Poisonous Plant Series Part 4 {Ferns & Fungi}

Welcome back! This is the fourth and final part of our Poisonous Plant Series. So far, we've covered some of the most notorious poisonous {flowering plants}, some need-to-know info about {nuts, seeds, & berries}, and summed up a few of East Tennessee's {incredible, but toxic, edibles}.

Last, but certainly not least in the series is {Ferns & Fungi}. Both of these require a lot of expertise to confirm species. Ferns are just plain hard to identify. And to be fair, in order to cover fungi as thoroughly as it needs to be, we'd have to write a post a day for more than 2,000 days just to cover the known species in the Smoky Mountains alone.

Most people intent on eating anything from a fern are looking for fiddleheads. I don't know of any fern that's considered deathly poisonous, but there is at least one mildly toxic, possibly cancer causing fern worth mentioning below. It's suggested that any fiddleheads collected for consumption be young, very tightly furled, and never eaten raw. They're usually pretty bitter and unpalatable anyway, so you'd want to cook them with something flavorful. "Yes, I'll take one-half of a little fiddlehead with my bowl of butter and salt, thanks."

Brackenfern (Bracken)
Mild toxicity when eaten in excess - Potentially causes cancer.

Bracken contains an enzyme known as thiaminase. This enzyme destroys thiamine (vitamin B1), a water-soluble vitamin responsible for helping break down sugars in the body. Japanese research suggests a link between excessive consumption of Bracken over time and the incidence of stomach cancer.

Identification: Our most abundant fern. Grows from 1 to 6 feet, and has large, coarse, erect fronds that are attached to a slender rootstock. Usually divided into three sections and largely triangular in appearance. Fiddleheads are shaped like an eagle's claw when unfurling and is covered in a silver-gray "hair." Mature stems are partially grooved in the front, and colored green then brown.

Route: Ingestion of raw or excessive amounts of fiddleheads

Symptoms: Weakness, high fever, uncoordinated, convulsions; possibly stomach cancer.

As for mushrooms, the one piece of advice I'm going to offer with certainty is NEVER eat a wild mushroom unless you know without a doubt that what you're consuming is safe. There are so many different species that it is extremely difficult to identify exactly what you're looking at. Also, I've noticed that while trying to identify a fungus, the characteristics may be the same but the appearance may vary greatly even within a species. Lastly, I'd suggest that you take up being detail-oriented. The difference between life and death could be the smallest subtlety.

There are a few types you should definitely stay away from. This website (from the Missouri Department of Conservation) lists quite nicely mushrooms that shouldn't ever be consumed.

Although I originally intended on listing a couple types that are known to be poisonous, I really feel it necessary to leave this to the experts. Even after preliminary research, every question answered led to more questions needing to be answered. If it seems like I'm playing it safe here, then you're correct. When it comes to identifying mushrooms, I always play it safe.

If you are seriously interested in eating wild mushrooms, then I would suggest buying an identification manual, practice before eating, and joining a local mushroom hunting club.

In the case of poisoning by any plant or substance, you should contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

**Disclaimer**
I have to add this. These are plants found in our region - East Tennessee. Your area may differ, your poisonous plants may differ. Also, none of this information should be taken or used as medical advice. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek medical attention ~ not blog-help ~ if you or someone you know has ingested, inhaled, or otherwise come into contact with an unidentified plant.

Photos not watermarked with Random Joy Photography courtesy of J.S.Peterson & Jeff McMillian

Poisonous Plants Series Part 3 {Incredible - but toxic - Edibles}

I'm really excited to share Part 3 of our Poisonous Plant Series - {Incredible, but toxic, Edibles}! If you need to catch up, you can find Part 1 {Flowering Plants} here and Part 2 {Nuts, Seeds, & Berries} here.

When I first began studying wild plants in our area, I was quite surprised to learn that many of them weren't as dangerous as I first believed. I remember as a young child, I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who, I still believe to this day, knew everything. He taught me a lot about things outdoors, and although he wasn't much of a hiker or backpacker, he'd lived off the land long enough to know his stuff.

Although I didn't realize it until later in life - long after we'd lost him all too soon to a stroke - I'd already eaten, sucked, nibbled, infused, stewed, and cracked many of the plants I was studying. We'd dig up the roots of sassafras for tea, and although I loved the smell of it, I remember strongly disliking it's flavor - even with more sugar than was probably necessary. Berries were picked galore with the majority being wild red raspberry and wild blackberry. I'd stand watch while my grandmother carefully washed, picked, and jellied the buckets of berries we'd bring in. We chewed on Sourwood leaves, sucked the nectar off Honeysuckle stamens, and ate freshly dug, raw Wild Potatoes straight from the ground (better to cook them, I've now learned). Everyday was an adventure with him around.

