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.

RHUS

Shrub, tree, dioecious or bisexual and pistillate
Leaves simple or compound, deciduous or evergreen, entire, toothed, or lobed
Inflorescence: panicle, terminal on short twigs, open to dense; flowers generally sessile
Flower: stamens 5; styles 3, free or ± fused
Fruit spheric or ± compressed, glabrous or glandular-hairy, generally reddish; pulp thin or thick, ± resinous
Species in genus: ± 150 species: warm temp
Etymology: (Greek: ancient name for sumac)
Reference: [Brizicky 1963 J Arnold Arbor 44:60–80]

Native

R. ovata S. Watson

SUGAR BUSH

Shrub, small tree, 2–10 m; flowers bisexual or pistillate
Leaf simple, evergreen; petiole 10–30 mm; blade 3–8 cm, 3–8 cm wide, widely ovate to widely elliptic, ± leathery, folded along midrib, tip ± acute to acuminate, margin entire
Inflorescence: branches stout in bud; bractlets < 2 mm
Flower: sepals red, margins ciliate; petals white to pinkish
Fruit 6–8 mm diam, glandular-hairy, reddish
Ecology: Canyons, generally s-facing slopes, chaparral
Elevation: < 1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Cult elsewhere. Hybridizes with R. integrifolia.
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.