249. SMOOTH SUMAC (_Rhus glabra_ L.) abundant tall shrub, in woods or
fields, prefers lowlands but also common in shallow depressions of
uplands. Leaves: pinnately compound, 6 to 12 inches long, leaflets
toothed, dark and smooth above; turning bright scarlet in early autumn.
Twigs: smooth, reddish brown or with a whitish bloom; stout; buds
entirely encircled by leaf stem or scar, juice milky. Flowers:
dioecious, staminate in large, loose clusters of small, creamy flowers;
pistillate clusters more compact and soon showing tinge of red. Fruit:
dark red, fuzzy, acid skins cover each dry seed, retain color nearly all
winter; may be used to make a substitute for lemonade. Wood: too scanty
to be of value, center pithy.
[Illustration: 249 smooth sumac]
250. WINGED OR DWARF SUMAC (_Rhus copallina_ L.) a tall shrub or rarely
a small tree, abundant on limestone hills and bluffs. Leaves: pinnately
compound, 6 to 8 inches long, leaflets not or remotely serrate on
margins, leafy wings along stem between leaflets. Twigs: slightly
pubescent (fuzzy), buds not entirely encircled by leaf scar, juice
watery. Flowers: similar to R. glabra but later, in August. Fruit:
clusters do not retain their bright color as late. Wood: light and soft,
greenish brown.
[Illustration: 250 winged sumac]
251. POISON IVY, POISON OAK (_Rhus toxicodendron_ L.) an abundant,
woody, high-climbing vine, often appearing shrubby when young, or in the
absence of a support; preferring woodlands, but also in open places.
Leaves: compound, of three leaflets 2 to 5 inches long, coarsely toothed
or lobed or more rarely entire. Bark: noticeable for numerous aerial
rootlets on large specimens. Branches: extending at right angles from
main stem. Flowers: inconspicuous, whitish. Fruit: white, in small,
loose clusters. All parts of the plant very poisonous to the touch: the
apparent immunity of some persons may be lost at any time and those who
have suffered previous attacks seem more subject to the poison
thereafter.
[Illustration: 251 poison ivy]
252. AROMATIC OR ILL-SCENTED SUMAC (_Rhus trilobata_ and var.
_aromatica_) or skunk bush: a spreading, low to medium shrub common in
dry upland woods. Leaves: compound, of three leaflets, teeth or lobes
usually rounded, ½ to 1½ inches long; both plants and opinions vary as
to whether leaves are aromatic or ill-scented when crushed. Twigs: are
noticeable in winter for their cone-shaped buds. Flowers: in March,
small, yellow. Fruit: small clusters of red stone fruits covered with
white hairs, ripe in midsummer, decorative. K (p. 204-5.)
[Illustration: 252 aromatic sumac]