3. Toxicodendron Toxicodendron (L.) Britton. Poison Oak

Fig. 2783

Rhus Toxicodendron L. Sp. Pl. 266. 1753.

T. pubescens Mill. Gard. Dict. Ed. 8, no. 2. 1768.

R. Toxicodendron quercifolium Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 183. 1803.

R. quercifolia Steud. Nomencl. 689. As synonym. 1821.

A low branching shrub, 3o high or less, spreading by underground branches, the young shoots densely pubescent. Leaves long-petioled, 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate to obovate in outline, firm in texture, dark green and sparingly pubescent above, paler green and densely velvety-pubescent beneath, 4' long or less, irregularly lobed, toothed or sinuate-margined; panicles 1' - 3' long; petals oblong, obtuse, veined; fruit pubescent when young, smooth or sometimes papillose when mature, depressed-globose, 3"-4 1/2" in diameter.

Dry woodlands, southern New Jersey and Delaware to Georgia, Alabama and Texas. April-May.

4. CÓTINUS Adans. Fam. Pl. 2: 345. 1763.

Shrubs or small trees, with alternate petioled ovate oval or obovate entire leaves, and small polygamous slender-pedicelled flowers in large terminal panicles. Calyx 5-parted, the segments imbricated, obtuse. Petals longer than the calyx, imbricated. Stamens 5. Ovary obovoid; styles 3, lateral; stigmas very small. Drupe obliquely oblong or oval, compressed, gibbous, 1-seeded. Seed nearly as in Rhus. [Greek name of the oleaster, or wild olive.]

Two known species, the following of southeastern North America, the other, Cotinus Cotinus (L.) Sargent, the generic type, native of Europe and Asia.

1. Cotinus Americànus Nutt. Wild Or American Smoke-Tree. Chittam-Wood

Fig. 2784

Rhus cotinoides Nutt.; T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 217.

As synonym, 1838. Cotinus americanus Nutt. Sylva 3: pl. 81. 1849. Cotinus cotinoides Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5:

216. 1894.

A small widely branched tree, with maximum height of about 400 and trunk diameter of 15'. Leaves oval or slightly obovate, thin, glabrous or sparingly pubescent beneath, 3'-6' long, 1 1/2'-2' wide, obtuse at the apex, narrowed and commonly acute or acutish at the base, the blade slightly decurrent on the petiole; flowers 1"-1 1/2" broad, green, borne in loose large terminal panicles, pedicels elongating to 1' - 1 1/2' and becoming very plumose in fruit; drupe reticulate-veined, 2" long.

Rocky hills, Missouri and Oklahoma, east to Tennessee and Alabama. Wood soft, orange-yellow, yielding a rich dye; weight per cubic foot 40 lbs. Very nearly related to the European C Cotinus, which differs in its smaller coriaceous leaves, more pubescent, mostly rounded and obtuse at base. Yellow-wood. April-May.