WHITE 



POISON IVY. 



Rhus Toxicodendron. Cashew Family. 



A shrub which usually climbs by means of rootlets over rocks, walls, and 

 trees ; sometimes low and erect. Leaves. Divided into three somewhat 

 four-sided pointed leaflets. Flowers, Greenish or yellowish-white, small, 

 some perfect, others unisexual ; in loose clusters in the axils of the leaves in 

 June. Fruit. Small, globular, somewhat berry-like, dun-colored, clustered. 



This much- dreaded plant is often confused with the beautiful 

 Virginia creeper, occasionally to the ruthless destruction of the 

 latter. Generally the two can be distinguished by the three- 

 divided leaves of the poison ivy, the leaves of the Virginia 

 creeper usually being five-divided. In the late year the whitish 

 fruit of the ivy easily identifies it, the berries of the creeper being 

 blackish. The poison ivy is reputed to be especially harmful 

 during the night, or at any time in early summer when the sun 

 is not shining upon it. 



VIRGINIA CREEPER. AMERICAN IVY. 



Ampelopsis qiiinquefolia. Vine Family. 



A woody vine climbing by means of disk-bearing tendrils, and also by 

 rootlets. Leaves. Usually divided into five leaflets. Florvers. Greenish, 

 small, clustered, appearing in July. Fruit. A small, blackish berry in Oc- 

 tober. 



Surely in autumn, if not always, this is the most beautiful of 

 our native climbers. At that season its blood-like sprays are out- 

 lined against the dark evergreens about which they delight to 

 twine, showing that marvellous discrimination in background 

 which so constantly excites our admiration in nature. The Vir- 

 ginia creeper is extensively cultivated in Europe. Even in 

 Venice, that sea-city where one so little anticipates any re- 

 minders of home woods and meadows, many a dim canal mir- 

 rors in October some crumbling wall or graceful trellis aglow 

 with its vivid beauty. 



