Anacardiaceae, Cashew or Sumac Family
The Anacardiaceae, Cashew or Sumac Family is a relatively small family although a few members have significant economic importance. These would include the Cashew (Anacardium) actually the type genus of the family and the notable Pistachio Tree formerly included in its own family, the Pistaciaceae. Other important family members include mango, poison ivy, sumac and the Peruvian Pepper.
Also included in the Anacardiaceae family; Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron), Sumac (Rhus), Mango (Mangifera), the beautiful Eurasian Smoke Tree, Cotinus) and the Peruvian Pepper.
Family Characteristics: Mostly trees and shrubs, and a few vines; flowers are mostly small and often inconspicuous; plants with a resin or milky sap that is foul-smelling.
In North America, according to the USDA Plants Database, there are 22 genera with 75 accepted taxa overall in the Anacardiaceae family. World-wide, The Plant List identifies 72 plant genera with 548 accepted species names in the family.
By far the largest North American genus is Rhus with about 20 species.
- Pachycormus discolor, Baja Elephant Tree (added 01/16/2020)
- Rhus glabra, Smooth Sumac (added 01/21/2020)
- Rhus kearneyi, Kearney's Sumac (updated 01/21/2020)
- Rhus microphylla, Littleleaf Sumac (updated 01/21/2020)
- Rhus ovata, Sugar Sumac (updated 01/21/2020)
- Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, Skunkbush Sumac (updated 01/21/2020)
- Toxicodendron rydbergii, Western Poison Ivy (updated 01/21/2020)