Rhus trilobata
 
Skunkbush

Infructescence in Ground

Hidden Valley Nature Area
East of Craven in the Qu'Appelle Valley
17-Aug-2007

Note that most of the pubescence on the fruit has rubbed off.

The fruit of this species is a drupe.  A drupe has an outer exocarp, a fleshy mesocarp, and a hard stony endocarp enclosing the seed.  The exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp are derived from the ovary wall.  The endocarp and seed comprise a unit called a pyrene.

bullet

Trilobata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 
bullet

large shrubs, 1-2 m high; NOT [low shrubs]

bullet

plant much branched; NOT [plant with a single stem]

bullet

leaflets not over 3 cm long; NOT [leaflets 3-10 cm long]

bullet

flowering before leaves appear; NOT [leafing before flowering]

bullet

fruit red; NOT [fruit white]

bullet

fruit hairy; NOT [fruit smooth]

 

bullet

Anacardiaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
bullet

shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

bullet

plants NOT climbing

bullet

plants with normal leaves

bullet

leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

bullet

leaves compound; NOT [leaves simple]

bullet

leaflets NOT leathery

bullet

leaflets NOT spinose-tipped

bullet

flowers dioecious or perfect; NOT [flowers perfect]

bullet

flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others

bullet

petals 5; NOT [petal (standard) solitary]

bullet

stamens 5; NOT [stamens numerous]

bullet

fruit NOT a legume