onondaga
posted this
03 December 2014
http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=1251>jhalcott
There is not just one Poison Sumac variety, there are a number of varieties. The one in my New York is actually the least toxic, My pods are drying on the radiator in my dining room and I'll make my stain in 2 weeks.
The most toxic plant we have in New York is in the wild carrot family and called Giant Hogweed. Hogweed flowers similar to Queen Ann's Lace but is always much taller, about 5-8 feet tall. The Hogweed toxin makes your skin super-sensitive to ultra violet rays of the sun and your skin will severely burn for over 2 years upon direct sun exposure and the burns frequently become infected. I have suffered from Hogweed and it is a terrible nightmare. I had it on left shin, thigh and left forearm for two full summers with infections and burns. Nasty stuff, dozens of times worse than poison ivy or oak.
New York State has a training program for utility workers to learn to identify Hogweed and they notify state DEC crews that come and incinerate the Hogweed. It is a serious concern in New York. A major concern is also that Hogweed is easily weaponized.
Gary