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{{SPlantbox
|familia=Anacardiaceae
|genus=Rhus
|Min ht metric=cm
|poisonous=Some species
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
|image=Rhus copallinum.jpg
|image_width=200
|image_caption=Rhus copallinum
}}
'''Sumac''' is any one of approximately 250 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[genus]] '''''Rhus''''' and related genera, in the family [[Anacardiaceae]].

Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in [[North America]].<ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=128455 12. Rhus Linnaeus], ''Flora of China''</ref><ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHUS Rhus L.], USDA PLANTS</ref>

Sumacs are [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s that can reach a height of {{convert|1|-|10|m|ft}}. The [[leaf|leaves]] are spirally arranged; they are usually [[Pinnate|pinnately compound]], though some species have trifoliate or simple leaves. The [[flower]]s are in dense [[panicle]]s or spikes {{convert|5|-|30|cm|in}} long, each flower very small, greenish, creamy white or red, with five petals. The [[fruit]]s form dense clusters of reddish [[drupe]]s called sumac bobs. The dried drupes of some species are ground to produce a tangy purple spice.

Species including the fragrant sumac (''Rhus aromatica''), the littleleaf sumac (''R. microphylla''), the skunkbush sumac (''R. trilobata''), the smooth sumac and the staghorn sumac are grown for ornament, either as the wild types or as [[cultivar]]s.

{{Inc|
Rhus (ancient Greek name). Anacardiaceae. Sumac. Ornamental woody plants, grown chiefly for their handsome foliage, often assuming brilliant autumnal colors, and some species also for their showy fruiting panicles.   See also Cotinus.

Deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes climbing by aerial rootlets, or trees, with milky or resinous juice: lvs. alternate, without stipules, simple, 3-foliolate or odd-pinnate: fls. dioecious or polygamous, small, in axillary or terminal panicles; calyx 5-parted; petals 5, imbricate; stamens 5, inserted below a broad disk; ovary superior, with 3 styles: fr. a small 1-seeded dry drupe, smooth or hairy.—About 150 species in the temperate and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. Foliage and bark of most species are rich in tannin and are used for tanning leather, particularly the lvs. of B. coriaria in S. Eu. From R. verniciflua lacquer is obtained in China and Japan, used in the manufacture of lacquer-ware; R. succedanea yields a vegetable wax, used for candles in Japan, and also exported for various purposes. R. laevigata and some other S. African species are valued for their timber.

The sumacs are shrubs or trees with handsome simple or usually compound foliage assuming in most deciduous species brilliant autumnal colors, and with small comparatively inconspicuous flowers in usually large panicles, followed by small fruits which are deep red and showy in many species. The only species with rather showy flowers of creamy white color appearing in late summer is R. javanica, while R. typhina, R. glabra, and R. copallina are chiefly valued for their large pinnate leaves coloring scarlet in autumn and also for the conspicuous panicles of deep red fruits remaining almost unchanged on the plants during the winter; they are well adapted for mass-planting on barren ground and dry hillsides. Also R. verniciflua, R. succedanea, and R. vernix have handsome large foliage, but are poisonous like R. Toxicodendron, and for this reason are not recommended for extensive planting. The deciduous native species are hardy North, and R. verniciflua, R. Potaninii, R. punjabensis var. sinica, R. javanica, R. tri- chocarpa, and R. sylvestris are hardy as far north as Massachusetts, while R. coriaria is tender, and the evergreen species can be grown only in warmer temperate regions. Most species grow well in dry and barren soil, only R. vernix is a swamp-loving plant. Many species, particularly R. Toxicodendron, R. glabra, R. typhina, and R. copallina. spread by suckers and may become a nui- sance in lawns and mixed plantations. Propagation is by seeds sown in autumn or stratified; all species grow readily from root-cuttings; some species, as R. canaden- sis, may be increased by layers or cuttings of mature wood.
}}

==Cultivation==
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===Propagation===
Sumacs propagate both by [[seed]] ([[Seed dispersal#Dispersal by animals|spread]] by [[bird]]s and other animals through their [[feces|droppings]]), and by new [[shoot]]s from [[rhizome]]s, forming large [[Clonal colony|clonal colonies]].

