Poison ivy is best described as which of the following?

Poison ivy is best described as which of the following?

• A. Deciduous woody vine; causes skin irritation
• B. Evergreen shrub with no irritation
• C. Annual herb with edible berries
• D. Groundcover with mild irritation only in summer

Answer: (A)

Poison ivy is best described as a deciduous woody plant that often grows as a vine but can also appear as a shrub, and it contains urushiol oil that irritates the skin. The defining idea is that contact with any part of the plant can trigger a dermatitis in many people, which is why its description emphasizes both its typical woody habit and the skin irritation it causes. It loses its leaves in winter (deciduous), it is not evergreen, and while it bears berries, they are not considered edible.

Poison ivy is best described as a deciduous woody plant that often grows as a vine but can also appear as a shrub, and it contains urushiol oil that irritates the skin. The defining idea is that contact with any part of the plant can trigger a dermatitis in many people, which is why its description emphasizes both its typical woody habit and the skin irritation it causes. It loses its leaves in winter (deciduous), it is not evergreen, and while it bears berries, they are not considered edible.