Smodingium

{{Short description|Genus of trees}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = African poison ivy

|image = Smodingium argutum, loof, a, Pretoria NBT.jpg

|image2 = Smodingium argutum, blare, Manie van der Schijff BT, a.jpg

|image2_caption = Sprig in the Pretoria N.B.G., and a close-up view of the compound leaf

|display_parents = 2

|genus = Smodingium

|parent_authority = E.Mey. ex Sond. in Harv. & Sonder (1860)

|species = argutum

|authority = E.Mey. ex Sond.

|range_map = Smodingium-verspreiding, a.png

|range_map_caption = {{align|left|{{color box|#FF0E17}} species range}}

|}}

Smodingium argutum, the African poison ivy or pain bush,{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/list/7-plants-you-cant-even-touch|title=7 Dangerous Plants You Should Never Touch |author=Melissa Petruzzelloa |website=ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA }} is a southern African shrub or medium-sized tree in the Anacardiaceae, which has properties comparable to the American poison ivy,{{cite journal |last=Findlay |first=G.H. |title=Dermatitis of 'Poison Ivy' type from an indigenous South African plant - Smodingium argutum |journal=S.A. Tydskrif vir Geneeskunde |date=31 August 1963 |pages=883–888 }} as its sap contains heptadecyl catechols that are toxic to the skin.{{cite archive |first= |last= |item=Smodingium argutum |type= |date= |series= |file= |box= |collection=Slide Collection (Paraclinical Sciences - Pharmacology & Toxicology) |repository= |institution=University of Pretoria |location= |item-url=https://hdl.handle.net/2263/9725}}

An immuno-chemical reaction is suspected as in other toxic anacardiaceous species. It is monotypic in the genus Smodingium, and was discovered in Pondoland by J. F. Drège during an 1832 expedition with the zoologist Andrew Smith.