WHAT is THIS???
Hint:
R = (CH2)14CH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)5CH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)2CH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH=CHCH3 or
R = (CH2)7CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CH2 and others
Sitting on my upper deck the other evening, I noticed a tree that seemed to have sprouted overnight.
I took this photo right away. I was amazed and curious.
I had a sense that this tree could even be "dangerous" to those who happened upon it unexpectedly.
The leaves on this "Tree" looked somehow familiar: leaves alternating, with 3 leaflets, each smooth margined or shallowly lobed.
Germination: We have had a lot of rain this year, I mused. Could that have made this tree grow so tall (over 10 feet!) when it was not there last year???
"YIKES! It may be a monster," one visitor laughed.
"Certainly not something I would like to encounter on a dark night," another remarked.
On my forays in the field as a conservation land specialist I had to admit, I had never seen anything like this.
WHAT could it be? Shall I tell you right away or would you prefer to take a guess?
One more hint? OK. Take a look at this graphic. And maybe check out this word. "Urushiol"
I'll be back to let you know the name of the "TREE" in my back yard, so be sure to take a guess and check back later. And, in the meantime, watch where you walk. . .or ride...or picnic...or garden...
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WHAT could it be? Shall I tell you right away or would you prefer to take a guess?
Hi janeAnne~,
I think it is something that is blocking you beautiful view and should be disappeared after midnight.
Wear golves and a mask...
Love and Happy 4th.
Lou Jewell ALC
Accredited Land Consultant
Is it Poison Ivy? I have never seen a poison ivy tree though....
It is poison oak, be careful how you dispose of it.
Is it bamboo? Ido know that it grows very quickly. And high as well. How did you figure out what this mysterious tree even was?
Toni
Gee, Am I the only one that immediately thought of Marijuana?
Urushiol is what is known as a hapten (see below from wikipedia).
That is a poison ivy BUSH! Indeed, very unusual but not unheard of.
Watch out because the sap is about 100x more potent than the leaf.
I hope none would mistake that for cannabis because they woud be in a world of pain, if not dead, should they try to smoke PI.
I get PI if I even look at a bush like that.
JTNarrin
Examples of Haptens
A well-known example of a hapten is urushiol, which is the toxin found in poison ivy. When absorbed through the skin from a poison ivy plant, urushiol undergoes oxidationin the skin cells to generate the actual hapten, a reactive molecule called a quinone, which then reacts with skin proteins to form hapten adducts. Usuaally, the first exposure only causes sensitization, in which there is a proliferation of effector T-cells. After a second exposure later, the proliferated T cells can become activated, generating an immune reaction, producing the typical blisters of poison ivy exposure.
Some haptens can induce autoimmune disease. An example is hydralazine, a blood pressure-lowering drug that occasionally can produce drug-induced lupus erythematosusin certain individuals. This also appears to be the mechanism by which the anaesthetic gas halothane can cause a life-threatening hepatitis, as well as the mechanism by which penicillin-class drugs causes autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Other haptens that are commonly used in molecular biology applications include fluorescein, biotin, digoxigenin, and dinitrophenol.
JaneAnne: amazing how threatening plants can grow so fast! So what are you going to do with it?
I would chop it down pretty fast.
Yikes! I didn't know poison ivy could grow so fast. I think you should name it "Audrey III" after the plant in Little Shop of Horrors.
The first thing I thought of was a fake tree that a cell phone tower company might have erected. But I see from JT's comment that it's something very nasty indeed. Yikes - how do you get rid of something like that??
Ann
Hi janeAnne, I had no idea what it was but I'm LOL@ Diane's & Pangaea answers!
JaneAnne
Poison Sumac Tree? We have them. There are also varieties that aren't poison I believe. They can be very beautiful in the fall season.
GREAT guesses and answers that got me LOL! THX all...It is POISON IVY (in caps!)
Now to find a "cure" that won't poison the wildlife, other plants and our wells. Any ideas? MUST be nontoxic to all but the culprit.
Wear something that covers you COMPLETELY (especially gloves!). Cut the plant as close to the ground as possible, then cut into small pieces and bury. Do not burn since it will vaporise the toxic oils. You can pour vinegar on the spot afterwards as an added deterrant. Just get rid of that thing!