the Tanner's or myrtle-leaved Sumach: A genus of the decandria order, belonging to the dioica class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 54th order, Mycetaceae. The male calyx is pentaphyllous; the corolla pentapetalous, very like the calyx, and united with it; the antherae bipartite. The female calyx is pentaphyllous; the corolla like that of the male; the styles five, seeds five, cover- ed with a like number of succulent petals, forming altogether the resemblance of a berry. There are two species, the myrtifolia and the forma. They are both natives of the south of France, but the former is most commonly cultivated in this country. It is a pretty ornamental plant, with a shrubby pithy brown stem, closely branching from the bottom, and forms a bushy head three or four feet over, thickly garnished with oblong, pointed, bright green leaves, having small spikes of whitish flowers at the ends of the branches. It is easily propagated by suckers from the root, which it affords plentifully, and may be taken off with fibres every autumn or winter. It may also be propagated by layers in autumn, which will take root in a year. It is much used in the south of France, where it naturally grows, for tanning of leather, whence its name of tanner's sumach. It also dyes a beautiful black colour. The berries are dangerous, and when eaten generally occasion vertigoes and epilepsies. The old leaves have the same effect upon cattle that eat them, but the young leaves are innocent.