Sumac grows in colonies, with the older trees in the center as the tallest, and then gradually shorter tree/shrubs radiating out. Since there are poisonous plants in the Anacardiaceae family, and since poison sumac does resemble some of the food sumacs during its foliage stage, care should be taken when foraging. I realized when I began to write this article that I don’t really know what the fruit of the Staghorn Sumac shrub is called. • The berries are high in vitamin C and are useful for colds, fever and scurvy. Do Staghorn Sumac Shrubs Have Seeds or Berries or What? Common names: Velvet sumac, Hairy sumac… The most popular sumacs for landscape use are winged, staghorn, and smooth sumac, either the native wild species or specially-bred cultivated varieties such as the golden leaf “Tiger Eye” sumac. Staghorn sumac is native to the eastern parts of Canada and the U.S. By late summer it has beautiful autumn-coloured foliage and the fruit is a brilliant crimson red. Yet another name for sumac is staghorn. The name staghorn derives from the velvety antler horns on stags. Sumac is a fairly common plant, and you were probably taught for years that it is poisonous and should be avoided. Multiple branched shrub with large compound leaves turning a rainbow of colors early in the fall. This tree is wild and in some areas of the country invasive. Opening Plant Material . Staghorn Sumac, as pictured, is a favorite rubbing substrate. Smooth sumac has smooth stems, like poison sumac. Stag's Horn Sumach, Velvet Sumac, Staghorn Sumac: Family: Anacardiaceae: USDA hardiness: 4-8: Known Hazards: There are some suggestions that the sap of this species can cause a skin rash in susceptible people, but this has not been substantiated. But staghorn sumac is not poisonous. Another common wildlife food genus, related to sumac. While poison sumac is rare, when you find it in its typical wetland habitat, you may find quite a bit. Bark is dark brown and smooth or scaly. Twigs are hairy. Several Great Choices. The Staghorn Sumac, growing up to 30ft. I figured that you may also have to someday figure out the difference so here is what I found to help you identify the difference (please not I am not an expert and I highly recommend that you err on the side of caution unless you are 100% sure): Where is the sumac growing? Oct 2, 2020 - Explore Kim Kidd's board "Poison sumac plant" on Pinterest. • You can even make sumac jelly. • It was used by Native Americans to blend with tobacco. Or, more accurately, staghorn sumac. Staghorn Sumac berries could help make a delightful, healthful drink! See more ideas about poison sumac plant, sumac, poison. Sumac grows prolifically in many parts of the U.S. Staghorn and smooth sumac may be seen in landscapes, but are also found in woodlands and along roadsides. Staghorn Sumac Fruit (Drupe) - Fruit du sumac vinaigrier (Drupe) Rhus typhnina (Anacardiaceae - Anacardiacées) Cone-shaped clusters of red fruits is not poisonous. The fruits are generally red. It is native to states farther east and north of Missouri. Now, however, we are getting back to discovering the truth behind this plant. The plant is in the Anacardiaceae family. But the non-poisonous sumac, also known as Staghorn sumac, is safe to pick. Is It Poison or Therapeutic? What do the stems and the edges of the leaves look like? Naturally Curious is supported by donations. Staghorn sumac is not poisonous . It blooms particularly around June to July, maturing from August to September. This variety has white berries that grow along the stem, and hang in clusters, like teeny white grapes. Poison sumac has clusters of waxy, hairless, whitish berries that are suspended UNDER the branches, like grapes. Yes, some varieties are poisonous, but many are not, and it’s not difficult to distinguish them. Stags are adult male deers. The most common non-poisonous sumac, staghorn sumac, bears bright orange or red berries which grow at the ends of the stems, and they are held upright on the stems. Les grappes de fruits rouges en forme de cône ne sont pas toxiques. What I tried is called staghorn sumac, which is native to NA, but has been taken to some other parts of the world. tall, is a perennial deciduous shrub often associated with its poisonous relative Poison Sumac. This deciduous shrub likes full sun and matures to around 6' tall x 6' wide. Uses For Non-Poisonous Sumac Sumac may be getting a bad rap here. Hope that helps. When you find edible sumac, taste it before taking it - - put a fuzzy berry in your mouth. Comment by Tyler. It is one of the last plants to leaf out in the spring with bright green leaves that change to an attractive yellow, orange, and scarlet in fall. Its open habit and hairy stems resemble horns on a male deer, giving staghorn sumac its name. There are also similar varieties elsewhere but I am not familiar with them. Staghorn sumac has very fuzzy stems, hence the name staghorn. It … Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) Family : Anacardiaceae Zone: 3 - 8. Commonly found on field edges, roadsides and forest borders. Other sumacs such as staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina, are also members of the Anacardiaceae, but don’t necessarily produce urushiol. This stem configuration … Notice below that the poison sumac has white flowers in the spring, unlike staghorn sumac that has green. Winged Sumac, Rhus copallina, also bears dark red berries in an upright formation. It is classified as an invasive species in most states. It is distinguishable by its compound leaves, which turn a scarlet red color in the fall. Many people believe sumac is poisonous. There are multiple species of sumac that aren’t poisonous