Leaves of Three

Today was another perfect day and the calm before the storm according to our weather man. We made sure to take advantage and get out to do some walking. I think I have enough pictures to write all week! Before I get lost in the world of newly rediscovered plants that I had previously forgotten I think we need to talk about poison ivy. There is a vast amount of it all through the woods. I am wondering if I should call someone to take care of it. It hangs over the trail as if they are branches on a tree and can be so deceptive to the unperceptive.

This is all poison ivy! Every other tree is covered in it along the walking path. All the poison ivy got me thinking about teaching again and how I would structure a plant unit. I'm sure I would want to warn anyone against picking leaves of 3 but there are other very harmless plants that have leaves of 3.

Jack in the Pulpit: Arisaema triphyllum
This is a very interesting plant that typically grows low to the ground. I find it easy to distinguish from poison ivy, despite the 3 leaves because of the pedistal like stem the leaves sit on.The leaves tend to stay perpendicular to the stem. Poison ivy doesn't do that. If it is flowering it is even more distinguishable.

Mock Strawberry - Duchesnea indica
(I think, wasn't able to see the flower, but they looked like the ones in my yard)
There are at least 2 types of wild strawberries. The ones with white flowers that are edible and sweet and the ones with white flowers that are not. The mock strawberries are the ones that are not. But, they also have 3 leaves that are usually small. (Poison ivy does not have white or yellow flowers and does not have red berries)

Wild rasberries:  Rubus sp.
Yum! You don't want to confuse raspberries with poison ivy either! Although I think that is also rather difficult. Raspberries look like they have leaves of 3 as well but they also have prickers, poison ivy does not. These ones were black when they matured so does that make them a blackberry? I have no idea and the web isn't too helpful on that at the moment.

Have fun out in the woods! If you do encounter poison ivy, don't wash with hot water! Cold water and soap, maybe some rubbing alcohol.