Deciduous shrubs or trees, polygamous or dioecious. Leaves imparipinnately compound; leaf rachis sometimes winged; leaflets petiolate or sessile, with serrate or entire margin. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate or thyrsoid, floral subtending bracts persistent or deciduous. Flowers functionally unisexual or bisexual, 5-merous. Ovary 1-locular and 1-ovulate; styles 3, often united basally. Drupe globose, slightly compressed, mixed glandular pubescent and pilose, red at maturity; exocarp and mesocarp united; mesocarp glutinous, red.

Species in this genus are the hosts of gall-producing insects such as aphids. The galls of Rhus chinensis (角倍 "jiao bei") are particularly sought after for medicinal purposes. Other species in the genus also deliver galls (肚倍 "du bei"), but these are considered to be of an inferior quality.

About 250 species: subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world; six species (four endemic) in China.