N. ORD.—ANACARDIACEZ. 36 
Section.—SUMAC,* D. C. 
2 GENUS.—RHUS, LINN. 
SEX. SYST.—PENTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 
RHUS GLABRA. 
SMOOTH SUMACH. 
SYN.—RHUS GLABRA, LINN.; R. ELEGANS, AIT.; R. VIRGINICUM, CATESB.; 
R. CAROLINIANUM, MILL. 
COM. NAMES.—SMOOTH SUMACH OR SUMAC; SHUMAKE; (FR.) SUMAC; 
(GER.) SUMACH. 
A ‘TINCTURE OF THE FRESH BARK OF RHUS GLABRA, LINN, 
Description.—This smooth shrub usually attains a growth of from 5 to 15 
feet in height. Branches somewhat straggling. Leaves odd-pinnate; fetioles 
crimson, 12 to 18 inches long; /eaflets 12 to 30, lanceolate-oblong, acutely serrate, 
pointed, and whitened beneath. /nflorescence dense, terminal, thyrsoid panicles ; 
flowers perfect, polygamous. Sefa/s lanceolate, or more or less triangular, very 
acute, nearly as long as the petals. /efa/s incurved at the apex. ypogynous 
disk almost entire, its lobes, however, separating when a sepal is detached from 
the calyx, bringing away with it a stamen and petal; /ode somewhat reniform. 
Fruit globular, clothed with acid, velvety, crimson hairs; stone smooth. 
Rhus.—This genus is widely distributed, and contains numerous species 
characterized in general as follows: Leaves usually compound. lowers polyga- 
mous or dicecious, greenish-white or yellowish-green ; sepa/s 5, small, united at the 
base, generally persistent; petals 5, ovate, spreading, slightly hairy within. Stamens 
5, alternate with the petals; //aments inserted with the petals underneath the lobes 
of a chrome-yellow hypogynous disk, situated at the base of the sepals. Szy/es 3, 
_ short, generally united into one, sometimes distinct; ségmas 3, capitate. /yuzt 
consisting of many small, indehiscent, dry, drupes ; stone or nutlet osseous; seed 
suspended from the apex of a funiculus that arises from the base, and extends to 
the apex of the cell; cotyledons foliaceous. 
Many other species of Rhus are used beside those embodied in this work ; 
among which are the following: The Japanese R. vernix affords the finest of the | 
black lacquers, so extensively used in China and Japan for coating household 
articles, etc. This species in its toxic action is said to greatly simulate 4. venena/a, 
of this country. The South European 2. coriaria, and R. cotinus, are extensively 
used in tanning the finer grades of morocco leather; the seeds of the former 
* An alteration of the Arabic simag (Forsk.). 
+ The ancient Greek and Latin name (Celtic RAudd., red). 
