Rhus typhina in Genus Rhus

Details Top

Internal ID	UUID643ff8ab882b0238002966
Scientific name	Rhus typhina
Authority	L.
First published in	Cent. Pl. II : 14 (1756)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

Write a new one!

No ethnobotanical data added yet. Help us by writing one.

General Uses Top

Suggest a correction!

Common products:
- The fruit (drupe) is harvested for fresh consumption as a beverage ingredient and for drying and grinding into a seasoning.
- The bark and leaves are harvested for tannin extraction, used in leather processing and as natural dyes.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- Fresh berries are steeped in cold water for 2–4 hours, optionally sweetened with sugar or honey and flavored with mint, then strained to produce a tart, non‑alcoholic drink commonly called “sumac‑ade”.
- The dried berries are ground into a fine powder and used as a souring seasoning on salads, grilled meats, rice, and other dishes.
- The powder can also be incorporated into spice blends for Mediterranean, Middle‑Eastern and North‑American cuisines.

Colorants and tanning:
- Bark and leaves contain high concentrations of tannins, historically used in vegetable‑tanned leather production; the tannin bath gives hides a brown‑reddish hue.
- Fruit extracts rich in anthocyanins provide natural red‑purple dyes for protein fibers such as wool and silk; the dye bath is typically applied after an alum mordant.
- The resulting colours are light‑fast under acidic conditions and have been employed in craft textile work.

Industrial and craft applications:
- Natural‑dye extracts from the fruit are used in small‑scale textile dyeing and in the preparation of natural inks for calligraphy and illustration.
- Tannin extracts from bark function as mordants that improve colour fastness of natural dyes and as a component in ink formulations.
- These extracts are employed by artisans and small‑scale natural‑dye workshops.

Properties relevant to use:
- The fruit’s high malic‑acid content contributes the characteristic sour taste that makes the beverage and spice desirable.
- Tannins present in bark and leaves are primarily condensed proanthocyanidins, providing strong protein‑binding capacity suitable for leather tanning.
- Anthocyanin pigments (e.g., cyanidin‑3‑glucoside) are stable in acidic media, allowing durable colour development in textile dyeing.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Rhus typhina is a common, clonal shrub that propagates readily by root suckers and tolerates a variety of soils, including disturbed sites.
- Selective, rotational harvesting of berries and bark can be performed without depleting local populations, supporting sustainable non‑timber forest product extraction.
- The species is assessed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, indicating no immediate conservation concerns related to its non‑medicinal uses.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Rhus canadensis	Mill.	Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 5 (1768)
Rhus hirta	(L.) Sudw.	Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 19: 81 (1892)
Rhus hypselodendrum	Moench	Methodus : 73 (1794)
Rhus viridiflora	Duhamel	Traité Arbr. Arbust. , nouv. ed., 2: 163 (1804)
Toxicodendron typhinum	Kuntze	Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 154 (1891)
Schmaltzia hirta	(L.) Small	Fl. S.E. U.S. : 729 (1903)
Rhus typhina f. dissecta	Rehder	Rhodora 9: 115 (1907)
Rhus hirta f. dissecta	(Rehder) Reveal	Taxon 40: 491 (1991)
Rhus typhina var. laciniata	Alph.Wood	Class-book Bot., ed. 2. 203. 1847
Rhus gracilis	hort. ex Engl.	Monogr. Phan. [A.DC. & C.DC.] 4: 377 (1883)
Rhus filicifolia	Demcker	Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 1909: 325, 327 (1909)
Rhus virginiana	Garsault	Fig. Pl. Med. 4: t. 493. 1764, nom. inval., opus utique oppressum; Descr. Pl. Anim. 293. 1767; Thell. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. Ser. II. viil. 904
Datisca hirta	L.	Sp. Pl. : 1037 (1753)
Rhus typhia	Crantz	Inst. Rei Herb. 2: 275 (1766)
Rhus hirta f. typhina	(L.) Reveal	Taxon 40(3): 491 (1991): (1991)
Rhus hirta var. dissecta	(Rehder) Nash	Addisonia 1: 73, pl. 37 (1916)
Rhus hirta var. laciniata	C.K.Schneid.	Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. [C.K.Schneider] 2: 154 (1907)
Rhus hirta var. typhina	(L.) Farw.	Rep. (Annual) Michigan Acad. Sci. 15: 180 (1913)
Rhus typhina var. arborescens	Willd.	Enum. Pl. [Willdenow] 323 (1809)
Rhus typhina var. filicifolia	Demcker	Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 1909: 325 (1909)
Rhus typhina var. filicina	Sprenger	Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 1907: 67 (1907)
Rhus typhina var. frutescens	Willd.	Enum. Pl. [Willdenow] 323 (1809)
Rhus typhina f. laciniata	(Alph.Wood) Rehder	Rhodora 9(no. 103): 115. 1907 [12 Aug 1907]
Rhus americana	Dippel	Handb. Laubholzk. ii. (1892) 367

