Most Rhus species contain only trace amounts of vitamin C and none should be considered a dietary source of this nutrient. Fruits are also used to make a traditional ' pink lemonade' beverage by steeping them in water, straining to remove the hairs that may irritate the mouth or throat, sometimes adding sweeteners such as honey or sugar. The dried fruits of some species are ground to produce a tangy, crimson spice popular in many countries. typhina) are grown for ornament, either as the wild types or as cultivars. Species including the fragrant sumac ( R. The generic name Rhus derives from Ancient Greek ῥοῦς ( rhous), meaning 'sumac', of unknown etymology it was connected with the verb ῥέω ( rheō), 'to flow', due to its sap, but this is now rejected by scholars. The word sumac traces its etymology from Old French sumac (13th century), from Mediaeval Latin sumach, from Arabic summāq ( سماق), from Syriac summāqa ( ܣܘܡܩܐ)- meaning 'red'. † Rhus rooseae Manchester – Middle Eocene, Oregon.† Rhus republicensis Flynn, DeVore, & Pigg- Ypresian, Washington.Rhus microphylla – desert sumac, littleleaf sumac.† Rhus malloryi Wolfe & Wehr – Ypresian, Washington.Rhus copallinum – winged or shining sumac.Rhus sandwicensis A.Gray – neneleau or Hawaiian sumac ( Hawaii).(Northeast Australia, Malesia, Micronesia, French Polynesia)
