POISON
IVY – The largest specimen in Chenango County
Donald
A. Windsor
The
largest specimen of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) that I
have ever seen anywhere is growing right here in Chenango County. It
is about 40 feet tall with a spread (drip line) of about 15 feet
across. One of its lianas (woody vines that root in the ground and
climb up a tree) is the size of my wrist (7 inches circumference, 2 ¼
inches diameter). The Poison Ivy is climbing up a White Pine (Pinus
strobus) with two trunks. Next to it is another White Pine with
its own Poison Ivy. I refrain from giving the exact location of
these specimens out of fear that some misguided do-gooder may destroy
them.
Searches
in the surrounding area have not found any more plants. Searches
will continue.
Here
are some photos of this specimen. The winter shots were snapped on 9
November 2015. The summer ones were snapped on 5 August 2016. Anne
Altshuler is in some of the photos pointing.
Leaves and berries.
The
trunks of the 2 White Pine hosts. The Poison Ivy branches appear to
be growing out of the pine trunks.
The
ivy growing up 40 feet.
Berries.
Lianas
growing up the trunk.
Large
liana with pine needles caught in its rootlets.
Large
lianas. Note the crossing from one trunk to another.
References
consulted:
Leopold,
Donald J. ; McComb, William C. ; Muller, Robert N. Toxicodendron
radicans. In: Trees of the Central Hardwood Forests on North
America. An Identification and Cultivation Guide. Portland, OR:
Timber Press. 1998. Page 420.
Symonds,
George W. D. ; Merwin, A.W. Poison ivy Rhus radicans. In:
The Shrub Identification Book. The Visual Method for the
Practical Identification of Shrubs, Including Woody Vines and Ground
Covers.. New York, NY: William Morrow & Co. 1963. Pages
240-243. Master Pages 74-77.
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