Smoketree (Cotinus) is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the Anacardiaceae, closely related to the sumacs (Rhus). They are large shrubs or small trees, native to the warm temperate Northern Hemisphere. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple oval shape, 3-13 cm long. The flowers are clustered in a large open terminal panicles 15-30 cm long with a fluffy grayish-buff appearance resembling a cloud of smoke over the plant, from which the name derives. The fruit is a small drupe with a single seed. Often classified in Rhus in the past, they are distinguished by the leaves being simple (not pinnate) and the 'smoke-like' fluffy flower heads. See genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. ... In biology, a species is a kind of organism. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Genera Actinocheita Anacardium (cashew) Androtium Antrocaryon Apterokarpos Astronium Baronia Bonetiella Bouea Buchanania Campnosperma Cardenasiodendron Choerospondias Comocladia Cotinus (smoke tree) Cyrtocarpa Dracontomelon Drimycarpus Ebandoua Euleria Euroschinus Faguetia Fegimanra Gluta Haematostaphis Haplorhus Harpephyllum Heeria Holigarna Koordersiodendron Lannea Laurophyllus Lithrea Loxopterigium Loxostylis Mangifera (mango) Mauria Melanochyla Metopium Micronychia Montagueia Mosquitoxylum Nothopegia Ochoterenaea Operculicarya... Species About 250 species; see text Rhus is a genus of woody shrubs and trees, all with the leaves spirally arranged and pinnately compound (some species are trifoliate). ... A willow shrub A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 6 m tall. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth A tree can be defined as a large, perennial, woody plant. ... The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planets surface (or celestial sphere) that is north of the equator. ... In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... Deciduous forest after leaf fall Deciduous means temporary or tending to fall off (deriving from the Latin word decidere, to fall off). ... Wildflowers A flower is the reproductive organ of those plants classified as angiosperms (flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). ... Fruit stall in Barcelona, Spain. ... The peach is a typical drupe (stone fruit) In botany, a drupe is a type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp or skin and mesocarp or flesh) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. ... A SeeD is a term given to mercenaries trained and employed by Balamb Garden in the Final Fantasy VIII video game. ...

The Eurasian Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria, syn. Rhus cotinus) is native from southern Europe, east across central Asia and the Himalaya to northern China. It is a multiple-branching shrub growing to 5-7 m tall with an open, spreading, irregular habit, only rarely forming a small tree. The leaves are 3-8 cm long. Autumn colour can be strikingly varied, from peach and yellow to scarlet. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... The Himalaya is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. ...

A purple-foliage cultivar of Eurasian Smoketree

The American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus, syn. Rhus cotinoides) is native to the southeastern United States, from Tennessee south to Alabama and west to eastern Texas. It is a larger plant, frequently becoming a small tree up to 10-12 m tall and with a trunk up to 25 cm diameter. The leaves are also larger, 6-13 cm long; it also has varied but very bright fall color, usually brighter than the Eurasian species. The flower heads are usually sparser than in C. coggygria.
State nickname: Volunteer State Other U.S. States Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Governor Phil Bredesen Official languages English Area 109,247 km² (36th)  - Land 106,846 km²  - Water 2,400 km² (2. ... Alabama is a state located in the southern United States; the population of Alabama is 4,447,100 as of 2000. ... State nickname: Lone Star State Other U.S. States Capital Austin Largest city Houston Governor Rick Perry Official languages None. ...

Cultivation and uses

American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)

The smoketrees, particularly C. coggygria, are popular garden shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved cultivars of C. coggygria have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form hybrids; some garden cultivars are of this parentage. Part of a garden in Bristol, England A flower bed in the gardens of Bristol Zoo, England. ... A cultivar is a cultivated variety of a plant species. ... In biology, hybrid has three meanings. ...

Cultivation is best in dry, infertile soils, which keeps the growth habit more compact and also improves the autumn colour; when planted in fertile soil, they become large, coarse and also tend to be short-lived, succumbing to verticillium wilt disease. Both species can be coppiced in early spring, to produce first-year shoots up to 2 m tall with large handsome leaves, but no "smoke". Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management, by which young tree stems are cut down to a foot or less from ground level. ...

External links

• Tree Guide - Smoke Tree (http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ID=32)
• Tree Topics - Smoke Tree (http://www.wcisel.com/plants/smoketree/)
• Smoke Tree (http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/cotinus_coggygria.html)