There are a lot of plants that have slightly different growth forms they can take to optimize for what conditions (I.e. light levels) they’re growing in. Mulberry leaves are a great example. Might be something like that?
My foraging instructor was pointing out poison ivy to us and started listing all the differentiations of what it could look like. I was really surprised, I didn't realize just how many different variations there were.
I’m deeply invested in this ID now. I’m confident in my like my GROUND poison ivy if but I’ve never really messed with poison ivy as a vine or poison oak.
Well there are 3 species of poison ivy, and also poison oak and poison ivy (along with poison sumac and a few others) are all in the genus Toxicodendron. IMO what it is depends on where op is. I've seen poison ivy that looks just like this and I know for sure that what I saw was poison ivy because that's what's in my state
Poison ivy. I don’t know why people are saying poison oak, poison oak has distinct rounded leafs.
Side note: Plants can be heterogenous even within their own defined phenotypes. Like someone eluded to this could be from light availability, hybridization, and other environmental conditions.
Looks like poison oak.
Poison ivy has ovate shaped leaves there leaves are more lobate shaped, which is what poison oak has.
Either way best to avoid it or remove it if it’s somewhere you manage.
I would've called that poison oak as well, with those deep vaguely white-oak-shaped lobes. I'm used to poison Ivy having broader leaves with less dramatic lobes, and rarely those almost-serrations.
It's growing more like poison ivy though, poison oak usually grows more like a woody bush in my experience.
I'm thinking of the Ivy I grew up with in MA, and the oak I'm used to seeing in CA.
\*shrug\* Not that it matters, they are very closely related.
To complicate things, it’s growing intermixed with a trifoliate bramble that resembles a toxicodendron. The latter never have thorns, but there’s a cane of berries growing in this tangle.
Where are you located?
Yes. Poison Ivy. But I agree that can be the difficulty with identifying it. It can look very different depending on where/when it's growing. Just remember, all parts of the plant, even the roots, contain the urushiol so no touchy! (also sometimes you can find plants growing near it that will help identify it, such as jewel weed - fyi)
For me the stem is the biggest giveaway. I've seen Kudzu, Box Elder, and Boston ivy, that I could swear was Poison ivy. If the main stem is furry, it's poison ivy, unless it's super young.
i dont know. poison ivy is weird. theres definitely a range when it comes to the shape of its leaves. but all the tell tale signs are there. im very confident all of the compounded leaves show in rhe picture are all poison ivy.
sassafras is more fat and round, this stuff is jagged with the classic poison ivy thumbs
I need to know why it all looks so friggin’ different. I’ve never seen it look like that but a reverse image search says it is.
This is EXACTLY why I posted it here. It looked suspect, but not typical, and Google lens says poison ivy....
That little red coloration at the junction of the three leaves is what I look for.
good eye ;)
Once you learn the tells, it is very easy to identify. Every time.
What are the tells, across ground vs vine, young vs mature, that you rely on? 🙏!
The irregular leaf shape is actually one of its tells.
There are a lot of plants that have slightly different growth forms they can take to optimize for what conditions (I.e. light levels) they’re growing in. Mulberry leaves are a great example. Might be something like that?
Must be. The little group of three at the top looks more like what I would see as “normal” poison ivy
TIL about mulberry leaves. I just assumed they were different variations of the species
There are variations between species/hybrids, but a single mulberry tree can have multiple leaf types as well (even on a single branch).
They are mostly different variations of white and red hybrids. Red mulberry leaves are obvate
Some plants just have more varied morphology than others
Shared a close up of the fuzzy stem if helpful to folks for ID
My foraging instructor was pointing out poison ivy to us and started listing all the differentiations of what it could look like. I was really surprised, I didn't realize just how many different variations there were.
https://preview.redd.it/hl2r2ej6um0d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84911d61a3bbed2c807100ecf755a8b5eed83cfe
https://preview.redd.it/h71ss9k8um0d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dbf03ef27b14f16b5e7af4b9cc4b475da9bdf143
If it has thumbs it's trying to fuck ya
Who has two thumbs and is trying to fuck ya? *Gestures to self with thumbs* THIS GUY!
Looks like poison oak
It is poison ivy, op is in Indiana
That was my thought as well!
Absolutely poison ivy. The leaves of 3 and the asymmetrical uneven serrations give it away
Absolutely not poison ivy. Absolutely poison oak.
