Rhus punjabensis Stewart ex Brandis

Fairly common in the inner ranges in moist situations, from 1219-2438 m. The juice of the leaves is an irritant to the skin.

Rhus punjabensis var. punjabensis is distributed in NW India.

A tree up to 12 m tall. Young shoots pubescent to rusty tomentose. Leaves imparipinnate, 30 cm or more long. Leaflets 9-13 in number, opposite, subsessile, 42-120 x 20-55 mm, ovate-oblong, entire to sometimes finely serrulate, acute to subacuminate, rusty tomentose (especially on the under surface), base often oblique. Panicle terminal, shorter than the leaves, rusty tomentose. Calyx shallow cupular, 5-cleft. Petals 5, c. 2 mm long, oblanceolate, equalling or exceeding sepals. Stamens 5; filaments 2 mm long, sparsely pubescent; anthers oblong, basifixed. Ovary subglobose to ovoid, with dense short appressed hairs. Styles 3, less than 1 mm long, stigma capitate. Drupe globose, 3.5-4 mm broad. Epicarp crustaceous, tomentose with reddish hairs; endocarp (stone) smooth, obliquely oblong, ± 2.8 mm long, greyish.

Trees or small trees, 5-15 m tall; branchlets pubescent to minutely pubescent. Leaf blade imparipinnately compound; rachis narrowly winged or wingless distally; leaflets sessile or subsessile, 7-13; leaflet blade oblong-ovate or oblong, 5-12 × 2-4.5 cm, both sides glabrous to minutely pubescent along midrib or lower side pubescent, base rounded or subcordate, margin entire, apex acuminate or long acuminate, lateral veins ca. 20 pairs, prominent abaxially. Inflorescence 15-20 cm, densely minutely pubescent; floral subtending bracts 1-2 mm, subulate, minutely pubescent. Pedicel ca. 1 mm; flowers white. Calyx minutely pubescent, lobes narrowly triangular, ca. 1 mm, margins ciliate. Petals oblong, ca. 2 × 1 mm, minutely pubescent on both sides, margins ciliate, revolute at anthesis. Stamen filaments ca. 2 mm in male flowers, minutely pubescent proximally; anthers ovate; staminode filaments ca. 1 mm in female flowers. Disk purplish red. Ovary globose, ca. 1 mm in diam., white pubescent; male flower with sterile ovary. Drupe subglobose, ca. 4 mm in diam., purplish red at maturity, mixed pilose and glandular-pubescent.

Himalaya (Kashmir to Bhutan).

Distribution: N.W. Himalaya from Kashmir to Kumaon.

Gansu, Guizhou, W Hubei, W Hunan, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, S and SE Xizang, N Yunnan [N India, Kashmir].

2100-2300 m

Fl. Per.: May-June.

Hill and mountain forests; 400-3500 m.