In summer, flowers of the smoke tree look like feathery plumes, whilst autumn brings orange and red colours to its leaves. The fresh or dried leaves can make a black dye when heated in water with the addition of iron sulphate. Historically, the wood was used to produce a yellow dye called ‘young fustic’, used for dyeing textiles during the Middle Ages but rarely after the 16th century. Cotinus is native to southern Europe and Asia and is a member of Anacardiaceae, the family that includes cashew and sumac.
Next: Rhamnus cathartica (Buckthorn)
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