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    Black Spots
     


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    Top:  A poison-oak stem with black spots. The poison leaks out wherever an injury occurs, and turns black when the air hits it. Two of the leaf stalks also happen to have black spots.

    Dr. Guin popularized a “Black Spot Test”, which you can use to amaze your friends. You’ll need three assistants and: 

              Plastic disposable glove

              3 x 5 card

              Snack sized Ziploc bag

              Quart Ziploc

              Scissors

              Alcohol pledget

    Two plastic grocery bags, one for the trash.

    Slip on the glove. Have someone hold the 3 x 5 card. Grasp a poison-oak leaf with your gloved hand, and snip the leaf stalk with the scissors. A drop of clear or milky fluid will form at the cut. That amount, on bare skin, is enough to cause a rash in many people; and it’s so easy to get that much on you, while out for a walk!

    The stain persists; made 9-6-00, photo 11-29-06.

    This shirt has been washed fifteen times. The substance is used in India to mark cloths at laundries.

    Touch the leaf stalk to middle of the card. Then discard the leaf in the trash bag, held open by a third person. A fourth person tears open the alcohol swab, and presents it to you. You take the pledget with your gloved hand; they throw the packaging in the trash. You swipe the scissor blades with the swab; then throw it in the trash. Secure the scissors. Put the 3 x 5 card in the snack bag, carefully; try not to smear the sap. Put the snack bag inside the quart bag (So far there have been no reactions to double-bagged specimens). Note the time.

    In ten minutes the spot on the card will be yellow.
    In an hour the spot will be brown.
    In 24 hours it will be black.

     Many problems are caused by poison from horizontal stems that root. Here are some examples:


    Photos by Shirley Sparling

     

     

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