The leaflets of smooth sumac have teeth along the edges and are greater in number (eleven to thirty-one) than those seen in poison sumac (figure 11). If you learn how to identify the plant by its bark, then you will be able to avoid coming into contact with poison sumac in winter (after it has lost its leaves). An extremely poisonous plant, contact with its leaves and stems can cause severe itching and swelling in humans. Ute basket weavers preferred the supple twigs of fragrant sumac for ceremonial baskets, while willow branches could be used to weave coarser working baskets. Smooth sumac has smooth stems, like poison sumac. Outstand-ing red fall color. Tea prepared from green twigs was used to treat tuberculosis. Young leaves are often bright orange. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), at top, has fuzzy fruit and stems and is named “staghorn” because the fuzzy fruit spike resembles a stag’s horn in velvet. Smooth Sumac is a native deciduous shrub appearing in every state and parts of Canada growing 9-15 feet tall and wide. Discover the fulfilling senior assisted lifestyle at AltaVita Assisted Living! Poison sumac is a deciduous tree or shrub with an open form. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Poison sumac has clusters of waxy, hairless, whitish berries that are suspended UNDER the branches, like grapes. Where Poison Sumac is Located. It typically reaches about 6 metres (20 feet) in height. Please note: the non-poisonous Sumac yields clusters of red berries and is extremely common throughout the Adirondacks (and completely harmless). A rinse made from boiled berries was applied to stop bleeding after childbirth. As this specialist feeds it drills many tiny holes in the leaves. The fruit is persistent on the shrub into winter. The sumacs are members of the Anacardiaceae (or Cashew Family), like cashews, mangos, and a few common poisonous species. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Mitton: Smooth sumac’s deep red berries are edible, but its leaves poisonous Plant was an important source of food, medicine, weaving materials and dyes The dark green summer foliage turns an excellent yellow to orange-red-purple combinations in fall. The buds are small, covered with brown hair and borne on fat, hairless twigs. Poison sumac is a shrub or small tree differentiated from the common sumac, staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) growing along U.S. highways and roads in USDA zones 4 through 8, by its leaves and berries. So while sumac fruit is not really a favorite wildlife food, it is an important winter survival food. [5] In 2020, archaeologists unearthed a pipe at a dig in Central Washington state, showing chemical evidence that a Native American tribe had smoked Rhus glabra either alone or in a blend with tobacco, perhaps "for its medicinal qualities and to improve the flavor of smoke. These leaves are tip shaped with a smooth texture (unlike staghorn sumac), and remind also laurel leaves. A good choice for difficult sites, mass plantings, screening and highways plantings. They contain tannins, phytols and three different compounds related to gallic acid, which have antimicrobial activities. Where Poison Sumac Grows. Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is a small tree that has loose fruit clusters and smooth bark. Flameleaf or shining sumac, Rhus copallina, has more orange and red color in fall and the leaves are smooth and shiny on the top side, as the name implies. Tannins extracted from leaves produce a brown dye. Shining sumac is easily identified by its grooved stems between the leaflets. Please note: the non-poisonous Sumac yields clusters of red berries and is extremely common throughout the Adirondacks (and completely harmless). A sumac plant is a type of small tree or shrub with compound leaves, milky sap, and fleshy fruit.. How to Identify Staghorn or Smooth Sumac. Burn sumac wood only if you are certain it is not poison sumac, and only under certain controlled circumstances. Key facts for identification: Grows up to 20 feet tall; Has red stems The leaves mature to a deep glossy green … Native Americans used the drupes medicinally to treat sunburn and sores and to make red and black dyes; the flowers to treat sore mouths; the roots to treat sore throats and to make a yellow dye; and sometimes smoked the dried red leaves. The arsenal of chemical defenses is so effective that only the sumac leaf beetle, Blepharida rhois, can eat the leaves of smooth sumac and fragrant sumac. The leaves are alternate, 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, compound with 11–31 oppositely paired leaflets, each leaflet 5–11 cm (2–4 1⁄4 in) long, with a serrated margin. This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) General Description A large, loose, open-spreading shrub with a flattish crown. Usually grows in masses and suckers profusely. Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Both of these common species usually grow in groups of small trees, actually clonal colonies from a single spreading rootstock. A surprising range of pigments were extracted from sumac for dyeing baskets and blankets. A sumac plant is a type of small tree or shrub with compound leaves, milky sap, and fleshy fruit.. Sep 9, 2019 - Explore Jimmy Knapp's board "Poison sumac", followed by 110 people on Pinterest. The poison sumac does not possess hair on its stem and branches and this can help to identify it from the staghorn sumac. Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac,[2] (also known as white sumac, upland sumac, or scarlet sumac)[3] is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. Berries were frequently eaten raw but also made into a refreshing lemonade. Navajo used fermented berries to create an orange-brown dye, while a different extraction from berries produced red. Deer, small mammals and numerous species of birds consume sumac berries from both smooth and fragrant sumac. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the three poisonous plants inhabit many of the same areas. In the northeast the staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina, synonym: Rhus hirta) predominates. Tea prepared from leaves was used to treat asthma and diarrhea. This variety is called Toxicodendron vernix (previously called Rhus vernix). The family-oriented approach is designed with your loved ones in... Jeff Mitton, mitton@colorado.edu, is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado. If your barn cat goes through poison ivy or poison oak and you pick it up- you’re going to get the poisonous oil on you. In North America, there is also a poisonous variety of sumac which would-be nature harvesters must be on the alert for. Smooth sumac often grows in stands and seems to like sunny banks. Sumac can be both poisonous and not. See more ideas about poison sumac plant, sumac, poison. However, one species, Rhus glabra, (Roos GLAY-bra) the “smooth sumac” is found in all contiguous 48 states.The Indians used the shoots of the Rhus glabra in “salads” though many ethonobotanists say the natives never really made “salads” as we know the term. Bud Color - Gray-brown. The poisonous oil could be on the shovel, so washing it will prevent you from accidentally touching it later on and getting a rash. The answer to the question is “Yes and No.” Yes, poison sumac does exist and no, not all sumac is poisonous. Usually grows in masses and suckers profusely. Its leaves are especially attractive because they are much lighter on the underside than on the top surface. Leaves and Buds Bud Arrangement - Alternate. U.S. Weed Information; Rhus glabra . Smooth sumac is well known for its brilliant red fall foliage and its deep red berries. The stems of most non-poisonous varieties are rough and hairy, though there are some non-poisonous varieties with smoother leaves and stems, such as smooth sumac and winged sumac. Juice extracted from roots was believed to cure warts. Deer forage the twigs and fruit. Name – Rhus typhina Family – Anacardiaceae Type – shrub. Interspersed throughout the bush are cones of petite red berries that add a wonderful splash of color. It is a thicket-forming shrub or small tree with a spreading crown. smooth sumac. Poison Sumac contrasts with other sumacs by having shorter leaves that aren't as elongated and are smooth around the edges. Unlike winged sumac, it lacks flattened leafy “wings” along the central stems of the compound leaves. Pick out the oblong shape of the poison sumac’s leaves. Similar Images . List of key staghorn tree facts. Neither staghorn nor smooth sumac are harmful to skin. Staghorn sumac, also called vinegar sumac, is a short tree that grows in a roundish shape. Native Americans ate the young sprouts as a salad. Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) General Description A large, loose, open-spreading shrub with a flattish crown. 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. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Staghorn Sumac has leaves that have a hairy leaf stem and rachis, the stem that the leaflets are attached to. Staghorn sumac, also called vinegar sumac, is a short tree that grows in a roundish shape. Height – 16 feet (5 m) Exposure – full sun Soil – ordinary. The leaves turn scarlet in the fall. One of the easiest shrubs to identify throughout the year (unless mistaken for poison sumac, in the absence of mature fruit), smooth sumac has a spreading, open-growing shrub growing up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall, rarely to 5 m (16 ft). Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac, (also known as white sumac, upland sumac, or scarlet sumac) is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. Add to Likebox #137478415 - scumpia flowers,tree of the sumac family in the garden. Poison Sumac differs from other sumacs in having shorter leaves, fewer leaflets, and smooth leaf edges. 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): Smooth sumac is a thicket-forming shrub or small tree with a spreading crown. List of key staghorn tree facts. 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. Beginners at plant identification can easily confuse poison sumac and non-rash-causing types of sumac such as staghorn sumac.Indeed, the plants are related. Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) are commonly occurring shrubs that may be mistaken for poison sumac, but there are several clear differences. Foliage – deciduous Flowering – June to August. Height – 16 feet (5 m) Exposure – full sun Soil – ordinary. All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies. Now, however, we are getting back to discovering the truth behind this plant. No, really! 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. See more ideas about Sumac, Poisonous plants, Poison. Honor your veteran with a memorial marker or tombstone by Landmark Monuments. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. Non-poisonous sumac has red berries. It is extremely drought tolerant and is often found in disturbed areas, open woodlands, prairies, on dry rocky hillsides, and in canyons.