262 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



Rhus typhina. Stag's-Horn Sumach. This is one of the 

 safe species, and highly ornamental in the shrubbery, on 

 account of its elegant compound leaves and bunches of rich 

 scarlet berries. The shrub, which grows to the height of twelve 

 to twenty feet, is ugly shaped, its branches being rather naked 

 and crooked. It must, therefore, be planted with other shrubs, 

 so as to conceal, as much as possible, the crooked, irregular 

 stems and branches. There is no particular beauty in the 

 flowers ; but in July and August the heads of berries begin to 

 assume a rich scarlet color, afterwards turning to purple, and 

 remain conspicuous and beautiful into winter ; while in autumn 

 the leaves begin early to turn, and become of a red color, with 

 various shades of yellow, orange, and purple. The ends of 

 the branches, from their irregularity and the abundant down 

 with which they are covered, resemble the young horns of the 

 stag, whence their name. 



Rhus copallina, The Mountain Sumach, is another 

 beautiful species, " found growing on dry rocks, or sandy hills, 

 about the same height of the last, in favorable, protected situ- 

 ations, but usually about three to five feet. The varnished pol- 

 ish of the leaves, and the rich purple they assume in autumn, 

 as well as the scarlet of the leafy heads of fruit, make this 

 species one of the most beautiful of the genus." 



Rhus.glabra. The Smooth Sumach. This is a hand- 

 some, spreading, leafy bush, usually four to six, rarely ten, feet 

 high. The leaves are compound, smooth, of a rich green. 

 The flowers are disposed of in a large green head, of yellow- 

 ish-green color, and agreeable fragrance. The velvety crimson 

 heads of berries on this plant, as on the others, are very acid 

 and astringent. The leaves are used in tanning. 



Rhus cotinus. Venetian Sumach, or Smoke Tree. This 

 species is much cultivated as an ornamental shrub. It is a 

 crooked, straggling growing plant, from ten to fifteen feet high. 

 No attempt should be made to make it grow straight by prun- 

 ing, as it looks the best when left to itself, clothed with branches 

 to the ground. Persons ignorant of the habits of the shrub, 