Now, I'm re-learning most of this information that he filled my tiny head with back then. Some of it is familiar, other parts are not. The best thing I've learned so far is that we have some incredible plants here in East Tennessee. So incredible that sometimes - just sometimes - they're poisonous AND edible. How can that be? Let me show you.

Common Elderberry
Low toxicity

Possibly another super-fruit, elderberries are known by researchers to aid in boosting the immune system, and help fight against some common ailments such as a cold, flu, cough, and chest congestion. Hippocrates described the Elderberry shrub as a medicine chest - full of nutrients and health benefits. One type of nutrient, known as flavonoids, are responsible for the high antioxidant properties of elderberries. The type found in these berries is one of the most powerful, and known to aid against cell damage. Also, elderberries may improve vision (especially night vision), and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to its ability to block LDL (bad) cholesterol oxidation.

Elderberries are perfectly edible when ripe. Even the flowers are edible! The roots, leaves, and unripe berries should be avoided.

Identification: A deciduous shrub with a soft, woody stem and large white pith (inside). Flowers are white, small, and erupt in large, umbrella-like clusters (top left). Fruits are small, purplish-black when ripe (right).

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting, diarrhea, and in extreme (rare) cases - coma.

Pokeweed (Poke)
Highly toxic - fatalities have been reported

It's hard to have lived in the southern Appalachian region and not have heard of Poke Sallet (Salad).  I've never actually tried it, but people who eat it say it's wonderful. The "salad" is not eaten raw, like a true salad, but is rather double-cooked (in two waters) and eaten like cooked greens (much like collard or turnip greens).

I've always heard the saying, "If it's red, you're dead!" The harmful part of this plant are the roots, seeds, mature shoots, and leaves - especially so if they've already turned red.  When preparing poke, you should never include the root, and make sure to discard any shoots tinged with red.

Identification: A widely branched, weedy plant with large leaves and thick stalks that turn red as the plant reaches maturity. It flowers on long stalks and are grouped in droopy clusters.  The berries are glossy, purple-black with red stems.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Burning mouth and throat, salivation, severe stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, spasms, convulsions, death.

Mayapple
Toxic except for Mature Fruits

I believe the Mayapple to be God's way of tucking a little tropical into our East Tennessee hills. The mature fruit (or "apple") doesn't taste like an apple, but rather has a distinctive lemon-lime flavor. And the "apple" doesn't ripen in May, like the name suggests. It's the appearance of the gorgeous little white flower peeking out from underneath that puts the "May" in Mayapple. (Left - photo taken yesterday: Mayapples emerging for Spring)

Identification: Look for Mayapples to grow in groups (right). One single rhizome grows below the ground from which multiple plants sprout in early Spring. Usually two types come up: A single stemmed plant and a Y-stemmed plant. Both will have a large, umbrella-like appearance with the leaves being deeply lobed and rounded in shape. The Y-stemmed plants are the ones that produce fruit.


On these, a single 6 (rarely 9) petaled, white flower (left) will appear around May and mature into an egg-shaped, greenish-yellow fruit by June. The fruit ("apple") will ripen usually by late July, early August and have a deeply yellow color. Because the leaves of the plant begin to die off at this time, it is suggested that you locate the Mayapples for harvest before they've grown to maturity. Look for these beauties in low-lying, moist, wooded openings.

All parts of this plant, except the mature pulp around the seed, are poisonous: the unripe fruit (right), leaves, roots, and seeds.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, excitement, headache, fever, coma, possibly fatal.

For more on the Mayapple, visit this awesome article over at Mother Earth News.

Wild Parsnip
Mild Toxicity - Contact Dermatitis Warning

I've never eaten, gathered, or even photographed Wild Parsnip, but after stumbling across it during research for other plants listed here I had to include it. It's a very interesting plant even without discussing the existence of a compound that causes phytophotodermatitis. Huh... What?!? Phyto- (plant) photo- (light) dermatitis- (skin irritation) - easier when you break it down like that!

