'Rhus vernicifera' definitions:

Definition of 'Rhus vernicifera'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. Some of the species are used in tanning, some in dyeing, and some in medicine. One, the Japanese {Rhus vernicifera}, yields the celebrated Japan varnish, or lacquer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The powdered leaves, peduncles, and young branches of certain species of the sumac plant, used in tanning and dyeing. [1913 Webster]
  • Poison sumac. (Bot.) See under Poison. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rhus vernicifera'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the poison of pestilential diseases. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin. [1913 Webster]
  • Poison ash. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Amyris (Amyris balsamifera) found in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities. (b) The poison sumac (Rhus venenata). [U. S.]
  • Poison dogwood (Bot.), poison sumac.
  • Poison fang (Zool.), one of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides having the cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under Fang.
  • Poison gland (Biol.), a gland, in animals or plants, which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound.
  • Poison hemlock (Bot.), a poisonous umbelliferous plant (Conium maculatum). See Hemlock.
  • Poison ivy (Bot.), a poisonous climbing plant (formerly Rhus Toxicodendron, or Rhus radicans, now classified as Toxicodendron radicans) of North America. It is common as a climbing vine, especially found on tree trunks, or walls, or as a low, spreading vine or as a shrub. As a low vine it grows well in lightly shaded areas, recognizable by growing in clusters of three leaves. Its leaves are trifoliate, rhombic-ovate, and variously notched. Its form varies slightly from location to location, leading to some speculation that it may consist of more than one species. Many people are poisoned by it, though some appear resistant to its effects. Touching the leaves may leave a residue of an oil on the skin, and if not washed off quickly, sensitive areas of skin become reddened and develop multiple small blisters, lasting for several days to several weeks, and causing a persistent itch. The toxic reaction is due to an oil, present in all parts of the plant except the pollen, called urushiol, the active component of which is the compound pentadecylacatechol (according to [a
  • href="http:]/www.jaxmed.com/articles/Diseases/poison_ivy_dermatitis.htm">Charles H. Booras). See Poison sumac. It is related to {poison oak}, and is also called mercury.
  • Poison nut. (Bot.) (a) Nux vomica. (b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos Nuxvomica}). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts.
  • Poison oak (Bot.), a dermatitis-producing plant often lumped together with the poison ivy ({Toxicodendron radicans}) in common terminology, but more properly distinguished as the more shrubby {Toxicodendron quercifolium} (syn. Toxicodendron diversilobum), common in California and Oregon. Opinion varies as to whether the poison oak and poison ivy are only variants of a single species. See poison ivy, above.
  • Poison sac. (Zool.) Same as Poison gland, above. See Illust. under Fang.
  • Poison sumac (Bot.), a poisonous shrub formerly considered to be of the genus Rhus (Rhus venenata), but now classified as Toxicodendron vernix; -- also called poison ash, poison dogwood, and poison elder. It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, formerly {Rhus Toxicodendron}) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree (Rhus vernicifera) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity.
  • Usage: Poison, Venom. Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc. Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Rhus vernicifera'

From: GCIDE
  • Varnish \Var"nish\, n. [OE. vernish, F. vernis, LL. vernicium; akin to F. vernir to varnish, fr. (assumed) LL. vitrinire to glaze, from LL. vitrinus glassy, fr. L. vitrum glass. See Vitreous.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. A viscid liquid, consisting of a solution of resinous matter in an oil or a volatile liquid, laid on work with a brush, or otherwise. When applied the varnish soon dries, either by evaporation or chemical action, and the resinous part forms thus a smooth, hard surface, with a beautiful gloss, capable of resisting, to a greater or less degree, the influences of air and moisture. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: According to the sorts of solvents employed, the ordinary kinds of varnish are divided into three classes: spirit, turpentine, and oil varnishes. --Encyc. Brit [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which resembles varnish, either naturally or artificially; a glossy appearance. [1913 Webster]
  • The varnish of the holly and ivy. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An artificial covering to give a fair appearance to any act or conduct; outside show; gloss. [1913 Webster]
  • And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Varnish tree (Bot.), a tree or shrub from the juice or resin of which varnish is made, as some species of the genus Rhus, especially Rhus vernicifera of Japan. The black varnish of Burmah is obtained from the Melanorrh[oe]a usitatissima, a tall East Indian tree of the Cashew family. See Copal, and Mastic. [1913 Webster]