Anacardiaceae FAMILY

Toxicodendron radicans

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

This plant contains toxic substances and skin contact with it can cause severe irritation to some people, though most wildlifr and livestock are not affected by it[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The sap is extremely poisonous[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The sap contains 3-N pentadecycatechnol. Many people are exceedingly sensitive to this, it causes a severe spreading dermatitis. The toxins only reach the skin if the plant tissues have been damaged, but even indirect contact can cause severe problems[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Botanical Description

Toxicodendron radicans is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub, often adopting a climbing habit. As a shrub, the stems can be erect or decumbent and up to 2 metres tall. When climbing, the stems will usually attach themselves to supports by means of adventitious roots and this can allow stems to become much longer, with reports of up to 45 metres. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - Ontario to Quebec, south to Texas and Florida; E. Asia - China (Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan)

HabitatWoods, on rocky slopes and in wooded swamps[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Hill forests; at elevations from 600 - 2,200 metres in southern China (var hspida)[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].