Toxicodendron
Toxicodendron is a genus of flowering plants in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. It contains trees, shrubs, and woody vines, including poison ivy, poison oak, and the lacquer tree. All members of the genus produce the skin-irritating oil urushiol, which can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Description[edit | edit source]
The genus Toxicodendron has about 15 species. They vary in size from small shrubs to large trees, and are primarily found in North America and Asia. The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, with leaflets in pairs, except for a single terminal leaflet. The flowers are small, with five petals and five sepals, and they are produced in clusters. The fruit is a small drupe.
Species[edit | edit source]
The following species are included in the genus Toxicodendron:
- Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)
- Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak)
- Toxicodendron vernix (poison sumac)
- Toxicodendron succedaneum (Japanese wax tree)
- Toxicodendron vernicifluum (lacquer tree)
Toxicity[edit | edit source]
All members of the genus produce an oil, urushiol, which can cause a severe allergic reaction in humans. This reaction, known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, can result in a rash, itching, and blistering. The severity of the reaction varies from person to person, and can be influenced by the amount of oil contact and individual sensitivity.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for exposure to Toxicodendron involves washing the affected area with soap and water to remove the oil, and applying a topical corticosteroid to reduce inflammation. In severe cases, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed. Antihistamines can help to relieve itching.
See also[edit | edit source]
Toxicodendron Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD