Forest Fridays: Sumac – Invasive or Toxic? – Tech Cyber Internet

Creator: Chris Firestone

NEITHER!

In Pennsylvania there are 4 species of sumac within the Rhus genus and Anacardiaceae (Cashew) household. The 4 species are native, not toxic, and never invasive. Maybe the most typical and well-known species of sumac in Pennsylvania is staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), whose stems are lined with dense, quick, and stout hairs resembling deer antlers in velvet. Like different sumacs, it’s dioecious; the male flowers are very enticing to pollinators however don’t persist by means of the rising season; nevertheless the crimson, bushy berry clusters of the feminine crops stand out the whole yr. I’ve noticed migrating robins consuming these berries in a March snow squall. This time of yr, the sensible crimson of the staghorn sumac leaves alongside the roadways add to the autumn shade.

Staghorn sumac has been known as invasive, particularly when seen in dense colonies shaped by its clonal behavior. Moreover, its look and comparable options to the frequent and invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) might erroneously give somebody the concept that staghorn sumac is invasive. Each species have compound leaves, however the margins of the leaflets are toothed, total, and clean in staghorn sumac, with one tooth on both aspect on the base of the leaflet serving to to distinguish tree-of-heaven. Staghorn sumac doesn’t emit the distinctive odor discovered when crushing leaves of tree-of-heaven. One other distinction is that the fruit of staghorn sumac can be utilized to make a scrumptious and refreshing drink. I don’t need to strive that with tree-of-heaven fruit!

Different native sumac species contributing to Pennsylvania’s flora embody aromatic sumac (Rhus aromatica), japanese winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) and clean sumac (Rhus glabra). All may be discovered rising in dry woodlands and clearings and are frequent apart from aromatic sumac.

I can nearly hear the reader pondering, “What about poison sumac?”. It most actually grows in Pennsylvania and may trigger pores and skin irritation from the resin, urushiol, identical to poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), if the oils get in your pores and skin. Nevertheless, poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is extra intently associated to poison ivy than the opposite 4 species of sumac and is sumac by title solely. Poison ivy and poison sumac are in the identical household  because the sumacs (Anacardiaceae). Poison sumac is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that grows 99 p.c of the time in peatmoss-dominated wetlands. One is unlikely to come across poison sumac out exploring Penns Woods on dry land.

Forest Fridays is a undertaking of the Pennsylvania Division of Conservation and Pure Sources, Bureau of Forestry.  Content material and images shared courtesy of the creator.