Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix or Rhus vernix) is a woody shrub or small tree growing to 9 m (30 ft) tall. All parts of the plant contain a resin called urushiol that causes skin and mucous membrane irritation to humans. When burned, inhalation of the smoke may cause the rash to appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty.
Read more about Poison Sumac: Description, Distribution, Toxicity
Famous quotes containing the word poison:
“Yes, in the long run there is something to be said for these shiftless days, each distilling its drop of poison until the cup is full; there is something to be said for them because there is no escaping them.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
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