29 
y Sr mach— Leaves alternate, ninnofalr .i /_ A 
Rhus Cot inns L. 
170 Leaves compound—171 
171 Leaflets toothed—172 
171 Leaflets not toothe< l—173 
iimho t'/y/#<rr««.c- J j , 
172 Young twigs not hairy. 
Rhus glabra L. 
172 Young twigs velvety-hairy. 
Ilk its typin'na L. 
h ruit ted—Staghorn Sumach, 
Fruit red—Smooth Sumach, 
173 Leaf axis between the leaflets prominently winced Fruit 
red.—Dwarf Sumach, Rhm copallina L. 
173 Leaf axis between the leaflets not winged. Fruit whitish. 
\ery poisonous. Usually growing in swamps—Poison 
Sumach, Poison elder. Poison Dogwood, Dogwood, Swamp 
Sumach, Poison Ash, Rhus Vernix L. 
Note —Many persons ate poisoned by merely handling the 
Poison Sumach. The poisonous principle is of an oily 
nature and is found in every part of the plant. A good 
preventative against severe poisoning is to wash the parts 
of the body that have come in contact with the plant with 
strong alcohol (or strong soap suds) immediately after 
such contact; the sooner this is done the more effective 
will be the remedy. The Poison Ivy or Poison Oak (Rhus 
Toxicodendron L.) climbs by means of numerous dark 
brown roots, or trails over the ground and fences, never 
becoming a tree. It is a near relative of the Poison 
Sumach and like that plant poisons many persons who 
handle it. It may be recognized by its compound leaves 
of three leafllets, the terminal one stalked, the margins 
with a few large teeth or none, and the milky juice. 
Flowers, fruits, poisonous properties, and remedies as in 
Poison Sumach. Few persons are ever poisoned, even 
slightly, by handling any other than these two plants. 
