88 TREES GROWING NEAR WATER. 



damaged by high winds. Throughout the valley of the Mississ- 

 ippi it is one of the most common of the river trees. 



From its light-coloured, strong and rather brittle wood fur- 

 niture is made, and it is largely used for interior work. The 

 sap of the tree yields maple sugar in small quantities. 



POISON SUriAC. POISON ELDER. POISON ASH. 



POISON DOGWOOD. (Plate XXXVII.) 



Rhus Vdrnix. 



Bark: light grey; smooth. Branches: reddish brown ; smooth. Leaves: 

 compound; alternate; with reddish, smooth, unwinged stalks; odd-pinnate, 

 with from seven to thirteen oblong leaflets which have short red petiolules, the 

 terminal one longer than the other. Apex and base pointed or rounded. 

 Edge : entire ; dark green above, paler below. Midrib : scarlet above ; thin ; 

 glabrous at maturity. Flowers: dioecious; dull greenish white; axillary ; many 

 imperfect; growing in loose panicles. Berries: greenish white; about the size 

 of peas ; smooth ; shiny ; poisonous to the touch as is the whole plant. Juice : 

 turning black with exposure to the air. 



Not even among the plant world can everything be taken 

 on faith as good and beautiful. Here are the harmful spirits 

 as well as in other places, and unhappily it must be related 

 that such a one is the sumac of the swamps. 

 So violently poisonous to the touch is this 

 native species that to those that are not 

 immune to its evil effects even passing by the 

 shrub is fraught with danger, should the 

 breeze be in such a direction as to place 

 upon them its flying pollen. It is especially 

 to be avoided when the pores of the skin 

 are open as in perspiration. That the edges 

 of the leaflets are entire ; that its leaf-stalks 

 are without wing; and that its whitish fruit grows in axillary 

 panicles are simple guides to its identification. By remember- 

 ing them the possibility of confusing it with other and harm- 

 less species will be avoided. The tree, however, is not wholly 



