The rash is very itchy and uncomfortable, but it is not contagious. You can develop a rash by touching poison ivy, oak or sumac - and by transfer of the oil from someone or something (such as a dog or clothes) that has come in contact with the poison. It is most often found in wooded, moist areas of the southern United States. Poison sumac (C) has seven to 13 leaflets per stem that are characterized by smooth surfaces and pointed tips. It is most common in the western United States. The plant can have three or more leaflets per group. Poison oak (B) has leaves that look like oak leaves and grows as a vine or a shrub. It often grows along rivers, lake fronts and ocean beaches. It is found everywhere in the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. It can grow as a climbing or low-spreading vine that sprawls through grass. Poison ivy (A) usually has three broad, tear-shaped leaves. Here is how you can tell the plants apart: While they differ in appearance, all of the plants grow white, cream or yellow berries in the fall. The old saying goes: "Leaves of three, let them be." Poison ivy, oak and sumac are three plants that carry the same poison - urushiol, a colorless, odorless oil that causes an itchy, irritating rash.
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