Rhus Linnaeus. Subfamily: Anacardioideae. Common name: Sumac.

Key to Rhus

A genus of about 35 species, trees, shrubs, and lianas, temperate and subtropical, of Eurasia, Hawaii, North America, and n. Central America. The subgenera and sections follow Andrés-Hernández et al. (2014). There is some merit to the idea that Rhus should be split into two or more genera, including in our area Rhus s.s. and Lobadium.

Key advice:Two hybrids have been documented to occur naturally in our area: Rhus ×borealis Greene (Rhus glabra × typhina) and Rhus ×ashei (Small) Greene (Rhus glabra × michauxii). They are intermediate between their parents. For instance, Rhus ×ashei has sparsely pubescent leaves and stems, slight winging of the rachis between the terminal leaflets, greater potential stature than R. michauxii, and leaflets with a length/width ratio of 2.5-3. Hardin & Phillips (1985b) discuss other natural and artificial hybrids in Rhus.

References: Andrés-Hernández et al. (2014); Barkley (1937); Greene (1905); Hardin & Phillips (1985a); Miller, Young, & Wen (2001); Mitchell & Pell (2019) In Naczi & collaborators (2019); Moffett (2007); Pell et al. In Kubitzki (2011); Pell, Mitchell, & Miller (2024) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2024); Yi, Miller, & Wen (2007). Show full citations.

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