Article by Laurie Voss,
Circulation Supervisor
Warsaw Community Public Library

It’s that time of year again for warm sunny days, walks in the park … and poison ivy. Would you know poison ivy if you came upon it? The side effects, as most know, are a bumpy, blistery rash with intense itching that can be spread easily.

How can you tell what poison ivy looks like so you can avoid it? One way is to stop in at the Warsaw Public Library and check out our leaf identification books, such as Leaves by Kristin Ward.

Another way is to learn these little sayings that will quickly let you know what to look for such as, “Leaves of three, let it be.” Many plants have a grouping of three leaves, and are not poison ivy, but this is a great rule to go by. Some states have poison ivy with five leaves also.

“Berries white, run in fright,” and also, “Berries white, danger in sight,” are both additional warnings to remember. The berries mature around August through November, and are a grayish-white color. These berries are eaten by various birds and other animals, and are still viable after passing thru their digestive tracts.

“Red leaflets in the spring, it’s a dangerous thing,” warns that in the spring, poison ivy tends to start out as a reddish color, and then again in the fall. In the summer, the green color makes it harder to tell as poison ivy.

The saying “If butterflies land there, don’t put your hand there,” warns that butterflies will land on poison ivy, as they are not affected by it. This becomes their safe haven, as other animals will avoid eating it.

What do you do if you have run into poison ivy? The most important thing to do is wash your hands immediately, within minutes of contact if you can. The oil from the plant, urushoil, can also get on your clothing, so it is important to wash all clothing that you had on. Also, wash any utensils you may have used; canes, shovels, etc.

Do not scratch, as it can lead to infection. If you would like more information, the library has the book A Field Guide to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac by Susan Hauser that can provide a wealth of information. Also, you could search the Inspire database (from your home or library), www.inspire.in.gov to find out more about poison ivy.

To get photos and more information on poison ivy, stop in at your Warsaw Community Public Library.