poison ivy

Poison-ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Family: Anacardiaceae (Cashew)
Branching: Alternate
Other names: Rhus radicans

Probably the most notorious plant in the forest, Poison-Ivy grows as both a creeping ground cover and as a branching vine. In Tennessee, I observed it once growing as an independent shrub as tall as myself. Generally it is a non-conspicuous plant in the winter, especially in the North where it rarely grows as a vigorous vine. However, in Southern Ontario vines are quite common and they can become quite large, with stalks sometimes as thick as a person's arm. In this growth form they often send of large branches that can be mistaken for those of a tree. Poison Ivy buds are naked, which puts them in a minority group. But their yellowish colour can make them look a bit like Bitternut Hickory, Witch-hazel or Glossy Buckthorn. The leaf scars are one of the distinctive feature when twigs are examined. Also, look for the fruit or the aerial rootlets (which generally look different than those of Virginia Creeper). When it is found trailing on the ground, its form closely resembles Virginia Creeper. Both grow along a horizontal stem and send up shoots several inches high. When twigs are seen, though, the leaf scars will always sperate those two.

Poison Ivy end bud; hairy, naked and slightly yellowish

Another view of the winter twig. Notice how the leaf scar sticks out from the twig and almost
makes a "ledge"

Another view of the twig (same plant)

The white berries of Poison Ivy. These are quite distinctive.
The leaf scar in the top right corner (it's out of focus) is a great example of its unique form

The "aerial rootlets" by which Poison Ivy climbs

Another view of the main stem