S8 PENTANDRIA. TRTGYNIA. 



R. vEUTcix. Ph. Dioicous; very glabrous; leaflets 3 to 5 pairs, oA:al» entire, abruptly acuminate. 

 %HO)i. Jl- toxicodendron vernix. 3Tarsh- Vulgo—Pohon Sumacli. Swamp Sumach. Poison Asb» 

 J't. Bpf inning of June. Fr. viat. 



Hab. Along rivulets: Barrens: not common, 8 to 15 feet high: flo%vers greenish; fruit white, smooth. 



Ofi.s. This was formerly supposed to be the true Varnish-tree, of .Japan; but its identity with that is doubt- 

 ed, at pre»ent It is reputed poisonous— though I have often handled it freely, and always with impunity. 

 I may, however, make the same remark relative to the R. radicans; which is notoriously poisonous to 

 some persons. 



§2. Leaves ternate. 



R. radicans; Ell- Dioicous; leaflets petiolate, ovate, glabrous, entire, or tooth-angled; stem radicant. 



Etjnon. R. toxicodendron. Var- a. Mx. Var. vulgare. Ph. Fu?go— Poison-vine. Poison-oak. 



Fl Beginning' of June. Fr. mat. Middle of October. 



Hab. Woodlands, and old fence-rows: frequent. Climbing 10 to 40 feet high: flowers greenish; fruit brown. 



Obs. This is very poisonous to some persons; but not generally. For an account of its effects, and med - 

 ical properties, See Barton's collections. Dr. W". P. C. Barton, in i'7. Phil, gives the R. toxicodendron, 

 of Ell. as growing common near the City: but Dr. Baldwin expressed the opinion to me that it was not ta 

 be found in Pennsylvania. 



125. STAPHYLEA. Nutt. Gen. 293. 



[Gr. Staphyie, a bunch, or cluster: alluding to the manner of growth of the fruit.] 



Cal. inferior, 5 parted. Cor. 5 petalled. Caps. 2 or 3, inflatedj connate. Nuts mostly 2, globose.. 



S. TRiFOLiA. EIL Leaves trifoliate; racem.es penjiulous; petals cihate below. 



Fu/go— Bladder-nut. 



FL Middle of May. Fr. mat. Latter end of September. 



Hab. Rich woodlands; Plance's, near Brandy wine: not common. 5 to 12 feet high: flowers wiiUe.. 



126. SAROTHRA. Nutt. Gen. 295. 



[•Gr. Sarofkron, a broom, or besom; from a fancied resemblance in the habit of this plant.] 



Cal. 5 parted, connivent. Cor. petals 5, linear-oblong. Caps, oblong, acute, colored, 1 celled, 3 valvecii. 



S. HYPfiRicoiDE?. Nutt. Branches setaceous, erect, subtrichotomous; leaves acerose, minute, appressed. 

 Synon. S. gentianoides. IVilld. Muhl. and Eli. Hypericum sarothra. ilfx. and P/j. Fw/g-o— Ground Pine .. 

 J7. Latter end of July, and after. Fr. mat. 



Hab. Dry, sandy fields, and roadsides: Barrens: common. 4 to 8 inches high: flowers yellow., 

 Obs. The number «f stamina is not constant in this plant; varying from 5 to 6, 8, or 10. 



127. ARALL\. Nutt. Gen. 297. 

 [A name of URcertain derivation; supposed, by Ue Theis, to be of Canadian origin.] 

 I/mbellulate, with involucels : Cal. superior, 5 toothed. Cor. 5 petalled. Berry 5 celled, 5 seeded.., 



A. NtrricAULis. P/t. Nearly stemless, one-leafed; leaf triquinate; scape naked, about 3 umbelled. 



Vidgo—WM Spikenard. Sarsaparilla . 



17. Latter end of May. Fr. mat. Middle of July. 



}Iab. Rich, rocky woodlands: Bath; Brandywine: frequent. About 2 feet high: flowers greenish whitet 



Of)?. The root of this is a popular medicine; used as a detergent, in diet-drinks, &c.— but it is questiona- 

 ble whether it really possess much virtue. 



A. KACEMCSA- Ph. Divaricately branching; leaves decompound; peduncles axillary, branching, umbellate^ 



F-^u/g-o— Spikenard. Wild Liquorice. 



Fl. Middle of July, and after. Fr. mat. Middle of September. 



JIab. Rich woodlands: along the Brandywine: not common. 3 to 6 feet high: flowers greenish white. 



05s. This appears to be native in our woods; but is not common. It is cultivated, in gardens, for the 

 'Sake of the root and berries— which are often used in tincture as a stomachic: but the principal »irfwe of 

 the medicine probably lies in the alcohol ! 



128. LINUM. Nutt. Gen. 299. 



[Gr. Linon, or Celtic Llin; the name for flax, or thread, in those languages.] 



Cal. 5 parted, persistent. Cor. petals 5, unguiculate. Caps, globose, 10 valved, 10 celled. Seeds solitary. 



X*- vnHGiNJAPfUM. IVilld. Panicle filiform; llo\vers remote; leaves scattered, lanceolate, radical ones ovai. 



