Toxicodendron pubescens, Atlantic poison-oak
Sullivan, Janet. 1994. Toxicodendron pubescens, Atlantic poison-oak. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/toxpub
| Abbreviation | Common Name | Scientific Name | Classification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants | ||||
| TOXPUB | Atlantic poison-oak | Toxicodendron pubescens | Life Form: Plants/Shrub Kingdom: Plantae Class: Dicot Order: Sapindales Family: Anacardiaceae Genus: Toxicodendron | Fed. Protected: No Nativity: Native Invasiveness: Noninvasive |
Taxonomy
The currently accepted scientific name for Atlantic poison-oak is Toxicodendron pubescens Miller (Anacardiaceae) [21,24,25]. This taxon is often confused in the literature with eastern poison-ivy (T. radicans), with which it has shared the synonym Rhus toxicodendron.
The possibility of hybridization between Atlantic poison-oak and other Toxicodendron species is limited due to differences in habitat. Atlantic poison-oak forms occasional hybrids with eastern poison-ivy where their ranges overlap [8].
Synonyms
- Rhus toxicodendron L. [5]
- Rhus toxicarium Salisb. [8]
- Toxicodendron toxicodendron (L.) Britt. [5]
- Toxicodendron toxicarium (Salisb.) Gillis [8,9]
- Toxicodendron quercifolium (Michx.) Greene [8,20]
Other Common Names
Atlantic poison oak
General Distribution
Atlantic poison-oak occurs from New Jersey to Florida, west to eastern Texas, and north to southeastern Kansas [8].
States
- United States: AL AR DE FL GA KS LA MD MS MO NJ NC OK SC TN TX VA WV
Site Characteristics
Atlantic poison-oak occurs on dry barrens, pinelands [5], and oak woods [8]. It is largely confined to sandy soils of low fertility on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. Soils are most often coarse sands that are low in calcium, magnesium, and potassium [8].
Plant Communities
Atlantic poison-oak is seldom abundant [8]. It occurs in open woodlands of various mixtures: longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)-scrub oak (Quercus spp.), pine (Pinus spp.)-hardwood, and second-growth hardwood [9]. It is found most often in scrub oak and pine woodland savannas with an understory of ericaceous shrubs and bunchgrasses including threeawn (Aristida spp.), needlegrass (Stipa spp.), and bluestem (Andropogon spp.) [8]. Atlantic poison-oak occurs under loblolly pine (P. taeda) plantations in Louisiana [2]. It is listed as an associated species in a big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)-kochia (Kochia scoparia)-common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) community that occurs in Kansas. Other associates in that community include western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), and sedge (Carex spp.) [6]. In Alabama, eastern poison-oak is reported from a community in the Bee Branch Gorge Research Natural Area which represents the southernmost limit of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Tree associates of Atlantic poison-oak in this community include eastern hemlock and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Understory associates include muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) and cane (Arundinaria gigantea) [22].
Atlantic poison-oak is seldom associated with other members of its genus because of differences in soil requirements [8].
Botanical Description
Atlantic poison-oak is a native, rhizomatous, deciduous shrub [5]. It has slender, erect stems that are woody for 20 to 24 inches (50-60 cm) [5], and are not over 3 feet (1 m) tall. The trifoliate leaves are oak-like in appearance with three to seven lobes [20]. Many authors report that the leaves are more leathery than those of eastern poison-ivy; however, Gillis [8] stated that this is a variable character. The flowers are produced in dense panicles 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) long. The fruit is a hard, reniform-globose or depressed-globose drupe [8,20]. Unlike its congener eastern poison-ivy, it is not a climber, nor does it produce aerial roots [8].
Raunkiaer Life Form (Raunkiaer 1934)
- Phanerophyte
Seasonal Development
Atlantic poison-oak is in flower from May to June, and ripened fruits are available from August through November [5].
Regeneration Processes
Atlantic poison-oak reproduces both vegetatively and by seed [8,11].
Vegetative reproduction in Atlantic poison-oak is accomplished by the formation of clones via rhizomes [20]. The intervals at which aerial stems are produced from rhizomes are greater than the intervals observed for eastern poison-ivy [8].
Successional Status
Facultative Seral Species
Atlantic poison-oak is probably not tolerant of heavy shade [19]. In Louisiana, Atlantic poison-oak production was highest under loblolly pine plantations that had been lightly thinned, and lowest under similar plantations that had been heavily thinned [2].
Immediate Fire Effects
No specific information on Atlantic poison-oak mortality or top-kill due to fire was available in the literature. It is likely that, given its small stature, Atlantic poison-oak is easily top-killed by even low-intensity surface fires. It is likely to survive such fires and sprout from rhizomes.
