Researchers charting the growth of vines in two forests in South Carolina found up to a 10-fold increase in the number of vines in just two decades. Vines commonly found in both forests include grapevines, trumpet vine, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. Most of the vines use adhesive roots or tendrils to climb trees.
Although the specific reasons for this shift aren’t fully understood, Allen and his colleagues say possible mechanisms include increases in carbon dioxide concentrations, which have been shown to increase vine growth more than tree growth.
“Many vines thrive on elevated levels of carbon dioxide,” he said. “Several studies suggest that vines like poison ivy benefit more than other plants from higher CO2 levels.”
I know this study just thrills our readers who actually go outdoors.
Bring it on, I’m not allergic to the stuff.
Strange that a plant has evolved to thrive when there is more CO2 in the air. THat would make one think that it has happened before.
I am allergic to it. So, I don’t touch it. It’s a great plant though. It has a strong root system and is very hearty. Leave it be and it will help hold the ground together for us. When I lived on Long Island, it provided great privacy by filling in the gap at the end of our yard with big lush beautiful green leaves. Then, in my young and stupid days, I killed it. I had a nice clear view to the house behind me after that. Further, because poison ivy is such a hearty plant, anything that kills poison ivy is highly toxic to everything else as well. Poison ivy killer may as well be agent orange.
I say let the stuff grow. At least it’s sequestering some carbon.
Does global warming mean more poison ivy?
YES!
Next question please…
Is Poison Ivy the sexiest Batman villain?
YES!
4.
BLASPHEME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That honor belongs to Catwoman!
I hope the same is true for kudzu. More proof that people in Georgia are idiots.
#5 – Is a lesbian sex scene between Poison Ivy and Catwoman the sexiest idea ever?
YES!!!!
(see… it’s all about the art of the compromise)
#7,
I am hoping for the same thing between Mary Jane and Black Cat in the next Spider Man movie.
#2 – still don’t have a clue about natural selection, eh?
I’m allergic to it also, and of course I’m in the outdoors as much as possible. Because of my allergies though, I’ve learned to spot it from a long ways off so I don’t really care. I still support Global Warming.
OFTLO – what are you drinking today? 😉
Every time you get poison ivy your reaction is worse.
#11 – I know from personal experience that is not true.
Sea Lawyer – You’re right…KUDZU! That stuff could take over the planet. It already grows a foot a day. With extra CO2 you could watch it grow.
BUT LET’S ATTRIBUTE IT TO GLOBAL WARMING! QUICK! HYPE IT!
Is this supped to be science?
14 – when did you start caring about for-real science?
I fell in to bushes of those thing before I only got a scratch, friend of mine who allergic to that stuff got all kind of rashes and couldn’t come outside for two days. He was so scared he was keeping distance from me.
KUDZU! That stuff could take over the planet. It already grows a foot a day. With extra CO2 you could watch it grow.
Eat Or Be Eaten!
J/P=?
(let’s see who gets that reference)
#15 – Do you know me? How the hell would you know what I care about? Way to try to distract from the point: This is a crap article with nothing but some conjecture and FUD.
[Incredibly off topic]
#17, J/P=?, I just got “The Bride of Firesign” and “Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death.”
“I gotta hand it to ya’ JP, but ya’ still put me through too many changes.”
http://www.firesigntheatre.com/albums/album.php?album=eobe
#18, malren
HA HA HA HA Ha Ha ha ha ha ( with a far away, slight echo quality)
I have some poison ivy growing along a back fence. I think I almost have it eradicated. I can’t let the kids play near there because of that. When I’m sure it is gone, I’ll plant something else, such as some Honey Suckle which will also provide a screen and feed the hummingbirds.
BTW,
The only treatment I have found that really works for poison ivy is hot water. Use the hottest water you can tolerate for as long as you can tolerate it WITHOUT burning yourself. Depending upon water temperature, half a minute will give up to 1½ hours of relief. I use the shower and a detachable spray hose.
The heat will release the histamines from the underlying cells. It is the slow release of histamines that cause the itching. This method causes such a massive itch it is almost a pain. Just gritting your teeth helps. I have also heard of using a hair dryer but that only irritates my body hair.
Who cares!
Sad thing is, they probably got some serious money to do the study. Put a global warming spin to anything and you’ll get funding.