120 Class V. Order III. 



The effluvium of this shrub is a violent poison to certain con- 

 stitutions, producing in them a distressing cutaneous eruption, 

 when it is handled or even approached. On others, and I be- 

 lieve on a majority, it exerts no influence. The leaves have 

 been rubbed, chewed, and swallowed without injury. Their 

 taste is simply herbaceous and astringent, and does not indicate 

 any extraordinary quality. 



In Japan a fine varnish is said to be prepared from the juice 

 of the Rhus vernix, a tree, whose identity with the present is 

 still a subject of dispute. 



RHUS RADICANS. Poison Ivy. 



Bigelow, Medical Botany, PI. xlii. 



Leaves ternate ; leafets petioled, ovate, naked, en- 

 tire ; stem rooting ; flowers dioscious. 



A hardy climber, frequently seen running up trees to a great 

 height, supporting itself by lateral roots, and becoming nearly 

 buried in their bark. The leaves of the Rhus radicans are ter- 

 nate, and grow on long semicylindrical petioles. Leafets ovate 

 or rhomboidal, acute, smooth and shining on both sides, the 

 veins sometimes a little hairy beneath. The margin is some- 

 times entire and sometimes variously toothed and lobed, in the 

 same plant. The flowers are small and greenish white. They 

 grow in panicles or compound racemes on the sides of the new 

 shoots, and are chiefly axillary. The barren flowers have a 

 calyx of five erect, acute segments, and a corolla of five oblong 

 recurved petals. Stamens erect with oblong anthers. In the 

 centre is a rudiment of a style. Tne fertile flowers, situated on 

 a different plant, are about half the size of the preceding. The 

 calyx and corolla are similar, but more erect. They have five 

 small, abortive stamens and a roundish germ, surmounted with a 

 short, erect style, ending in three stigmas. The berries are 

 roundish, and of a pale green colour, approaching to white. 



This species, like the last, is poisonous to many persons. 

 The juice stains linen a black colour. Common about the bor- 

 ders of fields, &c. June. 



