Japanese Sumac
Rhus trichocarpa Miquel
Genus Rhus L.
There are three (four) species in Hokkaido
R. verniciflua Stockes (ウルシ) (non-native to Japan)
Synonym: Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkley)
R. trichocarpa Miquel (Syn. Toxicodendron trichocarpum (Miq.) Kuntze) (ヤマウルシ)
Lifeform: deciduous tree
Seed dispersal: anmimal
Forma: - f. viridis Hara (アオヤマウルシ)
R. javanica L., pro. p. (ヌルデ) (s.l.)
R. javanica L. var. roxburghii (DC.) Rehd. et Wils. (ヌルデ) (s.s.)
R. ambigua Lavall. ex Dippel (ツタウルシ)
R. succedanea L. (ハゼノキ) (not in Hokkaido)
R. sylvestris Sieb. et Zucc. (ヤマハゼ) (not in Hokkaido)
Rhus trichocarpa on Mount Koma
H. Nishi took all pictures.
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| 1. Seedlings colonized near rocks at 600 m in elevation. (October 2002) | 2. Saplings established on a bareland enclosed by the shrub patches of Salix reinii and Gaultheria miqueliana. (October 2002) | 3. A fruting tree in a secondary forest at 350 m in elevation. (October 2002) |
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| 4. Same with photo 3. | 5. The fruits of Rhus trichocarpa. Those fruits remain on the crown throughout winter (so-called aerial seedbank, or crown storage of seeds). Photo taken in a secondary forest at 350 m in elevation on October, 2002. | 6. Close-up of the fruits. Soon after ripening, the fruits become dry and the surface layer is removed. The seed is covered somewhat with wax. |
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| 7. An adult tree with numerous fruits. Photo taken in a secondary forest at 350 m in elevation on October, 2002. | 8. An adult tree. The leaves become red earlier than any other broad-leaved tree species. Compare to Sorbus commixta seen at the right side of the photo. | 9. The seedling of Rhus trichocarpa found near the base of Populus maximowiczii (August 2003). |
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| 10. The colonization of Rhus trichocarpa seedlings and saplings under the canopy of Populus maximowiczii of which height is ca 6 m, before the marking of individuals. See also photo 11. | 11. The colonization of Rhus trichocarpa seedlings and saplings. To monitor each seedling, red-colored numbered tape was tagged on each individual. |
References
- Effects of UV on terrestrial plants and ecosystems (オゾン層破壊と紫外線影響評価総論) JPN
- Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
- Nishi, H. & Tsuyuzaki, S. 2004. Seed dispersal and seedling establishment of Rhus trichocarpa promoted by a crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) on a volcano in Japan. Ecography 27: 311-322
- Type specimen (nom. nud.) JPN