Rhus typhina

Object Details

Description
Staghorn sumac has extremely fuzzy, young stems which are covered in red-brown hairs. The branching, velvety nature of these young stems reminds some of the velvet that covers the horns of a stag, thus the name staghorn sumac. There are many types of sumacs, but this is the largest of the North American sumacs - and not in the same genus as poison sumac. When ripe, jelly or “pink lemonade” can be made from the fruit.
Hardiness
-40 - 20 F
Attracts
Birds
Bloom Time
June to July
Ethnobotanical Uses
"Pink lemonade" of "Indian lemondae" is made from the fruit.
Provenance
Uncertain
Range
Central to E. US; E. Canada
Habitat
Dry, rocky or gravelly soils, in old fields, clearings, roadsides, forest edges, open woods; 30-1500 meters
Topic
Trees
Living Collections
See more items in
Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
On Display
National Museum of Natural History
Data Source
Smithsonian Gardens
Accession Number
2011-1083A
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Common Name
Staghorn Sumac
Group
[vascular plants]
Class
Equisetopsida
Subclass
Magnoliidae
Superorder
Rosanae
Order
Sapindales
Family
Anacardiaceae
Genus
Rhus
Species
typhina
Life Form
Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub
Average Height
15-25'
Bark Characteristics
Extremely hairy stems can be used to identify species. Main stems are smooth with thin bark that sometimes peels off in layers.
Bloom Characteristics
Green-yellow, grow in large, hairy panicles. Male flower heads are larger than female heads.
Dioecious
Yes.
Fall Color
Orange, red, yellow
Foliage Characteristics
Alternate, pinnately compound leaves. 1-2' long. 13-27 leaflets are lanceolate with serrated margins. Each is 2-5" long.
Fruit Characteristics
Red drupe covered in hairs grows in pyramidal panicles. Matures in late August and persist through most of winter.
Key ID Characteristics
C-shaped leaf scars; extreme fuzziness on leaves and branches.
Structure
Open, flat-topped
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax777e0ac8a-82fe-49c0-b935-31a261cb862f
Record ID
ofeo-sg_2011-1083A
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
Photographed by: Hannele Lahti
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