Need help with Poison Ivy Research Paper?

Question

Which of the following names (for poison ivy) is currently acceptable and why?

1) Rhus radicans
OR
2)Toxicodendron radicans

I need help with obtaining any historical factors and nomenclature changes that may have changed the phylogeny.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Wiki says Toxicodendron radicans ( = Rhus toxicodendron = Rhus radicans ) is eastern Poison Ivy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_ivy and Toxicodendron rydbergii ( = Rhus rydbergii ) western Poison Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron_rydbergii

Referring taxonomy they say: Poison-ivy is subject to frequent taxonomic reclassification and confusion; it is currently divided into eastern and western species in the genus Toxicodendron. At least six distinct subspecies of Toxicodendron radicans are recognized. Complicating identification and taxonomy are the fact that the species (even a particular subspecies) can be highly variable in growth habit and leaf appearance.

Here you find a publication discussing it in details:
http://www.archive.org/details/taxonomyofpoisonfimcna
And here:http://telemedicine.org/botanica/bot1.htm:

Poison ivy, for example

It is occasionally necessary to alter the names of plants. Some name changes occur because a plant was erroneously named to begin with, e.g., the ICBN holds that the oldest name for a plant is the correct name, and occasionally it is shown that a plant received a name that was antedated by another name. Some name changes occur because research has shown that what was formerly thought to be a natural group is, in fact, two (or more) groups that are not closely related to each other. As an example, the genus Rhus was once thought to be a cohesive, widespread genus of many species. Common poison ivy was traditionally included as Rhus radicans or even Rhus toxicodendron.9 Research in the 1950's and 1960's showed that poison ivy and its immediate relatives represented a distinct developmental lineage (or 'clade' in the parlance of systematics) and should be treated not within Rhus but as a distinct genus.10 , 11 Application of the ICBN showed that the correct generic handle for the poison ivies and their relatives was Toxicodendron, and thus we now call common poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans. 'Toxicodendron' literally means 'poisonous tree' and had been used in common parlance for many centuries. It is noteworthy that while the nomenclatural scheme offers referable names for plants, it also offers a clue to what is known of the natural relationships among plants.



Normally you find synonyms in case of different authors - Linnè p.e.- publicating the name and a new taxonomic classification in case of new cognitions - about genome p.e.

Fazit:
The different scientific names of Poison Ivy are synonyms.

Answer 2

I am a smoker. My grandfather was a smoker. There isn't a significant difference between the generations in terms of the effects of smoking. My Grandfather outlasted most, but he did die due to the emphysema two weeks after being diagnosed with throat cancer. At least he didn't have to go through chemo. From experience: The additives in the modern brand-name cigarettes are definitely a contributing factor to the health problem. I switched to roll-my-owns to save money. After smoking just tobacco in the roll-my-owns for a year, I bought a pack of Camels. Just one cigarette literally made my chest hurt. There is definitely more in the modern brand-name cigarettes than tobacco. However, the tobacco itself has plenty of nicotine and carcinogens. I used to run a lot and am trying to take up running again. I can feel the difference in my breathing, even having only used regular additive-free tobacco. It is still plenty addictive. I've been trying to cut back, and have succeeded somewhat, but still can't get below 7-8 cigarettes per day without going crazy. Pure tobacco is still not safe. But the idea that "natural" items aren't harmful is completely moronic. Seriously, WTF? Where does that even come from? Cyanide, for example, is contained in numerous plants. Oh, viruses and bacteria are natural too. Puffer-fish, poison-arrow frogs, flesh eating bacteria, etc. etc. Heroine and morphine come from the poppy plant and if you don't think that is potent stuff you must be off your rocker. Everything is natural. Everything we use comes from the planet. The only difference from one item to the next is how much refinement must be done to convert the raw, natural material into a product. Drop the crystals and patchouli stick and welcome to real life. Nature can be bad for you.

Answer 3

Rhus radicans is the old name...Toxicodendron is the new but I don't when it changed.

Toxicodendron refers to the poisonous members Anacardiaceae

Answer 4

2. p. ivy is not a sumac