Rhus chinensis

Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac or nutgall tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the genus Rhus. Growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall, it has downy shoots and leaves comprising several leaflets. These turn red in autumn before falling. The plant is common in East and South Asia, and is cultivated as an ornamental in temperate climates. Galls produced on the species that are called Chinese gall (Galla chinensis), are a source of gallotannins, molecules of hydrolyzable tannins. Infestation of the tree by Chinese sumac aphids (Melaphis chinensis Bell) may lead to production of a gall that is valued as a commercial product in China. Chinese galls are used in traditional Chinese medicine for coughs, diarrhea, night sweats, dysentery, and intestinal and uterine bleeding. Some research has suggested that chemical compounds found in Rhus chinensis possess in vitro antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. The aqueous extracts of the gall also inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro.

Description

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2-4 m high. Its shoots are downy. The branches have spines. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 40 cm long. There are 7-13 leaflets on a stalk. The leaflets are about 5-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The leaves turn red in autumn. The flowers are white. They are in cone shaped clusters. The fruit are round. They are bright orange-red.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible cooked and has an acid flavour. It is also used medicinally. The fruit can serve as a substitute for salt or as a rennet substitute for curdling.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used to make soup. They are very sour. The fruit are boiled and used in pickles. They are also boiled with sugar and used as a drink. The fruit are also used as a substitute for rennet in preparation of curd. The pounded seeds are added to foods as a spice and in chilli sauce. The seeds are used in chutney. The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled with rice.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves and roots are depurative and stimulate blood circulation; a decoction treats haemoptysis, inflammations, laryngitis, snakebite, stomachache, and traumatic fractures. The stem bark is astringent and anthelmintic. The fruit is used for colic. The seed treats coughs, dysentery, fever, jaundice, malaria, and rheumatism. The root bark is cholagogue. Galls on the plant are rich in tannin and are used internally for their astringent and styptic properties to treat diarrhoea and haemorrhage; they are also a frequent ingredient in polyherbal prescriptions for diabetes mellitus. An excrescence produced on the leaf by the insect Melaphis chinensis or M. paitan is antiseptic, astringent, and haemostatic. It is used internally for persistent cough with blood, chronic diarrhoea, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, bloody stool, urorrhoea, and bloody sputum, and applied externally to burns, traumatic bleeding, haemorrhoids, and mouth ulcers. Some caution is advised in using the leaves and stems regarding toxicity.

Known Hazards

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'.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows on forested hilly areas. In Borneo it grows up to 2,800 m above sea level. In Sikkim it grows between 600-1,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China*, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan*, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tasmania, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Succeeds in a well-drained fertile soil in full sun. A very ornamental plant, it is not fully hardy in all parts of Britain and needs a hot summer in order to fully ripen its wood, suffering winter damage to late growth if the temperature falls below about -7°c. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. The plants are also susceptible to coral spot fungus and any winter damage will exacerbate the situation. Plants have brittle branches and these can be broken off in strong winds. Many of the species in this genus are highly toxic and can also cause severe irritation to the skin of some people, whilst other species such as this one are not poisonous. It is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs. The toxic species are sometimes separated into their own genus, Toxicodendron, by some botanists. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak for 24 hours in hot water (starting at 80–90°C and allowed to cool) to leach out germination inhibitors; the soak water has a delicious lemon flavour and can be drunk. Stored seed also requires hot water treatment and can be sown in early spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on under glass for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Half-ripe cuttings of 10cm with a heel can be taken in July/August in a frame. Root cuttings 4cm long taken in December should be potted vertically in a greenhouse — good success rate. Suckers can be taken in late autumn to winter.

Other Uses

The leaves are rich in tannin and can be collected as they fall in autumn for use as a brown dye or mordant. A blue dye, usable also as an ink, is obtained from insect galls on the plant, formed in response to the greenfly Aphis chinensis. These galls contain up to 77% tannin. An oil extracted from the seeds attains a tallow-like consistency on standing and is used to make candles, which burn brilliantly but emit a pungent smoke. The wood is soft and is not used for timber.

Other Information

The leaves are sold in markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 200 Rhus species. It is also used in medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aomah, Arkhoi, Arkhur, Bakimlo, Bhagm ili, Bhaimlo, Bhaki amilo, Bhakimlo, Bokumba, Cha-mar-gyi, Chechar, Dasmila, Da-trig, Dharmil, Dieng-soh-ma, Dieng-soh-sma, Dudhe bhalayo, Dudla, Emoshi, Ga fa biu, Gambao, Gayu, Gimbao, Guomapuo, Ha da da xiu, Heimang, Hulug, Isewa, Kemeu, Khawm-hma, Khitma, Khokma, Khongna, Khongma, Kitma, Mahada, Mak somfot, Metqha, Moushi, Naga tenga, Naga-tenga, Nutgalltree, Oksaremp, Omosii, Opahpe, Osreksi, Po, Rashtu, Rushi, Sheng bao che, Siqmavq, Soh-ma, Sohsama, Solmluh, Som fod, Tagmo, Takhrit, Tamo, Tamushe, Tatri, Tetri, Thaksing, Thangkaerkung, Thissa, Tibi sing, Tibri, Tibru, Tsakshing, Tsomhu, Wansh, Xiema, Xima, Yaseba

References (67)

• Aiguo, C. & Zhiling, D., 2001, Managing Agricultural Resources for Biodiversity Conservation. Case Study Yunnan, Southwest China. Environment Liaison Center International. p 40
• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2527 (As Rhus chinensis)
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 523 (As Rhus chinensis)
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 219
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550 (As Rhus semialata)

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