Handbook of Trkks of the Noktjikkx Siaiks amj Canada. 



500 



The Dwarf SiiiiKicli. as its name implies, is 

 a snuill tret' at bi'-l and iiiucli uioil' (.•oiimioiily 

 a shrub than a tree; still it soiiiet lines attains 

 the heiyht of 1^5 or 'M ft. with trunk S or 10 

 in. in diameter. This is <;cnerally more or less 

 leaniny and divided into a few laruje branches, 

 ultimately forminy a wide spreading tup. It 

 is an abundant species covcriiii,' dry j^ravelly 

 slopes often to the exclusion of nearly every- 

 thing else. Its singular and beautiful leaves, 

 witli rachises winged between the leaflets, give 

 it an individuality at onee recognizable, and 

 its bunches of crimson fruit add not a little 

 to its ornamental value. In autumn it is 

 brilliant in various tints of red and purple. 



The wood is light, a cubic foot weighing 

 32.80 lbs., soft and of a greenish brown color 

 with lighter sap-wood. The bark and leaves 

 are rich in tannin and the fruit similar in 

 properties to that of the Stag-horn Sumach. 



Leaves dociduous, pinnate, G-8 in. louj;. with 

 pubescent petiole and rachis, the latter winded 

 between the h»aflets ; leaflets ovate-lanceolalc to 

 oblong, subse.ssile, entire or remotely serrate 

 towards the apex, acute or acuminate, lustrous 

 darlc green above, paler and pubescent beneath. 

 Flowers in midsummer, about Vs in. across, yellow- 

 green, in short d(>nso iniliese(>nt terminal panicles. 

 4-0 in. long: the i)istillale considerably smaller. 

 Fruit in coniiiaci erect or inKidiiii; clusti'rs. often 

 persisting on t1ie branches through tlie entire 

 winter ; drupe about Vs in- across, compressed, 

 crimson, covered with short acid hairs ; stone 

 smooth. 



Var. Inueeolntn. Orny. is a small tree of eastern 

 Texas with n;iiro\ver niid more falcate leaflets and 

 lar"-(>r bunches nf ibiw.rs and fruit. 



Var. IciiraiiilKi i.l,ie(|.) de C. is another form 

 found in Texas (near New Rraunfels) with white 

 flowers. 



1. A. W.. XII. 279. 



