BED OR REDDISH PURPLE 89 



rather short, bearing the stigmas at the top. 

 Gray dots are scattered over the fruits. The 

 berry is acid. Persistent. 



Leaves. — There are from nine to twenty-one 

 leaflets, with noticeable wings along either side 

 of the stem betw^een them. This is a distin- 

 guishing featnre of the species. The leaflets 

 are often entire and shine above as if polished. 

 .The under surface is lighter and downy. In 

 autumn the leaves become a rich jDurple. 



Flowers. — The fertile and sterile flowers are 

 in separate clusters, the pistillate in much smaller 

 ones than the staminate. 



Tliis sumac, like Rhus hirta, is pubescent, but 

 may be readily distinguished by its winged, 

 seemingly jointed, petioles. The term ^' Dwarf " 

 is somewhat misleading, as the plant sometimes 

 reaches a height of eighteen or twenty feet. It 

 is a beautiful shrub, growing on rocky hills. 



STAGHORN SUMAC 



Rhus hirta. Rhus typhina Sumac Family 



Fruit. — The small dry drupes are borne in a 

 terminal, compound, compact cluster. Each fruit 

 is one-seeded, has a very thin coat, and is thickly 



