poison sumac

poison sumac
a shrub or small tree, Rhus vernix (or Toxicodendron vernix), of swampy areas of the eastern U.S., having pinnate leaves and causing severe dermatitis when touched by persons sensitive to it. Also called poison dogwood.
[1810-20]

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also called poison elder

Attractive, narrow shrub or small tree (Rhus vernix or Toxicodendron vernix) of the sumac, or cashew, family.

It is native to swampy acidic soils of eastern North America. Unlike the upright reddish, fuzzy fruit clusters of other sumacs, whitish waxy berries droop loosely from its stalks. The clear sap, which blackens on exposure to air, is extremely irritating to the skin for many people.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Poison sumac — Poison Poi son, n. [F. poison, in Old French also, a potion, fr. L. potio a drink, draught, potion, a poisonous draught, fr. potare to drink. See {Potable}, and cf. {Potion}.] 1. Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Poison sumac — Sumac Su mac, Sumach Su mach, n. [F. sumac, formerly sumach (cf. Sp. zumaque), fr. Ar. summ[=a]q.] [Written also {shumac}.] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Rhus}, shrubs or small trees with usually compound leaves and clusters of small flowers …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • poison sumac — ☆ poison sumac n. a swamp plant (Rhus vernix) of the cashew family, with greenish white flowers, hanging clusters of small grayish fruit, and leaves made up of 7 to 13 leaflets: it can cause a severe rash on contact …   English World dictionary

  • Poison sumac — taxobox name = Poison sumac image caption = Poison sumac leaves regnum = Plantae unranked divisio = Angiosperms unranked classis = Eudicots unranked ordo = Rosids ordo = Sapindales familia = Anacardiaceae genus = Toxicodendron species = T. vernix …   Wikipedia

  • poison sumac — noun 1. dermatitis resulting from contact with a poison sumac plant • Hypernyms: ↑Rhus dermatitis 2. smooth American swamp shrub with pinnate leaves and greenish flowers followed by greenish white berries; yields an irritating oil • Syn: ↑poison… …   Useful english dictionary

  • poison sumac — poison su·mac s(h)ü .mak n an American swamp shrub of the genus Rhus (R. vernix syn. Toxicodendron vernix) that has smooth pinnate leaves, greenish flowers, and greenish white berries and produces an irritating oil called also poison dogwood * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • poison sumac — noun A woody shrub or small tree, all parts of which cause irritation to humans; Rhus vernix or Toxicodendron vernix. Syn: swamp sumac, poison dogwood, poison elder …   Wiktionary

  • poison sumac — noun Date: 1817 a swamp shrub (Toxicodendron vernix syn. Rhus vernix) chiefly of the eastern United States and Canada that has pinnate leaves, greenish flowers, and greenish white berries and produces an irritating oil called also poison dogwood …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • poison sumac — poi′son su′mac n. pln a swamp shrub or small tree, Rhus vernix, of the cashew family, common in the eastern U.S., having pinnate leaves and pale green flowers: may cause allergic dermatitis when touched …   From formal English to slang

  • poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac — 1. See Toxicodendron. 2. Common name for the cutaneous eruption (rhus dermatitis) caused by contact with these species of Toxicodendron …   Medical dictionary

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