In essence, sweaty, wet skin mixes with a chemical produced by the Wild Parsnip plant when you're out chopping it down, digging for roots, and before you know it, there's a big rash appearing on your skin. It could cause a burning sensation at first and later may appear blistery, runny, red, and inflamed. It is primarily associated with the chemical "attracting" or "magnifying" more of the sun's ultraviolet rays. So yeah, it's kind of like getting a really bad sunburn on patches of skin where the chemical has made contact.

Identification: A coarse, biennial herb that produces a low rosette of leaves in the first year, and a thick, hollowed, deeply-ribbed stalk topped with an umbrella-like cluster of tiny, five-petaled, yellow flowers the second. Leaves are without stems, alternating, toothed, oval in shape, and sometimes lobed. The fruit is elongated and dry. First year taproots are used like farm grown parsnips.

Route: Contact Dermatitis

Symptoms: Red, inflamed, irritated skin - may appear with blisters. Could take months to heal. Sometimes cause hyper- or hypopigmentation after the healing process.

Sassafras
Uncertain Toxicity - Could cause cancer

Worth noting is the recent research regarding the use of Sassafras in teas and edibles. Studies have found that a chemical inside the plant (Safrole) caused tumors - including cancerous tumors - on the livers of animals who'd been given a long-term exposure. No human studies have been done that I could find. But because of the animal research, the Food and Drug Administration has banned Safrole as a food additive. Some sassafras products, like Sassafras Tea, can still be found because it is marketed and sold as a "natural food."

It is not known for certain whether Sassafras causes cancer in humans, but researchers suggest you limit your Sassafras intake. Just for reference, long-term exposure would be like drinking 10 cups of Sassafras Tea daily, so limiting your Sassafras habit (does anyone have one of these?) to once a week may be okay.

Identification: A medium-sized deciduous tree growing 30-59 feet tall with bark that is deeply grooved and similar in pattern to an oak tree. The leaves are alternate, simple, and smooth, and can vary between having no lobes to up to four lobes. The flowers are tiny, yellow, and five petaled with blue-black, egg-shaped fruits maturing in late summer.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Long-term exposure could possibly cause cancer.

In case of poisoning by and plant or substance, you should contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

**Disclaimer**
I have to add this. These are plants found in our region - East Tennessee. Your area may differ, your poisonous plants may differ. Also, none of this information should be taken or used as medical advice. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek medical attention ~ not blog-help ~ if you or someone you know has ingested, inhaled, or otherwise come into contact with an unidentified plant.

Photos not watermarked with Random Joy Photography courtesy of Wildman Steve Brill, Jeff McMillian and Ted Bodner, Wildwood Survival, Larry Allain and Patrick J. Alexander, J.S.Peterson and William S. Justice

Poisonous Plants Series Part 2 {Nuts, Seeds, & Berries}

Welcome back to our Poisonous Plant Series. We hope you enjoyed Part 1 {Flowering Plants}.

Although many of our native and introduced nut, seed and berry producing plants are also known as flowering plants, I have grouped them separately because they are renowned for their fruit/seed production. Also, most of the following highlighted plants/trees feature a lower toxicity level - although this shouldn't be accepted as meaning less dangerous. The toxicity level may be much less in some cases, but they can still be quite dangerous - especially to children.

Pictured on right - Itty-Bitty Ashby with handful of acorns: Notorious for packing pockets full of nuts. One time, I found a gazillion wormy-like insects in her room. I traced them back to a bag full of buckeyes she'd stored in her bookshelf!

Also, it should never be assumed that a fruit or nut (seed) is completely safe, even when it's listed as nontoxic. Some people have food allergies that can cause mild to severe symptoms when coming into contact with these. Also, people with certain pollen allergies may react adversely to certain fruits or nuts. For instance, people with an allergy to birch tree pollen may also be allergic to apples. Weird, huh?!

Clover, our border collie with an allergen list a mile long, is extremely allergic to Hickory - second only to Chamomile. We had a full workup done on her a couple years back. When we found ourselves with a very sick pooch this past camping season, it didn't take me long after we got home to realize the hickory nuts we'd been playing with all week (oh, how I love that green husk smell!) was the culprit that set her off. Thank goodness the torrential rain came in and cut our trip short! Four hundred dollars and seven weeks of antibiotics (for secondary scratching and ear infections) later, she was well again. Needless to say, it didn't occur to us then how terribly dangerous hickory trees were going to be for our family.

Buckeye
Toxic - potentially fatal in large quantities

The nut of a Buckeye tree is similar in appearance to a chestnut, but you wouldn't want to roast these over an open fire. The nuts, leaves, and sprouts (especially in early Spring) contain a toxin that is harmful to humans. Deaths from ingestion have been reported.



