The Canadian HokricLi.TURiST. 



THREE POISONOUS J'LAXTS. 



IMPORTED cases of poisoning, from handling the foliage of certain 

 plants, having come under the writer's notice, he has deemed it 

 worth while to descril)e three plants that possess this property to a 

 considerable degree. 



Anacardiacen' (Cashew Family). 



This order embraces trees and shrubs, with a resinous, gummy, 

 caustic or even milky juice. This juice is poisonous, but is of considerable 

 economic value \ sometimes being used as an indelible ink, and also as an 

 ingredient in the preparation of varnish. Even the exhalations from some species 

 are poisonous. Here we find Rhus Aromatica. Sweet Sumach is a small 

 aromatic shrub found b\- the writer on the banks of the Niagara River near 

 Lewiston. Rhus Typhina, the common sumach of our Canadian woods, some- 

 times called Staghorn sumach ; but the plants we wish to notice particularly are : 



Ftg. 1.'). — Rhv.'< Vknenat.a. 



I. Rhus Venenata (Fig. 15), Poison sumach. Poison elder, Swamp dog- 

 wood, is one of the poi.sonous varieties referred to. The leaves are arranged in 

 pairs along the leaf stem, from seven to thirteen leaflets, oval, entire pointed, 

 each about three inches long and one-half inch wide : these soon change color 

 m tht fall and present foliage of a very attractive appearance : flowers small. 



