Handbook of the Trees of New England

by Lorin Low Dame; Henry M. Brooks

1. Winter buds.

2. Branch with staminate flowers.

3. Staminate flower.

4. Branch with pistillate flowers.

5. Pistillate flower.

6. Fruit cluster.

7. Fruit.

Rhus Vernix, L.

Rhus venenata, DC.

Dogwood. Poison Sumac. Poison Elder.

Habitat and Range.—Low grounds and swamps; occasional on the moist slopes of hills.

Infrequent in Ontario.

Maine,—local and apparently restricted to the southwestern sections; as far north as Chesterville (Franklin county); Vermont,—infrequent; common throughout the other New England states, especially near the seacoast.

South to northern Florida; west to Minnesota and Louisiana.

Habit.—- A handsome shrub or small tree, 5-20 feet high; trunk sometimes 8-10 inches in diameter; broad-topped in the open along the edge of swamps; conspicuous in autumn by its richly colored foliage and diffusely panicled, pale, yellowish-white fruit.