Toxicodendron

Toxicodendron
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Magnoliophyta
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Sapindales
Family:Anacardiaceae
Genus:Toxicodendron
Species

See text.

Toxicodendron is a small genus of woody trees, shrubs and vines, all of which produce the skin-irritating oil urushiol, which can cause a severe allergic reaction; hence the scientific name which means "poison tree".

Members of this genus are very often included in the genus Rhus. As genetic studies show that Rhus without Toxicodendron is paraphyletic, this is the better treatment to follow botanically, but there is some practical convenience in having the highly allergenic species listed separately.

They have pinnately compound, alternate leaves and whitish or grayish drupes. The best known member is Poison-ivy which is practically ubiquitous throughout much of North America.

The plants are quite variable in appearance. The leaves may have smooth, toothed or lobed edges, and all three types of leaf edge may be present in a single plant. The plants grow as creeping vines, climbing vines, shrubs, or, in the case of Lacquer Tree and Poison Sumac, as trees. While leaves of Poison-ivy and Poison-oak usually have three leaflets, sometimes there are five or, occasionally, even seven leaflets. Leaves of Poison Sumac have 7-13 leaflets, and of Lacquer Tree, 7-19 leaflets.

The common names are somewhat misleading. Technically, the plants do not contain a poison; they contain a potent allergen. Poison-oak is not an oak (Quercus, family Fagaceae) at all, although leaves in some plants bear a resemblance to oak leaves; nor is Poison-ivy an ivy (Hedera, family Araliaceae) despite the superficially similar growth form. For this reason the names are hyphenated to help separate them from oaks and ivies. Both are members of the sumac family, Anacardiaceae.

Species of Toxicodendron

  • Western Poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum or Rhus diversiloba) is found only on the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada. It is extremely common in that region, where it is the predominant species of the genus.
  • Asian Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron orientale or Rhus orientale) is very similar to the American Poison-ivy, and replaces it throughout east Asia (so similar that some texts treat it as just a variety of the American species).
  • Potanin's Lacquer Tree (Toxicodendron potaninii or Rhus potaninii) from central China, is similar to T. verniciflua but with (usually) fewer leaflets per leaf.
  • Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans or Rhus radicans) is extremely common in much of North America. In the United States it grows in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. It also grows in Central America.
  • Western Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii or Rhus rydbergii) is found in western United States and Canada, and in northern parts of eastern United States.
  • Wax Tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum or Rhus succedanea) is a native of Asia, although it is planted elsewhere, most notably Australia and New Zealand.
  • Atlantic Poison-oak (Toxicodendron pubescens or Rhus toxicarium) grows mostly in sandy soils in eastern parts of the United States.
  • Lacquer Tree or Varnish Tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum or Rhus verniciflua) grows in Asia, especially China and Japan.
  • Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs in eastern United States and Canada.

Western Poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum or Rhus diversiloba) is extremely variable. It grows as a dense shrub in open sunlight, or as a climbing vine in shaded areas. Like Poison-ivy, it reproduces by creeping rootstocks or by seeds. The leaves are divided into 3 leaflets, 3½ to 10 centimeters long, with scalloped, toothed, or lobed edges. Western Poison-oak is found only on the Pacific Coast, where it is common, and ranges from Southern Canada to Baja California. It is the commonest species of Toxicodendron in California.

The Chinese Varnish tree (Toxicodendron potaninii or Rhus potaninii) is a Chinese tree growing up to 20 m tall, which like T. vernicifluum is used for lacquer production. The leaves have 7-9 leaflets.

Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans or Rhus radicans) grows throughout the United States as a creeping vine, a climbing vine, or a shrub. It reproduces both by creeping rootstocks and by seeds. The appearance varies. Leaves, arranged in an alternate pattern, usually in groups of three, are from 2 to 5 centimeters long, pointed at the tip, and may be toothed, smooth, or lobed, but never serrated. Leaves may be shiny or dull, and the color varies with the season. Vines grow almost straight up rather than wrapping around their support, and can grow to 8-10 m in height. In some cases, Poison-ivy may entirely engulf the supporting structure, and vines may extend outward like limbs, so that it appears to be a poison-ivy tree.