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	staghorn sumac
Arabic	سماق قرني
Azerbaijani	maralbuynuz sumaq
Belarusian	сумах пушысты
Belarusian	Сумах кароткавалосы
Belarusian	Сумах воцатны
Belarusian	воцатнае дрэва
Belarusian	Сумах аленярогі
Bulgarian	Влакнест шмак
Catalan	sumac de virginie
Czech	škumpa orobincová
Welsh	siwmac
Danish	hjortetaktræ
German	essigbaum
German	kolben-sumach
German	hirschkolben-sumach
German	sumac de virginie
Estonian	harilik sumahh
Persian	سماق آمریکایی
Finnish	samettisumakki
French	sumac de virginie
French	sumac amarante
French	sumac vinaigrier
Croatian	kiseli ruj
Upper Sorbian	kisałowc
Upper Sorbian	kisałowy sumak
Hungarian	ecetfa
Hungarian	ecetszömörce
Hungarian	torzsás szömörce
Japanese	ルス・ティフィナ
Georgian	ძმრის ხე
Lithuanian	rūgštusis žagrenis
Lithuanian	sumac de virginie
Latvian	etiķkoks
Norwegian Bokmål	hjortesumak
Dutch	azijnboom
Dutch	fluweelboom
Polish	sumak odurzający
Polish	sumak octowiec
Romanian	oțetar roșu
Russian	Сумах оленерогий
Russian	Сумах пушистый
Russian	Сумах уксусный
Russian	Сумах коротковолосый
Russian	уксусное дерево
Slovak	sumach pálkový
Slovenian	navadni octovec
Slovenian	octovec
Serbian	Кисели руј
Swedish	sumac de virginie
Swedish	fliksumak
Swedish	rönnsumak
Chinese	火炬漆
Chinese	火炬树
Chinese	火炬樹

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Asia-temperate click to expand
- China
  - China North-central
  - Inner Mongolia
- Middle Asia
  - Kazakhstan

Europe click to expand
- Eastern Europe
  - South European Russia
- Middle Europe
  - Austria
  - Czechoslovakia
  - Germany
  - Hungary
  - Poland
  - Switzerland
- Northern Europe
  - Great Britain
- Southeastern Europe
  - Bulgaria
  - Italy
  - Romania
  - Yugoslavia
- Southwestern Europe
  - France
  - Spain

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - New Brunswick
  - Newfoundland
  - Nova Scotia
  - Ontario
  - Prince Edward Island
  - Québec
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - South Dakota
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - Michigan
  - New Hampshire
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Colorado
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - Delaware
  - District Of Columbia
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - South Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - Utah

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000403060
UNII	Y465D8AABT
Flora of Alabama	305
Cornell Woody Plants	219
Canadensys	2521
USDA Plants	RHTY
UConn	428
Tropicos	1300264
INPN	117723
Flora of Italy	3028
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:70939-1
The Plant List	kew-2423458
Missouri Botanical Garden	275945
Open Tree Of Life	1010430
Observations.org	7313
NCBI Taxonomy	255348
NBN Atlas	NBNSYS0000042194
Nature Serve	2.135152
IUCN Red List	61984086
IPNI	70939-1
iNaturalist	167829
GBIF	3190538
Freebase	/m/08ynpg
WisFlora	13263
FEIS	plants/tree/rhutyp
EPPO	RHUTY
EOL	485569
Elurikkus	6832
USDA GRIN	31720
Wikipedia	Rhus_typhina
Plantarium	31882

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.

Accession	Assembly
Accession	Name	Level	Submitter	Released	Coverage	Size
GCA_057128115.1	ASM5712811v1	Chromosome	Shanxi University	2026-04-30	42	318.51 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Competition mode and soil nutrient status shape the role of soil microbes in the diversity–invasibility relationship

Li H, Hu X, Geng X, Xiao B, Miao W, Xu Z, Deng Y, Jiang B, Hou Y

Ecol Evol

14-May-2024

PMCID:	PMC11091549
doi:	10.1002/ece3.11425
PMID:	38746546

A modified CTAB method for the extraction of high-quality RNA from mono-and dicotyledonous plants rich in secondary metabolites

Kiss T, Karácsony Z, Gomba-Tóth A, Szabadi KL, Spitzmüller Z, Hegyi-Kaló J, Cels T, Otto M, Golen R, Hegyi ÁI, Geml J, Váczy KZ

Plant Methods

04-May-2024

PMCID:	PMC11069240
doi:	10.1186/s13007-024-01198-z
PMID:	38704591

The shikimate pathway: gateway to metabolic diversity

Shende VV, Bauman KD, Moore BS

Nat Prod Rep

24-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11043010
doi:	10.1039/d3np00037k
PMID:	38170905

