Pericarp Ontogeny and Anatomy in Rhus aromatica Ait. and R. glabra L. (Anacardiaceae)

both species originated from the inner epidermis of the ovary wall. At anthesis, the proto-endocarp was 3layered; one and two weeks after anthesis in R. glabra and R. aromatica, respectively, it had become distinctively 4-layered, and the innermost layer had elongated 5-10 times. Five weeks after anthesis in R. aromatica but only three weeks after anthesis in R. glabra, all layers except the outermost crystalliferous one were fully elongated and had begun to lignify. In both species, the crystalliferous layer remained parenchymatous, did not elongate, and contained crystals. The similarities in ontogeny and anatomy of the pericarp in these two species support the opinion that Lobadium should be kept as a subgenus within Rhus, rather than being elevated to the generic level. However, more taxa of Rhus need to be studied before the taxonomy of the genus can be clarified.