Cotinus obovatus explained

Cotinus obovatus syn. C. americanus, the American smoketree, 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 10m (30feet) tall by 80NaN0 broad, with oval leaves up to 12cm (05inches) 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.[1] It is highly sought after and cultivated in botanical gardens worldwide.[2] [3] It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[4]

The Latin specific epithet obovatus means "in the shape of an inverted egg", and refers to the broadly obovate shape of the leaves.[1] The heartwood is a bright yellow. The species does not appear to be in danger of facing extinction in the wild.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cotinus obovatus. Missouri Botanical Garden. 17 July 2024.
  2. Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1405332965. 1136.
  3. Web site: RHS Plant Selector - Cotinus obovatus. 20 July 2013. 18 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818191054/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant%3Fplantid%3D561. dead.
  4. Considering Cotinus. Tripp. Kim E.. 1994. Arnoldia. 21–30.