Definition

Noun 1. A poisonous climbing plant: A woody vine native to eastern and central North America, known for producing an irritating oil that causes a severe, itchy rash upon skin contact. It is characterized by compound leaves with three leaflets, clusters of small greenish flowers, and whitish berries.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hikers should learn to identify Rhus radicans to avoid a painful rash.
  • The property was overgrown with poison ivy, scientifically known as Rhus radicans.
  • Contact with Rhus radicans can cause allergic contact dermatitis in most people.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical/medical contexts: The name is the formal botanical (Latin) name used for precise scientific identification, distinguishing it from other related species like (eastern poison oak) or (poison sumac).
  • The study focused on the urushiol content of Rhus radicans specimens from different regions.

Variants and Related Words

• Poison ivy (n): The common name for .
  • "Leaves of three, let it be" is a common saying to avoid poison ivy.
• Toxicodendron radicans (n): A synonym sometimes used in more recent botanical classifications, placing the plant in the genus.
• Urushiol (n): The name of the oily allergen produced by that causes the rash.

Synonyms

• Poison ivy: The standard common name.
• Markweed: A regional/common name.
• Poison creeper: A descriptive common name.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "As irritating as poison ivy": A simile used to describe something or someone that is persistently annoying or causes trouble.
  • His constant complaints were as irritating as poison ivy.

Noun

1. climbing plant common in eastern and central United States with ternate leaves and greenish flowers followed by white berries; yields an irritating oil that causes a rash on contact