Biology:Cotinus obovatus

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Cotinus obovatus
Cotinus-obovatus-habit.JPG
Cotinus obovatus at Aarhus Botanical Gardens
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Cotinus
Species:
C. obovatus
Binomial name
Cotinus obovatus
Raf.
Cotinus obovatus range map 5.png
Natural range of 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]

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

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q5175390 entry