By: GeneCooper
Image: GIGAmacro ⧉

Uploaded: 11 Aug 2016
Last Updated: 11 Aug 2016

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This poison oak was gathered from a local California State Park. In the image here, you can see the remnants of the oils on the leaves. The oils are called, urushiol, and is what is responsible for mild to severe allergic reactions when it comes in contact with the skin. It may only take 10 minutes for the oil to be absorbed by the skin, after which it is usually ineffective to remove with soap and water. The harsh reaction is the body's own immune system reacting to the substance and setting off a chain reaction. Read more at Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol