Toxicodendron vernix, commonly known as poison sumac, or swamp-sumach, is a woody shrub or small tree growing to tall. It was previously known as Rhus vernix. This plant is also known as thunderwood, particularly where it occurs in the southern United States.

Like its toxic relatives poison ivy and poison oak, all parts of the plant contain a resin called urushiol, which causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans. When the plant is burned, inhalation of the smoke may cause the rash to appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty.

Description

Poison sumac is a shrub or small tree, growing up to nearly in height. Each pinnate leaf has 7–13 leaflets, each of which is long. These are oval-to-oblong; acuminate (tapering to a sharp point); cuneate (wedge-shaped) at the base; undulate (wavy-edged); with an underside that is glabrous (hairless) or slightly pubescent (down-like hair) beneath. The stems along the leaflets are red and the leaves can have a reddish tint to them, particularly at the top of the plant. New bark for a poison sumac tree is lightish gray, and as the bark ages, it becomes darker.

Its flowers are greenish, growing in loose axillary panicles (clusters) long. The fruits are subglobose (not quite spherical), whitish-gray, flattened, and about across; these are eaten by birds.

Poison sumac fruit are creamy white and part of a cluster. Typically, they are around in size.

Distribution and habitat

Poison sumac grows exclusively in wet and clay soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs, in the eastern United States and extreme southeast Canada.

Toxicity

In terms of its potential to cause urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, poison sumac is more toxic than its relatives poison ivy and poison oak.

The differences in toxicity in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are due to differences in the side chains of the chemicals in these plants. In general, poison ivy has a C<sub>15</sub> side chain, poison oak has a C<sub>17</sub> side chain and poison sumac has a C<sub>13</sub> side chain.

The dermatitis shows itself in painful and long continued swellings and eruptions.

Historical account

  • Frederick Law Olmsted (1836), the landscape designer of Central Park:

<blockquote>At the age of 14, Olmstead accidentally rubbed poison sumac sap on his eyes. His face and eyes became swollen, and his vision was impacted limiting his ability to read and attend school.</blockquote>

See also

  • Tecnu - skin cleanser

References

Further reading

  • .
  • Poison ivy / oak / sumac in "The Medicinal Herb FAQ".
  • The Poison Sumac Page—Photos and facts about poison sumac.
  • Poison Oak at Wayne's Word.
  • Toxicodendron vernix