264 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



leaves. These are succeeded by pendent clusters of whitish 

 oerries. The writer has had painful experience, in his youngei 

 days, of the bad influence of this plant upon his person, having 

 been thoroughly poisoned a number of times by approaching 

 it. I imagined that it would poison me when I came near 

 the plant, even without a touch ; therefore, always carefully 

 avoided it. 



R. toxicodendron. Poison Ivy. " This is a handsome 

 climbing plant, and would be desirable for covering walls, 

 trees, &c., were it not for its poisonous qualities. It is very 

 hardy, frequent in moist or shady places, climbing over rocks, 

 to which it attaches itself by numerous radicles, which pene- 

 trate the investing lichens, or over bushes, or along the trunks 

 of trees, often to a great height, fastening itself to the bark so 

 firmly that it breaks more readily than it is detached, and so 

 closely as to impede the growth of the plant. The leaves are 

 smooth, and shining on both surfaces. The plant is poisonous, 

 like the last, but in an inferior degree," 



RIBES. 



Currant. 



The Currant family is familiar to all, on account of the 

 grateful and healthy fruit which some of the species produce. 

 Some of the tribe are highly ornamental, and desirable in the 

 shrubbery. 



Ribes sanguineum. Red-flowering Currant. This is a 

 very handsome ornamental species, producing pendent racemes 

 of rich deep-red flowers, in May. The shrub is about three 

 feet high ; the foliage elegant. The plant is easily propagated 

 by cuttings. I find it is rather tender, the extremities of the 

 branches being often killed in this climate. Probably, if planted 

 the north side of a wall, or where it is partially shaded with 

 evergreens, it would succeed better. 



Ribes speciosa. Crimson-flowering Currant. The flowers 



