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STAGHORN SUMACH. 

 Rhus typhina, Linnaeus. 



FORM A shrub or small tree usually reaching a height of 10-20 ft. but may reach a height 

 of 40 ft. with a diameter of 15 inches. Trunk usually short, bearing a broad flat-topped crown. 

 Lateral branches are decidedly ascending. 



BARK On old trunks rough, dark brown, sometimes scaly; on younger trunks and branches 

 smooth, thin, somewhat papery, covered with numerous lenticels which later develop into rough 

 dots. Rich in tannin. 



TWIGS Covered for 3 years with brown to black velvety pubescence, later smooth, stout, 

 flumsy; if cut or punctured exude a milky Juice, which turns black upon exposure. Twigs are 

 often frozen back in winter, covered with conspicuous orange-colored lenticels, and contain a large 

 yellowish-brown pith. 



BUDS Alternate; terminal bud absent; conical, spherical obtuse, covered with dense rusty 

 hairs. 



LEAVES Alternate, compound, 16-24 inches long, with stout wingless petiole and 11-31 leaflets. 

 Leaflets oblong, 2-5 inches long, nearly sessile, acute at apex, serrate on margin, rounded or 

 heart-shaped at base; when mature smooth, dark green above, and pale beneath. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, nearly encircle bud, large, conspicuous, U-shaped, contain scattered 

 bundle-scars sometimes grouped in 3s. 



FLOWERS Appear in May or June. Occur in dense yellowish-green panicles. Staminate 

 panicles are about 8-12 inches long and 5-6 inches broad. Pistillate panicles are only 5-8 inches 

 long but more compact. 



FRUIT Arranged in compact, erect, cone-like, red clusters which are 5-8 inches long, 2-3 

 inches broad and persist far into winter. Only plants bearing pistillate flowers produce fruit. 

 The single fruit is a spherical drupe covered with red hairs and contains a small hard seed. 

 Sumachs with red fruit are not poisonous. 



WOOD Ring-porous; brittle, soft, orange-colored, streaked with green, rather satiny to 

 touch. Sapwood broad and white. Weighs 27.15 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for manufacture of 

 spiles, cups, napkin rings, and balls for darning stockings. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Staghorn Sumach, also known as Velvet Sumach, 

 can be distinguished from all our native Sumachs by its velvety pubescent twigs. The Smooth 

 Sumach (Rhus glabra L.) is usually smaller and has its twig covered with a bloom, but not with 

 pubescence. The Dwarf Sumach (Rhus copallina) has winged petioles and a watery juice 

 while the Staghorn Sumach has no winged leaf -petioles but has a milky juice. The Poison Sumach 

 has a terminal bud, white drooping fruit, entire leaf-margins, leaf-scars which do not encircle 

 buds, and frequents swamps, while the Staghorn Sumach has no terminal bud, has red and erect 

 fruit clusters, serrate leaf-margins, leaf-scars which almost encircle buds, and frequents dry 

 soils. 



RANGE New Brunswick to Minnesota, and southward to Georgia and Alabama. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Locally throughout the State. Very common in eastern 

 and southern parts. Rarer in northern and -western parts. 



HABITAT Usually found on fertile dry upland soil. Rarer on border of swamps and streams. 

 Frequents abandoned fields and fences. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species is of little commercial importance. The 

 wood is rarely used. The bark of the stem and roots, and the leaves are rich in tannin. It IB 

 occasionally planted for ornamental purposes. 



