Eastern poison ivy

Numerous subspecies and/or varieties of T. radicans are known, which can be found growing in any of the following forms; all of which have woody stems: as a climbing vine that grows on trees or some other support as a shrub up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall as a trailing vine that is 10–25 cm (4–10 in) tallSubspeciesT. r. subsp. barkleyi Gillis T. r. subsp. divaricatum (Greene) Gillis T. r. subsp. eximium (Greene) Gillis T. r. subsp. hispidum (Greene) Gillis T. r. subsp. negundo (Greene) Gillis T. r. subsp. pubens (Engelm. ex S. Watson) Gillis T. r. subsp. radicans T. r. subsp. verrucosum (Scheele) GillisThe deciduous leaves of T. radicans are trifoliate with three almond-shaped leaflets. Leaf color ranges from light green (usually the younger leaves) to dark green (mature leaves), turning bright red in fall; though other sources say leaves are reddish when expanding, turn green through maturity, then back to red, orange, or yellow in the fall. The leaflets of mature leaves are somewhat shiny. The leaflets are 3–12 cm (1.2–4.7 in) long, rarely up to 30 cm (12 in). Each leaflet has a few or no teeth along its edge, and the leaf surface is smooth. Leaflet clusters are alternate on the vine, and the plant has no thorns. Vines growing on the trunk of a tree become firmly attached through numerous aerial rootlets. The vines develop adventitious roots, or the plant can spread from rhizomes or root crowns. The milky sap of poison ivy darkens after exposure to the air. The urushiol compound in poison ivy is not a defensive measure; rather, it helps the plant to retain water. It is frequently eaten by animals such as deer and bears. T. radicans spreads either vegetatively or sexually. It is dioecious; flowering occurs from May to July. The yellowish- or greenish-white flowers are typically inconspicuous and are located in clusters up to 8 cm (3 in) above the leaves. The berry-like fruit, a drupe, mature by August to November with a grayish-white colour. Fruits are a favorite winter food of some birds and other animals. Seeds are spread mainly by animals and remain viable after passing through the digestive tract.   T. radicans vine with typical reddish "hairs": Like the leaves, the vines are poisonous to humans.   T. radicans in Perrot State Park, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin   Flower detail, with bee   Poison ivy on a roadside   Leaves may be smooth or notched on the same plant.