Leaf tip is acute (tapering to a distinct pointed tip). Leaves ~4-8 cm long, ~ 3-5 cm wide. Petiole (leaf stalk) is reddish ~1-3 cm long; leaves are pinnately veined (veins branch off the central axis of the leaf). Leaves are glabrous (smooth-surfaced), margins entire (smooth, not toothed), sclerophyllous (tough, leathery), medium to dark olive green on top and somewhat lighter underneath. Leaves are somewhat folded along the midrib, making the upper surface a little concave. Like Malosma laurina, the leaf midrib itself arches backward, creating a concave bend on the underside. Leaf margins are often somewhat wavy, unlike M. laurina. Flowers are pinkish-white, tiny, with petals ~0.5 cm long and reddish sepals about 0.25 cm long. There are 5 each petals, sepals, and stamens. They are borne on very dense terminal panicles (branched inflorescences) with very short, thick, reddish pedicels (stalks connecting flowers to central rachis or stem of the inflorescence). Flowers from March to May. Fruit is a small drupe (fleshy pulp around a stone) ~0.75 cm in diameter, reddish, glandular/sticky, sugar-coated. The fruit can be turned into a tart-sweet lemonade-like drink, and birds love it. The plant itself is a shrub typically about 1.5-5 m tall, sometimes looking tree-like, and has short reddish and glabrous twigs and stems. Found under 1300 m in elevation in the Transverse and Peninsular ranges of Southern California and Baja in chaparral.
Rhus ovata (Anacardiaceae): sugar bush or sugar sumac
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.