Page 8 - Forest Trees of Maine

A F P

The Maine woods are a pretty safe place; however, there are a few hazards
anyone who is learning to identify trees should be aware of.

POISONOUS PLANTS
Maine has two species of poisonous plants you should learn to identify: poison
ivy and poison sumac. Severe dermatitis can result when skin comes in contact with
roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit or with implements or clothing that have come
in contact with plant parts of either poison ivy or poison sumac. Smoke resulting
from the burning of plant parts of either species is also poisonous.
POISON IVY, or mercury, is widely distrib-
uted throughout the state. It grows as an aerially-
rooted climbing vine on trees or as a smooth,
trailing vine or erect shrub along stonewalls,
fencerows, roadsides and near water bodies.
The leaves are alternate, compound, with 3
very shiny, dark green leaflets. Leaflet margins are
lobed, wavy, toothed or entire. The stalk of the
terminal leaflet is much longer than those of the
2 lateral leaflets. Fall color is often a fiery red.
The fruit is a creamy-white, ribbed, globular, BB-sized drupe that occurs in
axillary clusters.
POISON SUMAC is an uncommon species that is found throughout the
southern part of the state and as far north as Penobscot County. It occurs as a small
tree in low, wet swamps. It is particularly common around Mt. Agamenticus in
southern Maine.
The leaves are alternate, 7–14 inches long, consisting of 7–13 leaflets along a
smooth greenish-red rachis. Leaflets have entire margins, short stalks, are dark
green and lustrous above with scarlet midribs, and paler and glabrous below.Twigs
are without hairs.

Poison ivy (above) and poison sumac (below) are two plants everyone going into the
woods should know how to identify and avoid.

6 A FEW PR EC A U T IONS