SUMACH  . The Sumach of

commerce is the finely ground leaves of Rhus coriaria, a native of the North Mediterranean region from Portugal to Asia Minor; it is a shrub or low tree with hairy leaves composed of I r to 15 elliptical leaflets with large blunt teeth, and large loose panicles of whitish-green flowers . Another species, Rhus cotinus, known as Venetian Sumach, also a native of southern Europe and Asia Minor, yields the yellow dye-wood known as young fustic; it is also known as the Smoke-plant or Wig-tree, from the feathery or hairy appearance of the flower-stalks, which become elongated and hairy after the flowering . The genus Rhus is a member of the' natural order Anacardiaceae and contains about 120 species of trees or shrubs mostly native in the temperature regions of both hemispheres . The leaves are alternate and simple or compound, with few to many entire-margined or serrated leaflets, and terminal or axillary panicles of small flowers with parts in fours or sixes . The species are mostly poisonous, some being especially noxious . Such' are Rhus toxicodendron, the North American poison ivy, a shrub climbing on rocks and trees by means of rootlets, and poisonous to the touch . R. venenata, the North American poison elder sumach or dogwood, also contains an erttretnely irritant poison . R. vermicifera is the japan lacquer or varnish-tree . Several species are cultivated in the British Isles as store, greenhouse or hardy trees .