Anacardiaceae FAMILY

Rhus aromatica

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

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 Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).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 aromatica is a straggling to upright deciduous shrub, rarely becoming more tree-like; it usually grows 50 - 200cm tall, sometimes reaching 250cm. Suckering at the roots, the plant can form dense thickets 3 metres or more across[ 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. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as a ground cover, soil stabilizer and to rehabilitate disturbed sites, and is also grown as an ornamental, where it is valued especially for its autumn colouring[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - Ontario to Quebec, south to Texas and Florida.

HabitatDry rocks, sands and open woods[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ], often on limestone outcrops[ 149 Title Trees of Central Texas. Publication Author Vines. R. A. Publisher University of Texas Press Year 1987 ISBN 0-292-78958-3 Description A good concise guide, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas. ]. Found in a range of sites, including open rocky woodlands, valley bottoms, lower rocky slopes, and roadsides[ 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. ].