File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20316216349).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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Ill y « u 190 POISON SUMACH Rhus Vernix, Linnaeus FORM—A shrub or small tret, usually 5-10 ft. high but maj- reach a height of 20 ft. with a diameter of 8 inches. Usually branches near ground. Crown wide, deep, and usually rounded. BABX—Smooth, somewhat Mtreaked, thin, light to dark gray, roughened with horizontally- elongated lentlcels. — TWIGS—Stout, orange-brown, later light gray, smooth, often glossy, covered with numerous raised lentlcels, contain yellowish-brown pith; if punctured or cut, exude watery juice which turns yellow upon exposure. BUDS—Alternate; terminal bqd present and larger than lateral ones; purplish, conical, acute; about 1/5-3/5 of an inch long, covered with a few scales which are downy on bac^ and margin. LEAVE&—Alternate, compound, 7-14 Inches long, with wingless petioles, and with 7-13 leaflets; obovate, 3-4 Inches long, acute at apex, wedge-shaped at base, entire margined, dark green and shiny above, pale below. LEAF-SOARS—Alternate, large, broad, conspicuous, do not encircle buds, upper margin straight or nearly so, contain numerous bundle-scars which are scattered or arranged in a curved line. FLOWERS—Appear af>out June or July. Stamlnate and pistillate flowers borne on different plants. The small yellowish-green flowers are arranged in long, drooping, rather narrow panicles. FRUIT—^A wnall spherical, glossy, ivory-white to yellowlah-whitc drupe arranged In loose, drooping, grape-Ilke clusters. It is about 1/5 of an inch in diameter, slightly compressed and often persists far into winter. Ripens about September. Only pistillate trees bear fruit. WOOD—Ring-porous; brittle', soft-grained, light yellow in color. Weighs 27 lbs. per cubic foot. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Poison Sumach, also known ns Poison Oak, I'oison Dogwood, Poison Elder, and Swamp Sumach, can be recognized in winter by its alternate buds Mith the terminal bud present, Its broad leaf-scars which do not encircle the bud and Its smooth and rather stout branchlets. The white berry-like fruit arranged in drooping clusters often I)er8iKt8 far into winter. The leaves are compound, without winged petioles and have from 7-13 shiny leaflets with entire margin which turn to a brilliant scarlet or orange in autumn. This species is usually found In swamps. RANGE—Ontario south to Florida, west to Minnesota and Louisana. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Occasional and local In the eastern, southern, and central parts. Rarer In other parts. Numerous large specimens occur In the swamps of tlie South Mountains in Adams and Franklin counties. HABITAT—^Prefers low grounds and swamps. Occasionally found on moist slopes. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The Poison Sumach is one of our most poisonous plants. The wood which it produces is of no commercial importance. Some people are entirely immune to its poisonoQs principles, while others are affected by simply handling it, while a few need only to walk by it. It is claimed all traces of the poison can be removed by gashing the parts thoroughly with a saturated alcoholic solution of acetate of lead immediately or within a few hours after the contact. Pure alcohol Is also valuable as a wash if applied shortly after contact.
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