Smoke tree

Smoke tree

taxobox
name = Smoke Tree


image_caption = Smoketree flowerhead with fruit and dew droplets
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Anacardiaceae
genus = "Cotinus"
genus_authority = Adans.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Cotinus coggygria" "Cotinus obovatus"|

Smoketree or Smoke bush ("Cotinus") is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs ("Rhus"). They are large shrubs or small trees, native to the warm temperate Northern Hemisphere. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple oval shape, 3-13 cm long. The flowers are clustered in a large open terminal panicles 15-30 cm long with a fluffy grayish-buff appearance resembling a cloud of smoke over the plant, from which the name derives. The fruit is a small drupe with a single seed. Often classified in "Rhus" in the past, they are distinguished by the leaves being simple (not pinnate) and the 'smoke-like' fluffy flower heads.

The American Smoketree ("Cotinus obovatus", syn. "Rhus cotinoides") is native to the southeastern United States, from Tennessee south to Alabama and west to eastern Texas. It is a larger plant, frequently becoming a small tree up to 10-12 m tall and with a trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The leaves are also larger, 6-13 cm long; it also has varied but very bright fall color, usually brighter than the Eurasian species. The flower heads are usually sparser than in "C. coggygria".

Cultivation and uses

The smoketrees, particularly "C. coggygria", are popular garden shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved cultivars of "C. coggygria" have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form hybrids; some garden cultivars are of this parentage. Cultivation is best in dry, infertile soils, which keeps the growth habit more compact and also improves the autumn colour; when planted in fertile soil, they become large, coarse and also tend to be short-lived, succumbing to verticillium wilt disease. Both species can be coppiced in early spring, to produce first-year shoots up to 2 m tall with large handsome leaves, but no "smoke".

External links

* [http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=32 Tree Guide - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.wcisel.com/plants/smoketree/ Tree Topics - Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cotinus_coggygria.html Smoke Tree]
* [http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/coob2.htm "Cotinus obovatus" images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Smoke tree — Smoke Smoke (sm[=o]k), n. [AS. smoca, fr. sme[ o]can to smoke; akin to LG. & D. smook smoke, Dan. sm[ o]g, G. schmauch, and perh. to Gr. ??? to burn in a smoldering fire; cf. Lith. smaugti to choke.] 1. The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smoke tree — n. 1. a small, bushy, Old World tree (Cotinus coggygria) of the cashew family, with filmy, feathery flower clusters resembling smoke 2. a tree (Cotinus americanus) of the cashew family, growing in the SW U.S. and having brilliant orange and… …   English World dictionary

  • smoke tree — smoke′ tree n. 1) bot (boi pln) a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the south central U.S., having egg shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers 2) pln a related shrub, C. coggygria, of Eurasia, having… …   From formal English to slang

  • smoke tree — noun 1. greyish green shrub of desert regions of southwestern United States and Mexico having sparse foliage and terminal spikes of bluish violet flowers; locally important as source of a light colored honey of excellent flavor • Syn: ↑Dalea… …   Useful english dictionary

  • smoke tree — 1. Also called American smoke tree, chittamwood. a tree, Cotinus obovatus, of the cashew family, native to the southeastern U.S., having egg shaped leaves and large clusters of small white flowers. 2. Also called Venetian sumac. a related shrub,… …   Universalium

  • smoke tree — Venetian Ve*ne tian, a. [Cf. It. Veneziano, L. Venetianus.] Of or pertaining to Venice in Italy. [1913 Webster] {Venetian blind}, a blind for windows, doors, etc., made of thin slats, either fixed at a certain angle in the shutter, or movable,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • smoke tree — pūkenis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Anakardinių (Anacardiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Cotinus). atitikmenys: lot. Cotinus angl. smoke tree; wig tree vok. Perückenbaum; Perückenstrauch rus. скумпия lenk. perukowiec …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • smoke tree — /ˈsmoʊk tri/ (say smohk tree) noun 1. a tree like shrub, Cotinus coggygria, native to southern Europe and western Asia, bearing small flowers in large panicles that develop a light, feathery appearance suggestive of smoke. 2. a related American… …  

  • smoke tree — noun Date: 1846 either of two small shrubby trees (genus Cotinus) of the cashew family with large panicles of minute flowers that suggest a cloud of smoke: a. one (C. coggygria) of Eurasia that is widely planted in the eastern United States b.… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • smoke tree — noun a shrub or small tree which bears feathery plumes of purple or reddish flowers and fruit, giving it a smoky appearance. [Cotinus coggygria (formerly Rhus cotinus).] …   English new terms dictionary

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