Family: Anacardiaceae
Species: Cotinus coggygria Mill.
Common name: Scotano, Fog Tree
Etymology
The generic name is the one recorded by Pliny for an Apennine shrub from which a purple dye was obtained; the specific name probably alludes to cochineal, due to the bright red colour of the leaves in autumn.
Description
It is a shrub that forms dense and somewhat “disordered” thickets, though it can also appear as a small tree with many branches.
The branches have greenish bark that becomes grey over time and is fairly smooth.
The leaves are alternate, with an entire margin, ovate and rounded at the apex, and located near the tips of the branches.The thin, rigid leaf blade is dark green in spring and light green in summer, then turns yellow, orange, or red in autumn before falling.
The flowers are small, yellow-green, and inconspicuous; however, in summer, the inflorescence forms feathery, highly branched, pyramidal clusters, giving the plant a unique and characteristic appearance.
The fruits are very small and display a brown-purple colour that fades to grey. They are borne on peduncles covered with soft, feathery hairs, which is also why the plant is called the “fog tree.” The fruit contains substances with a toxic effect.
Its tenacious roots are adapted to cling to rocks and penetrate poor, calcareous soils.
Habitat
Found in the Mediterranean region, as well as in China and the southern United States.
Properties and Uses
The leaves are rich in turpentine and tannin, which is why they were once used as an astringent and for tanning leather.
The bark is also used for dyeing.
Notes and Curiosities
C. coggygria plants are cultivated for their vibrant foliage, lasting from spring to autumn. Before dropping, the leaves put on a magnificent display in shades of red and orange. In summer, they also produce soft clouds of tiny infructescences, inspiring the name “fog tree.”
In the botanical garden of Villa Heller, this species appears as a large shrub or even a true tree. One can easily spot it near the Japanese garden area, around the koi carp pond. The plant presents visitors with large, pink, feathery inflorescences, reminiscent of cotton candy in shape.