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MISC. PUBLICATION 77, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



SMOOTH HYDRANGEA 



Hydrangea arborescens L. (Fig. 97.) 



Other common names. — Wild hydrangea, sevenbark. 



Habitat and range. — Hydrangea frequents rocky river banks and ravines from 

 the southern part of New York to Florida and westward to Iowa and Missouri, 

 being especially abundant in the valley of the Delaware and southward. 



Description. — Hydrangea is a shrub 5 to 6 feet high with weak twigs, slender 

 leaf stems, and thin leaves, the latter 3 to 6 inches long, oval or heart-shaped, and 

 sharply toothed. The flowers, which are small and greenish white, are produced 

 from June to July in loose, broad clusters. Sometimes the plant will flower a 

 second time early in the fall. The stem has a peculiar tendency to peel off in 

 several successive layers of thin, different-colored bark, hence the name "seven- 

 bark." The root is roughly branched and when fresh is very juicy, but when dry 

 it is very hard and tough. 



Part used. — The root, collected in autumn. On account of its toughness when 

 dry the root should be cut in short pieces while fresh and then dried. In reason- 

 ably constant demand. 



Figure 97.— Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea 

 arborescens) 



Figure 98.— Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) 



SMOOTH SUMAC 



Rhus glabra L. (Fig. 98.) 



Other common names. — Mountain sumac, upland sumac, scarlet sumac, sleek 

 sumac, white sumac, Pennsylvania sumac, shoemake, vinegar tree. 



Habitat and range. — Smooth sumac occurs in dry soil thickets and waste 

 grounds from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and south to Florida, Mississippi, 

 and Arizona. 



Description. — Although sometimes attaining the height of a small tree, the 

 smooth sumac is more frequently found as a rather handsome shrub 2 to 12 feet 

 high, with smooth, brownish-gray trunk and branches. Its leaves are very long, 

 from 1 to 3 feet, and consist of from 11 to 31 leaflets, each leaflet being about 2 

 to 4 inches in length and about half as wide, lance-shaped, pointed, sharply toothed 

 and whitened beneath. From June to August the plant bears greenish yellow 

 flowers in dense pyramidal clusters at the ends of the branches. These are followed 

 by roundish, flattened fruits or berries, covered with short, crimson hairs. Each 

 fruit contains a smooth, 1-seeded stone. 



Part used. — The leaves, bark, and berries, the latter being gathered while the 

 downy covering is still on them, which gives the berries their sour taste. In 

 limited demand only, 



