PENTANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. S7 



OBDER, TRXaYNZA. 



122. VIBURNUM. JSFutt. Gm. 290. 

 [A name borrowed from the Latin classics: eitymology obscure.] 



Ca-l. Eupevior, small, 5 parted. Cor. campanulate, 5 cleft. Drupe 1 seeded. 

 V. pRtTNiFOLiLTM. AIll. Leaves roimdisli-oval, acute, serrulate; cymes 4 parted; fruit oblong, compressed. 

 Ftt^g-o— Black Haw. Sloe, 



Fi. Middle of May- Fr. mat. Middle of October. 



J£ab. Fence-rows, and thickets: frequent. S, to 12 or 15 feet high: flowers white; fruit bluish black. 



Obs. The fruit of this shrub becomes esculent by the action of frost. If the V. pyrifolhm grows in thii 

 vicinity, I have not been fortunate enough to distinguish it from the above. 



V. DEiVTATUM- Marshall. Leaves roundish-ovate, acute, dentate-serrate, plicate; fnilt subglobose. 



Vulgo — Arrow-wood . 



Fl- Middle of June. Fr. mat Middle of September. 



Hab. Moist, low grounds; along rivulets: frequent. 8 to 12 feet high: flowers white; fruit dark blue. 



V. ACERiFOLiUM. Marshall. Leaves 3 lobed, acuminate; cymes sub-umbellate; fruit oval, compressed, 



I/it/g-o— Arrow-wood. Maple-leaved Viburnum. 



Fl- Last of May. Fr. mat. Middle of September, 



ffab. Woodlands, every where common. 2 to 5 feet high: flowers white; fruit black. 



Obs. The stems of this slender shrub, when the pith is removed, afford good fuse-sticks, for blowing- 

 roeks; and are much used for tliat purpose. 



123. SAMBUCUS. JVutt. Gen. 291.. 

 [Gr. Sambuke, an ancient instrument of music; supposed to have been made of this shrub.] 



Cal. superior, small, 5 cleft. Cor. rotate-concave, 5 lobed. Berry roundish, 3 seeded. 



S. CANADENSIS. Ell. Leaves pinnate; leaflets oval, acuminate, sliarply serrate; cymes S parted. 



Sy 71071. S. nigra. Marshall. Fw/g-o— Elder-bush. 



Fl. Beginning of Juae. Fr. mat. Middle of August. 



Mab. Fence-rows, thickets, &c . common. 6 to 10 feet high: flowers white; fruit dark purple? or black. 



06s. The flowers are frequently 6 and 7-androus. The inner bark of this shrub is much used by the peo- 

 ' pie, as an ingredient in making ointments for dressing ulcers. An infusion of the leaves is also considered 

 efficacious in expelling insects from cucumber, and other vines; and in destroying skippers in bacon. &c- — 

 how correctly I am unable to say. It is rather a troublesome plant on our farms; the roots being very te- 

 nacious of life, and spreading rapidly along fence-rows,— unless extirpated with great care and vigi- 

 lance. 



124. RHUS. Nutt. Gen. 292. 

 [Supposed from the Gr. Rhaos, or rAoj<s,— originally from the Celtic, Rhudd, red; in reference to the color 

 of the fruit. Be Theis. "Seu Rheo (.Gr.) fluo, quia fluxus alvi dysentericos et muliebres sistat." Boerh.'H 



Cal- inferior, 5 parted. Cor. petals 5. Berry small, with 1 nuciform seed. 



§ L Leaves unequally pinnate. 



R. GtABRUM. Marsh. Glabrous; leaflets 8 to 10 pairs, lanceolate-oblong, serrate, glaucous beneath, 



FiJgo— Common Sumach. Smooth Sumach. Shumake- 



Fl. Last of June. Fr. mat. Last of September, 



Jiab. Sterile old fields, fence-rows, &c. common. 3 to 10 feet high: flowers yellowish green; fruit red, 



Obs. Mr. Elliott says the flowers are "aK fertile;" and Michaux and others describe them'as being " dioi- 

 cous" — but so far as 1 have observed, Marshall is more correct in saying "the flowers are hermaphrodits 

 and female on separate plants." The hermaphrodite flowers, however, as Marshall correctly adds. ar& 

 barren; .although, when they first open, they appear to have perfect germs. The thyrsus of female flow- 

 ers is smaller and more compact than that of the infertile plant. This is a very lactescent species; the ripe 

 berries are covered with a grey pounce, which is highly acid. The branches are extensively used in tan- 

 ning morocco leather. 



R. coPALLTNiTM. Marsh. Dioicous; leaflets 4 to 6 pairs, nearly entire; common petiole winged, jointea. 



Fu/go— Mountain Sumach. Lentiscus-leaved Sumacli. 



Fl. Middle of July: Fr. mat. Beginning of October- 



ilub. Baxv^^oh- weBt (?f the Grove tavern: frequent. 3 to 8 feet hish: flowers yellowish greexv 



