ANACARDIACEAE 219 



grained and tough, used in boat building and general carpentry. On 

 account of its hardiness, nurserymen use this tree as stock upon which 

 Pistacio vera, which produces the pistacio nuts of commerce, is grafted. 

 By resorting to this practice the Italian pistacio nuts might well be 

 grown for the market in China. The nuts are eaten roasted, and are 

 otherwise employed in confectionary. 



RHUS 



Trees or shrubs with milky juice. Leaves deciduous or evergreen, 

 alternate, simple, trifoliate or odd pinnate, without stipules. Flowers 

 small, dioecious or polygamous, white or greenish, in axillary or terminal 

 panicles. Calyx 4-6 parted or cleft, generally 5 parted, persistent, 

 imbricated ; petals 5, deciduous, imbricated; stamens 5, inserted below 

 the fleshy disk. Ovary solitary, sessile, superior; styles 3. Fruit a small, 

 dry, 1-seeded drupe; endocarp smooth or pubescent, coriaceous or bony. 



About 125 species in the tropical and temperate regions of both 

 hemispheres, about 10 species in China. The genus is composed of 

 shrubs or small trees usually characterized by compound leaves turning 

 a brilliant red or orange in the autumn and by inconspicuous flowers in 

 large terminal panicles followed by numerous small fruits which are 

 sometimes handsomely colored. Several species possess useful properties 

 of commercial importance. The foliage and bark of nearly every species 

 contain tannin, which may be used for tanning hides. Rhus verniciflva 

 yields the lacquer used for lacquer ware; from Rhus succedanea vegetable 

 wax is obtained for the manufacture of candles. Chinese Gall, exported 

 to Europe in large quantities for the manufacture of tannic acid, is pro- 

 duced on the branches and leaf stalks of Rhus javanica through the action 

 of an insect. R. verniciflva and R. succedanea have a poisonous property 

 extremely toxic to some people when the plants or parts of them are 

 handled. The poison (toxicodendrol) is contained in a heavy non- 

 volatile oil, very minute quantities of which may cause eruptions on the 

 skin. This poisonous oil may be removed by several thorough washings 

 with soap and water. 



Rhus verniciflua Stokes. 

 (E. vernicifera De Candole.) 

 Lacquer Varnish Tree. Che Shu. 



Tree to 20 m. tall with pale gray, smooth bark when young and dark 

 gray, furrowed bark at maturity. Leaves odd pinnate, 25-75 cm. in length; 



