Andrew
That was very bad luck as this tree is quite rare in the UK. In America they
group some species of Rhus into the genus Toxicodendron. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron
It looks like they are a serious problem over there:
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/faq.html
I would add that sap of Euphorbiaceae can also be dangerous. Fortunately
there are no trees of this genus hardy in the UK - but E. mellifera can
become a large shrub.
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: TreeSpecialists@xxxx.com [mailto:TreeSpecialists@xxxx.com]
Sent: 22 December 2006 20:07
To: UK Tree Care
Subject: Rhus verniciflua (varnish tree) warning
I felled an unfamiliar tree last week, after some debate I had guessed it
was a Rhus, but some variety, not typhina. No suckers, and looked like it
would
grow too tall to be typhina.
Not being familiar with the varnish tree I only warned the lads that the
sap
was "horrible gungey stuff" but J got some on his forearm when carrying
cordwood to the truck and ended up in casualty two days later with severe
blistering chemical burns. The arm is healing slowly now. I would never
have
believed tree sap could cause such a bad burn if I had not seen it with my
own
eyes. Even the nurses and doctors had never seen anything like it before,
and
called all their colleagues over to see for themselves.
So watch out: Rhus verniciflua, the varnish tree, is nasty stuff, similar
to
giant hogweed by all accounts.
Andrew McManus
P.S. are there any other nasties out there ?
P.P.S. I missed this warning in 2002 but picked it out of the archives
below.
Re: Other names?
"Edmund Hopkins" <edmund.hopkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.gov.uk>
Wed, 31 Jul 2002 10:04:52 +0100
Baker, Rupert <Rupert.Baker@xxxxxxxx.gov.uk> wrote:
Varnish tree is Rhus typhinus & is seriuosly dodgy - contact with wood
sawdust sap etc causes serious blistering & sensitisation
Morning Rupert, I thought that was Rhus verniciflua, rather than the
ubiquitous R typhina, causing acute dermatitis and hospitalisation, though
typhina is also to be treated with caution. Was'nt there a piece in the AA
journal some years ago?
Edmund Hopkins
Arboricultural Officer
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