===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
[[Image:Rhus typhina.JPG|thumb|A young branch of [[staghorn sumac]]]]
[[Image:Rhulan01.jpg|thumb|''Rhus lancea'' fruit]]
[[Image:Sumac bob 3568.JPG|thumb|right|[[Staghorn sumac]] bob, Hamilton, Ontario]]
[[Image:Rhus copallinum.jpg|thumb|Winged sumac leaves and flowers]]
[[Image:Rhus malloryi 01.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Rhus malloryi]]'' fossil]]
Selected species:
{|
|- valign=top
|
;Africa:
*''[[Rhus acocksii]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus albomarginata]]'' <small>Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus angustifolia]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rhus batophylla]]'' <small>Codd</small>
*''[[Rhus baurii]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus bolusii]]'' <small>Sond. ex Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus burchellii]]'' <small>Sond. ex Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus carnosula]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus chirindensis]]'' <small>Bakh.f.</small>
*''[[Rhus ciliata]]'' <small>Licht. ex Schult.</small>
*''[[Rhus crenata]]'' <small>Thunb.</small>
*''[[Rhus cuneifolia]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rhus dentata]]'' <small>Thunb.</small>
*''[[Rhus discolor]]'' <small>E.Mey. ex Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus dissecta]]'' <small>Thunb.</small>
*''[[Rhus divaricata]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus dracomontana]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus dregeana]]'' <small>Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus dura]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus engleri]]'' <small>Britt.</small>
*''[[Rhus erosa]]'' <small>Thunb.</small>
*''[[Rhus fastigiata]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus gerrardii]]'' <small>(Harv. ex Engl.) Diels.</small>
*''[[Rhus glauca]]'' <small>Thunb.</small>
*''[[Rhus gracillima]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus grandidens]]'' <small>Harv. ex Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus gueinzii]]'' <small>Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus harveyi]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus horrida]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus incisa]]'' <small>L.f.</small>
*''[[Rhus kirkii]]'' <small>Oliv.</small>
*''[[Rhus keetii]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus krebsiana]]'' <small>Presl ex Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus laevigata]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rhus lancea]]'' <small>L.f.</small> ([[syn.]] ''Searsia lancea'')
*''[[Rhus leptodictya]]'' <small>Diels.</small>
*''[[Rhus loemnodia]]'' <small>Ruckt.</small>
*''[[Rhus longispina]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus lucens]]'' <small>Hutch.</small>
*''[[Rhus lucida]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rhus macowanii]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus magalismontana]]'' <small>Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus maricoana]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus marlothii]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus microcarpa]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus montana]]'' <small>Diels</small>
*''[[Rhus natalensis]]'' <small>Bernh. ex Krauss</small>
*''[[Rhus nebulosa]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus pallens]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus pendulina]]'' <small>Jacq.</small>
*''[[Rhus pentheri]]'' <small>Zahlbr.</small>
*''[[Rhus pondoensis]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus populifolia]]'' <small>E.Mey. ex Sond.</small>
*''[[Rhus problematodes]]'' <small>Merxm. & Roessl.</small>
*''[[Rhus pterota]]'' <small>Presl</small>
*''[[Rhus pygmaea]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus pyroides]]'' <small>Burch.</small>
*''[[Rhus quartiniana]]'' <small>A.Rich.</small>
*''[[Rhus refracta]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus rehmanniana]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus rigida]]'' <small>Mill.</small>
*''[[Rhus rimosa]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus rogersii]]'' <small>Schönl.</small>
*''[[Rhus rosmarinifolia]]'' <small>Vahl</small>
*''[[Rhus rudatisii]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus scytophylla]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus sekhukhuniensis]]'' <small>Moffett</small>
*''[[Rhus stenophylla]]'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small>
*''[[Rhus tenuinervis]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus tomentosa]]'' <small>L.</small>
*''[[Rhus transvaalensis]]'' <small>Engl.</small>
*''[[Rhus tridactyla]]'' <small>Burch.</small>
*''[[Rhus tumulicola]]'' <small>S.Moore</small>
*''[[Rhus undulata]]'' <small>Jacq.</small>
*''[[Rhus volkii]]'' <small>Suesseng.</small>
*''[[Rhus wilmsii]]'' <small>Diels.</small>
*''[[Rhus zeyheri]]'' <small>Sond.</small>
*[[Rhus sp. nov. A|''Rhus'' sp. nov. A]] <small></small> ([[Yemen]]'s [[Socotra|Socotra Archipelago]])<ref>Miller, A. 2004.  [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/44736/all ''Rhus sp. nov. A''].   [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ]  Downloaded on [[23 August]] [[2007]].</ref>
|
;Asia:
*''[[Rhus chinensis]]'' <small>[[Philip Miller|Mill.]]</small> - Chinese sumac
*''[[Rhus hypoleuca]]''
*''[[Rhus javanica]]''
*''[[Rhus punjabensis]]'' <small></small> - Punjab sumac
*''Rhus verniciflua'' ([[syn.]] ''[[Toxicodendron vernicifluum]]'', lacquer tree)
*''Rhus succedanea'' (syn. ''[[Toxicodendron succedaneum]]'')

;Australia, Pacific:
*''[[Rhus taitensis]]'' <small>[[Jean Baptiste Antoine Guillemin|Guill.]]</small> (Northeast [[Australia]], [[Malesia]], [[Micronesia]], [[French Polynesia]])
* ''[[Rhus sandwicensis]]'' <small>[[Asa Gray|A.Gray]]</small> - ''Neneleau'' ([[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]])<ref name="CFTH">{{cite paper |url=http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/data/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Rhus_sandwicensis.pdf |format=[[PDF]] |title=Neneleau, Hawaiian sumac |first=Elbert L. |last=Little Jr. |coauthors=Roger G. Skolmen |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]] |year=1989}}</ref>

