Rhus succedanea var. himalaica Hook.f. from Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Rhus succedanea var. himalaica Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:12. 1876. 

Tree can be confused with Ailanthus altissima also growing commonly in Kashmir valley, but can be differentiated by much thinner totally entire glabrous leaves (somewhat thicker, serrate and hairy beneath in A. altissima), smaller flower and fruit being a small  up to 1 cm long drupe (3-5 cm long samara in A. altissima).  Deciduous tree with glabrous branches; leaves up to 50 cm long, imparipinnate with 9-13 leaflets, menbranous; flowers pale yellowish-white, in pubescent panicles shorter than leaves; calyx lobes ovate-obtuse; petals pale yellowish-green; styles 3; fruit a drupe up to 8 mm broad, slightly longer, yellowish brown.

I was first introduced to this tree back in 1971 when returning after a collection trip to Dachhigam sanctuary (my research area) I rushed to a doctor with lots of itching and blisters on my arms and hands. Doctor asked me if I had touched some new plant, and I got the answer. Juice of this plant (cut twigs in my case) can cause skin irritation.

    Photographed from Dachhigam, Kashmir. 

--

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089

http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ 
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[ushadi Micromini]

Yes, this is Sumac.. Thnaks for the flower picture , I never went too near to look this closely, Hope you wer safe distance this time around.

colloquially called Poison sumac... name implies stay away from its sap or the "oil" on the surface of the leaves...just like POiSON IVY and POISON OAK"  in north america, grows in road sides where the disturbed soil is ...

Usually all  SUMACs do not grow as majestically tall or wide as the Ailanthus altissima... so once they are fully grown they can be distuinguished... and the sumac leaves  also turn red before falling off in winter.

DID you ever get to photograph their berries?

USha di

--
 
 
 

--
Usha di
===========

[Gurcharan Singh]

Ushadi

Luckily I have some photographs of drupe (not ripe though) taken last year on July 30. This year I photographed flowers in May. 

   I am uploading the photographs of drupes.

-- 

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089

http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ 
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ 

[ushadi Micromini]

Thank you,Gurcharanji,  these berries are different looking...
these are separate, the bunch seems pointing towards the earth...
as opposed to the poison sumac berry bunches seen in north america...
not sure if it occurs in SF where you are right ow but if you go to the mountains or into oregon I have seen them... since they are weeds never took time to  really photograph them... but being  a keen botanist I am sure you'll spot them... very soon the leaves would change colors too... their berries individually are quite small... but tightly packed.. almost as tightly as millet or jowar is packed...

still with the difference in berries... the leaves /twigs/juice behaved like a rhus anyway... family of allergenic plants...  Lesson to learn. I did. Thanks
Usha di
--

--
Usha di
===========

[Gurcharan Singh]

Thanks Ushadi for useful information. I would surely check for it here.

-- 

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089

http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ 
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ 

[Gurcharan Singh]

Ushadi 

I found out that I had uploaded this plant in 2012, and we had long discussion on this.

The correct name according to the plant list is 

Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F.A. Barkley

Incidentally it is already on Flowers of India by me

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Chinese%20Varnish%20Tree.html

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089

http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ 
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Ushadi Micromini]

thanks

now I remember

yes I had always wondered if te chinese worker in the furniture factory that uses this lacquer upto 30 coats to get that very durable shine  ... does he/they suffer from  dermatitis or other disorders...

cant seem to get any papers from old chinese literature.

may be they have self preserving techniques... or some thing to rub or cover the hands/fingers with?

usha di

--

Usha di
===========

[Gurcharan Singh]

Kashmiri name ARKHOL