It is particularly abundant in the Florida Keys. Identification of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, and Poisonwood 5 Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) Poisonwood is an evergreen shrub or tree that grows 25–35 feet tall in hammocks, pinelands, and sandy areas near saltwater. Anacardiaceae family (Sumac family). Often you will not even know that you have been infected until the burning and itching rash appears. Antihistamines give limited relief, at least in our experience. Poisonwood is an evergreen shrub or medium tree that reaches heights of 25' to 35' or taller. This is what causes the rash most people experience, and it does not end until the contaminated cells are shed, which takes from two to three weeks. The only way to prevent contamination is to not touch poison oak. My daughter, my wife and myself all got a rash from this tree. We did not wander through the brush or anything. ... Like with poison ivy, a too-close encounter with a poisonwood can leave you with an extremely unpleasant and itchy rash, though unfortunately, poisonwoods are actually ten times more toxic than poison ivy. The Black Poisonwood Tree You might stumble across this tree while visiting the Yucatan...it happened to a couple of my friends recently. Some people are more sensitive to the plants and will have harsher symptoms. No remedy prescribed for poison-oak will ease the itching or rash. The rash itself cannot be spread between people. The rash that results from the poison plants is a form of allergic contact dermatitis. The tree’s sap when applied using bark from the Gumbo Limbo, relieves rashes, stings and burns. Leaves of a poisonwood tree. As of this writing, poisonwood’s range has only been There are warnings about it, but the warnings are not strong enough. Closely related to poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac, poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) contains the same toxic substance that can result in oozing, itchy welts if the sap is touched. Now what? The skin turns red and begins to itch as small red bumps erupt from the flesh. Well, you can look around for a gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba) tree. Tea made from its leaves is also said to treat fever and low blood pressure. Skin is not automatically sensitive to urushiol. Black Poison Wood (Metopium toxiferum Krug). (Dermatitis is swelling and irritation of the skin.) Luckily, there are many treatments that will help make the rash bearable and prevent scarring. It is similar to the worst poison ivy you have ever seen! Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Even touching the leaves can cause a bad reaction. READ THIS: There is a tree called the Chechen or Black Poisonwood. The rash should quickly settle down and begin healing; but it can take a few weeks for a poison oak rash to clear up fully. Two to three days after the rash has appeared, the irritation will flare and spread rapidly until the entire surface of the skin is covered. It characteristically has a short trunk with stout arching limbs and drooping branches that form a spreading, rounded crown. One of the trees, the Chechen (Black Poisonwood Tree), has sap that is very toxic and can cause a horrible rash and burn. We think it may have dripped on us when we walked under the tree during the rain. So you've accidentally rubbed up against a chechem, aka black poisonwood, tree.