Sumaksläktet
Rhus, commonly known as sumac, is a genus of about 130 species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae (the cashew family). The genus has a widespread distribution in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world. Sumacs are well-known for their distinctive appearance, their uses as a culinary spice and in leather tanning, and for the brilliant autumn foliage of many species.
The plants in this genus can be shrubs, small trees, or climbers. Many species are deciduous, while a few are evergreen.
Description
- Leaves: Sumac leaves are often pinnately compound (composed of multiple leaflets arranged along a central stem) and can grow to be quite large. For deciduous species, their most celebrated ornamental feature is their spectacular autumn color, with the leaves turning vibrant shades of fiery red, bright orange, and yellow.
- Flowers and Fruits: The flowers are typically small, greenish-white or yellowish, and borne in dense, cone-shaped clusters (panicles) at the tips of the branches. The fruit is a small, round drupe, often covered in fine, reddish hairs. These fruits form dense, upright clusters that are typically dark red or crimson. The fruit clusters often persist on the plant through the winter, providing an important food source for birds and other wildlife.
Uses
Sumac has long been utilized by humans for several purposes.
- Spice: The fruits of certain species, primarily Tanner's Sumac (Rhus coriaria), are dried and ground into a deep red, tangy spice also called sumac. It is a common ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, where it provides a tart, lemony flavor to salads (like fattoush), grilled meats, rice dishes, and the spice blend za'atar.
- Tanning: The bark and leaves of several species are rich in tannins and have been historically used to tan leather (a process known as tanning).
- Ornamental Plants: Many sumac species are popular ornamental plants in gardens and landscaping. The most common species grown for this purpose is the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), which is valued for its unique, tropical-looking structure and its intense red fall foliage. It is very hardy and spreads easily by root suckers.
Warning: Confusion with Poison Sumac
It is critically important to be able to distinguish true sumacs (Rhus) from their toxic relatives, which are now often placed in the separate genus Toxicodendron. The most dangerous of these is Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix).
How to tell them apart:
- True Sumac (Rhus): Has fuzzy, red fruit clusters that grow upright at the ends of the branches.
- Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix): Has smooth, whitish or grayish berry clusters that hang downward. The entire plant is extremely toxic and causes a severe, painful skin rash (urushiol-induced contact dermatitis) on contact. The smoke from burning Poison Sumac is also highly toxic if inhaled.
Other toxic relatives in the same family include Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. However, the Rhus species grown as ornamentals and used for spice are safe.