SUMACH FAMILY 
The Poison Sumach is found throughout the northern 
states and is one of the most dangerous plants of our flora. 
However, it ought never to be mistaken for the other su- 
machs although it often is. The leaves are shorter, the leaf- 
lets fewer, margins are entire, the fruit white and about the 
size of asmall pea. All the other sumachs have red fruit. 
It is found in wet soils, whereas the others like the dry. Its 
poisonous principle is the same as that found in &hus soxi- 
codendron, or Poison Ivy, and while it affects many people who 
handle it or are near to it, others are entirely immune. The 
poison shows itself in painful and long continued swellings 
and eruptions. ‘Phe exact character of this poison is in dis- 
pute. It has long been considered to be a volatile acid, but 
recent investigations are leading to the belief that it isa fixed 
oil, 
