Part 48

=Rhus copallina=, L.

=Form=.—A shrub or small tree often attaining in West Virginia a height of 15-20 feet and a diameter of 3-5 inches; trunk straight or angular, supporting a loose irregular crown.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, compound, 6-12 inches long, with petioles wing-margined between the 9-21 oblong or ovate lanceolate, nearly entire leaflets which are smooth and shining above and pubescent beneath.

=Flowers=.—July; polygamous; in terminal compact panicles.

=Fruit=.—Matures in late summer; small dry drupes in compact erect panicles, red, turning dark later in the year, the panicles finally drooping; not poisonous.

=Bark=.—Roughened on old trunk by brown papery scales or elevated brown projections.

=Wood=.—Soft, coarse-grained, light brown, richly striped with yellow and black.

=Range=.—Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Nebraska.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Common in most sections of the State except at high elevations.

=Habitat=.—Dry hillsides and ridges, frequenting abandoned fields.

=Notes=.—This sumach, like others of the genus, is chiefly valuable for landscape work, being especially ornamental in its autumnal foliage. The wood is sometimes used in the manufacture of small wooden novelties.

POISON SUMACH

=Rhus vernix=, L.

=Form=.—A shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 10-15 feet; trunk usually branching near the ground and separating into a loose irregular head.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, compound, leaflets 7-13, oblong-obovate, entire, poisonous.

=Flowers=.—June-July; polygamous; small, yellowish-green, arranged in long drooping panicles.

=Fruit=.—Small, nearly spherical, glossy, dull white drupes in long, loose, drooping, axillary panicles; ripening in early autumn and persisting into the winter.

=Bark=.—Thin, streaked, smooth, covered with numerous raised lenticels.

=Wood=.—Soft, brittle, light yellow.

=Range=.—Ontario to Florida, west to Louisiana and Minnesota.

=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Rare, found in swamps at Cowen, Webster County and near Elkins, Randolph County.

=Habitat=.—Thrives best in swamps but may be found on moist slopes.

=Notes=.—Poison Dogwood, Poison Elder, and Poison Oak are other names of this species. This is one of our most poisonous plants and should be avoided except by those who are immune. It has no commercial importance.

AMERICAN HOLLY

=Ilex opaca=, Ait.

=Form=.—Height 15-30 feet, diameter 1-2 feet; trunk short; branches slender, spreading and ascending, forming a conic crown.

=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, glabrous, oval, margins wavy with scattered spiny teeth, dark green above, pale green beneath.

=Flowers=.—May to June; dioecious, or polygamo-dioecious, the staminate 2-9 on a common stalk, the pistillate usually solitary; small, white.