Identification: There are four main species of Buckeye tree (also could be called a Horsechestnut in some parts) that decorate East Tennessee. The Yellow, Red, Ohio (above left), and Painted Buckeyes are all native species, along with a few hybrid trees that aren't graced with easy to remember common names. They all have a similar appearance, but can range in height with Red and Painted growing 16 - 26 feet, Ohio 50 - 82 feet, and Yellow 65 - 154 feet. All have a similar, compound leaf structure with leaflets in sets of five, fused at the base,  and evenly toothed. Flowers in panicles (clusters - think Lilac) and are yellow on the Ohio, Painted, and Yellow species of tree. The Red Buckeye produces red flowers. After blooming, a smooth, round capsule forms which can contain 1 - 3 smooth, shiny brown nuts with a whitish-beige "eye" or "scar" (right).

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Muscle weakness, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, depression, and stupor.

White and Black Baneberry
Toxic - Potentially fatal in large quantities. Severe mouth pain if consumed.

Both of these plants produce berries in the late Summer, early Fall. All parts of this plant are toxic, especially the berries and roots. However, the attractiveness of the berries make this plant especially dangerous to curious hands/mouths.

There are also two species of Bugbane (Mountain and Appalachian) in our area that are cousins to Baneberry and worthy of noting because they are just as toxic. Appalachian Bugbane is threatened in our area, and I'd imagine if Mountain Bugbane isn't yet, it will be soon as the USDA is only reporting it in 6 counties now.

Identification: Both Baneberry plants are dark green, growing 1-2 feet, with divided and subdivided, sharply toothed leaflets. Small white flowers cluster on the end of a long, naked, usually red stem (think bottle brush) and produce berries there. White Baneberry (top left) fruits are white in color with a large, black "eye" on each (giving the plant another common name: Doll's Eye as seen on Right). Black Baneberry fruits are shiny, purplish-black.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Severe burning of the mouth and throat, salivation, severe stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, hallucinations. A handful is enough to be fatal for an adult. As little as two berries could kill a child.

Red and White Mulberry
Low Toxicity

Mulberry wine, mulberry jelly, dried white mulberries, mulberry pie. Typically, mulberry is not one of the first fruits or berries you're going to consider toxic. But well-meaning cooks or curious eaters may not know that the unripe berries and the milky sap from all parts of this tree contain a hallucinogenic toxin.

Identification: Deciduous tree with alternating, somewhat coarse leaves that are toothed, hairy on the bottom (Red only) and have 3 different shapes: Oval (no lobes), Mitten (two-lobed), or Dinosaur-Footprint (three-lobed) (left). Flowers are small and tightly clustered. The berries of a Red Mulberry start out red and become purplish-black when ripe. White Mulberries produce white, lavender, or black fruits. The fruits are similar in appearance to a blackberry (below right).

The color of the fruit does not correspond to the color of the species! Nor does it tell you whether the fruit is ripe or not. To check for ripeness, the fruit should be moist and squishy. Unripe fruits are hard and crunchy.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Stomach upset, hallucinations.

Beechnut (Beech)
Low Toxicity - Large quantities necessary

Now, before you send a ton of emails saying beechnuts are completely edible, read me out. Although beechnuts are edible - raw or roasted - you should do so only when ripe. Children will be affected by this far more than adults, and you wouldn't want that little adventurer being plagued by a terrible bellyache on the trail, camping, or otherwise. In small quantities, the ripe fruit (indicated by a cracked, browned husk) can be eaten raw or roasted, ground, and used as a coffee substitute. It is not advisable to eat the unripened nuts (indicated by a green husk).

Identification: A large, deciduous tree with a distinctive, smooth, grey bark with "eyes" (right). Leaves are toothed, simple, and alternate (above left). Beech trees flower inconspicuously, and the fruits (nuts) are contained in a weak, spiny husk that opens in thirds. The nut has a prominent three-angled shape.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Stomach upset

Virginia Creeper
Severely Toxic - possibly fatal

Virginia Creeper is a plant that is often mistaken for Poison Ivy. It is a climbing vine that overtakes areas (and other plants!) quickly, and even around here I've found it tangled amongst the Wild Grape (edible). Which can be a terrible problem if you're in the habit of eating Wild Grapes.

Identification: A climbing vine with toothed leaves, five leaflets to a stem. Flowers small and inconspicuously. In the late summer - to early fall  it produces dark blue to purplish-blue berries in a terminal cluster.  Berries could be mistaken as wild grapes.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Nausea, bloody vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, dilated pupils, headache, weak pulse, sweats, drowsiness, and twitching of the facial muscles.

