Poison ivies are not always the only plants infamous for their toxic nature against humans. Many dread encountering them in bushes and forests while going on a hike or a walk.
They are often confused with other plants of their family, like poison oak and poison sumac, but there is another plant that has a striking resemblance with poison ivies, and this plant is called Kudzu. Thus, in this article, we will analyze the topic of kudzu leaf VS poison ivy in detail.
Kudzu Leaf vs. Poison Ivy
These two plants are very similar in their physical appearances, but at the same time, there are many essential differences between them as well. So let us look at some of the features of both plants.
Kudzu
- Kudzu is a vine that can grow up to 30 meters in a single season. You can generally find it on the roadsides, abandoned fields, or woodland edges.
- It has pink flowers with the scent of grapes and blooms during late summers.
- Once the flowers mature, they turn into brown pods, which are the fruits of this plant.
- It is considered an aggressive kind of vine that can heavily affect agricultural production if left unchecked.
- The leaves of Kudzu are trifoliate, with the center leaflet having a longer stalk.
Poison Ivy
- Poison Ivy can also develop as a vine or shrub and usually become three to four inches long.
- It has small off-white flowers with orange centers. They grow in a cluster and bloom in spring.
- It also has green and white colored berries that are only edible to birds.
- It is not notorious for giving extremely violent rashes to humans once it comes in contact with their skin because of the presence of a toxic oil called urushiol.
Similarities and dissimilarities between the two
- Poison Ivy and Kudzu are similar in appearance as both have trifoliate leaves.
- But Kudzu stems are hairy and the vines twine to climb rather than use their rootlets like poison ivy.
- Both cause some sort of damage to humans. Kudzu affects vegetation by smothering other plants with its heavy shading and aggressive growth.
- But poison ivy makes humans break into ugly blisters of skin infection that can stay for a month.
How to deal with Kudzu and Poison ivy?
For managing the growth of Kudzu plants, it is paramount to use the method of cutting and treating. Once matured, they can reach the sunlight and cover canopies. The best way to prevent it is to sever the vines at the base, and this will kill the vine above the cut, making them eventually dry up.
It is best to avoid Poison ivies altogether, as even going near the plant can be dangerous. Even if you do encounter it, try to wash the place of contact within 10 minutes, as that might be able to counter the infection.
Wrapping It Up
Both poison ivy and Kudzu have made a name for themselves for giving humans a tough time in separate ways. Hopefully, we were able to provide ample information regarding these two plants.
Img Src: Scott Ehardt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.