Why is it called staghorn sumac?
It gets its picturesque common name from the fact that its young twigs, like its berries, are covered with wine-colored hairs, like the velvet-covered horns of stags in spring. Despite its unusual features, the staghorn sumac is so common that it usually escapes notice. Staghorn Sumac is an absolute blessing to humanity and all life and has a wide range of uses from craft to beekeeping, from herbal to edible. The berries are high in Vitamin C and have incredible amounts of antioxidants, making them a wonderful healthful food.Although it is related to poison sumac, staghorn sumac is NOT poisonous. Wildlife enthusiasts should, however, feel somewhat of an itch to have this plant on their property, especially this time of year.Non-poisonous sumac has red berries. Poison Sumac differs from other sumacs in having shorter leaves, fewer leaflets, and smooth leaf edges. Habitat/Distribution: Present in the eastern United States and Canada.Staghorn Sumac has been used by Indigenous peoples, including the Dakota and Ojibwe, for centuries. Its berries are an important source of Vitamin C and are often used in teas to prevent illness. The plant’s bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine, and its wood is sometimes used in crafts.
Is staghorn sumac poisonous?
Staghorn Sumac: Habitat: Common in shrubby areas, along roadsides, and in tree lines. Leaves: Compound leaves with 9-31 toothed leaflets. Berries: Upright clusters of red, fuzzy berries. Toxicity: Non-poisonous; does not contain urushiol oil. Butterfly Garden are the bright red, cone-shape infructescence of the staghorn sumac. Although sumac gets a bad reputation for being poisonous, these berries are no red flags. In fact, most sumac are safe to eat, and delicious. Sumacs belong to the family Anacardiaceae.
Can I touch staghorn sumac?
Unlike the unrelated poison sumac, staghorn sumac is not poison- ous to the touch. The bark is grayish-brown and has numerous lenticels. Staghorn Sumac: Habitat: Common in shrubby areas, along roadsides, and in tree lines. Leaves: Compound leaves with 9-31 toothed leaflets. Berries: Upright clusters of red, fuzzy berries. Toxicity: Non-poisonous; does not contain urushiol oil.