354 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



found for this species. A patch of staminate plants was found at 

 the south end of Green's woods along Lost Lake north of the fence 

 going- down to the lake a little below its middle, another patch in 

 woods at the north end of Lost Lake, another along the public road 

 near the railroad crossing, and a fifth patch down by Overmyer's. 



492. POISON SUMAC; SWAMP SUMAC 



TOXICODENDRON VERNIX (L.) Kuntze 



Common in sphagnous bogs; abundant in Hawk's marsh, some 

 trees near the lake by Farrar's. Remarkable for its brilliant au- 

 tumnal coloration in which the color of flames — orange and yellow 

 — predominates. Very poisonous, more so than the poison ivy. The 

 famous Japanese lacquer is obtained from a tree very like this, and 

 is procured by making incisions in the bark. The varnished, pearl- 

 gray berries, which hang down in loose bunches, are rather pretty. 



493. POISON IVY; THREE-LEAVED IVY 



TOXICODENDRON RADICANS <L.) Kuntze 



Rather common in open places and at the edge of woodlands. 

 Some in Farrar's woods, climbing trees, others growing in the edge 

 of an old field near by, are stiff and erect, like bushes. The plants 

 climbing trees put out long horizontal branches. The leaves are 

 quite poisonous to the touch to some people, but after having been 

 poisoned a number of times one apparently becomes immune. Ac- 

 cording to Hough, fluid extract of Grindelia is a certain remedy for 

 ivy poisoning. The leaves turn flaming yellow in the fall. Various 

 birds in their fall migrations often flock to the poison ivy vines for 

 the berries; downy woodpeckers also eat them. On one occasion 

 seeds of poison ivy were noted coming up thickly on May 26. The 

 cotyledons are small, ovate-linear, the second leaf being charac- 

 teristic and giving the clue to the species. 



Family 90. Ilicace^e. Holly Family 



494. WINTERBERRY; VIRGINIA WINTERBERRY; BLACK ALDER 



ILEX VERTICILLATA (L.) A. Gray 



Common, in patches in low wet grounds, as along the northwest 

 shore of Lost Lake, in the swamp near the lake between Murray's 

 and Farrar's ; in Hawk's marsh, etc. ; some remarkably fine plants 

 grew in shallow water in a permanent pond along a road northeast 

 of the lake. One of the best patches west of the lake is around a 

 swamp in a field along the railroad a little above the birch swamp. 



