Its stem, leaves and branches are covered with bristles that release a toxic irritant upon contact, giving the plant a painful sting that can last more than an hour for a victim unfortunate enough to touch one. It tends to grow in loose soil that's well exposed to the sun, and can reach more than two feet tall and three feet across, although many bullnettles are much smaller.
My research indicates that the odd-looking plant is even used by some folks in landscaping and xeriscaping, but most people would probably prefer to avoid it if possible. This perennial flowering herb flowers year round, and grows throughout the eastern half of the state, including Houston and the surrounding area. In the case of a major outbreak of symptoms, it's a good idea to seek professional medical care.
To minimize discomfort, the skin should be kept clean and dry, and hydrocortisone creams can be applied. Skin exposed to poison ivy should be washed as soon as possible with soap and large amounts of water. If a person finds himself in an area where he's likely to encounter the plant, he should wash all his clothes if there's a chance the ivy has come into contact with them.
As with most outdoorsy things we'd like to avoid, the best way to steer clear of poison ivy is to learn how to identify it. In extreme cases, the blisters may be large and swelling can develop. Its appearance can change throughout the seasons, and it will often feature small greenish-white flowers in the spring, and white berries in the fall.Ĭontact with poison ivy can cause symptoms to appear within 12 to 36 hours after exposure, which typically manifests as an itchy, burning rash and small blisters over the affected area. It can appear as a trailing or climbing vine, or as a small bush or tree. Poison Ivy typically has three-leaf clusters extending from a single stem, although occasionally it can have five. It grows throughout every part of Texas except for the Western Panhandle, and at one time or another, almost all of us have stumbled across it. We might as well get this out of the way first, because when most people think of a nuisance plant, poison ivy is one of the first things that come to mind. No one should eat plants he’s not familiar with, and people should research what's in their yards before a young child or a pet accidentally gets poisoned. We've already covered the area's snakes and bugs that can be dangerous, so now it's time we look at plants that people should be cautious around.
Lovers of the great outdoors will occasionally run across certain hazards, whether they're out in the woods or their backyard. Texans with a green thumb or those who venture into the wild in this state have a lot to be thankful for, because Mother Nature didn't shortchange us on natural beauty.