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Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. XII SEPTEMBER, 1924 
No. 7. 
POISON IVY 
‘* About this time of year,’’ as the almanacs say, expect ivy 
poisoning. Not that this unpleasant and sometimes serious 
malady may not be experienced at practically any time of 
year, but during the fall when people are prowling through 
the woods seeking for bright-colored leaves the chances of 
collecting the brilliant vines or shrubs of Rhus Toxicoden- 
dron, the common poison ivy of this region, are considerably 
increased. At other seasons of the year ivy poisoning is more 
or less accidental. In the fall it is frequently deliberate. 
This is due in part to the confusion which exists in the minds 
of many between the harmless Virginia creeper (Parthenocis- 
sus quinquefolia) and the true poison ivy, both of which are 
brilliantly colored at this time of year. To make matters 
worse, these two plants often grow side by side or intertwined 
with each other, and unless one has learned to distinguish 
between them disastrous results are apt to occur. 
A few years ago, in England, poison ivy was put on the 
market as an ornamental plant under the trade name of 
Ampelopsis Hoggu, Ampelopsis being an old name for Vir- 
ginia creeper. Masquerading under this name, the plant was 
employed as a vine by many unfortunate people. 
In one 
ease, the climber grew up and surrounded a bedroom window 
and the occupants of the room, handling the foliage, were 
poisoned, with very serious results. 
There is, however, no difficulty in distinguishing at once 
between the two plants, since the Virginia creeper always has 
five leaflets, while the poison ivy has but three. 
Any one 
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