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].

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