(n) sweet-scented sumac of eastern America having ternate leaves and yellowish-green flowers in spikes resembling catkins followed by red hairy fruits, Syn. Rhus aromatica, lemon sumac
(n) small aromatic evergreen shrub of California having paniculate leaves and whitish berries; in some classifications included in genus Rhus, Syn. Malosma laurina, Rhus laurina
(n) common nonpoisonous shrub of eastern North America with waxy compound leaves and green paniculate flowers followed by red berries, Syn. scarlet sumac, vinegar tree, Rhus glabra
(n) deciduous shrubby tree or eastern North America with compound leaves that turn brilliant red in fall and dense panicles of greenish yellow flowers followed by crimson acidic berries, Syn. velvet sumac, Virginian sumac, vinegar tree, Rhus typhina
(n) the cashew family; trees and shrubs and vines having resinous (sometimes poisonous) juice; includes cashew and mango and pistachio and poison ivy and sumac, Syn. family Anacardiaceae, sumac family
{ } n. [ F. sumac, formerly sumach (cf. Sp. zumaque), fr. Ar. summāq. ] [ Written also shumac. ]1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Rhus, shrubs or small trees with usually compound leaves and clusters of small flowers. Some of the species are used in tanning, some in dyeing, and some in medicine. One, the Japanese Rhus vernicifera, yields the celebrated Japan varnish, or lacquer. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The powdered leaves, peduncles, and young branches of certain species of the sumac plant, used in tanning and dyeing. [ 1913 Webster ]
Poison sumac. (Bot.) See under Poison. [ 1913 Webster ]