Introductory
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



ABBREVIATION : 
TOXTOX

SYNONYMS : 
   Rhus toxicodendron L. [5]
   Rhus toxicarium Salisb. [8]
   Toxicodendron toxicodendron (L.) Britt. [5]
   Toxicodendron quercifolium (Michx.) Greene [8,20]
   Toxicodendron pubescens Miller [21]


SCS PLANT CODE : 
NO-ENTRY


COMMON NAMES : 
   eastern poison-oak
   poison-oak
   poison-ivy
   poison sumac
   oakleaf ivy
   oakleaf poison-ivy


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name for eastern poison-oak is
Toxicodendron toxicarium (Salisb.) Gillis (Anacardiaceae) [8,9].  This
taxon is often confused in the literature with eastern poison-ivy (T.
radicans), with which it has shared the synonym Rhus toxicodendron.  A
source of confusion over identification arises from sexual dimorphism in
eastern poison-oak; male clones produce leaflets with deeper, more
pronounced lobes than do female clones [8].  This report follows the
nomenclature of Gillis [8], who appears to have resolved much of the
confusion.

The possibility of hybridization between eastern poison-oak and other
Toxicodendron species is limited due to differences in habitat.  Eastern
poison-oak forms occasional hybrids with eastern poison-ivy (T.
radicans) where their ranges overlap [8].



LIFE FORM : 
Shrub

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Janet Sullivan, March 1994


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Sullivan, Janet. 1994. Toxicodendron toxicarium. In: Remainder of Citation

DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Eastern poison-oak occurs from New Jersey to Florida, west to eastern
Texas, and north to southeastern Kansas [8].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES12  Longleaf - slash pine
   FRES13  Loblolly - shortleaf pine
   FRES14  Oak - pine


STATES : 
     AL  AR  DE  FL  GA  KS  LA  MD  MS  MO
     NJ  NC  OK  SC  TN  TX  VA  WV


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     NATR


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
   14  Great Plains


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K076  Blackland prairie
   K081  Oak savanna
   K082  Mosaic of K074 and K100
   K084  Cross Timbers
   K086  Juniper - oak savanna
   K088  Fayette prairie
   K100  Oak - hickory forest
   K111  Oak - hickory - pine forest
   K112  Southern mixed forest
   K115  Sand pine scrub


SAF COVER TYPES : 
    40  Post oak - blackjack oak
    43  Bear oak
    45  Pitch pine
    46  Eastern redcedar
    70  Longleaf pine
    71  Longleaf pine - scrub oak
    72  Southern scrub oak
    76  Shortleaf pine - oak
    80  Loblolly pine - shortleaf pine
    81  Loblolly pine
    82  Loblolly pine - hardwood
    83  Longleaf pine - slash pine
    84  Slash pine


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
Eastern poison-oak is seldom abundant [8].  It occurs in open woodlands
of various mixtures:  longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)-scrub oak (Quercus
spp.), pine (Pinus spp.)-hardwood, and second-growth hardwood [9].  It
is found most often in scrub oak and pine woodland savannas with an
understory of ericaceous shrubs and bunchgrasses including threeawn
(Aristida spp.), needlegrass (Stipa spp.), and bluestem (Andropogon
spp.) [8].  Eastern poison-oak occurs under loblolly pine (P. taeda)
plantations in Louisiana [2].  It is listed as an associated species in
a big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)-kochia (Kochia scoparia)-common
sunflower (Helianthus annuus) community that occurs in Kansas.  Other
associates in that community include western ragweed (Ambrosia
psilostachya), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), lambsquarters
(Chenopodium album), and sedge (Carex spp.)  [6].  In Alabama, eastern
poison-oak is reported from a community in the Bee Branch Gorge Research
Natural Area which represents the southernmost limit of eastern hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis).  Tree associates of eastern poison-oak in this
community include eastern hemlock and American beech (Fagus
grandifolia).  Understory associates include muscadine grape (Vitis
rotundifolia) and cane (Arundinaria gigantea) [22].

Eastern poison-oak is seldom associated with other members of its genus
because of differences in soil requirements [8].

VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Specific instances of wildlife use of eastern poison-oak have not been
reported in the literature, although Blair [2] listed it as palatable
browse for white-tailed deer.  Eastern poison-ivy, a closely related
species, is browsed by white-tailed deer, and its fruits are consumed by
61 species of wildlife [15].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Rhus toxicodendron occurred with 1 percent frequency on 10-year-old,
unreclaimed lignite mine sites.  It occurred at 15 percent frequency on
30-year-old sites, and 67 percent on 60-year-old sites.  It was not
found on sites less than 10 years old, but did occur on undisturbed
adjacent sites at 3 percent frequency.  It is not clear from this
article whether the reference is to eastern poison-ivy or to eastern
poison-oak [23].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Eastern poison-ivy was used as a stimulant and a narcotic.  Its juice was
used to make indelible ink [19].  It is likely that eastern poison-oak
has been used for the same purposes.


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Eastern poison-oak produces uroshiol, an allergenic oil that causes
dermatitis in susceptible individuals [11].  A skin test has been
developed to determine individual sensitivity to uroshiol.  Other work
is in progress to develop preventative treatments for sensitive
individuals [18].

Eastern poison-oak can be controlled by a number of herbicides [10,11].

BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Eastern poison-oak is a native, rhizomatous, deciduous shrub [5].  It
has slender, erect stems that are woody for 20 to 24 inches (50-60 cm)
[5], and are not over 3 feet (1 m) tall.  The trifoliate leaves are
oak-like in appearance with three to seven lobes [20].  Many authors
report that the leaves are more leathery than those of eastern
poison-ivy; however, Gillis [8] stated that this is a variable
character.  The flowers are produced in dense panicles 1 to 3 inches
(2.5-7.6 cm) long.  The fruit is a hard, reniform-globose or
depressed-globose drupe [8,20].  Unlike its congener eastern poison-ivy,
it is not a climber, nor does it produce aerial roots [8].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Eastern poison-oak reproduces both vegetatively and by seed [8,11].

Vegetative reproduction in eastern poison-oak is accomplished by the
formation of clones via rhizomes [20].  The intervals at which aerial
stems are produced from rhizomes are greater than the intervals observed
for eastern poison-ivy [8].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Eastern poison-oak occurs on dry barrens, pinelands [5], and oak woods
[8].  It is largely confined to sandy soils of low fertility on the
Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains.  Soils are most often coarse sands that
are low in calcium, magnesium, and potassium [8].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Eastern poison-oak is probably not tolerant of heavy shade [19].  In
Louisiana, eastern poison-oak production was highest under loblolly pine
plantations that had been lightly thinned, and lowest under similar
plantations that had been heavily thinned [2].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Eastern poison-oak is in flower from May to June, and ripened fruits are
available from August through November [5].

FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Eastern poison-oak occurs in the understory of open woods, particularly
in the longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and scrub oak types [8,9].  The
open condition of these communities is maintained by fire.
Historically, fires in these communities occurred frequently (intervals
from 3 to 20 years) and were usually low-intensity surface fires.  It is
likely that eastern poison-oak is able to survive low-intensity surface
fires by sprouting from rhizomes if top-killed.  In Texas, eastern
poison-oak is a common understory plant in a dry, upland longleaf pine
savanna which has been maintained by periodic prescribed fire (burned at
3- to 5-year intervals) [13].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Rhizomatous shrub, rhizome in soil

FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
No specific information on eastern poison-oak mortality or top-kill due
to fire was available in the literature.  It is likely that, given its
small stature, eastern poison-oak is easily top-killed by even
low-intensity surface fires.  It is likely to survive such fires and
sprout from rhizomes.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
In Tennessee, eastern poison-oak occurred on plots that were prescribed
burned annually between 1963 and 1988.  Years and duration of its
occurrence were not reported; the authors stated only that it "occurred
widely across the years".  Eastern poison-oak was also present on plots
that were burned periodically (1964 and 1969) but disappeared from these
plots after 1972 [3].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The allergenic oil (uroshiol) from eastern poison-oak can be carried on
soot particles when the plant is burned and causes dermatitis on persons
working in areas where eastern poison-oak is burned [11].  The smoke can
injure lungs.  Reports of ill effects from exposure to the smoke of
burning eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
include head-to-toe dermatitis, fever, lung infections, and even death
caused by the throat swelling up [18].  It is likely that under similar
burning conditions and plant densities, smoke from eastern poison-oak
could cause the same problems.  Eastern poison-oak, however, has not
been reported at anywhere near the same densities encountered for either
eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak.

REFERENCES
SPECIES: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak 



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Related categories for Species: Toxicodendron toxicarium | Eastern Poison-Oak