An experimental dissertation on the rhus vernix, rhus radicans and rhus glabrum : commonly known in Pennsylvania by the names of poison-ash, poison-vine and common sumach / by Thomas Horsfield, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, member of the Medical and Chemical Societies of Philadelphia.

  • Horsfield, Thomas, 1773-1859.
Date:
MDCCXCVIII [1798]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental dissertation on the rhus vernix, rhus radicans and rhus glabrum : commonly known in Pennsylvania by the names of poison-ash, poison-vine and common sumach / by Thomas Horsfield, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, member of the Medical and Chemical Societies of Philadelphia. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ( *3 ) in a fertile foil; but is capable of exifting in different firuations ; ' les it is found near rivulets, at others in dry and elevated plac s. The Rhus radicans has a (lender afcending Hem, which fupports itfelf on the bodies in its vicinity. Like various fpecies of Ivy, it frequently climbs up to the top of our tailed trees, arriving at the height of forty or fifty ket. It appears to delight in afcend- ing the lofty oak trees, which furround the fields of our farmers. Very often it is met with along the fides of fences, which ferve it as a very convenient fupport. Its flem rarely exceeds tv/o or three inches in thicknefs ; in a few plants which were growing in a very fertile foil, I have feen it nearly five inches in diameter, The tlem in many cafes is comprefTed oa the fides i fometimes it is interrupted by fmall tuber- cles. It is covered with a grey bark, which in young plants is of a lighter colour. If the R. radicans happens to grow in fituations, where it meets not with a fupport, it never exceeds four or five feet in height j in thefe instances its growth is always winding or oblique; its branches frequently return and creep along the ground. In fome cafes it is forced to purfue this procumbent Dillenius's Toxicodendron reclum, fuliis minoribas ghbris, is a variety of our Rhus glabium. The Delaware Indian name is Pu-tjcbis-kt:y, D. Zeiiberger'5 fuelling book. I have obferved fcvcral varieties of this fpecies of Rhus.