In case of poisoning by and plant or substance, you should contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

**Disclaimer**
I have to add this. These are plants found in our region - East Tennessee. Your area may differ, your poisonous plants may differ. Also, none of this information should be taken or used as medical advice. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek medical attention ~ not blog-help ~ if you or someone you know has ingested, inhaled, or otherwise come into contact with an unidentified plant.

Photos not watermarked with Random Joy Photography courtesy of Wildwood Survival, Ben Kimball, University of Tennessee AgResearch, Seiberling-Weakley-White, Ohio-Nature.com

Poisonous Plants Series Part 1 {Flowering Plants}

I cannot keep from saying again that Spring is coming! Soon, I'll be overwhelmed with blossoming foliage, sweet floral aromas, and gigabytes upon gigabytes of new flora photos. I found last year that, aside from photography, I love identifying plants, learning everything about them, and passing on that knowledge with the photos instead of just saying, "oh... here's a pretty flower." No... I like to say, "This is Bloodroot, and it's toxic. But did you know it was once used in toothpaste?"

But not all of our natural beauties are as nice as they look. Some are quite dangerous. And although this may not be news to you, I think it's always a good idea to have a refresher. And it's especially important for us to educate our little wilderness junkies. Remember, children love to stick things in their mouths. And they aren't just children. They're tiny humans, and this means they are susceptible to toxins in quantities a lot less than an adult. Also, as you'll see, sometimes it's our teenage risk-takers that are in much more danger. So here's a list of some of East Tennessee's most dangerous flowering plants.


Rhododendron / Mountain Laurel 
Severely Toxic - extremely dangerous even in small quantities

Since these shrubs are so similar in appearance and toxic nature, I grouped them together.  There are also many species (varieties) of each.  All parts of these plants are toxic, especially the leaves, blossoms, and nectar.

The first written account of Rhododendron poisoning dates back to the 4th century B.C. in which 10,000 Greek soldiers were poisoned from ingesting Rhododendron honey.

Identification: All characterized as shrubs, most in East Tennessee are evergreens. Rhododendrons (above left) have long, dark green, leathery, round-tipped leaves that curl cigar-style in cold temperatures. Their blossoms can appear in a range of colors, are large, and have an obvious five petal lobe.  Mountain Laurel (right) is typically smaller - looks much like a miniature Rhododendron. It's leaves are smaller, evergreen, pointed, and oval. The blossoms are much smaller, usually white or light pink, and have a five-lobed, tiny bowl appearance (below left).

Route: Ingestion (Human poisoning usually occurs through ingesting honey in which bees have collected nectar in Rhododendron dense areas. However, there are reports of children having been poisoned by eating the attractive flowers.)

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, vertigo, difficulty swallowing. Although rarely fatal to humans, it can be if large enough quantities are eaten.

Jimsonweed
Toxic - potentially fatal in large quantities

All parts of this plant are toxic, especially the leaves and seeds. Famously, and foolishly, used as a hallucinogen by recreational drug users. Educate your teen on the dangers of ingesting Jimsonweed!

Jimsonweed, also sometimes called Jamestown weed, received its name for the British soldiers who were intentionally drugged in Jamestown, VA while attempting to suppress Bacon's Rebellion. The soldiers reportedly stumbled around for eleven days appearing to have gone insane.

Identification: Bush-like plant growing 3-5 feet tall with dark green leaves that are soft but jagged and toothed along the edges. Flowers are gorgeous and shaped like trumpets, with petals spiraling out from the center. Often the blooms are white with a violet center. The seed capsule forms in late summer or early fall and is easily identifiable as it takes the appearance of a medieval mace with a thorned, elliptical shape. At maturity, this capsule opens four chambers to release the small, brownish-black seeds.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Weak and rapid pulse, dilated pupils, dry mucous membranes, little to no urine production, blurred vision, hallucinations, fever, thirst, nausea, vomiting. Later - slowed breathing, convulsions, coma. Rarely - death.

Poison Hemlock / Water Hemlock
Severely Toxic - extremely dangerous even in small quantities

It's important to know that this type of hemlock is NOT the evergreen tree. Rather, it's a part of the wild carrot family. With both plants being similar in appearance and easily mistaken for the edible Wild Carrot and Caraway plants, I have grouped them together. All parts are toxic.

