The dreaded plant has three waxy leaves, white berries and hairy creeping vines. It's found in fence rows and forest undergrowth throughout North America.
The poison inside poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a natural yellow essential oil called urushiol. This vegetable oil is the principal ingredient in a lacquer-like phenolic compound that coats the leaves. It doesn't affect animals, but four out of five humans are allergic to it. Exposure leads to severe skin blistering!
A good way to get rid of poison ivy is to rub dish washing soap on the itchy area. Poison ivy affects humans by excreting organic oil that irritates the skin. The dishwashing soap breaks up the oil just like it would any other organic compound.
WHITE PAPER POISON IVY TEST:
When Grandpa isn't sure of whether or not a suspicious plant is in fact poison ivy, he subjects it to something he calls the White Paper Test. You can do this too, but be careful not to get the plant's oils on your skin. The White Paper Test is easy to do - just take a sheet of white paper and fold it over a leaf and squeeze. If the juice turns the paper black you have detected poison ivy! Be sure and use dish detergent when you wash hands after the test.
