Scientific Name
Rhus integrifolia (Nutt.) Brewer & Watson
Family
Anacardiaceae
General
Native along the coast of southern California into Baja California. Reddish, oval berries can be made into a drink described as cooling but bitter (Dale 2000).
Information on ethnobotany of this species in Southern California can be found here.
CI
Probably the most common tree (or shrubby tree) on CI habitats, found common in open, sunny habitats, such as grassy slopes.
References
See this species on CalFlora.
The Jepson Manual (2012: 172, Anacariaceaea by John M. Miller and Dieter Wilken).
Dale (2000: 41).
McAuley (1996: 167).
Rhus integrifolia, flower buds, hillside above Camarillo Park entrance area (5 February 2013).
Rhus integrifolia, flowers, Hillside to south of Malibu Hall and University Glen, CI (5 March 2013).
Rhus integrifolia, flowers, hillside to south of Malibu Hall and University Glen, CI (7 February 2013).
Rhus integrifolia, flowers, hillside to south of Malibu Hall and University Glen, CI (7 March 2013).
Rhus integrifolia, distinctive berries, top of hill to north of Sage Hall, CI (27 February 2013).
Rhus integrifolia high on hill to south of University Park entrance area, CI campus. The Springs Fire of May 2013 killed the above ground parts of nearly all plants on the CI habitats. This species started reappearing from root stock with weeks of the fire (1 June 2015).
Rhus integrifolia a seeding sprouting in fire damaged habitat on the hill above (west) of Arroyo Hall, CI campus. This species disperses easily by seed, appearing in landscaped areas and even planters around the CI campus and University Glen (2 May 2014).