Postfire Regeneration Strategy (Stickney 1989)
- Rhizomatous shrub, rhizome in soil
Fire Adaptations
Atlantic poison-oak occurs in the understory of open woods, particularly in the longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and scrub oak types [8,9]. The open condition of these communities is maintained by fire. Historically, fires in these communities occurred frequently (intervals from 3 to 20 years) and were usually low-intensity surface fires. It is likely that Atlantic poison-oak is able to survive low-intensity surface fires by sprouting from rhizomes if top-killed. In Texas, eastern poison-oak is a common understory plant in a dry, upland longleaf pine savanna which has been maintained by periodic prescribed fire (burned at 3- to 5-year intervals) [13].
Plant Response to Fire
In Tennessee, Atlantic poison-oak occurred on plots that were prescribed burned annually between 1963 and 1988. Years and duration of its occurrence were not reported; the authors stated only that it "occurred widely across the years". Atlantic poison-oak was also present on plots that were burned periodically (1964 and 1969) but disappeared from these plots after 1972 [3].
Fire Regimes
For fire regime information, search FEIS for this species by entering the species name on the Advanced Search page and selecting “Fire Regime” as the publication type.
Fire Management Considerations
The allergenic oil (uroshiol) from Atlantic poison-oak can be carried on soot particles when the plant is burned and causes dermatitis on persons working in areas where Atlantic poison-oak is burned [11]. The smoke can injure lungs. Reports of ill effects from exposure to the smoke of burning eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) include head-to-toe dermatitis, fever, lung infections, and even death caused by the throat swelling up [18]. It is likely that under similar burning conditions and plant densities, smoke from Atlantic poison-oak could cause the same problems. Atlantic poison-oak, however, has not been reported at anywhere near the same densities encountered for either eastern poison-ivy or poison-oak.
Federal Status
None
Other Status
No entry.
Importance to Wildlife and Livestock
Specific instances of wildlife use of Atlantic poison-oak have not been reported in the literature, although Blair [2] listed it as palatable browse for white-tailed deer. Eastern poison-ivy, a closely related species, is browsed by white-tailed deer, and its fruits are consumed by 61 species of wildlife [15].
Palatability and Nutritional Value
No entry.
Cover Value
No entry.
Value for Rehabilitation or Restoration of Disturbed Sites
Rhus toxicodendron occurred with 1 percent frequency on 10-year-old, unreclaimed lignite mine sites. It occurred at 15 percent frequency on 30-year-old sites, and 67 percent on 60-year-old sites. It was not found on sites less than 10 years old, but did occur on undisturbed adjacent sites at 3 percent frequency. It is not clear from this article whether the reference is to eastern poison-ivy or to eastern poison-oak [23].
Other Uses
Eastern poison-ivy was used as a stimulant and a narcotic. Its juice was used to make indelible ink [19]. It is likely that Atlantic poison-oak has been used for the same purposes.
Other Management Considerations
Atlantic poison-oak produces uroshiol, an allergenic oil that causes dermatitis in susceptible individuals [11]. A skin test has been developed to determine individual sensitivity to uroshiol. Other work is in progress to develop preventative treatments for sensitive individuals [18].
Atlantic poison-oak can be controlled by a number of herbicides [10,11].
Table A1— Forest and range ecosystems, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) physiographic regions, Kuchler plant associations, Society for American Foresters (SAF) forest cover types, and Society for Rangeland Management (SRM) rangeland cover types in which this species occurs.
Forest and Range Ecosystems (Garrison et al. 1977)
- FRES12 Longleaf - slash pine
- FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
- FRES14 Oak - pine
BLM Physiographic Regions (Bernard and Brown 1977)
- 14 Great Plains
Kuchler Plant Associations (Kuchler 1964)
- K076 Blackland prairie
- K081 Oak savanna
- K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100
- K084 Cross Timbers
- K086 Juniper - oak savanna
- K088 Fayette prairie
- K100 Oak - hickory forest
- K111 Oak - hickory - pine forest
- K112 Southern mixed forest
- K115 Sand pine scrub
SAF Cover Types (Eyre 1980)
- 40 Post oak - blackjack oak
- 43 Bear oak
- 45 Pitch pine
- 46 Eastern redcedar
- 70 Longleaf pine
- 71 Longleaf pine - scrub oak
- 72 Southern scrub oak
- 76 Shortleaf pine – oak
- 80 Loblolly pine - shortleaf pine
- 81 Loblolly pine
- 82 Loblolly pine – hardwood
- 83 Longleaf pine - slash pine
- 84 Slash pine
SRM Rangeland Cover Types (Shiflet 1994)
No entry.
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2. Blair, Robert M. 1960. Deer forage increased by thinnings in a Louisiana loblolly pine plantation. Journal of Wildlife Management. 24(4): 401-405. [16891]
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4. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
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7. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others]. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
8. Gillis, William T. 1971. The systematics and ecology of poison-ivy and the poison-oaks (Toxicodendron, Anacardiaceae). Rhodora. 73: 370-443. [8104]
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