Drupaceous fruit from Cotinus coggygria (smoke bush), SEM

False-coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a drupaceous fruit from Cotinus coggygria (smoke bush). Smoke bush is a deciduous shrub which produces colourful foliage and gets its name from the wispy (smoke-like) haze of flowers it produces in spring and summer. Extracts from the tree have been used as a cholagogue (a medicinal agent which stimulates the flow of bile) and a febrifuge (a medicine used to reduce fever). A yellow to orange dye can be obtained from the root and stem of the tree. They also produce tannins. Width of image is 4.75 mm.