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| Location |
| At the West Entrance, near mile marker 0.0 |
| Fact about this tree and why it was chosen |
| Staghorn sumac typically grows in colonies. This stand announces its presence to students, staff, and visitors at the west entrance of campus. |
| Latin name |
| Rhus typhina |
| Fun facts |
- Staghorn sumac is an important, though not preferred, winter food source for many non-migratory bird species. Seed germination is improved by passing through the digestive tract of many of these species.
- Native Americans used staghorn sumac leaves as a substitute for tobacco or in blends with tobacco.
- The berries, more specifically a drupe (as in cherries, peaches, and plums), when pressed in cold water (hot water will leach the bitter tannins also found in the fruits), release a lemony flavor that can be used to make an “ade”, also known as ‘rhus juice’. Drupes of the more pungent relative, the elm leaved sumac (Rhus coriara), are dried, ground, and used extensively as a lemon substitute or as a component of the spice blend zatar, a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine.
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How to identify this tree: |
| Leaf |
| Staghorn sumac leaves are large (up to two feet long), arranged alternately on the stem, and divided into 11-31 leaflets. The foliage turns vibrant red in autumn. |
| Soil |
| Staghorn sumac is indifferent to soil conditions but is shade intolerant. As a result, you will often find this shrub in disturbed sites, such as along railroad tracks and burned areas. |
| Twig |
| This shrub’s common name is derived from the general resemblance of the bare twig clusters to deer antlers. The twigs of staghorn sumac are densely hairy, giving it a velvety appearance. |
| Other |
The species is known for the hairy clusters of red fruits produced on female plants. These are persistent, making it possible to distinguish female plants from male plants in the winter landscape. The fruits of both poison ivy and poison sumac are white in contrast to the distinctive red fruits of staghorn sumac.
Staghorn sumac belongs to the Anacardiaceae family which includes edibles such as cashews, mangoes and pistachios. This family also includes noxious relatives poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix). The latter also has compound leaves with a large number of leaflets (up to 13).
It reaches maturity after only a few years. Combined with the ability to produce clones asexually, staghorn sumac has the potential to become a nuisance plant. |