Rhus copallinum

{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox |image = Rhus copallinum.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref>BGCI. 2017. GlobalTreeSearch online database. Richmond, U.K. Available at: https://www.bgci.org/global_tree_search.php. (Accessed: August 2017).</ref> |status2 = G5 |status2_system = TNC |status2_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 - Rhus copallinum, Winged Sumac |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139641/Rhus_copallinum |website=explorer.natureserve.org |access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> |genus = Rhus |species = copallinum |authority = L. |synonyms = * ''Rhus copallina'' |subdivision_ranks = Varieties |subdivision = ''R. c. var. copallinum'' ''R. c. var. latifolia'' Engl. ''R. c. var. leucantha'' (Jacq.) DC. |range_map = Rhus copallinum range map 3.png |range_map_caption = Native range of ''Rhus copallinum'' var. ''copallinum'' (green) & var. ''latifolia'' (blue) }}

'''''Rhus copallinum''''', the '''winged sumac''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=RHCO|taxon=Rhus copallinum|accessdate=21 October 2015}}</ref> '''shining sumac''', '''dwarf sumac''' or '''flameleaf sumac''', is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae) that is native to eastern North America. It is a deciduous tree growing to {{convert|3.5|-|5.5|m|ft}} tall and an equal spread with a rounded crown. A 5-year-old sapling will stand about {{convert|2.5|m|ft}}. The name ''Rhus copallina'' is also used, but this is not consistent with the rules of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=art23 |title=CHAPTER III. Nomenclature of taxa according to their rank SECTION 4. Names of species Article 23 |publisher= International Association for Plant Taxonomy |access-date=2014-10-01 |quote=when it is a noun in apposition or a genitive noun, it retains its own gender and termination irrespective of the gender of the generic name. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Linne |title= Sp. pl. ed. 1, ed. 2; Syst. nat. ed. 10 |year= 1753 |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.669 |url= http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/LAZA/article/view/56609 }}</ref>

==Description==

Shining sumac is often cultivated, where it is well-suited to natural and informal landscapes because it has underground runners which spread to provide dense, shrubby cover for birds and wildlife.<ref name="wildland">{{cite web |editor1=John K. Francis |title=Wildland shrubs of the United States and its Territories: thamnic descriptions: volume 1 |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_series/iitf/iitf_gtr026.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=13 October 2018 |page=625 }}</ref> This species is valued for ornamental planting because of its lustrous dark green foliage which turns a brilliant orange-red in fall. The fall color display is frequently enjoyed along interstate highways, as the plant readily colonizes these and other disturbed sites.<ref name="wildland"/> The tiny, greenish-yellow flowers, borne in compact, terminal panicles, are followed by showy red clusters of berries which persist into the winter and attract wildlife.

The flowers are yellow, flowering in the summer. The fruit attracts birds with no significant litter problem, is persistent on the tree, and is showy.

The bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; branches droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; routinely grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks. The tree wants to grow with several trunks, but can be trained to grow with a single trunk. It has no thorns.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Its leaves are alternate<ref name=nctoolbox>{{cite web|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhus-copallinum/|title=''Rhus copallinum'' |website=North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|publisher=NC State Extension|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> and pinnately compound.<ref name=nctoolbox/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHCO|title=Plant Database: ''Rhus copallinum''|website=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center|publisher=The University of Texas at Austin|access-date=1 December 2023|author=TWC Staff|date=5 November 2015}}</ref> The leaflets are borne on alate rachis that give the plant one of its common names: "winged sumac".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgnv.org/plants/glossary/alate/|title=Illustrated Glossary: Alate|website=Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia |publisher=Virginia Cooperative Extension|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

