274 ANACARDIACEAE (CASHEW FAMILY) 
“Berries white, dread the sight ; 
Berries red, have no dread,” 
used to be repeated in distinguishing the harmless sumacs from their 
“ dreaded” relative, which is a shrub six to twenty feet in height, 
and hardly to be called a weed, but included here since, because of 
its beautiful autumnal coloring, it is frequently brought from its 
home in the swamps for house 
decoration—usually to the ex 
ceeding great bodily distress 
of the person who plucked it, 
for it is even more poisonous 
than its relative, Poison Ivy. 
(Fig. 191.) 
Leaves pinnately compound, 
the leaflets seven to thirteen, 
obovate, smooth, thin, entire, 
green on both sides, the slen- 
der petiole slightly swollen at 
the base. Flowers in axillary 
clusters three to eight inches 
long, very small, greenish white, 
similar to those of Poison Ivy. 
Fic. 191.— Poison Sumac (Rhus Ver- ss ont greenish white, 
niz). Xt. waxy drupes, each with one 
hard, ridgy seed within, like 
Poison Ivy. Remedies for the effects of its poisonous touch are 
the same. 
POISON IVY 
Rhis Toxicodéndron, L. 
(Rhis radicans, L.) 
Other English names: Poison Oak, Poison Creeper, Three-leaved 
Ivy, Climath, Black Mercury, Markweed. 
Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds and by rootstocks. 
Time of bloom: Late May to July. 
Seed-time: Fruits attain full size in August but remain on the stem 
until late in winter. 
Range: Nova Scotia to British Columbia, southward to Florida, 
Arkansas, and Utah. 
anaes : Roadsides and waste places, fence rows, and borders of 
woods. 
