You have already found this cache! Master Index    Nearest Caches MB PI Watch by burchil (1/1) (Archived) N49° 51.213  W97° 14.836 (WGS84) UTM  14U   E 625991  N 5523821 Use waypoint: GC15DXA Size: Micro    Hidden on 8/25/2007 In Manitoba, Canada Difficulty:     Terrain:

This cache is easy to find and access along an asphalt trail and there is little or no chance of contacting PI. There is information at the cache site about PI, but there is no PI near the cache, look east or west about 10m along the side of the trial and you will spot some. Just to make things more fun there are several plants near the cache site that people often confuse with PI.

In Manitoba this plant is usually a short woody stemmed plant with three shiny green leaves that turn a dark red in the fall. The plant height is typically under 30cm high. The short woody stems can be clearly seen through the fall and winter often with clusters of creamy or pale white berries. The size and edges of the of the leaflets are extremely variable ranging from almost oak like with large dentate edges to just undulate or even smooth. The size of the leaflets are 3-12cm in length and in some cases even larger. It prefers growing along edges of paths, streams, or other open areas, or in semi-open bush that is generally dry through the summer but may be subject to flooding in the spring. The most robust plants I have seen are in areas along rivers and streams that flood in the spring. I have also seen smaller poison ivy plants in great abundance under oak trees on dry gravel ridges.

When searching for caches remember: "Leaves of three, let it be; berries white, danger in sight."

Here are some images of PI and plants that are often mistaken for PI

There are a number of plants that are often mistaken for poison ivy in Manitoba.
- Boxelder saplings
- Wild Sarsaparilla
- Hog Peanut
- Virginia Creeper
- Wild Strawberry

The rash associated with poison ivy contact is caused by the oil 'urushiol'. Some people do not react with initial, or even several contacts, but sensitivity builds up over time and repeated contacts. The most sensitive people will react to contact with the woody stem, smoke, berries, old leaves. The appearance of a rash may be quick or may be delayed upto a couple of weeks.

In most cases, if you know or think you have contacted poison ivy, washing as soon as possible will remove the oil. You also must wash everything that came into contact with the plant. Over the period of at least a month one of my friends repeately had poison-ivy rash caused by the oil left on the steering wheel of his car. This happened after working in the field taking soil samples. He was careful and washed his hands and clothing after returning but didn't wipe down his car.

Several years ago a friend was collecting the leaves and berries in the fall to add to wreaths for gifts. She ended up with a bad rash and was at a loss to understand why. When logging this cache feel free to write about your worst, most embarrassing, or just strange PI encounter.

More information about poison ivy:
- Just some stuff I collected (pictures, look alike, general info, etc...)
- PMRA Control of Poison Ivy
- Toxicodendron rybergii - USDA Forestry Service Pamphlet
- The Biology of Poison Ivy from Nature North
- Poison Ivy from Wikipedia

There are a couple of different kinds of poison-ivy species across North America. The kind we have in Manitoba is Western Poison-ivy - it does not climb. If you travel further south and east you will often see a very similar plant that climbs like a regular vine (Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze, eastern poison-ivy). There are two Poison-Oak species (neither in Manitoba) one is found on the west coast the other on the S.E. coast of the United States.

'PI in the woods' has also been posted for more information about PI and look-alike plants.