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Sumac, Rhus spp. (ANACARDIACEAE)
R. copallina
R. glabra
Jay Sturner, CC-BY-2.0
R. typhina
SUMAC is in the Rhus genus, which includes cashews, winged between leaflets. R. glabra is similar to R.
mangos and pistachios, containing 35 woody North typhina, but twigs and leaf stalks are hairless. Leaflets
American species. Plants have feather compound are dark, shiny green on top and whitish beneath, 2-4
leaves and grow as shrubs or small trees with stout, inches (5-10cm) long and 0.5-1.2 inches (1.2-3cm)
pithy twigs that have a milky sap. Rhus’ with red ber- wide. R. typhina has 11 to 21 toothed leaflets, measur-
ries all have fruits that are considered edible. Edible ing 1-2 ft. (30-60cm). Twigs and leaf stalks are very
species are: Staghorn Sumac, R. typhina (up to 30 hairy.
ft./9m tall); Dwarf or Winged Sumac, R. copallina
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit and very young peeled shoots
(4-10 ft./1-3m); Smooth Sumac, R. glabra (4-15 ft./1-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Leaves are known to help
4.5m).
with skin rashes, sore gums and lips. Berries are used
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Small, hairy, dry red fruits are
for diabetes, constipation, female disorders, bladder
found in dense, terminal clusters. Fruits persist after
issues, coughs, and asthma.
ripening. They do not fall off. R. copallina/copallinum
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest ripe fruit clus-
has tiny, yellow-green flowers in dense cone-shaped
ters starting in late summer through the autumn. Lick
clusters. Dull red fruits/berries appear in August-Oc-
like a lollipop for a lemony thirst quencher. Very young
tober. R. glabra has tiny, red flowers in dense, cone-
spring shoots are edible peeled before a pith forms.
shaped clusters 4-10 inches (10-25cm) long. Red
fruits/berries appear in June-October. R. typhina has SUMAC BERRY LEMONADE: Bruise dried berries.
tiny, red flowers in dense, cone-shaped clusters 4-8 Soak for 15 min. in cold water. Strain, sweeten to taste,
inches (10-20cm) long. Red fruits/berries appear in and refrigerate.
June-September. POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Poisonous species in-
LEAF: Leaves are large, odd-pinnate. R. copallina has clude Rhus radicans, Rhus vernix. Both cause contact
11 to 23 glossy leaflets with toothless margins, mea- skin dermatitis, with R. vernix causing much more se-
suring 6-14 inches (15-35cm) long. Central rachis is rious reactions.
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