Rhus glabra

Rhus glabra

Smooth sumach or white sumac, upland sumac, scarlet sumac (Rhus glabra L.) is a shrub species belonging to the Anacardiaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Rosidae,
Sapindales Order,
Anacardiaceae family,
Genus Rhus,
R. glabra species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Rhus albida Greene;
– Rhus angustiarum Lunell;
– Rhus aprica Greene;
– Rhus arbuscula Greene;
– Rhus arguta Greene;
– Rhus asplenifolia Greene;
– Rhus atrovirens Greene;
– Rhus auriculata Greene;
– Rhus borealis (Britton) Greene;
– Rhus calophylla Greene;
– Rhus carolinense Marshall;
– Rhus carolinensis Marshall;
– Rhus caroliniana Mill.;
– Rhus cismontana Greene:
– Rhus cismontana var. flavescens D.M.Andrews;
– Rhus coccinea Dippel;
– Rhus elegans Aiton;
– Rhus elegans var. glauca Demcker;
– Rhus elegans var. superba Demcker;
– Rhus elegantula Greene;
– Rhus glabra f. abludens Moldenke;
– Rhus glabra f. flavescens (D.M.Andrews) Rehder;
– Rhus glabra f. glabra;
– Rhus glabra f. laciniata (Carrière) B.L.Rob.;
– Rhus glabra var. borealis Britton;
– Rhus glabra var. cismontana (Greene) Cockerell;
– Rhus glabra var. cismontana (Greene) Rehder;
– Rhus glabra var. coccinea Pursh;
– Rhus glabra var. dioica DC.;
– Rhus glabra var. elegans (Aiton) Engl.;
– Rhus glabra var. glabra;
– Rhus glabra var. hermaphrodita DC.;
– Rhus glabra var. laciniata Carrière;
– Rhus glabra var. occidentalis Torr.;
– Rhus glabra var. sandbergii Vasey;
– Rhus hapemanii Lunell;
– Rhus ithacensis Greene;
– Rhus laevicaulis Torr.;
– Rhus laevicaulis Torr. ex A.Gray;
– Rhus longula Greene;
– Rhus ludoviciana Greene;
– Rhus macrothyrsa Goodd.;
– Rhus media Greene;
– Rhus nitens Greene;
– Rhus occidentalis (Torr.) Blank.;
– Rhus oreophila Greene;
– Rhus petiolata Greene;
– Rhus pulchella Greene;
– Rhus pyramidata Greene;
– Rhus sambucina Greene;
– Rhus sandbergii Greene;
– Rhus sanguinea hort.;
– Rhus sanguinea hort. ex Dippel;
– Rhus sorbifolia Greene;
– Rhus tessellata Greene;
– Rhus valida Greene;
– Rhus viridiflora hort.;
– Rhus viridiflora hort. ex Engl.;
– Schmaltzia glabra (L.) Small;
– Schmalzia glabra (L.) Small;
– Toxicodendron glabrum (L.) Kuntze;
– Toxicodendron glabrum (L.) Mill.;
– Turpinia glabra (L.) Raf..

Etymology –
The term Rhus comes from the Celtic red rhudd: reference to the color of infructescences.
The specific hairless epithet comes from glabrous, hairless glăbĕr: bald, hairless.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Smooth sumac is a plant native to North America, found from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and from south to north Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.
Its habitat is that of thickets and wastelands on dry soil and along waterways, although the most luxuriant specimens are found in rich and humid soils in areas with open woods, grasslands, on dry rocky slopes and in canyons.

Description –
Rhus glabra is a deciduous shrub with open and sparse fronds that grows up to 3 m in height, rarely up to 5 m. The bark on older wood is smooth and gray to brown in color.
It has alternate leaves, 30–50 cm long, composed of 11–31 paired opposite leaflets, each 5–11 cm long, with a serrated margin. The leaves turn scarlet in the fall.
The flowers are tiny, green in color, produced in dense erect panicles 10-25 cm tall; the buds are small, covered with brown hair and carried on fat and hairless twigs.
The antesis is in the spring period.
The fruits are crimson berries, are rather small and have a flattened globe shape, about 4 mm long, have very little pulp and are covered with red and sticky hairs; they are collected in large panicles which remain throughout the winter.
In late summer, it sometimes forms galls on the underside of leaves, caused by the sumac leaf aphid parasite, Melaphis rhois. The galls are not harmful to the tree.

Cultivation –
Smooth sumac is a plant that produces root suckers from a dense and shallow root system that can spread aggressively and become a weed, even forming dense thickets.
It is a plant with many uses and which is harvested in its natural state as a food, medicine and source of materials.
This plant can be used as a pioneer to restore native woodlands, in soil stabilization projects, as a protection belt plantation and is often also cultivated as an ornamental, especially appreciated for its autumn leaf coloring.
For its cultivation it should be remembered that it is a very resistant plant to cold, when it is in a state of dormancy, and can tolerate temperatures down to at least -25 ° C, especially if the wood has completely matured after a hot summer.
Instead, it fears late frosts especially for the part relating to new shoots.
This plant grows in most well-drained moderately fertile soils but grows best in full sun, although it tolerates light shade.
It tolerates poor sandy soils and slightly saline conditions, and the established plants are very resistant to drought.
It is a fast-growing but short-lived plant.
Very ornamental plant, there are some named varieties.
Rhus glabra is closely related to Rhus typhina, hybridizing with this species in the areas where they grow together.
The plant usually sprouts freely from the rhizomes if the upper vegetation is cut or burned by the fire.
It is a dioecious species – both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seeds are needed.
Propagation can occur by seed. The seed should be sown immediately after ripening; it is advisable to soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water (starting at a temperature of 80 – 90 ° C and letting it cool) before sowing to leach any germination inhibitors.
This soaking water can be drunk and has a delicious lemon flavor. The stored seed also needs warm water treatment and can be sown in early spring in an unheated seedbed.
The young seedlings are then placed in single pots for the first winter and transplanted in late spring or early summer, after the last foreseen frosts.
Propagation can take place through semi-mature wood cuttings, about 10 cm long and placed to root in the mid-summer period in a shady place.
You can also prepare 4 cm long root cuttings, taken in December, and potted vertically in a greenhouse.

