RHUS. 



263 



often complain of nurserymen because they do not give them 

 regular-shaped plants ; but this is impossible, nor is it desira- 

 ble 3 . 



The foliage is handsome; the flowers are disposed of in 

 large panicles, first green, changing to a reddish-brown, and 

 afterwards a brownish smoke color. The flowers, or append- 

 ages to them, have the appearance of downy silk, in light, 

 airy masses, and, as the plant is nearly covered with these 

 graceful clusters, have some resemblance to puffs of smoke 

 emerging from the graceful leaves. 



It is propagated from layers, very readily, and probably from 

 seed, which, however, we have never seen. It is well adapted 

 to the shrubbery. 



" In Greece and Russia, the shrub is used for tanning, and for 

 dyeing a rich, beautiful yellow, and in Italy and about Venice, 

 for dyeing black, and also for tanning." 



The poisonous species of Rhus to be avoided are, R. venenata 

 and R. toxicodendron. 



Rhus venenata. The Poison Sumach, or Dogwood. 

 " This is the most poisonous woody plant of New England. 

 Some persons are so susceptible to its influence as to be poi- 

 soned by the air blowing from it, or being near a fire on which 

 it is burning. The poison shows itself in painful and long- 

 continued swellings and eruptions of the face and hands, and 

 other parts of the body. The effects are exasperated by smell- 

 ing or handling the plant. Other persons handle and rub it, 

 and even chew and swallow the leaves, with impunity. 



" The Poison Sumach is, perhaps, the most beautiful plant of 

 the swamps." It is a shrub from eight to fifteen feet in height. 

 The leaves are compound, having from three to thirteen leaf- 

 lets, that are attached to the mid-rib without much if any stem, 

 or, as the botanist terms it, " nearly sessile." The leaves are 

 a dark-green, with a rich polish ; the veins of a purplish-red 

 above, much paler, sometimes downy, beneath. 



The flowers, which are small and greenish-yellow, are in open, 

 loose panicles, ten or twelve inches long, from the axils of the 



