Rhus
Noun 1. A genus of shrubs and small trees: Rhus is the scientific genus name for a group of deciduous or evergreen plants commonly known as sumacs. These plants are found in temperate and subtropical regions, including North America, South Africa, eastern Asia, and northeastern Australia. In common usage, the name Rhus is often limited to the nonpoisonous species of sumac.
The word Rhus is primarily used in scientific, botanical, and horticultural contexts to classify and refer to this specific genus of plants. It distinguishes these plants from the poisonous species (like poison ivy or poison oak), which are now classified in the separate genus Toxicodendron.
- The landscape design included several Rhus species for their brilliant fall foliage.
- Rhus glabra, or smooth sumac, is a common native shrub in many parts of North America.
- Botanists study the characteristics that differentiate Rhus from .
- In Taxonomy: The genus name is always capitalized and italicized in scientific writing. When used in a general sense outside of strict taxonomic phrases, it may not be italicized.
- Example: Rhus typhina is a species within the genus Rhus.
- Sumac (n.): The common name for plants in the genus . It often refers to the dried, ground fruits of some species used as a spice.
- Toxicodendron (n.): The separate genus that contains poisonous plants like poison ivy, which were once included in the genus .
- Sumac (when referring to the nonpoisonous types)
It is critical to note the historical and contextual shift in meaning. While Rhus once encompassed both poisonous and nonpoisonous sumacs, modern botanical taxonomy restricts Rhus to the nonpoisonous species. The poisonous relatives have been reclassified into the genus Toxicodendron. Therefore, the meaning of Rhus in contemporary scientific usage explicitly excludes plants like poison ivy.
- deciduous or evergreen shrubs and shrubby trees of temperate and subtropical North America, South Africa, eastern Asia and northeastern Australia; usually limited to nonpoisonous sumacs (see genus Toxicodendron)