 Poison oak is not an oak ("Quercus", family Fagaceae), but this common name comes from the leaves' resemblance to white oak ("Quercus alba") leaves, while poison ivy is not an ivy ("Hedera", family Araliaceae), but has a superficially similar growth form.Technically, the plants do not contain a poison; they contain a potent allergen.The resins of certain species native to Japan, China and other Asian countries, such as lacquer tree ("T. vernicifluum") and wax tree ("T. succedaneum"), are used to make lacquer, and, as a byproduct of lacquer manufacture, their berries are used to make japan wax.