''Schinus'' is a genus of flowering trees and tall

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian pepper tree ('' Schinus molle'') is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorns. Some species (e.g. '' Schinus terebinthifolia'') have become an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

outside their natural habitats. '' Schinus polygama'', although less well known, is also potentially weedy in mesic areas.

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the Greek word for ''

Pistacia lentiscus ''Pistacia lentiscus'' (also lentisk or mastic) is a dioecious evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus ''Pistacia'' native to the Mediterranean Basin. It grows up to tall and is cultivated for its aromatic resin, mainly on the Greek islan ...

'', Σχίνος (''schinos''), which it resembles. There has been considerable historic confusion as to the correct gender of the genus name; as of 2015 this has been resolved with the determination that the correct gender of ''Schinus'' is feminine (rather than masculine), and adjectival names within the genus must be spelled accordingly.Zona, S. (2015). The correct gender of ''Schinus'' (Anacardiaceae). Phytotaxa, 222(1), 75–77. doi:https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.222.1.9

Taxonomy

Over time there has been a fair amount of reclassification within this genus and earlier names may incorrectly continue to be used by those unaware of changes, including in some cases government departments and even textbooks. The name ''Schinus areira'' remains widespread, in Australia (the peppercorn tree) in particular, but this is now considered to be a variety of '' Schinus molle'' (var. ''areira'').

Selected species

*'' Schinus engleri'' Barkley ( Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay) *'' Schinus fasciculata'' (Griseb.) I.M.Johnst. *'' Schinus latifolia'' (Gillies ex Lindl.) Engl. *'' Schinus molle'' L. (=''S. huygan'') – Peruvian pepper tree (Western South America) **''Schinus molle'' var. ''areira'' (L.) DC. (=''S. areira'') **''Schinus molle'' var. ''molle'' *'' Schinus pearcei'' Engler (

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, Chile, and Peru) *'' Schinus polygama'' (Cav.) Cabrera (=''S. dentata'', ''S. dependens'') (southern South America) *'' Schinus terebinthifolia''

Raddi Raddi is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Giuseppe Raddi (1770–1829), Italian botanist and curator * Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, ar, الصادق الرضي, born January 1969 in Omdurman, Sudan, is a Sudanes ...

– Brazilian pepper tree (southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay) **''Schinus terebinthifolia var. acutifolia'' Engl. **''Schinus terebinthifolia'' var. ''pohliana'' Engl. **''Schinus terebinthifolia'' var. ''raddiana'' Engl. **''Schinus terebinthifolia'' var. ''rhoifolia'' (Mart.) Engl. (=''S. aroiera'', ''S. rhoifolia'') **''Schinus terebinthifolia'' var. ''terebinthifolia'' *'' Schinus venturi'' Barkley (Argentina and Bolivia) *'' Schinus weinmanniifolia'' Mart. ex Engl.

Formerly placed here

*'' Cuscuta myricoides'' (L.) Druce (as ''S. myricoides'' L.) *''

Limonia acidissima ''Limonia acidissima'' is the only species within the monotypic genus ''Limonia''. Common names for the species in English include wood-apple and elephant-apple. It is sometimes also called monkey fruit. Description ''Limonia acidissima'' is a l ...

'' L. (as ''S. limonia'' L.) *'' Lithraea molleoides'' (Vell.) Engl. (as ''S. molleoides'' Vell.) *''

Zanthoxylum fagara ''Zanthoxylum fagara'' or wild lime, is a species of flowering plant that—despite its name—is not part of the genus ''Citrus'' with real limes and other fruit, but is a close cousin in the larger citrus family, Rutaceae. It is native to sout ...

'' (L.) Sarg. (as ''S. fagara'' L.)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q786249 Anacardiaceae genera