The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-07-02
:farNlers' Column.
"Spced he PIOIc."
For The AEgis d Mtc'E9ncer.
The Sumach Family.

The common sumach, (RhuS glal7u,) is
very common plant in this section and
deserves no particular description. The
crimson down with which the fruit is cloth
ed and which is extremely sour to the
| taste, contains malic acids A tea made
of the berries Of this species is n pleasant
| drink and an excellent remedy in dyscn-
| terry.
There is variety of sumac called the
poison sumac, (Rhus renendtd) found in
swamps and damp, shady woods it is
| tree or shrub from ten to fifteen feet in
height, four or five inches in diameter, at
the largest; Of rather fine appearance,
| flowers in pancles not nearly SO dense as
those of the common sumac and growing
| from the axis of the leaves, while they are
| terminal or at the ends of the branches in
the common Sumac, the flowers small and
green, the drupes about the size of peas.
1t blossoms in June. This perhaps is the
most poisonous plant known in this Sec
| ton Of the country. 1t is poisonous both
to taste and touch, and even taints the air
to considerable distance when in bios
som, or at at any time in hot sun. Some
are much more sensitive TO its poison than
others. 1t is said that fatal poisoniugs
have resulted from burning it in green
state i'll open ire-placcs, when accidt ntally
Brought in with other wood.
Another species, (Rhus toricodendr0n,)
is small plant, also poisonous, but less
so than the last. 1t is u very common,
dropping shrub, growing i'll shady mead
ows and along the yard fences, sometimes
supporting itself nearly erect three feet
high its general appearance is not that
OF the common sumac. 1t is known as
poison oak or poison ivy. Grey seems TO
indicate that it is the same species that
climbs, and which is known in this section
as poison oak, and seems to think that it
puts out its climbing tcndIils us it needs
them; certainly it seems in all things but
these tendrils, similar to what is generally
described as another species, (Rhus radi-
c0nS) the poison oak Of this section. This
is a woody climber, clinging by innumer-
able tendrils which seem to have the form
of dark brown fibrous roots. 1t is some
times found in damp woods clinging to
trees, fifty feet in length. We see it grow
ing upon old walls and fences, as well as
upon trees. Comparatively few persons,
l think, are sensitive to the poison of this
species of sumac, as it seen everywhere,
and hear of few cases Of poisoning. The
juice is said to form good indcliblc
ink.
Notice that this poisonous climber has
three leaflets of glossy green which dis
tinguishes it from the Virginia creepcr,
(Ampel0psis quinQuetolia) which has five
leaflets and is Il highly ornamental vine,
much cultivated East. | have seen small
houses so hidden in its growth that it was
cut out from before the windows here be-
ing very generally mistaken for poison oak,
and so laboring under its evil reputation,
it suffers; itself is member Of the grape
family, and is perfectly harmless. Early
in autumn the leaves Of the Virginia creep
er turn beautiful bright scarlet, and
when, festooncd among the dark green
branches of the cedar, as often seen along
the roadside, it forms an ornament fit to
adorn the grounds Of princes.
Another interesting species of sumac is
the (HhuS CotinuS,) or Smoke tree, perhaps
sometimes called mist tree. 1t is not usu-
ally recognized as a member Of the sumac
family. Notice description of it in the
March number Of the Maryland Farmer,
where the writer does not class it with the
sumacs. In this section, it is seen only in
yards as an ornamental tree, supposed to
be an exotic from Italy, though Wood says
it is native in the high mountain woods Of
North Carolina and forests of Arkansas,
but yet seems to be in doubt if that he not
another species. 1t is a small tree or shrub
about eight feet high, and when in blossom
its long, diffuse fruit stacks give it the APP
pearance of being shrouded in mist or
smoke it certainly is a strangely beauti-
full shrub and worthy to be in every yard.
Wood calls it the Venetian sumac, and says
that its juices are used in Italy for tanning.
The common sumac, as we know, is often
gathered for this purpose.
The sumac family is represented in this
country by about nine or ten species.
The mountain sumac, with its winged
petioles, and the stag horn sumac with vel
vety branches, are interesting members of
the family. G. G. G..