Cotinus obovatus

Cotinus obovatus syn. C. americanus, the American smoketree,[2] chittamwood or American smokewood, is a rare species of flowering plant in the genus Cotinus of the family Anacardiaceae, native to scattered locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee. It is a deciduous, conical shrub growing to 10 m (33 ft) tall by 8 m (26 ft) broad, with oval leaves up to 12 cm (5 in) long. It produces panicles of pink-grey flowers in summer, and its foliage turns a brilliant scarlet in autumn; considered by many to be the most intense fall color of any tree. The smokey effect derives from the clusters of hairs on the spent flower stalks.[3] It is highly sought after and cultivated in botanical gardens worldwide.[4][5] It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[6]

Cotinus obovatus
Cotinus obovatus at Aarhus Botanical Gardens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Cotinus
Species:
C. obovatus
Binomial name
Cotinus obovatus
Raf.
Natural range of Cotinus obovatus

The Latin specific epithet obovatus means "in the shape of an inverted egg", and refers to the broadly oval shape of the leaves. The heartwood is a bright yellow. The species does not appear to be in danger of facing extinction in the wild.[1]

Cotinus obovatus leaves
American smoketree
American smoketree in Autumn

References
  1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; et al. (BGCI) (2020). "Cotinus obovatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T152909726A152909728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T152909726A152909728.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Cotinus obovatus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. "Cotinus obovatus". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Cotinus obovatus". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  6. Tripp, Kim E. (1994). "Considering Cotinus" (PDF). Arnoldia: 21–30.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.