USEFUL WILD PLANTS 



tinguished by compact, terminal, cone-like panicles 

 of ^vllite (lowers and pinnate leaves that turn all 

 glorious in the autumn in tones of orange and red. 

 They are BJiiis typhuia, L. (Staghorn Sumac), R. 

 (jhihra, L. (Smooth Sumac), and R. copallina, L. 

 (Dwarf Sumac). The first is sometimes a small 

 tree; the others are shrubs. In the Eocky Moun- 

 tain region and westward RJius trilohata, Nutt., is 

 frequent — the Squaw-bush, as it is called, because 

 the branches are extensively used by the Indian 

 women in basketry; and on the Pacific coast, Rhus 

 ovata, AVats., and R. integrifolia, B. & H., stout 

 shrubs or small trees, occur. The last two have 

 leathery, entire leaves quite unlike those of the 

 eastern species, and the white or pinkish flowers 

 are borne in tight little clusters. The berries of all 

 these sumacs are crimson and clothed with a hairy 

 stickiness that is pleasantly acid and communicates 

 a lemon-like taste to w^ater in w^hich the fruit has 

 been soaked for a few minutes. These plants — par- 

 ticuhirly the western species — are often found grow- 

 ing on hot, waterless hillsides, and their fruits offer 

 a grateful refreshment to the thirsty traveler, 

 whether sucked in the mouth until bared of their acid 

 coating, or steeped in w^ater to serve as a w^oodland 

 lemonade. The three far western species are com- 



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