Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - July 23, 2013
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Vines
Title: Is Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) known to cause skin irritation
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata L.) known to cause a rash? We are trying to identify the source of a rash-after-gardening, and have not seen any of the big three (poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac). We do have some invasive vines growing in from a back alley, mostly morning glory. Some of the plants seem to be trumpet vine while some are similar in flower but have different leaves. The descriptions of cross vine seem closest so far to the vine in the locations of the work that preceded the rash.ANSWER:
I could find no source that said Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) caused dermatitis of any sort. However, I did find several other vines that could be candidates.
- One candidate, Campsis radicans (Trumpet creeper), is listed by the Poisonous Plants of North Carolina as a minor skin irritant. Since it is in the same family (Family Bignoniaceae) as Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) with flowers that are very similar, it is not unusal to confuse the two.
The Botanical Dermatology Database (BoDD) says:
"A number of texts refer to dermatitis caused by handling the flowers or leaves of Campsis radicans ... but there appear to be no properly documented case reports."
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation also says that Campsis radicans causes dermatitis in some people. They give one of its common names as "cow-itch vine". DermatologistsBlog.com also says that Campsis radicans can cause rash in some people.
- For another possibility, in our Native Plant Database we have another plant, Cissus trifoliata (Cow-itch vine), in the Family Vitaceae (Grape Family) called by the same common name.
The tubers can cause dermatitis in some people according to Xeriscape-Today.
The BoDD gives information for several Cissus sp. that say they can cause dermatitis, but Cissus triofoliata is not mentioned.
According to the Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac Information Center, Cissus trifoliata can cause dermatitis in some people.
You can find more about people who are allergic to Cissus trifoliata on the blog Window on a Texas Wildscape.
- Still another vine, Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine), in the Family Loganiaceae (Pinkroot Family) has yellow flowers similar to the flowers of Bignonia capreolata and Campsis radicans. It is highly toxic if ingested according to Poisonous Plants of North Carolina.
University of California's Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants lists Gelsemium sempervirens with two toxicity classes:
1. Major Toxicity: These plants may cause serious illness or death.
4. Dermatitis: The juice, sap, or thorns of these plants may cause a skin rash or irritation.
From the Image Gallery
More Poisonous Plants Questions
Black chokeberry edible from Huntsville ON
May 04, 2013 - Can the fruit of the black chokeberry be eaten??
view the full question and answer
White and Violet Flower in Missouri
March 17, 2016 - When I was small I came into contact with a plant that gave me cold sweats, chills and hallucinations. All I remember was it bore a single flower with a little white and a lot of violet. It had a dark...
view the full question and answer
Itchy hands from handling Lantana plants
September 13, 2009 - I am in Ocala,FL. I pick up with my hands branches from a cut down Lantana Plant. My hands are very itchy, what can I do. THANK YOU FOR YOU.
view the full question and answer
Plants for water park
January 03, 2013 - Hi,
I usually have no problem locating the right species for a given situation, but I may need some advice for this. I am looking for plants -- from annual & perennial flowers to shrubs and small t...
view the full question and answer
Safety of hyrbrid and non-native trees for dogs and horses from Lawton OK
March 25, 2013 - Are Arrowwood Viburnum tree, Sargent Crabapple tree & the Washington Hawthorn tree safe for dogs & horses?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |