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Rhus spp.
Sumacs belong to the Anacardiaceae family, which is known as the Sumac or Cashew Family. Other members of the Anacaridaceae include Texas Pistache, Chinese Pistache, cashew, mango, and pistachio. Worldwide there are about 250 Rhus species found in both temperate and tropical regions. The name Rhus comes from the Greek word meaning ‘red’, and refers to the red leaves of some species in autumn, or the young leaves of other sumacs. The often strikingly red fall foliage is considered to serve as a “foliar fruit flag” attracting birds that act as dispersal agents for the fall-ripening fruits (Diggs et al. 1999). Sumacs are either small trees or shrubs with compound, alternate leaves. Flowers are small with 4-6 petals and clustered in terminal panicles. Fruits are tiny drupes in terminal clusters, ripening to red hairy in the fall. Wildlife Value: Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. Fruits ripen in the fall and remain on the plants into the winter and are available when more desirable foods are scarce. Fruits are consumed by a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, Virginia opossum, Northern bobwhite, ruffed gro8use, wild turkey and numerous other songbirds. Rabbits and deer feed on the bark and twigs. Sumacs are important species in range recovery and provide shade and shelter numerous species of wildlife. Ethnobotany: Southwestern Indians used various Rhus species in basketry, as dyes, medicines and making a cool, refreshing drink. Sumac fruits are flavored by malic acid, the same substance that gives apples their tartness. The leaves and finely ground twigs of several Texas Rhus species are considered among the best sources of vegetable tannins in the world. R. copallinum, R. aromatica, R glabrara contain from 10 to 33 percent tannic acid. Tannic acid furnishes a number of useful industrial products such as transforming animal skins into leather, and controlling the viscosity of mud while drilling oil wells. Tull, 1999 provides a recipe to make “Rhus Juice” or “Sumac-Ade”. To make this refreshing drink, collect several clusters of ripe red berries; remove leaves and large twigs. Rinse fruit and bruise the berries by rubbing them gently with the back of a spoon. Extract the juice by soaking the fruits in enough cool to warm water to cover the fruit fully. Since Sumacs contain high levels of tannic acid, use warm water rather than hot water to reduce the amount of tannic acid extracted from the fruits. Let berries soak for 30 minutes. Strain the juice through cheesecloth to remove twigs, hairs, and seeds. Sweeten to taste with sugar and honey. WARNING, some people have allergic reactions to sumac leaves and fruit. Sumacs are related to cashews and mangoes, if someone is allergic to these fruits they will most likely be allergic to sumac fruits. Species found in Texas: R. aromatica (Fragrant Sumac), R. choriophylla (New Mexico Evergreen Sumac), R. copallinum (Flame-Leaf Sumac), R. glabra (Smooth Sumac), R. lanceolata (Prairie Flame-Leaf Sumac), R. microphylla (Little-Leaf Sumac), R. sempervirens (Evergreen Sumac), R. typhina (Staghorn Sumac) Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Niki Ragan, an intern at Cooper Lake State Park for providing photos. |
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Rhus copallinum,
Winged sumac is a large, deciduous shrub or small tree, 20-35 ft. tall, with short, crooked trunks and open branching often found in large colonies. Colonies are often single-sexed, formed from a single, suckering parent or by birds spreading its seeds. Only female plants produce berries. Winged Sumac has dark-green, pinnately compound leaves that turn reddish-purple in the fall. Leaflets are hairy underneath. The rachis or leaf stems have prominent wings between the leaflets. The yellowish-green flowers are followed by drooping, pyramidal fruit clusters, which turn dull red and persist through winter. Winged or Shining Sumac is commonly found in Texas east of the hill country in prairies, thickets, and open woods and along fencerows and railroad tracks.
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Rhus glabra,
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Rhus lanceolata,
Jeff Sparks (Natural Resources Coordinator) and Ann Black Last Update: |
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Prairie Flameleaf Sumac is a small deciduous tree that grows to around 30 feet high, either as a single-trunked tree or suckering to form colonies. Its leaves turn vivid red in the fall. It is usually found on limestone or neutral soils, growing in the central part of Texas and in the higher mountain ranges of the Trans-Pecos. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant and tolerates neutral to alkaline soils. Its flowers are yellow-green and fruits ripen as red-brown drupes in tight cone-shaped terminal clusters on female trees. The fruits persist throughout the winter. It was once considered to be a variety of Shining Sumac, R. copallinum var. copallinum, but its leaves are narrower and slightly sickle-shaped, and it has a more refined and graceful growth habit than R. copallinum. R. lanceolata grows to the west of the White Rock Escarpment (Interstate 35 E), whereas Shining Sumac grows to the east.