ANACARDIACEAE

SUMAC or CASHEW FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken

Shrub, tree, generally dioecious or flowers bisexual and unisexual, ± resinous, sometimes milky, generally aromatic
Leaves simple or compound, alternate, deciduous or evergreen; stipules 0
Inflorescence: raceme or panicle; flowers generally many
Flower generally unisexual, radial; sepals 5, base generally ± fused; petals 5, generally > sepals, free; stamens 5 or 10, reduced and sterile in pistillate flowers; ovary superior, vestigial or 0 in staminate flowers, subtended by ± lobed, disk-like nectary, chamber generally 1, ovule generally 1, styles 1–3
Fruit drupe-like, glabrous, sticky, or short-hairy; pulp ± resinous, sometimes aromatic
Genera in family: 70+ genera, ± 850 species: tropical, warm temp; some ornamental (Rhus, Schinus ), some cultivated for fruit (Anacardium , cashew; Mangifera , mango)
Reference: [Brizicky 1962 J Arnold Arbor 43:359–375]
TOXIC: many genera produce contact dermatitis.

SCHINUS

PEPPER TREE

Shrub, tree, dioecious
Leaves generally odd-pinnate, ± resinous, aromatic; leaflets > 5, lateral alternate to opposite, ± leathery, entire to toothed
Inflorescence: panicle, axillary or terminal, open to ± dense; pedicels short
Flower: stamens 10, 2 whorls of 5, reduced and sterile in pistillate flowers; styles 3, fused at base
Fruit spheric, leathery, shiny, reddish; pulp resinous to oily, aromatic
Species in genus: ± 25 species: tropical, warm temp South America
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name for another sp.)
Reference: [Barkley 1944 Brittonia 5:160–198]

Introduced

S. terebinthifolius Raddi

BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREE

Tree < 10 m
Stem: upper branches generally stiff, spreading to erect
Leaf 8–15 cm; leaflets generally 7, sessile or short-stalked, 2.5–7 cm, 10–25 mm wide, elliptic to oblong, entire to toothed
Inflorescence: pedicel 2–4 mm in fruit
Fruit 4–7 mm diam, generally pink to red
Ecology: Washes, canyons
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: s South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to S.America