I am not a good golfer. An errant swing will send my ball into the woods more than once per round. If out of bounds, I hit another and go on. If in the hazard, I drop a ball from my purchased sleeve and play on. I will spend little time looking and less time retrieving the wandering plaything. Yes, I am one down on the competition, grieving over the $2 lost ball, yet happy to not need the calamine lotion.

Poison ivy is rampant in the spring, and especially this year. Be it the climbing variety (Toxicodendron radican) or the nonclimbing variety (Toxicodendron rydbergii), it likes undisturbed areas of shade, thrives on the influx of moisture we’ve had, and will easily tolerate cold snaps or summer heat.

Poison ivy is in the same family as poison oak, poison sumac, and kudzu. Poison oak and sumac are not common in Kansas, nor is kudzu ever reported. The ivy, oak and sumac contain a chemical called urushiol (pronounced oo-roo-shee-ohl). Kudzu is not toxic. Animals, except for a few higher primates, are not sensitive to urushiol, but they can carry it. Because urushiol is inside the plant, brushing against an intact plant will not cause a reaction. These are fragile plants, and undamaged plants are rare. Wind, birds, animal traffic and my 5-iron can easily expose the toxin. Drop a new ball and move on.

How toxic is the urushiol?

¢ Urushiol is toxic to 85 percent of the population.

¢ Only 1 nanogram (billionth of a gram) is needed to cause rash.

¢ 500 people could itch from the amount that would fit on the head of a pin.

¢ Urushiol oil can stay active on any surface for up to five years, even on dead plants.

¢ Specimens of urushiol several centuries old have been found to cause dermatitis in sensitive people.

You may have heard the rule “leaflets three, let it be.” The leaves, however, do vary, though the compound leaf always has three leaflets. Normally the center leaflet is the longest, with the outside leaves having the look of tight-fingered palms with opposing thumbs. Leaf margins can be toothed, lobed or smooth. They generally grow in a cluster of low, weedlike plants or a woody vine that climbs quickly. The plant is light green in the spring and the first to turn red in the fall. Even in winter, the plant’s toxins are active.

The best treatment is avoidance. Make sure there is a barrier between your skin and the plant. Long sleeves, pants and gloves are a good start. Remember the clothing, tools and golf clubs may now be contaminated and your skin contact with them is also detrimental. If you are exposed, wash immediately (urushiol penetrates in minutes) with a lot of cold water and soap. Hot water opens the pores of the skin, allowing the oil to penetrate; soap helps break down the oil. Rubbing alcohol applied to the area also is effective. Wash the clothing and tools as well.

If a rash appears, and it may take 7-14 days, do your very best not to scratch. Small blisters may form. The body fluids from these are not contagious, but your human manipulation may spread the urushiol that is near them. Scratching and rubbing can cause infection. The itchy rash can be treated with over-the-counter topical corticosteroids (commonly called hydrocortisones under brand names such as Cortaid and Lanacort). To help dry up the blisters, OTC products include baking soda, oatmeal bath, aluminum hydroxide gel, zinc acetate and calamine lotion. The rash may last 14-20 days.

Direct removal, grubbing, can be effective if done with caution. Do not incinerate or recycle the pulled plants – discard them. Herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr are effective, although repeated application may be necessary. For a large area, i.e., a golf course, these are not possible or cost-effective. Drop a ball and move on.

– Stan Ring is the horticulture program assistant at K-State Research and Extension Douglas County. He can be reached at 843-7058 or Sring1@oznet.ksu.edu.