138 



TREES GROWING IN MOIST SOIL. 



ness about these leaves, and when a spray of them is gathered 

 they bear well a close inspection ; for they are not defaced or 

 worm-eaten as is so much of the autumn foliage. In fact insects 

 are very shy of the tree, and borers inflict no damage on the 

 wood. The brownish-red wood of the sweet gum is smooth and 

 has a fine finish. It is not very strong and in drying warps badly. 

 It has, however, been used as a substitute for black walnut. 



CORAL SUriAC. P0I50N WOOD. HOQ GUM. 



i^Plate LXVI.) 

 Rhtis Met opium. 



Bark: reddish brown; separating into thin plate-like scales. Inner bark : 

 orange. Branchlets : with many deep, orange-coloured excresences. Leaves: 

 compound; alternate; growing near the end of the branches, with petioles that 

 are enlarged at their bases; odd-pinnate, witii usually five ovate leaflets rounded 

 at the apex, and rounded, squared or wedge-shaped at the base; entire; thick; 

 glabrous on both sides; olive-green above, paler below, the terminal leaflet 

 sometimes longer than the others. Flowers: dicEcious; growing in long 

 axillary, erect panicles. Fruit: many deep orange-coloured drupes about half 

 an inch long; obovate; glabrous; poisonous. 



About the southern keys and along the shores of Bay Bis- 

 cayne in southern Florida the coral sumac is common. It is 

 one of the most beautiful of all the smaller trees. In colour 

 its young bark is exquisite and suggests the mellow tones of 

 deeply tinted copper. Even though it is so fair, however, 

 confidence in it is sadly misplaced. The breath exhaled by the 

 dainty flowers is very poisonous, and its juices produce the 

 same symptoms of illness as do those of Rhus toxicodendron, 

 poison ivy. From incisions made in its bark an emetic and 

 resinous gum is obtained which has some commercial value. 



The wood of the tree is not much used for it is rather weak. 

 In colour it is dark brown and is very effectively lined with red. 



