SUMACH FAMILY 



copallina, and consequently all sumachs are feared. It 

 can, however, be very easily distinguished from them. 



The leaflets of the great compound leaves of Rhus 

 hirta and Rhus glabra have serrate margins ; those of 

 the Poison Sumach are entire. The leaves of RJius 

 copallina might perhaps be mistaken for those of the 

 Poison Sumach were it not for the winged petiole 

 which is a never failing character of the Mountain 

 Sumach. 



The leaflets of Rhus vernix are five to thirteen, 

 nearly sessile, varying from ovate to obovate or oval, 

 entire, acute at apex, a beautiful shining green and the 

 autumnal tints exceedingly brilliant. The petiole is 

 often purple and the veins are frequently purplish. 



The fruit is grayish white, about the size of a pea, 

 destitute of hairs, and borne in loose axillary panicles 

 three to eight inches long. 



This is the most poisonous woody plant of our flora. 

 Its juices and the effluvium exhaled by it under a hot sun, 

 are extremely poisonous to some persons. There are 

 those who are absolutely immune, others so sensitive 

 that they can not pass the bush with impunity. It is 

 very dangerous to experiment with it recklessly. The 

 poison shows itself in painful and long continued swell- 

 ings upon the surface of the body, usually the face and 

 hands. 



POISON IVY. CLIMATH 



Rhus radicdns. Rhus toxicodendron. 



This is a woody vine climbing by numerous aerial 

 rootlets, the stem sometimes two or three inches in 

 diameter. It climbs trees and fence posts and ranges 



8 4 



