552 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



berries, afford a black ink-like tincture. The berries are eaten by children 

 with impunity, but they are very sour : they are red, and are made use of 

 for dyeing that same colour." (Martyn's Miller.) Professor Rogers, in 

 Silliman's Journal, vol. xxvii. p. 294., observes that the berries contain a 

 large portion of the malic acid, and are used as a substitute for lemons in 

 various preparations of domestic economy and medicine : the leaves are used 

 in tanning. In British gardens, this sort has been cultivated since 1726. A 

 plant in the garden of the London Horticultural Society was, in 1834, C ft. 

 high, after being 10 years planted. The history and culture are the same 

 as those of R. typhina. 



& 5. R. PU V MILA Michx. The dwarf Rhus, or Sumach. 



Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 182.; Pursh Bor. Amer., 1. p. 204.; Dec. Prod., 2. 

 p. 67. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 70. 



Spec. Char., $c. Dwarf, downy in every part. Leaf of many pairs of leaflets, and the odd one ; 

 the leaflets are oval, cut in a toothed manner, and tomentose heneath. Fruit silky. (Dec. Prod. 

 2. p. 68.) A native of Upper Carolina, whence it was introduced in \80C>. It grows to the 

 height of 1ft., and flowers in July. Mr. John Lyon, who discovered this species, when col- 

 lecting the seed, " got poisoned all over his body, and was lamed for a considerable time." 

 (Ph.) The species is not in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, or in the arbo- 

 retum of Messrs. Loddiges. 



^ 6. R. VERNICI'FERA Dec. The varnish-yielding Rhus, or Sumach. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 68. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 70, 



Synonymes. Sitz, or Urus, Japanese, according to Kccmpfer Am., 791. t. 792. ; It. vernix I.in. 



Mat. Med. t 151., and Thun. Jap., 121., not of other authors ; R. juglandifolium Wall, in Lift. 



Don. Prod. Fl. Nep., not of Willd. 

 Engraving. Ksempf. Amcen., t. 792. 



Spec. Char. t $c. Leaf of 5 6 pairs of leaflets, and the odd one ; all ovate, 

 acuminate, entire, rather glabrous above, beneath bearing velvety "pubescence. 

 Petiole and branches softly woolly. {Dec. Prod., ii. p. 68.) A tree, a na- 

 tive of Japan and Nepal. The general appearance of this species is that 

 of R. typhina; but the leaves are much larger, and more like those of some 

 species of Juglans or Carya. The plant also seems to be of more robust 

 growth ; a specimen in the garden of the London Horticultural Society 

 having, in 6 years, attained the height of 1 1 ft. Though marked, in some 

 works, as a green-house shrub, it appears to be as hardy as the common spe- 

 cies; and it is especially worth culture on account of its magnificent leaves. 

 Thunberg affirms that the very best Japan varnish is made from this spe- 

 cies, which is the .Rhus vernix of Lin. Mat. Med., though not of Lin. Sp. 

 Plan.; it grows in abundance in many parts of that country; and is cul- 

 tivated in several places, on account of the advantage derived from it. The 

 varnish, which oozes out of the tree on its being wounded, is procured 

 from stems that are three years old, and is received into some proper 

 vessel. When first collected, it is of a whitish colour, and of the 

 consistence of cream ; but grows thicker and black on being exposed 

 to the air. It is so transparent, that, when laid, pure and unmixed, 

 upon boxes or furniture, every vein of the wood may be clearly seen 

 through it. For the most part, a dark ground is spread underneath it, 

 which causes it to reflect like a mirror; and for this purpose recourse is 

 frequently had to the fine sludge which is collected in the trough under a 

 grindstone ; or to ground charcoal ; occasionally, a red substance is 

 mixed with the varnish, and sometimes leaf gold ground very fine. This 

 varnish hardens very much, but will not endure any blows, cracking and 

 flying almost like glass; though, at the same time, it can stand boiling 

 water without receiving any damage. With this the Japanese varnish 

 over the posts of their doors and windows, their drawers, chests, boxes, 

 scimitars, fans, tea-cups, soup-dishes, their portable stools, and most 

 articles of household furniture which are made of wood. {Mart. Mill.) 



ft 7. R. VENENA N TA Dec. The poisonous Rhus, Poison Wood, or Swamp Sumach. 

 Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 68. ; Don's Mill., 2. p.'71. ; Hook. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 126. 

 Synonymes. R. vernix Lin. Spec., 380., Bie. Med. Sot., 1. p. 96. t. 10. ; Toxicodendron pin- 

 natum Mill. Diet., No. 5. ; Poison Sumach, Poison Elder. 



