Rhus coriaria L.

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-3 m tall. The leaves are dark green and somewhat like fronds. The tree loses its leaves during the year. The fruit are red berries. The flowers are in dense bunches or small white flowers. The fruit are tightly bunched in cone shaped clusters. These are 8-10 cm long and 2 cm across at the widest point near the base. Each berry is a little larger than a pepper corn. It is green and covered with a hairy layer. The berries ripen to a pinkish red.

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows on mountainsides and open woodland. It is especially on limestone soils.

The fruit are used to give a red colour to dishes. They are slightly sour. The fruit are dried and used whole or ground in sauces. The fruit are soaked in milk to make a drink. Immature fruit are used as a caper substitute. The crushed fruit along with Origanum syriacum are used in a common spice mixture in the Middle East. CAUTION: Many plants in the Rhus genus are poisonous.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.