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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Sumac
| image = Rhus copallinum.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Winged Sumac leaves and flowers
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Anacardiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Rhus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = About 250 species; see text
}}

'''''Rhus''''' is a [[genus]] of approximately 250 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Anacardiaceae]]. They are commonly called '''sumac''' or '''sumach'''. Some species (including [[Poison ivy]], [[Western Poison-oak|poison-oak]], and [[poison sumac]]), often placed in this genus, are here treated in the genus ''[[Toxicodendron]]'', which differs in highly [[allergen]]ic foliage and grayish-white fruit but is not [[genetics|genetic]]ally distinct. The name derives from the Greek name for sumac, ''rhous''.

[[Image:Rhus_typhina.JPG|thumb|left|A young branch of Staghorn Sumac.]]
The genus is found in subtropical and warm temperate regions throughout the world, with the highest diversity in southern [[Africa]].

They are [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s growing to 1-10 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are spirally arranged; they are usually pinnately compound, though some species have trifoliate or simple leaves. The [[flower]]s are in dense panicles or spikes 5-30 cm long, each flower very small, creamy white, greenish or red, with five petals. The [[fruit]] form dense clusters of reddish [[drupe]]s called sumac bobs.

Sumac propagates both by seeds, which are spread by birds and other animals through their [[feces|droppings]], and by new sprouts from rhizomes, forming large [[Clonal colony|clonal colonies]]. <br clear = left>

===Species===
{|
|- valign=top
|
;Africa:
*''[[Rhus acocksii]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus albomarginata]]'' Sond.
*''[[Rhus angustifolia]]'' L.
*''[[Rhus batophylla]]'' Codd
*''[[Rhus baurii]]'' Schonl.
*''[[Rhus bolusii]]'' Sond. ex Engl.
*''[[Rhus burchellii]]'' Sond. ex Engl.
*''[[Rhus carnosula]]'' Schonl
*''[[Rhus chirindensis]]'' Bak.f.
*''[[Rhus ciliata]]'' Licht. ex Schult.
*''[[Rhus crenata]]'' Thunb.
*''[[Rhus cuneifolia]]'' L.
*''[[Rhus dentata]]'' Thunb.
*''[[Rhus discolor]]''E.Mey. ex Sond.
*''[[Rhus dissecta]]'' Thunb.
*''[[Rhus divaricata]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus dracomontana]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus dregeana]]'' Sond.
*''[[Rhus dura]]'' Schonl.
*''[[Rhus engleri]]'' Britt.
*''[[Rhus erosa]]'' Thunb.
*''[[Rhus fastigiata]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus gerrardii]]'' (Harv. ex Engl.) Diels.
*''[[Rhus glauca]]'' Thunb.
*''[[Rhus gracillima]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus grandidens]]'' Harv. ex Engl.
*''[[Rhus gueinzii]]'' Sond.
*''[[Rhus harveyi]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus horrida]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus incisa]]'' L.f.
*''[[Rhus kirkii]]'' Oliv.
*''[[Rhus keetii]]'' Schönl.
*''[[Rhus krebsiana]]'' Presl ex Engl.
*''[[Rhus laevigata]]'' L.
*''[[Rhus lancea]]'' L.f.
*''[[Rhus leptodictya]]'' Diels.
*''[[Rhus longispina]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus lucens]]'' Hutch.
*''[[Rhus lucida]]'' L.
*''[[Rhus macowanii]]'' Schönl.
*''[[Rhus magalismontana]]'' Sond.
*''[[Rhus maricoana]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus marlothii]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus microcarpa]]'' Schonl.
*''[[Rhus montana]]'' Diels
*''[[Rhus natalensis]]'' Bernh. ex Krauss
*''[[Rhus nebulosa]]'' Schonl.
*''[[Rhus pallens]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus pendulina]]'' Jacq.
*''[[Rhus pentheri]]'' Zahlbr.
*''[[Rhus pondoensis]]'' Schönl.
*''[[Rhus populifolia]]'' E.Mey. ex Sond.
*''[[Rhus problematodes]]'' Merxm. & Roessl.
*''[[Rhus pterota]]'' Presl
*''[[Rhus pygmaea]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus pyroides]]'' Burch.
*''[[Rhus quartiniana]]'' A. Rich.
*''[[Rhus refracta]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus rehmanniana]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus rigida]]'' Mill.
*''[[Rhus rimosa]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus rogersii]]'' Schonl.
*''[[Rhus rosmarinifolia]]'' Vahl
*''[[Rhus rudatisii]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus scytophylla]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus sekhukhuniensis]]'' Moffett
*''[[Rhus stenophylla]]'' Eckl. & Zeyh.
*''[[Rhus tenuinervis]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus tomentosa]]'' L.
*''[[Rhus transvaalensis]]'' Engl.
*''[[Rhus tridactyla]]'' Burch.
*''[[Rhus tumulicola]]'' S.Moore
*''[[Rhus undulata]]'' Jacq.
*''[[Rhus volkii]]'' Suesseng.
*''[[Rhus wilmsii]]'' Diels.
*''[[Rhus zeyheri]]'' Sond.
|
;Asia:
*''[[Rhus chinensis]]'' (Chinese Sumac)
*''[[Rhus hypoleuca]]''
*''[[Rhus javanica]]''
*''[[Rhus punjabensis]]'' (Punjab Sumac)
*''Rhus verniciflua'': see ''[[Lacquer Tree|Toxicodendron vernicifluum]]''
*''Rhus succedanea''

