the manner of Primula obconica, but probably its poison is more potent than that of the primula. It is well known that some persons cannot handle Primula obconica without contracting eczema. The confusion of the plants has been added to by the rhus in question being sometimes sold as Amp elop sis Hoggii. The botanical name of the Virginian creeper is Ampelopsis, and there are many species. There need not be the least difficulty in deciding whether a plant is an Ampelopsis or Rhus toxicodendron. The Virginian creeper has leaves that are divided into a number of leaflets; the leaves of the rhus are only thrice divided.- — W. H. Taylor, Horticulturist.