THE SUMACHS 137 



In spring the slender branchlets of this little tree are 

 covered with opposite, pointed leaves, two to five inches 

 long, and in their axils are borne purplish flowers, with four 

 spreading recurving petals. In the centre of each is sup- 

 ported a square platform upon which are the spreading 

 anthers and styles. It does not require much botanical 

 knowledge to see a family relationship between this tree 

 and the woody vine we call "bitter-sweet"; the flowers and 

 fruits are alike in many features. 



In Oklahoma and Arkansas and eastern Texas the 

 burning bush becomes a good-sized tree and its hard, close- 

 grained wood is peculiarly adapted to making spindles, 

 knitting needles, skewers, and toothpicks. "Prickwood" 

 is the English name. Chinese and Japanese species 

 have been added to our list of flowering trees and vines. 

 Two shrubby species of Euonymus belong to the flora 

 of North America, but the bulk of the large family is 

 tropical. 



Our dainty little American tree skirts the edges of deep 

 woods from New York to INIontana, and southward to the 

 Gulf. In cultivation it extends throughout New England. 

 '*Wahoo," the common name in the South, is probably of 

 Indian origin. 



THE STOIACHS 



The sumach family contidns more than fifty genera, con- 

 fined for the most part to the warmer regions of the globe. 

 Two fruit trees within this family are the mango and the 

 pistachio nut tree. Commercially important also is the 

 turpentine tree of southern Europe. The Japanese 

 lacquer tree yields the black varnish used in all lacquered 



