poison sumac

noun

: a swamp shrub (Toxicodendron vernix synonym Rhus vernix) chiefly of the eastern U.S. and Canada that has pinnate leaves, greenish flowers, and greenish white berries and produces an irritating oil

called also poison dogwood

Examples of poison sumac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like its cousins, poison oak and poison ivy, poison sumac contains urushiol in every part of the plant, but is more toxic. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024 Itching and stinging: Breast milk has been used on the skin to relieve the sting and itching of insect bites, bee stings, chicken pox, poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 29 July 2024 Common Types of Rashes and Conditions Treated Some of the common skin rashes and irritations that calamine lotion can help relieve include the following: Poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac rash: These rashes are caused by oil from poisonous plants. Megan Nunn, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 26 July 2024 In June and July, poison sumac has yellowish-green flowers. Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 3 July 2024 But unlike poison ivy and oak, poison sumac's leaves grow in pairs. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 July 2023 Poison ivy is in the Toxicodendron genus of plants, which also includes other notoriously itchy flora, like poison oak and poison sumac. Colleen Stinchcombe, SELF, 11 July 2023 For example, check out Boericke & Tafel’s Oral Ivy Liquid ($15 for a 1-ounce bottle on Amazon.com), a homeopathic product that is made from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Steven Salzberg, Forbes, 25 July 2022 This sap, which is also found in poison oak and poison sumac, is called urushiol and can cause a severe rash that lingers for weeks. Rachel Nall, Msn, SELF, 15 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poison sumac.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poison sumac was in 1737

Dictionary Entries Near poison sumac

Cite this Entry

“Poison sumac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison%20sumac. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

poison sumac

noun
: a swamp shrub related to poison ivy and causing a similar rash but having leaves with 7 to 13 leaflets

Medical Definition

poison sumac

noun
poison su·​mac -ˈs(h)ü-ˌmak How to pronounce poison sumac (audio)
: an American swamp shrub of the genus Rhus (R. vernix synonym Toxicodendron vernix) that has smooth pinnate leaves, greenish flowers, and greenish white berries and produces an irritating oil

called also poison dogwood

More from Merriam-Webster on poison sumac

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