Famously known as the poison that caused the death of Socrates. For his execution, he was given an infusion of poison hemlock.

Identification: Both plants resemble Queen Anne's Lace (Wild Carrot) and Caraway, but Poison Hemlock (above left) is especially dangerous as it resembles these edible wild plants the most. To tell the difference between edible and poisonous, look for the identifiable spotted-purple stem (on Poison Hemlock) or striped-purple stem (on Water Hemlock). Both grow around 5 - 8 feet tall. Poison Hemlock has divided, lacy leaves, while Water Hemlock's (right) leaves are twice or three-times compound and often have a reddish tinge of color. Both have small, white, clustering flowers gathered in multiple groups. Although Poison Hemlock (below left) has one root tuber (like Wild Carrot) it tends to have an unappetizing fragrance when bruised, while Wild Carrot smells like carrots and Caraway has a spicy, appetizing fragrance (think Italian sausage). Water Hemlock's roots are lobed, often with 5 or more tubers.

Route: Ingestion - Water Hemlock is the most deadliest species as a single mouthful can be fatal. There have been reports of children being poisoned from just placing the hollow-stem of the Water Hemlock in their mouth for use as a blow-gun or whistle.

Symptoms: Because the toxins are different in each, the symptoms differ.

Water Hemlock: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tremors, confusion, weakness, dizziness, and drowsiness. Progresses to seizures, hallucinations, delirium, tingly-prickly sensation in the extremities, numbness of skin, coma, respiratory failure, and death.

Poison Hemlock: gastrointestinal irritation, nervousness, trembling, staggering, coldness of extremities, and slowed heartbeat. Progresses to coma, respiratory failure and death.

Poison Ivy / Poison Oak
Toxic even in small quantities

Both plants are very similar in appearance. Matter of fact, it's pretty difficult to tell the difference. Because of this, I've grouped them together. All parts contain the skin-irritating oil, even dead plants. The oil can remain active for up to 5 years.

Unless you live in an area where Poison Sumac is around, it's easy to teach your children "Leaves of three, leave it be."

Identification: Poison Ivy (above left) is a high climbing, overtaking, woody-stemmed, sometimes "hairy" vine. Leaflets are in threes, and are thin, bright, shiny and elliptical in shape. In the spring, new leafs may appear red (below left). Since Poison Ivy is a deciduous plant, it's leaves turn red and shed in the fall. Poison Oak (right) is similar in appearance, although it does not climb. The leaflets are also in threes, thicker, dull green and are lobed (like an oak tree's leaves).

Route: Contact Dermatitis and/or Inhalation

Symptoms: Coming into contact with the toxic oil of these plants can cause blistering and intense itching at the contact site. Some people are more susceptible than others. Rash and itching usually appear within 24 to 48 hours of contact, but can appear in as little as 4 to 12 hours.

Animals (most importantly your hiking canine friend) are usually not affected by either, but can carry the toxic oils on their coats.

In case of contact, wash the area immediately in soap and water. Seek medical attention if any swelling occurs, especially of the eyes, as this may indicate a more severe allergic reaction.

NEVER burn poison ivy or oak to get rid of it. The oils can be vaporized during the burning process and can either "rain" back down on you or be inhaled via smoke into the lungs. This can cause severe respiratory reactions and lung irritation.

Horsenettle
Toxic - potentially fatal in large quantities

Horsenettle isn't really a nettle at all.  Rather, it belongs in the Nightshade family - right next to your edible tomatoes and potatoes. The Nightshade family contains at least 2,800 species of plants - some edible, some deadly. Horsenettle is a toxic one.

All parts of this plant are toxic, but mature plants (especially the berries) contain the most toxin.

Identification: Prickly-thorny, herb-like plant with alternating, lobed, dark, dull green leaves.  The leaves and stem have "stickers" on them.  The plant flowers white to purple, and grow cherry tomato-sized fruits starting green and turning yellow with maturity.

Route: Ingestion

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, respiratory depression.

In the case of poisoning by any plant or substance, you should contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

**Disclaimer**
I have to add this. These are plants found in our region - East Tennessee. Your area may differ, your poisonous plants may differ. Also, none of this information should be taken or used as medical advice. It is for educational purposes only. Please seek medical attention ~ not blog-help ~ if you or someone you know has ingested, inhaled, or otherwise come into contact with an unidentified plant.

Photos not watermarked with Random Joy Photography courtesy of Kris H. Light of East Tennessee Wildflowers or Poison-Ivy.org