USEFUL WILD PLANTS 



esting account of the superstitious reverence ac- 

 corded by the Tarahumar Indians of Chihuahua to- 

 wards this plant, which in their language is called 

 hikuli. They treat it as a divinity and Lumholtz 

 was required to lift his hat in the presence of the 

 dried "buttons." Catholicized Tarahumares make 

 the sign of the cross before it; and it is regarded 

 as a safeguard against witches and ill fortune. It 

 is claimed that its use takes away the craving for 

 alcohol, which may be true; but it substitutes an- 

 other, and, between Scylla and CharylDdis, what is 

 the choice? 



The poisonous effect of a few native species of 

 Rhus upon the skin of many persons is well known. 

 On the Atlantic slope the species whose caustic 

 juices possess this property are the Swamp Sumac 

 {Rhus venenata, DC.) and the Poison Ivy {R. Toxi- 

 codendron, L.). The former is a graceful shrub or 

 small tree of swampy situations, the smooth leaves 

 compound with leaflets abruptly pointed and with 

 entire margins. They turn in the autumn a brilliant 

 red, very seductive to the gatherers of autumn foli- 

 age. The panicles of greenish flowers, produced 

 from the axils of the leaves, are followed by grayish 

 white berries. The plant is also called Poison 

 Sumac and, less correctly. Poison Elder. The 



254 



