Sumach, Elm-leaved sumach
Rhus coriaria
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-3 m tall. The leaves are dark green and somewhat like fronds. The tree loses its leaves during the year. The fruit are red berries. The flowers are in dense bunches or small white flowers. The fruit are tightly bunched in cone shaped clusters. These are 8-10 cm long and 2 cm across at the widest point near the base. Each berry is a little larger than a pepper corn. It is green and covered with a hairy layer. The berries ripen to a pinkish red.
There are about 200 Rhus species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows on mountainsides and open woodland. It is especially on limestone soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Britain, Caucasus, Central Asia, Cyprus, Europe, France, Georgia, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkistan, Uzbekistan, Western Asia
How it is used for food
The fruit are used to give a red colour to dishes. They are slightly sour. The fruit are dried and used whole or ground in sauces. The fruit are soaked in milk to make a drink. Immature fruit are used as a caper substitute. The crushed fruit along with Origanum syriacum are used in a common spice mixture in the Middle East. CAUTION: Many plants in the Rhus genus are poisonous.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Fruit, herb, spice, leaves, flowers, seeds
How it is grown
The berries are harvested and then dried in the sun for 2-3 days. They are then crushed to a powder.
Its other names
Local names
Eksimik otu, Hamsifto, Himsiso, Sicilian Somak, Simak, Simaq, Sumach, Sumak, Summak, Summaq, Summaq-trsh, Tanner's sumach, Tartak, Tatum