;Australia, Pacific:
*''[[Rhus taitensis]]'' Guillemin

;Mediterranean region:
*''[[Rhus coriaria]]'' (Tanner's Sumac)
*''[[Rhus pentaphylla]]''
*''[[Rhus tripartita]]''

;Eastern North America:
*''[[Rhus aromatica]]'' (Fragrant Sumac)
*''[[Rhus copallina]]'' (Winged Sumac or Shining Sumac)
*''[[Rhus glabra]]'' (Smooth Sumac)
*''[[Rhus lanceolata]]'' (Prairie Sumac)
*''[[Rhus michauxii]]'' (Michaux's Sumac)
*''[[Rhus typhina]]'' (Staghorn Sumac)
*''Rhus toxicodendron'': see ''[[Poison ivy|Toxicodendron radicans]]''
*''Rhus vernix'': see ''[[Poison Sumac|Toxicodendron vernix]]''

;Western North America:
*''[[Rhus choriophylla]]'' (Mearns Sumac), Arizona, New Mexico
*''[[Rhus laurina]]'' (Laurel Sumac). Now considered to be ''[[Malosma laurina]]''.<ref>Integrated Taxonomic Information Service. "[http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28786 ''Rhus laurina'']."</ref>
*''[[Rhus integrifolia]]'' (Lemonade Sumac)
*''[[Rhus microphylla]]'' (Desert Sumac, Littleleaf sumac)
*''[[Rhus ovata]]'' (Sugar Sumac)
*''[[Rhus trilobata]]'' (Skunkbush Sumac)
*''[[Rhus virens]]'' (Evergreen Sumac)

;Mexico and Central America:
*''[[Rhus muelleri]]'' (Müller's Sumac; northeast Mexico)

;Pacific Ocean:
* ''[[Rhus sandwicensis]]'' A. Gray (Neleau; [[Hawaii]], endemic).
[[image:Rhulan01.jpg|thumb|''Rhus lancea'' fruit]]
[[Image:Sumac bob 3568.JPG|thumb|right|Staghorn sumac bob, Hamilton, Ontario]]
|}

==Cultivation and uses==
The drupes of the Genus Rhus are harvested, the hairy coating removed and then ground to be used as a [[spice]] (a deep red powder with a sour taste) in some Middle Eastern countries, particularly with salads. In North America, the smooth sumac, ''Rhus glabra'', and the staghorn sumac, ''Rhus typhina'', are sometimes used to make a beverage, termed "sumac-ade" or "Indian lemonade" or "rhus juice". This drink is made by soaking the drupes in cool water, rubbing the active principle off the drupes, then straining the liquid through a cotton cloth and sweetening it. Native Americans also used the leaves and berries of the smooth and staghorn sumacs combined with [[tobacco]] in traditional smoking mixtures.

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 type or as [[cultivar]]s.

The leaves of certain sumacs yield [[tannin]] (mostly pyrogallol), a substance used in vegetable tanning. [[Leather]] tanned with sumac is flexible, light in weight, and light in color, even bordering on being white.

Dried sumac wood glows under UV lighting (blacklight) {{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

Mowing of sumac is not a good control measure as the wood is springy resulting in jagged, sharp pointed stumps when mowed. The plant will quickly recover with new growth after mowing. See [http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/range/g1319.htm Nebraska Extension Service publication G97-1319] for suggestions as to control.

==See also==

*Red [[za'atar]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?10433 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Rhus'']
;Southern African species
*RO Moffett. ''A Revision of Southern African Rhus species'' FSA (Flora of South Africa) vol 19 (3) Fascicle 1.
*Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., & McCleland, W. (2002). ''Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park''. Jacana. ISBN 1-919777-30-X.
*[[List of Southern African indigenous trees]]
*[http://landscaping.about.com/cs/landscapecolor/a/sumac.htm Sumac Shrubs]

{{Herbs & spices}}

[[Category:Sapindales]]
[[Category:Spices]]
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