Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Sapindales > Anacardiaceae > Rhus > Rhus chinensisRhus chinensis (Chinese sumac)Synonyms: Rhus chinensis var. chinensis; Rhus chinensis var. glabra; Rhus japonica (homotypic); Rhus javanica f. toyohashiensis; Rhus javanica var. chinensis (homotypic); Rhus javanica var. toyohashiensis; Rhus osbeckii (homotypic); Rhus semialata; Rhus semialata var. osbeckii; Rhus simonii; Schinus indicus; Toxicodendron semialatum Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is a plant species in the genus Rhus. The species is used to produce galls, called Chinese gall, Galla Chinensis or Wu Bei Zi (五倍子) in Chinese, which are rich in gallotannins, a type of hydrolysable tannins. The infestation by Chinese sumac aphids (Melaphis chinensis Bell) can lead to a gall which is valued as a commercial product. Chinese galls are used in Chinese medicine to treat coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentery and to stop intestinal and uterine bleeding. \n* foliage \n* flowers \n* fruits \n* Sapling |
| Allergen Potential [1] | High |  | | Edible [2] | May be edible. See the Plants For A Future link below for details. | | Flower Type [2] | Dioecious | | Hazards [2] | There are some suggestions that the sap of this species can cause a skin rash in susceptible people, but this has not been substantiated. See also notes in 'Cultivation Details'. | | Leaf Type [2] | Deciduous | | Pollinators [2] | Bees | | Structure [2] | Tree | | Usage [2] | The leaves are rich in tannin. They can be collected as they fall in the autumn and used as a brown dye or as a mordant;
A blue dye is obtained from insect galls on the plant; The galls are formed as a result of damage by the greenfly, Aphis chinensis; The galls contain up to 77% tannin; The reports do not say if the galls are harvested before or after the insect has left the gall.
An oil is extracted from the seeds; It attains a tallow-like consistency on standing and is used to make candles. These burn brilliantly, though they emit a pungent smoke;
The wood is soft and is not used; | | | Height [2] | 20 feet (6 m) |
View Plants For A Future Record : Rhus chinensis |
Species taxanomy provided by GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-06-13; License: CC BY 4.0
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