38 
RHUS diversiloba. 
Various-leaved Poison Oak. 
POLYGAMIA MONŒCIA. 
Nat. ord. ANACARDIACEZ. 
RHUS. E. 
R. diversiloba ; subglabra, caule vix scandente ramuloso, foliis 3-5-foliolatis, 
foliolis obtusissimis in feemineo sublobatis masculo subpinnatifidis, lobis 
obtusissimis acute incisis, paniculis axillaribus racemosis, drupis sub- 
globosis.— Torrey $ Gray, fl. of N. Amer. ex angl. ver. 
R. lobata, Hooker Fl. Bor. Am 1. 127. t. 46. $c. 
This shrub was brought from California by R. B. Hinds, 
Esq. who found it in that country. The country people call 
it Yeara, and say that it poisons on contact, or even through 
the air; in which respect it resembles the common Poison 
Oak, R. Toxicodendron, to which it is nearly allied. 
Indeed, it is so like that species, that if it were not for an 
upright unscrambling habit, and very blunt leaflets, it might 
be looked upon as a mere variety. 
Mr. Hinds says that the bush was common everywhere 
in California, but that he never witnessed any bad effects 
from it. 
In gardens it proves to be a hardy deciduous shrub or 
small tree, growing rather upright. It pushes freely in any 
kind of soil, which is not very poor or dry, and is easily 
increased by seeds and layers. It flowers abundantly in 
June. 
It has stood last winter against the arboretum wall, in the 
garden of the Horticultural Society, without being in the 
least injured. 
