After spending much time in the cold Northeast this winter, I am amazed by species' adaptations to survive the winter. Upon returning I also marvel at the chaparral plants' adaptations allowing for survival during intense heat and drought.
But as I drive down the canyon roads, I clearly see how adaptation to one climate can leave a species vulnerable to dramatic temperature shifts. This is most evident in the huge patches of rust red covering the hillsides. These patches mark the aftermath of the freezing temperatures in January.
Unlike the deciduous trees of the Northeast or the needlelike leaves of the conifers, the broadleaf evergreen chaparral shrubs cannot withstand frost. The rust red patches are the halfliving remains of the laurel sumac, Malosma laurina.
A glimpse of green
At first I was startled and disturbed by the extent of the damage, but looking more closely I am awed. Within the vast majority of these seemingly dead shrubs there is a bright patch of green. Somehow on each dying plant a sprig of fresh growth has pushed forward, reminding me that the fight for survival is strong and that against tremendous odds life usually triumphs.
Laurel sumac belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which includes cashews and mangoes. Species in this family are shrubs having milky or resinous sap. Their flowers tend to be small with five sepals and petals, five or 10 stamen and three styles. The seeds often have a thin fleshy layer with a hard center. Both lemonadeberry, Rhus integrifolia and sugar bush, Rhus ovata are also in this family and commonly mistaken for laurel sumac.
Lemonadeberry and sugar bush hybridize with one another and therefore look very similar. They are both shrubs growing 3 to 10 feet tall, with simple, thick, ovate evergreen leaves. A defining characteristic is folding of the leaves. While lemonadeberry tends to have flat leaves with rounded tips, sugar bush leaves are sharply folded along the midvein and have pointed tips. Whitish to pinkish flowers in both species are found in terminal clusters on the ends of branches. Both can be found in the coastal mountain chaparral from Santa Barbara County to Baja California.
The common names of these plants are derived from the sweet flavor of their seeds, creating a tasty drink when added to water. The Cahuilla native tribe reports using the tea of lemonadeberry to treat colds and coughs.
Apple odor
Although once placed in the Rhus genus, laurel sumac has been separated to become the only species in the Malosma genus. This species grows 6 to 16 feet tall with rounded crowns and is known to live for at least 50 years. Similar to some species of Rhus, the leaves are alternate, simple and leathery, very much like an apple's leaves. In fact the genus name Malosma means odor of apple.
The leaves can also be compared to a taco as they are folded along the midline. Each leaf is smooth top and bottom with beautifully colored red veins.
Flowers are found in dense terminal clusters, with small white calyxes. The bark is brown/red and smooth. Another characterizing feature of this plant is its strong aroma, unique to this species.
Laurel sumac is found from Santa Barbara County to Baja California in the chaparral and oak woodlands at elevations below 3,000 feet.
Although susceptible to frost, this species is remarkably well adapted to the harsh life of the chaparral. Following fires, its persistence for life shows as new growth springs forward from underground burls that survived the burn. In addition, the seeds germinate once their hard coats have been cracked by the heat of fire.
Species' support Beyond the individual survival of each plant, laurel sumac plays a tremendous part in the survival of many other species. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are attracted to its flowers, while countless species of songbirds are dependent on its fruits and seeds. In addition, the dense foliage creates a protected refuge for birds' nests in spring and for the homes of wood rats all year long.
It has also been reported that the dried wood of this plant is excellent for making a bow drill kit for friction fire, aiding humans in their most basic necessity of survival. The fragrant oils of this wood also make it a highly flammable source of kindling.
Even though poorly adapted for the freezing temperatures we experienced this winter, the laurel sumac displays life's tenacity. Overcoming thousands of years of genetic adaptations, each shrub continues life through one persistent branch. And I remember I, too, can overcome more than I am adapted for.
