SUMACH FAMILY 



It often happens that the Smooth Sumach and the 

 Staghorn Sumach, Rhus hirta, make thickets together 

 Both love sandy soil, the gravelly upland, the neg- 

 lected corners of fields ; and by means of their deep- 

 ly extended roots are able to take possession of and 

 to hold large tracts to the exclusion of other plants. 

 These sumachs cannot be distinguished by the differ- 

 ence in size alone, for the young Staghorn before it 

 completes its growth is often just the height of its 

 smaller brother. But the twigs and petioles of Rhus 

 hirta are always clothed in velvet, while similar twigs 

 and petioles of Rhus glabra are without hairs and fre- 

 quently covered with a pale bloom. In autumn the 

 stems are crowned by pyramidal heads made up of 

 velvety red berries ; these remain on the bush but 

 slightly changed in color throughout the winter. 

 The autumnal coloring of the leaves is a most brill- 

 iant scarlet and crimson, brightened with yellow and 

 orange. 



A variety, Rhus glabra laciuiata, the Fern-leaved Su- 

 mach, is believed to be a sport of Rhus glabra. It is a 

 very satisfactory shrub for lawn or garden planting. 

 The foliage is finely cut and in autumn as its feathery 

 leaves take on the crimson hues of its type the effect 

 is excellent. 



DWARF SUMACH. MOUNTAIN SUMACH 



Rhus copaUlna. 



The Mountain Sumach is a tree ; but most gardeners 

 think it a shrub, misled no doubt by its name of Dwarf. 

 It is usually planted in lawns and gardens upon the 



80 



