Look Alike Plant Quiz

[Rick]

Here's a little game I put together to help you identify some look alike plants. Be careful! It might be harder than you think. So I'll give you a hint to get you started.

Three of these are neither friend nor foe. One is the berries and one causes woe. Who are we?

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/NoCheating_-1.jpg

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/NoCheating2_.jpg

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/NoCheating3_.jpg

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/NoCheating4_.jpg

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q348/safe_zone/NoCheating_5.jpg

[Canadian-guerilla]

i like how you labeled each one, no cheating 1-5

first is Poison Ivy ?

the second one ( five leaves ) looks like Virginia Creeper ?
found in the same areas as Poison Ivy

third ?

fourth in not Poison Ivy ?

fifth Poison Oak ?


i have a simple rule - IF LEAVES BE THREE, LEAVE IT BE

plus anything that remotely looks like Poison Sumac is taboo too

maybe a thread of Poison Sumac and look-alikes ?

[Rick]

Well, you didn't do too bad. You missed out on a good meal but you won't be miserable. Not bad!

[2dumb2kwit]

I'll be hanging out by number three....'cuz I love blackberries!:drool:

[Rick]

Indeed!!! Me, too. So, three down and two to go.

1. Poison Ivy
2. Virginia Creeper
3. Brambles or Black Berries

[Top it off - let it idle]

Leave of three and that smooth, glossy sheen. Do many berries have some form of thorns?

[Rick]

Well, I don't know how many is "many" but blackberries, raspberries and gooseberry are three that I know do unless they are cultivars. Native varieties of these three found in the wild will have thorns or spines.

[Rick]

Okay. This thing has run most of the week so I thought I'd wrap it up. Seems like no one is interested any longer so here's the answers.

1. Poison Ivy - You bet. This stuff can get you outside and inside. You may have heard you can build an immunity by eating small amounts. Don't believe it. You can break out in blisters in your mouth and throat just like you do on the outside. If it affects the throat the swelling can close your airway. The oil from the plant is the culprit. You can get it on you by touching or from the smoke if you happen to burn it.

2. Virginia Creeper - Leaves of three (not five), leave it be. But this little guy can look a lot like poison ivy on first glance.

3. Brambles or Black Berries. Another plant that looks remarkably like poison ivy, this one is easy to distinguish because of the thorns. Poison ivy has small hairs on the stem but not stickers.

4. A relative newcomer, Boston Ivy. It's here because you might be trying to figure out what that stuff is growing on your wall or house. At first glance it looks a lot like poison ivy but look closely and you'll see Boston Ivy attached to the wall by tiny little suckers. Poison Ivy uses brown hairy roots.

You can see the hair like roots of this well established Poison Ivy plant.

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/plants_poisonivy_panorama_dmachesney.jpg

versus the little suckers on the Boston Ivy:

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/914/65029237.JPG

5. Last but not least, Box Elder. Everyone I know is hard pressed to identify an emerging Box Elder from Poison Ivy. You really have to scrutinize them. If they happen to be growing together it's a bit easier.

http://www.savorlife.com/images/Show%20Garden%20Images/BoxElder1.JPG

In the picture above, the Box Elder is on the left and Poison Ivy on the right. Tough, huh? Once the Box Elder gets older then it starts to develop its 5 leaves (see the picture at the top. Look close, it has five leaves, not three. But when it first emerges, it can be very difficult to distinguish. Want proof? Which one is this?

http://www.rickveldman.com/poison/boxelder_tree02.jpg
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It's Box Elder.

[crashdive123]

Nice thread. Thanks.

[crashdive123]

While looking for some plant information I came across this http://solutionsforyourlife.com/hot_topics/environment/poisonous_plants.html#facts

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Hey Rick I don't know if you know this or not but Virginia Creeper is poisonous so don't eat any.

[2dumb2kwit]

Hey Rick I don't know if you know this or not but Virginia Creeper is poisonous so don't eat any.

Heck....I thought it was some kind of itchy-ivy. I've always tried to stay away from it! LOL:blushing: