Petrifying Poison Ivy - Page 3

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Page 3

Oct 5, 2005

The plant is actually quite pretty this time of year, when its leaves turn an enticing red. I was curious to see what it stood for in the Language of Flowers, but it wasn't included. I can see why. Although it might be tempting to send your enemy a rhus radicans bouquet, this is one circumstance where malice can quite literally hurt the sender as much as the receiver! Poison ivy, rather than its antidote, is probably the plant that should be called touch-me-not. So, when you're out admiring the fall colors, you'd do best to heed an old warning. "Leaves of three; let them be!"

Note: Since Suite 101 is making some changes in its writing staff, this may be the last article I publish here. If so, I will continue to post a new article each month at my own web site: http://www.thymewilltell.com . Thanks to all of you who have read and commented on my work over the years! I hope you will continue to do so.

Note: Rhus toxicodendron image is from Flora von Deutshland Osterreich und der Schweiz by Otto Wilhelm Thome, courtesy of the Texas Vascular Plant Image Gallery at http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/gallery . Rhus radicans flowers photo is by Mimi Kamp, impatiens capensis image is from Wildflowers by Homer House, and rhus radicans var. rydbergii photo is by Henriette Kress, all courtesy of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine at http://www.swsbm.com/homepage/

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