Journal to a Muse

Itchy Itchy Yuck Yuck Yuck

I managed to get pretty deeply into my 6th decade before running into
POISON IVY

I think that in California where I grew up, we mostly only worried about Poison Oak. And I avoided it. Apparently here in the alleged Texas desert, though, expecially in my happy herb garden, or violet patch, there lurks Rhus radicans, the great pretender. Looking like a lovely, welcome green vine. Who knew?

What is the Scientic Classification, you ask?
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac belong to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. NUTS!
Poison ivy is classified as Rhus radicans or Toxicondendron radicans. Poison oak is Rhus diversiloba or Toxicondendron diversilobum and poison sumac is Rhus vernix or Toxicondendron vernix.

Don't you love words with x's?

Apparently goats do an excellent job of cleaning out poison ivy and other unwanted brush, especially when its growing up in the fence line. I don't have a goat. I will have gloves next time. And you can't burn it because the smoke can cause poison ivy rashes in your lungs.
Triple yuck.

Now, I took a picture of MY eensy bit of rash. To be honest, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) rashes are pretty gross. These rashes have been caused by contact with urushiol oil (as in poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac) or some other irritant such as oxalate crystals (as in virginia creeper). You are warned and I suggest that lunch be held off until sometime after viewing.

If you are into this sort of thing, OR planning to be a dermatologist, there's lots of neat/gross information and more photographs here.
Personally, I think being on post-cancer treatment meds (basically chemo with fewer side effects) managed to suppress my immune system... Hence the last week's itching and THIS weeks "bursting forth of the goo." Apparently I can be grateful that it didn't touch me MORE places and that I'm not MORE allergic. Apparently it CAN kill you if you are really susceptible.
I hope I don't have a bad reaction to cashews.