The Sumac Family

Winged Sumac Winged Sumac Eastern Poison-ivy Eastern Poison-ivy

What are they?

A family of scrubby bushes or small trees, several species of which are notorious for their toxicity. Many species produce copious amounts of fruit which provide important food for migrant and wintering birds.

Where are they found?

Often common constituents of scrubby, secondary growth in old fields and other abandoned areas.

Identification

Two widespread and common species, with other, rarer species being identified by leaf and/or stem details.



Winged Sumac      Rhus copallinum

A very common and widespread shrub throughout the region, as a component of secondary growth in abandoned fields, open woodland edge and hedgerows. Flowers July to September. Generally seen as a spreading shrub but capable of growing to a small tree of fifteen feet or so in height.
Winged Sumac Winged Sumac Winged Sumac Winged Sumac
Habit
Flowers
Leaf midrib
is winged
Fruit
Winged Sumac Winged Sumac Winged Sumac
Winter twig
Bark
Fall color

Smooth Sumac      Rhus glabra

A native plant in Northern New Jersey but at Cape May probably only occurs as a garden escape; currently only known as an occasional shrub of field edges. Flowers June to July. Young stems hairless.
Smooth Sumac Smooth Sumac Smooth Sumac
Habit
Leaf
Leaf edge toothed
Smooth Sumac Smooth Sumac Smooth Sumac Smooth Sumac
Stem smooth
Milky sap
Fruiting head
Winter buds

Staghorn Sumac      Rhus typhina

A native plant in Northern New Jersey but at Cape May probably only occurs as a garden escape; currently only known as an occasional shrub of disturbed waste ground. Flowers June to July. Young stems are covered in dense hairs, making them resemble stag antlers when in 'velvet'.
Staghorn Sumac Staghorn Sumac Staghorn Sumac Staghorn Sumac
Habit
Flowers
Leaf
Fruit
Staghorn Sumac Staghorn Sumac
Young stems coated
in dense hairs
Winter twig

Fragrant Sumac      Rhus aromatica

A North American native shrub that only occurs in New Jersey as a garden escape. Flowers April to May. The three-lobed leaves are vaguely similar to Eastern Poison-ivy but are always clearly much stiffer and have rounded lobes around their margins.
Fragrant Sumac Fragrant Sumac Fragrant Sumac
Leaves
Leaf
Flowers

Fragrant Sumac Fragrant Sumac
Winter bud
Winter flower buds

Atlantic Poison-oak     Toxicodendron pubescens

An uncommon plant of dry, sandy ground, but perhaps easily overlooked in the presence of the abundance of poison-ivy in the region. Flowers May to June. Grows as a low shrub, never as a climber; undersides of leaves hairy.
Atlantic Poison-oak Atlantic Poison-oak Atlantic Poison-oak Atlantic Poison-oak
Habit
Flowers
Young leaves
Leaf

Atlantic Poison-oak Atlantic Poison-oak Atlantic Poison-oak
Leaves hairy below
Leaf petioles downy
Winter buds

Eastern Poison-ivy     Toxicodendron radicans

A very common plant in most habitats, usually in wetter soils. This plant is well-known for its toxicity which can be found in all parts of the plant, producing chemical burns when coming into contact with susceptible people. A very variable plant which can be found as a bush, a climber, or sprawling over the ground. Flowers May to July.
Eastern Poison-ivy Eastern Poison-ivy Eastern Poison-ivy Eastern Poison-ivy
Flowers
Young leaves
Leaves
Leaves

Eastern Poison-ivy Eastern Poison-ivy
Waxy fruits
Winter buds

Poison Sumac      Toxicodendron vernix

This plant was once described as being common in swamps, but it now appears to be very rare with just a handful of recent records. The burning and itching sensation that can be caused after touching this plant may have resulted in it being deliberately removed from many locations. Flowers May to July.
Poison Sumac Poison Sumac Poison Sumac Poison Sumac
Habit
Leaf upperside
Leaf underside
Young stems and leaf stalks
purplish and hairless

Poison Sumac Poison Sumac Poison Sumac
Fall color
Winter side bud
Winter end buds