SUMACH (OF. sumac, sumach, Fr. sumac, som mac, sumach, from Ar. su m mug, sumach, from smarm, to come of good stock), Rhus,. A genus of about 100 species of shrubs and small trees of the natural order Anacardiacee, dis tributed over almost all the world, except its coldest regions. The following species are of commercial importance: Venetian sumach (Rhus Cotinus), known also as wig sumach or wig tree, is a native of Southern Europe and Western Asia, and is often planted under the name smoke tree as an ornamental shrub. It has simple leaves and hairy corymbs of fruit, which have a sort of resemblance to periwigs. The wood, which dyes yellow, and, with the addition of other substances, green and brown. is known in trade as young fustic. The leaves are astrin gent, and are used for dyeing Turkey red. The root is also used in dyeing, and the whole plant is used for tanning in Italy. The seed resembles the almond in flavor. The very acid fruit of the elm-leaved sumach (Rim us Coriaria), a native of the Mediterranean region, has been used from the earliest times as a condiment. Similar to this is the Virginian sumach, or stag-horn su mach (Rhus typhina), a native of almost all parts of North America, with curiously crooked branches, covered, when young. with a soft vel vety down. The smooth-leaved sumach (Rhus glabra), a similar species, also North American, has acid leaves, which are used for domestic pur poses. The collection of the leaves of the su mach, especially Rhus typhina, for tanning is an industry in parts of the South. The varnish
sumach or Japan varnish tree (Rims vernici fcra), a native of Japan and Nepal, yields a varnish much used in Japan for lacquer-work. The expressed oil of the seeds becomes as hard as tallow, and is used for candles. In Australia the wood of !Thus rhodonthema (or Rhodaspha'ra rhodun(hcmu) is considered one of the most valu able cabinet woods. It is dark yellow with a satiny lustre, and takes an excellent polish. The leaves and bark are used in tanning. The name tanner's sumach is given to Coriariu myrtifolia, a European shrub of the natural order Cori :Ili:ice:12. The leaves are astringent, and are used for tanning and fur dyeing black.
The popularly reputed poisonous American species are botanically eon fused. /'bus Toxico dcndron, a low shrub, is believed to be common only at the South; lihus radicans, the so-called poison oak or ivy, a low, trailing or climbing species, referred by some botanists to Toxicoden dron, is more widely distributed. Rhus rcrnix (or Rhus venenato), the so-called poison abler. sumach, dogwood. or swamp sumach, has long been reputed to cause irritation of the skin in some people and to be inert in others, a reputa tion also pertaining to the preceding species. A saturated alcoholic solution of lead acetate is considered a specific.