Others, from their caustic nature, have acquired the name 

 of Poison trees, as the Dwarf Carolina Sumach, Rhus Pu- 

 milum, stem not above a foot high. Leaves numerously 

 pinnate, oval, scarcely pointed, deeply toothed, downy be- 

 neath. Branches, and foot-stalks downy. Fruit clothed 

 with a velvet down. 



The R. Toxicodendron, Trailing Poison-Oak, or Su- 

 mach, common in woods, fields, and hedges, from Carolina to 

 Georgia, is a very pernicious plant. Stem creeping, never 

 erect, but when it meets with support, will climb like ivy to 

 the tops of the highest trees. Leaves ternate, the leaflets 

 are of a broad, ovate, or rhomboidal form, pointed, always 

 more or less downy, at least about the ribs; crenate, cut, or 

 lobod. Flowers in compound axillary clusters, greenish, diae- 

 cious. Berries white. 



The Rhus cotinus, or Venice Sumach, cultivated in 

 gardens, is much admired for the very singular and ornamen- 

 tal appearance of its elongated feathery fruit-stalks. The 

 shrub grows to about the height of a man, bushy. Leaves 

 smooth, orbicular, entire. Flowers greenish, or purplish, 

 small, in terminal compound panicles. Fruit gibbous. The 

 leaves and stalks, when bruised, have an aromatic but pun- 

 gent and acid odour. The whole plant is used in Italy for 

 tanning as are the different species of this genus in other 

 countries. 



SUN FLOWER. 

 Helianthus. 



Helianthus, L. derived from the Gr. n\n>s t the sun, and 

 v$of, a flower. The name applied, no doubt, from the re- 

 semblance which its broad golden disk and ray bear to the 

 Sun. 



The power ascribed to it of constantly presenting its 

 flowers to that luminary, renders it quite appropriate. But 

 there are many other plants which possess this power in a 

 higher degree. This property, where it is eminently conspi- 

 cuous, has been poetically construed into a sort of sympathy 

 or perception in the plant, like that of the ancient Heliotrope. 

 (See Note upon that Flower.) 



The H. indicus, Dwarf annual Sun-flower, is a diminu- 

 tive species, now much cultivated. 



The H. annuus, or annual Sun flower, was the first 

 discovered, and the largest species. A native of Mexico and 

 Peru. On account of its resemblance to the Sun, it was used 

 in the religious ceremonies of the ancient Peruvians, who 

 worshipped that luminary. The virgins, who officiated in 

 the Temple of the Sun, were crowned with the Helianthus 

 made of pure gold, and wearing them, also, in their breast, 

 and carrying others in their hands, which reflecting the rays 

 of their deity by the brilliancy of the metal, formed an effect 

 of the most imposing grandeur. 



In its native country, it is said to grow to the height of 

 twenty feet or more, and the flowers to be about two feet 

 broad. 



Great Helianthus 



Climbs the upland lawn, 

 And bows, in homage, to the rising dawn; 



Imbibes, with eagle eye, the golden ray, 

 And watches, as it moves, the orb of day. 



Darwin. 



Helianthus, like the God of day, 



Binds round his nodding disk the golden ray. 



Evans. 

 Uplift, proud Sun-fiowerj to thy favourite orb, 



That disk whereon his brightness seems to dwell, 

 And as thou seem'st his radiance to absorb, 

 Proclaim thyself the garden's sentinel. 



B. Barton. 



The H. Tuberosus, tuberous-rooted Helianthus, or Je-> 

 rusalem Artichoke, is a native of Peru. Now much culti- 

 vated in kitchen gardens, for the sake of its roots, which, 

 when boiled, have the flavour of the real Artichoke. 



/There are many species of the Helianthus, eleven of 

 which belong to America. Their general character is a calyx 

 imbricated, somewhat squarrose. Receptacle chaffy, flat, 

 seed-crown of two leaves. Corolla compound, radiated; flo- 

 rets of the disk, very numerous, perfect, cylindrical, shorter 

 than the common calyx. Most of them are perennial herba- 

 ceous, with large, alternate, heart-shaped, or ovate leaves. 

 Stalks roughish. 



SWEET BRIAR. 



Rosa Suaveolens. 

 (For Rosa, see Rose.) 

 Suaveolens, Lat. sweet-smelling. 

 Rosa Suaveolens, is the American Sweet Briar. Flow- 

 ers pale pink, small, often, but not always solitary. Foliage 

 delightfully fragrant. 



The wild-briar rose, a fragrant cup, 

 To hold the morning's tear. 



London. 



Yet, lovely flower, I find in thee 



Wild sweetness which no words express, 



And charms in thy simplicity, 



That dwell not in the pride of dress. 



John Langhorn. Fables of Flora. 



SWEET WILLIAM. 



Dianthus Barbatus. 

 (For Dianthus, see Carnation or Pink.) 

 The Sweet William, D. barbatus, is a species of Pink, 

 indigenous to Germany. The Dutch formerly gave it the 

 name of Keykens, which is their familiar name for a nosegay 

 or a large bunch of flowers. One stem supporting a large 

 and brilliant bunch of blossoms. 



This species of Dianthus has been named Barbatus, 

 from the hairy or pointed scales of the calyx, which is ovate 

 awl-shaped, of one leaf. Flowers aggregate, in separate 

 bundles. Leaves lanceolate. A hardy perennial plant, 

 thriving best, in a dry calcareous soil. 



Sweet William has a form and aspect bright, 



Like that sweet flower that yields great Jove delight; 



