Rhus copallinum
Rhus copallinum
Safety & Hazards
The genus Rhus is being treated in its strict sense here, so it excludes the many species with highly toxic and irritant sap (these are included in Toxicodendron). Although the two genera are very similar, it is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species (Toxicodendron) have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species (Rhus) have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). , 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. ]. Whilst the genus Rhus in this treatment is generally seen as having a non-toxic sap there are some suggestions that the sap of some species in the genus (including this one) can cause a skin rash in susceptible people.
Botanical Description
Rhus copallinum is a deciduous shrub usually growing up to 3 metres tall, though the plant can become more tree-like in the south of its range, sometimes reaching 9 metres with a bole up to 25cm in diameter and a broad, open-topped crown. The plant produces suckers at the roots and can form thickts that are capable of spreading outwards for a metre or more each year[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. , 876 Title The American Woods (in 14 volumes) Publication Author Hough R.B. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York Year 1888 - 1928 ISBN Description Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has also been used as a commercial source of tannins[ 1050 Title Fire Effects Information System Publication Author Website http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants ]. It can be grown in reforestation and soil stabilization projects and is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its autumn colour[ 277 Title Plants Database Publication Author Website http://plants.usda.gov/java/factSheet Publisher United States Department of Agriculture Year 0 ISBN Description An online database with an excellent collection of fact sheets about native N. American plants. ].