384 FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



Climatic Conditions. — Similar to those of gray pine. 



Tolerance. — Appears capable of enduring considerable shade, but rarely subjected to it. 

 Reproduction and silvical requirements undetermined ; usually an abundant seeder. 

 Seedlings grow in exposed mineral soil where seed has been covered by wash. 



Family ANACARDIACEiE. 



Anacardiacea? is a large group of small trees and shrubs, widely distributed 

 over tbe world. A few of them are of some economic importance for their 

 woods, but several of them are more valuable for their commercial gums and 

 other products. The gum-producing species are, however, not indigenous to 

 this country. Chief among our popularly known members are the sumachs. 

 The juice of these plants is resinous, becoming sticky as it dries, while that of 

 some members is violently poisonous to the human skin." The leaves are simple 

 (as in tbe garden " smoke-tree") or compound (subdivided into pairs of leaflets, 

 as in the common stagborn sumach), are borne singly on the branches (never 

 in pairs) and are either evergreen or are shed every autumn. Tbe small 

 flowers occur in usually large, dense, terminal clusters, and usually form large, 

 dense, often bright-colored, masses of fruit. In some species, however, the 

 clusters are thin and the fruits like berries. In some species male flowers are 

 borne on one tree and the female flowers on another tree; in other species, 

 some trees bear perfect flowers (each containing male and female organs), and 

 some trees bear only male or female flowers, while in some cases one tree may 

 bear perfect flowers mingled with either male or female flowers on separate 

 twigs. 



Four genera comprising the trees of this family are found in the United States, 

 only one of which. Rhus, is represented in the Pacific region. 



RHUS. SUMACHS. 



The sumachs form a large group of trees and shrubs with a resinous — some- 

 times poisonous— or milky, sticky juice, large pithy twigs, and often large leaves 

 (compound) with many pairs of pointed leaflets and an odd terminal leaflet; 

 only one of our species with mainly simple, single-bladed leaves. Leaves of all 

 are borne singly, never in pairs (one opposite another) ; those of most species 

 are shed in autumn, but in one they are evergreen. The clusters of greenish 

 flowers (in some eases large) are practically of separate sexes (by suppression 

 or abortion of the male organs in one and the female organs in the other), each 

 borne on different trees. Fruit, massed in large or small close clusters, spheri- 

 cal, smooth or hairy: coating thin: dry or somewhat resinous, and containing 

 one hard, smooth seed. 



Rhus is of ancient origin ; remains of its extinct species are found abundantly 

 in the Eocene and Miocene formations of Europe. 



Several exotic trees of this group, anion- them the famous lacquer-tree of 

 Japan and China, are exceedingly valuable for their commercial products of 

 gum. wax. etc.. and for their wood. Of the nearly 20 species native to the 

 United States, none is of commercial importance, chiefly on account of their 

 small size. The wood of most of our sumachs is, however, very rich and hand- 

 some in color and grain, and except for lack of size is very suitable for cabinet 

 work. Five or six of these become small trees, and one of these inhabits the 

 Pacific, region. 



"A saturated alcoholic solution of acetate of lead removes all trace of the poison 

 if the inoculated skin is thoroughly washed with it immediately or within an hour after 

 the contact. This solution is less effective a few hours after the poisoning takes place. 

 Thorough washing of the poisoned skin with pure alcohol is also a preventive if applied 

 within an hour after contact with the plant. Following either treatment the skin 

 should be thoroughly washed with soap and water. 



