365 Urban Species. #287: Staghorn Sumac. #288: Smooth Sumac.

[urbpan]

Photos by urbpan. Location: Olmsted Park, along the Jamaicaway. This photo depicts smooth sumac.

Urban species #287: Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina. Urban species #288: Smooth sumac Rhus glabra.

If a vacant lot or other cleared area is left unmowed long enough, it almost inevitably grows sumac. At least that's the case in eastern North America, where several species of this genus of weedy shrub grow. Sumacs prefer disturbed soil and bright sunlight. Often Ailanthus trees are confused with sumac, because both types of plant have similar compound leaves, and both aggressively colonize open areas in the city. Ailanthus will grow in shadier areas and in lower quality soils, and also tends to grow very straight, while sumac stems grow at angles, looking quite shrubby. Also the margins of sumac leaves are usually saw-toothed, while Ailanthus leaflets are smooth along most of their edges.

Staghorn sumac is named for the fuzzy upper stems of the plant, which resemble antlers in velvet. Smooth sumac is very similar in appearance to staghorn, but lacks the coating of small hairs. Staghorn sumac is more likely to grow in marshes, river edges, and drainage ditches, while smooth sumac tolerates only dry soil. According to Duke University, smooth sumac is the only shrub or tree that is native to all 48 contiguous United States. Staghorn sumac is found mainly in the eastern states and provinces. The fruit of both plants is a cone of hairy bright red berries (botanically speaking, they're "drupes," in case you're keeping track) that are attractive to birds, who will eat the seeds and spread them in their droppings. Humans can put these fruits in water, and strain and sweeten the result, for a lemonade-like drink. Native Americans apparently used sumac in conjunction with tobacco, using the fruit and the leaves for this purpose.

Sumacs spread by rhizome (underground stems) and can form dense stands. This attribute leads some authorities to consider sumacs to be invasive, but they generally are not invasive outside of disturbed areas. More often sumacs are praised for their amazing fall colors. Sometimes they are called "flamingo trees" for their color and posture. Their bright scarlet colors can be dramatic, and when the red leaves drop away, the red fruits persist, held up high for all to see (and for the birds to feed on) in winter.


Staghorn sumac.



The stems of smooth sumac.


The stem of staghorn sumac.

I know at least one reader has a photograph of sumacs in winter, with prominent fruits. As always, anyone who would like to share their photos is encouraged to do so in the comments.

Comments

[barn-swallow.livejournal.com]

I have been seeing this all over lately (or one of them anyway, I didn't look for fuzzy stems). It's cool to know what it is, thanks!

[artemii.livejournal.com]

ah! one of my favorite genuses. the "fruits" are amazing.

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

Smooth sumac



Galls on Staghorn Sumac, made by some sort of Hemipteran insect. I think they were aphids. The gall was filled with them when I opened it.

Sumacs in urban areas

[(Anonymous)]

Why are sumacs much more likely to grow in cleared urban areas than in cleared rural areas? In large cleared areas where the forestation of sumacs occur, will the natural vegetation (such as maples and oaks in my area of the country) ever take over? Could an "old growth-like" forest ever result from a forest of sumacs and weeds?

Re: Sumacs in urban areas

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Why are sumacs much more likely to grow in cleared urban areas than in cleared rural areas?

I wouldn't say that is the case. Sumacs are likely to grow in any cleared areas, as long as birds that have eaten their fruit are present.

In large cleared areas where the forestation of sumacs occur, will the natural vegetation (such as maples and oaks in my area of the country) ever take over? Could an "old growth-like" forest ever result from a forest of sumacs and weeds?

Sumacs are early successional shrubs. In areas where they predominate, eventually bigger plants (trees) will grow, creating shade that make the habitat poor for sumacs, and they die.

[says-bomb.livejournal.com]

This is very interesting. I was just out at Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor and remarked how beautiful it was with all the colorful sumac. The folks I was with, who had a large hand in the transformation of this island into a park, told me that it was all invasive. The island had been planted with a variety of native species, but the sumac arrived on its own, and is thriving and spreading.

galls

[(Anonymous)]

I have those same galls on my staghorn

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Staghorn sumac in summer. I don't remember how to embed a photo in a comment so I hope this link works.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gelana/sets/72157634909141753/