'A pretty purple-flowered
bush blooming on the hills of the burned areas in Santiago
and Modjeska canyons is a danger to people, according to
the Department of Forestry.
The flower, commonly known as poodle-dog bush, is an irritant
akin to poison oak, said forester Eric Oldar.
"This time of the year, the floral stalk is brilliant
and it's very attractive, especially along hiking trails
or roads where people make a stop," Oldar said. "They'll
go out and actually pick it and take it home as a flower
arrangement, not knowing that contact, for the vast majority
of the public, will cause a poison oak reaction."
Symptoms range from itching to a rash or blisters lasting
as long as two weeks. George Ewan with the Orange County
Fire Authority said the pain is reminiscent to coming in
contact with stinging nettles.
It's like that that except it doesn't wear off," Ewan
said. "It goes for quite a while."
Oldar said the bush is typically dormant, but bloomed as
a result of the Santiago Canyon fire in October.
"It becomes prevalent after a major disturbance like
fire or something that takes the area back to the barren
ground," Oldar said. "It will blossom, grow, and
eventually be replaced by other dominant vegetation until
another disturbance occurs."
Oldar said the prevalence period could last as long as a
decade, which is one of the reasons his department is trying
to get the word out about the bush. Another reason is because
of the attractiveness of the flower.
"This time of year, it can be a greater attracting
to the public," he said. "Later in the season,
the flowers drop and the shrub will continue to exist, but
it has no particular characteristic that would cause the
public to come in contact with it."
Oldar said people should go to their doctor if they start
to itch. An over-the-counter remedy is calamine lotion or
anything that has a cortisone derivative.
Ewan said avoidance is the best remedy.
"If you're going to go out into the foothills or into
the burn area, be careful," he said. "There's
a cute little flower out there that's purple and if you
touch it, it's going to get you."
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