Smooth Sumac

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US(Appalachia), Turkey, Mexico, US, US(GA), US(Amerindian), US(Delaware), US(Kiowa)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Asthma, Astringent, Cancer, Diabetes

Science studied: BARIUM, CADMIUM, CALCIUM, CHROMIUM

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Anacardiaceae

Scientific name: Rhus glabra

Common names: Smooth Sumac, /, Plikasis žagrenis, Red Sumac, Scarlet Sumac, Scarlet Sumach, Scharlach-Sumach, Smooth Sumach, Smooth sumac, Sommacco Glabro, Sumac glabre, Sumac glabre, Vinaigrier glabre, Upland Sumach, Vinaigrier, Vinegar-bush, Vinegar-tree, Zumaque liso

POWO: 70565-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US(Appalachia), Turkey, Mexico, US, US(GA), US(Amerindian), US(Delaware), US(Kiowa) and 2 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Asthma
• Astringent
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Diuretic
• Dysentery
• Fever
• Fumitory

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US(Appalachia)
• Turkey
• Mexico
• US
• US(GA)
• US(Amerindian)
• US(Delaware)
• US(Kiowa)
• US(Ojibwe)
• US(Flathead)

Documented cultural uses

• Asthma
• Astringent
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Diuretic
• Dysentery
• Fever
• Fumitory
• Gargle
• Hemostat
• Refrigerant
• Sore

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Asthma · US(Appalachia) · "
• Astringent · Turkey · "
• Astringent · Mexico · "
• Astringent · US · "
• Cancer · US(GA) · "
• Diabetes · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Dysentery · Mexico · "
• Fever · Turkey · "
• Fever · US · "
• Fumitory · Mexico · "
• Fumitory · US(Amerindian) · "
• Fumitory · US(Appalachia) · "
• Fumitory · US(Delaware) · "
• Fumitory · US(Kiowa) · "
• Gargle · US · "
• Hemostat · US(Amerindian) · "
• Refrigerant · Turkey · "
• Refrigerant · Mexico · "
• Refrigerant · US(Ojibwe) · "
• Sore · US · "
• Sore(Throat) · Mexico · "
• Sore(Throat) · US · "
• Tonic · US · "

14 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Seed Cryopreservation and Germination of <i>Rhus glabra</i> and the Critically Endangered Species <i>Rhus michauxii</i>. · 2021 source ↗
• Antimicrobial constituents of Rhus glabra. · 1994 source ↗
• Juvenile Rhus glabra leaves have higher temperatures and lower gas exchange rates than mature leaves when compared in the field during periods of high irradiance. · 2008 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BARIUM
• CADMIUM
• CALCIUM
• CHROMIUM
• COBALT
• COPPER
• FISETIN
• IODINE
• LEAD
• MAGNESIUM
• NICKEL
• POTASSIUM
• SODIUM
• TANNIN
• TARTARIC-ACID
• ASH

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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