FLORA OF THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA. 27 



R. Vernix L. PmsuN Si mai-. Unequally distributed. Scuree. /.//-^^r. 

 Butler's Lake — the only station, Ljra7>es. Brisbin swamp, 

 Coville. Not reported from the northern part of the Susque- 

 hanna and Chenango valleys. Common from Binghamton west. 

 Found in wet woods, borders of swamps and occasionally in dry 

 ground. A .shrub or small tree, of elegant aspect, but very poi- 

 sonous to the touch, and even tainting the air for some distance 

 with its poison. The poisonous effects are said to be due to a 

 volatile acid. Rochelle salts internally and an application of 

 "soft "soap to the poisoned parts will quickly effect a cure. 

 Herbivorous animals are said to eat the leaves of this species 

 without injury, and many persons are not affected by the poi- 

 son. Distinguished from the other species by its entire leaflets. 

 Drupe, gray. Also known as Poison Oak, Poison Elder and 

 Poison Dogwood. (A'. 'i'cue7iata DC.) 



R. radicans L. Poiso.n Ivv. Three-lkaved Merclrv. Poison 

 Oak. Common in both wet and dry soils. Where this plant 

 finds a support it often becomes a vine several inches in diame- 

 ter, climbing to the tops of trees and anchored to the trunk by 

 numerous rootlets. Unsupported it takes on a shrubby form 

 and is then most frequently called Poison Oak. Berries gray, 

 in loose racemes. Leaflets three. The juice forms an indelible 

 ink. Poisonous, but less so than the preceding. {R. toxico- 

 dendron L. ) 



R. aromatica Ait. Aromatic Slmac. Sweet SlxMac. Choconut 

 Creek. Millspaugh. Not rare, Graves. Frequent, Lucy. Not 

 reported elsewhere. A small shrub on dry banks, with three- 

 parted, aromatic leaves and flowers in close aments appearing 

 in early spring. Not poisonous. {R. Canadensis Marsh.) 



POLYQALACE^. 



POLYGALA L. 

 P. paucifolia Willd. Flowering Wintergreen. Indian Pink. 

 Bahy Foot. Fringed Polvgala. Common in thickets and open 

 woods. Less common in the northeastern part of our range. 

 An elegant little plant with the aspect of a Wintergreen. Flow- 

 ers two or more, rather large, pink-purple. Cleistogamous- 

 flowers are borne at the base of the plant. A white-flowered 

 variety is occasionally noticed. May. 