and make for great landscape plants. If you remember one simple saying, "Berries white, flee in fright" you will be good. The flowers of the tree are edible (for people) and contain lots of vitamin C. The stems of poison sumac are smooth and hairless, as are the leaves. Staghorn sumac has dentated leaves; in other words it has rough edges. The rash-causing agent, urushiol, is the same, and it causes the same rashes. See also notes in 'Cultivation Details'. Staghorn, Smooth, and other edible sumacs have fruit clusters at the ends of branches, and those fruit clusters tend to point sky-ward; the ripe fruits vary from red to purple, and anything in between. The Staghorn is not poisonous at all. Reply to this comment . Staghorn sumac has similar leaf arrangement to poison sumac but it has fuzzy fruit and stems. If fact, it is rich in its contributions to the environment. In fact, it is most often encountered in roadside ditches and at the edges of farm fields. This plant prefers open uplands, edges of forests, roadsides, and old fields for habitat. Harvesting Staghorn Sumac But isn't sumac poisonous? This variety is called Toxicodendron vernix (previously called Rhus vernix). • The berries can be steeped to make tea. My chihuahua mix eats the bark off a fallen staghorn sumac at least once a day, and has shown no ill effects. It grows to about 25 feet tall and has an irregular, open crown with a flat top. It has edible relatives that are similar, such as Smooth Sumac. When you hold staghorn sumac, the fuzz will gently brush off and the aromatic oils within the “fuzz” will stick to your hands. It's leaves are pinnately compound with 11 to 31 lance-shaped leaflets. They’re usually somewhere between 8 and 20 feet tall. Easily recognized by the fuzzy deep red fruit clusters at the tip of long branches. Poison sumac, while it looks more like harmless staghorn sumac than like poison-ivy and poison-oak, is actually more closely related to its three-leafed poisonous relatives. In the fall their canopy turns a brilliant shade of red. I’m willing to bet they aren’t nuts or acorns but are they berries, seeds, drupes, arils or what? Sumac can be both poisonous and not. It is usually taller than our other sumacs, typically growing 15 to 25 feet high. Staghorn sumac should be celebrated. This saying also works for the famed poison ivy. Staghorn sumac (R. typhina) is not native to Missouri, but it occurs in introduced populations in Greene County, in the St. Louis region, and possibly elsewhere. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has leaves somewhat similar to staghorn sumac. This is treasured for its interesting texture and form in the landscape. Burn sumac wood only if you are certain it is not poison sumac, and only under certain controlled circumstances. Poisonous variety of sumac. Shining sumac is easily identified by its grooved stems between the leaflets. Staghorn Sumac is more likely to be found within the eastern half in the United States. If it's good and lemony you'll know it! Sumac (pronounced (/ ˈ sj uː m æ k /) or (/ ˈ s uː m æ k /), and also spelled sumach, sumak, soumak, and sumaq) is any one of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae.It grows in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in East Asia, Africa, and North America. Can grow to a height of 20 ft at maturity. The staghorn sumac in some areas will grow more like a shrub than a tree. Poisonous sumac prefers damp, boggy areas. And for some people it is. If they are really staghorn sumac, the berries will have a pleasant lemony flavour. The only reference to poisonous plants is a picture of poison sumac for comparison. But the fruit stage of the Rhus sumacs and their Toxicodendron cousins—poison sumac, poison ivy and poison oak — look pretty different. Staghorn sumac is often used in mass plantings, for naturalizing, or on steep slopes. It is primarily found in southeastern Canada, the northeastern and midwestern United States, and the Appalachian Mountains, but it is widely cultivated as an ornamental throughout the temperate world. It is relatively rare compared to the other members of the family. The point I am trying to make here is that staghorn sumac is not poisonous! 2020-06-12 20:08:56 What are you talking about? However, its berries grow in dense clustered spikes rather than the looser arrangement found in poison sumac. He never says staghorn sumac is poisonous. In North America, there is also a poisonous variety of sumac which would-be nature harvesters must be on the alert for. Here's the STAGHORN SUMAC TREE, Rhus typhina! Regular sumac prefers drier areas. This is especially true if your skin is sensitive and comes in contact with sumac. Rhus typhina, the staghorn sumac, is a species of flowering plant in the family Anacardiaceae, native to eastern North America. Tiger Eyes Sumac is a cutleaf staghorn sumac selection with chartreuse leaflets changing to yellow contrasting with pink stems. Then just break off the berry cluster and take it home! You will not find poison sumac growing up on high, dry hillsides where non-poisonous ornamental kinds typically grow. Also known as velvet sumac due to its soft, fuzzy twigs, staghorn sumac is familiar to most people. Poison sumac has smooth leaves. Few trees can grow in such degraded soil like this tree can. So, check the berries first, then the stems and leaves. Controlling Sumac Smooth sumac, which is not toxic, grows wild in ravines, glens and prairies, in many parts of the U.S. Poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix, is related to the poison ivies and poison oaks, not to the other sumacs. 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