Guthrie Co ConservationAs hiking season comes into full swing in Iowa, Guthrie County Conservation is sharing information from the Department of Natural Resources regarding poisonous plants that grow in the state.

The Department reminds everyone to thoroughly wash exposed skin with soap and water if they believe they have come in contact with poison ivy. Poison ivy can be identified with three leaves that are, shiny or dull and are two to five inches long. The plant blooms in the spring and has white berries from late summer through winter. While it might be tempting to burn off a patch of poison ivy on your property, the oil remains in the smoke, allowing people to inhale the oil into nasal passages and the lungs. Never burn poison ivy. Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no poison oak or poison sumac in Iowa.

The non-native wild parsnip plant has lacy, yellow-green heads. If its oil touches the skin and then is exposed to sunlight, painful blisters will develop. Avoid contact at all times. Often found in road ditches, avoid using a lawn string trimmer to remove it, as you’ll get splattered with broken parsnip tissue and have a high exposure to its toxin.

Stinging nettles are also found in the state and often grow in woodlands near streams. The stinging nettles are found on the stem of the plant, which is stiff.

While Iowa has some poisonous plants, they don’t have to keep you out of the woods. Stay on groomed trails and paths until you feel confident identifying these plants.