Cotinus obovatus Raf., synonym C. americanus Nutt., family Anacardiceae American Smoketree Native to south-eastern United States, apparently becoming rare due to exploitation for an orange-red dye extracted from its wood. Cultivated as an ornamental in eastern States and Europe. Height to 9m (30ft) in the wild but often bushy in cultivation. Male and female flowers open in June on separate plants. Female flower heads look similar but have fewer flowers, leaving a mass of empty threadlike stalks which give a cloudy appearance to the tree, hence the name Smoketree. Fruit is likewise sparse, about 0.3cm (⅛ in) long. Leaves are bronze when they first unfold and colour beautiful clear reds in autumn.