Rhus typhina

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Rhus typhina
Sumakh olenerogii (Sumakh pushistyi, Uksusnoe derevo) - Rhus typhina - Staghorn sumac - Vlaknest shmak - Essigbaum (23408707041).jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Rhus
Species:
R. typhina
Binomial name
Rhus typhina
L., 1756 [3]
Rhus typhina range map 4.png
Synonyms

Rhus hirta

Rhus typhina, the staghorn sumac, [4] is a species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae, native to eastern North America. It is primarily found in southeastern Canada, the northeastern and midwestern United States, and the Appalachian Mountains, [5] but it is widely cultivated as an ornamental throughout the temperate world. It is an invasive species in some parts of the world.

Contents

Etymology

The Latin specific epithet typhina is explained in Carl Linnaeus and Ericus Torner's description of the plant with the phrase "Ramis hirtis uti typhi cervini", meaning "the branches are rough like antlers in velvet". [6]

Description

Rhus typhina is a dioecious, deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 5 m (16 ft) tall by 6 m (20 ft) broad. It has alternate, pinnately compound leaves 25–55 cm (10–22 in) long, each with 9–31 serrate leaflets 6–11 cm (2+144+14 in) long. [7] Leaf petioles and stems are densely covered in rust-colored hairs. The velvety texture and the forking pattern of the branches, reminiscent of antlers, have led to the common name "stag's horn sumac". [8] Staghorn sumac grows as female or male clones. [9]

Small, greenish-white through yellowish flowers occur in dense terminal panicles, and small, green through reddish drupes occur in dense infructescences. [7] Flowers occur from May through July and fruit ripens from June through September in this species’ native range. [10] Infructescences are 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 4–6 cm (1+122+14 in) broad at their bases. Fall foliage is brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. [8] Fruit can remain on plants from late summer through spring. It is eaten by many birds in winter. [11]

Staghorn sumac spreads by seeds and rhizomes and forms clones often with the older shoots in the center and younger shoots around central older ones. [7] Large clones can grow from ortets in several years.

Within Anacardiaceae, staghorn sumac is not closely related to poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), even though they share the name "sumac".

In late summer some shoots have galls on leaf undersides, caused by the sumac leaf gall aphid, Melaphis rhois . The galls are not markedly harmful to the tree.

Cultivation

Staghorn sumac is an ornamental plant which provides interest throughout the year; though its vigorous, suckering habit makes it unsuitable for smaller gardens. It can grow under a wide array of conditions, but is most often found in dry and poor soil on which other plants cannot survive. [7] Some landscapers remove all but the top branches to create a "crown" effect in order to resemble a small palm tree. Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit: [12]

Uses

Rhus typhina fruit 20150420Rhus typhina1.jpg
Rhus typhina fruit

The fruit of sumacs are edible. [15] They can be soaked and washed in cold water, strained, sweetened and made into a pink "lemonade" sometimes called "Indian lemonade". [16] The drink extract can also be used to make jelly. The shoots can be peeled and eaten raw. [17] [15] The fruit was found to have certain natural antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. [18]

All parts of the staghorn sumac, except the roots, can be used as both a natural dye and as a mordant. The plant is rich in tannins and can be added to other dye baths to improve light fastness. The leaves may be harvested in the summer and the bark all year round. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Toxicodendron radicans</i> Species of plant

Toxicodendron radicans, commonly known as eastern poison ivy or poison ivy, is an allergenic Asian and Eastern North American flowering plant in the genus Toxicodendron. The species is well known for causing urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, an itchy, irritating, and sometimes painful rash, in most people who touch it. The rash is caused by urushiol, a clear liquid compound in the plant's sap. The species is variable in its appearance and habit, and despite its common name, it is not a true ivy (Hedera), but rather a member of the cashew and pistachio family (Anacardiaceae). T. radicans is commonly eaten by many animals and the seeds are consumed by birds, but poison ivy is most often thought of as an unwelcome weed. It is a different species from western poison ivy, T. rydbergii, which has similar effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumac</span> Related species of plants in the family Anacardiaceae

Sumac, also spelled sumach, is any of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae). Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout every continent except Antarctica and South America. Sumac is used as a spice, as a dye, and in medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackcurrant</span> Species of flowering plant in the gooseberry family Grossulariaceae

The blackcurrant, also known as black currant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, where it prefers damp fertile soils. It is widely cultivated both commercially and domestically.

<i>Toxicodendron diversilobum</i> Species of plant

Toxicodendron diversilobum, commonly named Pacific poison oak or western poison oak, is a woody vine or shrub in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. It is widely distributed in western North America, inhabiting conifer and mixed broadleaf forests, woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral biomes. Peak flowering occurs in May. Like other members of the genus Toxicodendron, T. diversilobum causes itching and allergic rashes in most people after contact by touch or smoke inhalation. Despite its name, it is not closely related to oaks.

<i>Cotinus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Cotinus, the smoketree or smoke bush, is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs (Rhus).

<i>Pistacia chinensis</i> Species of tree

Pistacia chinensis, the Chinese pistache, is a small to medium-sized tree in the genus Pistacia in the cashew family Anacardiaceae, native to central and western China. This species is planted as a street tree in temperate areas worldwide due to its attractive fruit and autumn foliage.

<i>Cotinus coggygria</i> Species of plant

Cotinus coggygria, syn. Rhus cotinus, the European smoketree, Eurasian smoketree, smoke tree, smoke bush, Venetian sumach, or dyer's sumach, is a Eurasian species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae.

