Poison Ivy To Be Placed on Endangered Species List
Poison Ivy,Â one of the most hated plants in the world that causes irritation and itching on skin, has a new ally who wants to protect it from ending up becoming extinct. While there being fewer of these plantsÂ in the wild is good news for gardeners, itâs bad news for botanists who grew a weird attachment to the annoying weed.While most people are celebrating Poison Ivyâs potential exit from the Earth, while some botanists are in mourning. âI love toxicodendron radicans, because I like the green. Itâs why I became a botanist,â said Eugene Humphries, founder of The Society to Save Poison Ivy From Extinction (TSTSPIFE), which is located in New Hampshire. âIt might seem like itâs everywhere, but if you seriously look back and recall the last time you had Poison Ivy rashes, you were probably in elementary school. Itâs really not that bad.âTo save Poison Ivy, Humphries suggests everyone stops pulling it from their gardens, backyards, lawns, and hiking trails. âThe more that it stays, the more will grow. Gardeners and selfish moms with kids who whine about a little itch on their leg have destroyed the most aesthetically interesting plant Iâve ever known. Roses have thorns, but I donât see anybody trying to pull them out of the ground and into extinction. Personally, I donât see a problem with rolling around in the plant. Itâs really very satisfyingâ.Humphries will do whatever it takes to Â spread the word. He plans to go around the United States to recruit more TSTSPIFE members. He also shared his plans to place signs around parks, in yards, and gardens, reminding folks of the damage theyâre doing to the Earth. âIf Poison IvyÂ goes away, I have to live the rest of my life knowing that people I donât like will enjoy their hikes, itch-free,â he said. âAll I really need is two or three more members, so Iâm not doing this alone. Help me protect toxicodendron radicans, and youâll help save a wonderful plant, and maybe even help save the world.â