mountain lacquer tree

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhus sylvestris

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, falling into the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Toxicodendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout various regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is documented across both the South-Central and Southeast territories. The species also extends into the Japanese archipelago, specifically reaching the Nansei-shotō islands. Furthermore, it can be found within the geographical boundaries of Korea. Together, these areas define the natural range of Toxicodendron sylvestre.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Toxicodendron sylvestre is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution that dictates its preferred habitats and environmental tolerances. This species thrives within a defined vertical gradient, occupying a broad elevational range that begins at a minimum altitude of 140 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant is commonly found throughout middle-elevation zones, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 470 m AMSL. The upper limits of its ecological niche are reached at an elevation of 800 m AMSL, beyond which environmental conditions likely become unsuitable for its growth and reproduction. This altitudinal positioning suggests that the species is adapted to the specific temperature regimes, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressures characteristic of these mid-to-low altitude tropical or subtropical landscapes.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

470 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

140 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Toxicodendron sylvestre is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous species, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to changing environmental conditions or colder temperatures, entering a period of dormancy before regrowing its leaves in the spring. This cyclical pattern of growth and leaf senescence defines its long-term survival strategy within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Toxicodendron sylvestre is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, standing as a self-supporting structure rather than functioning as a climber, liana, or vine. It is a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. As an independent organism, it does not operate as a parasite, relying instead on its own robust, woody stem and permanent structural development to thrive in its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Toxicodendron sylvestre is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle. Its vegetative morphology features elliptic leaves defined by a distinct toothed margin, though the foliage is notably devoid of both leaf thorns and leaf spines. Structurally, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 703 mg/cm³, reflecting the internal tissue compaction and mechanical properties of its woody framework.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

703 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Toxicodendron sylvestre is characterized by the production of small fruits that exhibit very specific morphological dimensions. The fruit length remains highly consistent, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all recorded at 0.8 cm. In contrast, the fruit width shows slightly more variation, ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, with a calculated mean width of 0.65 cm. These compact dimensions define the reproductive output of the species, ensuring the development of uniform fruit structures essential to its life cycle.

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Toxicodendron sylvestre has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include METHYL GALLATE.

METHYL GALLATE

1. Plant disease

Preparations

Toxicodendron sylvestre has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl ether extract, methanol extract.

Ethyl ether extract

1. Plant disease

Methanol extract

1. Plant disease