148 KEY AND FLORA 



5. E. Cyparissias L. CYPRESS SPURGE, CYPRESS, GRAVEYARD 



Moss. A perennial, in dense clusters 6-12 in. high, from running 

 rootstocks. Leaves much crowded, all sessile, the stem leaves linear, 

 floral ones broadly heart-shaped. Flower cluster a simple, many- 

 rayed umbel. Glands crescent-shaped. Cemeteries, roadsides, etc., 

 escaped from cultivation ; also cultivated in old gardens. From 

 Europe. 



55. ANACARDIACE.aS. SUMAC FAMILY 



Trees or shrubs, with resinous, acrid, or milky sap. Leaves 

 simple, of 3 leaflets or pinnately compound, alternate, with- 

 out stipules. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, small. Calyx 

 3-5-parted, persistent. Petals 3-5 or wanting. Stamens as 

 many as the sepals or sometimes twice as many, inserted in 

 the base of the calyx, distinct. Ovary free, 1-celled; styles 

 1-3. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe.* 



RHUS L. 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves of 3 leaflets or odd-pinnate. 

 Flowers in spikes or panicles. Calyx mostly 5-parted. Petals 

 and stamens 5. Pistil 1, sessile ; styles 3, terminal. Fruit 

 small, smooth or downy.* 



1. R.typhinaL. STAG-HORN SUMAC. A small tree, 20-4 Oft. high; 

 branches and petioles closely velvety -hairy. Leaves odd-pinnate, 

 leaflets 17-27, lanceolate-oblong, taper-pointed at the apex, very 

 obtuse at the base, sharply serrate, smooth above, pale and downy 

 beneath. Flowers somewhat monoecious, in dense terminal panicles. 

 Fruit red, with crimson hairs. Dry hillsides N. and E.* 



2. R. glabra L. SUMAC. A shrub or small tree, sometimes 25-30 

 ft. high ; branches downy. Leaves odd-pinnate, main midrib downy 

 and wing-margined ; leaflets 9-21, ovate-lanceolate, acute at the apex, 

 inequilateral, entire or slightly toothed, smooth and green above, 

 pale and downy beneath. Panicle often large and spreading ; flowers 

 somewhat monoecious. Fruit red, hairy, acid. Open woods.* 



3. R. Vernix L. POISON SUMAC, POISON DOGWOOD. A very 

 smooth shrub with gray bark, 6-18 ft. high. Leaves large and 

 glossy, with 7-13 obovate-oblong, entire leaflets. Flower clusters 

 loosely flowered, axillary panicles. Fruit smooth, greenish-yellow. 

 Swamps and wet openings in woods N. and E. Plant more poison- 

 ous than the following species. 



