Mark Meckes
21st May 2005, 05:00 AM
Bamboo and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron species, see also Rhus species), coexist amicably in regions where they bamboo and Poison Ivy are present, happily taking up residence in a different space in the ecosystem.
Though Poison Ivy may not (?) adhere to a living bamboo culm long enough to reach skyward, as it does on a longer lived tree trunk, Poison Ivy will happily grow as a ground cover at the base of a bamboo stand or grove, and will scramble upwards and over suspended branches and grove litter, searching for better sunlight and growing conditions.
Of concern are situations where individuals who are susceptible to the adverse effects of Poison Ivy stroll through a grove carpeted with the plant, or their pets do, and during grove maintenance and harvesting of the bamboo materials.
Care should be taken during maintenance and harvest by using protective means, and above all, not to drag out the bamboo materials, especially the harvest, by brushing them through fresh leaves of Poison Ivy, as the exposed poisonous sap may adhere to the future `craft and construction material'.
(Winter months, when the Poison Ivy has lost it's leaves is a safer working environment.)
Make sure that the bamboo poles are lifted upright over the Poison Ivy and placed, trimmed and organized somewhere the ivy isn't growing.
After harvesting, at least as a precaution, and a recommended part of processing bamboo poles, they could be scrubbed - washed with soapy water, additionally benefiting the removeable of dirt and clinging insects such as aphids, mealybugs, mites and scale etc., if present.
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Urushol, a derivative of Poison Ivy has been used for other purposes throughout the ages.
See this thread in the Bamboo Forum > Working with Bamboo:
Bamboo lacquerware and urishol based lacquers ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1304)
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The Poison Ivy plant, Toxicodendron radicans is native to the eastern USA.
Toxicodendron radicans is also called Rhus toxicodendron or Rhus radicans.
Toxicodendron rydbergii is native to the midwestern USA.
Western Poison Oak is Rhus diversiloba, also called Toxicodendron diversiloba
Poison Sumac is Rhus vernix.
Following are some web sites providing information about Poison Ivy:
Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html) from the FDA Consumer magazine - September 1996 Issue
POISON IVY: How to Identify and Control (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/plantpage/flora/poivy/) by the Conservation Commission of Missouri
Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Information center (http://poisonivy.aesir.com/)
Poison Oak (http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0802.htm) - More Than Just Scratching The Surface
- from article in Herbalgram (American Botanical Council)
Volume 34: 36-42, 1995 by W.P. Armstrong and W.L. Epstein, M.D.
Poison Oak FAQ (http://www.knoledge.org/oak/)
Poison Ivy: an Exaggerated Immune Response to Nothing Much (http://www.bio.umass.edu/micro/immunology/poisoniv.htm) Reic Martz - University of Massachusetts
Poison Ivy Dermatitis (http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/poison_ivy_dermati.html) - American Osteopathic College of Dermatology
Though Poison Ivy may not (?) adhere to a living bamboo culm long enough to reach skyward, as it does on a longer lived tree trunk, Poison Ivy will happily grow as a ground cover at the base of a bamboo stand or grove, and will scramble upwards and over suspended branches and grove litter, searching for better sunlight and growing conditions.
Of concern are situations where individuals who are susceptible to the adverse effects of Poison Ivy stroll through a grove carpeted with the plant, or their pets do, and during grove maintenance and harvesting of the bamboo materials.
Care should be taken during maintenance and harvest by using protective means, and above all, not to drag out the bamboo materials, especially the harvest, by brushing them through fresh leaves of Poison Ivy, as the exposed poisonous sap may adhere to the future `craft and construction material'.
(Winter months, when the Poison Ivy has lost it's leaves is a safer working environment.)
Make sure that the bamboo poles are lifted upright over the Poison Ivy and placed, trimmed and organized somewhere the ivy isn't growing.
After harvesting, at least as a precaution, and a recommended part of processing bamboo poles, they could be scrubbed - washed with soapy water, additionally benefiting the removeable of dirt and clinging insects such as aphids, mealybugs, mites and scale etc., if present.
-------------------------
Urushol, a derivative of Poison Ivy has been used for other purposes throughout the ages.
See this thread in the Bamboo Forum > Working with Bamboo:
Bamboo lacquerware and urishol based lacquers ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1304)
-------------------------
The Poison Ivy plant, Toxicodendron radicans is native to the eastern USA.
Toxicodendron radicans is also called Rhus toxicodendron or Rhus radicans.
Toxicodendron rydbergii is native to the midwestern USA.
Western Poison Oak is Rhus diversiloba, also called Toxicodendron diversiloba
Poison Sumac is Rhus vernix.
Following are some web sites providing information about Poison Ivy:
Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html) from the FDA Consumer magazine - September 1996 Issue
POISON IVY: How to Identify and Control (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/plantpage/flora/poivy/) by the Conservation Commission of Missouri
Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Information center (http://poisonivy.aesir.com/)
Poison Oak (http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0802.htm) - More Than Just Scratching The Surface
- from article in Herbalgram (American Botanical Council)
Volume 34: 36-42, 1995 by W.P. Armstrong and W.L. Epstein, M.D.
Poison Oak FAQ (http://www.knoledge.org/oak/)
Poison Ivy: an Exaggerated Immune Response to Nothing Much (http://www.bio.umass.edu/micro/immunology/poisoniv.htm) Reic Martz - University of Massachusetts
Poison Ivy Dermatitis (http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/poison_ivy_dermati.html) - American Osteopathic College of Dermatology