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[denizaksulu]

Sumac
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Sumac (disambiguation).
Sumac

Sumac fruit in fall
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Subfamily: Anacardioideae
Genus: Rhus
L.[1]
Type species
Rhus coriaria
L.[2]
Species
About 250 species; see text
Sumac (pronounced /ˈʃuːmæk/ or /ˈs(j)uːmæk/; also spelled sumach) is any one of approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in Africa and North America.[3][4]
Sumacs are shrubs and small trees that can reach a height of 1–10 metres (3.3–33 ft). The leaves are spirally arranged; they are usually pinnately compound, though some species have trifoliate or simple leaves. The flowers are in dense panicles or spikes 5–30 centimetres (2.0–12 in) long, each flower very small, greenish, creamy white or red, with five petals. The fruits form dense clusters of reddish drupes called sumac bobs. The dried drupes of some species are ground to produce a tangy purple spice.[5][6]
Sumacs propagate both by seed (spread by birds and other animals through their droppings), and by new shoots from rhizomes, forming large clonal colonies.
The word sumac has its etymology in medieval Arabic apothecaries, while the word rhus has etymology in ancient Greek.[7]
Contents [hide]
1 Cultivation and uses
2 Toxicity and control
3 Taxonomy
3.1 Selected species
4 See also
5 References
5.1 Notes
5.2 Bibliography
6 External links
[edit]Cultivation and uses

The drupes of the genus Rhus are ground into a deep-red or purple powder used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine to add a lemony taste to salads or meat.[5] In Arab cuisine, it is used as a garnish on meze dishes such as hummus and is added on salads in the Levant. In Iranian (Persian and Kurdish) cuisine, sumac is added to rice or kebab. In Turkish cuisine, for example, it is added to salad-servings of kebabs and lahmacun.
In North America, the Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) and the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) are sometimes used to make a beverage termed "sumac-ade," "Indian lemonade" or "rhus juice". This drink is made by soaking the drupes in cool water, rubbing them to extract the essence, straining the liquid through a cotton cloth and sweetening it. Native Americans also used the leaves and drupes of the Smooth and Staghorn Sumacs combined with tobacco in traditional smoking mixtures.
Species including the Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), the Littleleaf Sumac (R. microphylla), the Skunkbush Sumac (R. trilobata), the Smooth Sumac and the Staghorn Sumac are grown for ornament, either as the wild types or as cultivars.
The leaves of certain sumacs yield tannin (mostly pyrogallol), a substance used in vegetable tanning. Leather tanned with sumac is flexible, light in weight, and light in color, even bordering on being white.
Dried sumac wood fluoresces under long-wave ultraviolet radiation, commonly known as black light.[8]
[edit]Toxicity and control

Some species, such as Poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron, syn.Toxicodendron radicans), Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba, syn. Toxicodendron diversilobum) and Poison sumac (Rhus vernix, syn. Toxicodendron vernix), have the allergen urushiol and can cause severe allergic reactions.
Mowing of sumac is not a good control measure as the wood is springy resulting in jagged, sharp pointed stumps when mowed. The plant will quickly recover with new growth after mowing.[9] Goats have long been considered an efficient and quick removal method as they eat the bark, which helps prevent new shoots.
[edit]Taxonomy



A young branch of Staghorn Sumac


Rhus lancea fruit


Staghorn Sumac bob, Hamilton, Ontario


Winged Sumac leaves and flowers


Rhus malloryi fossil
At times Rhus has held over 250 species. Recent molecular phylogeny research suggests breaking Rhus sensu lato into Actinocheita, Baronia, Cotinus, Malosma, Searsia, Toxicodendron, and Rhus sensu stricto. If this is done, about 35 species would remain in Rhus. However, the data are not yet clear enough to settle the proper placement of all species into these genera.[10][11]
[edit]Selected species

[denizaksulu]

Sumac= Za'atar (Arabic)

The word Sumac is also derived from Arabic.

[mohassib]

my friend, I will check the price and will send you one kilo by DHL, pls send my your address

[mohassib]

Sintefic name of Za'atar (Arabic) is Thymus vulgaris
but Sintefic name of Sumac is Rhus coriaria
Do you need Za`atar??

[denizaksulu]

Sintefic name of Za'atar (Arabic) is Thymus vulgaris
but Sintefic name of Sumac is Rhus coriaria
Do you need Za`atar??

I dont know if Cypriots know Za'atar. I got to know it from my Palestinian friends. Not my cup of tea. Too oily (olive oil)

[kafenes]

Not zaatar, but sumac, the red/brown, lemony tasting spice. I normally collect and prepare my own from the bushes in Vavatsinia village but haven't been round this year and have run out.
Mohassib, it will cost too much with DHL, not worth it.

[denizaksulu]

Not zaatar, but sumac, the red/brown, lemony tasting spice. I normally collect and prepare my own from the bushes in Vavatsinia village but haven't been round this year and have run out.
Mohassib, it will cost too much with DHL, not worth it.

I will put sumac on my list Kafenes.

[Get Real!]

here under the photos

What are they… Moroccan toilet bowls?

[denizaksulu]

here under the photos

What are they… Moroccan toilet bowls?

Deblek/darbuka;

You must have seen them being played at TC weddings.

Under arm drums played with the finger-tips. But you knew that already.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

[sniper]

they're really pretty....