RJius cothms, 



THE VENETIAN SUMACH. 



Synonymes. 



Rhus cotinus, 



Cotinus coriacea. 



Sumac fustet, Arbre aux perruques, 

 Perucken Sumach, 

 Cotino, Scotino, Roso, Ruoso, 

 Zuina(iue cabelloso. 



Venice Sumach, Venus Sumach, Wild 

 Olive-tree, Fringe-tree, 



LiNNJKUs, Species Plantarum. 



De Candolle, Prcxlromus. 



LoimoN, Arboretum Britannicum. 



Iu Hame:., Traile des Arbres et Arbusies. 



France. 



Germany. 



Italy. 



Spain. 



Britain and Anglo- America. 



Dfrivations. The French name. Arbre aux perriiques, signifies Wiglree ; on account of the large ehaecry hairs which grow 

 on the elongaieil pedicels. The Italian name, Scotino, is derived from the Greek skotios, obacurc, or happening in the dark ; 

 probably in allusion to the pedicels being clothed or concealed by hairs. 



Engraringa. Du Hamel, Trail* des Arbrea et Arbustea, pi. 178; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, ii., figure 223; and the 

 figures below. 



Specific Characters. Leaves obovate, sessile, entire, very narrow at the base, and smooth on both sides ; 

 a great part of the flowers abortive, the pedicels at length elongated, and clothed with shaggy hairs. 

 Corymbs axillary. . 



Description. 



'^^HE Venetian Sumach, in a wild state, is seldom 

 found higher than five or six feet; but when 

 cultivated, it often attains more than double 

 that height, and forms a highly ornamental 

 shrub, more especially when garnished with its large, loose pani- 

 cles of elongated pedicels. It is easily distinguished from all other 

 species of rhus by its simple, obovate, smooth, stiff, lucid, green 

 leaves, rounded at their points, and supported by long footstalks, 

 which do not fall till they are killed by frost, so that the plant is 

 almost sub-evergre3n. The flowers, which appear in June and 

 July, are produced at the ends of the branches, and are of a pale 

 purple, or flesh colour. They are composed of five small oval 

 petals each, which spread open ; and the sexes are hermaphrodite. 

 The drupes are half-heart-shaped, smooth, and veiny, containing a triangular nut. 



Geography and History. The Rhus cotinus is native of sunny places in 

 western Asia, and in southern Europe, from Spain to Caucasus ; and, according 

 to Mr. Nuttall, it is truly indigenous on the high rocky banks of Grand River, in 

 Arkansas, North America. t 



This plant appears to have been known to Pliny, who mentions it as an Apen- 

 nine shrub, under the name of coggygria. It was introduced into Britain in 

 1656, and was cultivated by Tradescant, and is described by Gerard as an 

 excellent and most beautiful plant, " with leaves of the capparis, and the savour 

 of the pistachia." Mr. Loudon observes that there are old plants of it at Syon ; 

 and a very fine one at Deepden, the diameter of the head of which is nearly 

 twenty feet ; but the largest specimen in England is at Enville, in Staffordshire, 

 where it has attained more than double that size. 



This shrub was introduced into the United States by the late William Prince, 

 of Flushing, New York, in about 1790, and may be found in most of the nur- 

 series and collections in various parts of the country. 



