CHAPTER XIX 



Sumach and Holly 



The sumach and holly families belong to the large natural order 

 of plants called the Sapindales which includes a score of families 

 and over three thousand existing species. Here belong the box, 

 horsechestnuts and maples, as well as hosts of unfamiliar forms of 

 other climes. On the whole this order does not contribute as many- 

 trees to our temperate forests as it does to those of equatorial 

 regions. 



THE SUMACH 



The sumach, of which there are many kinds, belongs to a family 

 known botanically as the Anacardiaceae. This family contains a 

 great variety of highly interesting plants such as the oriental man- 

 gos, now cultivated in all tropical countries, and often facetiously 

 considered the basis of rebellion in the Antilles since the insurrec- 

 tos could Hve entirely on mangos when they were in season. It 

 includes also the interesting cashew-nuts, the spondias or hog-plums, 

 pistacia nuts, and many others of the greatest importance. 



In the modern world the sumach family is divided into over 50 

 genera and nearly 500 species. All are trees or shrubs with pithy 

 branches, and a resinous milky juice that is toxic, alternately 

 arranged simple or palmate or pinnate leaves, and drupaceous 

 fruits. They make their greatest display in the tropical and sub- 

 tropical regions of both hemispheres, and are especially abundant 

 in the Malayasian region. 



The genus to which the familiar sumach belongs is known as 

 Rhus which was the classical name of the south European sumach. 

 Rhus is by far the largest genus of the family, and the only one to 

 occur in the temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern 

 Hemispheres. It contains over 100 existing species, just about the 

 same number as have been found fossil. They are found in all 



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