;Mediterranean Basin:
*''[[Rhus coriaria]]'' <small></small> - Tanner's sumac
*''[[Rhus pentaphylla]]'' <small></small>
*''[[Rhus tripartita]]'' <small></small>

;Eastern North America:
*''[[Rhus aromatica]]'' <small></small> - Fragrant sumac
*''[[Rhus copallina]]'' <small></small> - Winged or shining sumac
*''[[Rhus glabra]]'' <small></small> - Smooth sumac
*''[[Rhus lanceolata]]'' <small></small> - Prairie sumac
*''[[Rhus michauxii]]'' <small></small> - Michaux's sumac
*''[[Rhus typhina]]'' <small></small> - Staghorn sumac
*''Rhus toxicodendron'' <small></small> ([[syn.]] ''Toxicodendron radicans'', [[poison ivy]])
*''Rhus vernix'' (syn. ''Toxicodendron vernix'', [[poison sumac]])

;Western North America:
*''[[Rhus choriophylla]]'' <small></small> - Mearn's sumac (Arizona, [[New Mexico]])
*''Rhus laurina'' <small></small> ([[syn.]] ''[[Malosma|Malosma laurina]]'') - Laurel sumac
*''[[Rhus integrifolia]]'' <small></small> - Lemonade sumac
*''[[Rhus glabra]]'' <small></small> - Smooth sumac
*†''[[Rhus malloryi]]'' <small>[[Jack A. Wolfe|Wolfe]] & [[Wesley C. Wehr|Wehr]], 1987</small> [[Eocene]]
*''[[Rhus microphylla]]'' <small></small> - Desert sumac, littleleaf sumac
*''[[Rhus ovata]]'' <small></small> - Sugar sumac
*''[[Rhus trilobata]]'' <small>[[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]]</small> - Skunkbush sumac
*''[[Rhus virens]]'' <small></small> - evergreen sumac

;Mexico and Central America:
*''[[Rhus muelleri]]'' <small></small> - Müller's sumac (northeast Mexico)
|}

{{Inc|
aromatica,      8.laevigata,    5.radicans,      10.
canadensis,     8.lanceolata,  18.roxburghii,    17.
copallina,     18.laurina,      3.semialata,     17.
coriaria,      16.lucida,       6.sinica,    14, 15.
dissecta,      20.michauxii,   19.succedanea,    13.
diversiloba,    9.mollis,       4.toxicodendron, 10.
filicina,      20.osbeckii,    17.trilobata,      7.
glabra,        21.ovata,        2.typhina,       20.
hirta,         20.potaninii,   14.venenata,      11.
integrifolia,   1.pumila,      19.vernicifera,   12.
javanica,      17.punjabensis, 15.verniciflus,   12.
laciniata, 20, 21.quercifolia, 10.vernix,    11, 12.

R. cotinoides, Nutt.~Cotinus americana.—R. Cotinus, Linn.~Cotinus Coggygria.—R. Delavayi, Franch. Allied to R. succedanea. Glabrous shrub: lfts. 5-7, elliptic, 1-2 in. long, light green beneath: infl. 2-3 1/2 in. long. W. China. Var. quinquejuga, Rehd. & Wilson. Lfts. 5-11. slightly pubescent while young. W. China.—, hybrida, Rehd. Hybrid between R. glabra and R. typhina, found occasionally among the parents: young branchlcts sparingly or densely pubescent: lfts. on the veins beneath slightly pubescent: hairs of the fr. exactly intermediate in length between those of the parents. —R. orienitalis, Schneid. (R. Toxicodendron var. hispida, Engl. ), Allied to R.Toxicodendron. Climbing: young branchlets hairy: lfts. dull green above, entire: fr. pilose. Japan. China.—R. rhodanthema, F. Muell.~Rhodosphaera rhodanthema.—R. sylvestris, Sieb. & Zucc. Allied to R. succedanea. Shrub or tree, to 30 ft.: young branchlets, rachis, and lfts. beneath pubescent. Japan, China.—R. tomentosa. Linn. Allied to R. laevigata. Shrub or small tree: lfts. 3, oblong, entire or crenate-dentate, tomentose beneath, 1 1/2-3 in. long. S. Afr.—R. trichocarpa, Miq. Allied to R. verniciflua. Shrub or small tree: petiole and lfts. beneath pubescent; lfts. usually smaller: panicle shorter and denser: fr. pilose. Japan, China.
}}

==Gallery==
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<gallery>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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</gallery>

==References==
{{refbegin}}
{{Reflist|2}}
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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