Smoke Tree
Smoke Tree, a common name given to two related species of woody plants. One is a Eurasian shrub that grows to 15 feet (4.6 m) in height. The other, although similar in appearance, is a small tree—the American smoke tree—which attains a height of about 35 feet (11 m). It is native only to the south-central United States. The tree has dark green oval leaves and in early summer it bears numerous finely branched clusters of greenish flowers. In August and September, the stalks of most of the flowers develop into purplish-brown hairs that give the tree a smoky-looking appearance.
The Eurasian shrub is Cotinus coggygria; the American smoke tree, C. obovatus. Both are of the cashew, or sumac, family, Anacardiaceae.