== Taxonomy == ''Rhus copallinum'' belongs to the Anacardiaceae family.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=USDA Plants Database |url=https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=RHCO |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=plants.usda.gov}}</ref> This species was named by Carl Linnaeus in ''Species Plantarum''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WFO Plant List {{!}} World Flora Online |url=https://wfoplantlist.org/plant-list/taxon/wfo-0001049902-2023-06?page=1 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=wfoplantlist.org}}</ref> There are multiple recognized subspecies of ''Rhus copallium'' including ''Rhus copallinum'' L. var. ''copallinum'', ''Rhus copallinum'' L. var. ''latifolia'' Engl., ''Rhus copallinum'' var. ''lanceolata'' Gray and ''Rhus copallinum'' L. var. leucantha (Jacq.) DC.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="wildland" /> The lecotype is located in the British Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rhus copallinum {{!}} International Plant Names Index |url=https://www.ipni.org/n/219750-2 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.ipni.org}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat == ''Rhus copallinum'' extends from the Coastal Plain of Florida to Ontario, Canada.<ref name=":07">{{Cite report |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/iitf-gtr-26 |title=Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: Thamnic descriptions, Volume 1 |last=Francis |first=John K. |date=2004 |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry |location=San Juan, PR}}</ref> ''Rhus copallinum'' extends as far west as Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Kansas.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=USDA Plants Database |url=https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=RHCO |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=plants.usda.gov}}</ref> (The ''R. copallinum'' var. ''lanceolata'' is also found in parts of Mexico.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=R. S. C. |date=August 1977 |title=Reviewed Work: ''Atlas of United States Trees, Vol. 3: Minor Western Hardwoods'' Elbert L. Little, Jr. |journal=Taxon |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=462 |doi=10.2307/1220056 |issn=0040-0262}}</ref>) This species is found in many different ecosystems such as Longleaf-slash pine, Loblolly- shortleaf pine, Oak-pine, Oak-hickory, and Oak-gum-cypress.<ref name=":37">{{Cite web |title=Rhus copallinum |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/rhucop/all.html#DISTRIBUTION%20AND%20OCCURRENCE |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.fs.usda.gov}}</ref> ''R. copallinum'' is found in many plant associations, but does not indicate the presence of a specific habitat.<ref name=":37"/> This species grows best in full sunlight and well-drained soils, but is resistant to the effects of pollution, drought, heavy pruning, compacted soil, and transplanting.<ref name=":07"/> Additionally, once established, it is difficult to remove from an area. It is also known to be in competition with young pines and other hardwoods in multiple habitats.<ref name=":07"/>

==Cultivation and uses==

The tree can be planted in a container or above-ground planter. It has been recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway, as well as for land reclamation. ''Rhus copallinum'' can tolerate exposure to salt spray in maritime forests and coastal grasslands; it can grow in serpentine soil and shallow, rocky soil.<ref name=nydec>{{cite web|url=https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/71275.html |title=Tree and Shrub Descriptions for State Nursery-Raised Seedlings |publisher=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=25 October 2020}}</ref> ''Rhus copallinum'' tolerates soil pH ranging from 5.3 to 7.5, requires between 28 and 60 millimeters of water, and can survive a minimum temperature of -28 °F.<ref name=":22"/> There are male and female ''Rhus copallium'' shrubs: both are needed for reproduction.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rhus copallinum (Dwarf Sumac, Flameleaf Sumac, Shining Sumac, Winged Sumac) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox |url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhus-copallinum/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=plants.ces.ncsu.edu}}</ref>

The tree grows in full sun or part shade.<ref name=nydec /> Soil tolerances include clay, loam, sand, slightly alkaline, acidic, and well-drained soil. Its drought tolerance is high.<ref>[http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/RHUCOPA.pdf "''Rhus copallina'' Shining Sumac" by Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Fact Sheet ST-568, October 1994]</ref>

The somewhat sour berrylike fruits are edible and rich in vitamin A.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Niering |first1=William A. |author-link1=William Niering| last2=Olmstead |first2=Nancy C. |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region |year=1985 |orig-year=1979|publisher=Knopf |isbn=0-394-50432-1 |page=324}}</ref> They are eaten by wildlife and can be made into a lemonade-like drink. Additionally, deer browse the twigs of the species.<ref>{{cite book|last=Little|first=Elbert L.|title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region|publisher=Knopf|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-394-50760-6|page=548}}</ref> The leaves make up part of the diets of captive Coquerel's sifakas (lemurs).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lemur.duke.edu/annual-sumac-harvest-for-sifakas-winter-diets/ |title=Annual sumac harvest for sifakas' winter diets |publisher=Duke University |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=25 October 2020}}</ref>

