European smoketree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European smoketree
• smokebush
• Smoke-Tree
• Smoke-bush
• Venetian Sumac
• Wig tree
• Venetian-sumac
• smoketree
• young fustic

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cotinus cinereus
• Cotinus coggygria var. laevis
• Cotinus coggygria f. purpureus
• Cotinus coggygria f. pendulus
• Cotinus coggygria var. pendulus
• Cotinus coggygria f. rubrifolius
• Rhus cotinus purpurea
• Cotinus coggygria var. rubrifolius
• Cotinus coggygria subsp. glaber
• Cotinus coggygria var. pubescens
• Cotinus coggygria var. velutinus
• Cotinus ellipticus
• Cotinus velutinus
• Rhus velutina
• Rhus laevis
• Rhus cotina
• Rhus cotinus
• Rhus obovatifolia
• Rhus cotinus pendula
• Cotinus coggygria var. parvifolia
• Cotinus coggygria f. atropurpureus
• Cotinus coggygria var. chengkouensis
• Cotinus coggygria var. cinereus
• Cotinus coggygria var. glaucophyllus
• Cotinus coriarius
• Rhus cotinus atropurpurea
• Cotinus coggygria var. purpureus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized into the order Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus name Cotinus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted in Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found within the borders of Austria. The species also inhabits the territories of Czechia-Slovakia and Germany. Finally, its distribution extends further into the central landscape of Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cotinus coggygriia is characterized by its preference for diverse and rugged terrains, commonly inhabiting forests, mountainous regions, shrubberies, and stony places. This species demonstrates a specific altitudinal distribution, typically thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1800 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize rocky and shrub-dominated environments suggests an adaptability to well-drained, potentially nutrient-poor soils found within these montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Cotinus coggygriia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground surface on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cotinus coggygriia is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a climber, vine, or liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior. It is a strictly terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant size variation, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cotinus coggygriia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliage is defined by ovate leaf forms, which provide the structural surface area necessary for light interception and gas exchange. The margins of these leaves are notably crenulate, featuring small, rounded teeth that influence the leaf boundary layer and transpiration rates. Furthermore, the plant lacks defensive morphological structures on its leaves, as it possesses no thorns and no spines, indicating a physiological investment in vegetative growth rather than physical deterrents.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf margin :

crenulate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cotinus coggygriia is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized biological mechanisms. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through July. During this stage, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds with a relatively small mass; the mean seed weight is approximately 0.00895 g, with individual seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.00602 g to a maximum of 0.013 g. Following maturation, the dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.013 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00895266666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00602 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cotinus coggygria has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Natural product research
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Cotinus coggygria has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, CATECHIN, Flavonoids, Hyperoside, RUTIN.

Gallic acid

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica

CATECHIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

Flavonoids

1. Mutation research
2. Natural product research

Hyperoside

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sulfuretin

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

quercetin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

Butin

1. Planta medica

Collagenase

1. Pharmaceutics

ERIODICTYOL

1. Planta medica

Activities

Cotinus coggygria has 11 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antigenotoxic, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmaceutics
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Natural product research

Anticancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
3. Natural product research
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antigenotoxic

1. Mutation research
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Natural product research
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antibacterial

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Natural product research
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Antiviral

1. Natural product research
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Anticoagulant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Cotinus coggygria has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include DNA damage, acne, antidiabetic, antiviral, asthma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations