San Jose Family Camp Nature Guide

Poison Oak

Rhus diversiloba

Poison Oak is in fact not an oak, but is related to the eastern poison ivy. True oaks must produce acorns, and poison oak does not; the leaf must have remined an early botanist of an oak tree. Many people think that poison oak can be distinguished by its red leaves. Are they in for an itchy surprise! Note that although the leaves can be red or reddish, they can also be completely green. The leaves turn red only later in August. So if you are in camp in June or July, or even in August, be sure to look for green leaves, not red ones.

Camp does not have much poison oak, as it has been eliminated within the normal camp boundaries. You really have to look to find it! You can see some along the road from the Camp office to the auto crossing, on the upper hillside. It can also be found down the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River, if you hike down about a half mile, or in many places outside of camp.

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