Customs and Traditions –
Native Americans ate the young shoots of Rhus glabra as a salad.
The fruit is acidic and contains a large seed, but can be chewed (to relieve thirst) and made into a lemonade-like drink.
Deer go in search of twigs and fruit.
In 2020, archaeologists unearthed a pipe at a dig in central Washington state, showing chemical evidence that a Native American tribe had smoked Rhus glabra alone or in a mixture with tobacco, possibly “for its medicinal qualities and to improve the taste of the smoke “.
Both raw and cooked fruits are consumed for edible use.
They taste sour and have been used as a substitute for lemon juice. If these are immersed for 10 – 30 minutes in hot or cold water, they produce a very refreshing drink similar to lemonade (without fizz of course). The mixture should not be boiled as this will release tannic acids and make the drink astringent.
The peeled root can be consumed and eaten raw but, in this regard, a certain caution is reported due to the possible toxicity.
Young shoots peeled and eaten raw can also be eaten and also in this case a certain caution should be used due to the possible toxicity.
The bark has also been eaten and is very popular with children; however caution is advised as above.
In medicinal use, Rhus glabra has been used by various native Indian tribes of North America who used it to treat a variety of ailments.
It is also occasionally used in modern herbal medicine where it is used for its astringent and antiseptic qualities. Some caution should be employed in the use of this species as it can cause skin irritation. It is best to use it only under the supervision of a qualified doctor or professional.
From the bark of the plant or the root a tea is obtained which is alterative, antiseptic, astringent, galactogogue, hemostatic, rubefacient and tonic.
This is used in the treatment of diarrhea, fevers, general weakness, sore mouth, rectal bleeding, uterine prolapse, etc.
It is also used for gargling to treat sore throats and is applied externally to treat excessive vaginal discharge, burns and rashes.
Powdered bark can be applied as a poultice on old ulcers, it is a good antiseptic.
The tea obtained from the roots is also an appetizer, astringent, diuretic and emetic.
An infusion is also used which is used in the treatment of colds, sore throats, painful urination, urine retention and dysentery.
An infusion of the green or dry branches has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
A decoction of the branches, with the heads of the seeds, was used to treat itchy scalp and as a bath water for frozen limbs.
The latex of the plant was used as an ointment on the sores.
A tea made from the leaves was once used in the treatment of asthma, diarrhea and stomatitis.
A poultice made from the leaves was used to treat the rashes.
The leaves were chewed to heal sore gums and rubbed into the lips to heal sore lips.
The berries are diuretic, emetic, emmenagogues, purgatives and refrigerants; these are used in the treatment of senile diabetes, strange intestinal disorders, febrile diseases, dysmenorrhea, etc. they are chewed as a remedy for bedwetting.
The flowers were chewed to treat a sore mouth.
A flower decoction was used as a mouthwash for teething babies.
An infusion of flowers was used as an eye drop for sore eyes.
The plant (part unspecified) is used in homeopathic remedies to treat conditions such as epistaxis and occipital headache, fetid flatulence and mouth ulcerations.
Among other uses are those agroforestry.
The plant has a large root system and is quite wind tolerant, although the branches can be broken in very strong winds. It is planted for soil stabilization on slopes and road edges, and is also used as a shelter.
It can quickly establish itself in open and sunny places and therefore it can be used as a pioneer species for the creation of woods; moreover, the flowers are a good food for bees.
Among other uses, it should be remembered that the leaves are rich in tannin, containing about 10 – 25% and in some plants this content reaches up to 31.2%.
The twigs and the root are also rich in tannin.
A black and a red dye is obtained from the fruit.
A black dye is obtained from the leaves, bark and roots.
An orange or yellow dye is obtained from the roots harvested in spring.
A light yellow dye is obtained from the pulp of the stems.
The inner bark, mixed with bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and the inner bark of wild plum (Prunus sp.) Was used to produce a yellow dye.
An extract from the bark is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner.
An extract from the bark, roots and berries is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an astringent, antiseborrheic and skin conditioner.
An oil is extracted from the seeds which reaches a consistency similar to tallow and is used to make candles. These burn brightly, even if they emit a pungent smoke.
Wood is soft, light and brittle.
From the ecological point of view, Rhus glabra is a plant with a very wide distribution, a large population, currently it is not undergoing any important threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Preparation Method –
Smooth sumac is used for many purposes; from food to medicines, cosmetics, for the preparation of dyes and other multiple uses.
The roots are harvested in the fall and dried for later use.
The leaves can be harvested as they fall in the fall and used as a brown dye or as a mordant.
Both raw and cooked fruits are consumed.
A series of infusions for both medicinal and food purposes are obtained from the leaves, bark and branches.
Flowers are also used in both food and medicine.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
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Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.