TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA 73 



'flowers. It is often cultivated and multiplies by 

 suckers. 



115. Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis L. Toothache 

 V Tree, Prickly Ash^.* 



A peculiar small tree with strong, short thorns on 

 the main stem and branches, large pinnately com- 

 pound leaves and large clusters of small greenish- 

 white flowers terminating the branches. The Tooth- 

 ache Tree is so named because the pungent bark and 

 other parts >act as a counter irritant and help to re- 

 lieve toothache. It is confined to a narrow strip 

 along the sea coast. Ayres and Ashe in error, credit 

 this to the mountains. 



SUMACH FAMILY 

 (ANACARDIACEAE) 



116. Rhus typhina L. Staghorn Sumach, f 



This is a small tree or shrub, sometimes 30 feet 

 high, which is confined to moderate elevations in the 

 mountains. It is easily recognized by the compound 



* Mfantlius glandulosa Desf. (Tree of Heaven, Copal) is a culti- 

 vated tree from China and Japan which is frequently spontaneous 

 in waste places. The large, pinnate >; compound, smooth leaves 

 are bad smelling when crushed, and so are the male flowers. The 

 female flowers are only slightly unpleasant, and only trees bearing 

 these should be planted, especially as the conspicuous clusters of red- 

 dish-green fruits are quite decorative. Date of flowering : May 25, 

 1916. Quassia Family (Simaroubaceae) . 



Melia Azedarach L. (China-berry Tree), a native of Persia and 

 India, is also frequently spontaneous. The leaves are large, doubly 

 pinnately-compound, and with cut leaflets ; the flowers purplish and 

 with a heavy fragrance ; fruit a light-colored berry with a ridged 

 stone containing several seeds. As a rule all of the seeds in a 

 berry do not come up the same year. A low spreading variety, called 

 the Umbrella Tree, which originated in Texas, is now very popular. 

 Mahogany Family (Meliaceae). 



t Rhus verniy L. (Poison Sumach), and R. copallina (Dwarf 

 Sumach) occasionally reach the height of small trees, but are es- 

 sentially so shrub-like in character that they are not here included. 



