250 A COMPENDIUM OF 
ries, which are globular in form, depressed and 
composed of ten carpels, each one containing a 
black seed. The juice of the berry is of a pur- 
ple-red color, with a sweet and slightly acrid 
taste; containing gum, sugar and phytolacctc 
acid, The coloring matter is decomposed by 
alkalies and sunlight. Pokeberries are laxative 
and emetic in their action, and given in form of 
an infusion and expressed juice. The berries 
yield alcohol on fermentation. Name of 
Greek origin, phytin or phuton, a plant, and 
lachanon, a pot herb, the young shoots being 
edible in the early days of their growth and 
quite as delicate as the asparagus when served 
in the same way. 
Rhus Glabra, Sumach.—Natural order Ana- 
cardiacez. Native of North America. This 
perennial shrub grows to the height of from 4 
to 12 feet, with a stem more or less bent, with 
straggling branches at intervals along the main 
body of the plant; leaves smooth, pinnatifid, 
and with opposite leaflets with an odd one at 
the extremity ; leaflets lanceolate in shape, with 
serrated edges and acute points. The upper 
surface of the leaflet is green and the under sur- 
face of a grayish-white, turning in the fall of 
the year tocrimson. The flowers are of inter- 
mingling of green and red, each having five sta- 
mens and three pistils, and are arranged on the 
stalk in form of a compound thyrse. These 
flowers are succeeded by clusters of crimson 
berries, which are covered by a fine pubescence, 
inside of which is a round or oblong seed or pu- 
tatum. The Sumach berries have little or no 
odor, but an acid, agreeable taste, and contain 
tannin, coloring matter and the malates of /ime 
