What is Sumac?

Sumac is a general name for 250 types of flowering plants in the genus Rhus. It grows in tropical and mild areas around the world. Some people can only be familiar with the poisonous variety of sumac, which can cause a serious rash such as Poison Oak and Poison Ivy. In fact, most species are harmless shrubs or trees. Some species have healing properties, while others are used as a spice in traditional middle and nearby eastern cuisine. They flourish to the bushes in full sunlight and poor soil, so areas that have recently been cleaned for development or agriculture are particularly endangered by interfering with Sumac colonies, which must be aggressively removed. Its relative ease of self -acting is also a good shrub that prevents erosion if its growth is carefully controlled.

Rhus toxicodendron is a species that excludes poisonous oil, also known as Poison Sumac. This plant is common in marshy areas of North America and can be distinguished from other types in autumn. Varieties, jaKO is smooth and Staghorn Sumac, they are well known off -road trees in mild areas due to their hardness and intense autumn colors. The bark, berries and leaves of most species are edible.

Rhus Coriaria is a type of sumac indigenous for the Mediterranean area. Its berries can be dried and pounded to make spices. This spice is also called sumach, looks like deep purple red flakes. It has an acidic taste similar to lemon, but not so astringent. In Greece, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East, Sumac is used to flavor yogurt for sauces and can be wiped for meat and fish before grilling. It is also an ordinary spice with salads and raw vegetables, and when it is mixed with sliced ​​onions, it gives them a milder, sweeter taste.

The

berries of this plant have a high vitamin C content. The indigenous Americans, as well as the ancient Greeks and the Romans crushed the berries to form juice as a lemonade. In ArabsIt is still widely used as a reduction fever and releases stomach sickness. The fruit and bark of some species contain a lot of tannin and can be used for tan. Its soft wood is popular with woodworkers and amateur woodcarvers because it is so easy to work with it.