IPEHTANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 368 



Foliis ternatis. \ * * Leaves ternate. 



7. Radi 



R. foliis ternatis ; foil- | Leaves ternate -, leaf- 



olis petiolatis, ovatis, gla- | lets petiolate, ovate, ^a- 



bris, plerumque integer- I brous, generally entire ; 



riniis ; caule radicante ; stem radicant ; flowers 



floribus dioicis. E. | dioicous. 



Sp. pi. 1 p. 1481. \VaU.p. 255. 



R. toxicodendron, mr. a. Midi. 1. p. 183. Pursh, 1. p. 205. 



A vine, climbing to the Viei^ht of 30 or 40 feet, shooting out radi- 

 cles all along its stem, by which it adheres to the bark of trees, to 

 fences, houses, &c. small branches glabroun, expanding. Lmucs ter- 

 nate, ovate, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, generally entire, (the 

 lower leaves sometimes angled,) of a dark greer 

 illary. Berries whife. 



Very common in tlie low country, preferrine 

 Flowers 3]aj. ^ 



S. Toxicodendron. 



Racemes ax- 



damp 



R. caiile erecto, dcbili ; I Stem erect, weak ; 

 foliis siniiatis, lobatis in- j leaves sinuate, lobed, and 

 tegrisque, subtus tomen- entire, tomentose under- 

 tosis; floribus dioicis. E. | neath ; flowers dioicous. 



Sp. pi. 1. p. 148). Walt. p. 255. 



Mich. 1. p. 183. far. b. quercifoliam. Pursh, I. p. 205. 



Stem 2—6 feet high, %flien tall flexible, and not firmly erect. 

 Leaves ovate, varying very much, sometimes acute or acuminate, never 

 obtuse, and all but the upper leaves variously lobed; the lateral leaves 

 nearly sessile } the under surface of the leaves and young branches to- 

 njcntose. The racemes are really axillary, but as ths louver leaves com- 

 monly drop oH, they appear naked. Berries white, larger than in the 

 preceding species country. 



..^^""^Jl'^^^^'Y^^'^OMiitry; very common in the pine barrens iu 

 the middle country. , *^ 



^ Flowers April-May. Poison oak. Foiso7ivine. 



A mere contact with this or the preceding species (^hich perhaps 

 are but varieties of one plant), produces distressing effects on per- 

 sons of peculiar constitutions. The whole suface of tlTe body becomes 

 inflamed, swollen and extremely painful, and in some instances these 

 effects have continued for weeks. Dr. Barton informs us that the 

 application of a solution of corrosive sublimate afforded in such cases 

 the speediest relief. The expressed juice of both these plants readifr 

 blisters the skin, which effect is followed by obstinate uIce«V The 

 juice which exudes on plucking the leafstalks from the stem of the 



«. radicans is a good indelible dye for marking linen or cotton. 



