Poison oak produces an oil that can cause itchy irritation if touched. Valley News/Courtesy photo
CALIFORNIA – Poison oak is an attractive plant with leaves that are glossy green in the spring and summer, turning bright red in the fall. It produces small yellowish-green flowers and round, tiny cream-colored berries. Although the leaves drop during winter, the plant remains good-looking as the branches are cinnamon-colored. To top off all this loveliness, the plant doesn’t have thorns and is found abundantly throughout California.But looks can be deceiving, warns the California Poison Control System (CPCS). Poison oak also secretes an oily sap called urushiol (pronounced yoo-Roo-shee-all) on its stems and leaves, which can cause an allergic reaction. If you don’t have a reaction the first time, or even the next couple of times you’re exposed, you may find that repeated expos
