bular, in large, dense,
erect panicles, covered with crimson hairs. Shrub or tree, 10 to 30 ft.
high. It is very common along fences and on hillsides. The wood is
orange-colored and brittle.

[Illustration: R. glabra.]

2. =Rhus glabra=, L. (SMOOTH SUMAC.) Leaflets 11 to 31,
lanceolate-oblong, pointed, serrate, smooth, glaucous white beneath.
Branches not hairy. Fruit globular, in a rather open, spreading cluster,
covered densely with crimson hairs. A shrubby plant, 2 to 12 ft. high,
found quite abundantly in rocky or barren soil throughout.

[Illustration: R. laciniata.]

Var. _laciniata_ is frequently planted for ornament. It has very
irregularly twice-pinnate leaves drooping gracefully from the branches.

[Illustration: R. copallina.]

3. =Rhus copallina=, L. (DWARF MOUNTAIN SUMAC.) Branches and stalks
downy; leafstalk wing-margined between the 9 to 21 oblong-lanceolate,
usually entire leaflets, which are oblique at base and smooth and
shining above. Wild in rocky hills throughout; often cultivated. North,
a beautiful shrub; south, a tree. 2 to 25 ft. high.

[Illustration: R. venenata.]

4. =Rhus venenata=, DC. (POISON-SUMAC. POISON-DOGWOOD. POISON-ELDER.)
Leaflets 7 to 13, obovate-oblong, entire, abruptly pointed, smooth or
nearly so. Fruit small, globular, smooth, dun-colored, in loose
axillary panicles hanging on late in winter; the stone striate. This is
a very poisonous species (to the touch), 6 to 18 ft. high, growing in
swamps. Rarely at all tree-like.

[Illustration: R. Osbeckii.]

5. =Rhus Osbeckii=, DC. (CHINESE SUMAC.) Leaves very large, pinnate,
assuming in autumn a rich reddish-fawn or orange color; the leafstalk
broadly winged between the leaflets; leaflets serrate. A small
ornamental tree, 10 to 25 ft. high; cultivated; from China; quite hardy
in the Northern States.

[Illustration: R. Cotinus.]

6. =Rhus Cotinus=, L. (SMOKE-TREE. VENETIAN SUMAC.) Leaves smooth,
obovate, entire, on slender petioles. Flowers greenish, minute, in
terminal or axillary panicles. Fruit seldom found. Usually most of the
flowers are abortive, while their pedicels lengthen, branch, and form
long feather-like hairs, making large cloud-like branches that look
somewhat like smoke (whence the name). A shrub or small tree, 6 to 10
ft. high, often planted for ornament; from Europe.

[Illustration: R. cotinoides.]

7. =Rhus cotinoides=, Nutt. (AMERICAN SMOKE-TREE.) Leaves thin, oval,
obtuse, entire, acute at base,