Beneficial Effects of Castanea sativa Wood Extract on the Human Body and Possible Food and Pharmaceutical Applications

Žitek Makoter T, Tancer Verboten M, Mirt I, Zupančić K, Cör Andrejč D, Knez Ž, Knez Marevci M

Plants (Basel)

22-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC11013190
doi:	10.3390/plants13070914
PMID:	38611444

Microfungi Associated with Peach Branch Diseases in China

Zhou Y, Manawasinghe IS, He Z, Zhang W, Liu M, Song J, Li S, Fan Z, Yan J

J Fungi (Basel)

15-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10971364
doi:	10.3390/jof10030217
PMID:	38535225

Long‐term effects of a tornado: Impacts on woody native vegetation and invasive Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) in an urban forest

Culley TM, Bécus MS, Cameron GN

Ecol Evol

11-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC10927907
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10890
PMID:	38476700

Development and application of an inexpensive open-source dendrometer for detecting xylem water potential and radial stem growth at high spatial and temporal resolution

Gleason SM, Stewart JJ, Allen B, Polutchko SK, McMahon J, Spitzer D, Barnard DM

AoB Plants

28-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10953470
doi:	10.1093/aobpla/plae009
PMID:	38510929

Phytochemical variations antioxidant, and antibacterial activities among zebaria sumac (Rhus coriaria var. zebaria) populations in Iraq

Shahrivari S, Zeebaree SM, Alizadeh-Salteh S, Feizy HS, Morshedloo MR

Sci Rep

27-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10899646
doi:	10.1038/s41598-024-53635-7
PMID:	38413642

Antibacterial Activity of Plant Polyphenols Belonging to the Tannins against Streptococcus mutans—Potential against Dental Caries

Czerkas K, Olchowik-Grabarek E, Łomanowska M, Abdulladjanova N, Sękowski S

Molecules

16-Feb-2024

PMCID:	PMC10892310
doi:	10.3390/molecules29040879
PMID:	38398630

Dynamics of the natural enemy community of Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Dandong, China

Zhang X, Yang L, Chen C, Shi J, Zhang Y, Sun S

J Insect Sci

28-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10684046
doi:	10.1093/jisesa/iead105
PMID:	38016005

Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae race 1 and 4 via race-specific real-time PCR and target enrichment

Mestdagh H, Van Poucke K, Haegeman A, Dockx T, Vandevelde I, Dendauw E, Decombel A, Höfte M, Heungens K

Front Plant Sci

23-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10701524
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2023.1272136
PMID:	38078084

Plant traits associated with seed dispersal by ducks and geese in urban and natural habitats

Tóth P, Green AJ, Wilkinson DM, Brides K, Lovas‐Kiss Á

Ecol Evol

22-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10663722
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10677
PMID:	38020707

Commodity risk assessment of Quercus petraea plants from the UK

Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P

EFSA J

30-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10613939
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8313
PMID:	37908445

Commodity risk assessment of Quercus robur plants from the UK

Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P

EFSA J

30-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10613938
doi:	10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8314
PMID:	37908449

Plant-Associated Neoscytalidium dimidiatum—Taxonomy, Host Range, Epidemiology, Virulence, and Management Strategies: A Comprehensive Review

Derviş S, Özer G

J Fungi (Basel)

26-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10672476
doi:	10.3390/jof9111048
PMID:	37998855

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!

Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid	370	Click to see	170.12	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2004.08.020 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568650
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters
Methyl Gallate	7428	Click to see	184.15	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00568650
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(1S,2S,5R,6R,7R,10R,13R,14R,17R,19S)-7-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-10,13,14,18,18-pentamethyl-20-oxahexacyclo[17.2.2.01,17.02,14.05,13.06,10]tricosan-19-ol	162911729	Click to see	458.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00398-7
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Diarylheptanoids / Linear diarylheptanoids
Heptagalloylglucose	129636907	Click to see	1244.90	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(90)90678-R
Hexagalloylglucose	129630523	Click to see	1092.80	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(90)90678-R
Octagalloylglucose	54085664	Click to see	1397.00	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(90)90678-R
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Catechin gallates
(-)-Epicatechin gallate	107905	Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O	442.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00633406
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols
3,7,3',4'-Tetrahydroxyflavanone	246330	Click to see	288.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1038/EMM.2007.35 https://doi.org/10.1007/S12275-012-2068-7
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins
.beta-Penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose	374874	Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)O)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O	940.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00300-4
beta-Glucogallin	124021	Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C(=O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O	332.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00300-4
Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose	65238	Click to see	940.70	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00300-4

Gallery Top

We don't have an image yet. Upload an image!

Contributors Top

No known contributors. Be the first!

Collections Top

In private collections	0
In public collections	0

You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.

Rhus typhina

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top