Spring brings beauty, danger in fire-scarred Angeles National Forest
(Cheryl Guerrero/Staff photographer)
Some of the beauty to be found in the Angeles National Forest this spring can exact a heavy price.
Areas burned by the Station fire are sprouting a bush with a lovely purple flower known as the poodle-dog bush. But when it comes to this plant, hikers would do well to head warnings from officials: look, but don’t touch.
That’s because the flowering plant, Turricula parryi, can cause poison oak-like skin rashes and blisters.
The plant thrives in areas where the soil has been ravaged by flash floods or, as in this case, fire. Other small purple flowers in bloom in the area, such as the yerba santa and lupine, are harmless to humans.
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Beware of poisonous poodle-dog bush, officials warn
-- Bill Kisliuk, Times Community News
Twitter: @bkisliuk