Poison Ivy, Mango and Pistachio...Oh, My!

  Down near the marsh edge, we let the tall pine trees grow.  I do not like them next to the Little Bayou House since any storm blowing through the area can snap the trees off and plummet them through the rooftop.  Hurricane Katrina did that.  In the midst of the storm, I heard a loud crash and found that we had a delightful "pole" in the middle of our living room.  Thankfully, no one was injured but it could have been devastating.  Since then, every pine tree near the house has been removed...except one and I have been after Mark to cut that one for years.  Better to be safe than sorry.

  The trees near the marsh are far enough away that they will do no damage if they fall or get struck by lightning (which the trees are prone to do.)   The pines do not seem to mind the brackish water around their roots so all is well..by them and me.  There is a third reason that I am glad the pines are not too near the house.  They seem to be a poison ivy magnet!  Each tree is literally covered with the vines!  Since the trees actually stand in the marsh, I refuse to go "de-ivy" them.  (Again, better safe than sorry!  I do not want to step on a cottonmouth while trimming a vine.)  

  Eastern Poison Ivy can take over just about anything that is handy to climb.  It does this by little, hairy root like structures that actually penetrate its host (even if that host is a brick wall).  The base of the vine can get up to around six inches in diameter and the vine itself can grow to a length of a hundred feet or better.  It will branch out and twist around the host until it is entirely covered.  Most people would be in misery if they tangled with such a vine as they are (as the name states) poisonous.  A mere touch can lead to a horrendous rash!   The itching seemingly is all consuming and never ends.  

  Humans are prone to having a reaction to the urushiol or oils found in all parts of the poison ivy vine...leaves, roots and stems.  The oils remain even after the plant is dead and contact can still lead to misery!  I was pondering today how squirrels can worm their way through the thick mass of vines and not be affected by the toxins.  After watching several squirrels racing up the ivy covered pine trees, I had to find out the answer.  It seems that only humans and a few other primates have problems with the toxins.  Critters can actually eat the berries, stems and leaves without problems.

  Now...a little known fact to most of us.  Poison ivy is not the only plant to produce the rash creating urushiol.  Of course, most of us know that poison oak and poison sumac do BUT did you know that mango, cashews and pistachios all belong to the same family as poison ivy? Both mango trees and cashew trees can cause a irritating rash to those exposed. Pistachios seem to be less potent but still can cause rashes in some people. So folks even get a rash by eating the peels of a mango!  So...be careful folks!  You best leave the wallowing about in the leaves containing urushiol to the critters.  I think the pine can keep its poison ivy vine to itself.  I had good intentions of chopping it out this winter but...nah, I'm good.