Tallest poison ivy plant
- Who
- Robert Fedrock
- What
- 20.75 metre(s)
- Where
- Canada (Paris (County of Brant))
- When
- 12 March 2023
The tallest poison ivy plant is 20.75 m (68 ft), and was discovered by Robert Fedrock (Canada) in Paris, Ontario, Canada, on 12 March 2023.
Robert has known about this particular plant, a specimen of eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), for years and wanted to document this record to inspire other people to find and document even taller specimens.
Poison ivy contains a mixture of chemicals known as urushiol (alkylcatechol-type chemicals), which occur in all parts of the plant, including the sap. After contact with poison ivy, urushiol can bind to the protein in skin cells, triggering the immune system to respond. This may result in an allergic reaction, involving painful inflamed skin, swelling and blistering.