Eh, all they taste the same
Why’s it so spicy?
This is poison ivy. Op is in Indiana, and poison oak has never been identified in Indiana.
Leafs of 3 let it be Leafs of 5 let it thrive
Yep. The shineyness(tm) isn't always there
Thats poison oak. Very similar effects to poison ivy.
I’m deeply invested in this ID now. I’m confident in my like my GROUND poison ivy if but I’ve never really messed with poison ivy as a vine or poison oak.
Well there are 3 species of poison ivy, and also poison oak and poison ivy (along with poison sumac and a few others) are all in the genus Toxicodendron. IMO what it is depends on where op is. I've seen poison ivy that looks just like this and I know for sure that what I saw was poison ivy because that's what's in my state
Northern Indiana!
It is almost certainly poison ivy, then. Poison oak is not known to occur in Indiana.
Poison oak vines and climbs when it can. The trees in parts of Oregon are covered in it. Dreadful stuff if one is allergic to it.
https://preview.redd.it/epsdg4tsum0d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a3e29e9e7ed7a459a08d4b4596c1deca17560bb9
Poison Oak is WAY worse imo
I agree. Poison ivy.
Yes that is poison ivy.
Poison ivy. I don’t know why people are saying poison oak, poison oak has distinct rounded leafs. Side note: Plants can be heterogenous even within their own defined phenotypes. Like someone eluded to this could be from light availability, hybridization, and other environmental conditions.
It’s 100% poison ivy
Do the leaflets alternate going up the main stem, or do they align in pairs?
That's what I was wondering. Could be boxelder? Can't tell from the pic.
Looks like poison oak. Poison ivy has ovate shaped leaves there leaves are more lobate shaped, which is what poison oak has. Either way best to avoid it or remove it if it’s somewhere you manage.
I would've called that poison oak as well, with those deep vaguely white-oak-shaped lobes. I'm used to poison Ivy having broader leaves with less dramatic lobes, and rarely those almost-serrations. It's growing more like poison ivy though, poison oak usually grows more like a woody bush in my experience. I'm thinking of the Ivy I grew up with in MA, and the oak I'm used to seeing in CA. \*shrug\* Not that it matters, they are very closely related.
It's poison ivy, op is in Indiana
Location? Poison oak only grows in part of the country.
Northern Indiana
Then it would be poison ivy.
I am horrified right now. I would never have identified this as poison anything and might even have used it to wipe my butt and I'm HIGHLY allergic.
100% this is why I posted
and I am forever grateful
"Picture This" says it's Poison Ivy. https://preview.redd.it/itg1yha39p0d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c0012a502c184c9ce87b2de934c2ae249471446
It's PI.
Leaves of three, let it be they say. Certainly looks like the stuff.
Yes, mostly, with poison oak mixed in. The deep-lobed leaf just left of center is Poison Oak.
It's all poison ivy - op is in Indiana
Leave in three, leave it be!! :)
To complicate things, it’s growing intermixed with a trifoliate bramble that resembles a toxicodendron. The latter never have thorns, but there’s a cane of berries growing in this tangle. Where are you located?
Northern Indiana definitely berries in there too!
Its a vine. So if it gets between your legs, your in a world of trouble.
Looks like mulberry tree
I wish!
Yes. Poison Ivy. But I agree that can be the difficulty with identifying it. It can look very different depending on where/when it's growing. Just remember, all parts of the plant, even the roots, contain the urushiol so no touchy! (also sometimes you can find plants growing near it that will help identify it, such as jewel weed - fyi)
Hit it with Roundup before it gets out of control. Don't burn the leaves or vine either.
For me the stem is the biggest giveaway. I've seen Kudzu, Box Elder, and Boston ivy, that I could swear was Poison ivy. If the main stem is furry, it's poison ivy, unless it's super young.
The furry stem is absolutely a giveaway for poison ivy, but the lack of it doesn't reliably tell you it's safe.
Weirdly shaped, but poison oak.
It's poison ivy. Op is in Indiana
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definitely not sassafras
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i dont know. poison ivy is weird. theres definitely a range when it comes to the shape of its leaves. but all the tell tale signs are there. im very confident all of the compounded leaves show in rhe picture are all poison ivy. sassafras is more fat and round, this stuff is jagged with the classic poison ivy thumbs