Chinese gall, Chinese sumac, Nutgall tree
Rhus chinensis

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2-4 m high. Its shoots are downy. The branches have spines. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 40 cm long. There are 7-13 leaflets on a stalk. The leaflets are about 5-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The leaves turn red in autumn. The flowers are white. They are in cone shaped clusters. The fruit are round. They are bright orange-red.

There are about 200 Rhus species. It is also used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows on forested hilly areas. In Borneo it grows up to 2,800 m above sea level. In Sikkim it grows between 600-1,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (country/location of origin), Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tasmania, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to make soup. They are very sour. The fruit are boiled and used in pickles. They are also boiled with sugar and used as a drink. The fruit are also used as a substitute for rennet in preparation of curd. The pounded seeds are added to foods as a spice and in chilli sauce. The seeds are used in chutney. The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled with rice.

The leaves are sold in markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit - flavouring, leaves, flowers, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aomah, Arkhoi, Arkhur, Bakimlo, Bhagm ili, Bhaimlo, Bhaki amilo, Bhakimlo, Bokumba, Cha-mar-gyi, Chechar, Dasmila, Da-trig, Dharmil, Dieng-soh-ma, Dieng-soh-sma, Dudhe bhalayo, Dudla, Emoshi, Ga fa biu, Gambao, Gayu, Gimbao, Guomapuo, Ha da da xiu, Heimang, Hulug, Isewa, Kemeu, Khawm-hma, Khitma, Khokma, Khongna, Khongma, Kitma, Mahada, Mak somfot, Metqha, Moushi, Naga tenga, Naga-tenga, Nutgalltree, Oksaremp, Omosii, Opahpe, Osreksi, Po, Rashtu, Rushi, Sheng bao che, Siqmavq, Soh-ma, Sohsama, Solmluh, Som fod, Tagmo, Takhrit, Tamo, Tamushe, Tatri, Tetri, Thaksing, Thangkaerkung, Thissa, Tibi sing, Tibri, Tibru, Tsakshing, Tsomhu, Wansh, Xiema, Xima, Yaseba

Synonyms

Rhus javanica auct.; Rhus osbeckii Decaisne ex Steudal; Rhus semialata Murray; Schinus indicus N. L. Burman.;