Class V. Order III. 78 



ieaves give it the air of a tropical shrub or tree. Petioles long, 

 roundish, smooth ; the partial ones very short. Leafets oval, 

 terminating in a short point. Peduncle long, smooth, sup- 

 porting a loose panicle of small flowers, which are dioecious. 

 Berries white. 



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 indi- 

 cate any extraordinary quality. 



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

 of the Rhus -uernix, a tree, whose identity with the present, i} 

 still a subject of dispute, 



RHUS RADICANS. L. Poison Ivy. 



Leaves ternatc ; leafets petioletl, ovate, naked, 

 entire ; stem rooting. L. 



A hardy climber, frequently seen running up trees to a gi- 

 height, supporting itself by lateral roots, and becoming nearly 

 buried in their bark. Leaves in threes, large, smooth, round- 

 ish, pointed. Racemes sessile, mostly about the axils of the 

 leaves. Flowers dioecious. Berries white. Poisonous in a less 

 degree than the last. The juice stains a black colour. June. 



92. SAROTHRA. 



SAROTIIRA GENTIANOIDES. L. Pint', nv.cd. 



Syn. HTPERICUM SAROVHJRA. Mich. 



A small, erect, branching plant. Leaves appresscd, scale- 

 iike, so small, that the plant appears leafless. Branches numer- 

 ous, subdivided, erect. Flowers small, yellow, with from five 

 to ten stamens and three styles. Capsule oblong, coloured. 

 On sandy soils exposed to the sun. July, August. 



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