Sicilian sumac

Description

A small tree, Rhus coriaria, native to Europe, whose leaves, bark and roots were used for dyes and tannins. The bark from the tree gives a fugitive pale yellow color when mordanted with alum but produces a strong black color with iron. Also called tanner's sumac, it was an important tanning agent in the Middle Ages.

See sumac.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Rhus coriaria; sommacco siciliano (It.); tanner's sumac

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 786

• John and Margaret Cannon, Dye Plants and Dyeing, Herbert Press, London, 1994