Toxicodendron radicans (Linnaeus) Kuntze var. radicans . Eastern Poison Ivy. Phen: Late Apr-May; Aug-Oct. Hab: In a wide range of habitats, including mesic forests, rock outcrops, swamp forests, brackish marshes, open areas, disturbed ground, usually in more mesic to hydric sites than T. pubescens, and particularly common in areas with fertile soils, such as bottomlands or over calcareous rocks or calcareous sands (as in maritime forests). Dist: NS south to s. FL (and the Bahamas), west to e. TX, inland to VT, c. PA, WV, KY, and AR.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Var. radicans is the typical poison ivy of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, rarely found west of the Appalachians.

Other Comments: Toxicodendron radicans var. radicans is normally a vine, climbing by adventitious roots, and can attain diameters of 10 cm and climb to the crowns of forest trees. It can also resemble T. pubescens in habit, producing numerous meter-high upright stems from rhizomes.

Synonymy: = Va; = Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze ssp. radicans – K1, K3, K4, Mo2, NE, NY; > Rhus blodgettii Kearney – S13; > Rhus floridana Mearns – S13; < Rhus radicans L. – Bah, RAB, Tat; >< Rhus radicans L. – S13; > Rhus radicans L. var. radicans – F, G, WV; < Rhus radicans L. var. vulgaris (Michx.) DC. – Tx; > Rhus radicans L. var. vulgaris (Michx.) DC. – WV; > Rhus radicans L. var. vulgaris (Michx.) DC. – F, G; < Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze – Ar, Fl4, GW2, Mi, Pa, S, Tn, W, WH3; < Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze var. radicans – C, Il, NeUS

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 5