1290 



Rural School Leaflet 



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through which one who is susceptible to the poison of the plant cannot 

 pass with safety. 



The leaves of poison ivy are very characteristic. They are composed 

 of three rather broad leaflets, the two lateral leaflets being smaller than 

 the terminal one. It has been suggested that these three leaflets might 

 be considered as a hand with one finger pointed in warning, while the leaf 

 of the five-leaved ivy represents a hand spread open as a welcome. Some 



of the leaves of this plant resemble 

 rather closely those of the bitter- 

 sweet (Solatium Dulcamara L.), which 

 is described later in this article. 

 The flowers are rather inconspicuous 

 and occur in loose clusters. The 

 fruits are whitish or cream-colored, 

 and are hard. 



The poison given off by the 

 poison ivy plant often causes 

 an irritation of the skin and 

 considerable nervous excitement. As 

 has been mentioned before, certain per- 

 sons are immune to the poison. It has 

 been stated that the plant gives off much 

 more poison during the night or during 

 damp, dark days, and at such times it is 

 often unnecessary to touch the plant, as 

 one may be poisoned by merely going 

 near it. An indelible ink and a varnish for finish- 

 ing boots and shoes are made from the milky juice 

 of the poison ivy. 



2. Poison sumac, swamp sumac, poison elder, 

 poison or swamp dogwood, poison wood, poison 

 ash, poison tree (Rhus Vernix,L.). The poison sumac is a smooth shrub 

 three to thirty feet in height, and it is especially abundant in swampy 

 places. The leaves of poison sumac are alternate and pinnately com- 

 pound, that is, with numerous leaflets arranged opposite each other 

 along a common axis. In this species there is always an odd number 

 of leaflets, usually seven to thirteen. The flowers are clustered together 

 loosely and are greenish white and rather inconspicuous. The fruit is 

 globular and nearly white, and is prominent after the leaves have fallen 

 from the plant. Poison sumac differs from poison ivy in that it is 

 not a climber and in that it has seven to thirteen leaflets instead of 

 three. The plant is probably our most dangerous poisonous species. 



Poison hemlock 



