OUTDOORS: Toxic flora are common area hazards

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August 3, 2012

From left to right, poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak, are outdoor hazards it pays to be familiar with. Avoiding contact with these toxic-flora species, which are common in our area, is a must if one’s outdoor activities are to be fully enjoyed.

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Bob Kornegay

Outdoors lovers should be aware this summer that Southwest Georgia and surrounding locales are home to a number of poisonous plants that many people may not recognize or might brush against or touch without realizing it.

Three common species of this aggravating native flora often manifest themselves on the human body as a fiercely itching red rash that torments to distraction those who are sensitive to its presence.

They are poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), poison oak (Toxicodendron pubescens), and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).