<i>Spartium</i> Species of broom native to the Mediterranean

Spartium junceum, known as Spanish broom, rush broom, or weaver's broom, it is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and the sole species in the genus Spartium. It is closely related to the other brooms.

<i>Dasylirion wheeleri</i> Species of flowering plant

Dasylirion wheeleri is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to arid environments of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.

<i>Maianthemum racemosum</i> Species of flowering plant

Maianthemum racemosum, the treacleberry, feathery false lily of the valley, false Solomon's seal, Solomon's plume or false spikenard, is a species of flowering plant native to North America. It is a common, widespread plant with numerous common names and synonyms, known from every US state except Hawaii, and from every Canadian province and territory, as well as from Mexico.

<i>Rhus integrifolia</i> Species of shrub

Rhus integrifolia, also known as lemonade sumac, lemonade berry, or lemonadeberry, is a shrub to small tree. It is native to the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges and the South Coast regions of Southern California. This extends from Santa Barbara County and the Channel Islands to San Diego County and extending into north-central Pacific coastal Baja California and its offshore islands such as Cedros Island.

<i>Rhus ovata</i> Species of tree

Rhus ovata, commonly known as sugar bush or sugar sumac, is a shrub or small tree found growing in the canyons and slopes of the chaparral and related ecosystems in Southern California, Arizona, Baja California and Baja California Sur. It is a long lived-plant, up to 100 years, and has dense evergreen foliage that make it conspicuous. It is closely related to and hybridizes with the lemonade sumac.

<i>Hemerocallis fulva</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae

Hemerocallis fulva, the orange day-lily, tawny daylily, corn lily, tiger daylily, fulvous daylily, ditch lily or Fourth of July lily, is a species of daylily native to Asia. It is very widely grown as an ornamental plant in temperate climates for its showy flowers and ease of cultivation. It is not a true lily in the genus Lilium, but gets its common name from the superficial similarity of its flowers to Lilium and from the fact that each flower lasts only one day.

<i>Rhus trilobata</i> Species of shrub

Rhus trilobata is a shrub in the sumac genus (Rhus) with the common names skunkbush sumac, sourberry, skunkbush, and three-leaf sumac. It is native to the western half of Canada and the Western United States, from the Great Plains to California and south through Arizona extending into northern Mexico. It can be found from deserts to mountain peaks up to about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in elevation.

<i>Rhus copallinum</i> Species of tree

Rhus copallinum, the winged sumac, shining sumac, dwarf sumac or flameleaf sumac, is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae) that is native to eastern North America. It is a deciduous tree growing to 3.5–5.5 metres (11–18 ft) tall and an equal spread with a rounded crown. A 5-year-old sapling will stand about 2.5 metres (8.2 ft).

<i>Rhus glabra</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac, is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.

<i>Rhus aromatica</i> Species of shrub

Rhus aromatica, the fragrant sumac, is a deciduous shrub in the family Anacardiaceae native to North America. It is found in southern Canada and nearly all of the lower 48 states except peninsular Florida.

<i>Rhus coriaria</i> Species of shrub

Rhus coriaria, commonly called Sicilian sumac, tanner's sumach, or elm-leaved sumach, is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the cashew family Anacardiaceae. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The dried fruits are used as a spice, particularly in combination with other spices in the mixture called za'atar.

<i>Rhus chinensis</i> Species of tree

Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the genus Rhus. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, it has downy shoots and leaves comprising several leaflets. These turn red in autumn before falling.

<i>Melaphis rhois</i> Species of true bug

Melaphis rhois is an aphid species first identified by Asa Fitch in 1866. Known as the staghorn sumac aphid, it is the only species in the genus Melaphis. It is a type of woolly aphid and one of the few aphids that induce the formation of galls.

References

  1. Stritch, L. (2018). "Rhus typhina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T61984086A61984088. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T61984086A61984088.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  3. taxonomy. "Taxonomy browser (Rhus typhina)". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  4. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Rhus typhina". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  5. "Rhus typhina Range Map" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  6. Linnaeus, Carl; et al. (1756). Centuria II plantarum. Vol. 2. exc. L.M. Höjer. p. 14.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Uva, Richard H.; Neal, Joseph C.; Ditomaso, Joseph M. (1997). Weeds of The Northeast. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. pp. 326–327. ISBN   0-8014-3391-6.
  8. 1 2 RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   978-1405332965.
  9. Sullivan, Janet (1994). "Rhus typhina". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  10. "Rhus" (PDF). Woody Plant Seed Manual. USDA Forest Service.
  11. Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 327. ISBN   0-394-50432-1.
  12. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 87. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  13. "RHS Plantfinder - Rhus typhina 'Dissecta'" . Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  14. "Rhus typhinaRadiance = 'Sinrus'". RHS. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  15. 1 2 Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 250. ISBN   978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC   244766414.
  16. Peterson, Lee Allen (1977). Edible Wild Plants. New York: Houghton Mifflin. p. 186. ISBN   0-395-20445-3.
  17. Thayer, S. (2006). The Forager's Harvest. Forager's Harvest.
  18. Kossah, Rima; Zhang, Hao; Chen, Wei (2011-01-01). "Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Chinese sumac (Rhus typhina L.) fruit extract". Food Control. 22 (1): 128–132. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2010.06.002. ISSN   0956-7135.
  19. Dean, Jenny (1999). Wild Color: The Complete Guide to Making and Using Natural Dyes . New York: Watson-Guptill. p.  123. ISBN   9780823057276.