SUMACH FAMILY 



The Poison Sumach is found throughout the northern 

 states and is one of the most dangerous plants of our flora. 

 However, it ought never to be mistaken for the other su- 

 machs although it often is. The leaves are shorter, the leaf- 

 lets fewer, margins are entire, the fruit white and about the 

 size of a small pea. All the other sumachs have red fruit. 

 It is found in wet soils, whereas the others like the dry. Its 

 poisonous principle is the same as that found in Rhus toxi- 

 codendron, or Poison Ivy, and while it affects many people who 

 handle it or are near to it, others are entirely immune. The 

 poison shows itself in painful and long continued swellings 

 and eruptions. The exact character of this poison is in dis- 

 pute. It has long been considered to be a volatile acid, but 

 recent investigations are leading to the belief that it is a fixed 

 oil. 



