Pinnate and compound, Smooth Sumac leaves are large, fern-like constructions with smooth green or purple stems supporting pairs of shiny, dark green, lance-shaped leaflets and a single terminal leaflet . Each leaf is between 1 and 1-1/2 feet long and contains 11 to 31 leaflets. Leaflets all have shallow, toothed edges.
What does smooth sumac look like?
Pinnate and compound, Smooth Sumac leaves are large, fern-like constructions with smooth green or purple stems supporting pairs of shiny, dark green, lance-shaped leaflets and a single terminal leaflet . Each leaf is between 1 and 1-1/2 feet long and contains 11 to 31 leaflets. Leaflets all have shallow, toothed edges.
How can you tell the difference between staghorn and smooth sumac?
The Smooth Sumac and Shining Sumac are smooth both on the twigs and the fruits. The leaves of the three species differ slightly as well . Staghorn Sumac has leaves that have a hairy leaf stem and rachis, the stem that the leaflets are attached to. Smooth Sumac has none of the hair on the leaves.
Can you eat smooth sumac?
Smooth sumac has edible berries and poisonous but medicinal leaves.
What is the difference between smooth sumac and poison sumac?
The Short Answer: Poison sumac is a large shrub or small tree found in wet areas. ... To differentiate poison sumac from other common sumacs, count the number of leaflets . Staghorn and smooth sumac have more than 13 leaflets, and the leaflets have a serrated edge.
Can you eat sumac raw?
Food Use. The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries . These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they’re most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. ... The roots and shoots of these sumac plants are also eaten peeled and raw during the spring.
Where is smooth sumac found?
Smooth Sumac is a native deciduous shrub appearing in every state and parts of Canada growing 9-15 feet tall and wide. It is found in most regions of NC. It is extremely drought tolerant and is often found in disturbed areas, open woodlands, prairies, on dry rocky hillsides, and in canyons.
When should you cut back sumac?
Gardeners should prune these trees in late winter or early spring , while the sumac tree remains dormant. Most trees get pruned at this time, except those that have showy spring flowers grown on old growth, where pruning would reduce the flower display.
Is sumac an invasive plant?
Although sumac is native, it is highly invasive . ... Sumac is a woody plant that has the potential for forming large clones. The shade under these clones can be enough to suppress virtually all native vegetation. It spreads by rhizomes which form a complex underground root system.
Does all sumac spread?
The plants are easily spread by seed, but usually far away from your own garden so there is less pulling needed for errant new plants. However, sumacs can spread from underground rhizomes into sometimes –large colonies.
How can you tell sumac?
The most obvious difference is that poison sumac has white berries, not red berries . The red fruits are a distinctive characteristic of Rhus plants such as staghorn sumac. Poison sumac berries are flattish, waxy and grow separately, while the red berries of staghorn sumac are fused together.
What are the side effects of sumac?
Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant leads to an itchy, burning allergic skin reaction . Poison sumac is considered more allergenic than both poison ivy and poison oak. These are other well-known plants that are also in the Toxicodendron genus of the sumac family.
What is the benefit of sumac?
Sumac is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory spices out there. It ranks high on the ORAC chart, which means it’s packed with antioxidants and has the ability to neutralize free radicals that can cause cancer, heart disease, and signs of aging. Sumac is also a beneficial ingredient for those with type 2 diabetes.
How do you eat sumac?
Ground, dried sumac berries taste great as a spice rub for lamb, fish and chicken . These berries are also used as a salad topping, and you can include them in your favorite dressings. Middle Eastern chefs use sumac as a topping for fattoush salad, and are often sprinkled on hummus to add both color and a zesty flavor.
What does sumac smell like?
Sumac is a red or purplish-red powdered spice made from the berries and occasionally the leaves of the sumac bush. It has a tart, lemony taste and smell that comes from malic acid on the sumac berries. It is not, though, as sour as lemon or vinegar.
Is everyone allergic to poison sumac?
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac all contain an oil called urushiol (yur-oo-shee-aal). If you have an allergic reaction to this oil, you can develop a rash. Because most people are allergic to this oil , just about everyone who comes into contact with it develops a rash.
