390 RHUS 



open air in the British Isles, but several others (such as R. succedanea) 

 can be cultivated in Cornwall and similar places. Individually the flowers 

 of the sumachs are small and of little beauty, being greenish, yellowish, 

 or dull white, but in a few species the panicles are sufficiently large and 

 the flowers white enough to give a pleasing effect. In some species the 

 fruits <: /e handsome, but, on the whole, their value in gardens is in the 

 size and autumn colouring of the foliage. The leading characters of the 

 genus are the alternate leaves and usually dioecious flowers, the five-lobed 

 calyx (which adheres to the fruit), the five petals, the one-celled ovary 

 with three styles, and the usually globose fruit, either smooth or hairy, 

 containing one bony seed. 



The juice of several species, notably R. Toxicodendron and R. Vernix, 

 is exceedingly acrid and poisonous to many people, but care should be 

 taken in pruning or making cuttings of any of the species. R. vernicifera 

 yields the famous lacquer of Japan. The leaves of R. CORIARIA, Linnxus, 

 a species too tender for the ordinary climate of Great Britain, contain a 

 valuable, tanning and dyeing substance. Finely ground, they constitute the 

 "sumach" of commerce. The leaves of several other species have also 

 an economic value either for dyeing or tanning, and the fruits of some, like 

 R. succedanea and vernicifera, give a wax used for candle-making. 



The cultivation of all the sumachs is simple. They do not require 

 a very rich soil except when they are grown purely for size of foliage, 

 as R. typhina (q.v.) and R. glabra sometimes are. Where autumn colour 

 is desired, ordinary garden soil without added manure is sufficient. Like 

 many other trees with soft wood and a large pith, they are subject to the 

 attacks of the "coral-spot" fungus (Nectria cinnabarina). Branches so 

 attacked should be cleanly cut off and burnt, the wound coated with tar. 

 The simple-leaved species (Cotinus and cotinoides) can be increased by 

 ordinary cuttings, most of the others by root-cuttings, and seed is often 

 available. 



SIMPLE LEAVES. 

 Cotinus, cotinoides. 



TERNATE LEAVES (three leaflets). 

 Canadensis, Toxicodendron. 



PINNATE LEAVES WITH WINGED LEAF-STALK. 

 Copallina (entire), Osbeckii (toothed). 



PINNATE LEAVES ; ENTIRE LEAFLETS. 

 Henryi, Potaninii, trichocarpa, Vernix, vernicifera. 



PINNATE LEAVES ; TOOTHED LEAFLETS. 



Glabra, Michauxi, typhina. 



R. CANADENSIS, Marshall. FRAGRANT SUMACH. 



(R. aroraatica, Aiton.} 



A low, spreading, deciduous shrub, 3 to 5 ft. high. Leaves aromatically 

 fragrant when bruised, trifoliolate, with a common stalk | to f in. long. 

 Leaflets not stalked, the side ones broadly ovate, the terminal one the largest, 



