THE SUMACHS 141 



^The Poison Sumach 



R. Vernix, Linn. 



The poison sumach is a small tree with slender drooping 

 branches, smooth, reddish brown, dotted on the twigs 

 with orange-colored breathing holes, becoming orange- 

 brown and gray as the bark thickens. The trunk is often 

 somewhat fluted under a smooth gray rind. This is one 

 of the most brilliant and beautiful of all the sumachs, 

 but unfortunately it is deadly poisonous, more to he dreaded 

 than the poison ivy of our woods, and the poisonwood of 

 Florida, both of which are near relatives. By certain 

 traits we may always know, with absolute certainty, a 

 poison sumach when we find it. Look at the berries. If 

 tJiey droop and are grayish white, avoid touching the tree, 

 no matter how alluring the wonderful scarlet foliage is. 

 Poison sumachs grow only in the swamps. We sJiould su^~ 

 pect any sumach that stands ivith its feet in tJie tvater, 

 whether it bears flow^ers and fruit or not. The temptation 

 is strongest when one is in the w^oods gathering brilliant 

 foliage for decoration of the home for the holidays. The 

 bitter poisonous juice that exudes from broken stems turns 

 black almost at once. This warning comes late, however, 

 for as it dries upon the hands it poisons the skin. Handled 

 with care, this juice becomes a black, lustrous, durable 

 varnish, but it is not in general use. 



The Smooth Sumach 



J\. glabra, Linn. 



The smooth sumach {.sre illustrations, pages 150-151) is 

 quite as familiar as the staghorn, as a roadside shrub. It 



