Lacquer tree, Varnish tree
Rhus verniciflua

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

An upright tree. It grows to 14 m high. The crown is open and domed. The bark cracks into long vertical cracks. The leaves are large and alternate. Each leaf is made up of several leaflets in pairs along the stalk. These leaflets have stalks. The flowers are small and yellowish. They are produced in branching spikes. The fruit are green and poisonous. They ripen to pale cream.

There are about 200 Rhus species. The sap is used as varnish.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, India

How it is used for food

CAUTION The sap can cause a rash in some people.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Loščevec, Qishu, Qishuya

Synonyms

Rhus vernicifera DC. in part; Rhus succedanea var. himalaica Hook.f.;