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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 tt height 

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

 Ijiteral branches are decidedly ascending. 



BASK — On old trunks rough, dark brown, soraetimcs scaly; on younger trunks and branches 

 smooth, thin, somewhat papery, covered witJi 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, 

 lumsy; If cut or punctured exude ■ 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 

 halre. 



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

 I.eaflets 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-SCAES— 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. Stamlnate 

 panicles are about 8 12 inches long and 5-0 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, 3-3 

 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.ir> lbs. per cubic foot. Used for manufacture of 

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



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

 fan be distinguirhe,! from all our native Sumachs by its velvety pubescent twigs. The Smooth 

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

 pubescence. The Dwarf Sumach (Rhus copalllna* has winged petioles and a watery Juice 

 while the Staghorn Sumach has no winged leaf-p'tioles but has a milky Juice. The Poison Sumach 

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

 buds, and fre<ioents 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. Barer In northern and western ra^ts. 



HABITAT— Usually found on fertile dry upland soil. Barer 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 Is 

 occasionally planted for ornamental purposes. 



