[MAIPC] poison ivy identification question

[Richard Gardner]

I have been around poison ivy all my life and had at least one case of dermatitis from it every year. So I instinctively know what it looks like dormant, as a vine and most other forms. However, in the last week it hit home that there appears to be at least 2 different leaf shapes - a toothed/serrate leaf growing on the ground and a smooth margin when growing on trees. Am I correct?
Do we have poison oak growing in the mid-Atlantic? This question is what made me question the various forms of poison ivy. I know that according to theory the closer to an area that an organism evolves in the more diversity in form. In languages the original home of a language can be found by the diversity of words for a concept.
One interesting experience I have had with poison ivy is that when cutting thick vines on a tree with an axe the axe rang like a bell.
I use jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) fresh or preserved in isopropanol to reduce contact dermatitis. If I know that I have the urushiol oil on me I try to find a flowing stream and wash it off. When I get home or to a faucet I wash (hose off) exposed skin thoroughly. All clothing that has been in contact with it is turned inside out and washed several times. I dust my shoes with baby powder or any easily available fine powder such as white flour to absorb the urushiol.
                                                    Richard Gardner
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