SUMACH FAMILY 



compound, oi three leaflets. These leaflets are pale 

 green, ovate or ovate-rhombic, acute or acuminate, 

 sharply toothed, lobed, or entire. The fruit is similar 

 to that of RJius radicans. The leaves, like those of 

 RJius vernix and Rhus radicans, are poisonous to the 

 touch and should be avoided. 



FRAGRANT SUMACH. SWEET-SCENTED SUMACH 



RJius aj'onidtica. Rhus canadensis. 



Diffuse or ascending, two to six feet high ; found in dry rocky 

 woods from Vermont to Florida, west to Minnesota, Arkansas, 

 and Louisiana. Leaves fragrant when crushed. 



Leaves. — Alternate, pinnately com})ound, tliree-foliate, two to 

 four inches long, aromatic. Leaflets ovate or rhomboid, one to 

 two inches long; lateral leaflets sessile; terminal leaflet short- 

 stalked, wedge-shaped at base, coarsely crenate or crenate-dentate, 

 acute at apex, very downy when young. In autumn they turn a 

 brilliant orange and scarlet. Petioles one-half to an inch long, 

 glabrous or pubescent. 



Flowers. — March, x\pril. Polygamo-dicecious, yellowish green, 

 small, in clustered spikes, ap])earing before the leaves. The 

 catkin-like spikes are developed on the branches in late autumn. 



Fruit. — Drupe, red, globose, downy, borne in short clustered 

 spikes; produced sparingly. 



The Fragrant Sumach is often found on sand}' banks 

 and knolls, frequently occurring in dense })atches. It 

 rarely rises more than four feet, and this habit makes 

 it most valuable to the gardener when he wishes a plant 

 to bring up the line of green from the grass to the taller 

 shrubs; it does not grow away from him, but does just 

 what he expects it to do. The lower branches of a vig- 

 orous plant will lie upon the ground. 



