232 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Stomactfi records: Fourteen species of birds, including ruffed grouse, bob- 

 white, ring-necked pheasant and mourning dove; eastern skunk. Observations: 

 Four species of birds including sharp-tailed grouse ; important food of ring- 

 necked pheasant in southern Michigan ; closely browsed by moose on Isle Royale ; 

 white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit ; ninth most important preferred winter food 

 of deer in Massachusetts. Resistant to grazing. 



Rhus utahensis, see Rhus trilobata. 

 Rhus venenata, see Rhus vernix. 



Rhus vernix L. Poison sumac. 



R. venenata DC., Toancodendron vernix (L.) Kuntze, T. pinnatum Mill. 

 Range : 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 

 Site : Moist, sun. 



Fruit : Drupe ; available in September, persistent. 



A large shrub to small or large tree; foliage not dense; rather loosely 

 branched ; poisonous. 



Stomach records: Sixteen species of birds, including ruffed grouse and ring- 

 necked pheasant. Observations: Five species of birds; an important food of 

 ring-necked pheasant and bobwhite ; cottontail rabbit. 



Rhus virens Lindh. Evergreen sumac. 



Schmaltzia virens (Lindh.) Small. 

 Range: 11, 16, 17, 20. 

 Site: Dry, sun. 



Fruit : Drupe, available in September. 



A small to large shrub or small tree ; evergreen ; commonly occurs on lime- 

 stone soils ; grows in extremely difficult positions ; may often be prostrate. 



Ribes spp. Gooseberry, currant. 



These species are alternate hosts of the white-pine blister rust. Various State 

 and Federal laws restrict or prohibit the movement of Ribes as well as the five- 

 leaved pines, and any operators interested in planting these should get in touch 

 with the United States Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, as well 

 as with the officers in their particular State who are concerned with the move- 

 ment of the shrubs and trees ( State entomologists, plant-quarantine officers, and 

 horticulturists ) . 



At the present time, while all species have not been tested, no native species 

 is known to be resistant to the blister rust. Nine hundred feet is a safe dis- 

 tance to plant Ribes (except the cultivated black currant) away from the pines. 

 The spores of the rust have been known to infect cultivated black currant 150 

 miles or more from the pines, and the statement has been made (154) that if 

 there were no cultivated black currants, the disease would not be as widespread 

 as it is. Reference to Pinus will show which of those species have five needles. 



The genus is often divided into two, Ribes and Orossularia, currants and 

 gooseberries, respectively. There appears yet to be considerable difference of 

 opinion as to whether the two should be combined or separated. 



Stomach records (in addition to specific records) : Thirty-three species of 

 birds, including dusky grouse, mourning dove, and Richardson's grouse; moun- 

 tain sheep, black-tailed deer, coyote, northern chipmunk, pale chipmunk, and 

 rufous-tailed chipmunk. Observations (in addition to specific records) : Seven 

 species of birds including dusky grouse, prairie sharp-tailed grouse, Gambel 

 quail ; Say chipmunk, painted chipmunk, gray-footed chipmunk, lesser Colorado 

 chipmunk, Arizona chipmunk, cliff squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, 

 alpine chipmunk, eastern chipmunk, western chipmunk, Allen's chipmunk, Siski- 

 you chipmunk, pica, and porcupine ; formed a prominent share of the midsum- 

 mer food of skunks in New York. Fairly to moderately palatable to livestock, 

 except goats, and of considerable forage significance on some ranges. 



Ribes acerifolium Howell 

 R. howellii Greene. 

 Range: 4. 



Site : Well-drained, sun. 

 Fruit: Berry. 

 A small shrub. 



Ribes afflne, see Ribes laxiflorum. 





