Sumac

Sumac, common name for any of a genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees of the cashew family. The genus contains about 200 species native to temperate and subtropical regions throughout the eastern and western hemispheres. The foliage and bark of most sumacs are rich in tannins, used widely for tanning leathers. Several sumacs are cultivated widely for ornamental purposes.

The stag’s-horn or velvet sumac is a North American species that is also grown extensively elsewhere as an ornamental for its brilliant autumn colour. The conical, reddish female flower heads produce hairy red fruits that persist throughout winter. Smooth sumac, common in the south-western United States, is also widely cultivated because of its large, dense, green flowers and finely cut, brilliantly coloured leaves. Another popular ornamental native to eastern North America is the dwarf sumac, which has glossy foliage that turns scarlet in the autumn. The varnish tree, or Chinese or Japanese lacquer tree, is a major source of wax and lacquer, which is obtained from the sap. The common sumac, a semi-evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia, is a principal source of tannin and the dye for Córdoba and Moroccan leather. The poison sumac, which is sometimes placed in another genus, is poisonous to the touch (see also Poisonous Plants).

Scientific classification: Sumacs make up the genus Rhus of the family Anacardiaceae. The stag’s-horn sumac is classified as Rhus typhina, smooth sumac as Rhus glabra, and the dwarf sumac as Rhus copallina. The varnish tree is classified as Rhus vernicifina, the common sumac as Rhus coriaria, and the poison sumac as Rhus vernix or Toxicodendron vernix.