Little-leaved Sumac (Rhus microphylla) Engelmann, 1852 |
Synonyms: Schmaltzia microphylla, littleleaf sumac, desert sumac, correosa, agritos |
Rhus microphylla is found in the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico (Map). It grows on sandstone, limestone, and granitic substrates in semi-desert grasslands and desert scrub in arroyos, canyons, and mesas; 300-2,000 m. R. microphylla is a deciduous, perennial shrub with stiff and crooked branches; up to 4.5 m in height. The leaves are pinnately compound, 1-4 cm long. The greenish-white flowers are arranged in dense compound spikes. The fruit is a hairy, red-orange drupe, ca. 0.5 cm long. This species flowers from March to May.