Anacardiaceae FAMILY

Rhus integrifolia

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The genus Rhus is being treated in its strict sense here, so it excludes the many species with highly toxic and irritant sap (these are included in Toxicodendron). Although the two genera are very similar, it is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species (Toxicodendron) have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species (Rhus) have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). , 4 Title A Modern Herbal. Publication Author Grieve. Publisher Penguin Year 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 Description Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants. ]. Whilst the genus Rhus in this treatment is generally seen as having a non-toxic sap there are some suggestions that the sap of some species in the genus (including this one) can cause a skin rash in susceptible people.

Botanical Description

Rhus integrifolia is usually an evergreen shrub, forming an impenetrable thicket of growth perhaps 2 - 5 metres tall. It sometimes becomes more tree-like, growing up to 10 metres tall with a short, thick trunk perhaps 60 - 90cm in diameter beneath a wide crown of straggling branches that often recline upon the ground and form roots[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 876 Title The American Woods (in 14 volumes) Publication Author Hough R.B. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York Year 1888 - 1928 ISBN Description Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a source of materials. A very ornamental plant, especially when in flower and, later, in fruit[ 876 Title The American Woods (in 14 volumes) Publication Author Hough R.B. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Romeyn B. Hough Co.; New York Year 1888 - 1928 ISBN Description Detailed information, with photographs, of the woods of almost 400 species of American trees. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-western N. America - California, northern Mexico (Baja Norte)

HabitatOcean bluffs, canyons and dry places below 800 metres[ 71 Title A California Flora. Publication Author Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. Publisher University of California Press; Los Angeles Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader. ], in sandy sterile soil[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. Often forming close, impenetrable thickets[ 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ].