G REEN 



like to decorate our homes with its brilliant sprays, but are de- 

 terred from handling them by the fear of being poisoned, not 

 knowing that one glance at the crimson fruit-plumes should re- 

 assure us, as the poisonous sumachs are white-fruited. These 

 tossing pyramidal fruit-clusters at first appear to explain the 

 common title of staghorn sumach. It is not till the foliage has 

 disappeared, and the forked branches are displayed in all their 

 nakedness, that we feel that these must be the feature in which 

 the common name originated. 



POISON IVY. 



Rhus Toxicodendron. Cashew Family. 



A shrub which usually climbs by means of rootlets over rocks, walls, and 

 trees ; sometimes low and erect. Leaves. — Divided into three somewhat 

 four-sided pointed leaflets. Flowers. — Greenish or yellowish- white ; small; 

 some perfect, others unisexual ; in loose clusters in the axils of the leaves 

 in |une. Fruit. — Small; globular; somewhat berry-like; dun-colored; 

 clustered. 



This much-dreaded plant is often confused with the beautiful 

 Virginia creeper, occasionally to the ruthless destruction of the 

 latter. Generally the two can be distinguished by the three- 

 divided leaves of the poison ivy, the leaves of the Virginia 

 creeper usually being five-divided. In the late year the whitish 

 fruit of the ivy easily identifies it, the berries of the creeper being 

 blackish. The poison ivy is reputed to be especially harmful 

 during the night, or at any time in early summer when the sun 

 is not shining upon it. 



VIRGINIA CREEPER. AMERICAN IVY. 



Ampehpsis quinquefolia. Vine Family. 



A woody vine, climbing by means of disk-bearing tendrils, and also by 

 rootlets. Leaves. — Usually divided into five leaflets. Floiuers. — Greenish; 

 small; clustered; appearing in July. Fruit. — A small blackish berry in 

 October. 



Surely in autumn, if not always, this is the most beautiful of 

 our native climbers. At that season its blood-like sprays are out- 



n6 