''Rhus copallinum'' also has many medicinal uses.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Winston |first=David |date=2005-08-01 |title=Herbal Voices: American Herbalism Through the Words of American Herbalists |journal=Economic Botany |volume=59 |issue=4 |pages=408–409 |doi=10.1663/0013-0001(2005)059[0408:dfabre]2.0.co;2 |issn=0013-0001}}</ref> The bark can be used to treat diarrhea and menorrhagia and also has a strong effect on the female hormonal system.<ref name=":4" /> It was often used to help with the symptoms of menopause. Additionally, tea made from the fruit and bark can be used externally to treat oozing sores, burns, and blisters.<ref name=":4" /> The berry tea is prepared by steeping 1 teaspoon of dried fruit with every 8 ounces of water used for 30 minutes. The bark tea uses a half teaspoon for every 8 ounces of water, requires a decoct of 15 minutes, and is then steeped for 1 hour.<ref name=":4" />

== Fruit == The fruit of ''Rhus copallinum'' was found to contain twelve compounds including a new galloyl derivative.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ma |first=Hang |last2=Yuan |first2=Tao |last3=González-Sarrías |first3=Antonio |last4=Li |first4=Liya |last5=Edmonds |first5=Maxwell E. |last6=Seeram |first6=Navindra P. |date=January 2012 |title=New Galloyl Derivative from Winged Sumac ( Rhus copallinum ) Fruit |journal=Natural Product Communications |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=1934578X1200700 |doi=10.1177/1934578X1200700116 |doi-access=free |issn=1934-578X}}</ref> The fruit are not good sources of protein, fat, or calcium, but contain large amounts of tannins.<ref name=":372">{{Cite web |title=Rhus copallinum |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/rhucop/all.html#DISTRIBUTION%20AND%20OCCURRENCE |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.fs.usda.gov}}</ref> Fruits were used by Native Americans to treat mouth sores and dysentery.<ref name=":07" /> Native Americans also added it to drinking water for the lemony taste.<ref name=":37" /> It was also made into a tea that was used to treat urinary tract infections, gingivitis, ulcerated mucous membranes, thrush, and apthous stomatata.<ref name=":4"/> ''Rhus copallinum'' fruits ripen between the autumn months of August and October and last through winter.<ref name=":07"/>

== Fire and germination == ''Rhus copallinum'' is adapted to fire and seed germination increases with the heat from fire.<ref>{{Cite report|last=Reinhardt |first=Elizabeth |date=2009 |title=Lubrecht State Experimental Forest Prescribed Fire Effects Study 1973-2006 |place=Fort Collins, CO |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station |doi=10.2737/rds-2009-0003 |doi-access=free |via=Forest Service Research Data Archive}}</ref><ref name=":37"/> Optimal germination of ''Rhus copallinum'' occurs at 90 °C.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bolin |first=Jay F. |date=2009 |title=Heat Shock Germination Responses of Three Eastern North American Temperate Species |jstor=27742894 |journal=Castanea |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=160–167 |issn=0008-7475}}</ref> Fire eliminates the aboveground parts of ''R. copallinum'' allowing the root canals to be stimulated to increase stem production.<ref name=":37" /> The presence of burning also affects the leaf symmetry of ''Rhus copallinum''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Freeman |first=D. Carl |last2=Brown |first2=Michelle L. |last3=Duda |first3=Jeffrey J. |last4=Graham |first4=John H. |last5=Emlen |first5=John M. |last6=Krzysik |first6=Anthony J. |last7=Balbach |first7=Harold |last8=Kovacic |first8=Dave A. |last9=Zak |first9=John C. |date=January 2004 |title=Developmental Instability in ''Rhus copallinum'' L.: Multiple Stressors, Years, and Responses |journal=International Journal of Plant Sciences |language=en |volume=165 |issue=1 |pages=53–63 |doi=10.1086/380986 |issn=1058-5893}}</ref> The seeds have also been known to germinate at high rates (75%) when soaked in sulfuric acid at room temperature.<ref name=":07"/>

== Conservation status == The conservation status of ''Rhus copallinum'' is secure in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina. It is apparently secure in Ontario, Canada. There is no status rank available for the rest of the eastern seaboard and it is presumed to be possibly extirpated in Iowa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.139641/Rhus_copallinum |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=explorer.natureserve.org}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons|Rhus copallinum}} *[http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu/tsn/504754 Bioimages: ''Rhus copallinum''] *[http://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile?symbol=RHCO USDA Plants profile for ''Rhus copallinum'' (winged sumac)]

copallina Category:Trees of Cuba Category:Trees of Northern America Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus