Dwarf Sumach, Winged sumac
Schmaltzia copallinum

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is deciduous. It grows 8 m high. The bark is dark grey and thinly scaly. The leaves are alternate and compound. There are 5-11 leaflets on a winged central stalk. This stalk is 10-20 cm long. The leaflets are shiny above and hairy underneath. The leaflets are 10 cm long by 2 cm wide. In autumn the leaves turn a brilliant clear red. The flowers are small and yellowish in dense cone shaped clusters. The fruit are red and hairy. They occur in large clusters at the ends of branches.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It is a native of North America. It grows on sandy soils and rocky outcrops. It tolerates heavy alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, Central America, Cuba, Indonesia, North America (country/location of origin), Pakistan, SE Asia, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to produce a drink.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Black sumac, Flameleaf sumac, Mountain sumac, Pohon sumak amerika, Shining sumac, Winged sumac

Synonyms

Rhus copallinum L.; Sumacus copallina (L.) Raf.; Toxicodendron copallinum (L.) Kuntze; Rhus copallinum var. latifolia Engl.;