THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 1 23 



leaves, consisting of about eleven oblong, coarsely-toothed leaflets, 

 are downy beneath. The three upper leaflets are often confluent, 

 the terminal one, when distinct, being alternate at the base. The 

 flower panicles are nearly sessile, with the drupes are covered with 

 a red, silky pubescence. 



Rhus Diversiloba of Torrey and Gray, or Rhus Lobata of Hooker, 

 approaches very nearly to Rhus Toxicodendron. It is generally a 

 shrub, but sometimes a climber, and is said to be the most poisonous 

 of all the Rhuses. It is chiefly a native of California where it is 

 known by the Spanish name of " Hiedra," but is said by Douglas 

 to occur on the north-west coast. Its leaves consist of three, rarely 

 five, obtuse lobed leaflets ; its flower panicles are shorter than the 

 petioles ; and its fruit is white and pubescent. With her usual 

 generosity, nature, according to Dr. Canfield, provides an antidote 

 to poisoning by this species in the shape of another Californian 

 plant, the Grindelia hirsuhila, of which either the bruised plant 

 itself, or a decoction, is applied to the parts. 



Rhus Venenata, formerly called Rhus Vernix, is known by the 

 different names of poison dogwood, poison elder, poison ash, poison 

 sumach, swamp sumach, white sumach, and varnish tree. Affecting^ 

 rich, swampy ground, in shaded situations, it is a shrub or small 

 tree usually growing from six to eighteen feet high, and is one of the 

 largest of our native species of Rhus. The trunk seldom exceeds 

 three inches in diameter, and, branching at a height of three to five 

 feet, usually makes a repeatedly two-forked ramification, the final 

 twigs terminating in thick clusters of leaves. The smooth bark is 

 dark gray on the trunk, lighter on the branches, and reddish on the 

 twigs and petioles. The leaves, expanding in May, are at first dark 

 yellow in color, but become deep green with a paler under surface 

 when mature, and finally, at the first touch of frost, assume a beauti- 

 ful deep crimson hue that can fairly vie with the maple for brilliancy 

 of effect. The seven to thirteen leaflets forming the compound 

 leaves are obovate-oblong in shape and entire. The small yellowish 

 flowers are arranged in loose and slender axillary panicles, forming 

 large masses of fragrant bloom at the ends of the branches, which 

 attract innumerable swarms of bees. Whether the honey derived 

 irom this source possesses any poisonous properties I am unable to 

 say, but, as at various times there have been reports of poisoning by 

 honey in particular localities, it would be a point well worthy of in- 



