Smodingium argutum, the African poison ivy or pain bush,[2] is a southern African shrub or medium-sized tree in the Anacardiaceae, which has properties comparable to the American poison ivy,[3] as its sap contains heptadecyl catechols that are toxic to the skin.

[3] It is monotypic in the genus Smodingium,[3] and was discovered in Pondoland by J. F. Drège during an 1832 expedition with the zoologist Andrew Smith.

[1] The Greek generic name, meaning "durated mark",[3] alludes to its hard, flattened seeds, which are fitted with papery wings.

[1] The margins of the alternately arranged, trifoliolate leaves are toothed, as suggested by its specific name, argutum, which means "sharp".

When damaged the twigs exude a creamy, poisonous sap, which turns black when the catechols contained in it polymerize to a melanin.