Rhus L.

Shrubs, trees or lianas, mostly deciduous; plants dioecious, sometimes polygamous. Leaves spiral, imparipinnate or trifoliolate, petioled. Panicles terminal or axillary. Flowers unisexual or bisexual. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, free, imbricate. Stamens 5, rarely 10. Disc 5-lobed, intrastaminal, cupular or annular. Carpels 3, syncarpous; ovary superior, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; styles 3, usually free; stigmas capitate. Drupes globose or compressed.

Subtropical and temperate regions of the world; ca 250 species, 12 in India.

Literature. BRIZICKY, G.K. (1963) Taxonomic and Nomenclatural notes on the genus Rhus (Anacardiaceae). J. Arn. Arb. 44: 60-80.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

1a. Stamens 10

3. Rhus himalaica

b. Stamens 5

2

2a. Leaves imparipinnate

3

b. Leaves trifoliolate

9

3a. Fruits indehiscent

4

b. Fruits dehiscent (epicarp bursting irregularly)

6

4a. Drupess obliquely ovoid, glabrous; leaflets glabrous to puberulous beneath, margin entire

10. Rhus succedanea

b. Drupess orbicular, tomentose~ leaflets tomentose beneath, margin serrate

5

5a. Petioles usually winged above; panicles equalling the leaves; petals pubescent on the upper surface

1. Rhus chinensis

b. Petioles not winged; panicles much smaller than the leaves; petals glabrous

8. Rhus punjabensis

6a. Panicles terminal; leaflets serrate

5. Rhus khasiana

b. Panicles axillary; leaflets entire

7

7a. Panicles and leaflets densely tomentose beneath

12. Rhus wallichii

b. Panicles and leaflets glabrous to sparsely pubescent

8

8a. Disc cupular; petals with a single median ridge; panicles 25 - 40 cm long

2. Rhus griffithii

b. Disc annular; petals with branched median ridge; panicles 16 - 25 cm long.

4. Rhus hookeri

9a. Armed shrubs

9. Rhus sinuata

b. Unarmed shrubs

10

10a. Leaflets sparsely pubescent beneath; petals glabrous

6. Rhus paniculata

b. Leaflets densely tomentose beneath; petals hairy

11

11a. Leaflets with white tomentum; petals tomentose all over

11. Rhus tomentosus

b. Leaflets with rusty tomentum; petals sparsely pubescent

7. Rhus parviflora

List of Lower Taxa