[MAIPC] T. radicans

[Jil Swearingen]

Hi Susan,

First, poison ivy is a native plant and therefore does not meet the
definition of invasive (invasive is reserved for non-native species). PI
fruits provide an important food source for birds and maybe other wildlife
species. While it climbs up trees and hangs on tight with attachment hairs,
I have never seen it compromising a tree. It generally sticks to the main
trunk. It does not scramble over all the side branches like English ivy
does.

Thanks,

Jil

.............................
Jil Swearingen
Invasive Species Consultant
*In the Weeds*
410-200-7085
https://in-the-weeds.com/




On Mon, Apr 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM Susan Gitlin <
susan.mclaughlin at alumni.stanford.edu> wrote:

> Hello, folks.
>
> I know that poison ivy is a noxious weed, but I believed that was because
> of harm to human health.  I was not aware that it behaved as an invasive
> vine, smothering trees a la English ivy.  That would not make sense to me,
> except in rare cases, because in that case our local ecosystems would have
> far fewer trees.
>
> However, someone today told me that poison ivy smothers and kills trees.
> Has this always been the case, or is it now happening due to increased
> carbon dioxide in the air?  If the latter, is climate change converting our
> native plants into plants that cause ecological harm?
>
> If you could share your knowledge on this, I'd appreciate it.
>
> Thank you!
>
> --Susan
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