Cashew Family

The Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family or sumac family, are a family of flowering plants, including about 83 genera with about 860 known species. Members of the Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes and in some cases produce urushiol, an irritant. The Anacardiaceae include numerous genera, several of which are economically important, notably cashew (in the type genus Anacardium), mango, Chinese lacquer tree, yellow mombin, Peruvian pepper, sumac, smoke tree, marula, and cuachalalate. The genus Pistacia (which includes the pistachio and mastic tree) is now included, but was previously placed in its own family, the Pistaciaceae.

The cashew family is more abundant in warm or tropical regions, with only a few species living in the temperate zones. Mostly native to tropical Americas, Africa, and India. Pistacia and some species of Rhus can be found in southern Europe, Rhus species can be found in much of North America, and Schinus inhabits South America exclusively.