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xv Before you handle any plants, please learn to recognize poisonous plants. The two most familiar ones that cause serious skin irritations are woody plants: poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, Species 345) and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix, Species 283). Both have compound leaves, with the first having leaves divided into three leaflets and the latter having leaves divided into seven to thirteen leaflets. Poison ivy can grow as a vine, a trailing plant, and a shrub, whereas poison sumac is a short tree (to 20 feet tall). Refer to their descriptions in the book for other diagnostic properties. Contact with two herbs can cause a stinging sensation that is not particularly long-lasting, but it can be bothersome . Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis, Species 154) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica, Species 155) possess stinging hairs on their stems and leaves. The juices of water hemlock (Cicuta maculata, Species 230) may be lethal if ingested. I’ve read disturbing reports of children making peashooters from the stems of this plant and dying shortly thereafter. A single bite into its roots may be fatal, so be careful when dealing with this species and related plants such as the cowbanes (Oxypolis spp., Species 231s [“s” refers to the Similar Species section of a particular species account]). My dog almost died after ingesting a single seed from Stiff Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior ). The berries of some plants are poisonous , such as those of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Species 346), but I don’t believe eating one would be fatal. Again, be careful with these plants around children and pets. Consult the drawings and descriptions so you will be able to recognize these plants in the field. Note of Caution ...

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