Western Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii or Rhus rydbergii) may grow as a vine or a shrub. It was once considered a sub-species of Poison-ivy. It does sometimes hybridize with the climbing species. Western Poison-ivy is found in much of western and central United States and Canada, although not on the West Coast. In the eastern United States it is rarely found south of New England.

The Wax tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum or Rhus succedanea) is a large shrub or tree up to 8 m tall, somewhat similar to a Sumac tree. It is native to Asia. Because of its beautiful autumn foliage, it has been planted outside of Asia as an ornamental, often by gardeners who were apparently unaware of the dangers of allergic reactions. In Australia and New Zealand, it is now officially classified as a noxious weed.

Atlantic Poison-oak (Toxicodendron pubescens or Rhus toxicarium) grows as a shrub. Its leaves are in groups of three. Leaves are typically rounded or lobed, and are densely haired. Poison-ivy shrubs are sometimes mistaken for, or simply called, Atlantic Poison-oak (Atlantic Poison-oak has small clumps of hair on the veins on the underside of the leaves, while Poison-ivy does not).

The Lacquer tree or Varnish tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum or Rhus verniciflua) is an Asiatic tree growing up to 20 m tall, the sap of which produces an extremely durable lacquer. The leaves have 7-19 leaflets (most often 11-13). The sap contains the allergenic oil, urushiol. Urushiol gets its name from this species which in Japanese is called Urushi. Other names for this species include Japanese lacquer tree, Japanese varnish tree and Japanese sumac (note: the term "varnish tree" is also occasionally applied to the candlenut tree, Aleurites moluccana, a southeast Asian tree unrelated to Toxicodendron).

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a tall shrub or a small tree, from 5 to 25 feet tall. It grows in wet soils such as in bogs, swamps, and flooded areas. It reproduces by seeds. Between 7 and 13 leaves on alternate sides of the vine form clusters that, in many cases, resemble a feather. The tree is found in parts of eastern North America, especially in the coastal plains and the Great Lakes region.

External links

Navigation

  • Art and Cultures
    • Art (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Art)
    • Architecture (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Architecture)
    • Cultures (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Cultures)
    • Music (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Music)
    • Musical Instruments (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/List_of_musical_instruments)
  • Biographies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Biographies)
  • Clipart (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Clipart)
  • Geography (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Geography)
    • Countries of the World (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Countries)
    • Maps (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Maps)
    • Flags (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Flags)
    • Continents (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Continents)
  • History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History)
    • Ancient Civilizations (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Ancient_Civilizations)
    • Industrial Revolution (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Industrial_Revolution)
    • Middle Ages (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Middle_Ages)
    • Prehistory (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Prehistory)
    • Renaissance (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Renaissance)
    • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
    • United States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/United_States)
    • Wars (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Wars)
    • World History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History_of_the_world)
  • Human Body (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Human_Body)
  • Mathematics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Mathematics)
  • Reference (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Reference)
  • Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Science)
    • Animals (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Animals)
    • Aviation (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Aviation)
    • Dinosaurs (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Dinosaurs)
    • Earth (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Earth)
    • Inventions (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Inventions)
    • Physical Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Physical_Science)
    • Plants (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Plants)
    • Scientists (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Scientists)
  • Social Studies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Social_Studies)
    • Anthropology (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Anthropology)
    • Economics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Economics)
    • Government (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Government)
    • Religion (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Religion)
    • Holidays (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Holidays)
  • Space and Astronomy
    • Solar System (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Solar_System)
    • Planets (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Planets)
  • Sports (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Sports)
  • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
  • Weather (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Weather)
  • US States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/US_States)

Information

  • Home Page (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php)
  • Contact Us (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Contactus)

  • Clip Art (http://classroomclipart.com)
Toolbox
Personal tools