IN LEAFY JUNE. 



177 



leaves of the plants so that they may be easily iden- 

 tified. R. venenata grows from six to eighteen feet 

 high and bears a compound leaf com- 

 posed of from seven to thirteen leaf- 

 lets, smooth and without teeth The 

 flowers are borne in loose pani- 

 cles which grow out at the June 

 tion of the leaf stem with the 

 branch. R. toxicodendron is 

 a vine which covers the 

 stone wall and frequently 

 climbs to the top of a small 

 tree. Its leaves are always 

 borne in threes, never in fives 

 like those of the Virginia 

 creeper. The leaflets are va- 

 riable in shape, sometimes 

 notched or cut-lobed, but with 



no fine teeth. They are light green with a waxy 

 finish, and droop considerably about the stems. The 

 flowers are similar to those of R. venenata ; the 

 latter species is most frequently encountered in 

 swamps, but the poison ivy is common on every 

 roadside in New England. Both species bear clusters 

 of whitish lead-colored berries about the size of very 

 small peas ; they ripen in September. An excellent 



remedy for poisoning resulting from the accidental 

 13 



Poison Sumauli. 



